Features - Page 50

Featured news, interviews and articles covering whisky, rum, gin, tequila and mezcal and other drinks and spirits, as well as the drinks industry.
Celebrating La Grande Dame Celebrating La Grande Dame

Today we celebrate one of the most influential people in the history of booze, the woman who turned sparkling Champagne from a novelty into a reliable internationally-renowned product, Veuve Clicquot….

Henry JeffreysHenry Jeffreys
Five minutes with… Miranda Dickson from Absolut ElyxFive minutes with… Miranda Dickson from Absolut Elyx

As the global brand director of Absolut Elyx, Miranda Dickson is the creative brain behind the luxury vodka expression. You might not know it, but she’s the reason we’re all…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
Everything you wanted to know about peatEverything you wanted to know about peat

It’s been a smoky week on the blog with news of the expansion at Kilchoman and a new release from Ardbeg. Therefore, we thought it would be a good idea to take…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
major fire at Jim BeamWhat the blazes: a history of distillery fires

Making whisky is not without its hazards, distillation can be a dangerous business. Then there’s the challenge of storing thousands of wooden casks of flammable liquid safely while they mature….

Ian BuxtonIan Buxton
Equiano: the world’s first African-Caribbean rumEquiano: the world’s first African-Caribbean rum

In blending Cognac cask-aged rum from Africa with ex-bourbon cask rum from the Caribbean, Equiano Rum brings together liquid from Barbados’s Foursquare Distillery and Gray’s Distillery of Mauritius in one…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
Top 10 New York bars to visitTop 10 New York bars to visit

New York bars have a reputation for greatness. We spent some time sipping our way through the city, and behold! Here are our findings. We present 10 great bars to…

Kristiane SherryKristiane Sherry
Patrice PinetFive minutes with… Courvoisier’s Patrice Pinet

What can we expect from Cognac in 2020? We asked Patrice Pinet, master blender at Courvoisier, to fill us in. Cognac had an interesting 2019, with encouraging sales and increasing…

Adam O'ConnellAdam O'Connell
Cocktails in cans are not to be sniffed atCocktails in cans are not to be sniffed at

From canned G&Ts to bottled Negronis, It’s never been easier to buy a portable bar-quality drink on the hop. We explore how pre-mixed cocktails turned premium – and share a selection…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
The Dalmore Aged 51 YearsMaster of Malt tastes… The Dalmore Aged 51 Years

The Dalmore has launched a 51 Year Old expression and we were lucky enough to be one of the first to taste it. No, really. Here’s what we thought. Any…

Adam O'ConnellAdam O'Connell
Black Tears: the new spirit of CubaBlack Tears: the new spirit of Cuba

Two of the biggest trends in drinks are spiced rum and premiumisation. So we were excited to try Black Tears, an elegantly-flavoured Cuban rum that was launched recently. We talk…

Henry JeffreysHenry Jeffreys
Changing the perception of Tequila with VIVIRChanging the perception of Tequila with VIVIR

The founders of VIVIR Tequila believe they can change the way you think about Tequila. We spoke to them to find out why. Recognition of Tequila and mezcal as a diverse, impressive…

Adam O'ConnellAdam O'Connell
Acqua Bianca, a liqueur inspired by perfumeAcqua Bianca, a liqueur inspired by perfume

To make a liqueur as aromatic and delicate as a fine perfume, says bartending icon Salvatore Calabrese, you need to include a rather rare and historic ingredient in the recipe….

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
Durham Gin: masters of the caskDurham Gin: masters of the cask

We talk beards, barrels and botanicals with Jon Chadwick at the Durham Distillery, the firm that makes (some of) the best cask-aged gin in England. Mixing gin with oak takes…

Henry JeffreysHenry Jeffreys
Mezcal + poultry = pechuga (it’s much nicer than it sounds)Mezcal + poultry = pechuga (it’s much nicer than it sounds)

How do you take your mezcal – neat, on the rocks, or redistilled with a raw chicken breast? While Oaxaca’s experienced mezcaleros have long produced mezcal de pechuga, passing heirloom recipes…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes
El DestiladoA spotlight on… El Destilado

El Destilado is shining a spotlight on fiercely independent producers by bottling some of their extraordinary expressions. We thought we’d do something similar for the spirits brand and cast an…

Adam O'ConnellAdam O'Connell
Benriach: painting with whiskyBenriach: painting with whisky

While there are many parallels between the worlds of whisky-making and art, the two rarely meet in a literal, visual sense. And perhaps for good reason. Is it even possible…

Annie HayesAnnie Hayes