Stil, New Zealand’s finest triple distilled charcoal filtered vodka is getting a revamped new look, if you haven’t had the chance to try it yet, now is your best chance. Its new look has been etched with the topographical map of the Kaimai Ranges. These ranges are home to the pristine spring water used to […]
If you, like me, completely missed the boat on Asahi Super Dry Nama Jokki when it dropped in NZ last year then you have good reason. It sold out in record time. 32,000 sixpacks blew by in just 8 weeks. Now It’s here to stay with its own localisation just for us. Each 340ml can […]
The days of the mancave are played out. Now is the time of the tiny Irish pub. Look out at your lawn, would you like to not have to mow a couple more meters of it? Why not put a miniature booze temple there instead. You’ve always dreamed of owning a tavern, now it’s time […]
The World’s Oldest Single Malt Coming Soon Gordon & MacPhail has announced their plans to release the world’s oldest single malt scotch whisky. Cask number 336, a handsome American oak sherry cask was started back in 1940 when WW2 was heating up and rationing had started to bite. A lack of manpower and other factors […]
There’s a lot of booze on the following pages so let’s start things off on an alcohol free note. The team at Free AF are back at it again with a cocktail in a can, this time the non-alcoholic Mango Margarita that’s unapologetically punchy AF. It’s got the same alcohol style afterglow delivering a tingly […]
Each issue, Tim Warren, our untamed reviewer of all things that make life wonderful, turns his attention to the bountiful New Zealand gin scene. Awildian Manuka Coromandel based Awildian has been making waves since their London Dry won “Best in the World” in 2022. This “Old Tom, new tricks” promises an updated 18th-century recipe with […]
It doesn’t matter how smart we think we are as humans – Nature always turns out smarter, stronger and just plain better than us every time. That’s what Wai Manuka Sparkling Water Taught us. Being inherently lazy, we invent ‘tonics’, ‘elixirs’ and ‘energy drinks’ to ostensibly improve our health whilst we’re busy playing on Xbox […]
On the banks of the Cromarty Firth you’ll find the historic warehouses of The Dalmore stocked to the brim with whisky casks patiently maturing. The cool November air is perfect for inspection week, as the whisky is at rest, their flavours perfect and true after the warmer summer months are done. Inspection week stretches back […]
If you’ve ever had a cocktail from Batched Premium Cocktails before then you already know these guys have a pretty great range of curated small batch cocktails made with premium ingredients. Usually contained within 725ml glass bottles they’ve taken the next big leap in RTDs by creating Shake & Pour 240ml Espresso Martini Cans. Crafted […]
Harrison Ford Gets Smooth Harrison Ford is rocking a kilt in Glenmorangie’s newest campaign, Once Upon a Time in Scotland. The 82-year-old Hollywood legend has teamed up with the whisky brand for a 12-episode series directed by Australian actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton. The campaign explores the traditions of Glenmorangie, all through Ford’s signature taciturn […]
Another month another new addition to the Batched Premium Cocktails family. This time they’re bottling up the Classic Margarita and making the vibrant, zesty flavours of the iconic Margarita available in an easy shake-and-pour format, perfect for any occasion. Now that’s a great way to cruise through summer. Crafted with premium ingredients, including certified Mexican […]
James Bond and The Macallan—two icons that have that unmistakable air of Scottish heritage and a kind of timeless appeal that never really goes out of style. Bond’s been spotted with a glass of The Macallan in hand plenty of times over the years so it’s fitting that to toast Bond’s 60th anniversary, The Macallan […]
Yalumba’s The Caley is a wine with serious pedigree. It’s a blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Barossa Shiraz that somehow manages to be both luxurious and approachable. Yalumba has been in the game since 1849. We’re talking about Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, still run by the Hill-Smiths, who clearly take winemaking and their family […]
From the hallowed halls of New Zealand’s most discerning liquor emporium, Liquorland, comes an offering that makes even the most stoic of whisky aficionados quiver a lip in envy. Behold, the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Single Malt Whisky—a bottle so rare and venerable, there’s only one of them available in New Zealand and it comes […]
Hopefully over this christmas and New Years you found a chance to hang out and have good times with friends and loved ones. To celebrate these times The Macallan have crafted a unique single malt Scotch whisky for these unique golden moments. The limited-edition whisky was created using a combination of The Macallan’s sherry seasoned […]
Whisky is about harmony. It’s about the orchestra of ingredients working together over many months and years to create a concert in your mouth to be savoured. Weird analogy sure but I think it works. Now the spirit of this endeavour is being applied to The Harmony Collection, a celebration of the lands of Scotland, […]
I’m giving away my age a little with this admission but 2008 was a pretty great year for me personally. It was a formative year of getting away from home for the first time, seeing some of the world, and graduating from child to gangly adult. This also marked the year The Dalmore put away […]
Founded in 1839 on the windswept banks of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, The Dalmore has been quietly crafting liquid gold for over 180 years but this year’s highlight is the crown jewel of The Dalmore Principal Collection, The Dalmore 21 Year-Old 2023 Edition. With a mere 13,000 bottles available worldwide, this release […]
A change of seasons is upon us and it’s time to celebrate with a drop of The Macallan, care of Spey in north-east Scotland. If it’s your first time having a The Macallan the Double Cask Collection is a perfect place to start. It’s defined by new world meets old as sherry seasoned American oak […]
When it comes to Japanese Whisky there’s none more iconic than Suntory. It’s been a house of innovation, constantly reinventing itself for several generations as it marks its 100th anniversary. It’s become known for it’s world-class spirits including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita, Kakubin, Hibiki, Suntory Whisky and Toki, as well as Roku Gin and Haku Vodka. […]
As a kid; whenever I heard the word ‘scenario’ I could taste baked beans like I’d just put a forkful in my mouth. Plus, whenever I saw a car painted in any shiny metallic colour I instantly recalled the smell of Gregg’s instant coffee. Later on I learned that this type of affliction was called […]
While Glenfiddich might be one of the the world’s most awarded and famous whisky brands, it’s not resting on its laurels and is consistently raising the bar with its daring experiments and mastery of craftsmanship. The latest addition to the brand’s esteemed Grand Series, Glenfiddich Grande Couronne is one such example. The history of Glenfiddich […]
While the world has plenty of very fine spirits including rums, cognacs, bourbons, whiskeys and whiskies it is slowly discovering the magic of Metaxa, a unique and iconic Greek spirit created from a blend of wine distillates, rose petals, Mediterranean herbs, and muscat grapes from the island of Samos. And the world is a little […]
Hennessy X.O, the prestigious cognac brand, has teamed up with renowned designer Kim Jones for a collaboration that fuses the worlds of fashion and heritage. In a departure from its usual partnerships with artists, architects, and directors, Hennessy X.O has ventured into the fashion space for the first time with this collaboration. Jones, known for […]
The Macallan are bringing their latest creation to New Zealand shores, but before they do, they’re offering limited spots in an exclusive experience for those wanting to try it for themselves before it hits Kiwi shelves. If you consider yourself an aficionado of the dram, then you’re going to want to put this event on […]
The Bruichladdich Black Art Edition 09.1 is the most recent addition to the renowned Black Art series from the Islay distillery. And is a testament to the masterful blending skills of Head Distiller Adam Hannett, who has created a complex and elegant whisky that showcases the best of Bruichladdich’s craft. At 29 years of age, […]
There are plenty of fine ways to celebrate getting a new job but having a new whisky brand created in your honour is probably not the usual. Unless of course, you are the Queen. And in 1953, with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the luxury whisky brand Royal Salute was first launched to commemorate […]
Remy Martin Louis XIII is one of the world’s most famous and sought-after cognacs due to its rich history and exceptional flavour profile. And the Remy Martin Louis XIII 3L Jeroboam takes that and makes the whole package a masterpiece. To give some true context to what makes Remy Martin Louis XIII so special, we […]
Whisky tasting, you’ve got a selection of bottles in front of you, a collection of mates beside you and you’re ready to go. The problem is; how are you going to do it? Sip the tasting glasses and say; ‘Mm, that one was ‘yummy’ or; ‘Oo, that one was a bit average’? Well, you can […]
The premium tequila category has had a meteoric rise over the years, but the epitome of the craftsmanship and the unique origin qualities of good tequila is owned by Clase Azul; a relative newcomer to the scene but one that has wasted no time in setting the benchmark for the category. The company was founded […]
The end of a fine meal; what better time to have a cup of hot, rich, flavourful coffee? Funnily enough, this is also the ideal time to sit back and reflect on the successes of your day over a glass of carefully-crafted, fruity, full-bodied whisky. Hmm, imagine if those two things were designed to go […]
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand is known for producing some of the world’s finest red wines, but since 1982, Te Mata’s Coleraine range has carved out it’s own benchmark and year on year it keeps getting lifted. The 2021 vintage of Coleraine is a true standout, known among wine lovers as “The One.” The weather conditions […]
A Night On Earth In Scotland is a new and limited edition expression from The Macallan; a celebration of the Scottish tradition of Hogmanay, marking the end of one year and the start of another. And it’s so good you will probably want to celebrate Hogmanay all year round! Hogmanay is a celebration that marks […]
New Year; the absolute best time of year where we can celebrate getting rid of the last one – or revisit the highlights if it was a real goodie – and welcome in the exciting new vintage with all its promise and potential of being the best yet. Of course, if you even have a […]
If you’re heading over the ditch to Australia now that the borders are getting back to normal, make sure you have plenty of room in your bag for what you’re going to be hauling back. Penfolds has a slew of limited edition wines for you to try. If you aren’t planning on doing any traveling […]
If you are worried that out of control global inflation might be eroding the value of cash and are looking at other investment options, now might be the time to stock up on some wine. Sure, people will bang on about gold, Bitcoin and property, but some wine investors are making a fortune from buying […]
Sometimes you just know in your gut that you’re right – even when it seems like everyone around you refuses to be a believer. As William Goldman wrote for Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; ‘I got vision while the rest of the world wears bifocals!’ History is littered with such examples; […]
Mayfair isn’t just the most desirable plot of land on the Monopoly board, it’s also the go-to place for the ritziest cocktail bar on the planet. We’ve mentioned it in passing before, but we really must pay the Connaught Bar some closer attention. It’s consistently named the best cocktail bar in the world, and it […]
If you’re lucky enough to be a globe trotter at the moment, take a moment to stop in at the best bars for the best drinks in the galaxy. Connaught Bar London, UK Consistently rated the best bar in Europe as well as one of the best bars in the world, the Connaught is something […]
While single malt whisky might generally be considered to be the bee’s knees (technically speaking) compared to blended, the category has only really been around since the early 1960s. Prior to this, Scotland’s commercial whisky industry was based on blended whisky. As a bit of context to the difference between single malt and blended, there […]
In today’s age of IPOs, mergers, VC funds and hostile takeovers, it’s a rare thing to find a family-owned company of the likes of Glenfiddich that has not only set the benchmark for whisky with 130 years of heritage, but is also continuously experimenting, pushing processes and breaking rules as they shape the future of […]
We’ve covered expensive liquor here before. Usually these expensive drams have had to gussy themselves up by bedazzling their bottles with jewels to be worth anything at all. But not Scottish distiller Springbank’s single malt scotch, oh no. The small bottle which was distilled in December 1919 fetched £6440 at auction. Just 24 full size […]
The other day I was asked ‘what food should I have with whisky?’ I replied that there are only three things to have with a whisky – a cigar; a little water; and yet more whisky. Never would I have thought to food match with whisky. However, none of these are particularly nutritious and merely […]
Stop! Before you slosh all that Coke or ginger ale into your whisky, ask yourself; ‘Have I ever actually tasted this without a mixer?’ And illicit swigs from Dad’s liquor cabinet when you were 12 don’t count. If the answer is ‘no’ then it’s definitely time for you to get your classy on and organise a […]
