Summer Spirits

Ever since my holiday to Japan earlier on in the summer for Suntory's 100th anniversary, I've had a hankering for Japanese whisky. Although Scotch will always have my heart, I can definitely appreciate the craftmanship of our former copycats. The founding fathers of the Japanese whisky industry learned their craft from Scottish distilleries, with Nikka Whisky's creator having cut his teeth at Speyside's Longmorn distillery and Suntory's founder choosing the location of Yamazaki because the climate was similar to our glorious Scottish Highlands. After 100 years however, Japanese whisky has grown to be in a league of its own - a few are some of the most collectable whiskies in the world. Here are my favourites:

What's summer without a margarita or two? We've got the perfect selection to jazz up your cocktail, from smoky mezcal to ultra-smooth tequila. Here's a few of my favourite, perfect in a cocktail or in shot form.