Using the resin of the ancient mastiha shrub, Axia is turning Greek tradition on its head. Millie Milliken headed to Greece to find out how this intriguing spirit came to…
Master of Malt blog
Author: Millie Milliken
Millie Milliken is an award-winning spirits and cocktail journalist. She has spent over 10 years writing about food, drink and the people behind the industry. She has written for publications in the UK and US, across both consumer and trade audiences and spends most of her time travelling the world to find the most compelling stories surrounding booze. She is also head of content for the OurWhisky Foundation - a not-for-profit supporting women in (or looking to get into) the whisky industry.
Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados… French spirits don’t always get the nod of approval when it comes to the cool kids. But Le Syndicat bar in Paris is on a mission to…
It’s World Whisky Week so from Edinburgh to Aberlour, Millie Milliken gives you her choice of the best places in Scotland to enjoy a wee dram. Here are (some of)…
Since 1885, the Giffard family has been making some of the bartending community’s most loved liqueurs and syrups. Millie Milliken travelled to its home of Angers, France, to meet the…
This week we take a trip to the 19th century for a macabre cocktail created in honour of royalty. Don your most elegant finery, and say hello to the Black…
From strategy consultant to distillery owner, Annabel Thomas is the impressive force behind Nc’Nean whisky. As part of our International Women’s Day coverage, Millie Milliken spoke to her about entering…
Bored of serving wine at dinner parties? Well, whisky may just be the answer to making your evening more flavourful. We ask the experts how to pair whisky with every…
Dive bars from the Dolphin to the Crobar are on the ropes. But a new roster of bars with divey vibes are emerging, and their cocktails are making waves. Millie…
With an ever-growing market for Tequila and mezcal of Mexico comes an inevitable conundrum: how do we keep agave spirits sustainable? We ask the brands and businesses investing in the…
With a £6m investment under its belt – and a recent royal visit – Aberdeenshire’s Glen Garioch has had an exciting new upgrade. Millie Milliken travelled to the distillery to…
From blue vodka to green cocktails, the world of drinks can bring a real pop of colour into our lives. We ask the people making them why colour should be…
It’s finally here – Negroni Week (13-19 September) has officially begun. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up seven of the best twists out there and asked their creators for the inspiration…
The last few years have seen some serious records and numbers being set in the world of whisky auctions. Millie Milliken asks the experts how the industry works and what…
As the popularity of ageing or finishing in wine casks continues to grow in the whisky industry, Millie Milliken takes a look at some of the latest experimental bottlings out…
As the world begins to reopen for travel, we’ve scouted out some of the new bars that are opening abroad to add to our bucket lists – when we can…
From bric-a-brac finds to new ergonomic pieces, glassware collections and their owners come in many guises. How do you start? We asked some of the drinks industry’s most avid collectors….
The heyday of the Bullshot cocktail was in the 1960s and’70s when it was enjoyed by such stars as Joan Crawford, Malcolm McDowell, and, um, Rodney Dangerfield. Since then, it’s…
As the weather heats up, Millie Milliken takes a closer look at her favourite soft drink – the iced tea – and asks the experts how to incorporate it into…
This week Millie Milliken dons her visor and heads to 1980s Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to find out the origins of the Sex on the Beach [adult content warning] ‘Spring break’,…
From infusions to macerations, esters and cocktails, banana-flavoured drinks seem to be everywhere. Millie Milliken speaks to the makers and shakers who are going bananas for bananas. Hands up who…