Made from the chewed-up-and-spat-out-by-elephants fruit of the Marula tree, a native of the African continent, Amarula is truly African. Ok so maybe the elephant thing is a bit far fetched but regardless this is a very distinctive spirit.

You could almost say it's like an Irish cream, but it's not. You could almost say it's like one of those chocolaty spirit concoctions that are horrendously sweet, but it's not. In fact it's not much like anything else you're likely to find.

When you sip at your Amarula cream, you can hear the trumpeting of elephants. The roaring of lions. The screeching of baboons. The laughing of hyenas. The coughing of leopards. The braying of zebras. All sitting around the campfire out on the veld, clinking their glasses of Amarula as they toast themselves to their "African-ness".

Amarula is as smooth and resonant as the voice of Kamahl. It is also deceptively strong making some people cut it with milk, it's easy to keep going back for more and before you know it your legs won't work properly.

I like it straight over ice. I'm a purist when it comes to Africa

Tags: spirits, africa

I love the Whiskies of the world. I don't drink much of this elixir of the God's but I enjoy it when I do, and I don't go over the top. Straight up or on ice... the only way to drink it in my opinion, and more than two drams in one sitting is too much for anyone to continue enjoying it.

Jameson's Irish Whisky is silky, smokey, smooth. I prefer this one straight, or cooled... but not on ice.

When sipping away on Jameson, I can easily picture myself sitting in a smoke filled reading room, cigar in hand (I don't smoke), next to a smouldering fire in a hearth, reading glasses perched on the nose (I don't have them), reading one of the classics. Somewhat sophisticated, and far from the reality of my world, it's a perfect escape for a while.

Being of Scottish heritage, I do honestly believe the Scots are the true masters. However, Jameson's Irish is a standout that surpasses many of the Scotch Whiskies.

Do try it!

Tags: spirits

I was introduced to this very drinkable Gin about 7 years ago and so far it cannot be surpassed in quality, in my opinion.

Beautifully presented in a sapphire coloured bottle with acid etching pictorials of the key ingredients down the sides, this top shelf drop can be enjoyed on it's own over ice or with a splash of tonnic (my preference).

I'm sure James Bond insisted his martini's were made with this blue gem.

Tags: spirits