• The Glendronach + Rankin — Raise Expectations

    The Glendronach + Rankin — Raise Expectations

    How might an esteemed whisky behemoth affect what is contemporarily known as a “glow-up” when it has been around for nearly 200 years? The Glendronach distillery has stood proudly in the Scottish Highlands, nestled in and protected by the ‘Valley of Brambles’ for two centuries. Founder James Allardice introduced this whisky to the world in…

  • Chapter II – A Question of Temperature

    Chapter II – A Question of Temperature

    One of champagne’s best features is of course its freshness. Picture that glass covered with a fine mist, the chilled and delicious bubbles, the coolness to the touch. But even though the perfect temperature at which to enjoy champagne is generally regarded as 8°C, each situation requires specific chilling preparations. It’s demanding, we grant you, but that’s often…

  • Chapter III – Opening the Bottle

    Chapter III – Opening the Bottle

    Having chilled your bottle to perfection, it’s all very well to wave it around with a certain panache. But now it’s time to open it. The trick is to avoid showering the room in foam, breaking the cork or giving your partner (or your boss for that matter) a black eye, and to achieve that elegant, soft…

  • Chapter IV – Sabring Champagne

    Chapter IV – Sabring Champagne

    So you now know how to open a bottle like a pro. But what really fascinates people is how to do it like a Napoleonic cavalry officer – in other words by sabring the bottle in one masterly and spectacular gesture – a legacy of those who celebrated their victories by unsheathing their sabre and using it…

  • Chapter V – Choosing the right Champagne Glass

    Chapter V – Choosing the right Champagne Glass

    What is the quintessence of elegance? Karl Lagerfeld puts it better than us: simplicity, of course. To enhance the champagne, your preference should therefore be for glass or, better still, crystal. While the former, transparent and smooth, enables you to enjoy the dancing bubbles and hue of the robe to perfection, the latter is obviously a cut above in terms of finesse…

  • Chapter VI – Serving Champagne

    Chapter VI – Serving Champagne

    Even on a linen tablecloth andin crystal glasses to boot, the best vintages can be ruined if poorly served. Knowledge of the correct gestures is essential for serving this great wine and thus putting the guests in the best frame of mind for the tasting. And let’s face it, this is your moment of glory: performing a majestic…