May 12th, 2013

This recipe and 100 others can be found in Booze for free available in the UK and USA. Although elderflower champagne is a than this cherrished favourite drink during the summer months there are other drinks out there that in my opinion are far superior. Dandelion champagne is such a drink and what's more the dandelion is very easy to identify and find.  St Georges day (22nd April) is traditionally the time to go out and [Read More]

April 22nd, 2013

Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica is a plant that can divide forages from everyone else. Many foragers and love the stuff whilst everyone else dread seeing it and especially on their land. Why, you may well ask. Well it is because it is such a thug in fact to call it a thug is to play down its perniciousness. This weed is more like a guerrilla force than a thug, in the plant kingdom this stuff makes mint, b[Read More]

April 2nd, 2013

UK Hops The buzz in the brewing world at the moment is about New World hops, drinkers and therefore brewers are demanding more and more exotic flavour in their beers. The British hop once grown across thousands of acres is now grown across hundreds seem to be falling out of fashion. I asked Ali Capper a hop farmer who is helping to promote British Hops a few questions to see how British hops are fairing in[Read More]

April 1st, 2013

Along with finding a cure for the common cold the rush to find a cure for hangovers has been a time honoured battle. The Ancient Greeks wolfed down fried sheep's lungs, the Romans with drank more wine along with lashings of garlic and present day Scots opt for a can of Irn Bru and a full Scottish breakfast: but have a team of scientist working at the Hanover Institute for Brain Studies (HIBS) in Northern[Read More]

March 20th, 2013

From early March in the south of England and mid to late March in Scotland wild garlic, Allium ursinum a relative of chives, onions and normal garlic can be seen growing. In sheltered spots you may see it hanging on until late July but that’s an exception rather than a rule. Wild garlic is generally at  its peak from April to June and when they flower in it is a sight and smell that rivals a [Read More]

March 15th, 2013

There is something about standing in amongst a load of booze that makes me feel at home.  It  possibly has something to do with the fact that my home is always full of booze, but I've always loved a good off licence. The anticipation of the evening you are buying the booze for, the dimmed lighting, the wooden shelves full of different coloured redolent liquids from around the world and the fountain of knowledge sitting b[Read More]