Posts Tagged ‘history’
How Scotland fared during the Cold War
A detailed examination of Scotland’s role during the period of the Cold War and the probable outcomes facing our nation had WWIII broken out. Trevor Royle’s use of recently declassified official information and interviews with many of the key players at the time, make this a fascinating while occasionally unsettling journey into history. Between the…
Read MoreA history of money in Scotland’s capital
In truth, I’ve never previously considered the history behind money; my main focus tends to be on how to make more of the stuff. With this in mind I was surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the story of Edinburgh’s journey of wealth. Bookended by the two biggest financial catastrophes of our time…
Read MoreEdinburgh entrepreneur sets off on world’s ‘Impossible Row’
I love nothing more than an adventure story. Even better, tales of real-life explorers intent on pushing the physical and mental boundaries of mankind. Trading in his day job for three weeks and embarking on an epic mission of his own is Jamie Douglas-Hamilton from Edinburgh, founder of Actiph Water. Alongside five team members, Jamie…
Read MoreDr Jim receives OBE for services to whisky
Johnnie Walker master blender, Dr Jim Beveridge, was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty The Queen for his outstanding service to the Scotch whisky industry. Recognising a remarkable career spanning almost four decades with the world’s leading distilling company Diageo, Dr Beveridge was presented with his OBE medal by Her Majesty during an investiture ceremony…
Read MoreScottish folk tales from the best storytellers
Just looking at the cover of this book makes me want to curl up with a mug of something hot and dive into all the tales it has to tell. Put together by Scotland’s Storytellers and The History Press, this collection includes legends from all over the country, with each chapter signalling a change of…
Read MoreOh crumbs – it’s a 114lbs gingerbread hotel!
Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel has today unveiled an enormous gingerbread house replica of the hotel in its lobby. The 3.8ft wide gingerbread doppelgänger was created by Executive Chef, Zoltan Szabo along with five other chefs in the hotel’s kitchen. An astonishing 114lbs of gingerbread and 35lbs of icing sugar was used to create the ginger…
Read MoreA pair of antique single cask whisky releases
An independent Scotch whisky firm has unveiled two antique single cask releases under its Xtra Old Particular Black Series. Award-winning family business Douglas Laing & Co, which recently announced its acquisition of Strathearn Distillery in Perthshire, sas the two latest XOP Black bottlings ‘represent perhaps the two most iconic whisky regions – Islay and Speyside…
Read MoreCelebrating the nation’s micro-distilleries
Distillation is a sort of magic that involves taking humble grains and turning them into wonderfully intoxicating spirits. Industrialisation has sucked the magic from the trade but the micro-distiller exists to keep the dream alive. This book explores 75 artisan micro-distilleries – their history, where you can buy their produce and, most importantly, what it…
Read MoreIt’s World Toilet Day – is this the finest loo in Scotland?
Scotland has many incredible beauty spots and tourist attractions, but there can be few stranger than the Victorian toilets on the Isle of Bute. Today is World Toilet Day – an official United Nations international observance day on 19 November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis – and to mark it, we…
Read MoreAn exclusive whisky only from Clynelish Distillery
A limited-edition Clynelish Single Malt Whisky is currently available to purchase exclusively at the coastal distillery. This unique release will retail at recommended retail price of £90 per 70cl, with just 3000 bottles available, bottled at 48% ABV. It can only be bought at the distillery near Brora, Sutherland. Jenni Watson, master distiller at Clynelish,…
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