Sometimes, you come across something unexpected. I met Justine Hazlehurst of Kask Whisky at the Buffalo Trace borboun tasting a few weeks back. Like the other people there, Justine was trade but she doesn’t have a bar or restaurant, and she doesn’t shake cocktails for a living. Instead, she organises…
The story of the creation of Kinnettles Scottish tea would be worthy of a film with two strong women in the lead, a handsome young couple and long neglected walled gardens across Scotland taking staring roles. But first, imagine how lucky I feel to have tasted the new tea –…
I worked in the Scotch whisky tourist business several summers and am a card-carrying member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society so it will come as no surprise that American whiskey isn’t my first choice. Saying that, over the last few years, I have developed a soft spot for a Manhattan, a sweet…
You’ll know by now that we love a good cocktail. What we also love is something that surprises and enchants us. Something that is unique and we’ll not find somewhere else. Is this possible? Yes indeed! Cocktails in the City is a two day event held at the amazing Mansfield…
There is nothing quite like home-made soup. In our household we make a good range of them, from variations of lentil, to thick carrot and tomato soups. Soup and bread is one of my favourite lunches: comforting, easy to make and healthy. Amy’s Kitchen asked me to taste a few of their soups for…
Everyone knows I love craft beer. But much in the same way absence makes the heart grow fonder, a night off the hops makes the palate stronger. I don’t mean switching to wine or G&T, but choosing alcohol free beverages instead. However, when you develop craft tastes for one thing…
Recently, I was sent a crate of beer with a note that read ‘enjoy a selection of Molson Coors craft beers this summer.’ Molson Coors are the world’s seventh largest brewing company by volume, so what did they mean by craft?
As the oldest commercially produced beer in Italy, Menabrea enjoys a reputation as something authentic and special. Its two varieties, ‘Bionda,’ a pale lager and ‘Ambrata,’ an amber-coloured ale, have been brewed solely at Menabrea’s brewery near Turin since 1846. A combination of maize and barley from Champagne, hops from…
We’re lucky enough to be asked to try all sorts of things from different foods to apps. Sometimes, these don’t warrant a whole post to themselves and don’t quite fit into our newsletter, so we thought we’d include a monthly round up of things we love. The best place to drink…
Once upon a time there was an abbey. It had a mill, great water and all the things you need to bake good bread and make beer. But time passed, fewer monks joined the abbey and it fell into disrepair. Then along came an experienced brewer and said, ‘you have the…
