Over the next few days, many of us will be travelling to spend Christmas with friends and family.

Happily, one of Scotland’s drink producers has been hard at work developing a product which will help those hours on the train/bus slip by.

Ogilvy Spirits, Scotland’s first potato vodka producer, has unveiled a 10cl travel-sized bottle of Ogilvy Vodka, to complement the brand’s 70cl signature bottle.

The ornate 10cl bottle is produced in small batches at the Jarron’s farm in Forfar, a stone’s throw from where the potatoes are planted, grown and harvested.

Commenting on the new addition to the Ogilvy range, Graeme Jarron, co-founder of Ogilvy Spirits, said:

‘Our miniatures have been selling really well; they’re a great size for tourists travelling with hand luggage and they make a brilliant stocking filler for Christmas.’

Cocktail tasting menu

Those staying in Edinburgh over the next few days might want to wander along to The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen.

The mixologists at the George Street venue have just launched a cocktail tasting menu.

As well as an Aperol Spritz to get the party started, the £40 tasting menu allows guests to choose four drinks from a selection of six. All are served with an array of seasonal amuse bouches.

A few weeks back, we were gushing over Lidl’s range of spirits and the smart way the supermarket could sell good quality spirits at wallet-friendly prices.

Well, it wasn’t just us getting over excited after a couple of stiff ones. Earlier this month, Lidl’s own label 34 Year Glen Alba Sherry Cask Finish Scotch Whisky was praised by whisky guru Jim Murray.

Liquid Jaffa Cake

The whisky expert described it as a ‘magnificent’, ‘truly superb’ whisky with a ‘beautiful liquid Jaffa Cake effect’.

The whisky scored a 95.5 points out of a possible 100 in Murray’s annual Whisky Bible. It is currently on special offer for £44.99, over 92% cheaper than other whiskies in the same category.

The accolade comes shortly after the Lidl took home the prestigious title of Own-Label Supermarket Range of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge for the second year in a row. Earlier in the year its sister whisky, the 22 Year Glen Alba Sherry Cask Finish Scotch Whisky, was crowned World’s Best Blended Limited Release at the World Whiskies Awards.

Over the last year, we have blogged about the gin and the Scottish cider brandy which is made by Strathearn Distillery.

In its latest move, the Perthshire distiller has started to make rum.

Earlier this month, Strathearn’s very first whisky cask reached the three year maturation point at which the spirit can legally be called Scotch whisky. The whisky was bottled and auctioned with the first bottle fetching a staggering £4,150.

Golden rum

That whisky cask has now been filled with golden rum and the spirit will be aged for up to six months. The first 80 bottles of the unique rum can be reserved for £50 each.

The small octave size (50 litre) whisky cask will give the pioneering Scottish Cask Strength Golden Rum a mellow richness, which adds to the native sweetness of the rum providing a rounded, golden spirit.

Founder of Strathearn Distillery, Tony Reeman-Clark said: ‘We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Cask Strength Rum, especially as it is into our first single malt cask – yet another first for us here at Strathearn. As a team, we are passionate about creating unique and pioneering spirits that will help put Scotland on the map in terms of innovation and diversification.’

To reserve a bottle of Strathearn Cask Strength Rum, email rum@strathearndistillery.com.