Archive For December 2021
A Negroni Valentine Award-winning CUCIELO Rosso was new to me, but I am a convert. Yes, it’s just a matter of taste but this sweet red vermouth has character and subtlety sometimes missing in other bottles. This is a classic Vermouth di Torino made using hand-picked herbs, botanicals and the best Italian wines. This aromatic…
Indian Home Cooking from A British Kitchen Torie True has penned a beautiful volume of Indian dishes but with the British home cook in mind. The recipes are tempting but they are also accessible to even the novice cook. Buy a small battery of spices and you will be ready to cook all of these…
Recipe boxes of quality foods Thrive Recipe Boxes were new to me. Yes, there are plenty of food box delivery services around these days. It’s a sign of the times. But not all recipe boxes are created equal. Thrive is one of the better ones I have reviewed. We enjoyed fillet steak, mushroom sauce, roast…
The Very Best Martinis, Margaritas, Manhattans, and More Cocktails have enjoyed a revival over the past couple of decades. We visit bars but we also want to make them at home. There won’t be many sideboards that don’t have a cocktail shaker likely collecting dust at the back. The Artisanal Kitchen: Classic Cocktails: The Very…
120 years of Glen Moray whisky Glen Moray in the heart of Speyside has been around for 120 years. It all began in 1897, when the Elgin West Brewery, which had made local ales since 1830 was transformed into the whisky distillery we see today. The company continued to upgrade its facilities and in the…
The World’s First Super-Premium Aquavit Now available in the UK, Nuet Dry Aquavit is the first and only aquavit to ever receive an award in the gin category (Silver at the Nordic Spirits Awards 2021) Nuet Dry Aquavit is the world’s first super-premium aquavit combining almost 500 years of Scandinavian tradition and elevating the spirit with…
An Iconic Cocktail Cocktail There can be no more recognisable cocktail than a martini. Yes, it’s the glass that gives it away; and now we have a neat little volume, The Martini: Perfection in a Glass, to guide us through the combinations of ingredients to make a delicious selection of martinis. Author Matt Hranek has…
A Single Malt to Impress The anCnoc (pronounced a-nock) label was born a few years after Inver House Distillers bought the Knockdhu distillery, which had been established in 1894. The first official bottling of anCnoc was released in 1993, and by 2013 the core range was established. anCnoc whisky takes its name from the eponymous…
The Sunday Roast Companion Founded in 1870 by Santiago Graffigna, this is the third oldest winery in Argentina. It has a reputation for consistent quality. This Malbec is a prime example of this vineyard’s craft. Regular readers will know that I am an unashamed lover of Malbec. I have seldom had a bad one, and…
Rum to the Power of Five Étän is a premium award-winning 40% abv golden spiced rum. It has indeed two claims on their ‘Power of Five’ slogan. This rum has been distilled using a unique array of five botanicals found in and around West Africa and specifically in Cameroon. The second element is that five…
The answer is 34. What’s the question? ‘34′ is one of the things that makes Purity Swedish Gin and Purity Vodka different. This exceptional range of Swedish spirits has just launched nationwide in the UK. How many distillations does it take to perfect spirits? The quick answer is 34. However, it took ten years and…
Festive Fizz The Glera variety of grapes for i heart Prosecco are cultivated in the region of Veneto in the north of Italy where one finds the beautiful city of Venice. The stylish cafés and restaurants there are proud to promote this popular local wine. But we don’t have to travel to enjoy a good…
Lassies Toast Gin inspired by Robert Burns, and tea Whether it’s an evening in with friends, New Year’s Eve, Burns’ Night, or another celebratory occasion, Lassies Toast Gin is something rather special. Dressed in luxurious red, this deliciously herbal Scottish gin features thyme, citrus, and hints of tea. It is inspired by the Moorland Tea…
Rethinking Our Way with Grains Joshua McFadden has penned a comprehensive and beautifully presented book, with its focus on delicious and economic foods accessible to most of us. Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains covers all the common suspects and also those which have been more recently introduced to our local supermarkets….
Zero alcohol – plenty of fun It’s Christmas. The big day is a long one, but we want it to be festive from the start. The excitement could begin with a Bucks Fizz, or a Mimosa. That is usually a sparkling wine made a little less alcoholic by the addition of orange juice. But we…
Fresh taste of citrus I confess, Jatt Life is new to me. It’s a company which has its focus on vodka and whiskey. They are earning a creditable reputation for presenting prize-winning beverages. The founders of the brand noticed a gap in the premium spirits market in 2019. They noted that the marketplace was saturated…
Perfect Pouches for Christmas Merchant Gourmet have long had their fingers on the pulse of non-meat trends. This year 20% of British home chefs are considering an entirely plant-based Christmas dinner. Now Merchant Gourmet are offering Spiced Grains & Chestnuts pouches in a couple of varieties and in time for the festive season. These are…
Ready-to-Drink Holy Grass Vodka with Apple Tonic Launches Dunnet Bay Distillers, the family-owned eco-friendly Scottish gin and vodka company, has launched a new ready-to-drink cocktail – Holy Grass Scottish Vodka with apple tonic. The Wonders of the Wilderness can contains a refreshing, crisp apple tonic mingled with Holy Grass Vodka, named after the locally foraged botanical…
A 10-year-old Single Malt of Distinction This distillery was built 120 years ago outside the town of Rothes in Speyside, a region famed for its whisky. The founders, John and Edward Hopkin, built up rather than out with malting floors of mesh raised high. The fresh water, a crucial ingredient, was found nearby in Granty…
Master the Dark Arts of Mixology It’s that season of mystery and magic, so The Alchemist Cocktail Book can only add to the festive fun. This striking volume is indeed gift-quality and rather unique. The very cover is intriguing and more reminiscent of Harry Potter than a recipe book. It takes a step away from…