A toast to a famous Ukraine Eurovision win – with vodka of course ukrainian vodka Ukraine’s triumph at last weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest came as a surprise to no-one. The competition’s traditional regional, ethnic, and political voting blocs were abandoned, as voters from across the continent delivered their overwhelming support to the embattled people of Ukraine, and while the folk-rap number Stefania, by Kalush Orchestra, may not have won strictly [...]
Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe: They don’t make rom-coms like this anymore theatre review The Globe Theatre is kicking off its first full summer season in two years with a thoroughly enjoyable garden party, and welcoming you to attend William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and uncharacteristically funny comedies. It centres around a pair of romances, one of which [...]
The Corn is Green review: A twee revival at the National Theatre theatre review The National Theatre’s revival of Welsh actor and playwright Emlyn Williams’ The Corn is Green – the first major production in London since the mid-80s – is a comforting, middle-brow ITV period drama plopped onto the stage. The beats of this semi-autobiographical tale of an impoverished boy propelled from the pits to the cultural elite [...]
Drinks focus: Makar Original Dry Gin is the best of Glasgow April 21, 2022 Makar Original Dry Gin is the first commercial gin to ever be made in Glasgow. Located within spitting distance of the Braehead Shopping Centre and a stone’s throw from Ibrox Stadium, the Glasgow Distillery makes a range of single malts, a blended malt whisky, a spiced rum, and botanical vodkas. But its largest range is [...]
Drinks focus: Tomatin is a storied whisky distillery with a new vision April 20, 2022 Founded in 1897, Tomatin was at one point the largest distillery in Scotland, but its fortunes have shifted with the wider industry. After going into liquidation in 1986, it became the first Scottish distillery to come under Japanese control. Much of its stock was sold for blending, and two of its largest customers rescued the [...]
Drinks events back after the pandemic, Here are two for your diary April 12, 2022 The first big booze shows are on the horizon – we’ll drink to that! The Cognac Show All Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac. Though it suffers from a perception that it is too fancy, expensive, and decadent, this varied category of French grape spirits was the workhorse of many traditional cocktails, [...]
The drinks diaries: An experimental new whisky and ready mixed cocktails April 7, 2022 Whiskymakers Compass Box are well known for their mischievous approach to the rules governing the production of Scotch whisky. While some might regard these as necessary impediments to creativity, Compass Box takes apparent delight in tweaking the nose of the establishment, sometimes making whiskies that seem to be a calculated riposte to figures in authority [...]
As tourism returns, we say: ‘Good morning Vietnam!’ March 28, 2022 Like much of the world, Vietnam was on its knees these last few years. Around 18 million foreign tourists visited in 2019 compared to a paltry 3,500 in 2021. But now visitors are flocking back. What’s more, there’s never been a better time to go: some high-end resorts are offering 25 per cent discounts on [...]
Rapper Kano is the mastermind behind The Duppy Share’s new rum March 26, 2022 Last week the latest season of the gritty London crime drama Top Boy dropped on Netflix, and as you settle in to binge the series, its star – actor and MOBO-winning grime pioneer Kano – has you covered for drinks. He’s the driving force behind the flavourful Duppy White Jamaican rum, part of The Duppy [...]
Push the boat out on your Irish celebrations with a £1,000 whiskey March 17, 2022 This weekend is the perfect excuse to indulge in some Irish whiskey. But if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, you should get your hands on a bottle of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s new rare release, The Taoscán. The Taoscán is the first whiskey finished in a combination of tawny port and French chestnut barrels. Bottled [...]
