Drinks Galore
Creating and capturing incredible drinks moments
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The year the stills went quiet
I didn’t set out to write a “year in review.” That framing feels too neat, too managerial, especially for a year that refused to behave itself. Instead, this is something closer to taking stock. Of listening back. Of noticing what stayed with me long after the articles were filed, the trips completed, the quotes approved.…
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The perfect whisky road trip is not where you think it is
Mark Jennings challenges the notion that Speyside is the only whisky pilgrimage destination. He embarks on a road trip through Scotland, discovering diverse landscapes, distilleries, and personal growth. The journey reveals whisky’s deeper connection to self-discovery and the region’s rich, often underappreciated heritage beyond Speyside.
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A quarter century in a glass
St George Spirits and the Long Road to Lot 25 One of my very first distillery visits as a wide-eyed content creator — long before the hundreds of articles that would follow — and one that’s stayed with me ever since. I still remember arriving at Alameda’s old naval airbase more than a decade ago,…
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Whisky’s dot-com moment
Uncle Nearest’s lawsuit is more than a headline — it’s a warning. Whisky is facing its dot-com moment, and if we don’t learn fast, we may lose more than brands. We may lose trust.
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Return of The London Distillery Company
Earlier this year, I sat down with Matt McKay for Whisky Magazine to explore the quiet disappearance — and long-anticipated revival — of The London Distillery Company (TLDC). It was a story about unfinished ideas: a distillery that helped spark London’s whisky revival in 2011, only to fall silent, with only a handful of bottlings…
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What Twelve Tequilas Taught Me About Place
The Truth Behind Tequila Ocho’s Terroir It had been a while since I’d last sat down with Jesse Estes, but within minutes of his talk at The Barking Dog in Copenhagen, the years fell away. I first met Jesse in 2012, around the same time I met his father, Tomas Estes, a man who introduced…
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The Manifesto Moment
Danish whisky finally defines itself – and not a moment too soon. I’ve been following the rise of Danish whisky for years now — a scene bubbling away quietly, far from the whisky heartlands of Scotland or Ireland, but full of creativity, guts, and more than a little Nordic stubbornness. But something has always niggled…
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The Viking Line Cinderella whisky fair
A whisky festival, but on a ship. One that sails out to international waters, and no one can leave until the next day. I spent 20 hours on what at first seemed like the daftest idea ever, but I quickly realised was something else entirely …
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I named a book
… and you should buy it. Okay, okay – so what if I’m strutting like I’ve actually written a book instead of just naming one. Forgive me this moment of joy as the book in question is all about whisk(e)y cocktails, a subject you know I love, and is written by Jesse Estes, who I…
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Mark of Respect paid in Berlin
I wasn’t at 2016 Bar Convent Berlin in person, but I was in spirit. My namesake cocktail the Mark Of Respect created by John Norrman appeared on the official Teeling Irish Whiskey menu and in wee naggin bottles. Could I be happier, no?
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The Mark of Respect goes intercontinental
Last week I woke up to this message from all round gentleman Kevin Hurley, Global Brand Ambassador for Teeling Whisky (for context, read this): “Gents, with both of your gracious permissions I would love to start promoting the ‘Mark of Respect’ as a Teeling cocktail in an official capacity. First up at two guest bartending…
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Talking cocktails on London Live
I was on London Live Weekend news speaking about Christmas cocktails, and of course Shaken. Have a look:
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A long list of things I drank
My first married Christmas was spent in Ireland and it would have been remiss of me not to use this as an excuse to sample the many fine spirits that the country produces – both historic and new. As an aide memoir I have listed them below – anyone beat this for a Christmas time…
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The cooking guide for drinks lovers
I’m a 36 year old man and I can’t cook. It’s pathetic. I can make cocktails and this, plus the kindness of long suffering friends, girlfriends and wives, has allowed me to go through life without dying of hunger. But times have changed. I asked my friend and colleague Toby to help me. He wrote…
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That day when you find a cocktail named after you … The Mark Of Respect
The Mark of Respect, created by John Norrman 2014 -2 parts Teelings small batch -1 part good tawny port -Half a part Falernum -2 dashes of aromatic bitters (Dead Rabbit Orinoco preferred) Stirred, garnish with lime lest. As John says … “This tipple was invented during the 2014 Dublin Web Summit, when the the gentleman…
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Discover gin from America, England, Spain and Scotland – Junipalooza in 6 minutes
Watch to discover gins from around the world. When we’re not creating great drinks events, we’re capturing them. The Drinks Galore team film Gin Foundry’s Junipalooza 2015 – the home of craft gin distilling. Sample the gins with us as we go see what’s on offer from the likes of New York Distillery Co, Haymans,…
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Inside The Event – WHISKY I LOVE YOU 2
He deconstructed whisky then asked strangers to put it back together Would you accept that challenge? A taster of the kind of events we put on here at Drinks Galore. Were you in this? Say hello, if not, see you at the next one. Filmed at The Hoxton, London and produced by the wonderful Alex…
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Like whisky, have questions? Glenfiddich’s ambassador Mark answers them
This short film answers a lot of whisky questions, with Glenfiddich’s UK ambassador Mark Thomson A Drinks Galore expert Interview: Presented by Mark Jennings drinksgalo.re Directed by Alex Blogg alexblogg.com Featuring Mark Thomson, UK Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador Thanks to Walker Slater Tailors walkerslater.com
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Inside The Event – TE QUIERO TEQUILA
A taster of the kind of events we put on here at Drinks Galore. Were you in this? Say hello, if not, see you at the next one. Filmed at The Hoxton, London and produced by the wonderful Alex Blogg If you enjoyed this, why not watch RUM HO, GIN BLOSSOMING or WHISKY I LOVE…
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All you ever need to know about tequila – Drinks Galore Meet The Maker Series
Mark gets in-depth on tequila and mezcal with Tequila Ocho’s Jesse Estes. A Drinks Galore interview. What actually is tequila? How is it made? What is mezcal and what’s the difference? How can you tell if your tequila is 100% agave and why does this matter? And what’s with this worm thing anyway? Find out…
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Don’t like tequila? Take the Tequila Wager
Drinks Galore presents The Tequila Wager, a short film about a cocktail you won’t want to give back. Featuring Jesse Estes, created by Alex Blogg & Olly Burton and filmed at El Nivel, London.
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Profile on Drinks Galore’s tequila guide Jesse Estes
Jesse Estes was first inducted into the London bar scene by Henry Besant and Dre Masso of the Worldwide Cocktail Club. He has since gone on to work at the likes of Green & Red, All Star Lanes, Callooh Callay, Luggage Room, as well as guest bar-tending around the world. He has won a number…
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Meet The Maker series: Mark interviews Alexandre Gabriel from Cognac Ferrand, Citadelle Gin & Plantation Rum
“Taste, with the capital letters … It’s not drinking to get drunk, it’s not drinking to look cool. It’s drinking for pleasure.” Mark speaks to Alexandre Gabriel, President of Cognac Ferrand (creator of Citadelle Gin and Plantation Rum) about life, drinks and everything in between. “You can rebuild the world with a bottle of rum…
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Whisky, Rogues, Dogs and Drams – The Whisky Show in 2 minutes
Mark from Drinks Galore captures the spirit of London’s The Whisky Show. An incredible event featuring top whiskies from around the world held in the Whisky Exchange. Sample the drams with us as we go see what’s on offer from The Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Nikka, Teeling and much more. Filmed by Alex Blogg and Edited by…
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A slice of UK RumFest
Mark was at RumFest 2014 in London, and this is a slice of what he saw at The World’s Largest Rum Festival, Celebrating Rum Brands From Across The Globe Music by Jim Birkett Edits by Alex Blogg
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New Event Announcement – Worldwide wine tasting (a journey through the world’s unexpected wine regions)
A SPECIAL Drinks Galore event in support of the 70 TechBikers, cycling 200miles Paris to London for Room to Read, you are invited to taste some fine wine, and hear an incredible story – all proceeds go to charity. Find out more and book tickets here For 18 months Fearghal left everything he knew…
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New Event Announcement – RUM HO
We asked what you wanted us to pour after whisky and gin … and you said RUM. Find out more and book tickets here Building on the successful format of our previous events we’ll be tasting a range of incredible rums neat to show you the distinctions and peculiarities of each offering. Bringing the night…
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Drinks Galore – Meet The Maker Series – Mark gets in depth on gin with Plymouth Gin’s Master Distiller Sean Harrison
A few weeks ago I got in-depth on gin and more with Plymouth Gin’s Master Distiller Sean Harrison. What is Navy Strength gin? Why does this former Navy man drink gin without garnish? Did he always dream of running a distillery, and what does a master distiller actually do with his time? Find out all…
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Event Video – Gin Blossoming
A taster of the kind of events we put on here at Drinks Galore. Were you in this? Say hello, if not, see you at the next one. Why not read the GIN BLOSSOMING event summary? Filmed and produced by the wonderful Alex Blogg
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Drinks Galore Gin Blossoming Fan Art
This fantastic image arrived, unexpectedly, courtesy of the lovely Mike Scott
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Event Summary – #2 GIN BLOSSOMING
Cracking night. Total re-education on #gin #DrinksGalore (@PepePettigrew) When: 6th June 2014 Where: The Hoxton Hotel Spirit: Gin Host: Mark Thompson Our second event and maybe even more fun than the first – great crowd of 42 imbibers matched to a perfect selection of gins, to show the evolution of this fine spirit, topped off…
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Guest Event Summary – Gin Blossoming
I thought a G&T was two liquids binding in a glass with ice and optional garnish. Oh how I was wrong… Thanks to Katie McCullough, guest at GIN BLOSSOMING for this Guest Event Summary: It’s safe to say, I’m a gin drinker. By that I mean a gin & tonic is my go-to drink when…
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Drinks Galore Interviews – Mark speaks to Mark Thomson, spirits expert
Mark Jennings interviews Mark Thomson, spirits expert and presenter for Drinks Galore. We discuss the spirits we tried and can’t go back to, the next ‘big’ spirits, the most unusual place to do a whisky tasting and what his ‘desert island’ spirit would be. At Drinks Galore we believe there’s nothing better than tasting unique…
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Promo video – Gin Blossoming
Like gin? Mark Thomson has an important message for you Tickets and more info available here. Filmed in McQueens London by Alex Blogg.
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Brand new brand for Drinks Galore
After a few months of suffering with my homemade attempts I am massively excited to reveal the new Drinks Galore branding, created by top designer Harriet Beesley of Aesop Agency. What do you think?
Drinks Galore 