Chef Nick Nairn gets ready to re-open cook school in January

Scottish chef Nick Nairn is re-opening his cooking school in January following a three-year closure.  The Stirlingshire school was forced to close due to the pandemic, a major flood and the knock-on effect of a devasting fire at the Bridge of Allan restaurant. Now Nick is getting ready to welcome back visitors to the school,…

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Rare rhododendron planted before WW1 discovered in Argyll garden

A rare rhododendron planted before WW1 has been discovered at a coastal garden in Argyll – and is thought to be one of the largest in the UK. The Rhododendron arboretum subsp. Zeylanicum was found at Arduaine, a 20-acre coastal garden in Argyll overlooking the Sound of Jura. The garden was created in 1898 by tea…

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Samaroli: A Trailblazing Whisky Legacy

Beth Squires from whisky brokers and consultants, Mark Littler, takes us through the history of Samaroli. The name Samaroli evokes feelings of love, nostalgia, and awe amongst whisky lovers both in the industry and the wider public. The Italian independent bottler, although only established 55 years ago, has had an untold impact on the whisky industry.…

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Scottish university returns tribal warrior skulls to Taiwan

The skulls of four tribal warriors killed nearly 150 years ago have been returned to a Taiwanese Indigenous community by Edinburgh University. The Paiwan tribesmen were killed during a Japanese invasion of southern Taiwan. It is believed their skulls were taken as war trophies and came into the university’s possession in 1907. The university presented…

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Sherry Week: The best wines to look out for

James Robertson takes us through his top pics for Sherry Week. The week marks the start of Sherry Week, the 10th anniversary of this global festival. All over Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK, events s There are around 150 events happening all over Scotland and the UK, uch as tastings and pairing dinners in bars,…

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Conference to urge cation in cask trading

Whisky investors are being cautioned about the increasing number of cask whisky investment companies who may be trying to make fast money out of the growing demand for premium Scotch Whisky.  A panel of whisky experts will take to the stage this week in Glasgow at the inaugural Scottish Distillers Conference to debate the current…

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World’s first interactive enrichment system for giraffes made in Scotland

A world first interactive enrichment system for giraffes has been developed in Scotland. Meeting the needs of giraffes is a longstanding challenge for zookeepers, not least because giraffes sleep differently from many other mammals. Instead of resting for hours overnight, they take frequent brief naps whenever they choose to, sleeping for less than 30 minutes…

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National Trust for Scotland podcast with Jackie Bird returns

The National Trust for Scotland’s podcast, Love Scotland, has returned for a seventh season. Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Jackie Bird, the new season is packed with fascinating stories of the country’s rich history.  With a new episode released every Friday until 15 December, Jackie has the opportunity to meet with experts, historians, authors, and…

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