Tag: whisky

Caledonian Sleeper Raises a Glass to Rabbie Burns with Guest Event

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Overnight rail service Caledonian Sleeper paid tribute to the Scottish Bard on Friday (25 January) by inviting guests to enjoy an evening of traditional Burns Night celebrations.

Arranged in partnership with Newrest, a tailor-made catering and food service company, the event saw guests welcomed on board the Inverness to London service by a piper before a selection of complimentary canapés, including miniature haggis from Dingwall based Cockburn & Son, were served in the Lounge Car where guests relaxed whilst they travelled through the night.

A nip of Tomatin 12 year old single malt Scotch was also offered, with glasses raised in celebration of Robert Burns and his much-loved work. Featured on the current Caledonian Sleeper drinks menu, Tomatin is an award-winning distillery local to Inverness with a rich history dating back to 1897 which can be discovered at the brand’s visitor centre and gift shop in the Highlands.

Graham Kelly, Serco’s Guest Experience Director at Caledonian Sleeper, commented: “Burns Night is a special evening in the Scottish calendar and so we wanted to provide our guests with a memorable experience that would allow them to toast the famous bard.

“Not only was this event a celebration of one of the country’s most famous figures but also our traditions and great produce, with Newrest and Tomatin providing a mouth-watering sample of some of Scotland’s finest food and drink.”

The Burns Night celebration is the start of a calendar of on board events hosted by Caledonian Sleeper which will take place this year, including on the new trains which are due to be in operation by the end of May.

With kitchens in Edinburgh and London, Newrest, which is delivering all meals on board the current and new trains, will be at the centre of many of these events, offering guests a taste of Scotland as they travel across the border.

Peter Berkeley, Country Managing Director, UK, at Newrest, added: “We were very excited to kick start our relationship with Caledonian Sleeper with this great event. We’ve worked hard to create a menu of fresh produce with local suppliers which will be delivered on the current and new trains and the Burns Night event is a glimpse of this.

“We hope everyone on board enjoyed the evening and we look forward to creating more events for the coming months.”

To find out more about Caledonian Sleeper, visit sleeper.scot.

Caledonian Sleeper celebrates Highlands with North Coast 500 event

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Overnight rail service Caledonian Sleeper is offering guests a glimpse of the Highlands before they even reach their destination this Wednesday (21 November).

Inspired by Lonely Planet naming the Scottish Highlands and Islands as one of the top regions in the world for travellers in 2019, the event on the London to Inverness service will provide guests with an insight into what makes the area so unique.

Hosted by the North Coast 500 – the ultimate road trip around the north of Scotland – guests in the Lounge Car will be able hear why the area was heralded ‘as one of the wildest, least inhabited and most scenic parts of Europe’. A taste of whiskies local to the region can also be enjoyed with guests served a dram of single malt from Glen Ord and Clynelish distilleries, both of which are owned by Diageo and located on the North Coast 500 route.

Gabbi Armstrong, Business Relationship Adviser at North Coast 500, who will lead the event on board, commented: “The Highlands and Islands is famed for its dramatic scenery, wild landscapes, rich history and mouth-watering food and drink and we couldn’t think of a better time to showcase the very best of the area to Caledonian Sleeper guests.

“Just a few miles outside of London guests will be able to hear why this corner of the world is so unique and popular, learning how the North Coast 500 is one of the best ways to experience it. With a dram of a local whisky in hand, this will be a great opportunity for guests to find out what makes the Highlands and Islands so special. We’ll even be providing a complimentary map of the route so that they can plan their own Highland adventure.”

The North Coast 500 event forms part of a calendar of on board events organised by Caledonian Sleeper to offer guests a series of Scottish-inspired experiences.

Graham Kelly, Serco’s Guest Experience Director at Caledonian Sleeper, added: “There’s something really magical about leaving London in the evening and waking up the next morning in the beauty of the Highlands and with this event we’re bringing that magic to life even earlier.

“We’re really proud to transport guests to this great part of Scotland six nights a week and hope that the event in partnership with North Coast 500 inspires even more people to enjoy an area with global recognition.”

To find out more about the Caledonian Sleeper, visit sleeper.scot.