A dram fine puzzle

With interest in puzzles and games at an all-time high, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky have released a whisky-themed custom jigsaw puzzle that can be enjoyed with a dram. The limited-edition 500-piece jigsaw puzzle features artwork from renowned artist John Lowrie Morrison OBE (Jolomo) of Glengoyne Distillery in full spring bloom. The jigsaw will…

Read More

Armchair exploring: Returning to Romania with Cramele Recas

Restrictions on movement present an ideal opportunity for Peter Ranscombe to return to Romania’s native varieties and great-value wines. WHENEVER friends or acquaintances ask about the wine adventures on which I’ve been, one trip more than any other always piques their interest – Romania. So many people still have images of Anneka Rice’s 1990 visit…

Read More

The final straw

In an unanticipated side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, shops in Glasgow have been forced to stop selling Buckfast, the iconic tonic wine made by Benedictine monks in Devon which is popular on the west coast of Scotland, as supplies have dwindled. “It’s really bad,” Whiteinch-based shop owner, Sobhan Rashid, told the Glasgow Times. “At the…

Read More

How one wine firm helps hospitality heroes in the lockdown

Peter Ranscombe reviews six bottles from Berkmann, a wine wholesaler that’s donating cash to help the hospitality trade. THEY’RE the unsung heroes who make our nights out really special – the waitresses, the waiters, the barmen, the barwomen, and all the other members of the hospitality trade. They were also some of the first casualties…

Read More

Lockdown lamb: Five online ideas for wine pairings

As Holy Week continues, Peter Ranscombe picks five bottles to go with your Easter feast. IF YOU’VE managed to find yourself some lockdown lamb to celebrate Easter on Sunday then wine merchants from across Scotland and further afield are on hand with some perfect pairings. My go-to matches for lamb tend to centre around the…

Read More

A guide to the nation’s breweries and distilleries

A comprehensive and colourful guide to over 340 breweries, cider mills, vineyards and distilleries across Britain is set for release. Recent years have seen a huge increase in the number of these places all over the country not only operating but also welcoming visitors, from small single-man producers working from home to large, world-famous labels,…

Read More

Hill House beats leading tourist spots to award

The shop at National Trust for Scotland’s Hill House in Helensburgh today (Friday) has been announced as the best in the country by the Association for Cultural Enterprises, beating London’s Science Museum and The Globe Theatre. Created as part of the pioneering conservation project undertaken by the Trust to protect Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s domestic masterpiece…

Read More

Whisky society offer online tastings and drams

The world’s leading whisky club is helping to lift spirits by bringing its community of whisky lovers together with home tastings, online masterclasses and guidance on how to survive this unprecedented period of isolation. In uncertain times, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is helping to keep spirits high by setting up an online Members’ Room…

Read More

Ten great Scottish films to get you through lockdown

With Scotland under lockdown, we’re all looking for ways to pass our time – today we recommend 10 great films set in our country. Over the past year, we’ve seen Netflix’s Outlaw King take prominence and gain a cult following, while Mary QUeen of Scots was another hit. With TV series like Outlander, our country…

Read More