In my position as Spirits buyer for Berry Bros. & Rudd, many producers, importers and distributors bring new products to me. Some of them are seeking my qualitative or stylistic views, some request my input whilst in the process of development and some arrive seeking a listing in the oldest family owned Spirits and Wine […]

Being a multi-award-winning independent bottler of single cask whiskies makes for some splendid surprises sometimes. Whilst tasting through our inventory of barrels sleeping peacefully in Scotland, we occasionally chance upon two whiskies from the same distillery, both drinking beautifully, at very different ages.  Even more rarely, we find three differently aged samples of the same […]

The last six weeks have seen me travel (almost) the length of the country to recruit, and then to judge, the regional heats of the No3 Gin cocktail competition. The brief was very wide simply asking bartenders to make a “twist on the gin & tonic” and it was amazing to see all the different […]

I cannot believe that six months have already passed since I made the leap from the fine wine industry to join the small but perfectly formed spirits team of Berry Bros. & Rudd, based just opposite the institution that is the No.3 St James’s Street shop. It is often forgotten that Berry Bros. & Rudd’s two royal […]