Disaronno Amaretto Tasting Notes

1525 was a long time ago. Santa Marta, the first city in Colombia, was founded and the Bubonic Plague spreaddi in southern France. Also, during the Italian Renaissance, the artist Bernardino Luini, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, was commissioned to paint a fresco of the Madonna of the Miracles in Saronno. To portray the Madonna, he choseContinue reading “Disaronno Amaretto Tasting Notes”

Captain Morgan

Now here’s a brand that many of  you will have seen, and probably ordered at some point in your young lives; Captain Morgan’s rum. A stalwart to many, and one of the brands and expressions within that i’m sure many of you start your rum journey with. But how did it get to become soContinue reading “Captain Morgan”

Legend of Kremlin Tasting Notes

Every once in a while, you come across a brand that just shouts at you. A bottle, the history, the name. All factors the developers want you to see. There’s one that shouts all three though, its name is Legend of Kremlin. A Russian vodka, that legend has it, is thought to be based onContinue reading “Legend of Kremlin Tasting Notes”

Darnley’s View and Darnley’s Spiced Gin Tasting Notes

Darnley’s View gin has a close history with the company Wemyss Malts. A gin close with whisky? Apparently in 1565, Mary Queen of Scots first spies her future husband, Lord Darnley through the courtyard window of Wemyss Castle, the historic family seat of renowned vintners and spirits merchants, the Wemyss family. So to celebrate this occasion,Continue reading “Darnley’s View and Darnley’s Spiced Gin Tasting Notes”

La Hechicera Tasting Notes

Everyone loves something new, especially one that gives off a lot of vibes when it first arrives on our shores. Recently, a Columbian rum did just that in the form of La Hechicera. But why the fan-fare? Well lets take a look – Pronounced ‘etch-ee-seh-rah’ and meaning ‘enchantress’ in Spanish, the rum comes straight fromContinue reading “La Hechicera Tasting Notes”

The UK’s Largest Cocktail Master Class returns to Manchester…Bigger and better!

Celebrating Manchester’s vibrant cocktail scene, Cocktails in the City is the largest ever cocktail master class returns to the grandiose surroundings of the Great Hall, Manchester Town Hall on 2nd May. With 18 bars, 600 cocktail enthusiasts and over 1,500 cocktails, this year it promises to be bigger and better than ever. From 18.00 –Continue reading “The UK’s Largest Cocktail Master Class returns to Manchester…Bigger and better!”

Cointreau

After taking a look at Grand Marnier, it’s only right that we seek out its fellow orange – Cointreau. Cointreau prides itself with a mix of tradition and modernity since its creation way back in 1875. A gentleman named Edouard Cointreau, son of Edouard-Jean (a famous master confectioner), distilled himself a spirit from sweet and bitter orangeContinue reading “Cointreau”

Galliano Tasting Notes

Everyone loves a fancy bottle. Bartenders especially, love to create a drink using something a little quirky, plus it’s always a fantastic talking point. Galliano is no exception. Created in 1896 by Italian distiller and brandy producer Arturo Vaccari of Livorno, Tuscany, he named his creation after Giuseppe Galliano ‘Maggiore Galliano’, an Italian Hero. According toContinue reading “Galliano Tasting Notes”

Grand Marnier Tasting Notes

Extravagant. Stylish. Chic. Words many would use to describe a bottle that sits upon many a back-bar – Grand Marnier. The orange liqueur from France is also steeped in history, dating back to 1827. In this year, a gentleman named Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle founded a distillery in Neauphe-le-Château, France that produced fruit liqueurs. In 1876, his granddaughterContinue reading “Grand Marnier Tasting Notes”

Jennie McAlpine Plays Cupid This Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air at Annies – the cosy new restaurant recently opened by Jennie McAlpine and partner Chris Farr – as preparations are made for Valentine’s Day. Said Jennie: “It’s going to be a lovely romantic evening here at Annies. We’ve got a harpist playing live to create a nice intimate atmosphere andContinue reading “Jennie McAlpine Plays Cupid This Valentine’s Day”