World Martini Day is this Saturday: Let us inspire you June 14, 2021 Let me let you into a little secret: flavoured gins and vodkas can do away with the faff and reduce the building costs of a memorable home-shaken Martini. The UK’s countless new small batch distillers have brought with them a bewildering increase in the number of cocktail possibilities so why not enjoy them without so [...]
Toast the summer of golf with a dram of Loch Lomond June 14, 2021 GH Mumm Champagne is the official drinks sponsor of the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, going back to 1851. Now the oldest golfing major has its own official spirit too. The 149th Open Championship is being held between 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England. To mark the occasion, [...]
How Kent came of age as a top wine-producing region June 11, 2021 It’s all happening in Kent. Ahead of National English Wine week, a well-established Kent winemaker has announced the release of its latest wine and, in the same county, another vineyard has launched its first bottles. Balfour Winery has launched its first Blanc de Noirs using Pinot Noir and Meunier from the excellent 2018 vintage and [...]
How lockdown turned Britain into a nation of fudge makers June 9, 2021 Fudge may be an American invention but fudge-making has become a national pastime in the UK, with amateur confectioners turning professional and kitchen table hobbyists starting successful businesses. The most important day on every fudge-maker’s calendar is June 16 – National Fudge Day – when a little extra sweetness is spread across the country. Fudge [...]
Gin isn’t just for drinking – use it to clean, polish and shine June 9, 2021 If in doubt, reach for the gin. England’s favourite spirit can help you in more ways than you think. Did you know it’s great for removing red wine stains, and can easily absorb and dissolve pigments that could otherwise irreparably stain precious fabrics? Drinking it is a terrible waste, when you really think about it. [...]
Celebrate World Gin Day with these small-batch wonders June 8, 2021 Ahead of World Gin Day on Saturday, the country’s ever-increasing number of modern, small batch, independent Mother’s Ruinists have been feverishly vying to get their brands in the spotlight. Shetland Reel has launched Countdown Gin” resulting from its collaboration with Shetland Space Centre, tying in with the island of Unst being home to the first [...]
Drinking around the world: Discover this fine gin from Gibraltar June 7, 2021 A former Devon-based golf pro living on an island without a golf course has created his own gin and vodka halfway between London and the tropics. Peter and Stella Millhouse run The Rock Distillery on the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, producing The Spirit of Rock gin and Moon Lizard vodka. “We met in the [...]
Chase away the blues with a glass of delicious… blue wine June 7, 2021 This Saturday is National Rose Day, but perhaps it’s time to get a bit more adventurous and celebrate with something blue instead? You see, there are more than 900 vineyards in the UK but only one makes dry sparkling blue wine… Adgestone Vineyard on the Isle of Wight, among the oldest continuously operating vineyards in [...]
How I discovered of Haitian ‘clairin’ rum, my drink of the summer June 4, 2021 For something new this summer, adventurous drinkers should turn to the boutique distilleries of Haiti, with the island country now exporting some of its finest spirits into the UK. Clairin – Creole for ‘clear’, also known as rhum sirop de canne – is an organic, Haitian wild sugar cane distillate which has a reputation for [...]
Grape things afoot in Malta, the world’s smallest wine-producer June 3, 2021 The latest wine day to put in your diary is 20 March, which has just been proclaimed Girgentina and Gellewza Day. But you don’t have to wait until the vernal equinox of 2022 to sample Maltese wine. Malta is the world’s smallest wine-making country. Most of its wine is sold domestically so sometimes it’s easier [...]
