You might think that having created beloved brands like Hendricks and Sailor Jerry, Steven Grasse would easily feel justified resting on his laurels. Instead, he sought out land in one of the most remote areas of New Hampshire, where he, with the assistance of his Head Distiller, Matt Power, created Tamworth Distilling. Known for their choice of the unusual and the truly bizarre, Grasse has used what he terms as ‘creative grenades’ to push the brand’s sense of enchantment and myst...

When we think about Dry January or making any non-alcoholic cocktails, we usually think about the spirits or liqueurs that we use in drinks. But how often do you think about the bitters?Coming in tiny little bottles, where you might only use a drop or two, it's easy to forget that bitters are technically alcohol. Most bitters commonly on the market sit around 35-45% ABV, and although you are only using a small amount, this can derail your non-alcoholic efforts. So, understandably, non-al...

For years, the Whiskey industry (both with an ‘e’ and without) has been innovating and keeping consumers intrigued by using Single Barrel programs. Now, Tequila distillery Partida, the original additive-free Tequila, has announced that Master Tequilero José Valdez has crafted 30 unique barrels of their award-winning and highly regarded añejo for a single-barrel programme of their own. Each barrel will have unique tasting notes, making each one special and highly collectable for tequ...

When you think about Aspen, your mind probably goes to beautiful snow-covered ski runs and the jet-set taking their winter holidays on the slopes. And why not? Aspen has some of the best and most prestigious mountains for skiing and snowboarding in the world.But what if your mind instead went to Vodka? This is what Aspen Vodka is hoping your mind will do. With their use of pure ingredients and their deep appreciation for the mountain terroir, Aspen Vodka is looking to embody the ess...

Like so many of us, Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has a fondness for Tequila, but also, like many of us, he understands the advantages of imbibing less. But finding a good non-alc Tequila is not as simple as it sounds. So Hamilton did the next logical thing - he created his own. In an endeavour to honour the tradition and craft of real Tequila, he partnered with Casa Lumbre, an innovative Mexican spirit company and its distiller and co-owner Ivan Saldaña. The two them craft...

What if you could capture the essence of a rugged Scottish island in a bottle? Join us as we journey to Islay, Scotland, with Adam Hannett, the head distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery, to explore the bold new expression of The Botanist gin—Distiller's Strength. By increasing the alcohol content to 50%, this limited edition gin accentuates its juniper core while preserving the fine balance of 22 native botanicals. Hannett highlights the importance of exploration and innovation in cocktail c...

While we’d be hard-pressed to believe that cocktail syrups are the Elixir Vitae or ‘elixir of immortality,’ spoken about in ancient Alchemy, for lovers of tropical drinks, Falernum is not far off. So it’s unsurprising that US Premium Cocktail Syrups brand, Liquid Alchemist has just launched their own Falernum, the most recent addition to their stable of flavours. To find out more, we talk to a modern version of an alchemist, former bartender and Liquid Alchemy founder Randy Tarlow a...

When people talk about Bourbon, they usually talk about the barrels - they go on about the char levels and whether there was any toasting. After that, they might discuss the age and the time the liquid spent in those nicely charred barrels because, for most people, that time and those barrels denote the liquid's flavour. Occasionally, the conversation may turn to the makeup of the mash bill, such as the percentage of corn, to rye, to barley, or wheat. But very rarely do they ev...

If you travel high into the French Alps between the cliffs of Vercors and the peaks of Écrins National Park, you might be surprised that besides some of the world’s most beautiful mountain terrain, there is also Whiskey. Surrounded by the Trièves Mountains sits Les Hautes Glaces, the world’s oldest organic whisky farm & distillery, established in 2009 by Frédéric Revol. Nestled in such beauty, it’s not surprising that the distillery aims to put terroir at the heart of the taste ...

Ever wondered what happens when a pop icon teams up with a master mixologist? Jennifer Lopez and Lynnette Marrero bring their unique talents together to create Delola, a line of Ready to Enjoy (RTE) cocktails that blend artistry and accessibility. While the brand already boasts expressions like its Paloma Rosa, Bella Berry and L’Orange Spritz, they have just added a new flavour to the sable in the form of a Light Margarita. We talk to Marrero about flavour, low ABV and what sta...

There is nothing more romantic than the story of a revived brand, and none seems to have done it as well as Kentucky Owl. Founded in 1879, the brand created Whiskey until Prohibition shut it down. A hundred years later, the great-great-grandson of the founder revived the family business with a view to respecting the past but looking to the future. And with that, a boutique Bourbon business known for its limited releases was reborn. Its latest release, the Maighstir (which is Gaelic ...

Let’s face it: the agave spirits market is crowded. So, if you are looking to bring out a new tequila, you’ve really got to stand out. Casa Obsidiana, a brand that was released at the end of last year, is looking to do that on several fronts. By incorporating elements of modern art, heritage, and liquids substantially transformed by wine cask ageing, the brand is looking to make its mark on the ultra-premium market. But the promises of all those elements are a lot to live up to...

No matter what you think of RTDs, you can’t argue with the convenience factor - a fact that has driven the sector into a meteoric rise since COVID. Although figures show that the sector is beginning to plateau, the premium end of the category is still seeing growth and a demand for new variations. One such premium brand that has been making its mark is Australia’s Curitif - a brand that believes its expressions empower consumers to redefine their occasions. With a luxury, high-...

We live in a time when people often refer to Scotch not only by the brand name but also by the age of the liquid. In executive boardrooms and exclusive gentlemen's clubs, the names of single malts are mentioned with a certain reverence, and a hush will come over the room as a Glenlivit 74-year-old or a Dalmore 45-year-old, as discussed. They are expensive, they are exclusive, and they have given single malt scotch an air of rarity and distinction.But there is one brand that seeks to thro...

New Orleans has a long tradition of being the gateway between US Bourbon and the rest of the world. And Chicken Cock, being one of the oldest Whiskey brands in the US, has had a long association with the city. Even before he started Chicken Cock Whiskey, original founder James A. Miller was shipping barrels of his coveted whiskey down to the ‘Big Easy’ in the 1830s. So it's no surprise that Chicken Cock has been shipping a very special expression down south for this year's New Orleans Bo...

As El Mayor prepares to export its Tequila to Europe, we caught up with the brand's Master Distiller and Brand Ambassador, Grace Gonzalez, to find out more about its liquid. Grace, a guardian of her family's fourth-generation distilling wisdom, distills the essence of crafting tequila that resonates with aficionados and newcomers alike (and gives insight into how you can pair it with everything from sushi to steak). We traverse the landscape of agave fields, uncovering the meticulou...

With Laws recently winning the title of 'World's Best Small batch Bourbon', we thought it was a good time to talk with founder, Al Laws, to talk about the very niche yet thriving world of heritage grain whiskey. While heritage grain may sound high brow, for distillers like Laws, who started Laws Whiskey House in Colorado more than a decade ago, heritage is all about unique flavour profiles. As Laws prepares to start the year with a series of new releases, we talk to him about grai...

Join the conversation as we uncover the craft behind Seedlip's new groundbreaking non-alcoholic spirit, Notas de Agave, with none other than the visionary founder himself, Ben Branson. Tune in as Branson discusses the meticulous creation process, the hurdles the brand faced to achieve the perfect harmony of lime, prickly pear, and peppercorn. Tailored to, and available exclusively in, the US, Notas de Agave is a versitile non-alc , that works equally well in a Margarita, as it...

We thought we would start our podcast year off by talking to one of Scotland's best-known no-alc distilled spirits, Feragaia. You've probably seen a lot about no and low-alc spirits through dry January, but if the 2024 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report is to be believed, you're about to hear a lot more. The report predicts that the sector will skyrocket by 67% to a value of 359 million by 2026 and that consumers will increasingly seek no and low alternatives year-round. So, with t...

There can be no argument that Tequila is having a moment. There are so many brands competing for shelf space that it's fair to say that there is a Tequila out there for everyone. In fact, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, Tequila’s popularity has risen to such an extent that they predict it is set to overtake Vodka this year. But what does it take to set up a tequila brand in 2023? And is there still room for new brands to make an impact in the market?To find out more, we ta...