Peter Crawford: From Champagne to cider

Having made his name in Champagne, Peter Crawford is now pumping some of his abundant energy into cider, writes Peter Ranscombe. FEW Champagne enthusiasts can match Peter Crawford’s energy. The Palmerston restaurant and shop in Edinburgh is buzzing with lunchtime chatter when we meet, but it’s still his laughter and baritone that fill the wood-panelled…

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Cockburns of Leith opens first bottle shop in 226 years

COCKBURNS OF LEITH, Scotland’s oldest wine merchant, has opened its first shop in the company’s 226-year history. The store – which sits on Frederick Street in Edinburgh’s New Town – will run wine tastings and provide free delivery within the capital and the Lothians. Cockburns of Leith was established in 1796 by brothers Robert and…

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Wine to Dine – July 2022 – Cafe Cuil

Peter Ranscombe picks five bottles to pair with recipes from Cafe Cuil on Skye. EATING on Skye is always a pleasure, whether it’s dinner and a snooze at The Three Chimneys or those amazing Skye Pies at Glenview. That’s why I was excited to see the recipes from Cafe Cuil in this month’s printed and…

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New releases: Whisky to toast the Queen’s jubilee

Peter Ranscombe explores the new whisky releases on sale for the jubilee and beyond. ROYAL Lochnagar is toasting the Queen’s jubilee by launching its Balmoral platinum edition whisky at midday. The distillery, which lies a mile from Balmoral and holds a royal warrant, will present the first two bottles to the Queen and Prince Charles,…

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Bank holiday rosé: Pink toasts for the Queen

Looking for bank holiday rosé wines? Drinks blogger Peter Ranscombe has you covered. AS THE nation prepares to raise a toast to Her Majesty during the platinum jubilee, it’s time for our regular review of rosés. Who knows what the weather will do over the long weekend? But rosé isn’t just for glorious bank holiday…

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Leith’s own Champagne, port, and sherry

Forget gin and whisky for a moment – it’s Port of Leith’s Champagne, port, and sherry that are the real stars, writes Peter Ranscombe. THERE’S a lot going in Leith. Not only is Port of Leith Distillery’s vertical whisky factory taking shape next to Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia, but the company’s sister…

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Anima: Taking beer and food matching to the next level

Peter Ranscombe reviews craft beers made by Anima in Italy’s Piemonte wine region. THINK Piemonte, think wine. From powerful reds like Barolo and Barbaresco made from nebbiolo grapes through to elegant whites like Gavi and Roero and the gentle spritz of moscato d’Asti, Piedmont has a world-class reputation for its wines. But how about its…

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Cask 88 marks Sir Walter Scott’s 250th anniversary

WHISKY bottler Cask 88 is commemorating Sir Walter Scott by today unveiling a collection of four special bottles. Each bottle is named after a phrase made famous by Scott. The company took a cask of 19-year-old Ben Nevis single malt and split it between four smaller casks for finishing. “Lock, Stock and Barrel” was finished…

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REVIEW: Cask 88 Sir Walter Scott 250th anniversary whiskies

Peter Ranscombe gets an exclusive preview of whisky bottler Cask 88’s tribute to Sir Walter Scott. THERE’S something so evocative about tasting whisky outdoors. When it comes to wine tasting, many vineyards will serve visitors samples out among the vines. Whisky distilleries, less so. Standing on the terrace outside Abbotsford House near Melrose, I could…

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A week in whisky: World Whisky Day looms

Peter Ranscombe takes his irreverent weekly trek through the world of whisky… WORLD Whisky Day is almost upon us once more, and what better way to celebrate our national drink than pairing it with another Scottish favourite – tatties. Bottler Douglas Laing and teamed up with potato king Albert Bartlett to create three recipes combining…

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