On paper, there is nothing quite so simple as a Negroni: three delicious measures of liquid, gin of choice, red vermouth of choice, Campari. Some part of the orange fruit to garnish. Done. But recently, I had been enjoying more than a few drinks with one the gin world’s biggest names (whom I’ll not name…
Author: natebrown
France versus Italy: why the French are winning the aperitif game
This year marks 100 years since the birth of the new king of the cocktail world. Named after a thirsty Count who requested gin rather than soda water to be added to his favourite tipple, the negroni has played the long game, delighting drinkers with simple balance of Campari, sweet Italian vermouth, and of course,…
Big money, huge plans: Liberties Distillery embodies the Irish whiskey boom
Here’s what €28m could get you: A Coca-Cola production plant in Ghent. Valderrama golf resort near Gibraltar. Alternatively, it could get you a shiny new whiskey distillery in the Liberties area of Dublin. That’s a lot of money, even for a distillery project. Imbibe March 2019
The Great Rum Debate
For me, rum as a spirit has all the DNA in production to be a fine spirit demanding a premium price, à la most whiskies and cognacs. It is not, however, viewed in this light. Imbibe Oct 2018
Will the real Rum spirit please stand up?
You can get pretty much anything in a decent pub these days. Fancy a gin? No worries, we’ve a dozen. Fancy a scotch, not a problem, there’s 10. Fancy an Irish? We’ve got three, but they’re great. Fancy a rum? Sure, spiced? My local offers one rum and two spiced. No prizes for guessing which…
Highballs are the Future
Mezcal? Hello, mezcal? Has anybody seen mezcal? Typical. Yet again, what should be mezcal’s year, simply isn’t. I think everyone knows that now should be mezcal’s time to shine. With the exception, perhaps, of mezcal itself. After years of been touted as the next big thing, another no show. Another disappointment… Imbibe April 2018
In Praise of Poitin
This month we’ve ‘celebrated’ National Calzone Day, National Cook for your Pets Day, National Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day, even National Harvey Wallbanger Day. So you’ll no doubt be thrilled to know that Sunday 18 November was National Poitin Day. But halt that eye-rolling for a second, let me state a case for the…