What is Mezcal? Mezcal is a spirit from Mexico made from the heart (piña) of an agave plant. It takes from six to 35 years for an agave plant to grow. No other raw materials used to make a spirit take as long to mature. Mexicans consider mezcal to be part of their cultural heritage […]
The spirits industry has been male-dominant for quite some time, yet it was women who used to do the hard yards of distilling and distribution in the pre-industrial era. Back in the day, it was common practice to make spirits from the comfort of your home using the ingredients at hand, and the work was […]
Spiced gins are very popular, and no wonder as the spices work beautifully in many cocktails, including our favourite Negroni. Spiced gin is often created with the ancient spice routes in mind. Ships sailed through various countries on their way to the UK to meet the high demand for a wide array of spices from […]
The growth of the no- and low-alcohol category has been steady for some time now, but it seems like it has really taken off in the last year during the pandemic. Now you can easily find a range of products including non-alcoholic vermouths, bitters and various botanical blends as well as the existing range of […]
Every year leading up to Valentine’s Day we team up with Pinkster Gin to give away some of their delicious pink gin and other goodies. I’m so pleased we can do this again this year as I’ve been a fan of Pinkster Gin from the first sip and it has remained one of the very […]
I haven’t written about grappa for a while, and my previous articles focus a lot on specific distilleries. I thought it might be helpful just to offer an all-rounder on the category, a beginner’s guide to grappa, if you wish. Let’s start with the basics. What is grappa? Grappa is a spirit made using what […]
We all have those bottles at the back of the bar or cupboard that are simply collecting dust. Perhaps you aren’t sure how to use them or maybe it was a gift. Or perhaps it’s an expensive bottle of whisky that you are savouring and only having a dram or two on special occasions. Over […]
When you are new to whisky, it can be a minefield to choose ones suitable for a beginner’s palate. There’s always the fear of not liking something and ruining the whole experience at the first few yards. You want something easy sipping, nothing overly complex, but with still enough oomph to make you want to […]
Green Chartreuse, the king of liqueurs, has a bright green colour and complex flavour. It is an ancient herbal liqueur produced by Chartreuse monks in France. The taste is unique, with sweet but herbal notes. A very enjoyable liqueur served on its own and in many cocktails. A brief history Back in 1605, the Chartreuse […]