The flavor of molasses in wine of Rabat/Casablanca

Earlier this month, The House Of Angostura (well known for its ubiquitous brand of cocktail bitters) unveiled Zenith, the latest in a line of ultra premium rums in its Private Cask Collection series. The release brings together different rum styles from two of Trinidad and Tobago’s most distinguished distilleries: both the namesake Angostura distillery and the now legendary Caroni distillery, which closed its doors forever in 2003. Aged in charred American ex-bourbon oak casks, Zenith comprises ...

Whisky is emphatically a product of place. The flavours in the glass conjure images of the spirit’s origin, from an Islay malt’s distinctive peat smoke to the exotic perfume of a Japanese blend. Traditionally, however, that local accent is lost when spirit is filled into cask. The vast majority of Scotch malts and blends, for example, are matured in oak sourced from thousands of miles away, and previously used to age bourbon or Sherry. Some whiskies might venture into more exotic territory. Thin ...

I remember watching the London fireworks on television last New Year’s Eve. They were spectacular to watch, but where there would usually be throngs of spectators, the streets remained incongruously empty. Social distancing was still in force. It reminded me of my year’s wine drinking up to that point: some dazzling bottles, but often enjoyed without company – or via a screen. As 2022 began, the Covid-19 pandemic gradually relaxed its grip and many of us hurried back to everyday life. The usual ...