Cocktails are back in vogue in the bars, restaurants and suburban homes of the British Isles. Gin and tonic, rum and coke, whisky and water all may do the job, but in their dull predictability they're being pushed aside in favour of the effervescent colour of the cocktail, with its alluring mix of sophistication, exoticism, and sheer tastiness.
Three quick whisky cocktails, two of them simple and traditional, the third, a little more unusual, for you to make and enjoy. Whisky Mac What you need: 2 parts Scotch whisky 1 part Green Ginger Wine Place ingredients in a traditional whisky tumbler, and mix by holding the base of …
Some people will tell you the Highball got its name from a railway signal, but the oldest reference we could find offers a different explanation. Round about 1888, in St. Louis University Club, a drink of bourbon and soda served with an ice ball was popular with members who referred …
Just the words, Mint Julep, conjure up images of the Deep South: the heat, plantation workers in the fields, Scarlett O’Hara with her sunshade – and her young men sipping their long cool drinks. When the Mint Julep was first created in the 18th century, the most important ingredient wasn’t …
There’s an old gentleman down our way who for years, has been in the habit of saying, ‘Whisky when you’re sick makes you well; whisky when you’re well makes you sick.’ He uses it as an excuse to enjoy a glass or two of malt each night – ‘In moderation …
Legends and stories abound about the Mexican spirit tequila, but how much is true? The Myths Tequila is made from cactus juice No, it’s not. It made from the sap of the agave plant, a succulent and a relative of the lily. There should be a worm in the bottle …
Mother’s ruin or Dutch courage? What’s the story behind gin, one of our most popular spirits. Gin takes its name from Genever, which in turn, is named from the French word, genièvre, meaning juniper. Juniper is an evergreen bush with very aromatic greeny-blue berries with medicinal qualities. Gin is said …
Hats off to the Dutch! For it’s largely thanks to Dutch merchants that we have brandy today. Back in the seventeenth century in order both to preserve the quality of wine over a long journey by sea, and to be able to transport more of it at one time, the …
If you’ve always fancied sex on the beach but never quite been brave enough, we’re here to help you! Cocktails with naughty names are nothing new: people were having sex on the beach in the 1960s! Maybe even your parents tried it! Many of these cocktails involve vodka, so open …
We’ve gathered together recipes for our top 10 most popular and best-known cocktails. With these basic cocktails at your fingertips, you’ll be the bartender of the year! But don’t be afraid to vary quantities and even ingredients in your search for the perfect cocktail! Cosmopolitan 1½ shots vodka 1 shot …
Although known variously as both ‘Black Velvet’ and the ‘Bismarck’, it is the former name that perfectly encapsulates not only the look and texture of this rather old fashioned drink but also the experience and sensation of drinking one – it is a thick, rich and luxurious beverage. A Surprisingly …