I had some great visits outside of Canada and the U.S. this year, visiting Sydney, Tasmania, Western Australia, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Scotland and England. Here are some highlights. BEST RENTAL CAR EMPLOYEE My reservation was all messed up and the Budget Rental Car counter was closed when I landed at the airport in Esperance, Western Australia. I called the phone number for after hours help and reached a very kind woman named Hope. She was about to head off to a gender reveal party but said she could drive out and get my car set up for me, which Read more
distilleries
EDINBURGH – This one of the world’s great cities; a handsome, sturdy, regal place of stone and rock and history that seeps into your bones. There are also lovely gardens, sumptuous hotels, excellent food, and, yes, the odd place to try a wee sip of whisky. I recently visited for a few days and did five tours that included the Royal Mile, the Palace at HolyroodHouse, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and a Johnnie Walker whisky experience. Here’s a look at all five. MERCAT ROYAL MILE AND EDINBURGH CASTLE TOUR The Mercat Secrets of the Royal Mile Tour (Mercat Read more
A family-run brewery in the countryside. An historic beer-making spot in central Windsor. A fine winery with classic Chardonnay. And a bustling distillery with craft cocktails and fun, casual dining. The Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island tourism region is blessed with a huge variety of beer, wine and distillery spots, which they highlight on their Barrels, Bottles and Brews trail. The trail allows visitors (and locals) to explore 11 craft breweries and two distilleries in the area, and to have a special passport stamped along the way I was fortunate enough to explore a half-dozen or so fine establishments on a recent visit Read more
There are many reasons to make Scotland the place to be in 2023. The list below is a selection of some of the major openings, news updates and events to look forward to in the year ahead. Top Stories Celtic Connections 30th Anniversary, January 2023 Celtic Connections, the home of world-class music, one-off collaborations, and genre-defying spectacles, is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in January 2023. The 30th Anniversary is a pinnacle moment for the festival as it recognises the advancements and achievements of the last thirty years and everything the organisers have overcome to bring people together in Read more
A Dragon’s Den star who heads up a massive beer, wine and spirits empire. The only female master distiller in the province. And production manager at the 2021 Canadian Brewery of the Year. The spirits and beer scene is going strong in Calgary, and women are front and centre, as I discover during a recent visit. . An hour’s drive south of Calgary, in the bucolic town of Turner Valley, Winnipeg-born, Scotland-raised Caitlin Quinn is the master distiller at Eau Claire Distillery, the first boutique distillery in Alberta. Quinn got an undergrad degree chemistry, but quickly realized it wouldn’t lead Read more
