The Cocktail Bar

Curious Questions: Who invented the gin and tonic?

Gin and tonic is arguably the greatest cocktail ever created — but who first mixed these two seemingly unlikely ingredients together? A new book seeks to tackle this curious question.

Our five favourite gins of the moment, in honour of International G&T Day

In honour of an event which has been grievously overlooked by the (fictional) National Holiday Association Board, Alexandra Fraser rounds up the top gins we explored over the summer to warm us up for the coming winter.

The independent London wine merchants who manage to undercut the big names

These independent merchants offer intriguing wines and old-fashioned service, says Harry Eyres.

English Bacchus: How the 'English Sauvigon Blanc' is genuinely starting to live up to its billing

The winemakers of England and Wales have worked wonders with the incredible grape crop from the hot summer of 2018, as Harry Eyres explains.

Time to ditch Prosecco? Why Cava is 'deeper, more complex and far more interesting'

Our wine expert Harry Ayres is not a fan of the Italian bubbly which seems to be taking over the world – but he loves its Spanish cousin and has some fantastic recommendations.

A beautiful house that comes with an award-winning wine estate which supplies Raymond Blanc

The Ancre Hill Estate in Monmouthshire produces 100,000 bottles per year — but it's a place which is ripe for an ambitious new owner. Annunciata Elwes reports.

Barbaresco, the wine which makes you 'more and more fascinated by its nuances' as you persevere

Get the hang of the smoke-and-roses delights of Barbaresco and you’ll never look back, believes Harry Eyres.

Why you should be drinking Rioja, the Spanish answer to Bordeaux

There is quality to be found at remarkably reasonable prices, discovers Harry Eyres

The best pubs in Britain for 2020 have been named — and the top two are within a few minutes of each other

The North-Western county has triumphed in the latest Good Pub Guide awards, with local pubs taking two top spots and two shortlisted places

Eight deliciously refreshing summer drinks to get you through the last few days of summer

Rose flavours, healthy sodas and enough gin cocktails to sink a ship, here are the latest concoctions to keep you cool this summer.

Why you should be giving sweet wines another chance and the ones to try when you do

Sauternes and its kin are too delicious to be left to languish, urges Harry Eyres.

A cold, damp week in August? Then it's time to reach for the sherry, Port or Madeira

When it's pouring with rain and the damp chills you to the bone, forget what month the calendar says — just reach for the fortified wine, says Harry Eyres.

Country Life's guide to what makes a British pub great

More than 70 years after George Orwell penned the famous essay on his favourite pub, The Moon Under Water, its key attributes still hold true, finds Flora Watkins. Photographs by Mark Williamson.

Tom Parker Bowles' five favourite cocktails

As far as Tom Parker Bowles is concerned, there are only five true cocktails – and none of them come with umbrellas, sparklers or a sugar overdose. We apologise to the mojito lovers, this one may not be for you…

A tour of Cognac: 'There wasn't an electronic gimmick in sight – the product is still made by hand and tongue, same as it ever was'

John Lewis-Stempel visits the village of Cognac to learn how the eponymous digestif and the local wine, pineau, is made.

26 miles of wine and cheese: The madness of the Marathon du Medoc

It’s been dubbed ‘the world’s most idiotic marathon’: a 26-mile run through vineyards, fuelled by wine and cheese. Emma Hughes finds out if she has the stomach for the legendary Marathon du Médoc.

The strange case of the Negroni revolution

Sharp and complex, the bitter-sweet Italian digestif Amaro is enjoying a new-found popularity on British shores, says Flora Watkins.

5 perfect rosé magnums for sipping in the sunshine this summer

Red is for red meat and white is for poultry and fish, but what is rosé for? The answer is of course that rosé is for summer, anywhere, anytime, from pale blush to startling pink. Sophie McAlpine has rounded up some of Country Life‘s favourite‘s to be enjoyed this summer. And after all, if youre going for a bottle, it may as well be a magnum...

Five gin cocktails to try this weekend in honour of World Gin Day

To properly mark World Gin Day on Saturday 8th June, we've pulled together five of the very best gin cocktail recipes for you to try, from a classic G&T with a very special gin to the rambunctious Rock, Rattle and Rose.

Why we should be turning to sunny Greece for our summer wines

Some particularly attractive Greek wines deserve our attention, states Harry Eyres.