J&B Rare making a festive, modern comeback

A famous Scotch whisky which was a favourite of America’s Rat Pack has created a special Christmas serve. There has been a perception that traditional ‘masculine’ alcohol brands – particularly whisky – have alienated 50% of the market. To combat this, J&B Rare, originated in the 1930s and highly popular among influential drinkers such as…

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See the Britannia as you’ve never seen her before

The Royal Yacht Britannia is offering visitors the chance to see a part of the ship which has never been shown to the public before. This December, for two nights only, the Britannia is hosting ticketed festive evening private tours, allowing ‘behind the ropes’ access to experience the highlights of this iconic ship whilst taking…

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Scots who stood up to Pinochet become a real-life film

A film based on the real-life story of Scottish pensioners who stood up to dictator General Pinochet of Chile is set for release. Nae Pasaran! will be released in UK cinemas from 2 November, and has already been nominated for two BAFTA Scotland awards for Feature Film and Director – Factual. Directed and produced by…

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Glasgow brewery will be Scotland’s champion in America

A Glasgow brewery will be flying the flag for the Scottish craft beer industry in San Diego next week. The Merchant City Brewing Company is attending the NBWA, the 81st Convention of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, which champions the independent beer distribution industry, and takes place from 23 until 26 September. Merchant City Brewing…

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The Scot who brought tea to the whole world

All over the world, people love their tea – and the man who made it an internationally popular beverage is to be celebrated in a new documentary on TV next week. The Man Who Charmed The World is the story of Sir Thomas Lipton, a Scots entrepreneur who, from humble beginnings, established a global retail…

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Book review – Savage Liberty by Elliot Pattison

The fifth book of the Bone Rattler series follows the adventures of exiled Scotsman Duncan McCallum in colonial America. This is a thrilling mystery novel placing fictional characters against a historical backdrop. In this new part of the saga, Duncan witnesses the explosion of a ship from London in Boston Harbour. Among conspiracies and threats,…

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Celebrating the volunteers at book festival’s heart

A special event has been held to thank the army of volunteers who make the Wigtown Book Festival possible. Ahead of the 20th annual event, around 150 adults and children, aged from under 10 to over 80, give time throughout the year carrying out an enormous range of tasks. Most are from Dumfries and Galloway,…

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Scots chorus aims for Usher Hall send off before US trip

The UK and Scotland’s top a cappella chorus will be performing at one of Edinburgh’s most iconic venues ahead of competing at the World Championships in the USA. Edinburgh-based Forth Valley Chorus will bring some music and drama at The Usher Hall in the run up to the competition in America. The chorus are capitalising…

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Tape Face

Come see Tape Face, they said. We saw it when it first came to the Festival and it was brilliant, they said. He must be exceptional because he won America’s Got Talent, they said. Of course, they said all of that before we had been to see one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen.…

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Family go from sourcing gin to making their own

A Scots family has put its expertise in running a gin establishment into creating its own brand. The family behind the iconic Gin Emporium, Smithies Deli, in Arbroath, is to put its intimate knowledge of the gin industry to good use with the launch of its own gin brand, Smithies Gin Company. Smithies Gin Company…

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