Certain distilleries have become ubiquitous on the shelves of not only specialist whisky retailers but supermarkets. The Balvenie is one of them and with justification. For decades it has been a leading light in Speyside. Located next door to Glenfiddich, yet almost hidden away it is producing some of the most exciting whisky in Scotland, so much so that their Second Red Rose 21 year old was was favourite "normal" expression tasted last year. 

If I were to compare Napa Valley, one of the gems of the American west coast, to a piece of high jewellery, it would be an IF diamond. Flawless is reserved for only the finest, purest and best, and like every wine-growing region, there are exceptional to mediocre estates.

How many brands out there are actually sustainable and not just greenwashing? Some brands simply switch their marketing to reflect the consumer desire for eco-friendly products rather than genuinely improving their processes and products to improve the sustainability of their manufacturing and supply lines.

I cannot recall my first experience of tasting Single Malt whisky, but there is a very strong likelihood it was Glenmorangie. Probably around the summer of 1988 before I was old enough to drive.  A taste given as part of my wine and spirits course at college. 

Emma Raducanu catapulted to fame after making history at the US Open in September, winning £1.8 million in the process. First British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977. Her rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

Interestingly, more people  in the US watched the women’s US Open singles final than the men’s, a testament to her wide-ranging appeal and extraordinary media presence.

Twice. The number of times I thought I had been to Dublin previously, but I was wrong. I have a habit of that. Having been a wine merchant and writer for many years, I am convinced the cranial sub-section of my brain containing memory has diminished over time. Does anyone else feel the same? I was telling a friend about my trip, and how it was only my second trip to Ireland when they reminded me of a wedding I had photographed there.

To get to know a car, you really need to live with it on tour. So where better to take the McLaren 720S than to northern France along the amazing coastal roads, smooth as silk autoroutes and picturesque country lanes?

It came delivered in a box to the door, in a fetching but discreet Sarthe Grey, almost as if it did not want to be noticed. Paradoxically it showed off the lines magnificently, reflecting every hue and dapple of the morning light in the sublime bodywork. Unboxing such beauty as the McLaren 720S is like all your Christmases at once.

We are all fine law-abiding citizens. Are we not? Of course we are. But let’s not kid ourselves  -  one of the attractions of the whisky business is that it has its roots in activities which once were just shy of the squeaky clean. Quite a bit shy to be honest. Robert Burns, who fantasised about the devil making off with the customs man, knew all about this, being employed as an exciseman himself.

Can a luxury yacht also be sustainable? Clearly, a sailing yacht compares favourably to a powered one, but even motor yacht companies are seeking ways to be eco-friendly.

The lull in manufacture due to Covid has given many of the top yacht brands the time to look at yacht production methods and develop sustainable strategies that consider the issues of global warming and the problems caused by the ever-increasing pollution of our seas.

Companies are now waking up to the fact that products need to be produced in a sustainable fashion both to preserve our planet and for the discerning consumer. 

We picked some of our favourite watches from the finest brands employing genuine efforts to clean up their manufacture. Watch companies that check the provenance of their suppliers and pay them correctly, including conflict free gems and ethical gold.  Some pay a percentage of their sales to cleaning up the environment and the seas. Whilst others use bio plastic cases, natural rubber and recycled packaging.