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Eight Cocktail and Food Recipes Perfect For Burns Night

Whisky is often enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but cocktails aren’t just for Gin, Rum or Vodka.

With a breadth of flavour combinations, it’s time to make Whisky the star of your cocktail bar. Even if the spirit isn’t your go-to tipple, there are plenty of flavours to explore that will tickle your taste buds.

As you raise a toast to Robert Burns, you want to honour him with the good stuff. The team at drinks retailer Bottle Club have compiled their most popular scotch whisky cocktails, along with recipes for you to try at home.

Popular Scotch Whisky Cocktails:

Robert Burns Cocktail

The Robert Burns is one of the classic cocktails that pays tribute to another of Scotland’s finest exports.

The drink itself is a delightful, sophisticated mix that builds on the scotch-vermouth combination of Rob Roy. The addition of absinthe brings in a nice contrasting flavour, though be sure to keep this accent to a dash, as it can easily overpower the drink.

If absinthe is a bit too much for your taste, there is a variation called the Bobby Burns which omits absinthe for Bénédictine.

It is a Scottish tradition to celebrate the poet Burns’ birthday on January 25th of each year, and whether this drink was named for him or not, it is a fantastic choice for the evening’s libation.

Ingredients- 1 serving

60ml Scotch Whisky
20 ml Sweet Vermouth
Dash Orange Bitters
Dash Absinthe

Method:

Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, then stir well and strain into a tumbler. Ice and orange twist optional. If you do not have absinthe, try an anise-flavoured liqueur as a substitute.

Rusty Nail Cocktail

The Rusty Nail is the ultimate Scotch cocktail. It’s a very simple mix of scotch and Drambuie that is served on the rocks. This is designed to be a sophisticated, slow-sipping drink, and it’s excellent after dinner.

Feel free to switch from blended to single malts and explore various brands, choosing a variety that is as top-shelf as you wish. You may also want to adjust the ratio of the two spirits to fit your taste, as well as the type of whisky you’re pouring at the moment.

Ingredients- 1 serving

45 ml Scotch Whisky
20 ml Drambuie

Method:

Simply combine the liquids into a mixing glass and stir well before pouring over ice into a tumbler.

The Rob Roy

The Rob Roy cocktail was named after an operetta that narrated the story of a great Scottish folk hero who supported the poor.

Image: Pexels

A Scotch version of the classic Manhattan cocktail, a Rob Roy replaces bourbon or rye whisky with Scotch. The Rob Roy ingredients are also similar to that of a classic Old Fashioned, but the Rob Roy recipe uses sweet vermouth instead of sugar syrup for a richer flavour.

Best served by putting the cocktail glass in the freezer to ensure the Rob Roy stays cold, as the drink is served without ice. Stirring a Rob Roy cocktail rather than shaking is critical in delicate cocktails with few ingredients, so not to over dilute the drink.

Ingredients- 1 serving

60ml Scotch Whisky
25ml Sweet Vermouth
Dash Angostura Bitters
Cherry (Garnish)

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice (minus the garnish) and stir well before straining into a cold Nick and Nora or Martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Hot Toddy

A good Toddy has been said to jump-start mornings, cure colds and play furnace on a frigid evening. Many people believe that its first use was as a medicinal aid, as liquor was known to numb pain, while citrus and sugar (or honey) could soothe a sore throat.

Image: Millennial Magazine

This recipe comes from San Francisco bartender Jacques Bezuidenhout and features whiskey, hot water, demerara sugar and a clove-studded lemon peel. Fortunately, the Toddy is very easy to make.

Grab your favourite mug, and heat it with some boiling water, similar to how you chill a Martini glass. After a minute or two, throw away the water, and build your drink in the same mug by combining your spirit with sugar and more hot water.

Ingredients- 1 serving

4 Cloves
1 Lemon Peel
2 TSP Demerara Sugar
¼ Ounce / 8ml Lemon Juice
2 Ounces / 60ml Whisky

Method:

Grab your favourite mug and heat it with some boiling water. After a minute or two, throw away the water and build your drink in the same mug by combining your spirit with sugar, lemon juice and peel, cloves and more hot water.

Ruby Queen

The Ruby Queen recipe was developed by Rob Krueger of Extra Fancy in New York City.

Though it is filled with a couple of unusual ingredients, the Ruby Queen is quite easy to mix up. You will need to prepare or acquire fresh beet juice and take a few minutes to make a fresh honey syrup.

Image: Pinterest

It’s a surprise when you taste just how well scotch works against this sweetened vegetable profile, whilst most of us will prefer a more neutral spirit for such a distinct flavour like beets, the whisky adds a depth that vodka and gin cannot.

Simply pour and shake like any other drink and you will have a savoury drink that will rival any Bloody Mary.

Ingredients- 1 serving

1 ½ Ounces / 45ml Scotch Whisky
1 Ounce / 30ml Fresh Red Beetroot Juice
¾ Ounce / 25ml Honey Syrup
¾ Ounce / 25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
Fresh Dill or Tarragon (Garnish)
Lemon Twist (Garnish)

Method:

Combine everything except the garnish into a shaker with ice, shake for 30 seconds, then strain and pour into all tall, high-ball style glass. pour and shake like any other drink and you will have a savoury drink that will rival any Bloody Mary.

Burns Night Recipes

Cranachan

Scotland has a wonderful relationship with desserts and none more so, or more traditional, than with Scottish cranachan. A cranachan is a very quick, easy recipe that includes oats, raspberries, cream, malt whisky, and honey; the ingredients are then layered for a pretty presentation. It’s a festive sweet that is perfect to round off a Burns’ Night supper beautifully.

Ingredients- 6 servings

2 ounces/55 grams steel-cut oatmeal (or pinhead oatmeal)
8 ounces/250 grams fresh raspberries (Scottish if possible), divided
1 pint /475 ml double cream
3 tablespoons malt whisky (good quality)
Optional: 1 tablespoon honey or Scottish honey (plus more for serving)

Method:

Gather the ingredients and heat a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan until hot. Add the oats and, while stirring, toast until they have a light, nutty smell and are only just beginning to change colour.
Once toasted remove from the pan. Crush your raspberries in a food processor or using a fork, then in a separate bowl whip the cream along with the whisky and fold in the honey and the oats.
To finish, layer the dessert into either a large glass trifle bowl or individual serving glasses, starting with either a layer of the cream or raspberries and finishing with a layer of the cream.

NOTE: Many recipes suggest a malt Whisky, and good quality – a few recipes have specifically specified Glenfiddich or Glenlivet.

Tips for cooking with whisky: “Many chefs compare using whisky to using salt, as it brings out the flavor of the food. During cooking, the evaporation of the alcohol concentrates the barley malt and then caramelizes sugars in the spirit”

Whisky Sauce

Whisky sauce for haggis. It’s a no-brainer, right? Two of Scotland’s finest products paired together in a delicious meal! Of course, this whisky sauce can also be a great accompaniment to other meats like steak or chicken, or even a nut roast.

Ingredients- 2 servings

3-4 Tbsp Whisky
100ml Double Cream
50ml Stock
Knob of Butter
1 Tsp Dijon Mustard

Method:

-Heat the fry pan/pot to medium and add the knob of butter and melt and add 3 tbsp of your choice of whisky then light the whisky with the lighter and allow it to burn off the alcohol. This makes the sauce less bitter.

– Add the cream, stock, and mustard to the pan once the flame is out. Allow to thicken and reduce while continuing to stir then add salt and pepper to taste

-If you would like a stronger whisky taste then you can add another tablespoon of whisky at the end too.

Tips for cooking with whisky: “If you’re going to cook with whisky, always use a good quality bottle. You won’t need to use much and it will make all the difference”

Whisky-Cured Salmon

For those growing up in Scotland, long summer days are often spent fishing salmon in the fast-running local rivers. Whisky-cured salmon is a Scottish favourite, served on a large wooden board with a range of accompaniments: oatcakes, thinly sliced pumpernickel bread, small bowls of assorted homemade pickles, crème fraîche, and lots of lemon wedges.

Ingredients- 8 servings

1 Two Pound Wild Salmon Fillet (Boned, Skin On)
1 Cup Coarse Sea Salt
½ Cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Black Peppercorns (Crushed)
2 Tbsp Juniper Berries
½ Cup of Whisky
2 Bunches of Dill

Method:

Line a baking tray and rinse the salmon under cold water and pat dry. In a bowl, mix together the salt, sugar, peppercorns, and juniper berries. Sprinkle half the salt mixture onto the zprepared baking sheet and spread one bunch of dill on top.
Lay the salmon skin-side down on the dill and drizzle with the whisky. Cover with the remaining dill, and top with the rest of the salt mixture.
Wrap the salmon in a tight plastic wrap and refrigerate for 48 hours.
When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap from the salmon. Using the back of a knife scrape the cure mixture off the fish and lay on a large wooden board. To serve, thinly slice the salmon into diagonal strips leaving the skin behind.

Tips for cooking with whisky: “The flavours of a single malt Scotch whisky, for example, are derived from malted barley fermentation, the distillation process and maturation in oak casks over several years, which makes it ideal to boost a wide variety of flavours in foods”

The Bottle Club: https://www.thebottleclub.com/

Police appeal following attempted murder in Pilton Avenue

Detectives are continuing enquiries and appealing for information following an attempted murder in North Edinburgh yesterday (Sunday, 23 January, 2022).

At around 10pm last night, police received a report of a road crash on Pilton Avenue involving a black BMW and an off road motorbike. Emergency services attended and one man, aged 24, was taken to hospital.

Initial enquiries established the motorcyclist was deliberately driven at, and, while on the ground, a man got out the BMW and attacked him. Police are treating the incident as attempted murder.

The attacker ran off heading towards Pilton Place. He is white, around 5ft. 9 inches in height, slim build and aged around 30 years of age. He was wearing a dark coloured hooded top and dark coloured trousers.

The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with a serious leg injury and the black BMW car has been uplifted and is undergoing a forensic examination.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and will review any relevant CCTV coverage for any additional information.

Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “While we do not know the motive for this assault, we believe it was a targeted attack. I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident to contact us – particularly if you have any recording devices, such as dash cam or doorbell cameras.

“A police presence will remain in the area as we continue our enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3489 of 23 January, 2022. If you wish to give your information anonymously, you can do so via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

COP26 President warns Glasgow Climate Pact will remain words on a page unless countries deliver on their promises

Countries need to work together to deliver on the promises made in Glasgow COP26 President, Alok Sharma, will say today (Monday 24th January).

In his first major speech since COP26, Sharma will reflect on the commitments secured at COP26 and the historic Glasgow Climate Pact signed by almost 200 countries at the summit last year.

He will set out his agenda to turn ambition into action for the rest of the UK’s Presidency this year, outlining that whilst the summit has concluded, the world must maintain the urgency and the energy to honour the promises made, as we approach COP27 in Sharm-El Sheikh in November.

Today’s speech will outline the UK’s priorities to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact during its COP Presidency year:

Ensuring promises on emissions reductions are kept to keep 1.5 degrees alive. That every country honours the commitment in the Glasgow Climate Pact to strengthen their climate change targets to align with the Paris temperature goal as necessary in 2022, as well as for delivering on their net zero commitments and 2030 emissions reduction targets, particularly through policies to end coal power, halt deforestation and transition to clean vehicles
Delivering for climate vulnerable countries by ensuring commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured. Working with donors to make progress towards doubling adaptation finance by 2025 and developing a clear proposal and funding for the Santiago Network by COP27
Get finance flowing. The UK through the COP Presidency will help ensure countries, international financial institutions and private financial institutions deliver on the commitments they have made to meet the $100bn goal. And we will aim to increase public-private partnerships to support climate action, building on the South African Just Energy Transition Partnership. We will support Parties to make progress on the post-2025 climate finance goal
Working together and continuing to be an inclusive Presidency. Pushing for further action across critical sectors and turning promises into clear delivery plans through established forums and international councils. The UK through the COP Presidency will work hand-in-hand with the COP27 President Egypt, COP28 President UAE, our international partners, business, youth and civil society, to deliver our priorities and keep climate at the top of the international agenda

COP President Alok Sharma is expected to say: “At COP26 itself almost 200 countries came together and agreed the historic Glasgow Climate Pact. In doing so they demonstrated that climate can create a space for cooperation amidst a splintered global politics, that the world can work together to improve our common future, to address major global challenges and to seize opportunities.

“The Glasgow Climate Pact was a product of international cooperation and a practical demonstration of Global Britain in action.

“There is no doubt that the commitments we secured at COP26 were historic. Yet at the moment they are just words on a page. And unless we honour the promises made, to turn the commitments in the Glasgow Climate Pact into action, they will wither on the vine. We will have mitigated no risks. Seized no opportunities. We will have fractured the trust built between nations. And 1.5 degrees will slip from our grasp.

“So my absolute focus for the UK Presidency year is delivery.”

Mr Sharma recently visited both COP27 President Egypt, and COP28 President UAE, to underline the importance of building strong partnerships with the next two hosts for the summit.

This week, he will meet the UNFCCC to discuss the implementation of the measures agreed with Glasgow. He will also address the Major Economies Forum and continue to ramp up pressure on the rich donor nations to support climate vulnerable countries.

Illegal and harmful content could evade new online safety law, warns Westminster committee

A new Report warns that draft UK Government legislation on online harms would fail to prevent the sharing of some of the most “insidious” images of child abuse and violence against women and girls.

Scrutiny by the DCMS Committee of the Government’s Draft Online Safety Bill has found that in its current form, the legislation is neither clear nor robust enough to tackle certain types of illegal and harmful content on user-to-user and search services.

In the Report published today, MPs call on the Government to address types of content that are technically legal – including parts of child abuse sequences like “breadcrumbing” and types of online violence against and women and girls such as tech-enabled “nudifying” of women and deepfake pornography – by bringing them into scope either through primary legislation or as types of harmful content covered by the duties of care.

MPs reject a recommendation made by the Joint Committee to include in the Bill the establishment of a permanent Committee of both Houses on the grounds that such a development would duplicate the existing constitutional role of the DCMS Committee.

Chair of the DCMS Committee Julian Knight MP said: “In its current form what should be world-leading, landmark legislation instead represents a missed opportunity.

“The Online Safety Bill neither protects freedom of expression nor is it clear nor robust enough to tackle illegal and harmful online content.

“Urgency is required to ensure that some of the most pernicious forms of child sexual abuse do not evade detection because of a failure in the online safety law.

“These are matters of important public debate to which we will return as the Bill makes its way through Parliament.”

ONLINE-SAFETY-REPORT Download

Seatbelt safety campaign launched

Almost one in ten always drive without wearing a seatbelt, new research reveals

A new hard-hitting campaign launched today by The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland asks drivers to wear a seatbelt and warns that not wearing one could cost them their lives – having a devastating impact on the loved ones they leave behind.

Figures show 13 per cent of those killed on Scotland’s roads over the last five years were not wearing a seatbelt. Despite this, new research reveals that almost one in ten drivers always drive a car without wearing a seatbelt.

Drivers surveyed feel that drink-driving, drug-driving, using a phone while driving, driving while fatigued and driving aggressively are all ‘riskier’ than not wearing a seatbelt while driving. Passengers not wearing a seatbelt was seen as ‘risky’ by just 27 per cent.

Minister for Transport Graeme Dey said: “Wearing a seatbelt is something everyone can do to reduce injuries and save lives.

“The consequences of not wearing your seatbelt can be devastating if a collision occurs – not only for the driver and passengers but for other people, including your loved ones.

“This campaign delivers a stark but necessary message to anyone travelling in a car: It’s not just you who gets hurt. Wear a seatbelt on every journey.”

When it comes to considering the serious consequences of not wearing a seatbelt, the majority of drivers surveyed thought of themselves first and were concerned that they might get seriously injured or die if they were involved in a collision. This was ranked above ‘causing injury to someone else’ or the ‘emotional damage they would cause to other people’ (friends, family, emergency services).

Superintendent Simon Bradshaw, Deputy Head of Road Policing said: “Wearing a seatbelt is not a choice, it’s the law and the evidence is clear that seatbelts save lives; it’s not just you that could get hurt if you don’t.

“Our officers will interact with and educate drivers and passengers where necessary but we will also continue to take appropriate enforcement action and those caught not wearing a seatbelt could be fined up to £500. We’re also reminding drivers it’s their responsibility to ensure all passengers under 14 wear their seatbelts, and they can be fined for every child not properly restrained.”

Running across TV, cinema, radio, digital and outdoor channels, the hard-hitting campaign creative underlines that a collision without a seatbelt doesn’t just hurt you, it can also be devastating for those you leave behind.

Set in a testing facility, the new ad features a car with a crash test dummy – not wearing a seatbelt – in the driver’s seat. As the car starts to drive towards a wall, the camera pans away from the impact and focuses on the effects on the driver’s family as they deal with their grief.

A crash test dummy family are seen sitting at a dinner table with an empty seat poignantly left for their lost family member as the final line appears: ‘It’s not just you who gets hurt. Wear a seatbelt.’

For more information go to roadsafety.scot or the Road Safety Scotland Facebook and Twitter (@roadsafetyscot) pages.

Six Edinburgh-based writers receive New Writers Awards 2022

Scottish Book Trust today announces the 10 recipients of the New Writers Awards 2022, which provide a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full-length book or collection with professional guidance to help them move towards publication, as well as financial support.

Funded by Creative Scotland and run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, the awards have supported over 140 creative individuals since 2009.

Six of the awardees this year are based in Edinburgh, including: Agata Maslowska from Poland; Helena Fornells Nada from Barcelona; Roshni Gallagher from Leeds; Armarna Forbes from Colorado; Eimear Bush from Northern Ireland and Firas Ibrahim from Syria.

The judging panel included: Jenny Colgan, Sheena Kalayil and Viccy Adams for fiction; Jen Campbell, Sean Wai Keung and Laura Fyfe for poetry; Akemi Dawn Bowman and Ross Sayers for Children’s and Young Adult fiction, alongside Scottish Book Trust staff.

The Gaelic Books Council selects the Gaelic New Writer Awardee.

Former New Writers awardees include: Bridget Khursheed, whose poetry collection The Last Days of Petrol was recently published by Shearsman Books; Sarah Smith, whose debut novel Hear No Evil will be published by Hachette; and Catherine Simpson, whose memoir One Body will be published by Saraband, both in February.

The 2022 awardees are:

Poetry:

Agata Maslowska

Helena Fornells Nadal

Roshni Gallagher

Children’s and Young Adult:

Armarna Forbes

Lindsay Hirst

Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction:

Dougie Strang

Eimear Bush

Firas Ibrahim

Rae Cowie

Gaelic:

Shelagh Campbell

Each of the 10 recipients will receive a £2,000 cash award and support tailored to their needs including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training opportunities, and the platform to showcase their work to publishers and agents.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Announcing our New Writer Awardees is a fantastic way to start 2022. Some of this year’s cohort have interacted with other Scottish Book Trust programmes, and we are delighted they have reached this stage of their journey.

“We wish all the awardees best of luck and look forward to seeing their publications in the future.”

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing, Creative Scotland said: “Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers awards recognise the wealth of talent in the ranks of Scotland’s developing writers and takes these individuals to the next level through tailored mentoring and training.

“It’s exciting to think that the names on this list have the potential to sit across book spines in the near future, on published collections of poetry, novels or works of non-fiction. Creative Scotland wishes the best of luck to each of them.”

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “We are delighted be partnering with Scottish Book Trust once again to support an emerging Gaelic writer.

“We will be following Shelagh Campbell’s progress with interest as she works on her new crime novel, and we very much look forward to seeing this and other work in print in due course.”

The New Writers Showcase, a celebration of work by last year’s awardees, will be held online through Scottish Book Trust’s social media accounts on Wednesday 6 April. Information about tickets will be available on Scottish Book Trust’s website.

MSPs launch inquiry into how Scots access healthcare services

An inquiry into the different ways patients access healthcare services in Scotland has been launched by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

Traditionally, when a person seeks healthcare their first point of contact is usually with a general practitioner (a GP or family doctor) but the inquiry is focused on other routes to accessing healthcare that exist in the community, referred to as ‘alternative pathways’.

The aim of the inquiry is to explore how and to what extent these alternative pathways are being used to access primary care, and to identify key issues and opportunities for improvement.

Alternative pathways to healthcare in the community include:

Seeing a different health practitioner, such as a physiotherapist, nurse, pharmacist, speech therapist, or podiatrist who works in the GP practice or in the local community.
Being directed to other types of support to improve health and wellbeing – such as walking groups, community groups, advice, or volunteering (referred to as ‘social prescribing’).
Using telephone helplines websites to access additional information, advice and online therapies.

The Committee is seeking to find out the current level of awareness amongst health practitioners and patients of alternative pathways to healthcare other than seeing a GP and how this might be improved in the future.

They are keen to find out what capacity other primary healthcare professionals have to take on more patients, the role of social prescribing in alternative pathways and how technology can improve services.

Speaking as the inquiry launched, Gillian Martin MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “The traditional model of primary care where you went to see a GP for any and all health issues is placing ever increasing pressure on GP services.

“This isn’t a sustainable situation for general practices – but it’s also not good for patients struggling to get a GP appointment when there may be alternative and better routes they could go down to get the healthcare they need.

“Through our detailed work on this inquiry, the Committee is keen to explore what opportunities exist to make more and better use of these alternative routes to healthcare.

“We want to find out what role they have to play in creating a modern, flexible, community-based healthcare system which allows patients to access the right professional, at the right time.”

If you are a medical professional or organisation who would like to respond to the inquiry you can do so here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/health/alternativepathways

Members of the public can give us their views here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/health/alternativepathways-survey

The call for views will close on 22 February 2022.

Turtle Dove Play Cafe in D’ Mains has closed down

A statement from Turtle Dove Play Cafe:

At the close of business today, Sunday 23rd January, we pulled down the shutter and unfortunately I have decided that it must remain that way and that TurtleDove Play Café will cease trading with immediate effect.

It is a very sad day, but due to low levels of sales since early December, the business is no longer viable to run in the long term and I must take the hard decision to do what is right for the business.

I would like to thank our many loyal customers from over the years, all staff who have worked for us and suppliers who have helped us produce what was once a vibrant, thriving café.

Once again, many thanks for all you support.

Gordon

Islamic Relief UK and Blackhall Mosque team up to help vulnerable families in Edinburgh

Islamic Relief UK partnered with Blackhall Mosque yesterday to distribute 500 essential food packs to vulnerable people in Edinburgh including the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees and women who have suffered domestic abuse.

Scotland has seen a stark rise in families needing financial assistance and help with food. According to the poverty and inequality commission, one in four children in Scotland (24%) and one in five working-age people (19%) are living in poverty.

Many people have been hit hard by the pandemic, including, low-income families, those suffering from domestic abuse, the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees who were already struggling to feed themselves and many prioritising eating or heating as they struggle to pay their bills.

The food packs contained 30 items including, rice, pasta and beans.

With poverty levels in the UK increasing, Islamic Relief UK is also distributing food parcels across the country with different partners.

Imam Sohail Ashqaue, Blackhall Mosque, said: “We begin by thanking Allah SWT (God) for giving us all the opportunity to serve his creation. Indeed this is a blessing as we work with Islamic Relief UK to deliver 500 food packs to families who have been struggling to feed themselves this winter.

“We would like to thank all the volunteers who will help make this happen and we look forward to continuing this great partnership with Islamic relief UK to ensure the most vulnerable in our community receive the support they require.

“We are glad to be helping those in Edinburgh as part of a wider distribution by Islamic Relief UK and partners that are taking place across the UK.

“With rising utility bills and many businesses not recovering from the pandemic, many people are facing huge insecurity towards their future.

“The hardship that many families and individuals are dealing with right now is unimaginable, and this distribution will go a long way to help alleviate that.”

Nadeem Baqir, Regional Community Fundraising Manager, Islamic Relief UK said: “We are proud to be working with Blackhall Mosque to reach out to some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland. The Mosque plays an important role in the community and has been a lifeline for many people.

“With the high cost of living and the pandemic, we have seen families struggle to pay for just the essentials such as food and warmth and many have had to resort to food banks.

“This winter, the work of Blackhall Mosque will make a huge difference to many families and we thank them for their amazing efforts to help those in need.”

Revealed: The nations favourite non-alcoholic beverages

The UK wants to go dry, new data has shown a 22% increase of people searching to go dry compared to the previous year 17,000 people in the UK have searched for mocktails over the past 30 days alone.
20.4% of the UK is tee total, new data shows
Virgin mojito was the fifth most searched alcohol-free drink, and the most searched mocktail
The UK loves wine, even if it is non-alcoholic. There have been 9,900 searches for non-alcoholic wine in the past month alone.

The UK’s favourite non-alcoholic drink is Heineken 0.0, the non-alcoholic twist on the classic beer has been searched 43,200 times in the past 12 months.

This year has seen a 22% increase in Brits taking part in Dry January as people around the UK, look to opt out of booze and replace it for a non-alcoholic alternative. A study by kitchen experts Maxima Kitchen Equipment used Google data to find out what exactly were the UK’s favourite non-alcoholic drinks.

The research revealed UK’s favourite non-alcoholic drink is a Heineken 0.0, the beer has been searched 43,200 times in the past year alone. The brand was first launched in the UK in 2017, and is set to be made available on draught in pubs this year after a successful pilot scheme in the summer of 2021.

The study found Becks Blue in second place with 39,600 searches in the past 12 months alone. It is followed by Lucky Saint beer in third place with 38,400 searches and Guinness Zero in fourth with 36,000 searches.

Virgin Mojito, a twist on the classic cocktail came in fifth place overall, making it the nation’s favourite mocktail, with 33,600 searches in the past year.

A mixture of other classic mocktails made the list as well such as Virgin Mary in eighth place, as well as the prosecco alternative Nozeco in 13^th place.

The term Non-alcoholic beer has been searched 8,100 times and non-alcoholic wine 9,900 times in the past 30 days.

A spokesperson for Maxima Kitchen Equipment said: “Lots of people spend months looking forward to Christmas, and the chance to indulge a little more than usual, in both food and drink.

“However, in January it’s becoming more and more popular to try and start the year with a health-conscious mindset, whether it be going dry for the month or just trying to drink a little bit less than usual. It is interesting to see the growing popularity in non-alcoholic drinks and which ones are the nation’s favourites.”

The research was carried out by Maxima Kitchen Equipment, which has more than 40 years of experience in the supply and maintenance of professional kitchen equipment.

Rank	Drink	Search Volume
1	Heineken 0.0	43,200
2	Becks Blue	39,600
3	Lucky Saint beer	38,400
4	Guinness Zero	36,000
5	Virgin Mojito	33,600
6	Peroni Libera	19,200
7	Brew Dog Nanny state	19,200
8	Virgin Mary drink	15,720
9	Shirley Temple Cocktail	15,600
10	Virgin Pina colada	12,120
11	Planters Punch	12,000
12	Brewdog Punk AF	9,600
13	Nozeco	8,400
14	Erdinger Alkoholfrei	7,200
15	Arnold palmer cocktail	7,200