Royal Highland Show toasts gin, beer, and PJs launch

THE Royal Highland Show has released a gin to celebrate its 200th anniversary, alongside a beer partnership, and merchandise – including a pair of pyjamas. The gin was made for the show by Moray Distillery in Elgin, which launched its Avva gin in 2016. A bespoke recipe was created using 12 botanicals – including dandelion,…

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A Week in Whisky: Going green, raising cash, and more

Peter Ranscombe shines his irreverent spotlight on another week in whisky… DISTILLERS will gather for the World Whisky Forum at Stauning whisky distillery in Denmark later this month – not for a giant party, but to discuss sustainability. The forum – which runs on 21-23 June – will discuss topics including the sustainability of cereal…

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Bank holiday rosé: Pink toasts for the Queen

Looking for bank holiday rosé wines? Drinks blogger Peter Ranscombe has you covered. AS THE nation prepares to raise a toast to Her Majesty during the platinum jubilee, it’s time for our regular review of rosés. Who knows what the weather will do over the long weekend? But rosé isn’t just for glorious bank holiday…

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Port of Leith opens its Lind & Lime gin distillery

PORT of Leith is preparing to welcome the first visitors to its new Lind & Lime gin distillery. The site, on the port’s Coburg Street, is expected to welcome 10,000 visitors each year for tours and cocktails. The new distillery includes an expanded bottling line, which can handle more than one million bottles each year.…

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Anima: Taking beer and food matching to the next level

Peter Ranscombe reviews craft beers made by Anima in Italy’s Piemonte wine region. THINK Piemonte, think wine. From powerful reds like Barolo and Barbaresco made from nebbiolo grapes through to elegant whites like Gavi and Roero and the gentle spritz of moscato d’Asti, Piedmont has a world-class reputation for its wines. But how about its…

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Chelsea Flower Show prizes for Highland Boundary partners

BOTH of the gardens supported by Perthshire drinks maker Highland Boundary have won prizes at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show. “A Rewilding Britain Landscape”, designed by Adam Hunt and Lulu Urquhart, won the “Best in Show” prize and a gold medal. “The Still Garden”, created by Scottish-born Jane Porter and inspired by the tradition of…

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What’s on this weekend: festivals and doggy cream teas

Peter Ranscombe takes a look at what’s on this weekend in Scotland. The Law restaurant at the Marine hotel in North Berwick is sure to get tails wagging this afternoon with its beach walk and cream teas for dogs and their owners. The restaurant has teamed up with Scottish Insta Dogs and local boutique NB…

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The Drinks Bakery toasts deal to supply Waitrose

THE Drinks Bakery has signed a deal to sell its Drinks Biscuits range in 230 branches of up-market grocer Waitrose. Andy Murray, who founded his business in 2016, already supplies his biscuits to more than 250 outlets, including Claridge’s, Liberty, and Selfridges. The deal will allow Murray to double the size of his company, which…

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Marchmont House runs open studio weekend

THE Marchmont House open studios weekend begins tomorrow and includes a special exhibition by three artists inspired by the wild. The “Wild Spaces” exhibition in The Old Squash Court studios features pieces by Borders-based visual artists Anna King, Hayley McCrirrick, and Mary Morrison. Some of their pieces have been inspired by the 1,500-acre estate. The…

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Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards unveils shortlist

THE Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards has named 140 products as finalists in this year’s competition. The winners will be announced on 31 May at The Corinthian in Glasgow. Executive chef Stewart McAllister prepared the products for the judges over the course of two days at The Corinthian. Among the Scottish Retail Food &…

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