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New Fitch & Leedes Spicy Ginger Beer, the intrepid mixer with a sense of adventure, is taking the enjoyment of fine spirits to the next level. The first South African ginger beer made specifically as a mixer, Fitch & Leedes Spicy Ginger Beer is a perfect fit for fine rum and whisky. This premium ginger beer brings out the sweet undertones in the spirit while allowing the pleasant spiciness of the ginger beer to shine through. Priding itself as the understudy to greatness, Fitch & Leedes understands the time and effort put into perfecting premium spirits. Lower in sugar in comparison to most other ginger beers, Fitch & Leedes Spicy Ginger Beer is finely balanced to ensure the best taste representation of what was intended by the master distiller. Made for the utmost purity in terms of quality and taste, Fitch & Leedes Spicy Ginger Beer amplifies the hard work…

The land of beautiful beaches, warm weather, sprawling Serengeti plains, the highest mountain in Africa, and of course… Freddie Mercury – Tanzania is a land filled with delights and discoveries second to none. Our home away from home for the four nights of our stay was the picturesque four-star Southern Sun Dar es Salaam hotel, which is located very centrally in the suburb of Kivukoni, a beautiful old neighbourhood with architecture harking back to its Arabic heritage, which adds to the air of history and adventure that exudes from this city. The hotel is modern and beautifully decorated in dark, polished woods and leather, with an exotic Moroccan theme running through it – artfully blended with an intrinsically African feel as well, from the arches and carved wood work partitioning’s to the fresh green plants and gleaming tiles (it’s too hot for carpets in this part of the world.) The…

We love discovering new spots and J. Rabbit’s has just opened its doors where the old Griffin used to be located. In case you were wondering it is named after that famed cartoon character, Jessica Rabbit and the vibe and décor lend itself perfectly to that notion, too. Following the speakeasies of yesteryear, access to the bar is through the laundromat in the front of the building before arriving in the plush Mexican styled bar at the back. Offering one of the biggest selections of tequila we have ever seen, J. Rabbit’s cocktail menu uses predominantly tequila and mezcal and even features some tequila brand’s that are not yet available to the public in SA yet. The food menu is South American inspired, yet offers some great classics as well, and this will certainly be an experience like no other for discerning foodies and cocktail lovers alike. A: 5, Illovo…

We recently spent a night at the beautiful four star Southern Sun Montecasino hotel, and were blown away by the beauty of this Tsogo Sun Property. Echoing the Italian theme that Montecasino is well known for, the hotel is inspired in it’s design by the 15th century Palazzo Corsini villa in Italy’s picturesque mountain region of Gianicolo, and you would be forgiven for thinking you had slipped back in time to an old-world Venetian era. Of course the hotels services and amenities are anything but old world and bullet speed Wi-Fi is always a huge plus in our world, and they delivered it. From a speedy check in, to pre-dinner drinks on the pool deck to efficient and attentive service in the onsite Punchinello’s restaurant our stay was a pleasure from start to finish. Punchinello’s offer a buffet breakfast and lunch (which are healthy and plentiful too) as well as…

The buzz on the lips of Sandton’s socialites has to be all about the latest nightlife hot spot, where everyone who is anyone, is making appearances – the avant-garde, underground venue and best address for luxury dining in Sandton. Alice & Fifth is located, obviously, on the corner of Alice Lane and Fifth Street, and is located in the Sandton Sun, and is a deep and retro styled venue – sporting velvet upholstery, marble flooring and a lot of dark wood combined with brass fittings and heavy curtains – think an old school gentleman’s club and you have it in one. It embraces its upmarket and high end luxury status as is befitting a venue of this nature located on the golden mile in Sandton, and is frequented by celebrities, business men, politicians and international guests. Designed by Tristan Plessis and his StudioA team – Tristan took the brief from…

Your summer cocktails are looking blue – but in a good way! The team from Fitch & Leedes know that a Gin & Tonic or cocktail is not only all about its taste, but should also be pleasing to all the senses… and their new blue tonic is set to do just that! Featuring whiffs of juicy blueberry and hints of cardamom entice you, this delicately carbonated and finely balanced tonic will go down perfectly with vodka, especially the wide selection of fruit infused vodkas and of course when paired with juniper forward, citrus infused or floral gins. The vibrant Fitch & Leedes Blue Tonic is the perfect companion for any upbeat sundowner session. It also hits the spot on its own over ice as a trendy alcohol-free alternative. Fitch & Leedes can be found at leading purveyors of fine beverages, boutique wine shops, selected deli’s, fine dining establishments and…

Named after his two late grandfathers, Douglas + Hale is Chef James Diack’s fourth venture and we love it! If funky, cool and creative cocktails are your thing – then you will love it as much as we do, too. From the décor which carries a rather ritzy, burlesque feel, to an extensive wine selection which will leave every taste and palate satisfied this is an experience from start to finish. Cocktails are created with passion and the names are delightful – The Black Pearl, a rum based cocktail, was a huge hit at our table. The Electric Coolaid also had us intrigued and cocktail guru and master drink creator Jesse Chinn (who bares an uncanny resemblance to Captain Jack Sparrow), kept us well entertained as he explained his creation process and showed us step by step how a few of the cocktails are made, much to our delight! The…

There literally is nothing that Mi Casa’s front man – J’Something cannot do it seems, and 2018 has been a good year for him. From juggling his acclaimed musical career and being a judge on My Kitchen Rules South Africa to hosting a few cooking shows such as What’s for Dinner and Something’s Cooking (he’s just brought out a book of the same name). To top it off, he has opened his own restaurant, Something’s Cooking by J and has now – wait for it – launched a range of gins too. Jin Gin (because it’s so good you should say it twice and also it has be a J’Something – geddit – in the name, this range offers 3 tasty variants – include Rooibos, Orange and Honey, Tomato and Sweet Piquant Peppers and Honey and Olives. For Jin Gin, J’Something teamed up with local craft gin experts, Craft Link…

One of our fave Rosebank hotels, 54 on Bath have taken their fine-dining experience at Level Four restaurant (aptly named as it is on the 4th level of the hotel) to new heights with a fresh new summer inspired menu, thanks to Executive Chef, Matthew Foxon. We love that the team at Level Four give credit where credit is due, and share the names of the individual young chefs who have created the dishes as well. Delish starters on offer include a tasty Seared ‘Yellow Fin’ tuna, fresh raw peas, avocado mousse, wasabi powder, and pickles, which GM Jacques Heath says features “very cool plating”; the ‘Black Angus’ carpaccio, quail egg, pomegranate, truffle mayonnaise, and parmesan, which has a lovely combination of flavours with tartness of the pomegranate, the rich quail egg, and the umami of the truffle, which work extremely well together and was created by Maria Letsoalo, whose…

We had never considered spending a night at an airport hotel in our own city, but after an amazing evening in the beautifully appointed InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel we have to say that this is certainly something that we will be doing again. The hotel is situated in one of the prime spots at the airport – a mere minute or so’s walk away from the arrivals terminal, and boasts the title of South Africa’s only luxury airport hotel. And luxury it certainly is. The hotel serves perfect base for travellers that may be flying out early in the morning or evening, or even for honeymooners to relax and unwind after the wedding before jetting off to their Honeymoon destination. Some guests are international travellers in transit to their next destination that just need a spot to rest and unwind, and others are families travelling along for work…