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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Too often I hear someone say they’re interested in getting into scotch whisky but find the whole category intimidating. There are too many things you need to take into consideration or just a lot of choice to know where to start. With this guide to scotch whisky I wanted to cover some basics to help […]
Tequila can only be produced in the Jalisco region and a few small surrounding areas in Mexico. There are two classification of tequila: 100% agave and Mixto. Tequila started as a Mezcal, and until the early 1900s it was made with various types of agave. However, it became clear that blue agave contributed to a […]
Savoury and herbaceous is one of my favourite gin categories. I’m a starter-over-dessert kind of person, so I often prefer savoury flavours over sweet or floral (although there some exceptions, Silent Pool Gin for example). The botanicals don’t necessarily have to have a salty taste and they can include herbs, vegetables and fruits that aren’t […]