Hoppy to be in Scotland

IT'S believed that beer has been brewed in #Scotland for more than 5000 years and with more than 115 breweries, stretching from the Valhalla Brewery on Unst in Shetland to Portpatrick Brewery near Stranraer, Scotland is in the midst of a craft beer revolution.

Scotland’s Craft Beer Map will allow beer lovers to plot their very own ale adventures as they work their way around the country discovering some of the finest craft brews.

The new map from VisitScotland currently holds details of more than 70 producers, with more expected to be added in future. Virtual visitors can explore beers by region, find their favourite brands and embark on tours and tastings.

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Fish festival

FREE tasters of freshly-caught and barbecued seafood, sea shanties, and sketching workshops some of the family-friendly treats lined-up during an event celebrating the fishing heritage of the coastline that lies within the North York Moors National Park.   

The inaugural Fish.Fillet.Feast! event on Saturday June 18 will include activities for all ages across 10 locations between Saltburn and Ravenscar. Villages such as Runswick Bay, Sandsend, and Robin Hood's Bay are taking part, as is Staithes, which was the largest fishing port on England’s north-east coast in the late 1800s.

The day will begin early in the morning when local fishermen will venture out to sea to bring back the day's catch. From mid-morning onwards, chefs at various seafront venues prepare and cook the fish and serve visitors with free tastings. Restaurants along the coast will also be serving affordable fish dishes to mark the occasion.

The day runs from 11am to 7pm and most of the events will be free of charge. Timings of events varies and there are different activities happening in each village.

The full programme and further details can be found on the North York Moors National Park's website: www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/fish

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Picture Credit: Neon Fish</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

Where old Scotch is the best …

AS the second series of #Outlander hits TV screens in Britain, Edinburgh's five-star visitor attraction, The Scotch Whisky Experience, has launched a package to awaken the spirit of times gone by. The Outlander #Whisky Tasting has been created in response to interest from visitors from across the world in #Scotland's hidden past, with a focus on the country's 'ghost’ distilleries. 

This exclusive tasting is hosted by a Master of the Quaich in the world's largest collection of Scotch whisky – 3,384 bottles – and gives a snapshot of the drink's long and illustrious past.

Julie Trevisan Hunter at The Scotch Whisky Experience explains: ‘Some of Scotland's most famous distilleries have been closed and dismantled over the years, but their spirit and character remain in bottlings which lay unopened … until now. This tasting offers whisky lovers the one-off opportunity to travel back in time and experience some rare and unusual whiskies, which are now part of the drink's extensive 500-year history.

‘Whether as a toast at clan gatherings or a dram by the fire, Scotch whisky has maintained its presence in Scotland's cultural and historic landscape for centuries and its flavour truly captures the spirit of our country. We hope that our new Outlander Whisky Tasting will help awaken the spirit of time gone by and allow our visitors to experience a small slice of the country's past.’

Whiskies included in the tasting are: The Cally 40-year-old; Port Ellen; Brora 35-year-old; and Ghosted Reserve Blend.

The tastings are available for between two and 12 guests at £485 per person.

www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

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It’s whisky … and English!

CAN good whisky – and a good single malt at that – be produced in England?

Paul Currie, co-founder of the award winning Isle of Arran Distillers, believes it can, so much so that he’s turned a Victorian model farm near Keswick in the Lake District into a craft distillery. 

It opened in December last year, when it started production of its Lakes Single Malt, which is now maturing in casks and which will be bottled in April 2018.

Gin and vodka are also produced at the distillery, in handmade copper pot stills. Its gin is created with wild Cumbrian juniper, heather and meadowsweet foraged nearby.

The Lakes Distillery – close to the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake – is open to visitors seven days a week from 11am to 6pm for tours, on which they can see the stillmen at work, have a look at the maturing barrels – the woods used are different to those in north of the border – and enjoy a glass or two in the tasting rooms.

 

There’s also a bistro, serving breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas, and dinners.

www.lakesdistillery.com

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Picture Credit: www.lakesdistillery.com

Tuck in to some Croc

AYERS ROCK RESORT has devised a Bush Tucker Trail that will give guests the opportunity to try Lemon Myrtle, Kakadu Plum, Bush Tomato, Quandong, Wattleseed, and other dishes that highlights indigenous Australian flavours. 

Dishes include:

• Braised Pork Belly Sliders, Kakadu plum chili sauce, cucumber and macadamia nut salad.
• Outback Pizza, Smoked kangaroo, emu strips, mushroom, onion, roast red pepper, bush tomato.
• Grilled Crocodile, Crocodile Tail dusted with bush dukkha served with spinach salad and lemon myrtle and mango dressing.
• Kangaroo Mignon, Grilled Kangaroo Mignon with mountain pepper, seasonal vegetables, potato gallette and bush tomato jus.

Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan says: ‘Our Restaurant Australia campaign is all about people, produce and place and Ayers Rock Resort certainly seems to have ticked all those boxes with their latest indigenous tourism experience.’

www.ayersrockresort.com.au

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Picture Credit: Crocodile in Broome Western Australia by Kat Clay from Sydney, Australia via Wikimedia Commons 
uru, helicopter view, cropped by Corey Leopold via Wikimedia Commons 

Welcome to the world of chocolate!

EUROCHOCOLATE  - www.eurochocolate.com - will be the big event in the Italian city of Perugia next month (October 17-26). 

Attracting people who make the stuff, market it, import it – and it just eat it – there will be tastings, exhibitions, workshops, and chocolate sculptures in the streets of the historic city. 

This year's theme is Vintage, inspired by the 50's and 60's era.

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Picture Credit: eurochocolate.com