Arbikie Highland Estate – The Pursuit of Excellence

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 […]

Continue Reading

Women in Spirits Business: Lesley & Kathy

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 […]

Continue Reading

New Finnish Vodka: Korpimaan Kyynel

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 […]

Continue Reading

Our/Vodka from Berlin

Our/Vodka family has distilleries in many cities: Berlin, London, Detroit, Seattle, Amsterdam, Houston, New York, LA and Miami. The brand is supported by Pernod Ricard, who partner up with entrepreneurs to create micro-distilleries in urban environments. The entrepreneurs are people who love their city and can offer something more for the brand. These distilleries are […]

Continue Reading

Bepi Tosolini – For the Love of Grappa and Family

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 […]

Continue Reading

Grappa Production in Pictures

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 […]

Continue Reading

Bimber Distillery’s Oak-Aged Vodka

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 […]

Continue Reading

The Gin Day – Milano

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 […]

Continue Reading

Whisky from Tap Water!?

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 […]

Continue Reading