Pete Stewart

Drinks columnist

I'm a champagne-popping, gin-slinging intrepid booze brainiac. When not being a hedonistic bon vivant, I like relaxing with my family, cooking, gardening and smoking good cigars.

I'm a champagne-popping, gin-slinging intrepid booze brainiac. When not being a hedonistic bon vivant, I like relaxing with my family, cooking, gardening and smoking good cigars.

Latest articles from Pete Stewart

Pete Stewart: In praise of the digestif

A GOURMET tradition in France and Italy, of which I am particularly fond, is that of the digestif. This can be a liqueur, an eaux de vie or a brandy and is taken after a large meal to aid digestion. This is in contrast to an aperitif which is enjoyed before the meal to stimulate the appetite. You can, of course, do both.

Pete Stewart: The joys of South African wines

As we move in to the autumn, I find myself craving meaty stews and steak pies for dinner. These dishes are simply calling out for a big New World red to sit alongside, and there are many wines that would tick all the right boxes.

Pete Stewart on wine: In praise of the humble half bottle

MANY of you will be taking part in Sober October, the idea being to forego booze for the month of October, often to raise money for a charitable cause. I think this is a great idea, and there are so many good causes to support. Our wee village pub is also doing a big push to support the temporary non-imbibers with a new range of tasty soft drinks as well as some impressive mocktails including the imaginatively titled Safe Sex on a Beach.

Drink with Pete Stewart: Four great discounted bottle at M&S

I can be a wee bit wary about discounted bottles in wine shops and supermarkets. You have to wonder if the wine is reduced because it wasn’t performing as it should, or if it is too old and tired. However, M&S are currently having a Summer Wine Festival with many bottles reduced by a third (occasionally to clear), and there are some really tasty and interesting options on the shelf.

Wine with Pete Stewart: Australian corkers

As we’re now very much into the summer drinking season, I thought I’d focus on the wonderful wines of Australia. Whether you’re sitting in the garden with a chilled Chardonnay, or risking a barbecue with a decent Shiraz, Australia epitomises summer glugging.

Pete Stewart on rums

RUM is one of my very favourite drinks. I’m certainly not averse to a cocktail or two, but I prefer to sip my rum straight from a large, ice filled tumbler. It is made the world over, but its spiritual home is very much the islands of the Caribbean where it is made from either molasses or sugarcane juice.

Pete Stewart: The joy of an Arran malt

Quite apart from being a beautiful destination for a long, lazy weekend, Arran boasts an amazing distillery which has been producing tasty drams for a number of years. In fact, there are now two working distilleries on the island (Arran in the north, and Lagg in the south) for the first time in long time. Back in the day there were many illicit stills on the island producing ‘Arran water’, which was ever popular with the locals. The quality of the water on Arran is superb, and this fact cou

Pete Stewart on wine: Northern Rhone valley

On the face of it, the Northern Rhone valley looks like a place where only crazy people would try to cultivate vines and make wine. The hills are impossibly steep, with a stony soil that makes grape production problematic at least. On top of that, the producers have to deal with a harsh wind known as the mistral which whistles through the vineyards damaging the grapes and occasionally ruining the entire crop.

Drink: Make New Year a rum do, with Pete Stewart

I’m quite partial to a wee glass of rum with my Christmas pudding, as the richness of the spirit sits well with the richness of the dish. Also, rum is a great digestif at the end of a big family meal featuring turkey with all the trimmings, beef wellington or a five bird roast. And it makes me feel like a pirate.