New York, New York: so good, you’ll try its wine twice

Peter Ranscombe explores riesling, chardonnay, and other wine from the Empire State. THINK New York, think skyscrapers, think Broadway, think Sex and the City. But how about, “Think New York, think grapevines?” While Manhatten’s concrete jungle may not be the first place you’d look for vineyards, head inland from the city and there’s a further…

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North Coast 500 is a world leader on Instagram

Scotland’s North Coast 500 is one of the most popular routes in the world with Instagrammers. The route is ranked 16th in the world, and second in the UK, according to new research. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. The…

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Brewer and distillery unite to create a new beer

Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has launched a limited-edition beer in collaboration with the iconic Islay based whisky maker, Laphroaig. Islay Whisky Cask is a 7.4% amber ale slowly matured in Laphroaig 10-year-old single malt scotch whisky casks – Laphroaig’s signature expression and one of the most renowned malt whiskies in the world. Just 3,400…

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New product fighting back against the Angels’ Share

A new product aimed at minimising the Angels’ Share of whisky has been developed. The Scotch Bonnet has been designed and manufactured to minimize the Angels’ Share, the loss that evaporates from spirit casks. After 42 months of testing within a distillery in Scotland, its creators are more than satisfied with the overall results, saying…

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Scotland’s leading ceramic event returns in June

Potfest Scotland, the country’s premier ceramic event, will return to the lawns of Scone Palace, in early June. For its 25th year, Potfest Scotland will see over 90 ceramics artists coming together to showcase and sell their work over the three days of the festival. Exhibitors will come from the south west corner of England…

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Hotel bookings boost after re-opening confirmation

Crerar Hotels has reported a sharp spike in bookings following the announcement that travel restrictions would be lifted, and tourist accommodation able to re-open, on 26 April. The group, which boasts seven idyllic hotels and inns in some of Scotland’s most breath-taking locations, saw a 130 per cent week-on-week increase in booking revenues after Nicola…

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What does ‘foraged’ beer taste like?

A brewery in Fife is creating beer from yarrow, sea salt, and even hogweed seeds, writes Peter Ranscombe. ONE of the most exciting aspects of Scotland’s craft beer scene is its creativity. Gone are the days of brews being made with just water, barleys, hops, and yeast. Instead, the sheer variety of ingredients that go…

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Youngsters urged to write about climate change

Scotland’s young writers are being urged to put pen to paper and unleash their creativity. They are encouraged to submit a piece of writing around the theme of climate change as part of a new BBC Radio Scotland competition titled Climate Tales. A nationwide call-out was made by Kaye Adams on BBC Radio Scotland’s Mornings…

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A Tomb with a View offers a fascinating insight

While the more superstitious among us avoid graveyards or simply hold our breath while passing them, Peter Ross finds them curiously comforting. He whiled away the hours in the Old Town cemetery in Stirling as a boy. The Glasgow-based writer, one of Scotland’s finest essayists, admits that deciphering old gravestones was one of the ways…

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