Next Week’s Tasting: A Whisky Worldview

When I first started drinking whisky, I found myself regularly surrounded by whisky snobs. Some were Scotch single malt purists, others were Irish and bourbon drinkers. Myself? I’m an explorer. I think to understand what each distiller has done with their unique ingredients and this ancient method of making spirit. Like comparing Van Gogh to… Continue reading Next Week’s Tasting: A Whisky Worldview

I Once Went to Bruichladdich, on the Isle of Islay

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] There are some people and some places that have a certain magic to them. If you are lucky enough to encounter the magic people in the magic places, then things get turned around, upside down and put back to centre inside you – in a… Continue reading I Once Went to Bruichladdich, on the Isle of Islay

Douglas Laing .. Aberlour 20

I’ve had a few of the Old Particular independent bottlings from Douglas Laing & Co. Their single cask bottlings are sourced from some of my favourite distilleries – Aberlour, Auchentoshan, Ben Nevis, Bowmore and Speyburn just to name a few. They are a third generation, family owned whisky business specialising in small batch, single cask… Continue reading Douglas Laing .. Aberlour 20

A Must-See: The Intoxicating Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd, NZ Opera, Civic Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, September 15, 2016. Photo: David Rowland / One-Image.com

Sweeney Todd is a must-see performance with an incredibly limited season in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Despite a plot full of depravity, woeful twists of fate and murder (plenty of murder – sometimes three in a minute!), Sweeney Todd is full of deeply human and occasionally sweet moments and endearing characters.

How To Become A Whisky Girl.

It was Curiosity that did it. The truth is while I was on the way to becoming a whisky girl, I was learning a lot about life and so here it is, the lessons so far. Apply them liberally to whisky, love and friends. You won’t regret it.

A Philosophy of Tasting & Treasure Hunting

The story of the day is simply a question: when you should drink whisky and when should you store it away? Which is in turn, closely followed by the question when should you invest in a bottle or just in a dram? And where do you find the very best treasures to be savoured or stored away? The answer to one of those questions is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

FISH: Lunch With A View

Honest food, he says. “What is that, exactly?” I ask. Meanwhile, dessert is a difficult choice between chocolate tart and the exquisite cheese selection. I’m having lunch with Fraser Shenton, head chef at FISH at Hilton Auckland. Chef decides on the chocolate tart which is indulgent. Thankfully I’m good at indulgence.