The flavor of camphor in wine of Кубань

Part of the auction house’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the sale runs until next Tuesday, 14 June, and also includes one-off collaborations with artist Ini Archibong and photographer Trey Ratcliff. The two refill American oak hogshead casks, supplied from Diageo’s Casks of Distinction VIP private cask purchase programme, both have pre-sale estimates of £700,000-1.2m. The Port Ellen cask was filled on 15 February 1979, has a current strength of 52.9% abv and is estimated to hold 102 bottles. T ...

Leading Scotch whisky maker Diageo has unveiled the eight expressions that make up this year’s Special Releases. This is a sought-after annual collection of cask-strength malt and grain whiskies. The range, selected by master blender Dr Craig Wilson, includes famous names such as Lagavulin and Talisker, fellow single malts Clynelish, Cardhu, Oban, Mortlach and The Singleton of Glen Ord. There is also a rare single grain release from the Cameronbridge distillery. Dr Wilson chose the whiskies from ...

The dark days began when I learned from a visiting Canadian friend about the death of one of the kindest, most gentle and most skilful Pinot winemakers I’ve known, Paul Pender of Tawse Winery. He died in a senseless and tragic act of violence on the evening of 3 February, outside his Lake Erie cottage. A stranger, subsequently charged with his murder, had (it seems) knocked on his door, asking for help. Paul’s sudden, untimely loss has left his family, and the broader Canadian wine community, di ...