Australian hotel group to test UK market

Australian-based hotel group TFE Hotels is set to launch its first properties in the UK later this year, making its debut in the British Isles.

TFE is to open two Adina-branded apartment-hotels, The Hobson Cambridge by Adina and The Wellington Glasgow by Adina in Scotland.

Both properties are set to open in the northern hemisphere autumn, news portal Travel Mole reported.

TFE Hotels was established in 2013 as a joint venture between Australia’s Toga Group (1963), and Singapore’s Far East Hospitality Holdings.

Asli Kutlucan, CEO of TFE Hotels Europe, said: “Our arrival in Cambridge and Glasgow signals a confident step forward for TFE Hotels’ European strategy.

“These two properties align with our vision of offering flexible, design-led apartment-hotel experiences.”

TFE has grown its presence across Europe with existing Adina apartment-hotels in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Hungary.

Hobson Cambridge by Adina is housed in a former police station which retains heritage architecture. It will also feature a bar and restaurant.

The Wellington Glasgow by Adina is situated in central Glasgow within easy reach of the city’s conference hubs, shopping and nightlife.

Moritz Klein, head of operations EU & UK at TFE Hotels Europe, said: “Launching Adina Apartment Hotels in the UK is a significant operational milestone for TFE Hotels.

"Our teams have been working closely to ensure a seamless brand introduction.”

TFE Hotels brands include Adina Hotels, A by Adina, Vibe Hotels, Quincy Hotels, Travelodge and Rendezvous Hotels.

Image: The Hobson Cambridge by Adina

Anyone for a seriously aged whisky?

Glenfarclas, one of Scotland’s few remaining family-owned and managed distilleries, has this week announced the release of its oldest whisky to date.

Distilled on November 20,  1953, the Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old has been matured in the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses in Speyside. 

This release was laid down in first-fill sherry casks. The whisky has been overseen by six distillery managers over the past seventy years and will now be available to purchase internationally.

The 70-Year-Old is an exceptionally rare Glenfarclas. When it was distilled back in 1953, the malt barn would have been a hive of activity at the heart of the distillery, with barley being hand-turned on the malting floors. 

There will be only 262 bottles available globally.  

John Grant, chairman and fifth generation of the Grant family to have owned and run Glenfarclas distillery, said: 
"As chairman of a family-owned distillery I am committed to overseeing the production of our exceptional malt whisky, just as my forefathers did before me. 

“We take great pride in maintaining complete control over every aspect of production, preserving our time-honoured traditional methods - most notably, the use of direct-fired stills, which creates a robust and full-bodied spirit.

"Remarkably, this particular cask has been maturing almost as long as I’ve been alive. Releasing it now marks a true milestone.”

The new release is the oldest in the Glenfarclas Warehouse Series, surpassing the 30-, 35-, and 40-Year-Old expressions. 

Callum A. Fraser, distillery manager at Glenfarclas, is proud of the whisky. 

“This is true Glenfarclas and this expression captures the very DNA of the distillery, he said. “What we did 30 or 40 or even 70 years ago is very much what we still do today. The warehouses are still here, holding decades of stories in their walls. At the heart of it all, tradition remains key.

“This whisky has waited 70 years to be enjoyed. Through wars, the reign of a queen and now a king, the world has changed - but this spirit has endured, and it stands as a rare and timeless testament to patience and craft.”

The recommended retail price is £20,000 (UK). Ouch! 

Glasgow keen to embrace cruise ships

 

While many cities around the globe are keen to be rid of polluting large cruise ships, Glasgow in Scotland is keen to embrace them.

A proposal is being mooted to bring large cruise ships down the River Clyde all the way to Glasgow city centre, news portal Travel Mole reports.

"Ambitious plans" would see cruise ships dock at the King George V Dock in Govan.

Greenock, further outside the city, is currently the cruise ship gateway to the city of Glasgow. It is 36km away. 

Operator Peel Ports has presented a proposal to West of Scotland Member of the Scottish Parliament Russell Findlay, who is supporting it.

“Seeing cruise ships coming up the Clyde into the centre of Glasgow would be a huge boost to Scotland’s biggest city and I’m delighted to give my party’s full support,” he said.

“If this happens, it has the potential to bring in huge numbers of visitors which would not only help benefit the economy but rejuvenate the riverside.

“I would urge the Scottish Government and city council to encourage rather than stifle enterprising ideas like this.”

Local councillor John Daly is another who is in favour of the idea.

“I wholeheartedly support the plans from Peel Ports to bring cruise ships to the heart of the city,” he said.

“I am proud to represent this city and will always champion proposals like this which could deliver a much-needed jobs boost for Glasgow.”

Peel Ports says allowing cruise ships down the Clyde into Glasgow have been "discussed in principle" many times without success.

“The Port of Greenock remains the Clyde’s cruise terminal, following the major investments into the facilities over recent years,” Peel said.

Meet the bottle of whisky that will set you back almost $40,000

Meet the special botte of whisky that you might have to take out a mortgage to buy.

Benromach Distillery from Forres, in the Scottish Highlands, has just launched a rare 50-Years-Old single malt that has been maturing over five decades. 

The special release is presented in "unique hand-crafted glass decanters" created by Glasstorm, one of the UK’s most established hot glass studios.

Benromach’s ethos and dedication to traditional methods - it has a history dating back to 1898 - has "been echoed by Glasstorm", who used a highly skilled ‘battuto’ technique to finish the decanters. This technique is only practiced by master glassmakers and sees the glass sculpted by hand, making each bottle a unique work of art.

Only 248 decanters of this single cask release are available worldwide, retailing at £20,000 (that's just a tad under $40,000 Aussie.

“I’m proud to be distillery manager at a time when we release this exquisite single malt, the epitome of our dedication to create exceptional whiskies by hand,” says distillery manager Keith Cruickshank. 

“Each element of Benromach 50-Years-Old has been crafted by hand using traditional techniques. This includes the decanter, which not only mirrors the spirit in terms of quality but also embodies the passion and meticulous attention to detail that has gone into crafting it.

“It is truly a memorable experience for the team to be able to release this very special whisky; a single malt that has been made by hand and shaped by time.”

I haven't tried the whisky yet. My sample must have been delayed in the post. 

Here are the official tasting notes:

Nose: Smooth citrus peel with hints of strawberry and a touch of smoke. Pineapple notes come to the fore, alongside fruitcake and a dash of lemon sherbet.
Taste: Stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather. Medjool dates and flambeed banana give way to toasted almonds.
Finish: Full and long finish with cracked black pepper and a wisp of smoke.

For more information visit: www.benromach.com

Delta dawn: Sorry, your pilot's been on the piss

UPDATE: The pilot was this week sentenced to 10 months in jail.

When you are responsible for the safety of several hundred people, you probably should have the intelligence and decency not to get drunk as a skunk.

But a US-based Delta Air Lines pilot has pleaded guilty to being over the alcohol limit before he was due to fly a transatlantic flight back to the US from Scotland in June last year, Travel Mole reports.

Reporting for duty for an Edinburgh to New York flight, Lawrence Russell, 63, was searched by Edinburgh Airport security officers.

They discovered two bottles of herbal alcoholic drink Jägermeister in his bag, including one which was half empty.

Thinking he was possibly intoxicated, the officers required him to do a breath test - which he failed miserably. His reading was more than twice the legal limit.

Russell was remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff's Court after pleading guilty to being impaired through drink as a pilot.

In mitigation, Russell’s lawyer supplied records to the court of his treatment for alcoholism. A bit of a worry for his passengers.

Russell said was "under no illusion" it was a serious offence.

Sheriff Alison Stirling this week said a prison sentence was necessary for the "protection of the public".

In sentencing, she said Russell "showed a reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew. The pilot of a commercial aircraft holds the lives of hundreds in his hands.

“This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with.”

A new spirit from Scotland is a gin, not a whisky

The competitive Australian spirits market has a new contender from Scotland - but the newcomer is a gin, not a whisky.

Tulchan is a new super-premium gin from Speyside, with a bagpipe player on the label to make sure you know where it comes from.

Taking its name from Tulchan Estate, it is made with botanicals inspired by the terroir of the estate, which is located on the banks of the River Spey.

Tulchan Gin is being touted as a “a full bodied, juniper forward, London Dry gin, featuring 14 deliciously fragrant botanicals including sloe berries, elderflower and blackberry leaves”.

Asparagus (a little weird) also features.

Tulchan Gin is presented in an embossed blue glass bottle with Tulchan Gin’s own tartan running down the side. Another broad wink to its origin.

The gin is part of the Stoli Group portfolio of wine and spirits brands and is distributed by Amber Beverage Group in Australia.

Tulchan Gin global brand lead Kara Anderson says: “We are delighted to bring a slice of our wondrous estate to Australia. 

"Distilled in Speyside, in the heart of whisky country, we’re looking forward to introducing Tulchan Gin to whisky drinkers as well as gin lovers throughout the world.”

Available from Dan Murphy’s stores and Hairy Dog online. RRP $95.

See www.tulchangin.com

For King and country: a £25,000 bottle of whisky

Distillers Gordon & MacPhail have unveiled a special single malt whisky from 1948 - the year of his birth - to mark King Charles III’s Coronation in May.

There will doubtless be many companies jumping on the coronation bandwagon to sell all sorts of tat, but few will be as expensive as The Private Collection 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery.

The whisky was filled into a first-fill Sherry cask on April 10,1948, by Gordon & MacPhail. 

Only 281 bottles will be available of this ultra-rare release which was bottled on December 15 - the anniversary of Charlie's christening.

Priced at £25,000 per bottle - that's around $47,000 in Australian pesos - the whisky retains a cask strength of 50.4% after more than seven decades of maturation.

I is described as "a vibrant and fragrant single malt packed with festive spices, mulled berries, a hint of raisin and lemon zest."

Gordon & MacPhail also released a 70-year-old single malt to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And the family has links with the distiller.

HRH Prince Charles - as he was known then - officially reopened the company's Benromach Distillery in 1998.

To celebrate the release of The King Charles III Coronation Edition, a donation of £25,000 will be made by Gordon & MacPhail to The Prince’s Foundation. How very generous of them.

Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige [what a great job title] at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “This exceptional whisky is a fitting tribute to His Majesty, who has continually promoted and protected British tradition and excellence over many decades.

"This release has been carefully nurtured for over seventy years and is testament to great patience, long term thinking and commitment to creating high quality products; principles that have been handed down through generations of people working for our family business.

“For more than 50 years, King Charles has placed a firm focus on sustainability and supporting communities. Our donation to The Prince’s Foundation will support his vision of a more sustainable world and aims to help create future legacies.”

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has bottled spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries.

For more information see www.gordonandmacphail.com

Snoop Dogg to link with Gordon Ramsay

Collaborations are a dime a dozen in the food, booze and music industries, but one announced today defies belief.

Think celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and rapper Snoop Dogg.

The Scottish newspaper The Daily Record reported today that Snoop Dogg plans to open a Glasgow restaurant with shouty chef Ramsay.

I checked and the date is not April 1. But I remain sceptical. 

Apparently Snoop Dogg, 50, has known failed goalkeeper Ramsay for several years. 

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jnr, released his first cook book From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from That Boss Dogg’s Kitchen in 2018 and has sought advice from the grumpy one. 

Ramsay, 55, has interests in 35 restaurants around the world. He closed his Glasgow eaterie, the Amaryllis, in 2004 after only three years because of the death of head chef David Dempsey. 

The newspaper quoted the rapper as saying: “I have been speaking with my boy Gordon for a while about opening a restaurant together - but the pandemic slowed things right down.

“Gordon has got a few places in Vegas and Vegas is Snoop’s city - so I kind of figured that we would open a place there - but I know Gordon is from Scotland and people know my love for Scotland and for Glasgow as a city so - why not there?” 

Mr Dogg said he hoped the restaurant would offer personal favourites like fried chicken as well as traditional Scottish dishes like haggis. [This is getting silly now, isn't it?]

 
Snoop does have some culinary cred. 

He teamed up with American celebrity chef Martha Stewart for three series of Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party which saw them cooking for celebrities.

Snoop was also in the news this week with the release of his first sparkling wine collab with Treasury Wine Estates-owned wine label 19 Crimes in the US (top image). 

Following Snoop Cali Rosé and Snoop Cali Red comes Snoop Cali Gold, the first 19 Crimes bubbly. 

The theme of the launch centred around partying and celebrations, or as Snoop Dogg himself put it, an “OG party vibe”. 

OG apparently means Original Gangster, my rap correspondent tells me. 

I don't think it is a wine I will be rushing out to buy. 

 

The long way to the top: meet Scotland's slowest distillery

Whisky lovers are now spoilt for choice with an ever-increasing range from Scotland, Ireland and Tasmania available on their local bottle shop shelves and in cocktail bars.

Glengoyne - with a history dating back to 1833 - are the first whisky producers to announce a 100% recyclable and smart re-usable packaging solution.

With Loch Lomond in the distance, the Glengoyne Distillery is just 25km north of Glasgow and all of the new packaging materials have been sourced close to home base and are sustainability approved.

Glengoyne, available at Dan Murphy's and BSW stores in Australia, boasts it is Scotland's slowest distilled malt whisky. Each whisky is matured for a minimum pf six years in custom-made oak casks.

“We are excited to unveil our new sustainable packaging as part of our long-standing commitment to the preservation of the environment," says Martin Howey, Glengoyne business development director.

"We were the first Scottish distillery to adopt a wetlands facility for our liquid waste (home to 14,500 plants and abundant wildlife including two beehives) and we have been powered by renewable wind energy since 2019, earning us the reputation of Scotland’s greenest distillery.

"All of the new packaging materials have been sourced locally, close to the distillery to reduce carbon footprint (apart from corks and capsules which currently come from Europe). The 10, 12, Legacy Series and Cask Strength packaging is 100% recyclable.

“This is a project two years in the making and we are very proud to be the first Whisky producer to introduce a 100 % recyclable and reusable packaging solution as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability and the future.”

Glengoyne's range includes 10, 12, 21, 25 and 30 Year-Olds, plus the highly awarded special releases including Cask Strength and Legacy Series.

https://www.glengoyne.com/