Scottish trio triumphs at Walpole awards

THREE Scottish brands came away with prizes last night from the Walpole British Luxury Awards. The Gleneagles Hotel was named “British Luxury Brand of the Year”, which – for the first time in the award’s history – was decided by a voting academy comprised of 250 Walpole member chief executives. The “Made in the UK…

Read More

Drinks news round-up: Barra, Curling, and more

Peter Ranscombe serves up another helping of drinks news. ISLE of Barra distillery has unveiled the new bottle for its Atlantic gin. The bottle is made from 78% recycled glass, meaning no two bottles will look the same. The company is also cutting its supply chain’s carbon footprint by selecting Allied Glass to make the…

Read More

Whisky round-up: Halloween special

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look at how Scotland’s whisky industry is preparing for Halloween and beyond. THE Scotch Malt Whisky Society is holding its first Halloween party on Thursday at its bar on Edinburgh’s Queen Street. A clairvoyant and a tarot card reader will take up residence in the first floor library, while black…

Read More

Whisky round-up: awards, auctions, new releases, and more

Peter Ranscombe unwraps a bumper round-up of light-hearted news, releases, and more from the world of whisky. ANNANDALE distillery is toasting a brace of prizes from the Scottish Enterprise Awards. The Globe Inn on Dumfries’ high street, which the distillery took over in 2019, was named as the “best fine dining restaurant in South West…

Read More

WHISKY NEWS ROUND-UP: Finn Thomson, Ardbeg, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look through the latest whisky news. THE Thomson family is marking its 300-year connection with the whisky industry by launching one of Scotland’s rarest private cask collections. Finn Thomson Whisky has signed up a slate of independent bottle shops to sell the whiskies in the UK, along with distributors in…

Read More

Whisky round-up: Glen Ord, Cail Bruich, Scottish Open, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted romp through the latest whisky news. GLEN Ord distillery at Muir of Ord near Dingwall is today reopening its visitors’ centre for its Singleton brand. Chef Tony Singh was on hand earlier this week to launch the centre, which is part of owner Diageo’s wider £185 million investment in its…

Read More

What’s up with whisky: June’s review

Mark Littler returns with his monthly look at the world of whisky auctions. WELCOME back. It’s been a month of highs, with plenty to talk about in the world of whisky investing. Last month we signed off with speculation about The Macallan jubilee bottling and, against all expectations, it is now pretty fair to assume…

Read More

Tom Kitchin creates Scottish Open menu

CHEF Tom Kitchin has teamed up with fellow cook Mun Kim to create a Korean-inspired menu for the Scottish Open. The three-course selection will be served at the golf championship, which tees off on 7 July. It will also be available on 4-10 July at the Michelin-starred chef’s Bonnie Badger restaurant in Gullane, just a…

Read More

Cockburns of Leith opens first bottle shop in 226 years

COCKBURNS OF LEITH, Scotland’s oldest wine merchant, has opened its first shop in the company’s 226-year history. The store – which sits on Frederick Street in Edinburgh’s New Town – will run wine tastings and provide free delivery within the capital and the Lothians. Cockburns of Leith was established in 1796 by brothers Robert and…

Read More

A Week in Whisky: Inverness, The Cairn, and more

Peter Ranscombe ponders another week in whisky with a smile and a wink… NEWS this week of the National Whisky Festival of Scotland reaching the Highlands for the first time. The event will roll into Eden Court in Inverness on 2 July. “Geographically, Inverness is ideally situated for the National Whisky Festival of Scotland, sitting…

Read More