When I decided to broaden my whisky horizon, one of the issues with my new hobby was trying to understand where to begin. There is an endless number of bottles and brands worldwide, blends, single malts, various casks, grains, and age statements. And prices! This new interest of mine was about to get expensive. How […]
When you think of Scotland’s spirits scene, whisky and gin are the first that come to mind. Rum, however, is probably the last thing you would expect from the northern European country. But Scotland, especially Glasgow, has a long history of rum. When sailors introduced rum to the UK in the 17th century, the spirit […]
National Mojito Day is celebrated on the 11th July each year. Mojito was invented in Havana, but the exact time is unclear. It is considered to date as far back as the 16th century. The first version was called ‘El Draque’ after Francis Drake, an explorer. Unlike most cocktail bars around the world, in Cuba, […]
Making your own flavoured vodka is very easy, but there are a few things you should remember to achieve the best results. Flavoured vodka will transform your cocktails, and it makes a great alternative gift when you put extra thought into the bottle, labelling or decorations. Take one as a gift when you next visit […]
Recently, I have been focusing on (and sampling) the variety of sweet vermouths, some newer brands and some good old classics. I thought it would be fun to do a little Negroni test. By using the same base recipe but changing the vermouth each time, you can create a very different tasting experience. Negroni is […]
Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine that has been aromatised with a range of botanicals. It is also known as red vermouth (vermouth rosso) due to its colour or as Italian vermouth due to its origin. Today, sweet vermouths aren’t just limited to Italy. In the 16th century in Piedmont, a shopkeeper known as Alessio […]
You may have heard about Waterford Distillery. An Irish whisky distillery where they believe in the unique taste of terroir – how the type of barley, the specific soil and location where it grows can enhance the flavour of any spirit. Of course, they have created a lot of controversy over their approach to making […]
The Hotel Starlino is a fresh vermouth range from the founder of Malfy Gin. The packaging takes its inspiration from Art Nouveau design and architecture, or Stile Liberty as it is known in Italy. Hotel Starlino range comes in old-fashioned apothecary-style bottles with ceramic and wooden stoppers, reminiscent of an antique doorknob. The front label […]
Recently, I have been introduced to a tequila brand called Pancho Datos and now I can’t get enough of their wonderful tequilas. I love the earthiness of the Plata and subtle spiciness of the Reposado. Once you have learned all about Pancho Datos, don’t forget to head over to Instagram to enter our competition. More […]