Good Food
type: channel
link: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com
date: 2026-03-12T11:40:29.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: The best brandy to buy 2026 - taste tested by experts
items: 15 of the best gins to buy as gifts
items: 16 best tequilas taste tested, for sipping, cocktails and more
items: The best flavoured gins taste tested 2025
items: The best craft whiskies taste tested
items: Best national spirits from around the world

The best brandy to buy 2026 - taste tested by experts
type: item
date: 2026-01-05T14:03:48.000Z
creator: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: best armagnac
subject: best brandy
subject: best cognac
subject: best spirits
subject: best wine
subject: Brandy
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Spirits
description: Buy the best bottle of brandy by reading our expert review of this complex spirit, including the best armagnac, cognac and calvados.
encoded: Brandy is a hugely diverse umbrella term in the world of spirits, but a deliciously flavoursome one at that. To get technical, largely speaking, to be classified as a brandy, the base ingredient of the spirit needs to be grape-based (with the exception of Eaux de Vie and fruit brandies such calvados, which uses apples or pears). Because of the widespread nature of grape vines and the diversity of different varieties, grape brandy is produced pretty much everywhere around the globe, so here’s our pick of the best brandies to buy – including a few unusual ones. Look out for armagnac in particular: this rustic cousin to cognac is one of France’s most underrated brandies, and offers age and complexity at highly affordable prices. Our pick of the top 10 best brandies ranges from £25-80 a bottle, and includes cognac, armagnac and calvados, so you're sure to find a bottle for you. For more drinks inspiration, check out our reviews section for over 400+ expert reviews, including round-ups of the best pink, sloe, citrus and rhubarb gins, plus gift guides including our best gifts for wine lovers. Best brandy to buy at a glance Best Italian brandy: Vecchia Romagna Risvera Tre Botti, £46.90 Best limited-edition brandy: Courvoisier Rouge Luxe, £59.99 Best value brandy: St-Rémy XO, £25.95 Best brandy for gifting: Martell VSOP, £52.75 Best traditional cognac: Frapin 1270 Premier Cru Grande Champagne cognac, £48.95 Best armagnac: Chateau De Laubade VSOP, £47.77 Best refreshing cognac: Hine H By Hine cognac, £44.55 Best calvados: Boulard Calvados VSOP, £45.75 Best for sherry lovers: Gonzalez Byass Lepanto Solera Pedro Ximenez brandy, £72.72 Best pisco: Qollqe Italia grape pisco, £36.44 Best brandy alternative: Metaxa 12 Stars, £28 Jump to: What is brandy? What are the different types of brandy? Best brandy to buy 2026 Best brandy to buy 2026 Vecchia Romagna Risvera Tre Botti Latest Prices Best Italian brandy Championed by many as the best brandy producer in Italy, Vecchia Romagna wa…

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15 of the best gins to buy as gifts
type: item
date: 2025-06-05T15:48:51.000Z
creator: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: American gin
subject: Best gin for gifts
subject: cool new gin
subject: father's day presents
subject: flavoured gin
subject: gin for dad
subject: gin for mum
subject: good gins
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: mother's day presents
description: Searching for the perfect gin to give as a present? We have rounded up our favourite craft, flavoured and independent gins to give as a gift.
encoded: When there's a whole world of gin to choose from, how do you know which will make the most special presents? We're here to help with our expert taste test of the most special, beautifully bottled gin. Read on to discover our top picks for birthdays and beyond. For a unique gift, check out our 5 most unusual gins we've tried for a memorable present, including apple crumble and seaweed flavoured gins. For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of whisky, vodka, rum, brandy and more. We also have reviews of gin glasses plus expert gin taste tests, including round-ups of the best pink gins, sloe gins, citrus gins and rhubarb gins, plus gift guides like the best letterbox gifts to order online. Looking for a personalised gift idea? Best gin to buy at a glance Best bottle design: Silent Pool, £43 Best flavoured gin: Malfy con Arancia, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=bbcgoodfood-338809&awinmid=400&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewhiskyexchange.com%2Fp%2F43145%2Fmalfy-con-arancia-gin%3Fsource%3D%26source%3Dawin%26utm_source%3Dshopwindow%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Daffiliatewindow%26aw_publisherid%3D169609%26aw_creativeid%3D0%26aw_productid%3D24951213783%26aw_sitedomain%3DMonetizer101%26awc%3D400_1637328065_c8ae25cd0efda5497e9d1e47a4d2121b" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-19">£31.95 Best classic gin: Beefeater London dry, £19.25 Best crowd-pleasing gin: No.3 London dry gin, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=bbcgoodfood-338809&awinmid=400&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewhiskyexchange.com%2Fp%2F12038%2Fno3-london-dry-gin%3Fsource%3D%26source%3Dawin%26utm_source%3Dshopwindow%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Daffiliatewindow%26aw_publisherid%3D169609%26aw_creativeid%3D0%26aw_productid%3D113609973%26aw_sitedomain%3DMonetizer101%26awc%3D400_1637328127_e958a575786d3e8b12e954aa77de9b9b" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-21">£38.9…

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16 best tequilas taste tested, for sipping, cocktails and more
type: item
date: 2024-02-13T10:45:06.000Z
creator: Brendan Hodrien
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: Cocktails
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Mexican
subject: Mexico
subject: mezcal
subject: Shots
subject: Spirits
subject: tequilla
description: The best bottles of tequila to buy, as selected by the experts. Including everything from mezcal to añejo, sotol, reposado and 100% agave tequilas.
encoded: Tequila is an agave-based spirit that can only be produced in certain parts of Mexico (just like champagne has to come from a particular region of France). It's been around for centuries and is made using the pineapple-shaped heart of the agave plant. When done right, tequila is a silky smooth drink, with light touches of citrus. Some tequilas are ideal for cocktails: start with a classic margarita or try a colourful tequila sunrise with grenadine and orange juice. Other tequilas – especially pure versions, made with 100% agave – can be enjoyed in a short glass with ice. Depending on the style of tequila, the notes and aromas can vary from rich, buttery fudge and toffee to sharp citrus and herbaceous flavours. Our drinks expert Brendan Hodrien is a lifestyle writer who specialises in drinks reviews and he has found 16 top tequilas to buy. He has previously written about the best drinks for The Independent, The i and Evening Standard, more often than not waxing lyrical about Islay whiskies. Read on to discover the best buys, including bottles from big names in the tequila world such as Patrón, VIVIR, Fortaleza and Herradura, as well as unique artisan bottles perfect for gifting to a tequila fan. Whether you're after a bottle to make tequila and tonics, an authentic tequila or want to try something new with mezcal or sotol, we've got the bottle for you. Read on to discover our pick of the best tequila. For more, visit our reviews section and find taste-tests for pisco, gin, vodka, rum and more, plus gift guides such as the best cocktail gifts. The best tequila to buy at a glance Best floral tequila: Código 1530 Rosa tequila, £45.75 Best for a tequila and tonic: El Rayo Plata tequila, £39.95 Best big brand tequila: Patrón Reposado tequila, £55.25 Best unusual bottle: Kah Blanco tequila, £41.99 Best traditional tequila: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver tequila, £36.95 Best Mexican highlands tequila: Cazcabel Reposado tequila, £30.95 Best authentic tequila: Rooster Rojo bl…

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The best flavoured gins taste tested 2025
type: item
date: 2023-11-13T11:52:12.000Z
creator: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: best gin
subject: best gin bottles
subject: flavoured gin
subject: gin flavours
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: rhubarb gin
subject: top 10 gin
description: From rhubarb and traditional sloe to pink, pineapple and even red wine infused gin, read our expert reviews of the best flavoured gins to buy
encoded: The purists might sniff, but gin has moved into some surprising new flavour and aroma territories. Alongside major brands that you'll find in every supermarket, such as Whitley Neill, Malfy and Sipsmith, there are also smaller gin brands throwing additional ingredients into the mix to make unique gin flavours. Flavoured gin is a broad term that can cover everything from sherbety citrus gins (think tart lemon, pink grapefruit or orange gins) to colourful fruit creations filled with berries, or grown-up oak-aged gins that take inspiration from wine-making techniques. Our extensive round-up guarantees a flavoured gin for every palate. Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley, of worldsbestspirits.com, are seasoned writers and commentators on fine spirits and cocktails. Their book, Distilled, acts as an A-Z of craft spirits from across the world and won the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards Drinks Book of the Year 2015. Good Food’s Content Editor Lucy Roxburgh is WSET Level 2 qualified and writes a range of drinks reviews for Good Food, including best cocktail subscriptions, best gins to give as gifts and best flavoured vodkas. Read on to discover all their picks for the best flavoured gins. If you're looking for a memorable gin gift, check out our picks of the top 5 most unusual gins we've tried. For more, visit our reviews section to find more than 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of gin, vodka, rum and brandy, plus round-ups of the best rhubarb gins, pink gins and citrus gins. Best flavoured gins at a glance Best rhubarb gin: Warner's rhubarb gin, £37.50 Best red wine gin: Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1587439&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewhiskyexchange.com%2Fp%2F35767%2Ffour-pillars-bloody-shiraz-gin%3Fsource%3D%26source%3Dawin%26utm_source%3Dshopwindow%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Daffiliatewindow%26aw_publisherid%3D169609%26aw_creativeid%3D0%26aw_productid%3D22241767739%26aw_sitedomain%3DSovrn%26…

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The best craft whiskies taste tested
type: item
creator: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: best spirits
subject: craft spirits
subject: craft whiskies
subject: craft whisky
subject: drink trends
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Whisky
description: Looking for a change from the usual supermarket Scotch? Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley from World’s Best Spirits share their pick of the top craft whiskies.
encoded: All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more and read about how we write BBC Good Food reviews. Balcones Texas Single Malt Best American craft whisky Made halfway between Dallas and Austin in a town called Waco, Balcones Distillery has gone from a craft distillery housed in a small unit on the edge of town to an uber-cool central location, and is now the flag for distilling in the oil-rich state. Its Texas Single Malt has flavours as big as Texas itself: rich oak, vanilla and malty goodness. Latest Deals Method And Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Best Irish whiskey Irish whiskey is going through a real renaissance at the moment. From only four distilleries originally producing whiskey to over 20 in under a decade, there’s a huge amount of personality to choose from. Method And Madness is produced by the Midleton distillery in Cork (famed for producing Jameson) which has recently opened a small craft distillery on the same site to produce future M&M expressions. This is an unusual single pot still whiskey, in that it's part-matured in French chestnut casks (as opposed to oak). Expect rich spices, hints of tropical fruit and dark chocolate. Starward New World Malt Whisky Best alternative craft whisky Australian single malt whisky. Yes, you read that correctly: Australian single malt whisky. It's simply out of this world. Starward started making single malt a decade ago and today, from their base in Melbourne, they produce a product that draws fruity flavours from maturation in Australian fortified wine casks. This beautiful whisky comes in a stunning bottle – and at a price which makes trying it a no-brainer. Eden Mill Single Malt Whisky Hipflask Series No 7 Best Scottish craft whisky Based in St Andrews, Eden Mill is one of a new wave of craft distilleries that are popping up all over Scotland. With a po…

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Best national spirits from around the world
type: item
creator: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: Drinks
subject: Review
subject: best spirits
subject: holiday drinks
subject: holiday spirits
subject: Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley
subject: local spirits
subject: national liquor
subject: national liquors
subject: raki
subject: Schnapps
subject: spirits to buy
subject: Summer drinks
description: Take a trip around the globe with our top national liqueurs. From local firewater to speciality spirits, we’ve picked the best bottles for you to buy on your travels.
encoded: Find out more about our BBC Good Food reviews. The wonderful world of spirits transcends the traditional bottles of whisky, bourbon, gin, tequila and cognac that we might already know of, and whose flavours we're familiar with. Alongside these headliners, there's a plethora of fascinating, highly tasty national spirits. Far from being simply a holiday fling, here we look at 10 local distilled beauties with which you should have a full-blown romance. Where possible, we've included links to where imported bottles can be bought in the UK. Aquavit (Norway) An acquired taste, but think of aquavit like a gin, flavoured with herbs and spices from the local area, wherever in Scandinavia that may be. As with gin, each recipe is a closely guarded secret held by the distiller, with some subtle national variation between other Scandinavian producers. It always includes caraway as the main flavour (as juniper is in gin) and a mix of other herbs and spices, including cardamom, cumin, star anise, coriander, fennel and dill. The perfect serve is as a shot from the freezer alongside a beer, with a hearty, meat-based Viking meal. What to buy: Linie Aquavit This spirit has strong flavours of caraway and is then filled into ex-oloroso sherry casks, which adds hints of vanilla sweetness. These casks are then stored on the deck of a ship, and shipped twice across the equator. Quite the well-travelled spirit, perfect for pairing with cured meats. Latest Deals Pisco (Peru/Chile) Pisco is the national grape-based brandy of South America. The battle for ‘ownership’ of pisco is a tug of war between Peru and Chile, despite the former actually having a town of the same name. A clear spirit, it varies in flavour with the choice of grapes used having a huge effect on the overall style. It is best enjoyed in one of the greatest refreshing cocktails, the pisco sour, which itself is seeing a resurgence of popularity. What to buy: Pisco 1615 Italia The lighter, fruity, floral notes on offer here are …

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