on 26 April, 2013
Former Drinks International editor Patience Gould ponders Diageo’s approach to gin as it follows the flavoured route
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on 26 April, 2013
Former Drinks International editor Patience Gould looks at the wacky world of flavoured drinks as Baileys nears 40
on 16 April, 2013
On Monday night I became a ‘Keeper of the Quaich’. For those of you who do not know what that it is, The Keepers of the Quaich is an “exclusive, international community of people recognised for their outstanding commitment to Scotch whisky”.
on 14 February, 2013
Last night (February 13) I sat through another Diageo master class on the art of blending and the importance of blended Scotch Whisky to the overall whisky and spirits market.
on 08 February, 2013
I vividly recall a conversation, over lunch, with a one-time publisher, who will remain nameless, and my utter astonishment when he pronounced that, up until said lunch, he had always thought blended whisky was a mix of different malt whiskies...
on 30 November, 2012
In the doorway in the soft, Mexican early afternoon, sitting on the floor against the wall is a figure that in most other settings is a pariah. He is a Mexican man with down syndrome. In this place he is accepted, welcome as is everyone. I am again in La Capilla.
on 09 November, 2012
India has huge tax tariffs and a labyrinthine bureaucracy. At the moment most Indian whisky drinkers have to raise a second mortgage to get their hands on a decent bottle of scotch...
on 09 November, 2012
Going to the airport is a generally depressing experience these days. We only do it because either we have to for work, or we’re off on holiday to somewhere far, far better...
on 30 October, 2012
I may be on holiday but that doesn't mean I have stopped sampling and tasting.
on 17 October, 2012
At this time of year, the books start thudding in. This week I got the third tome from whisky man, Dominic Roskrow. Boy, has Dom been a busy boy. The latest is ‘The World’s Best Whiskies – 750 Unmissable Drams from Tain to Tokyo’, published by Jacqui Small, price: £20.
on 11 October, 2012
I’ve seen the beginning and the end of a lot of eras. That says it all about ‘King Cocktail’, Dale DeGroff. The great man is in London to co-host ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars’ event which was held in London last night (Oct 10) near Trafalgar Square...
on 08 October, 2012
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Top bartenders, a ticking clock, 80 dubious drinks and the piss-taking Paul Mant. Rematch Beeyatch!!! arrived in Berlin last night in its usual riotous fashion.
on 05 October, 2012
Last night Indian whisky producer, John Distilleries, unveiled its first single cask whisky in London recently.
on 04 October, 2012
What makes this job interesting is going out, meeting, interviewing people and finding out what makes them tick. That along with visiting vineyards, wineries, distilleries and, to a lesser extent, breweries to find out what they are up to, is what makes the likes of me get out of bed in the morning.
on 03 October, 2012
It was a swish affair at the Artesian bar in London’s Langham hotel last night. Drinks International and The World’s 50 Best Bars contributor Tom Sandham, was launching his World’s Best Cocktails book.
on 27 September, 2012
You have to hand it to Wines of South Africa. They know how to organise an event. To say Cape 2012 is just another trade show, would be a great injustice and understatement.
on 21 September, 2012
Georg Riedel is the Frank Sinatra of the stemware business. Selling glasses should be a fairly mundane business but the 63-year-old Austrian is a showman, more like ‘ol blue eyes’ than possibly he would care to admit.
on 19 September, 2012
The Great Sherry Tasting took place yesterday at the Cinnamon Club in London yesterday. I would say that it was one of the best food and wine/spirit/beer matchings I have ever attended.
on 13 September, 2012
William Grant is doing a job on Tullamore Dew, the Irish whiskey brand it bought a couple of years ago from C&C, owners of the Magners cider brand.
on 20 August, 2012
I think anyone who met Patrick Ricard will be saddened by the news that he has passed away. I can't speak about what he was like to work with but I met him several times and I liked him.
on 03 August, 2012
There’s something quite transfixing – almost hypnotic – when it comes to looking at the latest brand figures for spirits around the world. You cannot stop. More particularly so as there seems to be so much cause for celebration in the 2011 round-up. There’s Johnnie Walker scotch whisky on an incredible 18 million cases; the Irish whiskey Jameson’s posting a 20%-plus increase and now nudging the 4 million case-mark, well I could go on, and on. But one result has really warmed the cockles of my heart – and that’s William Grant’s single malt scotch whisky Glenfiddich.
on 30 July, 2012
It’s been something of a month in gin terms. It kicked off with the International Spirits Challenge gin tasting. Chaired by Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne this was indeed something of a ‘challenge’, with no fewer than 58 gins to slurp, taste and rate...
on 21 June, 2012
Saw Snow Patrol last night at the Bushmills distillery on the far north coast of Northern Ireland. There was a delightfully intimate atmosphere in the 'Cooperage' (no coopers present thankfully) with plenty of loyal fans mouthing the lyrics as the band went thru its paces.
on 14 June, 2012
One of South Africa’s best and certainly most controversial winemakers, André van Rensburg, was in London yesterday for the unveiling of his new wine, DNA.
on 08 June, 2012
It was a glitteirng evening at Jamaica House in the island's capital, Kingston. A balmy evening in a superb setting. The Jamaican prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, more than played her part in launching Appleton Estate Jamaican Independence Reserve, which coincides with the island's celebrations to mark ithe anniversary of 50 years of independence.
on 07 June, 2012
The Jamaican prime minister will launch Wray & Nephew's 'Jamaica Independence Reserve' at a special unveiling tonight at Jamaica House in the country's capital, Kingston tonight (June 7).
on 01 June, 2012
Credit to Pernod. The company has done a fine job this week in extolling the success of scotch whisky around the world and in telling important opinion formers that the company is best placed to capitalise on that thirst and in doing so earn lots of money for the company, its suppliers, customers, not forgetting its investors.
on 24 May, 2012
Irish Distillers launched Yellow Spot, ‘son of Green Spot’, last night in London. The great and the good of whisk(e)y’s fourth estate crammed into a bar in the sumptuous Connaught Hotel for the unveiling and tasting.
on 17 May, 2012
Hands up who was watching The Apprentice last night on BBC? The teams had to promote awareness of English sparkling wine.
on 03 May, 2012
Former Drinks International editor Patience Gould is puzzled by scotch that’s marketed to women like perfume
on 08 March, 2012
Fred Noe is approaching 57 and he’s just had his first tattoo.
on 24 February, 2012
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Drinks journalists tend to hunt in packs. We might prefer to do our interviews alone but for everything else, we enjoy the company of other drinks journalists. One journalist in particular was always a source of great entertainment. I’m talking of course about Alan Lodge.
on 08 February, 2012
It is not every day you get to try a whisky that is going to cost a punter £100,000, plus VAT. Today I got to try the Diamond Jubliee by John Walker & Sons, which has been produced by Diageo for the 60th anniversary of the Queen ascending the throne.
on 18 January, 2012
Last night I went to Boisdale, that well known London haunt for whisky, cigar and red meat lovers, for the launch of The Balvenie Craftsman's Reserve No1, The Cooper...
on 03 January, 2012
I am being followed. Right now. By hundreds – well about a hundred – people. I haven’t gone mad, I’ve got a Twitter account...
on 16 December, 2011
Never let it be said that Drinks International doesn’t provide its subscribers and readers with a full service as regards the alcoholic drinks industry.
on 13 December, 2011
There are three of them are at the bar and they’re drunk. Not just a little tipsy but swaying, shouting, obnoxious and it’s only 2pm. I’m at London’s salubrious Connaught Bar, supposedly to report on Nikka Whisky’s Perfect Serve cocktail competition for Drinks International, but it’s fair to say the scene unfolding around me is not one to which I am accustomed...
on 17 November, 2011
We’re all interested in ‘what’s going to be next?’ Well I returned recently from New York where, courtesy of Pernod Ricard/Irish Distillers I witnessed the launch of Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel. Apparently the brand kicked off in the US in Brooklyn so the new limited edition ‘dialled up’ Jameson was launched there and at the moment it is only available there...
on 11 November, 2011
Drinks International is delighted to announce that Patience Gould, its former editor and a well known figure in the drinks industry, is returning to write a regular column.
on 09 November, 2011
Just sorted out the December issue. A 44-pager at the moment: features on Brazil, Japanese whisky, the 'world famous DI Dozen', Vodka in the US, South African wines, Best Bars and then the usual favourites.
on 09 November, 2011
We have just finalised the DI Dozen for 2011. these are the products, companies, categories, sectors that have caught our eye...
on 06 October, 2011
I was in a Harrods window yesterday. How did I feel? Yes, you guessed it. A bit like a dummy. Martell Cognac has taken about three windows until October 22. One window has a immense cabinet filled with all sorts of Martell goodies...
on 20 September, 2011
I’ve got boobs. Thanks for noticing, drinks industry. I’ve got boobs therefore I need my own special drink. You’re right, drinks-makers, and thanks for the comforting pat on the head. Thank you for recognising that I am always on a diet; and lactose or wheat intolerant, depending on the weather; totally love all things pink – and yes, I am in fact from Venus...
on 09 August, 2011
Seventy-five thousand pounds, or US$122,433 or €85,613, for a bottle of wine is mind boggling. OK, it’s Château d’Yquem, but from 1811. It was the year Napoleon II was born. Little did he know his father would abdicate three years later, returning after 11 months to fight and lose the Battle of Waterloo.
on 09 August, 2011
Consider terroir. I have. It’s a rather haughty unit of French vernacular (which is a haughty way of saying ‘word’) that describes the characteristics geography, soil and climate can bestow upon crops – usually vines. Of course, the word has reach and relevance beyond wine...
on 05 July, 2011
Do you meet the Russian Standard? I recently met Russian Standard vodka founder Roustam Tariko’s college roommate. In fact, he works for the firm, too. Igor Galburt is the company’s global brand ambassador (though it also says on his business card executive VP corporate affairs – very American-sounding) and he came to give us a Russian Standard injection. Are you aware of the how the brand got its name, for example? I’ll tell you…
on 14 May, 2011
I made my own gin! While it was bubbling away in a tiny Florence Flask (bulb-bottomed glass flask), I was getting excited about a potential second career as a master distiller. I was imagining travelling the world, clinking glasses with bartenders as we enjoy my wonderful creation, then popping to warm Mediterranean countries to source botanicals…
on 14 April, 2011
Is it possible that consumers are looking to express their individuality through the medium of drink? Or is the desire for non-conformity, or ‘inconsistency’, born out of endless marketing messages about providence and craftsmanship?......
on 14 March, 2011
The word ‘summit’ conjures imagery of political brinkmanship, the thrashing out of peace accords or perhaps poverty-eradicating debt reduction. So when Drinks International was invited to The International Cognac Summit 2011, expectations were giddily grand, albeit in the more sober context of drinks. The Cognac Bureau (BNIC) far from disappointed......
on 14 February, 2011
I’m not very good at geography. When I finished the WSET Advanced course in Wines & Spirits I vowed I wasn’t going to do the Diploma. The G word is such a large part of the course and you have to remember where a particular region is, what grows there, what the climate’s like and what the soil type is.......
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Ben Branson
Ben Branson on the future of non-alc spirits
In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.
