Browsing Posts by Author: Caroline

In a month where we’re all rediscovering our love of lolling about with friends in beer gardens, we wanted to highlight some of the places where you can also sip a dram or two in…

We’re on a mission to help you find tasty uses for all those bottles which might otherwise languish untouched after the anything-goes imbibing of the festive season. Remember: drinks are for life, not just for Christmas. 

Christmas is now frighteningly close, so much so that my Christmas cake has now drunk more whisky than I have*. If you’re still stuck for gift inspiration, or just fancy treating yourself, we’ve rounded up…

The concept of the wooden cask hasn’t changed much since it first came into being, but the practice of making it has gradually been refined over the past few millennia. That’s not to say there…

We take casks for granted. In fact, we take all waterproof containers for granted. I think it’s fair to say that in all of human history it’s never been so easy to transport liquids, from…

The history of drinks is the history of humanity. As our ancestors were making the arduous climb out of the primordial swamp, there was probably some spark of thought, deep within their nascent souls, that…

Imagine you were asked to take one of the world’s most famous blended whiskies and create a limited edition that paid homage to one of the world’s most revered lost distilleries. Where would you start?…

Gin and tonic saves lives. Or at least it did, back when malaria was rife and the powers that be needed to get quinine – one of the most effective anti-malarial substances on the planet…

It’s National Picnic Week and with the weekend looking sunny, it’s time to grab a blanket, some bottles and a sandwich or three, and head into the great outdoors. Caroline has some tips for how…

Vermouth. The blog that literally tens of you have been waiting for. As we learned last time, vermouth is a type of aromatised wine – which, to be honest, doesn’t sound very sexy. In fact,…

Ever sat in front of a Martini and wondered what, exactly, is vermouth? (aside from something that shouldn’t get anywhere near your Martini, obviously). Ask, and someone will probably tell you that it’s an aromatised…

Champagne, according to Moët Hennessy ambassador Lucy Warren’s declaration at a recent Whisky Exchange tasting, is ‘wine that’s supposed to make you happy’. Funny, then, that it was also known as ‘the wine of the…

I recently spent some time with Bruichladdich’s production director Allan Logan, learning about how they make the fabled Octomore – including Octomore 8.3, the world’s peatiest whisky. Allan, part of the two-man team that took over…

Whisky of the Year has gone global! For 2017 we opened up the awards to any bottle from across the world, provided it was not cask strength, below £60 and an ongoing release. Despite my…

‘It’s all about the ‘poof poof‘ of Cognac’ says Patrice Piveteau, and it’s a testament to both his storytelling and infectious enthusiasm that this immediately makes perfect sense. He is talking about the sensory fireworks…