To celebrate International Scottish Gin Day on the 7th October, I’ve listed a few bottles that I’ve been enjoying recently. There are some newer releases and a few older Scottish gins, all worthy of a place at your home bar. When I find a gin that I really enjoy, I tend to return to it […]
When we think of Italian lemons, we often associate them with the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, when in fact the lemon trade began from Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda, back in the 14th century. Due to the hilly landscape of the region, lemons were grown in specific lemon houses on the sides of the mountainous […]
There wouldn’t be whisky without water. In fact, the word whisky comes from the Gaelic word uisge meaning water, which, in turn, comes from Latin aqua vitae (uisge beatha in Scottish Gaelic), as in water of life. Everyone appreciates the importance of the water source when it comes to making whisky. If you’ve read my […]
Kalevala Distillery is a small family-owned distillery based in Finnish-Karelia. The distillery produces a selection of gins, rum and vodka. They are certified organic, meaning they only use organically grown ingredients, which are free from any additives or harmful chemicals. The name of the distillery is based on the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, a significant […]
Crossbill Gin was launched in 2013 and it was the first gin made with 100% Scottish botanicals. These botanicals, juniper and rosehip, are handpicked with care in the Highlands to ensure regeneration of the juniper bushes. Each year they explore different juniper clusters and therefore each batch will be slightly different. Recently, the Glasgow-based Crossbill […]
During my recent visit to Scotland, I also had an evening at Lindores Abbey distillery, which is located in north-west Fife. Lindores Abbey is a fairly new single malt distillery built in the grounds of a former abbey. It really is the perfect place for a party! The highlight of the evening was a whisky tasting […]
Banditti Club is an award-winning spiced rum from Glasgow Distillery Co. The spiced rum is their core release, although it wouldn’t be Glasgow Distillery without some experimental cask finishing… The distillery also has two limited-edition rums: Smoky Rogues and Port Cask Finish. Banditti Club Rum is named after a group of rogues who used to […]
My Negroni search continues… This time in the beautiful city of Lucca, which is known for its medieval city walls, a hundred churches, Puccini, Boccherini, Paolini and many other famous artists. Located close to Pisa and near the Ligurian Sea, Lucca is a must-visit town in Tuscany. There are, of course, many bars and restaurants […]
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 40th anniversary celebrations continue in the form of an exclusive ‘New Wave’ whisky series. A series of ten bottles has been released around the world, which all have an illustration by Bob Dewar, the artist who created the original artwork 40 years ago. If you have ever visited The Vaults […]