I do so enjoy punctuating my usual grumbly opinion pieces with love letters to spirits. And this month, it’s the turn of vermouth. An historic fortified wine infused with various botanical flavours, it’s a firm favourite all over Europe, in the United States, and perhaps unexpectedly, in South America. It conjures romantic images of shaded al fresco drinking spots, on sunny European streets, and it’s bloody delicious to boot. So why isn’t it a staple in our booze cupboards at home? Here’s my reasoning for why it should be.
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If it wasn’t for the Aviation – love it or hate it – Créme de Violette may not exist. For much of this century-old classic cocktail’s existence, bartenders couldn’t get their hands on the violet-flavoured liqueur that gave the drink its distinctive colour and floral notes, and it was frequently omitted. But in the early 2000s, the craft cocktail movement brought enough demand for this near-forgotten ingredient that it reappeared; today there are more than a few to choose from. And the Aviation continues to be found on cocktail lists around the world in its original form.
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Published: 14 April, 2025
Colchester-headquartered independent drinks manufacturer and distributor Riviera Drinks has announced the acquisition of Soho Street Cocktails, a ready-made cocktail brand.
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181 Piccadilly, St James’s, London W1A 1ER
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Published: 24 January, 2023
Canopy by Hilton London City, London EC3N 1AX
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Published: 21 November, 2022
You’ll not find many in the spirits industry praising the rise from the grave of the humble RTD – and to those who are disparaging of ready to drink products, I say, get over yourself.
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Published: 30 September, 2022
Pernod Ricard is banking on the return of a pre-pandemic Christmas atmosphere this year, with its festive campaigns revealing a heavy focus on leveraging treating behaviours amid a tense economy, bouyed by the world cup.
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Published: 09 September, 2022
17 Little Portland Street, London W1W 8BP
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Published: 11 March, 2022
Nightjar, the landmark speakeasy on Old Street is preparing to open its doors to a second site in Soho.
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Published: 01 March, 2022
The purveyor of bar-quality pouches of popular cocktails talks to Andrew Catchpole about the explosive growth in ready-to-drink.
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Published: 28 February, 2022
Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known by alias Mr Lyan, says his first launch, White Lyan, was branded as a heretical concept by his peers and ‘demonised’ when it launched back in 2013 for its left-field approach to cocktails. Fast forward nine years, and the British entrepreneur is on the cusp of launching Seed Library, which sees him come full circle to where it all began in East London.
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Published: 24 February, 2022
A brand new recognition system for the world’s best bars has been announced – set to become one of the bar industry’s most respected accolades of excellence.
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Published: 19 January, 2022
Blackfish brands have welcome former Accolade Wines boss, Ade McKeon, into their governing board as non-executive director.
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Published: 13 December, 2021
With the mantra of “not your grandfather’s port club”, Symington Family Estates has teamed up with Rebel Port Club to launch a speakeasy style pop-up experience in London aimed at initiating a new generation of port drinkers.
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Published: 13 October, 2021
Soho Street Cocktails, the ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents, the independent merchant buying group.
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Published: 06 September, 2021
Pre-batched cocktails hit the spot when it comes to consistency, reducing waste and prep time, according to their advocates, as Lisa Riley reports.
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Published: 02 September, 2021
Ready-to-drink cocktails continue to grow in popularity despite the reopening of the on-trade. Lisa Riley reports.
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Published: 23 August, 2021
Cockburn’s Port is hoping to encourage more “unexpected ways” of drinking Port with two seaside-themed pop-up bars this summer, one in Brighton and one in Falmouth.
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Published: 23 August, 2021
The Duchess of Dalston
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Published: 19 August, 2021
NBHD | Portobello
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