It’s a good time to honour the fabulous alcoholic beverages that have become synonymous with Cyprus. From a cocktail made especially for a king to one of the oldest wines in the world that was once proclaimed the wine of kings, Cyprus has plenty to be mighty proud of! Here are three proudly Cypriot drinks that should go down a treat next time you find yourself in this idyllic location.

Every cigar lover has probably heard about the formula of three “C”: coffee, cognac, and the cigar. However, not everyone knows that it should not be taken quite literally, and the list of alcohol combined with tobacco can be expanded. Today, we will tell you how to do it right.

Using only three ingredients, the Royal Jack Cocktail is easy to build and remains true to its Applejack brandy base.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a Cognac different from an Armagnac, wonder no more! The world of brandy is a vast one. Brandy is a category of spirit that is made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juice. Its name derives from the Dutch word “brandewijn,” which translates to “burnt wine”. The French were distilling wine in the early 16th century, but the Dutch would popularize the spirit and make it go global. As the Dutch travelled the world, they wanted a way to transport this delicious French wine they were buying up. They found that it was much easier to fit on the boat if they distilled it down and decreased its volume.

South Africa is celebrating with the announcement that the locally produced Van Ryn’s 20-year-old potstill brandy has been awarded World’s Best Wine Brandy at the 2022 World Brandy Awards.

Ouma Pottie was the queen of bacon ball recipes. She was also the queen of brandy. She poured a glass of brandy just as I like it today – straight up and on the rocks. She had a thing for a good bottle of South African Brandy. No matter the time of day, week or month, she will always have a little bit of Olof Bergh or something slightly more upmarket stashed away in the back of her wardrobe cupboard. “You never know what the day might bring”, she used to say, pouring a dash in her tumbler before missioning to the kitchen to make a batch of her famous brandy bacon balls.

This article is for all the die hard Hennessy fans who believe the mass-produced cognac, made by the world’s largest liquor producer, is the be-all and end-all spirit of the world. All cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. You know this, right? You don’t? Oh, dear! Read this first and then decide if you are ready to push the bottle of same-old foreign cognac aside and try something new, something local, something…dare I say, better?

Dust of the brandy and use it to make this super simple and tasty sweet potato dish. This recipe is a favourite among the citizens of South Africa and mostly served as a side with roasted meat, chicken and fish. Try it with Cape Snoek! You will thank me later.