On a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands, our writer got a taste of history, whimsy and, of course, whisky, at the Fife Arms hotel in the village of Braemar. As she discovered, you don’t have to be a fan of the drink to appreciate the story behind it. On a tasting of some of the world’s oldest whisky at a bar tucked deep into the hotel, she writes: ‘Sitting there glass in hand, it became clear to me this wasn’t just a tasting but an introduction to a way of paying attention. As surprisingly enjoyable as the whisky turned out to be, that mattered less than how the spirit was framed.’ Read more.

Also this week: Our travel editor shares her thoughts on Samsonite’s new repairable rolling bag, which offers do-it-yourself replacement wheels and an extension handle. But how easy are they to replace? Read more.

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