The Scotch whisky industry has gotten a wake up call after a single malt from Japan was named the best in the world. Jim Murray, who publishes an annual “Whisky Bible,” says there’s more choice and more quality from places like Japan and the US than ever before.
Many supporters of the “Yes” campaign were in tears after a decisive loss in Scotland’s independence vote. But London had to promise a raft of new local powers to keep Scotland in the UK, and those promises may change the nature of the British union for Northern Ireland, Wales and England, too.
Whatever the outcome of the referendum in Scotland, one aspect of traditional Scottish culture will continue to have a surprisingly close link to a far off part of the world. Outside of Scotland, the world’s largest manufacturer of traditional bagpipes is Pakistan.