The only way is up as Port of Leith Distillery is completed

The UK’s first vertical distillery, Port of Leith, has been completed ahead of opening next month. More than a decade since the idea for the distillery was conceived by wine merchant Ian Stirling and finance director Paddy Fletcher the £12m nine-storey distillery is finished and is now taking bookings for tours ahead of welcoming guests…

Read More

Scotch Whisky distilleries attract more than 2 million visitors

Scotch Whisky distilleries attracted more than 2 million visitors in 2022, it has been revealed. A Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) survey found footfall more than doubled (114%) compared to 2021.  Total spend by tourists last year was up by 8.65%, with more than £85m spent in total at sites across Scotland’s five whisky regions, up…

Read More

New BBC ALBA documentary to explore the Scottish wolf

For 12,000 years wolves and humans shared Scotland’s landscape. But as hunter- gatherers became farmers, wolves became their enemy and were hunted to extinction.  Now a new BBC Alba documentary is set to explore whether the story of the Scottish wolf is over. Wolves arrived as the last ice age ended, following – like Scotland’s…

Read More

Hamza Yassin, Judy Murray and Henry Dimbleby at Wigtown Book Festival

The first weekend of the 25th Wigtown Book Festival saw Scotland’s National Book Town welcome a host of celebrities and special guests. Among those taking part were Judy Murray, who spoke about her new novel The Wild Card, and Hamza Yassin, the Strictly champion, cameraman and CBeebies ranger, who led a birdwatching walk and discussed…

Read More

Hotel review: Ness Walk, Inverness

With food this creative, rosettes or bibs should be beckoning, writes Peter Ranscombe. It’s the wee things that make a big difference: being offered a cup of tea – or a glass of Champagne – on arrival; being offered a choice of Scottish craft beers on draught – not just a token bottle hidden in…

Read More

Isle of Harris: Distiller launches long-awaited first whisky

The Isle of Harris Distillers has launched its long-awaited single malt Scotch whisky. The Hearach – the Scottish Gaelic for a native of Harris – will be available to purchase from 23 September. The first legal dram from the Outer Hebridean Isle of Harris, The Hearach offers an elegant single malt, with fruit and floral…

Read More

Oysters returned to Firth of Forth for first time in a century

After a 100-year absence, native oysters are being reintroduced to the Firth of Forth. Historically, enormous native oyster beds provided an important source for food and livelihoods in the area. But the marine species was lost due to overfishing and industrial development. The groundbreaking Restoration Forth project hopes to transfer 30,000 oysters to the area…

Read More

Lombard Collection takes centre stage at whisky auction

Some of the world’s finest whiskies, part of the Lombard Collection, are set to be auctioned off. Part 1 of the Lombard Whisky Collection will feature more than 200 whiskies from world renowned distilleries including, Springbank, Bunnahabhain, Brora, Glenury, and Glen Keith. The rare lot will be auctioned on 4 October at McTear’s in Glasgow. …

Read More