October 07, 2026
Check the seal, label, fill level and batch code, and be wary of prices far below other licensed shops. A practical checklist for spotting counterfeit spirits.
Read More October 06, 2026
Bringing wine to a dinner party is polite, but it is a gift for the host, who need not open it. What to bring, what to avoid, and how hosts should handle it.
Read More October 05, 2026
Yes, alcohol can be delivered to an Airbnb or short let in London. What to put in the order, how access works, and why someone aged 18 or over must receive it.
Read More October 04, 2026
Decant old reds and vintage port for sediment, and young tannic reds for air. A chart of which wines benefit, how long to leave them, and which it can harm.
Read More October 03, 2026
Tequila uses only blue Weber agave, usually steamed. Mezcal can use dozens of agave species, roasted in earth pits. Region, rules and taste compared.
Read More October 02, 2026
Plan half a bottle of wine per adult guest for the meal and three-quarters for a full day. A table by guest count, with the red, white and fizz split explained.
Read More October 01, 2026
Chill the bottle, keep a thumb on the cork, and turn the bottle rather than the cork. A step-by-step guide to opening champagne quietly and safely.
Read More September 30, 2026
No. Tequila, whisky, gin and vodka are shelf-stable and need no fridge. When chilling helps, when it mutes flavour, and which bottles must go in once opened.
Read More September 29, 2026
The best housewarming drinks gifts give something to open tonight and something to keep. Ideas by type of household, and how to send a gift to a new address.
Read More September 28, 2026
Most opened wine keeps three to five days in the fridge with the cork back in. Sparkling lasts one to three days, fortified wine weeks. A chart by wine style.
Read More September 27, 2026
Hennessy VS is aged at least 2 years, VSOP at least 4 and XO at least 10, counted from the youngest brandy in the blend. What changes in the glass by grade.
Read More September 26, 2026
A standard 75cl bottle of champagne pours six 125ml glasses, or five generous ones. A chart covering every bottle size, from 20cl to a 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar.
Read More 
