Singleton’s 54-Year-Old 1966 vintage single malt Scotch whisky

Diageo has announced the second and final bottling in The Singleton’s Paragon of Time Collection, a 54-Year-Old 1966 vintage single malt Scotch whisky. This is the oldest single malt release from The Singleton of Dufftown and Diageo to date: an exploration of time in pursuit of true richness. This highly limited release from the Dufftown…

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Wine to Dine – June 2021 – The Harbour Café

Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe scours the hills and shores for five bottles to take to the harbour. AS SPRING segues into summer, there’s no better time to visit the coast – or The Harbour Café at Elie, in Fife, which stars in the food feature in June’s issue of Scottish Field magazine. Being…

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7 of the best rosés for your bank holiday weekend

If you’re looking for rosés ahead of the May Day bank holiday then Peter Ranscombe has you covered. IS IT really a year since our #stayathome review of rosés? While I’m not counting my sunshine-flapping chickens just yet – especially not for the bank holiday itself – there’s definitely more optimism in the air as…

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Exton Park: Tasting the future of English sparkling wine?

Has Corinne Seely created ‘an English Bollinger’ at Exton Park, asks Peter Ranscombe. MOST English winemakers are faced with a simple choice. Make a “vintage” wine labeled with the year in which all the grapes were harvested. Or create a “non-vintage” blend by mixing a small amount of previous years’ wines – “reserve” wines –…

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M&S goes off wine’s beaten track

Peter Ranscombe reviews the new “Found” range of “unexpected and undiscovered” wines from Marks & Spencer. MARKS & Spencer wine buyers Sue Daniels and Belinda Kleinig have had a busy lockdown. After launching Markies’ “Classics” and “This is…” ranges last year, they’ve embarked on their latest vinous adventure – “Found”. This new selection features “unexpected…

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Following the spice route to Azaline

Peter Ranscombe samples a pinot noir-driven vermouth that takes drinkers on a trip to the Orient. ONE of the most exciting aspects of tasting a new drink is pulling it apart to study its components. Why does this wine taste of lemons, and butter, and vanilla? Why does this whisky taste of dark chocolate, and…

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Another warm, funny read from Alexander McCall Smith

Food writer Paul Stuart is struggling to write his latest book, so his cousin Chloe suggests he should spend the summer in France with her. A simple set up and a no-fuss plot allows McCall Smith to focus on his characters – all of whom are used as vehicles for the author’s sharp wit. This…

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Wine to Dine – May 2021 – Sophie Greig

Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe mixes five sweet and dry bottles to back up Sophie’s baking. BAKER Sophie Greig scooped the top prize in the Contini Bake Off competition with her caramel apple Paris brest and so it was fascinating to get an insight into some of her other recipes in the May issue…

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Classics and discoveries with The Wine Society

Spring’s online wine tastings continue with bottles from a very special wine club, writes Peter Ranscombe. THERE are two things for which The Wine Society is known – classic wines at classic prices, and exciting oddities that will make even the most seasoned wine geek sit up and take notice. Both ends of the spectrum…

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Tales of the unexpected from Aldi and Lidl

Peter Ranscombe discovers some surprises among the latest wines released by Lidl and Aldi. DRAW closer and let me tell you some tales of the unexpected. There’s the tale of the sauvignon blanc from Hungary. There’s the story of the sangiovese from Chile. And there’s the legend of the riesling – from Canada. Supermarket chain…

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