I don’t speak Flemish. And on reflection, it was perhaps a risky move on my part. But there we were, stood on a Belgian canal bridge, with a decision to make and not much time to act. So we did the only thing we could...we made a run for it! Rewinding slightly, and it was... Continue Reading →
Tarquin’s Southwestern Distillery
I saw his face drop, to punctuate an awkward silence, as soon as the words had passed my lips. It was a look that signaled both annoyance and despair, a difficult balance to strike but in this case masterfully executed. But you know what stung the most...the genuine sense of disappointment. Ouch! So what had... Continue Reading →
Gin d’Azur; A product of the sun…
So there I was. 10 years old and I’m sat there in the back of an aging Ford Mondeo with Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall... We’d been in the car for around 10 hours, with plenty more road left ahead of us, but the guys were diligently taking it in... Continue Reading →
Sipsmith Chilli & Lime Gin
I knew that I had made a terrible mistake when I realised that my eyeballs had started to sweat... Of course, years later, my wife would try to have me believe that the beads of precipitation streaming down my cheeks at an alarming rate were actually tears. I’ll leave you to be the judge of... Continue Reading →
6 O’clock Gin; ‘Romy’s Edition’
I remember there being a time that I was only really aware of there being one ‘6 O’clock’ in the day... And let me assure you that it was very much the ‘6 O’clock’ that arrives later in the day, strategically placed within the window of ‘Happy Hour’! A ‘Happy Hour’ that was ironically partly... Continue Reading →
The Yorkshire Explorer; Springtime Bloom
Quite how we weren’t both covered in each other’s vomit I have no idea! Wait. That’s a weird way to start...Let me go back a bit. I guess I’ve always had something of an adventurous spirit, with a penchant for exploring the more usual and a persuasion for activities of the adrenaline inducing kind. And... Continue Reading →
Biggar Strength Gin; it is Biggar, and it is clever…
‘For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tom - Matt’s bigger, little brother!’...cue laughter. Dammit. I’ve got to hand it to him, that was a strong first line and a rapturous reaction. The sort of opening gambit that would ensure his audience would pretty soon be eating out of his hands, willing him... Continue Reading →
Bullards Gin; Bullards Eco Project
We were in close proximity, and engaged in a standoff that had been waged more times than I cared to remember. And as the war of words continued, locked in a battle of who could hold their nerve the longest, I knew I was going to lose my bottle... And I mean that in the... Continue Reading →
Greensand Ridge; socially responsible at a social distance…
If you’re anything like me, the activity of recycling comes hand in hand with the daily debate of ‘...wait. Is this thing even recyclable?!’... It’s a moment of blind panic that quickly subsides as I remind myself that, yes, of course glass bottles are recyclable! (empties being somewhat a hazard of the trade I’m afraid).... Continue Reading →
Zeiver gin; Meet the Makers
Life is very seldom black and white. And perhaps that’s never been more true than at the current time of writing, with Coronavirus in full swing. You could say that living in the grey is proving to be more than a little...unique. But if there’s one thing that unique times call for, it’s an equally... Continue Reading →
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