Scran

In this episode of Scran Rosalind talks to brothers Nick and Alex Ravenhall aka The Whisky Smugglers. Both work in the whisky industry and have been involved in a project to raise money for Sea Shepard by open water swimming with some whisky on board! Find out more about their slightly hair-raising efforts and how their love for whisky has its beginnings in their homeland of New Zealand.

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This special bonus episode of Scran was recorded at the newly opened Johnnie Walker Visitor Experience on Princes Street in Edinburgh. Rosalind went along to check out Diageo's £185million investment in the old Fraser's building.

You'll be given a sneak peak into what you can expect to experience on a tour including hearing from Master Blender Emma Walker, Senior Experience Ambassador Gordon Houston, the wonderful retiree-turned-Tour Guide Les Defesche, Chief Sustainability Officer Ewan Andrew and Managing Director of Diageo's Brand Homes and General Manager of the new visitor experience, Barbara Smith.

In this episode you'll meander through this remarkable building and catch an auditory glimpse of what is already set to become a new Edinburgh institution.

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On this episode of Scran, Rosalind takes a deep dive into a relatively new business - Larkfire - a canned Scottish water company that is billed as wild water for whisky.

Rosalind is joined by James Mcintosh and Alan Moffat from Larkfire alongside whisky consultant Mitch Bechard to discuss how a dram in a London pub led to James travelling around Scotland to find the most neutral water available in order to can it for Larkfire. We also chat about the significance of the name and how James and Alan hope that by offering a completely neutral water - with low minerals and no added chlorine or fluoride - more people will be drawn to whisky. Mitch gives his thoughts from a whisky expert point of view, and they tell me how the industry has reacted to their product. They also share their must-drink desert island drams.

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On this episode of Scran, Rosalind chats to Fraser Graham from Cabezon Beverage.

Cabezon together with Lost Loch distillery in Aboyne, launched a botanical rum last year, making them one of the newer kids on the burgeoning scottish rum block. Rosalind spoke to Fraser about the rum scene in Scotland, changing tastes and appetites for local produce, rum cocktails and how taking Buckfast to a desert island may be a great idea….

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On this episode of Scran, Rosalind took a tour of the newly opened Glenlivet visitor centre in Speyside and spoke to master distiller Alan Winchester. She was also joined on Zoom by Glen Moray’s Iain Allan to discuss whisky tourism, and the malt whisky trail.

Alan Winchester has worked in whisky all his career, from the cooperage to master distiller at The Glenlivet. Alan joined Rosalind on site at the distillery to chat about whisky history, smuggling, working with the national trust and his thoughts on the new visitor centre, where he features in video form.

Iain discusses the wider topic of whisky tourism, how it has grown over the years and what part the malt whisky trail has played in this. Iain also recalls his recent holiday time at home in Moray and Speyside as well as discussing experimental casks.

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On this episode of Scran, host Rosalind Erskine sits down to chat about food, career moves, crisps, whisky and nurturing new talent with chefs Derek Johnstone and Mark Donald.

Derek, who was the first winner of MasterChef: The Professionals, moved from his role at Borthwick Castle, an exclusive-use venue near Gorebridge to take over and develop three restaurants within the Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews.

Also earlier this year, Mark Donald left his role as head chef of the Michelin starred Number One Restaurant at the Balmoral Hotel to take on an executive head chef role at the soon to open Lalique restaurant at The Glenturret Distillery.

Mark and Derek talk about their new roles, what diners can expect, how they got into cooking and the career achievements to date.

Tune in to hear their food heaven and hell, what to expect from their new restaurants and advice for newcomers to the industry.

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On this second part of our Scran on the Road series on Islay, Rosalind discovers some of the drams and drinks that have made the island famous.

To find out more about Islay spirits, Rosalind chats to the visitor centre manager at Bunnahabhain, Billy Sinclair, owner of Islay Gin Audrey Gow, owner of Kilchoman distillery Anthony Wills and Ardbeg’s visitor centre manager, Jackie Thomson.

Tune in to hear their favourite spots on Islay, desert island drams, what the last year and a half has been like without tourism and their own personal stories of what brought them to Islay.

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Now that we can travel around Scotland again, Scran on the road is back.

Over the next two episodes, Rosalind heads to Islay to discover the draw it has for visitors - from whisky tourism to amazing seafood.

On part one of Scran on the road, Rosalind chats to head chef at the Machrie, Darren Velvick, retired fisherman turned sea tour guide, Harold Hasting and owner of Glenegedale House, Emma Clark.

Tune in to find out what to expect when visiting Islay and the guests' top spots to visit, what attracts tourists to the island, favourite drams, growing up on Islay, foraging and what Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Waring are like to work with.

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On this episode of Scran, Rosalind takes a deep dive into the world of artisan Scottish sea salt. She's joined by guests Greogrie Marshall from Blackthorn Salt, Darren Peattie from the East Neuk Salt Company and Anna Hock from Orsay Sea Salt.
Gregorie discusses the inspiration for his eye catching blockthorn salt tower, located in Ayr and explains how it works. He also explains the differences in salt and whether or not we can expect to see a dedicated salt spa any time soon.
Anna and Darren are just getting into salt production, with Anna based on Islay and Darren in St Monans in Fife. Darren was keen to bring back salt production to the East Neuk as a nod to the history but also to create jobs, whereas Anna has turned a hobby into a business that is already thriving thanks to the tourism and interest in Islay. They both chat about the challenges they've faced, from missing polytunnels to engineering trials.
They also discuss their plans for the future, which will include collaborations with local businesses and a gin.

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On this episode of Scran, we get the kettle on and sit down for a coffee with Dear Green founder Lisa Lawson and Figment Coffee's Neil Glover. Lisa and Neil discuss the ongoing coffee craze from 90s cafe culture to now, coffee buzzword, their favourite drinks and how to ensure sustainability and ethical practises. Rosalind is also joined by producer Morven to chat their favourite coffees and partake in a quiz.

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