United States
Bourbon
American whiskey shaped by new oak, patient maturation and a generous grain bill.
- Caramel
- Charred oak
- Baking spice
Volume I / The complete cellar
The cellar,
properly indexed.
97 collections. Five departments. A considered introduction to the places, traditions and details that give a bottle—or a cigar—its character.
A question is a good place to start
Find your way in.
Choose a department. Follow a flavour.
Set a few guides beside one another.
97 guides
8 guides
Whiskey
Grain, place and the long conversation with oak. Eight traditions, each with a character of its own.
United States & Canada
Rye Whiskey
A more angular American spirit, prized for spice, herbs and a dry, energetic finish.
- Pepper
- Mint
- Dark fruit
Scotland
Scotch Whisky
A broad Scottish tradition spanning bright orchard malts, maritime smoke and composed blends.
- Malt
- Orchard fruit
- Smoke
Ireland
Irish Whiskey
Silken, fruit-led whiskey with distinctive pot-still spice and remarkable versatility.
- Orchard fruit
- Cream
- Pot-still spice
Japan
Japanese Whisky
Precision, balance and blending craft expressed through malt, grain and disciplined oak.
- Pear
- Incense
- Polished oak
United States
American Single Malt
Malted barley interpreted through American climate, local grain and an inventive cask culture.
- Malted grain
- Cocoa
- Stone fruit
Tennessee, United States
Tennessee Whiskey
A Tennessee tradition combining new charred oak with mellowing and a polished profile.
- Maple
- Toasted oak
- Charcoal
Canada
Canadian Whisky
Elegant blending, flavouring grains and a spectrum from effortless to deeply structured.
- Cereal
- Rye spice
- Vanilla
19 guides
Brandy
Grapes, orchards and fruit, distilled. Explore wine brandy, apple brandy, pomace spirits and fruit eau-de-vie.
Cognac, France
Cognac
Double-distilled French brandy where fruit, cellar time and blending meet with exceptional polish.
- Apricot
- Violet
- Rancio
Gascony, France
Armagnac
Gascon brandy of vivid fruit, earthy depth and singular vintage character.
- Prune
- Leather
- Sweet spice
Normandy, France
Calvados
Orchard fruit, cider and patient oak ageing give Normandy's brandy its unmistakable identity.
- Apple
- Pear
- Baking spice
United States & apple-growing regions
Apple Brandy & Applejack
Cider distilled into bright fruit spirits and oak-aged pours with an American history.
- Baked apple
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
Coastal Peru
Peruvian Pisco
An unaged grape spirit whose varieties and distillation carry the detail.
- Grape
- White flowers
- Citrus
Atacama & Coquimbo, Chile
Chilean Pisco
A northern Chilean grape spirit ranging from aromatic clarity to oak-rounded depth.
- Floral grape
- Citrus peel
- Vanilla in aged styles
Jerez, Andalusia, Spain
Brandy de Jerez
Wine spirit shaped by seasoned Sherry casks and the cellars of southern Spain.
- Raisin
- Toasted nut
- Spice
Spain
Spanish Brandy
A wider Spanish tradition of grape distillation and oak maturation beyond Jerez.
- Dried apricot
- Oak spice
- Orange peel
United States
American Grape Brandy
Wine grapes interpreted by American distillers, climates and cask traditions.
- Grape
- Dried fruit
- Toasted oak
Cape winelands, South Africa
South African Brandy
Cape wine grapes, copper stills and oak produce both blended and potstill traditions.
- Apricot
- Raisin
- Oak spice
Italy
Grappa
Grape skins become a spirit of vivid aroma, texture and regional identity.
- Grape skin
- Flowers
- Spice
France, Iberia, Greece & Georgia
Marc & Pomace Brandy
Winemaking's grape solids give rise to a family of distinctive regional spirits.
- Grape skin
- Dried herbs
- Fruit stone
European orchards & distillers worldwide
Fruit Eau-de-vie
Pear, cherry, plum and other fruits preserved in a clear, concentrated spirit.
- Fresh fruit
- Fruit blossom
- Stone-fruit kernel
Switzerland, Germany, Alsace & beyond
Kirsch
Cherry distilled to a dry, often colourless spirit with a delicate kernel note.
- Cherry
- Blossom
- Almond-like kernel
Central & southeastern Europe
Slivovitz
Plum brandy that moves from fresh orchard intensity to mellow, wood-aged depth.
- Plum
- Fruit stone
- Spice
Hungary
Pálinka
A fruit spirit tradition built around the orchard, from apricot and plum to pear.
- Apricot
- Pear
- Plum
The Balkans
Rakia
A shared regional family of grape and fruit spirits with many local identities.
- Grape
- Plum
- Orchard fruit
Armenia
Armenian Brandy
Oak-aged grape brandy with a distinctive Caucasian wine-growing heritage.
- Dried apricot
- Vanilla
- Toasted nut
Germany, Austria, Italy & beyond
Weinbrand & European Grape Brandy
The broader European wine-brandy tradition, shaped by distillation, blending and oak.
- Dried grape
- Vanilla
- Oak spice
63 guides
Wine
Regions, grapes and styles, from everyday discoveries to the long-lived bottles of a considered cellar.
Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux
Cabernet and Merlot-led wines where place, structure and patient cellaring take precedence.
- Cassis
- Graphite
- Cedar
Burgundy, France
Burgundy
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay interpreted through vineyards measured in metres, not miles.
- Red cherry
- Minerality
- Forest floor
Champagne & leading sparkling regions
Champagne & Sparkling
Traditional-method wines judged by energy, texture, reserve material and the quality of their finish.
- Citrus
- Brioche
- Chalk
Global · Bordeaux, Napa and beyond
Cabernet Sauvignon
A structured red grape capable of cassis, graphite, herbs and decades of composed evolution.
- Blackcurrant
- Graphite
- Dried herbs
Global · Burgundy, Oregon and beyond
Pinot Noir
Transparent, aromatic red wine whose finest expressions trade weight for precision and detail.
- Red cherry
- Rose
- Earth
Global · Burgundy, California and beyond
Chardonnay
A responsive white grape ranging from saline restraint to layered, cellar-worthy richness.
- Citrus
- Orchard fruit
- Hazelnut
Global · Loire, Bordeaux and New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc
High-definition white wine spanning citrus, herbs, flint and tropical generosity.
- Lime
- Fresh herbs
- Flint
Germany, Austria, Alsace & beyond
Riesling
Aromatic precision, electric acidity and an extraordinary range from bone-dry to nobly sweet.
- Lime
- White peach
- Slate
Rhône Valley & global Syrah regions
Rhône & Syrah
Pepper, violet, dark fruit and savoury depth shaped by latitude, site and blending tradition.
- Black pepper
- Violet
- Smoked meat
Piedmont, Italy
Piedmont & Nebbiolo
Pale colour, formidable structure and an aromatic register of rose, cherry, tar and earth.
- Rose
- Sour cherry
- Tar
Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany & Sangiovese
Sour cherry, herbs and savoury structure shaped by Tuscan hills, tradition and the long table.
- Sour cherry
- Dried herbs
- Leather
Rioja, Spain
Rioja & Tempranillo
Spanish red wine where vivid fruit, savoury detail and patient cellar ageing meet.
- Red plum
- Tobacco
- Vanilla
Portugal, Spain & historic fortified regions
Port & Fortified Wine
Port, Madeira and Sherry: wines whose fortification opens an unusually broad world of age and style.
- Dried fruit
- Walnut
- Orange peel
Bordeaux, California, Washington & beyond
Merlot
Plum, supple texture and serious ageing potential give Merlot a place of its own.
- Plum
- Cherry
- Cocoa
Argentina & Cahors, France
Malbec
Dark fruit and a generous frame, from Andean vineyards to southwestern France.
- Blackberry
- Plum
- Cocoa
California, Puglia & Croatia
Zinfandel & Primitivo
Vivid berry fruit, spice and warmth connect this grape's regional identities.
- Bramble
- Black cherry
- Pepper
Loire, Bordeaux & beyond
Cabernet Franc
Red fruit, flowers and leafy freshness carried by a quietly firm structure.
- Raspberry
- Violet
- Leafy herbs
Southern France, Spain & beyond
Grenache & Garnacha
Red berries, spice and generous texture in reds, rosés and regional blends.
- Strawberry
- Red cherry
- Dried herbs
California & beyond
Petite Sirah
Deep colour, dark berries and firm tannins distinguish this powerful red.
- Blueberry
- Blackberry
- Pepper
Chile & its Bordeaux origins
Carménère
Dark fruit and a distinctive peppery, herbal accent in a supple red.
- Plum
- Bell pepper
- Spice
South Africa
Pinotage
South Africa's signature crossing offers dark fruit, savoury detail and varied styles.
- Plum
- Blackberry
- Earth
Beaujolais, Loire & beyond
Gamay & Beaujolais
Bright red fruit and floral lift, with more depth than the nouveau image suggests.
- Red cherry
- Raspberry
- Violet
Piedmont, Italy & beyond
Barbera
Juicy cherry fruit and lively acidity make Barbera a natural table wine.
- Sour cherry
- Plum
- Dried herbs
Provence, Spain & beyond
Mourvèdre & Monastrell
A dark-fruited, savoury grape with warmth, tannin and a Mediterranean character.
- Blackberry
- Dried herbs
- Earth
Uruguay & Madiran, France
Tannat
A deeply coloured red whose name hints at its formidable tannic structure.
- Black plum
- Blackberry
- Cocoa
Sicily, Italy
Nero d'Avola
Sicilian red wine with dark cherry, plum and a warm, savoury edge.
- Black cherry
- Plum
- Dried herbs
Abruzzo & central Italy
Montepulciano
Dark cherry and a generous, savoury palate in a dependable Italian red grape.
- Dark cherry
- Plum
- Dried herbs
Campania & Basilicata, Italy
Aglianico
Southern Italy's structured red, combining dark fruit with tannin and bright acidity.
- Black cherry
- Dried herbs
- Earth
Rhône, Australia & global regions
Syrah & Shiraz
One grape, two familiar names, and a spectrum from peppery restraint to generous dark fruit.
- Blackberry
- Black pepper
- Violet
Tuscany, central Italy & beyond
Sangiovese
Sour cherry, herbs and firm freshness in a grape closely tied to the Italian table.
- Sour cherry
- Dried herbs
- Earth
Piedmont, Lombardy & beyond
Nebbiolo
Perfume, pale colour and a firm frame that can reward patience.
- Rose
- Sour cherry
- Earth
Spain, Portugal & beyond
Tempranillo
Red and dark fruit shaped by Iberian vineyards and a broad range of oak traditions.
- Red plum
- Cherry
- Leather
Italy, Alsace, Oregon & beyond
Pinot Grigio & Pinot Gris
One grape with names that span crisp refreshment, richer texture and occasional sweetness.
- Pear
- Apple
- Citrus
Loire Valley, South Africa & beyond
Chenin Blanc
A versatile white grape that carries freshness through dry, sweet and sparkling styles.
- Apple
- Quince
- Honeyed notes
Northern Rhône & global regions
Viognier
Aromatic white wine built around stone fruit, flowers and a generous texture.
- Apricot
- Peach
- Blossom
Alsace, central Europe & beyond
Gewürztraminer
Rose, spice and tropical fragrance in a richly textured white grape.
- Rose
- Lychee
- Ginger
Galicia, Spain & northern Portugal
Albariño & Alvarinho
Citrus, stone fruit and lively freshness from Atlantic-influenced vineyards.
- Lime
- Peach
- Saline impression
Austria & beyond
Grüner Veltliner
Citrus, orchard fruit and a peppery accent in Austria's signature white grape.
- Citrus
- Green apple
- White pepper
Bordeaux, Hunter Valley & beyond
Sémillon
A white grape of subtle youth, textured blends and remarkable mature complexity.
- Lemon
- Beeswax
- Toast with age
Mediterranean regions & beyond
Muscat & Moscato
A family of aromatic grapes spanning dry whites, gently sparkling wines and dessert styles.
- Fresh grape
- Orange blossom
- Peach
Argentina
Torrontés
A fragrant white with blossom, citrus and a typically dry finish.
- White flowers
- Peach
- Citrus peel
Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany & southern France
Vermentino
A Mediterranean white of citrus, herbs and a gently savoury finish.
- Citrus
- Mediterranean herbs
- Almond
Santorini & mainland Greece
Assyrtiko
A Greek white grape capable of concentrated flavour and striking acidity.
- Lemon
- Citrus peel
- Saline impression
Provence & wine regions worldwide
Rosé
A style defined by brief colour extraction and a spectrum far wider than pale pink.
- Strawberry
- Citrus
- Redcurrant
Georgia, northeastern Italy, Slovenia & beyond
Orange & Skin-contact Wine
White grapes fermented with their skins create colour, tannin and a different kind of texture.
- Dried citrus
- Tea
- Dried flowers
Veneto & Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Prosecco
Fresh, Glera-led sparkling wine with orchard fruit and a lively, approachable character.
- Pear
- Apple
- White flowers
Spain
Cava
Bottle-fermented Spanish sparkling wine with fresh fruit and the possibility of long lees ageing.
- Apple
- Citrus
- Toast
Emilia-Romagna & Lombardy, Italy
Lambrusco
A family of grapes behind vivid, refreshing sparkling reds and rosés.
- Red cherry
- Violet
- Berry fruit
Jerez area, Andalusia, Spain
Sherry
From flor-aged freshness to oxidative depth and intensely sweet wines.
- Almond
- Saline notes
- Walnut in oxidative styles
Madeira, Portugal
Madeira
Fortification, heat and oxygen create wines with remarkable freshness and mature complexity.
- Orange peel
- Walnut
- Caramel
Douro Valley, Portugal
Port
Sweet fortified wine with a spectrum from youthful ruby fruit to aged tawny complexity.
- Dark berries
- Dried fruit
- Walnut in tawny styles
Western Sicily, Italy
Marsala
Sicilian fortified wine with dry and sweet styles that deserve a place beyond the kitchen.
- Dried apricot
- Toasted nut
- Orange peel
Bordeaux, France
Sauternes & Barsac
Concentrated sweet whites shaped by noble rot and a balancing thread of acidity.
- Apricot
- Honey
- Citrus peel
Tokaj, Hungary
Tokaji
Dry volcanic-region whites and celebrated sweet wines with vivid acidity.
- Apricot
- Honey in sweet styles
- Citrus
Canada, Germany, Austria & beyond
Ice Wine & Eiswein
Naturally frozen grapes yield concentrated sweet wine with a bright acid backbone.
- Peach
- Apricot
- Citrus
Wine regions worldwide
Pét-nat & Ancestral-method Sparkling
Sparkling wine bottled before its first fermentation finishes, with a lively range of expressions.
- Fresh fruit
- Yeast
- Citrus
Wine regions worldwide
Red Wine Blends
Different grapes combine to shape aroma, structure and texture in one wine.
- Red fruit
- Dark fruit
- Spice
Wine regions worldwide
White Wine Blends
Complementary varieties bring freshness, fragrance and texture into balance.
- Citrus
- Orchard fruit
- Flowers
Canada · especially Ontario
Vidal Icewine
A Canadian dessert-wine classic: concentrated orchard fruit, golden sweetness and a refreshing finish.
- Apricot
- Peach
- Honeyed fruit
Tokaj, Hungary
Tokaji Aszú
Nobly sweet Hungarian wine, where concentrated fruit meets an unusually lively line of acidity.
- Dried apricot
- Honey
- Citrus peel
Wine regions worldwide
Late-harvest Dessert Wines
Ripe grapes, generous fruit and a wide range of sweetness: an accessible route into dessert wine.
- Ripe peach
- Honeyed fruit
- Citrus
Italy · especially Tuscany
Vin Santo
Dried-grape wine with an intimate register of nuts, dried fruit and patient cellar ageing.
- Dried apricot
- Nuts
- Honey
Jerez, Spain
Pedro Ximénez Sweet Sherry
Sun-dried grapes and oxidative ageing create an intensely sweet wine of raisins, figs and cocoa.
- Raisins
- Dried figs
- Cocoa
6 guides
Cordials
Cordials and liqueurs: sweetened spirits with fruit, citrus, nut, coffee, cream or botanical character.
France, Italy & beyond
Citrus Liqueurs
Orange, lemon and grapefruit expressed through aromatic peel, spirit and sweetness.
- Citrus peel
- Orange blossom
- Sweet spice
Europe & worldwide
Fruit Liqueurs
Berries, cherries and orchard fruit, captured in sweetened spirits for the glass or the table.
- Berry fruit
- Stone fruit
- Jam
Italy & beyond
Amaretto & Nut Liqueurs
Almond-like fragrance, toasted nuts and pastry notes in a generous after-dinner family.
- Almond-like aroma
- Toasted nuts
- Vanilla
Mexico, France & worldwide
Coffee & Chocolate Liqueurs
Roast, cocoa and sweetness, from clear cacao liqueurs to dark coffee expressions.
- Roasted coffee
- Cocoa
- Vanilla
Ireland & worldwide
Cream Liqueurs
A soft, dessert-like texture with spirit, cream and flavours such as cocoa, coffee or vanilla.
- Cream
- Cocoa
- Vanilla
France, Italy & beyond
Herbal Liqueurs & Amaro
Herbs, roots, peel and spice, spanning fragrant sweetness and a deliberately bitter finish.
- Herbs
- Citrus peel
- Spice
1 guide
Cigars
Leaf, construction and provenance. An introduction to a tradition best approached with context.
Cuba, the Caribbean, Central America & beyond
Cigars
Construction, tobacco provenance and the measured development of a well-made cigar.
- Cedar
- Cocoa
- Leather
Wine guides include regions, grapes and styles. They overlap by design; each offers a different way into the cellar. Guides are category references, not product reviews.