olivemagazine
type: channel
link: https://www.olivemagazine.com
date: 2025-12-04T13:14:59.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Sherry flip
items: 10 cocktails for a Christmas drinks party
items: 62 Christmas cocktails
items: Best UK gins to buy
items: 19 best vodkas to buy, tried and tested 2025
items: 20 best tequilas to try 2025
items: Best alcohol Advent calendars to buy 2025
items: Paloma champagne cocktail
items: Aperol spritz punch
items: Tiramisu martini
items: White Christmas colada
items: The World's 50 Best Bars 2025: the results
items: Spiced rum manhattan
items: Best cocktail bars in London
items: Amaretto old fashioned
items: 22 London hotel bars to visit
items: Best rye whiskies to try, tried and tested 2025
items: Best English whiskies to try 2025
items: Best summer beers to try 2025
items: Best mezcals to try 2025

Sherry flip
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
subject: cocktail
subject: sherry
description: Velvety, nutty and low-ABV, this sherry flip makes an excellent alternative to eggnog during the festive season
encoded: Try our sherry flip, then discover our sherry sour, Tiojito sherry cocktail and frozen sherry cobbler cocktail. Also, try more Christmas cocktails. Sherry flip cocktail

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10 cocktails for a Christmas drinks party
type: item
date: 2025-12-03T11:36:04.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: From Friendsmas and family gatherings to Christmas Day fizz and New Year's Eve cocktails – check out our guide to the best festive party drinks and which snacks to serve alongside
encoded: Our Christmas drinks party guide has everything you need for a next-level celebration, including twists on classic drinks (hello, Christmas spritz), sharing cocktails and plenty of festive fizz. Alongside this we've also got plenty of snack and canapé ideas for you to try. If you're short on time it's easy to give even simple drinks a festive makeover by using the right garnishes – we love using citrus wheels, whole spices such as cinnamon sticks and star anise and seasonal fruits like cranberries and pomegranates. For extra visual Christmassy appeal, try garnishing drinks with rosemary or mint dusted with icing sugar. For more festive cocktail inspiration explore our collection of 62 Christmas cocktails, 38 winter cocktails and our favourite Christmas mocktails, plus, check out the best Christmas canapé recipes. Best Christmas party cocktails Aperol spritz punch Punches are perfect for parties and this crowd-pleasing recipe uses all the components of a classic Aperol spritz plus other festive ingredients like cranberry, ginger and pomegranate. Serve alongside Italian-inspired nibbles like crostini, tarrallini and green olives. Christmas spiced negroni A negroni lends itself well to a festive makeover as all its component parts – gin, Campari and sweet vermouth – are bold enough to take extra flavourings. The homemade spiced gin in this recipe makes 500ml, so if you also scale up the Campari and sweet vermouth you can save on time and make up a big batch to serve at parties. Serve with our mozzarella sticks with spicy dipping sauce or chunks of good-quality parmesan. Paloma champagne cocktails It turns out herbaceous tequila, biscuity champagne and tart grapefruit are a match made in heaven in this easy fizzy aperitif – serve with our spicy jalapeño poppers or roasted chilli corn. Christmas mojito A summery mojito gets a Christmas makeover thanks to the addition of cranberry juice, which nicely complements the fragrant mint in the drink. The ingredients are easy to …

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62 Christmas cocktails
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Collection
subject: Drink
subject: Recipes
subject: Drinks
description: Indulge at home this winter with our Christmas cocktails. Try twists on mulled wine, spiced negronis, warming chai cocktails and plenty of festive fizz
encoded: Looking for Christmas cocktails? Make your festive evenings extra special with our easy Christmas cocktail ideas including festive martini recipes, mulled wine and Christmas gin cocktails. Next, try our prosecco cocktails and champagne cocktails. Whether it's breakfast fizz for Christmas Day, party cocktails for New Year's Eve or warming mulled drinks for frosty winter walks, our collection of Christmas cocktails has everything you need for a jolly festive season. Find recipes for classic festive drinks including eggnog and glühwein, plus lots of fun ideas to try out, including vibrant Aperol spritz punch, zingy paloma champagne cocktails, kitsch white Christmas coladas and a dessert-worthy tiramisu martini. For more quick and easy festive entertaining, check out our no-cook Christmas entertaining ideas and our Christmas mash-up recipes. Best Christmas cocktails recipes The olive festive cocktail The ultimate Christmas cocktail from the olive magazine team. Make this easy spiced cocktail recipe with tequila and elderflower for a festive drink to serve friends and family over the Christmas season. Look for vintage bottles and add a pretty ribbon and label to complete the look. Click here for more exciting edible Christmas gifts... Sloe gin fizz Although you can buy shop-bought (see our picks of the best sloe gin to buy), you could make your own sloe gin in this festive twist on a classic gin fizz. Aperol spritz punch Aperol spritz isn’t just for summer – this festive punch version adds cranberry juice and ginger ale, then gets dressed up with pomegranate, rosemary, star anise and cinnamon. Ready in five minutes, it’s an easy crowd-pleaser for up to eight. Christmas spiced negroni Take your favourite cocktail and give it a festive makeover with homemade spiced gin. Why not make our negroni salmon recipe for a Christmas party too? Paloma champagne cocktail Start Christmas morning on a bright note with these zesty paloma cocktails. Just five ingredients, including a dos…

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Best UK gins to buy
type: item
date: 2025-11-25T12:05:24.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Reviews
subject: Gin
subject: Products
description: From using native botanicals to being inspired by local history, explore the vibrant best British gins that celebrate a sense of place
encoded: The gin boom in recent years has seen gin distilleries spring up the length and breadth of the British Isles, and it's likely that wherever you go in the UK you'll discover a locally made gin, often using botanicals and ingredients from the surrounding area, whether that's wheat grown on Salisbury plain, Yorkshire gooseberries or foraged sea vegetables in Suffolk. Here are some of the best gins that make the most of where they come from. Want to discover more unique gins? Try our favourite Scottish gins, Welsh gins and flavoured gins, or travel the world from your home with our unusual international gins. Looking to really impress fellow gin lovers? Bring the bar to your home with our best drinks trolley ideas, and buy from one of our favourite online bottle shops. Best UK gins to buy at a glance Ludlow: Pink Ludlow gin, £42.91 The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Distillery No.2 wildflower gin, £38.50 Northumberland: Hepple Gin, £39.99 Ayrshire: Hendrick's Flora Adora gin, £34.12 Norfolk: Bullards Coastal gin, £45 Suffolk: Fishers gin, £40 Yorkshire: Slingsby gooseberry gin, £32.99 Northamptonshire: Warner's London dry gin, £31 Lanarkshire: Biggar gin, £38.81 Devon: Salcombe Start Point London dry gin, £41.99 Wiltshire: Ramsbury lemon balm gin, £36 Cornwall: Tarquin's gin, £38.50, Aureus Vita gin, £175 Cambridge: Cambridge Distillery Three Seasons gin, £90 The Cairngorms: Caorunn gin, £31.50 Thurso: Rock Rose Scottish gin, £33.39 Surrey: Silent Pool gin, £40.13, Magna Carta gin, £40, Brockman's Intensely Smooth, £36 Wales: Aber Falls small batch gin, £28.93 London: Sipsmith chilli and lime gin, £30 Swansea: Cygnet 77, £130 Northern Ireland: Boatyard Double gin, £39.58 Best UK gins to buy 2025 Ludlow: Pink Ludlow gin Available from Master of Malt (£42.91) A rich and complex pink gin, with floral notes from hibiscus, warmth from pink peppercorns and zesty orange notes to round everything off. Flavour profile: citrus Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, orange, angelica, orris, hibisc…

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19 best vodkas to buy, tried and tested 2025
type: item
date: 2025-11-25T11:55:22.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Reviews
subject: review
subject: Vodka
description: Drinks expert Hannah Guinness has tested the best vodka to buy so you'll be ready to make a whole range of classic cocktails at home
encoded: Looking for the best vodka to try? Read our guide then check out our vodka cocktail recipes, then check out our alternative spirits and best sustainable spirits to try. This clear spirit is an essential ingredient for any drinks cupboard. Vodka has always been celebrated for its versatility as a cocktail ingredient, and in recent years the launches of new artisan brands have meant that it’s also seen as a premium spirit that can be sipped and savoured. In places such as Russia and Poland, it’s a spirit usually drunk neat, ice-cold and in shots, and with two things – company, and food (especially pickles and salty snacks). It’s vodka’s versatility as a drinks base, however, that saw it soar in popularity in countries including the US in the 20th century, with vodka cocktails such as the moscow mule and cosmopolitan ensuring that sales boomed. Recent years have seen vodka’s crown slip a little, with sales dented by the boom in ‘craft’ spirits, especially gin (interestingly, gin is effectively made from vodka, with extra flavourings added). This status quo is shifting, however, with the emergence of new vodkas that champion their raw ingredients and position themselves as premium artisan products. Because while it’s popularly seen as a ‘flavourless’ spirit, the best expressions will have subtle differences – potato vodkas will have a creamier texture, while a rye-based spirit can have nutty notes. This can be especially appreciated in classic, spirit-forward cocktails such as a vodka martini. The UK has witnessed its own mini-boom in premium English vodkas, made with anything from potato and grains (the traditional base ingredients for vodka) to grapes and even milk. Here are a few of our favourite vodkas to buy from the UK and beyond. 19 best vodkas to buy at a glance Best herbal vodka: Colwith Distillery Aval Dor Cornish Rosemary and Bay Vodka, £39.25 Best vodka for gifting: Sapling vodka, £31.25 Best floral vodka: Jo Vodka 103 – The Artist, £49.99 Best full-bodied v…

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20 best tequilas to try 2025
type: item
date: 2025-11-21T00:00:13.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Reviews
description: We’ve found the best tequilas to buy, from silver varieties for cocktails to rich aged spirits perfect for sipping
encoded: Looking for the best tequila to buy? Want to try new varieties of the popular agave spirit? Check out our round up of the best tequilas brands to try this summer... For more drinks inspiration, check out our expert guides to the best mezcal to buy or best premium rum to try. Best tequilas at a glance Blanco tequilas Best tequila for easy drinking: Espolòn Blanco Tequila, £30.50 Best pink tequila: Código 1530 Rosa Blanco, £49.99 Best smooth blanco tequila: 1800 Blanco Tequila, £34.20 Best tequila for beginners: Cazcabel Honey Tequila, £32.18 Best silver tequila: Don Fulano Blanco Tequila, £45.50 Best flavoured tequila: Beeble Honey Tequila, £35 Best coffee tequila: Hacien Coffee Tequila Blanco, £37.50 Añejo tequila Best value añejo tequila: El Mayor Añejo Tequila, £41.75 Best tequila with a whisky twist: Storywood Tequila Speyside 14 Añejo, £56.95 Best tequila for sipping: VIVIR Tequila Añejo, £69 Best tequila for a Manhattan: Código 1530 Añejo, £112 Best herbaceous tequila: Tapatio Añejo Tequila, £32.89 Best añejo for special occasions: Komos Anejo Reserva, £184.62 Reposado tequila Best reposado tequila: Casa Noble Reposado, £65.90 Best delicate tequila: Mijenta Reposado Tequila, £60.49 Best blow out tequila: Komos Reposado Rosa Tequila, £139 Best mellow tequila: Herradura Reposado Tequila, £42.70 Best single-estate tequila: Ocho 8 Resposado Tequila, £29.50 Best reposado for sipping: Codigo 1530 Reposado Tequila, £51.75 Other tequilas Best charcoal-filtered tequila: Maestro DOBEL Diamante, £61.50 What is tequila? Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the cooked and fermented juice of blue agave. Most tequilas fall into three categories. Blanco tequila is unaged and bottled within two months, and is typically used in cocktails. It usually has strong agave and earthy flavours. Reposado tequilas have been aged in wooden casks for at least two months – which mellows the spirit and imparts oaky notes. Try them in cocktails like margaritas, or drink them neat. Añejo teq…

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Best alcohol Advent calendars to buy 2025
type: item
date: 2025-11-10T11:37:36.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Reviews
subject: Products
description: From high-end whiskies to exclusive craft beers, the countdown to Christmas has never been more fun. Here are our best alcohol Advent calendars to buy this year
encoded: The beauty of a boozy Advent calendar (aside from the obvious) is that it’s a great way to try lots of different drinks without having to commit to the expense of larger bottles. We’ve got all bases covered here – from flavoured G&Ts to spiced rum and craft beers, so get sampling! Still looking for Advent calendar inspiration? Check out our picks of the best coffee Advent calendars, best tea Advent calendars and best Advent calendars for foodies for plenty more ideas. Best alcohol Advent calendars to buy 2025 Craft Gin Advent calendar Available from Craft Gin Club (£95) Craft Gin Club's calendar features 25 different double measure servings to open all month long, including seven mystery spirits. It's impressively compact and although the cardboard design doesn't feel excessively luxe, you could definitely refill the satisfying-to-open boxes year after year. Alongside larger brands such as Salcombe, it's a great way to discover small craft distilleries from across the UK, with unique gins without novelty flavours. Available from: Craft Gin Club (£89.99) MOTH cocktail Advent calendar Available from MOTH (£79) If a well-mixed cocktail is your drink order of choice, then this is the alcohol Advent calendar for you. The design is minimalist monochrome on the outside but each door hides a colourful cocktail can. The calendar contains nine of MOTH's most popular flavours, so there's enough variety to not feel repetitive, while still getting a couple of each of your favourites. Cocktails include a negroni, margarita and paloma. Available from: MOTH (£79) Drinks by the Dram rum Advent calendar Available from Master of Malt (£124.95) An alcohol Advent calendar is a great way to explore the complexities of a single spirit – and this rum calendar from Drinks by the Dram does just that. Any rum lover will enjoy the chance to deep dive into this journey of discovery of 25 different wax-sealed rums sourced from around the world. For an even more specific experience, a spiced rum …

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Paloma champagne cocktail
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
description: Kick Christmas Day morning off with a vibrant blend of champagne, pink grapefruit juice and blanco tequila
encoded: Try our Paloma champagne cocktail, then discover homemade grenadine, bucks fizz, kir royale, French 75 and more champagne cocktails. Paloma champagne cocktail recipe

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Aperol spritz punch
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
description: We’ve used Aperol here but you could swap with another Italian aperitif like Campari or Select Aperitivo for a more bittersweet flavour
encoded: Try our Aperol spritz punch, then discover sloe gin fizz, Christmas spiced negroni and more Christmas cocktails. Aperol spritz punch recipe

Tiramisu martini
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
description: Feeling too stuffed for dessert after a big dinner? Enter the pudding cocktail: sweet, creamy and boozy, it’s the perfect end to a meal. Here we’ve used the flavours of a classic Italian dessert to make a decadent treat
encoded: Try our tiramisu martini, then discover our passion fruit martini, French martini, vesper martini and more easy martini recipes. Also try our recipes for homemade coffee syrup and other coffee cocktails such as our revolver cocktail. If you are entertaining, our espresso martini cheesecake makes for an impressive dinner party dessert, or make our fun espresso martini cake pops for a grown-up treat. Tiramisu martini recipe

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White Christmas colada
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
description: The coconut cream might separate a little in the glass but just give it a quick stir if it does. If you don’t like rum then swapping for blanco tequila turns this into an equally delicious coconut margarita
encoded: Try our white Christmas colada, then discover our virgin piña colada, classic piña colada and pineapple mezcal margarita. Plus, discover dry gin martini and more martini recipes. White Christmas colada recipe

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The World's 50 Best Bars 2025: the results
type: item
date: 2025-10-09T11:49:18.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: Find out which UK and London bars made the list of these prestigious awards, held in Hong Kong, as well as the top 50 winners
encoded: The World's 50 Best Bars is an internationally acclaimed annual list that celebrates the best in the bar industry, ranking destinations across the globe, from London to New York, Tokyo to Mexico City. Hotly anticipated each year, 2025's results include both established favourites and newcomers. Bar Leone in Hong Kong took the No.1 spot, winning World's Best Bar. This is the first time that a bar in Asia has gained the top spot in the awards. London led Europe in the top 50, with four bars making the list, including two in the top 10 – Tayēr + Elementary at No.5 and Connaught Bar at No.6. Satan's Whiskers came in at No.21 and Scarfes Bar at No.31. Panda & Sons in Edinburgh also made the list, ranking at No.34. Explore our guides to the best London cocktail bars, listening bars and wine bars. Check out the top 50 list below The World's 50 Best Bars – the top 50 1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong 2. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City 3. Sips, Barcelona 4. Paradiso, Barcelona 5. Tayēr + Elementary, London 6. Connaught Bar, London 7. Moebius Milano, Milan 8. Line, Athens 9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore 10. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires 11. Alquímico, Cartagena 12. Superbueno, New York 13. Lady Bee, Lima 14. Himkok, Oslo 15. Bar Us, Bangkok 16. Zest, Seoul 17. Bar Nouveau, Paris 18. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo 19. Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne 20. The Cambridge Public House, Paris 21. Satan's Whiskers, London 22. Locale Firenze, Florence 23. Tlecān, Mexico City 24. Tan Tan, São Paulo 25. Mirror Bar, Bratislava 26. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires 27. Baba au Rum, Athens 28. Nouvelle Vague, Tirana 29. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou 30. Danico, Paris 31. Scarfes Bar, London 32. Svanen, Oslo 33. Sastrería Martinez, Lima 34. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh 35. Röda Huset, Stockholm 36. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai 37. Salmon Guru, Madrid 38. Coa, Hong Kong 39. Sip & Guzzle, New York 40. Drink Kong, Rome 41. Double Chicken Please, New York 42. Maybe Sammy, Sydney 43. 1930, Milan 44. Jewel of the South, New Orleans 45. Virtù, Tokyo …

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Spiced rum manhattan
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Entertain
subject: Recipes
description: Using spiced rum instead of whisky in a manhattan adds a warming richness and smoothness to this classic cocktail
encoded: Try our spiced rum manhattan, then discover our negroni, dirty martini, Americano cocktail, sherry Manhattan and more vermouth cocktail recipes. We prefer using a drier variety like Black Tears dry spiced rum but if you don’t have this you could use a 50/50 mixture of traditional spiced rum and aged dark rum. Spiced rum manhattan recipe

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Best cocktail bars in London
type: item
date: 2025-09-18T09:16:21.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: From slinky, speakeasy-style dens to cutting-edge mixology, London's cocktail bars are world class. Here's a taste of what to expect
encoded: Looking for the best cocktail bars in London? We've visited bars across the capital to find the most inventive drinks and experienced bartender skills for a great night out and memorable experience. From a Latin-American inspired basement bar in Notting Hill to a Marylebone mezcaleria and award-winning cocktail lounge in Soho, there's plenty to keep your Friday nights and weekends busy. For more like this, check out the World's 50 Best Bars, the best London hotel bars to visit, the best listening bars in London and the best London pubs for food lovers. Also check out our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Shoreditch, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Notting Hill. Best London cocktail bars Little Bat, Islington Neighbourhood bar is a descriptor that can be used too liberally when it comes to London drinking spots but it’s perfect for Little Bat. Sister bar to Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, it’s casual and fuss-free yet stylish, with refreshingly affordable cocktails. Dark, sultry and dimly lit, it’s a great choice for low-key birthday drinks with friends or perhaps one last drink on a night out. A refreshed cocktail list has plenty to enjoy. Flutter By is a light, pretty agave cocktail with Codigo Rosa tequila complemented by floral, fruity notes from strawberry aperitif and elderflower liqueur. Little Bat also nails the classics: we tried a warming, spicy boulevardier (the negroni’s winter cousin) with Fielden rye whisky, and there’s also a pithy roster of ‘Cold AF’ martinis. Our vesper did not disappoint, crystalline, boozy and icy cold. There’s also a revamped food menu courtesy of chef-consultant James Cochran – those looking for bar snacks can try the likes of toasted sourdough bread with whipped gravy butter, seriously addictive buttermilk fried chicken with jerk spiced hot honey glaze, and beer-battered Whitstable oysters. Or turn it into a proper dinner and add mains such as jerk spiced sl…

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Amaretto old fashioned
type: item
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Cocktails and drinks
subject: Recipes
description: Add amaretto to an old fashioned for a lush, nutty tinge that makes it perfect for sipping after dinner
encoded: Try our amaretto old fashioned, then discover gingerbread old fashioned, chocolate old fashioned or monkey old fashioned. Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavoured Italian liqueur that is most famously used in an amaretto sour but also pairs really well with dark spirits like whisky. Amaretto old fashioned recipe

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22 London hotel bars to visit
type: item
date: 2025-08-07T10:59:37.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: Discover our favourite London hotel bars, from luxe drinking dens to martini trolleys and award-winning mixology
encoded: Looking for the best London hotel bars? Treat yourself to a classy cocktail (or two), then check in to one of our favourite foodie hotels in London. Now find out the best dining experiences in London, best restaurants in London with a view and the best food and drink festivals to visit. We also have our round-up of the best London pubs for food lovers. If you like your cocktail served with stellar sound systems, discover our favourite listening bars in London. The best London hotel bars to visit Vesper Bar at The Dorchester, Mayfair The vesper martini first appeared in James Bond’s debut, Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, a potent mix of gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc. The drink – and Fleming’s frequent patronage of the hotel – provided inspiration for when The Dorchester revamped its own longstanding bar into a destination venue. Vesper Bar is a thirties-inspired golden, glimmering confection, with polished wood and shimmering surfaces, plump blue armchairs, racing green bar stools and a beautiful 1930s palladium leaf ceiling. It’s plush, luxe and comfortable, with seamless service. The latest menu, Eterna, explores the golden ratio, a mathematical ratio seen throughout nature and art, and expressed in the menu through different flavour profiles – from savoury to herbaceous, floral and smoky. The Venus Observed, with coconut pisco, Seatrus gin, Italicus, tomato and caperberry, is a savoury delight, while Thunderball’s combination of Enemigo blanco tequila, pineapple and sage sauvignon blanc is a smoky, spicy winner. The Green Knight deploys diverse ingredients including vodka, mastiha, feta, gentian and watermelon in a balanced, gluggable drink, full of herbaceous character. It would be remiss to miss out on drinking an actual vesper, made with Stolichnaya vodka, the hotel’s own old tom gin, forbidden fruit liqueur and dry sherry. It’s icy, boozy perfection. dorchestercollection.com <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2025/06/TheDorchester-…

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Best rye whiskies to try, tried and tested 2025
type: item
date: 2025-08-06T09:08:01.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Reviews
description: Spirits expert Hannah Guinness picks the best rye whiskey bottles to try: it’s time to explore this bold, spicy and increasingly popular whisky style
encoded: Learn more about rye whisky, then explore our guides to Japanese whiskies, Irish whiskies and Scotch whiskies. After, check out our introduction to bourbon, and ensure you are sipping in style with our picks of the best whisky glasses. Looking for something sweet to sip after dinner? Check out the best whisky liqueurs. Bourbon’s edgier, rebellious cousin, rye is enjoying something of a renaissance right now, with sales surging and demand increasing as drinkers fall for its opulently spicy charms, and a new wave of craft distilleries create exciting, innovative spirits. Rye whiskey traditionally falls into two categories. American rye whiskey must be made with at least 51% rye, while the remainder of the mash bill (the mix of different grains used in the whisky production process) includes a mixture of corn, malted barley or wheat. There’s no minimum ageing requirement with rye but anything labelled ‘straight rye whiskey’ will have been aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years. Canadian rye whisky, interestingly, does not actually have to be made with rye. The legal requirements are that the whisky must have a profile characteristic of Canadian whisky, which includes some of the flavour traits that rye provides, but this is achieved through blending. Typically, Canadian whisky is a blend of different grains with small amounts of rye used as a flavouring (although now you can also find 100% rye Canadian whiskies), aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks. The past few years have also seen other countries, from Denmark to the UK, produce stunning rye whiskies. Best rye whiskey to buy at a glance Best sustainable rye whisky: Fielden rye whisky, £58.75 Best sea-aged rye whiskey: Never Say Die whiskey,£64.90 Best strong rye whiskey: Zuidam Millstone 100 Rye, £106 Best sweet rye whiskey: Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye, £54.50 Best Australian rye whiskey: The Gospel Straight Rye, £51.95 Best easy-drinking rye whiskey: Peerless Single Barrel Kentucky Strai…

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Best English whiskies to try 2025
type: item
date: 2025-08-06T08:55:50.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Reviews
subject: Products
description: This category has blossomed in recent years and there’s plenty to explore, from fruity single malts to toffee-tinged grain whiskies
encoded: Looking for English whisky to buy? Want to find the best English whisky distilleries? Find out all there is to know about English whisky, then check out our introduction to bourbon. Looking for something sweet to sip after dinner? Check out the best whisky liqueurs. Scottish whisky and Irish whiskey have been popular for many years, but it's time for English malts and single grains to shine. Here are of the best English whiskies to watch out for, whether you're looking for a crowd-pleasing tipple to take to party, a warming winter whisky or a luxury bottle to sip and savour. All have been tested by our expert drinks writer and editorial team - here are the top picks. Best English whiskies to try at a glance Best sherry-led English whisky: The Lakes Distillery Signature single malt whisky, £85 Best for new discoveries: The Heart Cut, from £57 Best luxury English whisky: Cotswolds Distillery Harvest Series Golden Wold Single Malt, £94.95 Best after-dinner whisky: Adnams Triple Malt Whisky, £42.99 Best crowd-pleasing English whisky: Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky, £36 Best limited-edition English whisky: Weetwood The Cheshire Single Malt, £50.62 Best English whiskies to try 2025 The Lakes Distillery Signature single malt whisky Available from Selfridges (£89.99), Master of Malt (£85) Best sherry-led English whisky After a series of limited-edition releases this is the first permanent single malt from The Lakes Distillery. It’s been matured in European and American oak PX and oloroso sherry casks, which adds luscious complexity and depth to the whisky, with opulent oak notes on the nose and palate along with heaps of dried fruits and baking spice. A proper treat to sip. Available from: Selfridges (£89.99) Master of Malt (£85) The Heart Cut whiskies Available from The Heart Cut (from £57) Best for new discoveries New, independent London bottler The Heart Cut produces limited runs of one-off bottlings of selected single-cask and small-batch whiskies. The #6 Cotswolds Distil…

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Best summer beers to try 2025
type: item
date: 2025-08-05T16:18:46.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Reviews
subject: Taste tests
subject: Guides
subject: Beer
subject: Products
description: What’s more refreshing in summer than that first sip of an ice-cold beer? From tart goses to tropical IPAS and fruit beers – check out some of our favourite summer brews
encoded: Looking for the best summer beers to drink in the park or at home? Check out our favourite winter beers, sour beers, British beers, lagers, IPAs and our guide to craft beers. For cocktail lovers, we also have our best beer cocktails. Are you the designated driver? You can still enjoy beers this summer with our round-up of non-alcoholic beers. Now discover our best picnic food ideas to enjoy with your beer, or browse our picks of the best summer cookbooks to buy for fresh recipe inspiration. Best summer beers to try St Austell Brewery Anthem session pale ale Available from Tesco (£4.50/4 x 440ml) Session beers are in hot demand and this release from Cornish brewery St Austell is a great choice for pale ale drinkers. Using four different British-grown hops, it’s flavourful and fruity, with assertive but well-balanced hoppiness. Available from: Tesco (£4.50/4 x 440ml) Vault City Triple Fruited Mango Sour Beer Available from The Whisky Exchange (£3.50/44cl) A fresh, juicy sour, crammed with mango flavours and aromas, gentle tanginess and a slightly saline edge. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£3.50/44cl) Brewgooder Fonio Session IPA Available from Waitrose (£6.65) This fruity, crisp IPA is a collab from purpose-led brewery Brewgooder and NYC brew legend Brooklyn, made using fonio – a West African heritage grain sourced from smallholder farms in the region. Sales go towards clean water initiatives and further investment in growers. Available from: Waitrose (£6.65) Sober Brummie Available from Birmingham Brewing Company (£2.85/330ml) We were really impressed with this award-winning 0.5% pale ale. Triple hopped, it's absolutely rammed with bold citrus and piney flavours that makes for one of the best non-alcoholic beers we've tried. Available from: Birmingham Brewing Company (£2.85/330ml) People’s Captain Legend APA Available from People's Captain (£20.99/8 pack) A classic American pale ale with a piney, citrus kick, this is great served with spicy summery food like t…

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Best mezcals to try 2025
type: item
date: 2025-08-05T15:37:44.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Reviews
description: This complex, smoky agave spirit from Mexico comes in many varieties and styles. Mezcal expert Thea Cumming shares everything you need to know, plus picks of the best bottles to try
encoded: Learn more about mezcal and the best bottles to buy from mezcal expert Thea Cumming and drinks expert Hannah Guinness, then check our our favourite tequilas and our best agave cocktails. What is mezcal? Mezcal is one of the oldest distilled spirits in the Americas, dating back some 500 years.It's produced from the agave plant, of which there are many varieties found all around Mexico.The word mezcal comes from the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl, and means cooked agave. Since 1994, a protected denomination of origin has been granted for mezcal; an international recognition that certifies that only products made in a specified area of Mexico can be called mezcal, similar to that for champagne. This status limits the production of agave spirits called mezcal to certain Mexican states (although this is always changing). Mezcal is similar to tequila, but whereas tequila can only be made from blue agave, mezcal can be made from many types of agave. It gets its characteristically smoky flavour from how it’s made – the agave is traditionally slow roasted in underground pits to convert the starch in the plant into sugar that can be fermented into alcohol and distilled. The influence of terroir on the flavour of the agave is hugely important and contributes to producing complex and intricate differences from expression to expression. Different regional techniques play a part as well as generational learnings, location and climate. The knowledge and techniques used in mezcal production are passed down through generations. Production methods are sacred pieces of a producer's identity, their individual techniques form the integrity of their family’s mezcal. Communities are built on mezcal production and so the traditions and rituals of the process are essential to community life. Best mezcals to buy at a glance Best triple-distilled mezcal: Dangerous Don, £49.52 Best citrussy mezcal: Zacal Manso Sahuayo, £69.50 Best infused mezcal: Mezcal Vago Elote, £66.95 Best vegetal mezcal: …

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