The awards are in their sixth year and this is the first year a New Zealand Distillery has taken out a Trophy in this premier Australian competition. The Contemporary Class is the largest class in the competition with approximately 200 entries. Vicar’s Son Gin is...
Drinks
Epic future secured by family business partnership
Craft beer lovers, history fans and aficionados have been wringing their hands since Epic Beer went into liquidation at the end of July. The company, founded in 2005, has been the stalwart of craft beer innovation and the pursuit of hoppy dreams in New Zealand and the...
Mocktails are dead – cheers to the non-alcoholic cocktail!
We welcomed Andrew Down, New Zealand Brand Ambassador for Lyre's Spirit Co, to share a few thoughts on the rise and rise of the non-alcoholic cocktail and why it should mean the end of the mocktail. Where in the world is it acceptable to be sipping a Negroni cocktail...
Distance is no barrier as awards open international doors for Island Gin.
Barrier Island distillery Island Gin has won big at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, widely considered to be the absolute pinnacle for spirits awards globally. In recent years, Island Gin has scooped local awards too, including the NZ Spirits...
How One Chicago Bartender Led the Fight for Cocktails To-Go
As bars and restaurants closed their doors in spring 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, many cities and states quickly passed legislation to allow to-go cocktail sales from on-premise establishments. Yet Illinois, one of the country's most populous states and home...
Bourbon Old Fashioned
When you get right down to it, the Bourbon Old Fashioned is little more than a slug of whiskey, seasoned and sweetened. Yet for all of its suave simplicity, the drink remains as relevant today as it was when it first captured drinkers’ hearts 200 years ago. In truth,...
London Lemonade
Once the mercury starts rising, it’s officially time to wheel out the lemonade. Since summer cocktails should be simple to stir together in the heat of the moment, there’s no better duo than Bulldog Gin and tart lemonade over ice. This simple tipple is a must when the...
How do you operate a wine bar in the Covid 19 World?
As pandemic-related closures and modified openings have continued to play out across the country, businesses have been forced to adapt quickly with new ways of serving customers and generating much-needed revenue. Cocktail bars and coffee shops have found creative...
Low-Alcohol Cocktail: Clean Slate
This low-alcohol cocktail bursts with herbal, floral and nutty flavors. 1 oz. manzanilla sherry 1 oz. bianco vermouth ¼ oz. Salers Aperitif 2 dashes Scrappy’s Orleans bitters (or substitute Peychaud’s) Tools: barspoon, strainer Glass: tulip or Port Garnish: edible...
La Florida Cocktail
No bar in the world mixes or riffs on the Daiquiriquite like Floridita in Havana. This esoteric version—from legendary cantinero and longtime Floridita owner Constantino Ribalaigua Vert—takes the Daiquiri on an aromatic tour, with herbaceous vermouth and rich crème de...