From remote glens deep in the Scottish Highlands, John D Burns brings a new volume of tales – some dramatic, some moving, some hilarious – from the isolated shelters mountain people call bothies. North Street Dairy closed its doors after 104 years with the owners, the Millar family supporting Bothy Butter with his recipe and butter-churner. Classic pairings of ginger and strawberries reinforce rhubarb's reputation as a sweet. Even roasted rhubarb is eaten alongside ice cream. Both home cooks and Michelin-starred chefs seem to agree that rhubarb's best partner is sugar — lots of it.

Sloes are edible raw but you must be careful. While raw sloes are rich in antioxidants with an abundance of anti-inflammatory properties, they have a dark side. If eaten in large quantities they become toxic due to the presence of amygdalin in their stones. Once consumed the human body metabolises amygdalin into cyanide which can be lethal in large doses. So, if you do eat any raw sloes always spit out the stone. Hot on the heels of their relaunch of the Jam Bothy range of preserves earlier this year, award-winning spirits manufacturer Gin Bothy has today (Wednesday 30 th August 2023) announced a move to new premises in Forfar, creating additional jobs as the brand sees continued growth.By basing our product on Hamish’s recipe and using his churn, we will put our own unique Bothy slant on the butter to create a really special product.” Pome fruit: also pectin powerhouses, apples, pears, and quince make indulgent, autumn jams perfect for chilly starts.

Sloe cordial is a great non-alcoholic alternative to sloe gin and can be served with sparkling or tonic water, or with a soft drink like lemonade. The lemon juice adds a twist of freshness but you could just as easily leave it out. Sloe syrupStone fruit: sweet and juicy, plums, cherries, and apricots make delicious jam. Stone fruits are also lower in pectin. This is no mean feat as it’s a dynamic forest with over 1000 hectares and restricted access definitely a long term project - a 200 year vision project with a 20 year plan! Lemon isn't added to jam simply for zesty flavour, it plays an important role in the science of jam making.

Once opened, keep jam in the fridge and use it within a month. That shouldn't be hard when you can slather delicious jam made from local raspberries on scones, croissants, or even pair it with cheese! The loch Arkaig project aims to secure the future of the Scots pine forest by helping the local community manage the forest through restoration techniques which involve the sensitive movement of non-native species encouraging natural regeneration and protection from deer browsing.

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Bothy Larder opened for business on October 19th and will be open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm and will help the Bothy brand grow and expand. Kim added: “I’m incredibly passionate about the role food and drink plays in the growth of the Scottish economy. Since Gin Bothy began the industry has seen exports double with gin now one of the best performing sectors.