Chinese visit brings a £100,000 boost to firm

A Scottish menswear firm is this week toasting a £100k new whisky contract. Pernod Ricard, owners of several prestigious spirit brands, has awarded a £100,000 retail contract to family-owned menswear outfitters Gibbs Inverurie, in Aberdeenshire. A contingent of 875 Chinese visitors are heading across the globe for a four-day whisky extravaganza in July. Gibbs Inverurie…

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Highland Games treat for Father’s Day

A Father’s Day treat is in store as the stage is set for Aberdeen’s Highland Games on Sunday. Final preparations are underway for the popular city gathering, which is now in its 58th year. The games will run from 10am to 5.30pm at Hazlehead Park and feature a mix of traditional events, entertainment and activities…

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Funding available to save crumbling buildings

Funding of £10 million is being made available to preserve Scotland’s past. The money comes from the latest round of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, under Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) flagship conservation and regeneration funding programme. Applications are now open for local authorities, national park authorities, voluntary sector organisations and community groups to apply for…

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They are elevating whisky into a genuine art form

Eight leading contemporary artists from around the globe will descend on a Scots distillery this summer. They will participate in the Glenfiddich Distillery’s International Artists in Residence programme. Hosted at the Dufftown home of world-famous single malt, the initiative is now in its 17th year and is regarded as one of the top arts residencies…

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Childhood museum is hosting a novel exhibition

Everyone loves a good story – whether it’s the never-ending adventures of Peter Pan or shipwrecked tales from Robinson Crusoe. Growing Up with Books is currently being celebrated at the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh. From to mysterious personal insights and hidden messages from previous book owners, Growing Up with Books will chart a magical…

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Bid to create a new home for Edinburgh Rugby

Plans to create a new home for Edinburgh Rugby have taken a step forward with a planning application being submitted City of Edinburgh Council. Scottish Rugby has confirmed it intends to create a new playing venue in the shadow of BT Murrayfield, which will have a capacity of up to 7,800. The land is currently…

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Just over a week to go until Argyll music festival

Argyll’s biggest open-air live music event is set to take place next weekend. OBANLIVE, taking place on 8 and 9 June, has launched two new films targeting people out with Argyll, as well as maritime visitors, following an award of £11,250 from EventScotland, part of the national tourism organisation’s Events Directorate. The videos have been…

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New exhibition inspired by ‘mother of Japanese whisky’

An inspirational Scotswoman dubbed ‘the mother of Japanese whisky’ is the focus of a fascinating new exhibition. Rita Cowan swapped Kirkintilloch for Hokkaido when she crossed the globe to help create one of Japan’s most successful and best-known whisky distilleries. Her story is one of courage, heartbreak and strength – and it has now been…

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Book review: The Way of Whisky by Dave Broom

What’s the story? An art long ago imported from Scotland, Japanese whisky is nonetheless the expression of a particular culture and a profoundly different approach to life and creation. In The Way of Whisky, Dave Broom leads us through the past, present and future of whisky in the land of the rising sun. The book…

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Four young pipers will swap Scotland for Barbados

A group of young pipers will be switching their spats for sun tan lotion as they prepare to head to Barbados for this year’s Celtic Festival. Strathallan School pupils Xander Gibson, Oliver Spalding, Conor Campbell and Gregor Sands will travel the 4000 and a bit miles, to join a larger group to form a massed…

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