How Kent came of age as a top wine-producing region June 11, 2021 It’s all happening in Kent. Ahead of National English Wine week, a well-established Kent winemaker has announced the release of its latest wine and, in the same county, another vineyard has launched its first bottles. Balfour Winery has launched its first Blanc de Noirs using Pinot Noir and Meunier from the excellent 2018 vintage and [...]
Welsh Wine Week: Meet the UK’s fastest-growing wine region June 10, 2021 Welsh Wine may be the UK’s best kept secret. Though wine was grown here as far back as Roman times it fell by the wayside, with the rolling countryside being dominated by other agriculture, farming and basically a lot of sheep. Until now. Today it is one of the most dynamic new regions for wine, [...]
The end of lockdown could spell a dinner party renaissance June 10, 2021 The end of lockdown should be close; we wait with bated breath for a final decision on whether 21 June will in fact see the sweeping away of most of the remaining restrictions. In the meantime, however, we are allowed to gather indoors according to the rule of six (or more, if they are drawn [...]
How lockdown turned Britain into a nation of fudge makers June 9, 2021 Fudge may be an American invention but fudge-making has become a national pastime in the UK, with amateur confectioners turning professional and kitchen table hobbyists starting successful businesses. The most important day on every fudge-maker’s calendar is June 16 – National Fudge Day – when a little extra sweetness is spread across the country. Fudge [...]
Gin isn’t just for drinking – use it to clean, polish and shine June 9, 2021 If in doubt, reach for the gin. England’s favourite spirit can help you in more ways than you think. Did you know it’s great for removing red wine stains, and can easily absorb and dissolve pigments that could otherwise irreparably stain precious fabrics? Drinking it is a terrible waste, when you really think about it. [...]
Celebrate World Gin Day with these small-batch wonders June 8, 2021 Ahead of World Gin Day on Saturday, the country’s ever-increasing number of modern, small batch, independent Mother’s Ruinists have been feverishly vying to get their brands in the spotlight. Shetland Reel has launched Countdown Gin” resulting from its collaboration with Shetland Space Centre, tying in with the island of Unst being home to the first [...]
Drinking around the world: Discover this fine gin from Gibraltar June 7, 2021 A former Devon-based golf pro living on an island without a golf course has created his own gin and vodka halfway between London and the tropics. Peter and Stella Millhouse run The Rock Distillery on the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, producing The Spirit of Rock gin and Moon Lizard vodka. “We met in the [...]
Chase away the blues with a glass of delicious… blue wine June 7, 2021 This Saturday is National Rose Day, but perhaps it’s time to get a bit more adventurous and celebrate with something blue instead? You see, there are more than 900 vineyards in the UK but only one makes dry sparkling blue wine… Adgestone Vineyard on the Isle of Wight, among the oldest continuously operating vineyards in [...]
How I discovered of Haitian ‘clairin’ rum, my drink of the summer June 4, 2021 For something new this summer, adventurous drinkers should turn to the boutique distilleries of Haiti, with the island country now exporting some of its finest spirits into the UK. Clairin – Creole for ‘clear’, also known as rhum sirop de canne – is an organic, Haitian wild sugar cane distillate which has a reputation for [...]
Why the winelands of Wales are set to be a UK holiday hotspot June 4, 2021 Holidaying abroad this year is tricky and a staycation may be on the cards, but before you book a long trek to Cornwall or the Highlands, why not consider the wine-country of Wales? No, this is not a joke. Despite being relatively small on a global scale, Welsh wines won six awards at the recent [...]