Time’s running out to get online whisky festival tickets

With just days to go, whisky fans are being called on to snap up the last remaining tickets for this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Kicking off its 21st year of celebrating the region’s finest Scotch Malts, the jam-packed programme of virtual events begins online Thursday, April 29. From behind the scenes distillery tours…

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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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A collection of vital whiskies for the 21st century

The Whisky Exchange is launching a tasting set that takes drinkers on a journey through the ground-breaking whiskies of the 21st century. In the two decades since brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh founded The Whisky Exchange, the whisky landscape has evolved dramatically. From the meteoric rise of peated styles to the emergence of stellar whiskies…

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Brewer and distillery unite to create a new beer

Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has launched a limited-edition beer in collaboration with the iconic Islay based whisky maker, Laphroaig. Islay Whisky Cask is a 7.4% amber ale slowly matured in Laphroaig 10-year-old single malt scotch whisky casks – Laphroaig’s signature expression and one of the most renowned malt whiskies in the world. Just 3,400…

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New product fighting back against the Angels’ Share

A new product aimed at minimising the Angels’ Share of whisky has been developed. The Scotch Bonnet has been designed and manufactured to minimize the Angels’ Share, the loss that evaporates from spirit casks. After 42 months of testing within a distillery in Scotland, its creators are more than satisfied with the overall results, saying…

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What does ‘foraged’ beer taste like?

A brewery in Fife is creating beer from yarrow, sea salt, and even hogweed seeds, writes Peter Ranscombe. ONE of the most exciting aspects of Scotland’s craft beer scene is its creativity. Gone are the days of brews being made with just water, barleys, hops, and yeast. Instead, the sheer variety of ingredients that go…

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Four Corners of Scotland charity whisky tasting event

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association is organising a very special, hybrid, whisky tasting event later this month. It is taking place April 28 at 7.30pm in collaboration with Scotland’s newest whisky club, 1775 Whisky Passport and the award-winning bar and restaurant, the Mercat Grill in East Lothian. All proceeds will go to The Ben, the…

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It’s time to break out those paler ales

Peter Ranscombe runs the rule over the latest releases from beer website Flavourly. DESPITE this Arctic blast over the past couple of weeks, I’m informed reliably that spring is here. As the seasons turn, so too do the styles of beer for which we reach. The porters and stouts of autumn and winter give way…

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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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Huge sales rise thanks to virtual drinks events

A Scots distillery has seen online sales increase by 250% over the past year, thanks to the success of their virtual drinks experiences. When COVID hit in March 2020, the Stirling Distillery tour, shop and gin school were all temporarily closed, so the business had to rethink its approach and fast. Founders June and Cameron…

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