Maribor Slovenia – wines, gastronomy, bikes and hikes – travel review
Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe. Small it might be but it has natural beauty, with mountains (Slovenia’s highest mountain, the three-peaked Triglav,...
Grapes & Wines by Oz Clarke – review
First published as Oz Clarke’s Encyclopaedia of Grapes, Oz Clarke’s new Grapes & Wines, with Margaret Rand, is revised and updated to present the wine...
Portugal – A world of flavours – travel review
It’s true that many British tourists are regulars on the beaches of the Algarve and they will say they love the country. Yes, they enjoy...
Sake – a Japanese History – travel review
We in the West are becoming more familiar with Sake. There are now many more Japanese restaurants in our cities and all of them will...
Onikoroshi Honjozo Sake – drinks review
Founded around 1720 in Takayama Hida in Japan, Oita Shuzo brewery has been producing sake ever since. This is a beautiful region with several noteworthy...
The Silver Book of Cocktails – review
Apple Press has provided me with some of my favourite cookbooks. They also publish a very smart series of marvellously luxurious shiny, belly-jacketed books for...
Apero… drinks and a recipe
There are whole aisles devoted to it in French supermarkets. So, what is it? Well, it’s like an extra course at lunch or dinner. It...
Sake: what I didn’t know – The long list – drinks review
In truth the title of this article should be ‘The long list – Sake: what I didn’t know and what I don’t know I don’t...
The History of Wine in 100 Bottles by Oz Clarke – review
Oz Clarke is always entertaining in a roguish kind of way. He has graced our TV screens and our airways for several decades and his...
Cocktails canned and ready to go
Well, what a strange year. We have had full Lockdowns, fluctuating Lockdowns and threats of Lockdowns. Sipful might add a little cheer to changed circumstances,...
Remelluri Organic Winery – travel review
The mountains have been here for 80 million years; humans have been using the mountains for a lot less time than that, but nevertheless for...
The Whisky Dictionary: An A–Z of whisky, from history & heritage to distilling & drinking
The Whisky Dictionary, or to give this book its full title – The Whisky Dictionary: An A–Z of whisky, from history & heritage to distilling...
Besos de Oro Original Liqueur
Here is something a little different for Christmas. Besos de Oro Original Liqueur. Yes, a cream liqueur …but without cream. It’s perfect for those with...
Let’s Get Tropical with Cocktails
Let’s Get Tropical: Over 60 Cocktail Recipes from Caribbean Classics to Modern Tiki Drinks It will soon be that time of year. Those warm (we...
Foxhole Gin review
Well, what a surprise. A bottle of Foxhole Gin arrived. The event was no surprise, but the shelf appeal was. There are so many new...
Caorunn – the Scottish London Dry Gin – review
The first thing one notices about Caorunn gin is, well, the gin! Its rather classy bottle presents mountain-stream-clear aromatic alcohol in its purest form. It...
Junmai Ginjo from Heavensake – drinks review
Junmai Ginjo is just one of many styles of sake. The differences are derived from the type of rice used, the local water, the skill...
Port, Wine and the Douro – travel review
Ah, beautiful Portugal! Striking architecture in iconic Lisbon. History and character in Porto …and then there is the Douro Valley, which is stunning and will...
Côte d’Or: The Heart of Burgundy – review
The Wines and Winemakers of the Heart of Burgundy The name Côte d’Or might not be well known but it is one of the original...
Whisky The Connoisseur’s Journal – review
Christmas isn’t far away. The ads on TV herald the coming season and offer the threat of Yuletide gift giving. Men are famously difficult with...