It's getting to that time of the year when we like nothing more than relaxing in the sun with a nice cold drink...

We have been virtually touring some of Cornwall's best producers of wine, beer, cider and spirits to see what's happening..

Make your own Vodka!

Colwith, Cornwall’s only single estate distillery, have recently launched the UK’s first plough-to-bottle Vodka School. Available exclusively at their distillery in Lanlivery, it offers the ultimate introduction into the world of botanicals, flavour profiles and the art of vodka rectification.

The engaging two-hour vodka school offers expert tuition, before guests are invited to craft, blend and hand-fill their own 70cl flavoured Cornish vodka to take home. Unlike most distilleries who buy-in mass produced ethanol, Colwith make everything from scratch, using potatoes grown on the adjacent family farm.

For more info, click here.

Tour the Orchards

As we rush headlong into summer, there’s no better time to be wandering around the Cornish countryside, and to make things even better, how about a chance to sample some cider while you’re doing it?

Cornish Orchards at Duloe, just north of Looe have just started doing tours, giving them the opportunity to share their story and welcome people onto the farm to see how they produce the cider, taking you from the apples to the finished product.

For more info click here.

Saving our seas by drinking beer!

The Driftwood Spars Brewery at St Agnes may only be a small concern, but they have made a big contribution to cleaning up the ocean over the past year. Money has been raised by donating a percentage from every sale of their Cove range of craft beers, and this has amounted to nearly £5000, which will go to for the charity Fathoms Free and its Clean Cornish Seas campaign.

The money will be used to finance dives along the Cornish coast that will recover ghost gear, this is abandoned fishing equipment and marine debris that can trap and kill everything from dolphins to crabs.

Visit the Driftwood Spars

Fowey Valley Cider up for an award

It’s been announced that Fowey Valley Cider, based at Lostwithiel, have been nominated for 'Best Local Food/Drink Producer' in the Cornish regional Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022. The website that brings you the ‘quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area’ puts the spotlight on this small business that started with a very small orchard of just six trees 30 years ago.

They are still deeply passionate about the environment and the importance of traditional, local orchards. They still source their apples locally, even asking people to bring their windfalls along in the autumn and getting some cider back in return. Why not go along and take a tour?

More info here

Has James Bond tried it?

We all know England’s favourite crime buster likes a martini every once in a while, but were not sure if he’s ever had one featuring the vermouth made at the Knightor Winery, situated in the middle of China Clay country, only a stones throw from the Eden Project.

Aromatic and full of bold flavours, Knightor’s vermouths are created from their own grapes and a secret combination of complex herbs and spices, sourced in and around the winery. Even Bond would have trouble getting the recipe! Knightor also produce premium quality English still and sparkling wines, so why not pop in for a tour?

Skinners give us the Royal Wave

To celebrate the Jubilee, Skinners Brewery have launched a regal Pale Ale called Royal Wave. You’ll be seeing it popping up on bars across the South West this summer, including The Tap Yard in Truro.

They have resurrected the original Diamond Jubilee artwork for the label which sees the Queen living the Cornish dream as she drops into the surf line-up with dignity, in full regal attire. Gleefully waving to her admiring subjects, she’s attended by a trusty Corgi of course.

The Finer things in Life

Camel Valley Wines continue to win awards and accolades for their wonderful Cornish wines. Leading industry magazine ‘Vineyard’ recently stated that the new Camel Valley Bacchus 2021 was sensational, going on to say “A pinpoint accurate nettle and elderflower theme features a line of citrus electricity down its spine that sparks your taste buds into action and never lets go. This wine sums up the flavour of a beautiful, verdant, sunny English summer in just one glass.''  Or even a Cornish summer!

You can go on a tour of the vineyard, just outside Bodmin, and discover the wines for yourself.

St Austell Brewery to support the SWCP

St Austell Brewery have announced a new partnership with the South West Coast Path Association to support the charity in its vital work to protect and champion the 630 miles of National Trail which make up the ever popular path.

Up to nine million visitors use the path each year, and there are several St Austell owned pubs along the way to quench your thirst in, including the Old Success at Sennen Cove, the Pier House at Charlestown and the Port William at Trebarwith Strand.