The Cocktail Bar
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A drink for all seasons: The Queen Mother's favourite £70-a-glass port, a 1970s party throwback and boozy Christmas baubles.
Our weekly round-up of the best new booze to try has it all.
By Toby Keel Published
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A drink for all seasons: Five drinks for any given mood this Friday
Not sure what tipple tips your fancy tonight? Read our guide.
By Alexandra Fraser Published
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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.
By Toby Keel Published
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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.
By Alexandra Fraser Published
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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.
By Harry Eyres Published
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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.
By Harry Eyres Published
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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.
By Country Life Published
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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.
By Country Life Published
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Why you should be drinking Rioja, the Spanish answer to Bordeaux
There is quality to be found at remarkably reasonable prices, discovers Harry Eyres
By Harry Eyres Published
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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
By Carla Passino Published
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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.
By Alexandra Fraser Published
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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.
By Harry Eyres Published
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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.
By Harry Eyres Published
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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.
By Flora Watkins Published
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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…
By Tom Parker-Bowles Published
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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.
By Country Life Published
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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.
By Flora Watkins Published
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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.
By Alexandra Fraser Published
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Why we should be turning to sunny Greece for our summer wines
Some particularly attractive Greek wines deserve our attention, states Harry Eyres.
By Harry Eyres Published
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Are we living in the golden age of Champagne?
Our regular wine columnist Harry Eyres rounds up the best of a miracle decade and tells us why we should be drinking vintage bubbles.
By Harry Eyres Published
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The newest addition to the Rolls-Royce fleet? Not a car, but a rather incredible Champagne chest
For the places that their famous cars cannot go, Rolls Royce have created the perfect dining companion, perfectly paired with the offerings of Jay-Z's own Champagne house.
By Alexandra Fraser Published