Why do hangovers get worse with age?

Remember your early 20s? After a few too many drinks, you’d wake fresh as a daisy, ready to tackle work, run a marathon, pen a bestseller. But, as we slip into later life, our hangovers become incapacitating. Pounding headaches, nausea and hangxiety (read our piece on what that is here) can all turn up after just a couple of tame pints at the pub. Even choosing what to watch on Netflix becomes a chore.

It’s not just your imagination  though - there is some science behind it. According to physicians, as you age, your body’s metabolism slows down and that doesn’t just mean the inevitable waistline expansion. Your body no longer metabolises certain things, including alcohol, as well because your liver doesn’t work quite as efficiently as it did when you were 21.

Enzymes in your liver begin to process alcohol by breaking it down into acetaldehyde, a toxin commonly thought to be a contributor to hangover symptoms. From there, enzymes break the acetaldehyde down into non-toxic acetate. But, here’s the thing: your liver can only do that so fast, and it gets slower as you age. So, in effect, acetaldehyde hangs around in your body for longer, getting pushed into your bloodstream – and increasing that grim hungover feeling.

Of course, there are other factors at play. Your genetics are important – we all have those annoying friends who ‘don’t get hangovers’, at any age – as is the quantity you drink and how often. And, perception matters. You might recall that you didn’t get hangovers when you were younger, but was that really true? Your hangovers may be more about feeling anxious and having low productivity rather than nausea and headaches. 

Earlier in life, feeling rubbish after a big night out with mates almost feels like a badge of honour. Yet over time, the novelty wears off. And, when combined with increased responsibilities like high-pressured jobs or childcare, hangovers genuinely are worse  - and longer - than they used to be as you take longer to recover. 

Want to know why we get ‘hangxiety?’ Read all about it here.

News: We're shaking things up at The Three Drinkers!

Hello lovely readers. We have some news for you!

As you know, Colin, Aidy and Helena joined forces in 2018 as the Three Drinkers in order to shake up an industry known for its very traditional values. Today, with our returning TV Series, online magazine and our Bring a Bottle podcast (have you listened yet? ) we are shaking things up once more.

Helena and Aidy will continue to lead at 3DHQ, but our Third Drinker slot will now showcase an exciting, revolving range of guests, be they brands, communicators, winemakers, distillers or even you; our readers, listeners and viewers!

This news comes as Colin plans to concentrate more on his international whisky pursuits, stepping down as a full-time ‘Drinker’ in order to allow a broader range of talent to be represented. Aidy and Helena already fly the flag for disability communities, with Aidy being one of the only global TV presenters with Tourette syndrome, alongside one of the few drinks personalities within the LGBTQIA+ community. Helena has also been an active voice for female empowerment within a typically male-dominated world. Colin’s fans need not be disappointed though; he will be back sporadically, sharing his investment advice and global whisky discoveries as a guest Third Drinker.  He says this:

“I am incredibly lucky to have been able to work with two of my best friends. I’ll always be the original ‘Third Drinker’ and am grateful to have been given the time and space to explore new ventures, although I will be back periodically. I hope this leaves room for new faces and new ideas to further the diversity in all things for The Three Drinkers.”

Helena says “We’ve loved continuing to build The Three Drinkers brand and watching our audience grow during lockdown. We will miss our friend Colin and his whisky-fuelled antics, but wish him well on his travels and look forward to welcoming him back from time to time.”

“It’s bittersweet for us,” says Aidy. “While we are sad to be saying ‘au revoir’ to Colin, what this change will allow us to do now is very positive. We’ve listened to what the drinks world needs right now and that is a much needed diversity push, giving more support to under-represented communities, be they communicators, brand owners, winemakers etc. Having a revolving Third Drinker slot will give us even more opportunities to use our platform and make a tangible difference here.”

Their first series The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky is streaming on Amazon Prime in 172 countries and territories and will be available on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Lufthansa flights from June onwards. Having just passed its one year anniversary, their Bring a Bottle podcast has just secured sponsorship for two more series and will continue to include a roster of guests, 70% of which will be welcomed from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds as part of their ongoing inclusion ethos. 

Thank you for your continuing support of us! Keep reading, listening and watching! More news coming very soon…

Which Whiskies To Invest In - May Whisky Investment Index

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The king lives on, as Dalmore stays at the top for whisky investors, or, very wealthy drinkers were buying at auction last month! Closing the gap from last month and now in second place is Bowmore with old bottles of Bowmore doing very well.

There were a good amount of Karuizawa bottles at auction, notably a bottle of Five Decades sold for charity which was donated by Marcin Miller and David Croll raising £9800 for the Worshipful Company of Distillers Charities.

The usual suspects are still in the top ten with Macallan, Springbank and Clynelish, and they are joined by Ardbeg, which, because of the rarity of old bottles dips in and out of the top ten, and with the release of Ardbeg 25, Scorch and a very notable single cask 20 year old, Ardbeg may well move further up in the coming months.

So, my top tip for bottles to watch this month would be Ardbeg as I feel there will be plenty on the market in the coming month and it will go up the top ten. Avoid the first bottles on the market from new releases as they tend to spike in price before settling down after a month or so. It might even be worth looking back at bottles released a year ago. I’ve listed a few below.

The Dalmore 6%
Bowmore 3%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 2%
Karuizawa 1.5%
Clynelish 5%
Macallan 1%
Springbank 1%
Yamazaki 0.5%
Bunnahabhain 1.5%
Ardbeg

Bottles to Watch

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release 

A one-off release to celebrate the career of distillery manager Micky Heads. We had the fortune of meeting Micky on our trip to Islay and he spoke about another brilliant expression called Galileo. Another Ardbeg well worth investing in if you can find it!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 58.8%
Find here: US from 179.49

Ardbeg Blaaack

Before Scorch there was Blaaack. This special release for the 20th anniversary of the committee was released over six months ago now means the initial spike in prices are over and are back to a good level to buy at auction, or if like this one you can find it at its original release price, then that’s a great option.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: US from $139.99

Ardbeg 19 1st release

This Ardbeg was a new release at the end of 2019, and they are now onto their second batch with a 3rd to follow soon. If you can find the original first release, these are now being found at auction and increasing in price steadily.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 46.2%
Find here: US from $322.70

In the UK there are a few very special bottles on sale. Along with a distillery bottling from 2002, independent bottles are also well worth looking at. With the rarity of Ardbeg official bottles, these independent bottles will also increase over time.

Ardbeg Committee Reserve (bottled 2002)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 55.3%
Find here: £1,195

Ardbeg 28 Year Old Hunter Laing

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50.1%
Find here: £1012.22

Ardbeg 24 Year Old

Size: 500ml
ABV: 46.8%
Find here: £1034.95

All the brands in the top ten should do well over time. Like any of my suggestions, they are suggestions and I don’t pretend to have a crystal ball, but it will point you in the right direction to do your own research and introduce you to the possibilities of investing in whisky.

If you want to take a look at past whisky investment indexes then click here for April and here for March.

Best Value Vodkas for Martinis

Nothing quite hits the spot like a frosty martini. Whether you like yours dry, wet or deliciously dirty, these great-value vodkas make a dreamy base. All come in at the sub-£30 mark, so there’s no need to save them just for special occasions. Monday night cocktails, here we come…

Sacred Organic Vodka

Made from organic wheat and rye spirits blended to elegant perfection in an ‘assemblage’ style inspired by winemaking, this London-produced vodka is creamy, smooth and dangerously drinkable. A slight bite of hazelnut, joined by gentle warmth on the finish, makes it the perfect pick for a wet martini with a simple twist of lemon (and, preferably, made with Sacred’s own English Dry Vermouth). For the ultimate serve, chill it down in the freezer before pouring.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £31.24

Cîroc

Distilled five times from a base of French grapes, Cîroc is as smooth as it gets. But unlike some vodkas, here smooth doesn’t mean lacking in character. An aromatic, fruity nose has a definite grape tone – something that becomes even more pronounced when the vodka is served up with orange bitters and a frozen grape garnish (as Cîroc’s suggests for a ‘classic twist’ martini). The refreshing, clean palate feels far more sophisticated than the typical £30 price point, too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £28.99 // US $34.99

J.J Whitley Artisanal Russian Vodka

Now here’s a martini base with pedigree as JJ Whitley has been making spirits since 1762. With a Russian wheat vodka this tasty – and silly affordable at around £16 a pop – it’s no wonder they’re still winning awards for it to this day (this particular bottling bagged IWSC Gold in 2020). A fresh nose opens up to a full-bodied, creamy and spicy palate. Chill it right down, add a splash of vermouth and you’ve got crowd-pleasing, affordable martinis for your next dinner party.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £16.05

Wry Vodka

Long-running fans of Silent Pool’s gins, we’ve now fallen for their Wry Vodka too. It’s got real local character: 100% rye grain spirit is re-distilled with rye malt, then filtered with traditionally produced hornbeam charcoal – itself made by a woodsman just over the hill from Silent Pool’s Surrey distillery. The rye certainly gives this a tad more kick, and robust character, than you get in some other vodkas; expect a peppery spice and warmth that can stand up to the flavour of wet, dirty martinis.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.59

Black Cow Vodka

Vodka, from milk? You heard us. This Dorset-made spirit takes whey – the by-product of milk and cheese production from local grass-fed cows – and turns it into a delectable, decadent vodka. Gorgeously creamy, and with a rich and silky mouthfeel, Black Cow really shines in the driest of martinis – just a wee twist of lemon is all you need to make it shine. Not in a martini mood? This feels made for a sublimely retro White Russian (go on, we’re not judging…).

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.87

Vela Vodka

Nestled beside Kent’s River Medway, family-owned distillery Copper Rivet turns out this small-batch wheat, rye and barley vodka with loving care and attention – it even declares its vintage on the label (in our case, 2016). That’s not all that makes it special, though; unusually for most distilleries in Britain, it’s distilled grain to glass. One sip into a – preferably bone-dry – martini and it’s already exceptional. Fruit and cereal show on the nose, with a bright palate that moves from fruitiness to richness, ending with a hint of pepper.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £28.50

Wildjac Fresh Citrus Vodka

We like that this vodka is kind to the planet: the 100% recycled glass bottles, FSC-certified wood stopper, and biodegradable closure are all tick marks. But this Worcestershire vodka entices with its palate too: Worcester Endeavour hops and lemon thyme, as well as zesty pink grapefruit, fragrant bergamot and herby eucalyptus, give it a bright, citrussy profile. It is a flavoured vodka, so some martini purists might balk – but serve this cool with a twist of lemon, and you’ll quicky convince ‘em otherwise.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £35

Looking for more vodka goodness? Then check out Aidy’s 7 Vodkas to Embrace article. Or, if you’re after a change of spirit then why not have a read of Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?!

The Best Whiskies in the World

Words by Colin Hampden-White

As time moves forward, World Whisky Day has greater meaning. Long gone are the days of whisk(e)y being dominated by Scotch and Irish drams. We have whiskies being made in the most unlikely of countries, and being made very well. Along with Scotch and Irish drams, Japanese whisky has held a respected position in the whisky world for over a decade. It is surprising it has taken so long for the whisky world to wake up to Japanese whiskies with it having been produced in Japan for nearly a century with the Yamazaki distillery being built in 1924.

Beyond Japan, there is great whisky being made in Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. With Lark distillery being build in 1992, and Sullivans Cove in 1994, Australian whisky began to be recognised for its quality with Sullivans Cove being awarded the world’s best single malt in 2014. To whisky lovers, these distilleries are well known, but there are also new lesser-known distilleries with fantastic whisky. Cardrona distillery in New Zealand launched their first Single Malt last year with Just Hatched and followed that up with another brilliant release Growing Wings.

Distilling in central Europe is also going from strength to strength. Well known distilleries such as Slyrs in Germany, Lagatun in Switzerland are continuing to keep their quality and consistency. Newer distilleries in central Europe are creating some incredible whisky, Broger and Pfanner in Austria being two favourites of mine. Moving a little further east to the Caspian Sea, I have even found good single malt whisky being made in Azerbaijan on a visit a few years ago. Closer to home for me, the distilleries in England and Wales are going great guns. Aber Falls is about to release their first whiskies this year, Copper Rivet released their first whisky, Masthouse and the Cotwolds distilleries created their sherry cask matured expression which was my favourite English whisky of the last year.

A country well known for its whiskey is the USA, although usually made with different grains and corn, but they are now making some fantastic single malt whiskey. St George in California make a complex and fruity single malt, whilst Balcones in Texas make a big bold powerful single malt which has great complexity with their cold winters and incredibly hot summers making maturation a rapid affair with plenty of interaction between wood and spirit.

With all these world whiskies it would be easy to think that Scotch and Irish are getting left behind, but this is far from the truth. There is a plethora of new distilleries which are now producing whisky. The Glasgow distillery, Ardnamurchan, Daftmill and Arbiki being a few of my favourites. And there are new whiskies on the way with distilleries being built now like Gordon & MacPhail in the Cairngorms and more planned for the future. The green light has also been given for Sukhinder Singh’s distillery on Islay.

From the world of old, three notable closed distilleries are coming back to greet us. Port Ellen is being rebuilt, as is Rosebank, and Brora is opening imminently. Over the last few years, a few existing brands that have been overlooked have had a revamp and are creating some very exciting whisky. My favourite is Fettercairn from Whyte and Mackay, with the 16 year old (made with chocolate malt) being particularly good. Glenturret, having been bought by Lalique has had a serious makeover and the new expressions are seriously good, with a 15 year old at 55% ABV really standing out. Lastly, I enjoyed the new expressions from Bladnoch. A distillery which we have seen little from over the years now has a very smart new bottle and quite a few new expressions. I very much liked the Vinaya which is excellent value and for the 2020 release of Talia, a 26 year old which they matured in American oak red wine casks for all 26 years, and the results were excellent.

With so much choice in the world of whisk(e)y it is hard to know where to start. Might I suggest wherever you might be in the world to start close by, there is bound to be a distillery not too far away, creating whisky, and on this day of all days, let’s celebrate together and keep the food miles down, and support the expansion of whisky throughout the world with a glass of something local.

If you want a more in depth look into Scotch whisky make sure you check out The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky and if you’re thinking of investing in your favourite bottles then have a read of Colin’s Whisky Investment Index.

Meet Glenmorangie’s New, Super Rare Expression

Dr Bill Lumsden has done it again. Known to some as Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company and to others as the ‘Willy Wonka of Whisky, Bill has created another fabulous, limited edition whisky finished in Chardonnay casks hailing from renowned wine producer Sonoma-Cutrer in Sonoma Valley, California. 

As a self-confessed wine geek, Dr Bill has always adored Californian Chardonnay and it was during a visit out there fifteen years ago that he managed to persuade Sonoma-Cutrer to sell him a few casks for experimentation. They agreed and Bill filled the casks with fifteen year old whisky - some that was distilled in his first days at the distillery back in February 1995. The casks were then put away to mature and allow the flavours to mingle together beautifully over time. 

Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Year Old Single Malt

After numerous tastings since then, Dr Bill has decided the whisky is ready - and ready it most certainly tastes. Bottled at 55.7% ABV, it is deep ochre in colour and with the same characteristic floral aromas and bready notes Glenmorangie is famous for, there is a wide range of citrus fun from grapefruit and fresh orange peel and to marmalade and lemon balm. “Like a honey and lemon hot toddy” is how Dr Bill describes it, as well as marshmallow, smoked pear, earthy biscuits and spicy ginger with a peppery kick on the tongue. All in all, it's super smooth and mellow, with a beautiful, buttery, sunshine finish reminiscent of the fruity, golden Chardonnay the casks once held. 

This Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve whisky was created as part of an experiment, where only 1000 bottles exist, each one hand-signed by Dr Bill Lumsden himself. They have described it as Glenmorangie’s ‘most rare and unique creations’. I was very lucky to taste it. 

The Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Year Old Single Malt was created for release exclusively through the Moët Hennessy Private Client team. RRP £1,750 (US$2,442) per 700ml bottle.

Which Whiskies to Invest in - April Whisky Investment Index

By Colin Hampden-White

This month has seen quite a bit of change in the leaders in Scotch whisky and we have added a tenth position as the volume for Macallan has risen recently. Dalmore is still riding high with great values as well as volumes being achieved. Bowmore has had a good month and overtakes Springbank. In the mid field everything is still very tight with only small percentages separating the brands. Notably Macallan has joined the list and not in last place, having had good volumes at auction with older bottles gaining in value.

As always, if I were buying at auction, I would be looking for rare, limited editions and single cask bottlings from good independent bottlers or official bottlings. I would also take a look at some of the brands that have done well historically but might not be on the top list at the moment, like Ardbeg and Mortlach. These might be a good bet for the future.

This page is always a pointer, and in no way should be taken as a proven way to invest in whisky. Like all investments, they can go down as well as up. Please do your own research as well, and if this informs that research, I’m glad we are helping.

When I started collecting, I bought nearly every release from the English Whisky Company, which were around £50 to £200 a bottle. They released quite a few bottles in their first few years. Apparently, the market thought too many, and I would have lost 50% of what I spent had I sold them. Luckily, they tasted great! On the converse side, I bought a bottle of Hanyu Joker from the card series for £215 which is now sold at auction for around £3,000. I have many examples of bad and good investments. The trick, like any investment portfolio, is to be diverse. Have a broad portfolio and hopefully the winners will outweigh the losers.

Dalmore 8%
Bowmore 3%
Rosebank 1.5%
Clynelish 0.5%
Yamazaki 1%
Springbank 1.5%
Karuizawa 2%
Glendronach 1.5%
Macallan 1%
Bunnahabain (base)

Above all, when I invest in whisky, I buy whisky I love. For example, if you don’t like peaty whisky, don’t buy Islay. At the end of the day, if it goes wrong, you can always drink it!

Bottles to Watch

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 6

Batch 7 has been released, so Batch 6 will become rarer and rarer and begin to go up in value in both the USA and UK.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50.4%
Find here: UK £300 // US $599.99

Scapa 16

A discontinued whisky with very few bottles remaining.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £225

Invergordon 50 year old

At 50 years old this is very special and is only cheap because it is grain whisky. I reckon grain whisky is going to become more and more expensive and there were only 328 bottles of this one produced.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 47.5%
Find here: £349.95

Clynelish 23

With only 187 bottles produced from this well respected and well followed distillery. This should be a good bet.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 47.3%

To compare this list to last month’s click here and if you want to find out more about Scotch whisky then don’t forget to watch The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky on Amazon Prime now!

The Best Ready-Made Garnishes for G&Ts

Say goodbye to the same-old lemon slivers, twists of orange, slices of cucumber – G&T garnishes just entered the 21st century. You heard us: a whole new world of unique, flavourful and (thank the heavens!) ready-made garnishes are out there to help up your G&T game with almost zero effort. They don’t only make drinks taste great, they let you customise them, making that Gin & Tonic one-of-a-kind… 

Rock Rose Gin Liquid Garnishes

Forgot to stock up on lemons? No problem: pop a few drops of Rock Rose’s ‘liquid garnish’ – a 41.5% ABV concoction akin to a cocktail bitter – into your G&T, and you’ve instantly got the bright, aromatic hit you’re craving. The four flavours are designed to go with Rock Rose’s own Highland-made gins, but in truth they enhance just about any G&T. Our go-to for summer? The slightly medicinal Lemon Thyme (a hint of gentian, popularly used in vermouth, gives it a gorgeous bitter edge). And, Coriander and Lime – one squeeze is as good as a wedge of fresh-cut citrus.

Size: 100ml
ABV: 41.5%
Fine here: £12

Hepple Douglas Fir Sherbet

Cocktail rims are just for margaritas: said no one ever. Bring the party to your G&Ts with this moreish Douglas Fir Sherbet powder from Hepple Gin, made with real fir tree needles. Sampled straight, it tastes a bit like a sugar-dusted Christmas tree. Applied sparingly to a glass, and paired with gin and tonic, it mellows, becomes tangier and boosts your drink’s resinous, piney juniper notes. It’s a no-brainer with Hepple Gin – it stars Douglar Fir as a botanical – but this should go with any rich, juniper-forward bottling. Note: we found it hard to resist snacking straight from the tin… you have been warned.

Find here: £12.50

Fruits for Drinks – Mixed Fruit Selection

When it comes to flavour concentration, freeze-dried fruits can often knock fresh ones out of the park. And – pop the celebration corks, folks – they don’t really go off, which means less waste. Plump for this set of six types of dried fruit (lime, orange, lemon, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry) and no matter which gin you’re serving, you’ll have a garnish to match the flavour profile. With an average of 120 portions in each set, it’s better value than fresh fruit too and should keep you going on the G&T front for months.

Find here: £39.50

Maddocks Farm Organics Budding Floral Cocktail Box

Not that you need a reason to treat yourself to a bouquet of blooms, but edible flower garnishes look fabulous in a G&T – floating delicately on the surface, or frozen into giant ice cubes. Of course, you can’t use just anything in that drink (some flowers are toxic, others don’t taste great). That’s where edible flower specialist Maddocks Farm comes in. They sell cocktail-perfect, 100% edible seasonal blooms in boxes of around 60, and they also throw in scrumptious edible foliage such as lemon verbena stalks or fennel fronds. That G&T has never looked more fabulous.

Find here: £20

DrinkStuff Juniper Berries

Gin plus juniper berries – a match made in heaven, right? If in doubt, a sprinkling of dried juniper berries not only adds flavour, it makes your G&Ts feel like they’ve been whipped up in a trendy bar. As you’d probably guess, the berries – which look similar to black peppercorns – give an extra lift to the resinous, piney flavour that this spirit is known for. In other words: it’s best left to those who really like classic gin profiles. Just be sure to sip with care; the aim is to leave the berries behind in the glass, not guzzle ‘em down with your G&T.

Find here: £2.80

Wondering which gin to pair with your garnishes? Then, take a look at The Best Flavoured Gins for your Money or these Stunning Scottish Gins.