Posts Tagged ‘whisky’
Gleneagles unveils plans to reopen
ONE of Scotland’s most famous hotels will fling open its doors once more on 15 July. The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire is introducing a flexible booking policy that will allow guests to rearrange their stay at short notice while the coronavirus pandemic continues. Gleneagles, which opened as a railway hotel in 1924, said it had…
Read MoreCovid cocktail culture: pour yourself a wee ‘Quarantini’
Peter Ranscombe dusts off his cocktail shaker to put the ‘Quarantini’ drinks box from Keep Edinburgh Thriving through its paces. IN YEARS to come, we’ll all look back on 2020 and ask each other one question: “Do you remember the last drink you had in a bar before lockdown began?” For me, it was a…
Read MoreCraft distilleries call for clarity on covid support
EIGHT of Scotland’s craft distillers have written to the Scottish Government seeking clarity on whether they qualify for support during the coronavirus pandemic. The group of spirit producers said that some of its members have been turned down by their local councils for the 12 month business rate holiday promised by Scottish ministers, while others…
Read MoreLouis Latour looks beyond Burgundy for promising pinot
With the price of making wine in Burgundy continuing to rise, Peter Ranscombe finds out why one producer is turning to other regions. FEW names are as synonymous with Burgundy as Louis Latour – the wine producer traces its roots in the prestigious French region back to 1768, when Jean Latour planted vines at Aloxe, continuing…
Read MoreCovid convenience: wines to pick at your corner shop
We’ve got Spar… and Co-op and Scotmid and… if you’re getting your lockdown supplies from a convenience store then Peter Ranscombe has some wine recommendations. ONE of the enduring images of the coronavirus lockdown will be shoppers queuing patiently outside supermarkets, with a line of mask-clad consumers snaking around the car park. Yet, for many…
Read MoreGoing green in the Bordeaux Hot 50
France’s most famous wine region has turned its ‘Everyday Bordeaux’ listing into a ‘Hot 50’. Peter Ranscombe follows his visit to the area in March with a look at the ‘green’ wines on the new list. SOMETIMES it’s hard to know where to begin with Bordeaux. It may be famous for its five “first growth”…
Read MoreBank holiday rosé: Provence and beyond
He may not suit a pink shirt, but Peter Ranscombe has some rosé wine suggestions to brighten the weekend. IT’LL be a bank holiday like no other – no lazy picnics in the park, no boozy brunches with friends, and definitely no making a break for that secluded hideaway in the country. It was already…
Read MoreAlbarino: how will lockdown affect the way wine is made?
Two very different vintages and two very different tastings demonstrate how the weather still plays a crucial role in winemaking, writes Peter Ranscombe. WHAT a difference a year makes; nearly 12 months ago, I was sitting in a London tapas bar – remember when we could go out for tapas? – listening to Paula Fandino,…
Read MoreA sneak peek at Majestic Wine’s new range
One of Scotland’s favourite wine retailers has some exciting bottles arriving in its warehouses, as Peter Ranscombe reports. MAJESTIC Wine has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride in recent months – and that’s even without the lockdown. Back in 2015, Majestic bought Naked Wines, an online retailer founded by Rowan Gormley, who became the…
Read MoreHaud yer Wheesht: listen tae low-alcohol lockdown libations
Wanting to cut down on your alcohol intake during the lockdown and beyond? Peter Ranscombe has some suggestions. I DON’T know if it’s just my imagination or if it’s a guilty conscience, but my blue glass recycling box sounds like it’s been clinking just that wee bit more during lockdown. If the number of memes…
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