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 […]
A lot has changed in the past month; most of the world has been in various degrees of lockdown, forcing many businesses to close temporarily. Some may never reopen, and for those that do, the challenge will be to see if they can survive in the ‘new normal’ of a post-COVID-19 world. So, what will […]
Highland Park distillery has been in (legitimate) operation since 1798 and has always remained in the original spot where Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of the Vikings, ran his illicit distilling production. At one point, the distillery was called High Park due to its location, overlooking Kirkwall. High enough to see the taxman’s arrival! The […]
After my recent visit to Brighton Gin Distillery, it became clear that the brand’s philosophy is based on sustainability. They are doing their best to be environmentally conscious where possible. It doesn’t really come as a surprise considering Brighton has consistently voted Green. As Kathy once said: “We want to try and be part of […]
As we stand at the outset of a new decade, I believe that nearly every market is going to witness a seismic change in consumer behaviour. More and more consumers will make their buying decisions based on how environmentally friendly a product is. We have already seen this in significant areas of the food market. […]
There are 128 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland and over 50 gin producers. Amongst them there are a few that stand out due to their historical designs, beautiful views or just modern polished looks. I have listed my favourites below. Which ones have you visited?
With so much controversy over how many distilleries hide behind misleading labels indicating where their product is actually made, the Arbikie Distillery is a breath of fresh air in more ways than one. Based in a beautiful part of Scotland, Arbikie is one of the few distilleries genuinely making their spirits from scratch. In their pursuit […]
There was a time when women drinking whisky were considered to have low standards, but for men drinking whisky was a sign of a true man. Today, women drinking spirits is no biggie; it is considered sexy when you know what you like, whether it is asking for a specific whisky or how you like […]
Korpimaan Kyynel is a new vodka, or viina as we call it, made from 100% Finnish rye and barley. The idea for this vodka came from the moonshining traditions in the Finnish wilderness. Around 65% of Finland’s land is covered in forests, making it an exceptional place to hide and make moonshine. Prohibition in Finland […]