AngelicaAmbos 
Many vodka cocktails have made it to the list of all-time classics, like James Bond’s favourite – the vodka martini; a Cosmopolitan, the regular girls’ night out cocktail from Sex and the City; or a White Russian – the Big Lebowski protagonist’s drink of choice. In other words, classic cocktails have passed the test of … Read more
Whatever the time of year, there’s always room for a delicious variety of berry liqueurs in your drinks cabinet. They can be used in many different ways, either on their own, or mixed with anything from tonic water, wine and even other liqueurs to make flavoursome cocktails. Here are 6 of the best, with some … Read more
Akvavit, variously known as Aquavit, Aquavite or simply Snaps is a Scandinavian flavored spirit, distilled from mashed grains or fermented potato, and generally contains 42%-45% alcohol v/v. The tinge varies from clear to pale yellow, has a dry flavor, chiefly because of the ‘dill’ or ‘caraway’ spice used for redistilling the spirit. Charcoal is used … Read more
WHAT IS SLIVOVITZ? Slivovitz is the name of a strong spirit made from plums. It is most famous and most popular in different parts of Eastern Europe where it is brewed by many locals in a home brewery setup. There are a handful of good international companies that brew and export Slivovitz around the world … Read more
WHAT IS SHOCHU? Shochu is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Japan. While its popularity hasn’t spread much outside of the region, you can find many different varieties and brands of Shochu available in Japan, especially around the various islands. This drink is generally made with grains such as rice, barley, wheat, buckwheat, … Read more
What is Cachaca? This spirit, made only in certain regions within Brazil, is distilled from fresh sugar cane juice. The single distillation process helps the drink to keep some of the sweet flavoring of the original sugar cane, plus the flavors and aromas of any additives used to enhance the drink. Cachaca comes in four … Read more
What is Arak? Arak is a Middle Eastern spirit made traditionally from grapes and flavored by aniseed. This is a very strong distilled spirit that usually hosts an alcohol level of 40-60% and must be diluted with water in order to drink it well. If you do not dilute the alcohol, the drink will be … Read more
WHAT IS RAKIA? Rakia is a distilled fruit spirit originating from the Balkans with generally a very high percentage of alcohol. It can be made from almost any type of fruits, but some of the most commonly used fruits are plums or apricots. This drink is almost always a homemade drink. It has sometimes been … Read more
THE VODKA OF JAPAN? TRUE FACTS ABOUT SHOCHU Shochu is not a widely popular drink outside of Japan, but within the country it is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages available, even when compared to Sake. While Shochu has the nickname the “vodka of Japan”, you shouldn’t be misled into thinking that it is … Read more
EASTERN EUROPE’S PLUM SPIRIT, SLIVOVITZ Many countries in Eastern Europe are known for their strong alcohol drinks, but one of the traditional drinks in many countries that is enjoyed beyond Eastern Europe is Slivovitz. While it’s not by any means a high quality spirit, you can find enjoyment out of sipping it slowly or mixing … Read more
FORTIFIED MADEIRA WINE Madeira has a long and rich history as a fortified Portuguese wine from the island of the same name. This wine has been made since around the 1500s with only a few changes to the process from then up until now. In the beginning it was not a fortified wine, but since … Read more
THE SWEET SPIRIT: LIQUEUR The liqueur spirits should not be confused with liquors. While liquors refer to a wide range of alcoholic beverages, liqueur is a very specific type of sweetened spirit. Many regulatory bodies have stated that liqueur must have at least 100 grams of sugar per ounce, making it a very sweet and … Read more