Posts Tagged ‘France’
A new Singleton of Glen Ord – 39 years in the making
A new 39-Year-Old single malt Scotch whisky from The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery is set for release. The Singleton will deliver its second chapter in an epicurean journey to unearth great depth and flavour. With only 1,695 bottles available globally, this precious and luxurious vintage is The Singleton’s longest secondary maturation to date. Having…
Read MoreAn oasis of independence at Portman Marylebone
Morag Bootland uncovers a haven of boutique shops, restaurants and much more in the heart of London’s West End. For a country girl, a trip to London is always exciting, but it can also be a recipe for something akin to sensory overload when I’m surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the capital. So, when…
Read MoreNotebook – October 2021
A Speyside whisky from The Wine Society is among the bottles reviewed by drinks blogger Peter Ranscombe. THERE’S a distinct “Speyside” theme to the latest in this occasional series of articles, during which I delve into my tasting notebook to share some recent discoveries. In a move you might not expect, there’s also a “smoky”…
Read MoreCharles Heidsieck: Launching pinot noir at Monachyle Mhor
Champagne house Charles Heidsieck chose Monachlye Mhor at Balquidder for the launch of its still red wine, with Peter Ranscombe tagging along for some foraging. TRAMPLING through the woods near Balquhidder with Tom Lewis and Nick Nairn, it’s easy to see why the two chefs love this part of Scotland so much. From mushrooms and…
Read MoreLe Clarence: Two-star food to match grand cru wine
Le Clarence restaurant in Paris combines two-star Michelin food with wines from Haut Brion, one of Bordeaux’s five most famous chateaux, writes Peter Ranscombe. “THERE’S more that unites us than divides us”. Those words were echoing through my mind as the Eurostar train hurtled through Northern France. Looking out at the farms and fields, I…
Read MoreChile: Where quality needn’t cost the earth
Chile once again demonstrates that it can produce high-quality wines at affordable prices, as Peter Ranscombe samples bottles from stablemates Santa Rita and Carmen. GAZE along the bottom shelf of most supermarket wine aisles and two countries’ bottles will jump out at you – Chile and South Africa. Both nations are renowned for producing cheap…
Read MoreWigtown welcomes Mrs Death and hosts a Meeting of Spirits
This year’s Wigtown Book Festival meets death and then plunges on to discuss what happens afterwards. Author Salena Godden will be at the festival to discuss her book Mrs Death Misses Death in which a troubled young author named Wolf meets, and befriends, Death in the guise of an elderly working class black woman and…
Read MoreFinding what it means to be Scottish post-Brexit
What does it mean to be Scottish? According to the film Trainspotting (and I’ll paraphrase by removing the expletives)… It’s not great being Scottish. We’re the lowest of the low! The scum of the Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash, that was released into civilisation! For others, it means having an enduring sense…
Read MoreGlenmorangie cocktails toast Edinburgh Zoo giraffes
Glenmorangie has created cocktails to mark its sponsorship of the new giraffes at Edinburgh Zoo, writes Peter Ranscombe. EACH distillery has its very own claim to fame. Edradour is the smallest – or at least was until micro-distilleries came along. Glenturret is the oldest – or at least the oldest working distillery. And Glenmorangie has…
Read MoreVirgin Atlantic reveals its new Scottish home
Virgin Atlantic has a new home in Scotland, as the airline has announced plans to start flights from Edinburgh Airport. Services to the Caribbean island of Barbados will begin this December with flights to Orlando, the theme park Capital of the world set to commence from April 2022. The new routes mark the first time…
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