Food, Wine and Travel Blog

The Microbrewery Revolution Ireland has enjoyed a prosperous brewing culture for over 200 years. In the late 18th century, there was an explosion in the brewing industry – by the beginning of the 19th century, over two hundred breweries were registered across Ireland. Government legislation in the 18th century reduced the taxation on brewing against […]

Best Irish whiskey brands Twenty years ago, proselytizing about Irish whiskey was an endeavor fraught with problems. Any list of top Irish whiskeys would be depressingly easy to compile – until the turn of the Millennium, Ireland’s whiskey industry was severely lacking significant players and new investment. In particular, Irish single-malt whiskey was almost a […]

Difference between Scotch and Irish Whiskey Like a match between two prize-winning boxers, the subject of Irish versus Scotch whiskey arouses and inflames the passions. The quickest way to commit social suicide, would be to enquire in a Scottish bar – “Do you have any Irish spirits for a change? Much better quality, aren’t they.” […]

Is there a right way to drink whiskey? At first glance, “how to drink whiskey?” is a topic worthy of ridicule. Open the bottle, pour the liquid into glass and sip – surely that’s all that is required to appreciate this noble brown spirit? Yet while a guide to drinking whiskey might appear akin to […]

Irish whiskey can never be pigeonholed. The variety of styles, malts, blends, and price points ensures that there is an Irish whiskey for every occasion. It lends itself to being served neat, with ice, with a combination of mixers or, most excitingly of all, as the cornerstone of a great whiskey cocktail. For while bartenders […]

Luxury Retreats in Ireland For the last few weeks, we have been on the road, burning rubber across the island to find luxurious country retreats and historic hotels. We visited all kinds of wonderful places from Design Hotels (see our favorite designer hotels here), Country Guest Houses, Manor Homes, and Palatial Estates, and of course, […]

Ireland is experiencing an artisan cheese Renaissance and it has never been a better time to enjoy the wide range of super high-quality cheeses on offer. Renowned for its high-quality dairy, pristine grazing lands and clean air, Ireland is a natural destination for top-notch cheesemaking. Producers like Gubbeen, Cashel Blue and Durrus have long been […]

Kilbeggan Distillery, located in central Ireland, makes some of the best premium whiskeys globally, including Connemara Peated Single Malt, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Greenore Single Grain, and Kilbeggan Irish whiskey. We had the chance to interview their distiller, Andrina Fitzgerald, this month, and are delighted to share it with our readers.   CELLAR TOURS-  How do […]

Whiskey and Food Pairings Food and wine matching is a complex and highly subjective topic. It causes endless debate as to which wines should be matched with certain foods and whether there should there be any rules at all, or is it purely a matter of taste? So you can imagine the passions that are […]

Ireland is one of Europe’s most beautiful countries, with miles of virgin countryside, pristine coastline, charming fishing villages, and quaint hamlets. While there are dozens of great little villages, we, of course, have our favorites. So herewith, enjoy reading about some of the Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland… ADARE Adare in Co. Limerick has long […]

The green, misty, and alluring island of Ireland boasts a treasure trove of castles, and here is the selection of our favorite castles in the Emerald Isle, many of which you can visit inside and one of which is even a luxury hotel! 1. Lismore Castle This stunning fairytale castle is surprisingly not on the […]