The festive season calls for festive drinks! During winter we tend to opt for hot toddies, Christmas spices and richer flavours, but what really makes the drink festive is the presentation. Use sprigs of rosemary, apple slices, clementines and various red berries to give the cocktail a festive flair. Which one of these festive cocktail […]
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be a right pain with stressed shoppers everywhere. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t need any more stuff. So, if your giftee likes a bevvy, you’re in luck as most of the shopping can be done online and who wouldn’t enjoy a Christmassy gin or a nice bottle of […]
Tomatin Distillery is located in the Highlands between Aviemore and Inverness on the Speyside border. Tomatin, which mean Hill of the Juniper, was once the biggest malt distillery in Scotland. I was recently invited to visit the distillery, where I got to meet master blender and global brand ambassador, Scott Adamson. He walked me through […]
Borders Distillery in Hawick was the first scotch whisky distillery to open in the Borders since 1837. The distillery received a planning permission back in 2015 and the first spirit run took place in March 2018. The distillery is in a beautifully restored Victorian industrial building. They’ve done an impressive job of preserving the historical buildings […]
It’s finally hot toddy season! The classic hot toddy is made with hot water, honey, lemon and a good measure of whisky. Although by no means do you have to limit yourself to whisky. Try rum, brandy or even gin. Let’s look into the history of hot toddy and how our favourite winter warmer came […]
As it is the month of October, I thought I’d share a few stories of haunted whisky distilleries. These all took place in various locations in Scotland, although it seems to me that distilleries in other countries have had their fair share of ghostly visitors also. From headless riders to mystic vibrations, these ghost stories […]
To celebrate International Scottish Gin Day on the 7th October, I’ve listed a few bottles that I’ve been enjoying recently. There are some newer releases and a few older Scottish gins, all worthy of a place at your home bar. When I find a gin that I really enjoy, I tend to return to it […]
When we think of Italian lemons, we often associate them with the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, when in fact the lemon trade began from Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda, back in the 14th century. Due to the hilly landscape of the region, lemons were grown in specific lemon houses on the sides of the mountainous […]
There wouldn’t be whisky without water. In fact, the word whisky comes from the Gaelic word uisge meaning water, which, in turn, comes from Latin aqua vitae (uisge beatha in Scottish Gaelic), as in water of life. Everyone appreciates the importance of the water source when it comes to making whisky. If you’ve read my […]