What To Do, See & Buy: Ballantine's; Koestler Trust; Big Garden Birdwatch; Science for Peace; elephant poo

Top Scotch

Burns Night approaches and you'll be needing a wee dram to wash down the haggis, neeps and tatties. Ballantine's 17-year-old was named Scotch Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013, so it's surely a blend worthy of a toast to the "great chieftain of the puddin-race". It has a sweet, smoky nose, a creamy vanilla taste and a long, smooth finish. £45.95, thewhiskyexchange.com

Inside art

For more than 50 years, the Koestler Trust has been supporting artistic endeavour in Britain's prisons and youth offending centres. The Trust's annual awards recognise the best writing and painting done behind bars in the UK. Prize-winning pieces are now on show at Birmingham Museum. From today to 24 March, bmag.org.uk

Cheep thrills

Next Saturday, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds needs you to go into your garden, or whatever outside space you possess, and spend an hour keeping a note of every bird you see. They call it the Big Garden Birdwatch and it's one of their best ways of learning what state our bird population is in. This simple bird feeder, plus seed, will help. £7.49, shopping.rspb.org.uk

Heaven scent

Science for Peace is a charity campaigning for investment in science and not in war – hence the dove motif on this new range of perfumes released to raise funds for the project. The unisex scents are neatly named after summer breezes from different parts of the world. £98, averyfineperfumeries.com

Feast your eyes

There's a significant buzz growing around Feast, the Young Vic's new play, created by five writers from different parts of the globe. Three sisters are divided at a crossroads, setting in motion a spectacular century-hopping story told in music and dance by an impressive company of actors, including Olivier Award-winner Noma Dumezweni. From £19.50, 25 January to 23 February,youngvic.org

Dung and dusted

The resourceful folk at the Natural History Museum have come up with a clever way for Britain's zoos to be rid of excess elephant poo. They've popped it in boxes to sell in the gift shop for a bargain price! Because, you see, elephant dung is excellent for growing flowers in. Boxes of the (mercifully odourless) dung come with sunflower seeds. £5, nhmshop.co.uk