A Venezuelan raised in Italy moves to San Francisco and starts making Canadian whisky. It should be the start of a joke, but for master distiller Andres Faustinelli, the punchline is an innovative new entrant to the whisky world. “Where I grew up, whisky was the foundation of the culture,” Faustinella told Average Joes. “People think of Venezuela as being about rum, but there’s a lot of whisky. I grew up drinking whisky, so I had a passion for whisky.” That passion led him to Canada, where regulations on what counts as whisky are more relaxed than in the United States or Scotland. “I saw that ..read more

March not only saw the first spring flowers brightening the rainy days but also the launch of the much anticipated 2015 vintage of the prestigious La Grande Année champagne from the House of Bollinger. La Grande Année embodies the expert craftsmanship passed from generation to generation within the House of Bollinger. Part of what makes Bollinger so special is that production remains much as it began, with the wine being entirely vinified in small oak barrels. It’s the only Champagne House to still employ a resident cooper, with barrel ageing in old oak casks one of the House’s most distinctiv ..read more

It’s something of a miracle that the Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin exists as, despite the brand behind it recently celebrating more than 50 years in business, bad timing meant Ireland’s only Hard Rock opened its doors just a month before Covid forced them to shut again. Like a pint of Guinness, good things come to those who wait, and after months of uncertainty across the hospitality industry, life restarted. And in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, I don’t think the party has stopped since. The Hard Rock Hotel is located right on the edge of the city’s lively, bustling cultural centre. It’s no ..read more

The sun might be shining, but the cool wind means we’re all still reaching for a sweatshirt or hoodie to ward off the chill. So what better way to shake up your wardrobe and add a little spring style than with some timeless classics from Blakely? The athleisure look is at the heart of Blakely’s aesthetic, combining practicality and comfort with a style that will be on point season after season. Disposable fashion has been all the rage for a while, but finally, thoughts are turning to pieces with longevity — and Blakely has that in spades. The quality of the range is superb, so you can wear, wa ..read more

If you’re looking for a splash of jewellery-based colour to brighten up your outfit and lift your mood, then the unisex collection from Baekke might just give you the glow you need.  These innovative bracelets allow you to switch up your colour choices every day by simply swapping out the clip-on beads, creating a variety of looks in just a few seconds.  There are several options available in various colourways, or alternatively, you can design your own unique bracelet to suit your style, selecting the number and colour of the beads you want to add. The basic C-shaped bracelet — avai ..read more

A visit to Dublin wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. The brewery’s founder, Arthur Guinness, had so much faith in the success of his venture that he signed a 9,000-year lease on the property at St James’s Gate in 1759. With more than 13 million pints of the famous brew served globally on St Patrick’s Day alone, he clearly got something right. While a brewery has been on the 55-acre site for 265 years, the Guinness Storehouse started life as a fermentation plant, initially built in 1902. It remained a working part of the brewery until 1988, when it was finally redes ..read more

With St Patrick’s Day almost upon us and the first rays of spring sunshine warming our skin, there’s no better time to break out some Dubliner Irish whiskey and celebrate. Dubliner Irish Whiskey is produced in the Liberties area of Dublin, historically known for its working-class roots, with the brewing, distilling, and textile industries being significant employers. The building that now houses the Dubliner distillery was originally designed as a mill and was a tannery used to cure rabbit skins for much of its history. Today, it’s home to the three stills that produce over 700,000 litres of I ..read more

To herald the start of a new season and the arrival of the sun, Ben Sherman has just released its spring/summer clothing collection, which the brand says is inspired by the vibrant culture of Brighton’s Beach Club in the 60s. The collection integrates geo prints with holiday vibes and contemporary tropical twists throughout, with a colour palette of pale orange and delicate pistachio tones alongside classically neutral tones, summer blues and navy tones, which will look as much at home by the pool as they will soaking up the atmosphere while out with friends. With new variations of the brand ..read more

The 91st Geneva International Motor Show ended on Sunday, with the organisers claiming the comeback was successful despite a vast swathe of manufacturers remaining absent. Despite the dearth of brands on display, the show still managed to rack up 10 world premiers, with the revival of the iconic Renault 5 hatchback of the 70s and 80s — which we got a sneak preview of before the show — attracting the most attention. That was joined by a sister brand, Dacia, which showed off the new Duster SUV. MG presented the new MG3 compact hatchback, complete with a new petrol-hybrid powertrain, while IM, a ..read more

We’ve teamed up with Fort Menscare to offer you the chance to win £100 worth of its most popular grooming products, and it couldn’t be easier to enter our competition. We’ve tried the products and can heartily recommend them, especially as there’s a limited offer price on the Gift Box right now. It’s the Fort Menscare Gift Box that we’re giving away, but there’s not just one of them — we’ve got three boxes available in our prize draw, so we’ll be picking three winners. If you win, you’ll be sent a box containing everything we tested recently, so that’s the Activated Charcoal Cleanser, Exfoliat ..read more