Scottish drinks have a ‘can’ do attitude

SCOTLAND’S brands are continuing to embrace canned drinks with two recent releases. Forrit has launched a range of “hard seltzers”, while Boe has unveiled two gins mixed with lemonade. Forrit has blended sparkling water with alcohol, botanicals, and fruit flavours. The brand, which is owned by whisky maker Loch Lomond Group, has unveiled three variants:…

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Scottish countryside dominates ‘best kept secrets’ list

SCOTLAND has dominated a series of lists of the “best kept secrets of the UK countryside“. Scottish locations finished top of the tables for beaches, parks, and routes for hikes. Newburgh in Aberdeenshire topped the beach list, followed by Polin near Kinlochbervie, and Embo near Dornoch. The Berwickshire coast path was the top hiking route,…

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Merchiston offers free academic advice

MERCHISTON Castle School in Edinburgh is offering free academic advice tomorrow night. Dale Cartwright, deputy head learning and teaching, will host a live questions and answers session at 5.30pm. The school said: “We are hoping this session, in particular, will help those who still have outstanding questions or concerns regarding their UCAS applications. “There is…

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Scottish rowan up for European tree award

A ROWAN tree near Moffat will represent Great Britain in a European contest. The Woodland Trust has chosen “The Survivor” at Carrifran to represent Great Britain in the “European Tree of the Year” competition. The public selected “The Survivor” as Scotland’s “Tree of the Year” back in October. It has now beaten off competition from…

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Alexander Wines serves up Christmas with a twist

Peter Ranscombe pops the corks on some exciting alternative festive choices. I’M AS guilty as anyone else when it comes to reaching for the same old favourites at Christmas. A bottle of Chablis, a bottle of pinot noir, and a bottle of something with bubbles in it, and I’m usually set for the festivities to…

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South of Scotland launches virtual advent calendar

SCOTLAND Starts Here, a campaign to promote businesses in the South of Scotland, has launched a virtual advent calendar. Behind each of the 24 windows, Christmas shoppers can find an exclusive experience, gift or treasure, only available from the website. The range of gifts available includes food and drink experiences, sport and outdoor activities, and…

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Acceptable in the 80s: Errazuriz’s cabernet

Peter Ranscombe climbs back into his vinous time machine to join a virtual ‘vertical’ tasting of wines from Chile. DO YOU remember 1989? It was the year that Margaret Thatcher road tested her “poll tax” in Scotland. It was the year that David Hasselhoff single-handedly brought down the Berlin Wall. And it was the year…

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Inverness hotels share positive figures

RESIDENTS in the North of Scotland are being encouraged to discover “what’s on their doorstep” as Inverness’s hotels report brighter figures amid the covid gloom. Chris Taylor, regional leadership director at national tourism marketing agency VisitScotland, said: “Right now, we are encouraging local people in the Highlands to discover what’s on their doorstep, in line…

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Butchers are a cut above the rest

SCOTTISH butchers are celebrating after scooping prizes at the industry’s annual training awards. Ariane Bennett, 19, who works for her family’s Arbroath butchers D H Robertson, won the “SVQ Level 2 Apprentice Of The Year Award”. Newly-qualified butcher Michael Carrubba of Minicks of St Andrews took the “SVQ Level 3 Apprentice Of The Year” title.…

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Sheila Fleet Jewellery team raises ÂŁ5,000 for charity

THE team at Sheila Fleet Jewellery on Orkney has raised more than ÂŁ5,000 for Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland (PCAS) by “travelling” nearly 1,300 miles to and from Glasgow. To clock up the miles, the team walked, ran, cycled and rowed around its island base. Members of the team “set off” on 1 November – the…

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