After my first experiences in 2015 I had a chance to visit another grappa distillery in the heart of the Friulian foothills – the distillery Bepi Tosolini. Since the first trip in this region my interest increased further towards the production of grappa, which takes place in such a short, intense window each year. Grappa is such a […]
The grappa harvest takes place as soon as the grapes have become ripe enough, in order to obtain fresh vinaccia. The freshness of the vinaccia is the key of making a top quality grappa. The grapes are then destemmed and softly pressed, in order to separate the must (this is used to make wine) from […]
This new London-based distillery has started with a bang – and even in a crowded market, they are offering something new, something different! I am a big fan of all their delicious products, but it is the award-winning oak-aged vodka that’s the perfect drink to keep you warm during these cold autumn months. Serve it […]
Yesterday I took part in Italy’s only gin fair known as The Gin Day. The event is held in Milan over two days and is organised by Bartenders.it. Unlike many other events, the fair is conveniently held on a Sunday and Monday when most bartenders will be enjoying a well-deserved day off. The Gin Day started […]
Everyone knows about the importance of the water source when it comes to making Whisky. If you’ve read my article ‘Whisky battle – Laphroaig vs Lagavulin’ you’ll know the efforts these distilleries go to ensure the purity of their water supply. Even the word Whisky comes from Scottish Gaelic ‘uisge’ meaning water. But during my […]
To produce whisky you need three simple ingredients: water, yeast and barley (this can be mixed with rye or corn, I will talk about rye whisky soon) . The best type of barley is the one that produces the most sugar. There are five stages in the process: malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation. Malting During malting, the barley […]
First of all, as my blog post stresses, there’s Grappa and there’s Grappa. Take the time to find the quality brands (such as Nonino, Bocchino, Berta or Bepi Tosolini) as they are well worth the effort and are a wonderful spirit. The difference is explained through the production methods which I’ve bashed out below. Grappa […]