SCOTTISH FAMILY FIRM A BIG HIT IN CANADA

Award-winning Scottish family firm Angel's Share Glass has joined forces with a Canadian company to produce an Advent Calendar with a difference.

The Collector's Edition Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar has just been launched and features 25 miniature bottles of whisky from a selection of independent bottlers.

It also includes a Pot Still whisky water dropper designed and handmade by giftware company Angels’ Share Glass based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling.

The Advent Calendar is the brainchild of Jonathan Bray, a whisky blogger and owner of Secret Spirits Ltd – a Canadian premium spirits importer.

He commissioned Angels’ Share Glass – which is run by father and daughter team Tom Young and Karen Somerville - to provide the unique dropper to enhance the collector's edition set.

It will give buyers a chance to add water to their daily dram as they open the calendar in the run up to Christmas.

Jonathan says: “It's so great to be involved with a quality small business like Angels’ Share Glass and to meet fantastic people like Tom and Karen.

“Their passion for making something truly unique which enhances the whisky experience could be a tagline for Secret Spirits and Angels’ Share.

“No wonder we came together to help whisky lovers have even more whisky fun than they ever thought possible!”

Jonathan recently visited Bridge of Allan and the Angels’ Share Glass studios where he watched Tom and glassmaking apprentice Bee Hardy at work.

He says: “Each Angels’ Share Glass piece is lovingly handmade and it was a treat for me to watch some glassblowing as Angels’ Share invigorates what has been a dying trade in Scotland.”

Karen says: “Jonathan approached us to be part of the Advent Calendar as we have the same passion for whisky and all things whisky-related as he does.

“It’s such a fantastic idea and a tremendous opportunity for us.

“We are delighted to be involved and to think that people from all over the world will be using our unique product as they enjoy a dram.”

Angels’ Share Glass will also be selling the limited edition advent calendars via their online store.

Meanwhile, the firm’s unique whisky water dropper – which allows whisky lovers to add water to their dram one drop at a time -  is also featuring in another innovation closer to home.

A special Water Spirit dropper, designed to mark the first Anniversary of the magnificent Kelpies sculptures at Falkirk’s Helix Park, is now being sold at the tourist attraction.

Angels’ Share Glass was asked by Falkirk Community Trust to design a dropper similar to the massive structures and was delighted to take on the unusual commission.

A mythical water spirit, the Kelpies have been created in steel by local sculptor Andy Scott and now stand guard to Scotland's waterways.  

Karen says: “The Kelpies stand majestic and proud and need to be seen to be believed.

“The droppers we have created really capture their spirit and it’s wonderful that people can take a little piece of the them home by choosing our dropper as a rather unusual and unique souvenir.”

The whisky water droppers are just one of the innovative range of glassware gifts handmade by Angels’ Share Glass and led by its signature product – unique angels filled with whisky.

The firm has gone from strength to strength since it launched two years ago and has just been named one of three finalists in the Growth Business of the Year category for The Courier Business Awards 2015.

Open to companies from across East Central Scotland, the awards aim to recognise and reward entrepreneurs and innovators and highlight the finest products made in the region.

The winning company will be announced at an Awards Ceremony held in St Andrews next month [Friday November 27].