Primers

• Primers

Just what is akvavit? A quick primer on the Scandinavian spirit

Akvavit is a distilled spirit flavoured with caraway, dill or coriander (or with all of them) and with other botanicals. Although the way it’s made varies, akvavit is a drink common to Scandinavia — a savoury, flavoursome spirit.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 25 Jun 2021

• Primers

/ Members-only

Egg white in drinks (and what is aquafaba and Wonderfoam?)

How do you use egg white in drinks, and what is aquafaba? What is wonderfoam? A primer on using egg white properly, and vegan alternatives.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 27 Apr 2021

• Primers

What are zero proof drinks? How the modern day take is different to mocktails of old

What is the trend to zero proof drinks all about? How do today's non alcoholic cocktails differ to mocktails? Here, New York-based journalist and author of the new book Zero Proof, Elva Ramirez, explains.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 19 Apr 2021

• Primers

How to become a drinks writer — a little advice

Maybe you're a bartender, and you want to write about cocktails, bars, or the booze industry more broadly — here's a little advice on how to become a drinks writer.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 23 Mar 2021

• Primers

What is an independent bottler? How it works, 'teaspooning' and more

What is an independent bottler? We spoke to Simon McGoram to learn more, what teaspooning is, and what That Boutique-y Whisky Company's new Australian series is about.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 16 Mar 2021

• Primers

How is Bushmills made? Here’s your cheat sheet

Bushmills is different to other Irish whiskeys — here's your quickfire cheat sheet to how it's made, and what makes it different.

By Boothby Staff

/ 16 Mar 2021

• Primers

‘Stick to things that aren’t going to be reproduced.’ Dimitri Rtshiladze on whisky collecting

"All whiskies are both overrated and underrated depending on who you are talking to." The Foxtrot Unicorn owner talks whisky collecting and whisky dorks.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 1 Mar 2021

• Primers

Collecting whisky: Mjølner’s Alex Dahlenburg on how to start a whisky collection

Thinking of collecting whisky? Alex Dahlenburg on how to start a whisky collection, where to find rare bottles (and not fakes) and more.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 26 Feb 2021

• Primers

What is single malt Irish whiskey (and how much do bartenders know about it?)

Take a look at the rules that define single malt Irish whiskey, and see how much bartenders know about it.

By Boothby Staff

/ 24 Feb 2021

• Primers

Japanese whisky rules: here's everything we know

Finally, new Japanese whisky rules are set to come into effect — here’s what they say (and how they differ to the rest of the world).

By Sam Bygrave

/ 19 Feb 2021

• Primers

Get Hayley Dixon's advice on hosting the perfect tequila picnic

"I think simple built drinks are the best, and the more refreshing the better," says Hayley Dixon, who shares her tips on the perfect tequila picnic.

By Sam Bygrave

/ 5 Feb 2021

• Primers

Who decides which spirits get gold medals? How the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards work

The little gold medal on a bottle of spirits might convince you to buy that brand over another — but who decides who wins? Here's how it happened at the 2020 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.

By Boothby Staff

/ 13 Nov 2020