Beverage rituals are usually encountered at one of two moments: when a drink is assembled, or when it is consumed. But no matter when or where the ritual takes place, doing or saying something special before you drink is an act of intentional threshold crossing and fellowship — it signals that the experience is about to begin and that everyone involved is partaking in good faith.

Gins from and inspired by Japan capture a unique aura of place, culture and agriculture of the country and its distinct regions.

For 500 years agave spirits have been synonyms with Mexico but in just the last decade the world of agave spirits has grown and spread around the globe. As a fan of agave spirits this is an exciting time to taste this evolution in real time and witness how the terroir, culture, and people unique to each new region imprint themselves on the spirits.

Cognac isn’t just another aged spirit tucked away on the back bar. It’s a living system — soil, grape, distillation, and aging — bound together by some of the most rigorous rules in the drinks world.

In this edition of The Flavour Index, we compare 24 peated whiskies from around the world to explore how geography, peat composition, and production choices shape their character. The list is not exhaustive, but it offers a guide to understanding how place transforms smoke into flavour, from the gentle hearth-like warmth of the Highlands to the briny power of Islay and the earthy depth of whiskies made far beyond Scotland’s shores.

What makes a bottle worth talking about? Is it the story behind it, the flavour in the glass, or the way it connects people?

When most travellers think of Niagara, they picture the roaring waterfalls or a glass of sweet, chilled Icewine. Yet, tucked between vineyards, orchards, and misty riverbanks, a quiet whisky revolution is taking root.

It’s not on any tourism map, yet Calgary has the makings of an unofficial whisky trail, where each stop is shaped by prairie grain, wild weather, and a restless drive to experiment.

What began as a beer town has evolved into a hub forexperimental whisky.

Mise en place. Terroir. Both haughty French phrases that conjure up mystical feelings of faraway flavours and untouched landscapes. So perhaps it’s fitting that I find myself writing about regionality from the shade of a Parisian café, doing my best to escape the sticky humidity of the so-called city of love.

This round, we’re unpacking Canada’s 1/11 rule. Is it a clever tool that gives blenders creative freedom, or a loophole that dilutes national identity? Some say it helps Canadian whisky stand out; others argue it blurs what “Canadian” even means in the glass. We’re here for both sides of the story.

Cristalino Tequila: Is it a gateway to premium sipping or just tequila with all the good bits filtered out? For every fan of its polish, there’s a critic mourning what got stripped away and we’re here for both takes.

The buzz around sustainable cocktails has died down in recent years, but does that mean it’s 86’d or has conscientious cocktails become the norm?

Canada’s flavour-focused whisky laws challenge the way the world thinks about grain, rules, and tradition.

Exploring alternative woods, aging techniques, and experimental cask programs.

The Margarita is, without question, one of life’s most perfect cocktails. If it wouldn’t take much to convince you that there is a taco for every season, then surely, there’s a Margarita for every occasion.

Could whisky label colours be telling your taste buds what to expect too? Turns out, they might be.

With three easy builds, Jessica Colacci shows us just how many personalities one bottle can have and why Montenegro deserves a permanent place in your rotation.

Flavour Files spotlights one flavour camp and how it unfolds across spirits, liqueurs, and modifiers offering a lens into its versatility, personality, and creative potential. This edition features spirits that bloom with botanicals, blossoms, and aromatic elegance.