Edinburgh Archives - Reel Time Events

Whisky Tasting Experiences

Reel Admin — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 21:00:06 +0000

Reel Time Events has been delivering exclusive whisky tasting experiences for nearly 20 years. At Conference centres, hotels, private castles and museums. We do this for Corporate events, Scottish conferences, and destination wedding entertainment to help guests get a full appreciation of our Scottish national spirit.

Have you seen our whisky tasting experiences page? https://reel-time.co.uk/whisky/

A whisky tasting experience is a delightful and educational journey into the world of whisky. It’s an opportunity for enthusiasts and newcomers alike to explore the diverse flavours and aromas that different whiskies have to offer. Here’s how a typical whisky tasting experience might unfold:

Selection of Whiskies: A variety of whiskies from different regions and distilleries are usually offered for tasting. These could include single malts, blended whiskies, and sometimes even rare or limited editions. We usually base our Reel Time tastings around Malt whisky, and occasionally cask-strength malt whisky.
Glassware: Whisky is typically served in tulip-shaped glasses, known as Glencairn glasses, which help concentrate the aromas and allow you to fully appreciate the whisky’s nuances. Reel Time has a stock of 1800 Glencairn crystal glasses, so we can bring your whisky tasting, however big or small, to life.
Visual Examination: Before tasting, you’ll often be encouraged to examine the whisky’s appearance. You can observe its colour and clarity, which can offer clues about its age and cask type. Our Master tasters are on hand to guide you through the whisky tasting process.
Aromas: Swirling the whisky in the glass releases its aromas. Take your time to inhale the scents gently. You might detect notes of fruits, spices, vanilla, peat smoke, or other characteristics, depending on the whisky’s production process and maturation.
Tasting: Sip the whisky slowly and savour the flavours on your palate. Let it coat your mouth to fully appreciate its complexity. Notice the taste on the front, middle, and back of your tongue.
Flavour Profile: Whiskies can have a wide range of flavours, from sweet and fruity to smoky and peaty. A skilled whisky taster can identify multiple flavour components within a single dram.
Finish: Pay attention to the finish or aftertaste. Some whiskies have a long, lingering finish, while others might be short and crisp.
Water and Food: Water can be used to dilute the whisky slightly, which can sometimes bring out different flavours. Some people prefer to drink it neat, while others prefer a drop or two of water. Additionally, some tastings may include food pairings that complement the whiskies. Reel Time has recently done matched tastings to courses of dinner, and alongside cheese or Scottish chocolate Tastings.
Guidance from an Expert: A knowledgeable host or whisky expert often guides the tasting, providing information about each whisky’s origin, production process, and unique qualities. The backbone of our tastings are our skilful Whisky master tasters. They have been selected from various parts of the whisky industry, whether working with Whisky brands, starting their own unique Whisky bottling company, or working with some of the whisky elite bars of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Personal Preferences: Whisky tasting is subjective, and everyone’s palate is different. As you explore different whiskies, you'll discover your personal preferences and develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of this beloved spirit.

Whether you attend a whisky-tasting event at a conference, a corporate event or as part of a wedding celebration, the experience is sure to enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of whisky. Remember to drink responsibly and savour each moment of this flavourful journey.

For more information on our whisky-tasting experiences, drop us some more details of what you are looking for on a contact form. It is useful to know where the tasting will be hosted, how many guests you think will attend, and a rough budget you are looking to spend on the whisky experience.

Our contact form can be found; https://reel-time.co.uk/contact/

In recent years, with the uprising of the Scottish Gin industry, we have also been offering a Scottish Gin experience for guests, based on the popularity of our Whisky experience. This can be done as a neat spirit tasting, or sometimes we also do perfect Scottish Gin serves with tonic, garnish, bitters and some ‘ added extras’. Have a look at our Gin tasting page for more information on this; https://reel-time.co.uk/gin/

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Helping Edinburgh University with Entertainment

Ross MacFarlane — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 21:09:26 +0000

After studying at Edinburgh University a ‘few years ago’, it has been a pleasure to help various faculties with entertaining their students, staff, and academic visitors.

Whether as part of the University conference offering, https://reel-time.co.uk/conferences/ as part of the official graduation ceremonies,
or teaching delegates and students some unique Scottish skills and activities such as bagpipe playing, https://reel-time.co.uk/entertainment/experiences/bagpipe-workshop/
ceilidh dancing https://reel-time.co.uk/entertainment/bands/ceilidh-folk-bands/
and how to savour a fine whisky. https://reel-time.co.uk/whisky/

We started playing bagpipes at the Edinburgh University graduation ceremonies after a trip to Beijing, where they took Roddythepiper out to play bagpipes to add some Scottish culture to proceedings.

They also took a ceilidh band, and a lively Scottish entertainment experience was had at Peking University. The Principle thought that the music had added such a great Scottish note to the Chinese Graduation ceremonies, that he decided to add it into the Graduations back in Edinburgh.

We have been supplying outstanding bagpipe players, and now a duet with the pipe band snare drum for the last 12 years. The duo warm up the Graduation crowd before they enter McKeown Hall, then play in the academic procession to the stage. They play a set of celebratory tunes as the graduates and invited guests depart.

IF you need some entertainment as part of your conference, or work with Edinburgh University, then do let us know how we can make a truly Scottish experience for your guests.

The University of Edinburgh is a prestigious and internationally renowned institution of higher education located in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1582, it is one of the
oldest universities in the English-speaking world. The university has a rich history of academic excellence and has produced numerous notable alumni, including scientists, authors, politicians, and other prominent figures.

Here is some interesting information about the University of Edinburgh:

Reputation: The University of Edinburgh consistently ranks among the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world. It is a member of the Russell Group, an association of 24 leading research-intensive UK universities.
Campuses: The university has multiple campuses, with the main campus situated in the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. There are also satellite campuses, including the King's Buildings campus, which houses science and engineering faculties.
Academic Programs: The University of Edinburgh offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering, medicine, and business.
Research: The university is recognized for its significant contributions to research and innovation. It is involved in various research projects and partnerships, both nationally and internationally.
Notable Achievements: Many ground-breaking discoveries and inventions have emerged from research conducted at the University of Edinburgh. Notable examples include the identification of the hepatitis C virus and the development of the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep.
Student Life: Edinburgh is a vibrant and student-friendly city, and the university provides a diverse and active student community. There are numerous clubs, societies, and events that cater to a wide range of interests and backgrounds.
Cultural Heritage: The university is steeped in history, and its architecture reflects various periods. Its Old College and New College buildings, for instance, are iconic landmarks in the city.
International Outlook: The University of Edinburgh attracts a diverse student body from around the world, fostering a global atmosphere on campus.
Edinburgh Festival: The university plays a significant role during the annual Edinburgh Festival, a world-renowned arts festival that includes the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

It remains a highly regarded institution for those seeking a top-notch education and an enriching academic experience in a culturally vibrant city. For the latest information about the University of Edinburgh, you can visit their official website at www.ed.ac.uk. There, you will find comprehensive and current information about their academic programs, research activities, campus facilities, admissions process, and much more.

For information about Edinburgh University Conference venues and support, have a look at https://www.uoecollection.com/

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Conference Entertainment in Scotland for ICAM2019

Ross MacFarlane — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:29:53 +0000

Another amazing weekend for Reel Time! Some lovely clients asked us to provide great conference entertainment in Scotland for the 2019 AACSB.

The conference was at the EICC, with many of the guests staying at the sumptuous 5* Sheraton Hotel, a mere 4 minutes’ walk from the registration desk!

The Event

The client approached us with a brief of spicing up registration day. They wanted to create a number of different networking opportunities around the day long check in on Sunday thus, fostering relationships between partner organisations as this is a key focus of the conference.

From 9.30am until 3.30pm, (on and off!) our Scottish accordion and guitar duo played some traditional Scottish tunes and there was definitely some toe-tapping going on.

Our Scotland Virtual Reality experience was available in the afternoon enabling guests to take a 5-minute tour of the rest of Scotland and see places they may not get the chance to see on this visit. The delegates were amazed by this new Scottish entertainment offering.

The VR technology used along with the high-quality Scottish video tour we have created, immerses guests in Scotland with one or two even worried they are going to get their feet wet!

Evening entertainment

On the Sunday evening, we had two of Scotland’s grade one pipe band players piping a welcome for guests on arrival and two of Scotland’s revered musicians in concert with clarsach and mandolin gracing the networking event.

For the opening ceremony of the conference sessions on the Monday morning, we had a piper and Scottish dancer display opening the conference with a Scottish spectacular bang and ensuring all the attendees were wide awake!

Later in the day, the client requested a conference session on Scotland and its heritage. They were looking for this to be a fun conference style speech.

The Moorfoot at the EICC was packed for this session as The presenter took the attendees through the history, uses and modern takes on some of the icons of Scotland; Burns, bagpipes, kilts and then all washed down with a bit of whisky tasting.

It was great to provide the Scottish conference entertainment for the AACSB Conference 2019 in Edinburgh.

If you would like some assistance with entertainment for your Scottish conference, then contact Reel Time Events for some inspiration.

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Whisky tasting for conference social program

Ross MacFarlane — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:23:13 +0000

The organisers of the Scottish leg of a security tech conference asked Reel Time Events to provide a whisky tasting experience as part of their social program. The guests attending the conference travelled from all over Europe and were hosted for 5 days at the Balmoral hotel.

Where?

The conference gala dinner was at the National Museum of Scotland, with the whisky tasting being in the undercroft entrance hall area. The guests sampled 4 malt whiskies: Auchentoshan, Glen Moray, Glendronach and Laphroaig. This gave a fine and varied selection of Scottish liquid with various wood finishes (bourbon, sherry and port wood) contrasting flavours, colours and regional expressions.

Format

With 130 guests, we set up 4 whisky stations, with 4 whisky experts. This format encourages networking amongst the guests and interaction with the whisky hosts. The guests were interested in the striking differences in the style of whisky, along with the effects of even a few drops of water on their dram.

Just as the cacophony of chatter, wit and exuberance hit the high notes, the sound of the bagpipes was heard, signalling to all that dinner was being called by Richard, the museum Master of Ceremonies, and the guests were piped in for dinner.

The guests enjoyed a vintage pop band playing a set during dinner and then as a lively soundtrack to the remainder of their evening.

To mention the other prestigious suppliers who helped to make the conference gala dinner come to life; Heritage Portfolio Ltd supplied the banquet, and it was fit for a King! Vision Events provided the red carpet treatment, flambos and sound and lighting throughout the main gallery. Management of the event was coordinated by the experienced team at the Museum along with CWise, a team of London event planners.

If you need a whisky-tasting experience at your conference or gala dinner, have a look at our whisky tasting page and contact the Reel Time team for some options and inspiration.

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Incentive Highland Games. Hopetoun House highland fling

Ross MacFarlane — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 12:48:15 +0000

For our first incentive Highland Games event of the 2019 season, we had a great turn out all round.

We had the perfect Highland Games field. Well drained and flat, with picturesque views of the Firth of Forth on the approach, and the impressive, historic Hopetoun House to provide a stunning Scottish backdrop to the games.

We had perfect Scottish weather; for a February morning, it turned out crisp with some mist. By the time the games commenced, the sun was out and it was a blistering 13 degrees!

Our clients were Italian incentive winners in the swimming pool business, here for a 3 day Scottish incentive experience.

The Event

The guests were transferred from their Edinburgh city centre hotel after breakfast, arriving at Hopetoun around 9.30 am, to a bagpipe welcome. They were greeted by Donald from Hopetoun, who gave them a potted history of the Estate before the Highland Games briefing started.

The Games

The guests were split into clans to compete over the different events. They were piped on to the field, and the Highland Games commenced.

The clans of 10 had 25 minutes to learn and master each Scottish activity, with points being awarded for marksmanship, dancing ability, fun factor and accuracy.

The activities chosen for this incentive experience were:

Whilst the Highland Games activities were running, the sound of laughter carried through the air, punctuated with gun fire and the hearty smell of competition.

After the teams had competed around the activity field, they were piped in for their buffet lunch in the plush stables at Hopetoun.

Caterers to the Queen, Heritage Portfolio, presented a hot and cold fork buffet fit for the laird.

The menu was:

Artisan beef and vegetable stew
Vegetable lasagne
Pearl barley, feta, roast aubergine, roast butternut squash and spinach salad
Beetroot, orange, black quinoa and chilli salad

As guests enjoyed their lunch in the Stables, the activity hosts totted up the scores. Prizes were presented to the Chieftains Champion before the guests headed back on the coach to Edinburgh for an afternoon of sightseeing around Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Old Town and shopping in the New Town boutiques.

The group were out for dinner in a city centre venue, Ghillie dhu and practised the ceilidh dancing they had learnt during the day. We had three highland dancers there to lead the action after they had enjoyed a Scottish banquet.

The professionals

For great Scottish incentive Highland Games experiences, have a look at our Highland Games page, or contact the reel time team for a tailored quote.

For other Scottish incentive entertainment, check out our pop up whisky tasting experience, Tartanium band or kilt hire packages.

Thanks to

Donald at Hopetoun House
Alistair at Heritage
Viviana at Interopa, London agent
Walter, Bruce and Colin the heavy athletes.
Jonny the piper
Lisa the dancer
Pat the shot
Stu and eccles the shooters
Roddy the host

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Entertaining Biophysics Conference at the EICC, Edinburgh

Ross MacFarlane — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:01:40 +0000

Reel Time Events were chosen to supply the 2017 Biophysics conference with a range of quality Scottish entertainment. The conference ran over three days at Edinburgh’s premier conference venue: The EICC. 1500 delegates were in attendance.

Reel Time worked closely with the conference organisers to build a range of Scottish events that would be fun, encourage networking and leave them with a great memory of their Scottish conference.

Day 1

On their first evening, the guests were entertained with the spirit of Scotland, with a whisky tasting. Reel Time is well versed in providing large conference whisky tasting experiences, and our tasters poured and entertained guests. 1 blended whisky was compared to two different styles of malt whisky. The guests were impressed and intrigued, leaving them with some great whisky knowledge, as well as their own whisky tasting glass, engraved with the conference logo.

Day 2

For their second evening event, we hosted a ceilidh night. 1100 of the conference delegates turned out to enjoy an evening of ceilidh dancing and fun! We had 8 Highland dancers on hand to help keep the ceilidh dance floor in good order. We taught the guests some of the easier ceilidh dances, which were enjoyed by an international audience. Our Scraggly Cats band mixed up the ceilidh dancing with some rock and pop classics to keep the dance floor at capacity all night long.

To conclude the Scottish conference with some signature entertainment, we brought in a mini pipe band to beat the retreat at the end of the last conference session. The delegates were taken completely by surprise, and it was a great lift and conclusion to a successful conference.

We met some wonderful and enthusiastic people, who really enjoying immersing themselves fully in our great Scottish culture.

For more information and inspiration for your Scottish conference entertainment, then get in touch with the Reel Time Team.

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Reel Time Events Become Unique Venues of Edinburgh Supplier

Ross MacFarlane — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 12:12:10 +0000

Here at Reel Time Events we are excited to announce that we have become an official entertainment supplier to the Unique Venues of Edinburgh.

Having spent many years working individually with each Unique Venue, we are delighted to have become a recommended supplier to all of these fantastic venues collectively.

We look forward to getting to know the venues we are not yet too familiar with, as well as continuing to enjoy great relationships with venues we regularly enjoy working with. We hope clients of the Unique Venues of Edinburgh will enjoy whisky tastings, clann battles, beat the retreats, Highland games and plenty of new and contemporary ideas of Scottish and Edinburgh entertainment.

Check out our listing on the Unique Venues of Edinburgh website here!

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Virgin Media Leadership Conference Ceilidh

Ross MacFarlane — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 13:48:21 +0000

The Reel Time Ceilidh Band performed at the EICC to celebrate 10 years of Virgin Media and the Virgin Media Leadership Conference. Roddy the Piper greeted guests on arrival and piped them in for dinner. The Reel Time Dancers put on a great dance display during dessert. The band were asked to be ready in a holding area 30 minutes before we performed. We were delighted to find 40 Virtual Reality headsets and ear pieces, all loaded up and ready for us to experience the next generation of media. It was unbelievable! Luckily, we were allowed to spend the full 30 minutes enjoying this amazing technology!

The Scraggly Cats performed some great ceilidh dances and the Reel Time dancers helped coodinate the 450 guests. Little did the dancers know that their dancing partners for one of the ceilidh dances were the CEO of Virgin Media, along with the CEO of Virgin Media’s parent company. They were suitably impressed with the Scottish culture and seemed to enjoy the ceilidh. Following the ceilidh dances, Kimberley Hamilton, the Reel Time vocalist, joined the band and took pop music up to the next level. The dance floor party crowd seemed to have forgotten the conference started at 08:30 the next morning!

The Reel Time Band is about to get into the world of 360 filming. If you haven’t experienced this new media, we definitely recommend you give it a go! Visit Scotland has also been doing some great things with virtual reality, check out their website for more details and virtual tours of Scotland.

If you are looking for a ceilidh band who can entertain your conference guests with a Scottish experience, get them involved and introduce them to ceilidh dancing, do get in touch.

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Mama Mia!

Ross MacFarlane — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:07:15 +0000

The smash hit musical Mama Mia! opened last night at the Playhouse in Edinburgh. The show, which features some of Abba’s most popular hits, will run until the 7th January 2017.

The show first opened in London’s West End in 1999 and an estimated 60 million people have seen it so far. To ensure that the show received a proper Scottish welcome back to Edinburgh, Reel Time arranged for piper Ross McCrindle to entertain the press as they arrived for the press launch.

Mama Mia! is at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 7th January 2017, and Reel Time pipers can be arranged by contacting our office.

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National Museum of Scotland Grand Opening

Ross MacFarlane — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:21:27 +0000

Reel Time Events were delighted to have been involved in the grand opening of the redeveloped National Museum of Scotland.

To start the day off, Reel Time Events arranged for the Boghall & Bathgate Pipe band to march down Chambers Street, which had been closed especially for the event. After making their grand entrance, the band entertained the crowds, performing on the newly opened public piazza until the countdown began. As the public gathered for their first glimpse of the new galleries, Forth 1 DJ Mark Martin started the countdown. As the doors opened, 21CC treated the gathered crowds to an amazing pyrotechnic performance, with short range fireworks as well as glitter and confetti canons.

The pipe band continued to entertain for the rest of the morning, ensuring that all visitors got the same fantastic start to their new museum experience. Whilst Reel Time provided the entertainment outside the museum, visitors explored the 10 new galleries showcasing some of the best of art, design, fashion, science & technology.

Shortly after midday the pipe band stood down to make way for the Beltane Fire Society Drummers & the samba band Amino who continued the live music and entertainment and celebration on into the afternoon.

We are now looking forward to seeing what the final stage of the museum masterplan will bring when it opens in 2018!

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