Whisky maker launches editions based on notes from 19th century

Award-winning craft whisky maker R&B Distillers has launched two new editions of The Tweeddale. The Tweeddale The Evolution and The Tweeddale A Silent Character are the latest additions to the Tweeddale collection. These characterful whiskies have each drawn inspiration from the brand’s fascinating heritage. Co-founder of R&B Distillers, Alasdair Day, is the great-grandson of Richard…

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Franciacorta: where passion blends with precision

Peter Ranscombe travels to Italy to learn why Franciacorta isn’t a Champagne copycat or a posh version of Prosecco.   WATCHING Alberto Volpini at work in the kitchen at the Mosnel winery in Northern Italy’s Franciacorta region, it’s clear that making pasta is all about precision. Mixing the right amount of each ingredient, passing the…

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North east gin festival gets ready for the festive season

The north east of Scotland’s annual gin festival is attending some Christmas festival markets in the coming weeks. GIN:NE will be present at the markets, which are taking place from 11am-4pm on 26 November, 10 December and 17 December. It is being held in the Market Place, Inverurie. GIN:NE is being held on 9 and…

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Yealands defies expectations with New Zealand’s classic varieties

Peter Ranscombe explores the diversity of styles of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir from New Zealand with Yealands’ senior winemaker, Natalie Christensen. Everyone knows New Zealand sauvignon blanc, don’t they? It’s full of gooseberry flavours and paint-stripping acidity, right? If that’s the assumption then it’s time for a rethink. Although the classic Kiwi style certainly…

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Ageing gracefully in the Languedoc

Picking older wines to drink doesn’t have to be all about the classics, as Peter Ranscombe reports. WHEN we think of wines that will be laid down in cellars to age, names like Bordeaux and Burgundy or Napa and Gimblett naturally spring to mind. Yet the right ingredients for creating an age-worthy wine – ripe…

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There’s more to malbec than Mendoza

Peter Ranscombe explores the regionality of Argentina’s malbecs with Phil Crozier, director of wines at steak house chain Gaucho. MALBEC has been one of the wine world’s great success stories. Wind the clock back 20 years and few drinkers had heard of the all-conquering red grape. Now, it’s become ubiquitous on restaurant wine lists and…

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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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Foncalieu: Keeping it fresh in the Languedoc

Peter Ranscombe is enchanted by the freshness of the white wines being produced in one of France’s most famous regions for reds – the Languedoc. The Languedoc region in south-west France is famed for its red wines. Areas such as Corbières, Fitou and Minervois are renowned throughout the world for producing fruity and powerful reds…

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Win a pair of tickets to the Edinburgh festive Foodies Festival

Food lovers can rejoice – the Foodies Festival is returning to the EICC in Edinburgh to kick off the festive season on November 24, 25 and 26. And Scottish Field is offering five pairs of tickets to the event, courtesy of our friends at Foodies Festival. The event will feature top Scottish chefs and MasterChef…

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