The Cocktail Bar

11 of the best gins to buy this Christmas

Our Christmas gin special includes some of our favourites available right now.

Christmas drinks gift guide: Best gin, best whisky and more for the festive season

Whether you're keen to make your own infused gin, try a ten year old whisky or open a bottle of champagne with a bang, we've got something for you.

Curious Questions: Why is gin flavoured with juniper?

The prickly juniper bush has been in decline for decades, a worrying development at a time when gin is soaring in popularity. Vicky Liddell takes a look at the history of this fascinating plant, and discovers that it's making a comeback on Surrey’s North Downs.

A Drink for All Seasons: Five fine alcohol-free tipples to see you through Sober October

A Drink for All Seasons: Oktoberfest at home, honey beer and the nearest thing you'll get to drinking a cake

This time of year usually sees hundreds of thousands of people descend upon Bavaria to celebrate — er, well, we're not quite sure, but at any rate they drink lots of beer. So what better time to take a look at some of the best new brews on the market?

How to make perfect sloe gin

Follow our perfect sloe gin recipe to make the best sloe gin in preparation for your local opening meet.

A Drink for All Seasons: The world's prettiest gin bottle, plus four more gins ideal for Autumn

A Drink for All Seasons: One man's mission to create a better non-alcoholic wine, by a self-confessed 'liquid Willy Wonka'

Rosie and Jim: 'I did not miss this. I did not miss the pain'

This week, the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' comes back to bite both of our corona-correspondents.

A drink for all seasons: Perfect summer tipples for long, hot afternoons

From floral and fruity gins to wines that you can drink without a pang of conscience, we've rounded up some of the best new drinks on the market, perfect for an al fresco drink as the height of summer approaches.

Curious Questions: Who first used corks in wine — and how did they get them out again before the invention of the corkscrew?

There's nothing quite like the noise of uncorking a bottle of wine. Despite the inroads made by screwcaps, the majority of us still prefer the ritual of opening a bottle with a corkscrew. But how did we first start doing that in the first place? Martin Fone investigates.

A drink for all seasons: Jaffa Cake Gin (yes, really) and what might be the world's first 'crunchy' wine

A drink for all seasons: nine crowd-pleasing, well-priced wines from around the world

From Rioja alternatives to fruit-packed bottles, discover an eclectic selection of interesting, reasonably priced wines with our latest list.

Bring a little luxury to lockdown: Hampers, Michelin-starred takeaways, and wine tasting via videoconference

There are all manner of creative ways companies across Britain are helping us cope with lockdown by allowing a few little treats to help keep us going.

The wine, beer, spirits and other alcohol delivery services still operating during lockdown

There's no getting away from it: spending weeks on end sitting at home will mean you'll probably drink more. Here's how to make sure the well doesn't run dry during self-isolation.

The best gins for Mother's Day

What better for Mother's Day than a bottle of 'Mother's Ruin'? We've selected some of the finest gins on the market which are sure to give your long-suffering parent a treat.

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.

A drink for all seasons: A Chelsea grotto that's the epitome of the tactically-placed wine bar

Alexandra Fraser extols the wonders of her favourite flavour of city escape, while sampling London’s latest rendition: Bottles, on Draycott Avenue.

A drink for all seasons: Five superb wines you can pick up at the supermarket on the way home

Whether you've left it late to sort out a nice bottle for a romantic evening at home or just fancy something for the weekend, this list will have you covered.

The Utterly Inessential Valentine's Shopping List Part II: Pink gin, heart-shaped earrings and a dog bed for the true love of your life

Every year, we round up the top gifts one could possibly give without going over-the-top-crazy for Valentine's Day. Fortunately, this year our Utterly Inessential columnist is in love. Unfortunately, her heart still belongs to gin. You can't win them all.