Celebrate World Whisky Day with 10 businesses who infuse their products with the ‘water of life’

IT’S that time of year again, with the third Saturday in May marking World Whisky Day as people across the globe are invited to “try a dram and celebrate the water of life”. While we’re sure many will be raising a toast to the occasion with their favourite single malts and blends, for this week’s top 10 we’ve turned our attention to businesses in Scotland who have found pioneering ways to infuse their products with the beloved spirit’s warming flavours.

Sláinte.

THISTLY CROSS CIDER

Proudly produced on the East Lothian Coast, which is said to be one of the country’s “sunniest” areas, a cold Thistly Cross Cider is the perfect tipple for the warm weather. The Whisky Cask variety in particular is a standout, made using Glen Moray single malt casks to create warming notes of oak, vanilla and honey. www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk

INVERLOCH CHEESE

This Campbeltown-based family firm has over 25 years of cheese-making experience under its belts, meaning it knows a thing or two about which flavours will marry seamlessly with the taste of tangy, mature cheddar.

And when it comes to whisky? The range of Springbank, Glen Scotia

15 or Laphroaig infused cheeses are described as a “highly flavoursome indulgence” and showcase the distinctive tasting notes of each single malt. www.scotcheese.com

GALLOWAY LODGE

Whisky at breakfast time is, quite rightly, frowned upon.

But the famous Whisky Marmalade from Galloway Lodge, crafted with Scottish malt from the Annandale Distillery, is best enjoyed when spooned liberally onto a morning round of thickcut toast.

As they say: “Surely there can be no better way to start your day?” www.gallowaylodge.co.uk

CHOCOLATES OF GLENSHIEL

Putting to use the valuable lessons learned from baking alongside his gran, Finlay MacDonald established Chocolates of Glenshiel at the age of just 16.

The talented chocolatier is known for experimenting with locally sourced ingredients from Inverness Coffee Roasters Beans to sweet Heather Hills Farm honey from Blairgowrie and of course, whisky.

In their boozy collection, you’ll find a mix of Talisker 10-year-old, Jura, Aberlour 10-year-old and Glenlivet reserve encased in glossy chocolate shells. www.chocolatesofglenshiel.com

HAWKHEAD WHISKY SMOKED

Be it crunchy, organic cashews for snacking or black garlic smoked salt to up your baking game, Hawkhead’s smoking process adds a huge depth of savoury flavour to all of its products.

They said: “By using only agedout whisky casks, each one having serviced the whisky industry for several decades, and a smoking process that has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years, we capture the heritage and flavour of Scotland in everything we produce.” www.whiskysmoked.com

Sarah Campbell highlights the businesses who have added a dram to their products

ASHERS BAKERY

Now run by the fifth generation of the Asher family, this bakery runs 12 outlets and cafes across the North of

Scotland.

Don’t worry if you can’t find one locally, because through an online shop, they offer all manner of goods for delivery including award-winning, moist fruitcakes laced with your choice of Highland, Island or Speyside single malt.

SPIRITED SOAPS

While they might smell good enough to eat, this is the only entry on our list that won’t quench your thirst or make a tasty snack.

Instead, this small business puts some of Islay and

Jura’s most famous spirits like Ardbeg or Bunnahabhian to use for a range of smallbatch soaps that are both gentle and moisturising for your skin. Next time you take a trip to Scotland’s “Whisky Island”, be sure to stop by their shop on Bowmore’s main street. www.spiritedsoaps.com

BALVENIE ST. DUFFTOWN

Another way for sweet-tooths to enjoy Scotland’s national drink without pouring a dram, this family-run business on Balvenie Street Dufftown is “the home of whisky ice cream”.

They said: “To ensure our ice creams are nothing short of outstanding, we purposefully and carefully select Scottish single malt whiskies, which shine with our selected dairy vanilla ice cream for our exclusive recipes.”

Home (whiskyicecream.co.uk)

ETEAKET

For a well-rounded sip of whisky flavours without the alcohol content, the clever tea experts at Edinburgh’s eteaket have developed “Europe’s first barrel-aged tea”.

Three black teas from Assam, Ceylon and Fujian are blended with an added touch of natural bergamot and cornflowers before the ‘magic part’ happens as tea leaves are suspended in barrels from the Tomatin Distillery in the heart of the Highlands.

This process allows the tea to pick up the “complex, smoky and fruity” taste of whisky without overpowering the high-quality leaves. www.eteaket.co.uk

HEBRIDEAN

SMOKEHOUSE

The Hebridean Smokehouse has been a foodie fixture on the Island of North Uist since 1987, utilising ‘excellent raw materials and the skills of an expert team’ to build a reputation for producing some of the best-smoked salmon Scotland has to offer.

Whisky fans will love Barrel Oak, smoked with a combination of old and new barrels from Speyside cooperages to achieve rounded woody notes and a subtle sweetness.