Mezcal Amores – drinks review
Mezcal? Isn’t that a brand of tequila? No – they are slightly different beverages but with great similarities in both taste and production methods. Tequila...
Alhambra Reserva 1925 – drinks review
Independently-owned Alhambra Beers, a celebrated brewery in Spain, was founded in 1925 and is named after the Alhambra Palace in its home town of Granada....
Affordable Fizz from Les Grands Chais de France
Les Grands Chais de France Group is a company based in the Northern Vosges region of France. It’s run by the Helfrich family. When Joseph...
Champagne Taittinger at Luton Hoo – restaurant review
Champagne is the quintessential celebration drink. We enjoy it with friends and loved ones, accompanied by fine foods, perhaps in a drawing room with high...
Parlay Ultra Black Rum – drinks review
The label uses a strong old gold and black design which sets well on the inky dark rum in the tall slim bottle. The artwork...
Massucco Wines – drinks review
For many years Loris Massucco has been working hard, supported by the experience of several generations of family wine makers, to create his new, innovative...
Mele e Pere for Vermouth with a Master – bar review
Vermouth has been ubiquitous in and on cocktail bars since mixed drinks became popular more than a century ago, but many of us have no...
Ozeki Dry Sake – drinks review
If we are new to sake we will likely be looking for a mild flavour and a light sake. Yes, sake does indeed have a...
Vassilis Papagiannakos at Domaine Papagiannakos Winery – interview
A few years ago one might scoff at the prospect of a visit to a Greek winery. The memory of old-school Retsina lingers on. That...
Shirataki Shuzo Atoaji Kiriri Uonuma Junmai Sake – drinks review
The quality junmai sake, made in Uonuma City in Niigata, is a pure sake made of just 100% Japanese rice polished to 65% of its...
Taruzake Sake – cedar difference – travel review
Sure, the world of sake is new and mysterious to most of us. Japan’s national beverage is made of few ingredients but there are many...
Okinawa and Awamori – the spirit of the islands – travel review
Awamori is the celebrated spirit originating in and unique to the Ryukyu Islands (Nansei Islands in Japanese) of Okinawa. It is made from long-grain Thai...
Sake in situ – the overlooked tourist attraction in Japan – travel review
A dream came true for me recently and it was courtesy of the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). That might sound unlikely when...
Lambrusco – another taste – wine review
If you are of a certain age then even the name ‘Lambrusco’ will likely raise a smirk. Once the smirker’s composure has been restored then...
Umbria’s Autumn Gastronomy with Valentina Harris – travel review
Valentina Harris is perhaps our most celebrated and prolific Italian food writer, TV presenter and chef. Yes, the lady truly is Italian, although one could...
The Sparkle of Vilmart & Cie – travel review
The Champagne house Vilmart & Cie was founded in 1890 by Désiré Vilmart and is considered by many an authority to be perhaps the leading...
WSET Japan Tour Winter 2014 – travel review
Sake is more popular than ever outside Japan. There is a growing body of beverage professionals who are now turning their attention to Japan’s iconic...
Discover Japanese Sake with Discovery Channel – travel review
We are invited to ‘Travel with Sam to Japan and uncover the secrets of sake’. But the first questions are likely to be ‘Who is...
Koichi Saura – Samurai for Sake – interview
We, at least in London, are becoming more familiar with Japan’s iconic national beverage. We are tempted to take our first sips in the increasingly...
Whittington’s Tea Emporium at Noodle House – review
Kyle Whittington is a modern tea merchant. He imports the finest of teas and he educates and amuses his audience. You could say he teases...