Scottish craft beer expert heading for China as awards judge

A leading champion of Scotland’s craft beer sector has been invited to Beijing to take part in the judging for the country’s ground-breaking Chinese Craft Beer Awards this week. Chris Miller, director at the Craft Beer Clan of Scotland and a veteran of the sector, was invited to join the international panel of judges in…

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Red velvet cupcakes will boost Scottish Poppy Appeal

An Edinburgh bakery has launched a new poppy cupcake for Remembrance Sunday, with all proceeds being donated to the Scottish Poppy Appeal. The red velvet poppy cupcake costs £2.50 and can be purchased from Cuckoo’s Bakery at their Dundas Street and Bruntsfield Place stores as well as Harvey Nichols. The Poppy cupcake is available from…

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Survey reveals Scots support a cut to 80 per cent tax on whisky

A new poll says that more than two-thirds of Scots want the Chancellor to cut sky-high duty rates on whisky in this month’s Budget. The survey was carried out by Survation for the Scotch Whisky Association, and shows that some 68 per cent say Philip Hammond should reduce taxes on Scotch, which now make up…

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Scottish Rugby squad is given a new form of gin-spiration

A trio of Scottish rugby internationals have worked with the Eden Mill distillery to create the official gin of Scottish Rugby. Scottish Rugby Milk Thistle Gin has been created by Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and Fraser Brown from the national squad and features the flavours of cotton thistle and milk thistle, reflecting the Scottish Rugby…

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2017 Grand Final winners

The December issue supplement includes the full results of this year’s Grand Final of the Whisky Challenge. The final stage in this year’s Scottish Field Whisky Challenge, it saw our eight merchant judges sample the best drams from around the country in order to determine the winners. Award categories included Top Independent Bottling, Top Blend…

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Banffshire distillery releases its ‘smokiest’ expression to date

The anCnoc distillery has released its peatiest expression to date – Peatheart. Named after the nearby peat bogs, Peatheart is said to be the ‘smokiest’ whisky produced by the in Knock, Banffshire, distillery. Karen Walker, marketing director of anCnoc whisky, said: ‘When we first launched the Peaty Collection we had no idea how successful it…

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Public can have their say to honour figures from Scotland’s proud past

The Scottish public which figures from history they would like to see celebrated with a commemorative plaque. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has opened up nominations for the national commemorative plaque scheme. Now in its sixth year, the scheme has seen diverse figures from Scottish history remembered – from famous inventors like James Watt and John…

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Distillery is taking shape for whisky and gin production in Dingwall

Whisky and gin are to be produced at the world’s first 100 per cent community-owned distillery in Dingwall. GlenWyvis has confirmed its order for gin distillation equipment with Forsyths of Rothes, as it completes its plans to bring both gin and whisky production to Dingwall. With the first run of new make spirit planned for…

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Prolific partnership for honey and grouse is reaping dividends

Scottish honey producers are working in partnership with grouse estates to enable bees to feed on the prolific flowering plants on moorland in several parts of the country. Estates in Tayside, the Angus Glens and the Lammermuirs work with beekeepers who position their hives on the moors every August and September. Now Tomatin Moorland Group…

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Notebook – November 2017

In the first in a new occasional series of articles, Peter Ranscombe flicks through the pages of his notebook to share some of his vinous highlights from the past month. GETTING to meet winemakers and to sample their wares at tastings is a real privilege, whether in Scotland or London or out in the vineyards.…

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