Tours and tastings at the secret garden distillery

THERE’s no need to keep it under your hat, because the secret is well and truly out, writes Morag Bootland. Sitting at the base of the Pentland hills, just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh, the Secret Garden Distillery first opened its gates in 2017. Having visited the distillery and its beautiful gardens many times over…

Read More

Whisky news round-up: Award success, Macallan scented candles and more

Artist decanter Scotland’s Oldest Working Distillery, The Glenturret, has released a whisky decanter in collaboration with master glass makers Lalique and renowned American artist James Turrell. The Eight Decades decanters were created as a celebration of the artist’s eightieth year, with just 80 available world wide. It is the first time the celebrated artist has…

Read More

Whisky news round-up: Doddie, Glenturret, and more

Peter Ranscombe puts together another irreverent round-up from the world of whisky. A WHISKY selected by the late rugby legend Doddie Weir will go on sale tomorrow at Royal Mile Whiskies to raise money for his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which is looking for a cure for motor neurone disease (MND). Weir visited Ardnamurchan Distillery…

Read More

Futtle makes beer with organic Scottish hops

FIFE brewery Futtle is launching a beer tomorrow that was made using organic Scottish hops. The hops were grown in the kitchen garden at the Rufflets Hotel in St Andrews. Head gardner Logie Cassells harvested the hops on 21 September and they were used to brew a beer that day. Lucy Hine, brewer and co-founder…

Read More

Hostelling Scotland gears up for busy season

SCOTLAND’S youth hostels are preparing to welcome back visitors. Hostelling Scotland, which runs nearly 60 sites, said “early indications suggest it is going to be a busy year ahead”. The charity highlighted the popularity of its 16 dog-friendly “WoofHostels”. “Since 2019, when Hostelling Scotland’s first dog friendly hostel was introduced, WoofHostelling has become increasingly popular…

Read More

Scots brands at No 10 and parliament

SCOTTISH coffee and beer brands are making waves at the heart of government. Perth-based Mhor Coffee will be served at the next cabinet meeting, while one of Arran Brewery’s beers was recently poured at the Stranger’s Bar in the Palace of Westminster. Tricia Fox, who founded her online coffee retailer with her husband during the…

Read More

Jump Ship steams ahead with alcohol-free brewery plan

JUMP SHIP has smashed through its fundraising target ahead of its crowdfunding scheme closing tomorrow. The beer brand now plans to build an alcohol-free brewery at Rosemain Steadings, near Pathhead in Midlothian. By this morning, the company had raised £330,000 from 272 investors. Sonja Mitchell, who founded the business in 2019, said: “Within two days…

Read More

SKIING – SWITZERLAND’S UNEXPECTEDLY EPIC ANDERMATT

Once an army base and mountain playground for hard-core powder hounds, the Swiss village of Andermatt is in the process of morphing into a luxury ski resort, writes Richard Bath. ANDERMATT IN A NUTSHELL: For almost a century this charming little Alpine village in the scenic Ursern Valley, just 20 miles from Lake Lucerne and…

Read More