Shopping for Christmas gifts can be a right pain with stressed shoppers everywhere. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t need any more stuff. So, if your giftee likes a bevvy, you’re in luck as most of the shopping can be done online and who wouldn’t enjoy a Christmassy gin or a nice bottle of […]
The History of Hot Toddy + Recipes
It’s finally hot toddy season! The classic hot toddy is made with hot water, honey, lemon and a good measure of whisky. Although by no means do you have to limit yourself to whisky. Try rum, brandy or even gin. Let’s look into the history of hot toddy and how our favourite winter warmer came […]
The Lemon Houses of Lake Garda
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 […]
Whisky Tasting: Five Different Types of Glassware, One Whisky
Does the style of glassware actually matter when it comes to whisky tasting? There are several glassware options for whisky drinking, some especially designed to improve your nosing and tasting experience. You can choose from tasting glasses with or without a stem, different shapes and sizes, bigger openings and heavier bases…. I decided to test […]
Animals Working in the Drinks Industry
A while back I was on a press trip visiting Glenfiddich distillery when their malt master Brian Kinsman mentioned some dogs that work at the distillery. Of course, I’ve previously heard about famous cats like Towser the Mouser who keep distillery buildings mouse-free, but I never really encountered working dogs at distilleries. That gave me […]
Random Leftover Bottles – What to Do with Them?
We all have one or two leftover bottles at the back of the cupboard that are simply collecting dust. Maybe someone gifted you a bottle of brandy or you bought some banana liqueur because you really wanted to try the recipe on Instagram, or perhaps you tried a cocktail on holiday and decided to bring […]
Tips for Pairing Whisky with Food
Who doesn’t love a good food and drink pairing? I’ve spent enough time in Italy to have adapted their ‘no alcohol without food’ policy. I love a good snack to go with whatever I’m drinking, whether it is simply salted nuts and olives or something fancier like a smoked salmon blini. I’m also always interested […]
12 Smoke-Fuelled Bottles for Winter
These smoky bottles will offer warming spices, chilli kicks and memories of bonfire that will definitely keep you nice and toasty. Also, if you aren’t able to celebrate Bonfire Night (5th Nov) but wish to experience the smoke and fire flavours at home, these bottlings are for you! I have selected a range of spirits […]
16 Ready-to-Drink Premixed Spirits Tested
Ready-to-drink (RTD) spirit cans have become rather popular in recent years, with many distilleries bringing out their own premixed G&Ts or, more recently, a hard seltzer. Hard seltzer is a spirit, usually vodka, mixed with flavoured sparkling water. These are lower in calories than your regular G&T due to the lack of sugar. I’ve been […]