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Douglas Laing launches Strathearn Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Douglas Laing & Co has made their distilling debut with the launch of Strathearn Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The family-owned independent bottlers’ first release has been crafted to perfection and bottled from 32 specially selected casks; a seamless combination of ex-Bourbon, Virgin and ex-Sherry oak, some of which were inherited when Douglas Laing acquired the Strathearn Distillery in 2019, and a portion of spirit distilled under Douglas Laing ownership. The Strathearn Single Malt takes on an immensely rich and refined flavour, effortlessly creating the Douglas Laing style for Strathearn now.

Notably, every drop of Strathearn is hand-crafted without any elements of automation. From manually carrying malted barley into the Distillery, mixing it with local Highland water in one of Scotland’s smallest mash tuns, each step is meticulously executed, adhering to time-honoured techniques.

The raw ingredients go through a significantly long fermentation time, lasting 144 hours, to allow for the creation of Strathearn’s famously fruity character. Following this, the spirit cut points are uniquely determined through smell and taste and the heart of the run is carefully transferred into casks, where it is left to slumber until matured to perfection.

This deliberate and slow distilling process produces a single barrel a day, serving testament to the scarcity of the dram and the creation of a tipple of the highest quality. This precious liquid is then captured in a distinctive and bespoke bottle, that represents the small acorns from which this great oak of a Single Malt grows.

Bottled at 50% ABV, the rich, deep Whisky is a bold yet soothing dram. Non chill-filtered and with no added colouring, this release is as natural as it gets. Prioritising flavour over alcohol yield, Strathearn remains committed to using exclusively Maris Otter malt, favouring the deliciously creamy, malty flavour which carries through to the final spirit while still allowing the other flavours to shine. 

On the taste, the syrupy palate coats the mouth in sweet notes of honey, buttercream, dried apricots with a hint of spice. The warming finish is reminiscent of home baking and indulgent buttery oat biscuits that invite you back for another sip.

Cara Laing, Managing Director of Douglas Laing & Co, and third generation in the family business comments:

“This moment has been a long time coming, and one that we are extremely proud to share with the world. As the third generation at the helm of Douglas Laing, I am proud to be leading this move into this exciting new venture of distilling. 

“Our Strathearn Distillery team make a barrel of spirit per shift or, simply speaking, a barrel a day. This may be a drop in the ocean compared to some distilleries, but for Strathearn, it’s a proudly hand-crafted drop that embodies the spirit of the distillery.

“Strathearn is the epitome of quality over quantity. It is a part of our family history, but rest assured this is only the beginning for Douglas Laing Distilling.”

Strathearn Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available at £85 from www.douglaslaing.com.

Titanium Always Pan Pro review: an impressive addition to any cook’s kitchen

If you’ve got a social media account, the chances are that you’ve heard of Our Place. Co-founded by Shiza Shahid, the company is putting sustainability and the joy of bringing people together through cooking at the heart of what they do. The product you’ve likely seen is the Always Pan, a 10-in-1 toxin free ceramic non-stick pan that replaces a number of other kitchen items. The Always Pan has been heavily advertised across social media and Selena Gomez is a celebrity partner for the company with her own range of products.

For its latest release Our Place has levelled-up the Always Pan for the Titanium Always Pan Pro. Modelled on the original Always Pan, the Titanium Always Pan Pro features ground-breaking NoCo technology. What is that I hear you ask? It’s the first-ever nonstick technology that’s coating free and made without PFAS (aka forever chemicals). The nonstick is created by a lotus pan that covers the inside of the pan and it’s activated by using a teaspoon of oil, warmed up in the pan for 90 seconds.

Titanium Always Pan Pro
Credit: Our Place

Like the Always Pan, the Titanium Always Pan Pro comes with a Nesting Beechwood Spatula, which sits on the pan handle, avoiding any mess while cooking. The product is able to be used in the oven up to 300 degrees centigrade and you can clean it in your dishwasher. Perhaps most impressively is that the pan is incredibly lightweight at only 1.5kg. The Titanium Always Pro Pan features a tri-ply construction with a stainless-steel exterior, an aluminium core and titanium interior.

But what is it like to cook with? I tested the Titanium Always Pan Pro over the course of a week to see how it coped with a variety of different foods. Following the instructions, I added oil and heated the pan for 90 seconds, before lowering the temperature before adding any food. For my first test I made scrambled eggs, keen to see if the pan is as easy to clean as it claims. I have to say I was very impressed. Unlike other pans I’ve used, there were no spots that heated hotter than others, which meant that I got a very even cook across the eggs. Once I removed them from the pan, I noticed that remnants had stuck inside the lotus pattern and I thought it was going to be hard work to scrub clean. It wasn’t at all. Using the spatula much of the remnants lifted out with ease and adding warm water cleared out the rest.

For my second test, I decided to fry hamburgers. Surely this would make the pan impossible (or at least harder) to clean? My hamburgers, like the scrambled eggs, cooked very evenly with a nice crisp on the outside. The insides were cooked perfectly and the pan didn’t dry them out. I didn’t clean the pan right away, instead leaving it for an hour while I ate. As before though, it proved very easy to clean with the grease and remnants lifting out easily with a bit of soapy warm water.

Titanium Always Pan Pro
Credit: Our Place

My final test was with tofu. I’ve cooked tofu many times in the Always Pan but it’s never crisped up as well as it did in my previous frying pan (in part due to the advice not to use high heat). The Titanium Always Pro Pan is a totally different beast, and it crisped up the tofu quickly on a medium heat. It also nicely simmered the sauce once added and cooked the vegetables through without burning them. I was really impressed.

Having put the Titanium Always Pan Pro through its paces, I have to say that I’m impressed. While the design is the same, pretty much, as the Always Pan, I would say that the cooking experience is superior. The pan is able to withstand much hotter temperatures than the original Always Pan and I found it particularly good for frying foods whether that be meat, tofu or vegetables. Perhaps what the Always Pan has over it, is the basket that comes inside allowing you to cook noodles, but honestly you don’t really need that. The Titanium Always Pan Pro comes with a lifetime guarantee and honestly, it’s the best pan I’ve used in the kitchen.

Manufacturer: Our Place R.R.P: £175 (Chrome) Find out more

Morgan Evans releases first ever live album

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Australian-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Morgan Evans delights fans with the release of his inaugural live album, ‘Live At The Sydney Opera House,’ available now. Recorded during two sold-out performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House in September 2023, the album captures the essence of Evans’ electrifying stage presence and showcases his chart-topping hits alongside special guest collaborations.

Listen at the links right here.

“Playing at the Sydney Opera House was an absolute honour and joy,” Evans shares. “For an Aussie, it’s a momentous occasion. There was a palpable energy in the room, like we all knew it was going to be something special. In that beautiful, cavernous concert hall, we celebrated country music the way we know best.”

Featuring tracks from Evans’ ‘Life Upside Down’ EP and fan-favourite hits, the album also includes unforgettable collaborations with Australian icons John Williamson and Kita Alexander. Evans reflects on the magical moments captured during those performances, hoping that listeners will feel the same sense of pride and camaraderie that filled the venue that night.

Tracklisting:

  1. Young Again
  2. Country Outta My Girl
  3. Kiss Somebody
  4. Waltzing Matilda (Interlude)
  5. Love Is Real
  6. I Can’t Make You Love Me (Interlude)
  7. Over For You
  8. Say What You Want
  9. Date Night feat. Kita Alexander
  10. Rip Rip Woodchip feat. John Williamson
  11. Dedications Interlude
  12. Things That We Drink To
  13. Pete and Brownie Go To Town (Interlude)
  14. Hey Little Mama
  15. Day Drunk
  16. I Still Call Australia Home (Interlude)
  17. On My Own Again

Evans’ ‘Live At The Sydney Opera House’ offers a captivating journey through his music, capturing the essence of his live performances and celebrating the unifying power of country music. Experience the magic of one of Australia’s brightest stars, now available for streaming and purchase.

Riley Green covers Springsteen on new 7 track EP ‘Way Out Here’

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Riley Green, the acclaimed multi-Platinum singer-songwriter, continues to captivate audiences with his signature storytelling and classic sound as he unveils his latest EP, ‘Way Out Here.’ With his third No. 1 single topping the US Country radio charts and a successful headlining tour, Green treats fans to a diverse array of tracks that showcase his authentic artistry.

Listen to ‘Way Out Here’ at these links

Available now via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, ‘Way Out Here’ arrives amidst Green’s inaugural beachfront music festival, Duckman Jam at Flora-Bama. The seven-song collection offers a blend of heartfelt ballads, anthemic tunes, and introspective reflections, providing listeners with a glimpse into Green’s evolving perspective on life and relationships.

Notable tracks include Green’s cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Atlantic City,’ a fan-favourite from his live performances, as well as the standout single ‘Worst Way,’ penned by Green himself. The EP’s track list features contributions from acclaimed songwriters such as Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, and Erik Dylan, further enriching Green’s musical narrative.

Track List

  1. Jesus Saves (Riley Green)
  2. Way Out Here (Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, Josh Thompson)
  3. Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)
  4. Good Morning from Mexico (Riley Green)
  5. Damn Good Day to Leave (Riley Green, Erik Dylan, Jonathan Singleton, Nick Walsh)
  6. Pick a Place (Riley Green, Erik Dylan)
  7. Worst Way (Riley Green)

As Green continues his Ain’t My Last Rodeo Tour, entertaining packed arenas and amphitheaters alongside openers Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley, he kicks off the Duckman Jam at Flora-Bama today. Held at the iconic venue situated on the Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, Florida line—inspiring some of Green’s own lyrics—the festival promises two days of unforgettable Country music experiences.

Headlining both nights, Green will be joined by Tracy Lawrence and Jake Worthington tonight (Friday, April 12), followed by Drake White and Ella Langley on Saturday, April 13. For more information and ticket purchases, visit rileygreenmusic.com and don’t miss out on this celebration of authentic Country music by one of the genre’s brightest stars.

Morgan Wade announces raw, vulnerable third album ‘Obsessed’

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Morgan Wade, renowned for her unmistakable voice and compelling songwriting, is set to release her highly anticipated third major label album, ‘Obsessed,’ on August 16. Offering a glimpse into her soul, the album features 14 stripped-down tracks, showcasing Wade at her rawest and most vulnerable.

Pre-save and pre-order links here

Produced by her touring guitarist Clint Wells, ‘Obsessed’ delves deep into Wade’s personal journey, exploring themes of longing for home, the complexities of relationships, and the introspection of self-discovery. From heart-wrenching ballads to gritty anthems, Wade bares it all, confronting her own flaws with unapologetic honesty.

The album marks a significant milestone for Wade, following the success of her 2023 release, ‘Psychopath,’ which earned critical acclaim from the likes of the New York Times and Rolling Stone. ‘Obsessed’ features collaborations with Grammy nominee Kesha on the track ‘Walked on Water,’ alongside standout singles like ‘Halloween’ and ‘2AM in London,’ solidifying Wade’s reputation as an emerging force in the music industry.

To coincide with the album release, Wade will embark on her headlining Obsessed Tour with dates across the US starting from July 20 in Fargo, ND. Presales for tickets begin on Tuesday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m., followed by public on-sale on Friday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. (local venue time). For more information and ticket details, visit MorganWademusic.com.

Obsessed Tracklisting:

  1. Total Control
  2. Department Store
  3. Time to Love, Time to Kill
  4. Obsessed
  5. Juliet
  6. 2AM in London
  7. Hansel and Gretel
  8. Spin
  9. Reality
  10. Walked on Water (feat. Kesha)
  11. Halloween
  12. Crossing State Lines
  13. Moth to a Flame
  14. Deconstruction

‘Pet Simulator 99’ Accidentally Gives Away Hundreds Of Free Huge Pets

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The most recent Pet Sim 99 update added many new features, worlds, pets and mini-games to amuse us all. Usually, these things amount to more of the same but with a slight tweak but things were very different in this update.

One of the newly added mini-games was the Treasure Hideout. Players would need to loot or buy two halves of the hideout key to enter and once you were in you could spend 30 minutes inside where the loot drop rates are significantly higher than in the normal game world. There is also a small chance of looting the Huge Electric Cat if you get exceptionally lucky.

This is where the free huge pets come in. You see, the guys at Big Games Pets accidentally set the drop rate of the Huge Electric Cat to be much higher than it should have been. I don’t mean by just a little bit either, the drop rate on these things was insane. I went to explore the area just to see it ( I had no idea about the drop rate issue ) and was amazed when I managed to loot five of the huge pets in 30 minutes!

You can check out my amazement in the video below:

Sadly, this error has now been fixed and the drop rate is as it should be but for a while there players were able to grab themselves an insane amount of pets for almost zero effort

Chris Stapleton shows off his comedic talents and performs twice on ‘Saturday Night Live’

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Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on last night’s episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and fans got to see a different side to the musician.

Notoriously shy, Stapleton took part in a comedy skit that saw ‘Saturday Night Live’ regulars Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman and Chloe Troast join forces for the ultimate Country revenge song. Stapleton played the man that had wronged the three women, and he contributes vocals too. The song also featured a surprise rap from Ryan Gosling, who was hosting last night’s episode.

Taking inspiration from Carrie Underwood’s ‘Before He Cheats’, the skit saw three women singing ‘Get That Boy Back’. Dreaming up their revenge tactics, one of the women takes it too far. Stapleton proves to be a good sport, wearing a backwards baseball cap and hair ties around his beard.

Also during the show, Stapleton performed ‘White Horse’ and ‘Mountains of My Mind’ from his latest studio album ‘Higher‘. You can watch both of those performances below:

UK fans will get a chance to see Stapleton live when he heads over to this side of the pond later in the year to tour. This will be the first time Stapleton has done a headline tour in the UK. His previous trips were as part of C2C: Country to Country.

Big Time Rush to tour the UK this summer

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Big Time Rush are heading to the UK this summer for a tour it has been announced.

The four-piece will play shows in Manchester, Birmingham, and London, with the London date at the Eventim Apollo already sold out. Tickets for the other two shows can be purchased at https://www.bigtimerushofficial.com/tour.

Big Time Rush – Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson, James Maslow and Carlos PenaVega – reunited in 2023 to release their first album in 10 years, ‘Another Life’. Having spent almost 8 years apart, the group came back together to work on the new record and debuted a new sound.

Fans can expect to hear songs from the album on the upcoming summer dates along with classics from their first three albums – ‘BTR’, ‘Elevate’ and ’24/Seven’.

Big Time Rush rose to fame in 2009 when their Nickelodeon show of the same name achieved huge success. The show focused on the Hollywood adventures of four hockey players from Minnesota after they were selected to form a boy band.

Vote in our ultimate Morgan Wallen poll

Love him or hate him, Morgan Wallen is one of the leading stars of contemporary Country music and one of the few Country artists to make the leap into the mainstream charts.

With three hugely successful albums under his belt, including his last album ‘One Thing at a Time‘, Wallen has notched up plenty of number ones and sold millions of albums. This summer he’s due to headline BST Hyde Park in London, which will mark his second time playing in the UK. We’ve got our fingers crossed that his recent arrest won’t derail that show!

As we count down to his headline performance, we want to know what your favourite album, single and feature is! Cast your vote below and share this poll with other Morgan Wallen fans so they can join in the fun too!

What's your favourite Morgan Wallen album?

What's your favourite Morgan Wallen single?

What'a your favourite Morgan Wallen feature?

Vote in our ultimate Backstreet Boys poll

Backstreet Boys celebrated a milestone this week with their 1999 global smash hit single ‘I Want It That Way’ turning 25.

Next month marks the 25th anniversary of parent album ‘Millennium‘, which remains the band’s most successful album to date. With over 24 million copies sold, the album produced huge hits including ‘I Want It That Way’, ‘Larger That Life’, ‘Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely’ and ‘The One’.

The band – AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell – are still together all these years on and touring the world. It’s been a while since we had new music but we’re sure they’re cooking up something!

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of ‘I Want It That Way’, we want to know what your all-time favourite album and single from Backstreet Boys is. Cast your vote below and share this article with fellow fans so they can join in the fun too!

You may also want to cast your vote in our ultimate New Kids on the Block poll!

What's your favourite Backstreet Boys album?

What's your favourite Backstreet Boys single?