Jun 18

Jun 18 Cocktails

The cocktail is one of the great US inventions, bringing together several ingredients to fashion a drink even greater than the sum of its parts. This episode provides a brief history of the cocktail and recipes for some classic cocktails.

Jun 11

Jun 11 Flavoured Spirits, Bitters, and Liqueurs

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Absinthe is one of the most notorious of all spirits, associated with decadence, degeneration, and scandal. This episode explores the history of absinthe and its alternative pastis, as well as looking at other flavoured drinks such as amari and liqueurs.

Jun 10

Jun 10 Tequila & Mezcal

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Both tequila and mezcal have undergone a well-deserved revival in recent years, as both producers and consumers have recognised that both of these agave-based spirits are much more complex than popular preconceptions suppose. This episode focuses on what makes these spirits so distinctive.

Jun 4

Jun 4 Rum & Cachaça

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

The great drink of the Caribbean, rum is made in a vast range of styles, decisions at fermentation, distillation, maturation, and blending all affecting the final drink. This episode explores the different production methods and styles of rum that make it one on the world's great spirits.

May 28

May 28 Gin

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Gin is a juniper-based spirit that excels in many cocktails. The fashion for gin has hit extreme highs as well as troughs - we're now living in a golden age for gin drinking, which is why it's necessary to have a good understanding of its history and production.

May 21

May 21 Vodka

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Vodka is the most widely drunk spirit globally, popular because of its clean, neutral taste. The spirit goes back centuries, changing due to fashion and technology. This episode focuses on how vodka is made and how to make sense of a drink that is so deliberately flavourless.

May 20

May 20 Calvados and Fruit-based Spirits

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Calvados is the great apple-based spirit of Normandy, where it's too cold to grow grapes but perfect for apples as well as pears. Across Europe, there's a long tradition of fruit-based spirits, which this episode explores.

Apr 30

Apr 30 Armagnac, Spanish Brandy, Pisco, and Grappa

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Grapes are used to make a wide range of spirits. This episode focuses on Armagnac from south-west France, Spanish brandy, pisco - controversially from both Peru and Chile - and grappa.

Apr 23

Apr 23 Cognac

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Cognac is the great spirit of France. Located near Bordeaux, it benefited from access to trade routes to become drunk around the world. This episode how cognac is made and what it tastes like.

Apr 20

Apr 20 Japanese Whisky and Whisky Tasting

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Japan produces some of the best whisky in the world, made with an attention to detail bar none. In this episode, I also taste three whiskies - from Scotland, the US, and Japan.

Apr 20

Apr 20 US and Canadian Whiskey

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

The long, controversial history of Bourbon and US whiskey in general permeates the country's culture. This episode explores how the whiskeys are made, what they taste like, and the differences in style. Not forgetting Canadian whiskey - the biggest selling style in the US since the Civil War.

Apr 13

Apr 13 Irish Whiskey

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Irish Whiskey was the most drunk whiskey in the world back in the nineteenth century, but production declined sharply in the nineteenth century. Things are looking up again - find out about the trends and styles of Irish whiskey in this episode.

Apr 8

Apr 8 Scotch

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

Scottish whiskey is perhaps the most famous in the world, aged for long periods of time in oak barrels and reflecting the different regions they come from.

Apr 2

Apr 2 Distillation

Matthew Gaughan

spirits podcast

The first episode of a new series on the world of spirits, beginning by looking at exactly how they are made - from the raw material to fermentation to distillation to ageing and finishing.

About Matthew's World of Wine and Drink.