Jack Daniel’s HQ just sent us new mail. We’ve also finally solved the “beekeeper” mystery, however, we’re not at liberty to tell you. You’ll have to wait. If you want to find out what the vibe is, tweet us and tell us what you think the mystery is. Use the #beekeeper hashtag. The best insight gets […]
Hear ye, Hear ye! If you didn’t get the the memo, Friday Done Jack’s Way is BACK! To that end, this is the call to entry for Friday Done Jack’s Way, Friday 22 June 2012. Ready? And GO! This one’s a goodie so listen up. With Cape Town firmly in the grip of winter, there […]
This week I answer a reader’s question: In a crowded wine market such as SA, is there still space for any new entrants? And if so, how should you approach things to ensure you aren’t destined for the scrapheap of failure?
Did you catch that Jack Daniel’s “beekeeper” vibe on Tuesday? Some people were dropping claims of liqueurs on twitter, but we’re not convinced, to be completely honest. Jack Daniel’s hasn’t made anything but straight up whiskey for 137 years. We’re still not entirely sure what’s going on, but we did just get another clue mailed to us […]
2oceansvibe Radio recently launched our Melrose Arch Studio to much fanfare in Johannesburg. The launch of the studio was our way of answering the desperate cries of our many thousands of Johannesburg listeners who, since being liberated from Morkels ads, “hump days” and “no repeat workday” radio were craving a stronger taste of the Vibe. […]
Friends, now, I’m sure you all know by now that Friday Done Jack’s Way is back, and that you can enter HERE to be part of the action, but what the heck is going on here? Jack Daniel’s HQ just mailed us this video, with no other information, and we’re not at all sure what it […]
Did you just get a little shiver up your spine? I did. I really did. Do you remember that amazing time that we shared together last year? I remember it, so fondly. I really do. We were building something, something good, something great – a movement. A movement based on the premise that no one […]
I am sure I have mentioned most of these tips in the past, but there is little harm in reminding you of some solid wine-truths. One thing I promise, if you follow any of these tips, your enjoyment of wine will increase. And, hell, isn’t that what life is all about, drinking wine?
We love to forget to learn from the past. Learning from history has never been a strength of human beings. Even though we are continually reminded of our historical forgetfulness, generation after generation thinks it knows better. We repeat ourselves over time, asking the same questions and making the same mistakes; ignoring our artists and poets who have been obsessing over this phenomenon since the first falcon lost its hearing, and the gyre started getting fat.
Instead of ripping into these competitions again, I thought I would try to find a few ways that they can be of use to you. Let’s see if I can find a couple of ways to make these seemingly silly, almost pointless competitions useful.
The Diageo World Class South Africa competition pits South Africa’s top bartenders against one another for a shot at the prestigious title of Master Bartender! Bartenders create monthly cocktails to be judged Diageo’s team of mixologists. This episode, Jason makes us a Silver Lining. Check out their Facebook page, to stand a chance of winning […]
This is the first in what I hope to be a fairly regular column that offers you a guide to a day or two out in the wine lands. I, your strong livered, hard-of-constitution wine reporter will plan a weekend trip for you; giving all the directions, the best places to eat and sleep, and, of course, the best wine farms to stop at. I thought I would start with the Swartland.
It’s that time of year again when the De Grendel estate takes part in the fourth annual Soup, Sip and Bread Festival in the Durbanville Wine Valley. Winemakers and chefs from the valley will pair soups, stews and wines that will introduce some wonderful winter combinations. It’s all happening over the weekend of 2 and […]
Over 150 competition winners representing 22 countries arrived in Cape Town over the weekend to experience the Heineken Star Final. The Star Final is a competition held annually, where winners are flown off to watch the Champions League Final in an awesome city. Previous cities have included Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro. Cape Town […]
It’s the world’s most watched annual sporting event. Tomorrow is the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. Bayern Munich vs Chelsea. Germany vs England. We won’t go further than that. Do that in your own mind. At 20h45 South African time, the English and German giants will do battle in the colourful Allianz Arena, north of […]
This is going to be one of those columns that is more useful if you get involved. That’s why I’m telling you now, right at the start, that it would be fantastic, absolutely bloody marvelous in fact, as wonderful as a ham sandwich and a cup of tea on a bright spring day, if you add your two cents once you have finished reading. I’ll try to keep it short, so you have more time to type your comments. This column is about tasting notes.
Branding! It’s good for you. Jump Studios, a London-based architecture firm, recently finished up the interior on a submarine for Guinness’ deep-sea bar, which plunged to the depths of the Baltic on its maiden voyage. The sub was commissioned to celebrate Guinness’ 250th anniversary. Take a look at the thing after the jump.
Last week we gave you the low down on the Heineken Start Final, and how YOU could win two tickets to this rad, and ultra exclusive event. For the past five years Heineken International has hosted the Heineken Star Final, where selected global ticket winners can view the UEFA Champions League final in exotic cities […]
The Diageo World Class South Africa competition pits South Africa’s top bartenders against one another for a shot at the prestigious title of Master Bartender! Bartenders create monthly cocktails to be judged Diageo’s team of mixologists. This episode, Phil makes us a Ciroc Strawberry Martini. Check out their Facebook page, to stand a chance of […]
Lately I’ve been drifting toward the cheaper end of the wine spectrum as the belt has unwillingly been drawn in these tough economic times. So this column’s for stretched budgets, treats, great bottles, and benchmarks. International wines that I have tasted in the last year or so that stuck in my head, that I woke up the next morning still thinking about.
Heineken, worldwide sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, is challenging YOU (South African football fans) to a virtual shootout, on their Facebook app. What’s in it for you, besides ever-flowing fountains of praise, pride, and victory? An incredible prize. That’s what. Bring it in. Team huddle time. For the past five years Heineken International has […]
Making predictions is a fools game, but I feel as though I can see a corner in the distance. It’s a corner that local wine producers are turning, or at least preparing to turn. The big, overworked and oaked wines are on their way out. We present a few wines that demonstrate this turning point, and most importantly, you can afford them.
I recently attended a vertical tasting of Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noirs, with a couple international examples thrown in. It got me thinking about Pinot Noir, and then about language, and then whether it is just better to get drunk. I decided it actually is better to think, so here are my thoughts.
The Diageo World Class South Africa competition pits South Africa’s top bartenders against one another for a shot at the prestigious title of Master Bartender! Bartenders create monthly cocktails to be judged Diageo’s team of mixologists. This episode, Chantelle makes us a Grape Ciroctini Check out their Facebook page, to stand a chance of winning […]
The lengths people will go to for beer these days. Seriously. A little short on cash and a little thirsty, five people decided that the cash office of the local brewery would be a fantastic target. Also, robbing a brewery also carries some serious bragging rights. They didn’t plan on security having guns though.
Do you ever get frustrated tasting the same wines over and over again? Even if the labels are different, what’s inside never really changes all that much. I can understand this frustration, it happens to me every now and again. Wine is about difference, it’s about different areas, different varieties, different winemakers; at its core wine is about exploration. Wait, that’s not true, at its core wine is fermented grape juice, but you know what I mean. So to aid you in refreshing your palate, this will be the first of two posts listing young winemaker/winemaking teams making exciting personality filled wines from around the country.
You can say a lot of things about Charlie Sheen, but the guy’s sense of humour is pretty legit. Check out his appearance in a TV advert for Bavaria’s non-alcoholic beer – blatantly mocking his sobriety – after the jump.
The Diageo World Class South Africa competition pits South Africa’s top bartenders against one another for a shot at the prestigious title of Master Bartender! Bartenders create monthly cocktails to be judged Diageo’s team of mixologists. This episode, Brent makes us a Rosemary Pepper Martini. Check out their Facebook page, to stand a chance of […]
Wine is drunk a lot. But what else can we do with the contents of Bachus’s juice bottle? Does wine have to be confined to the glass and stew? Does wine have a life outside sipping and slurping? Surely this most miraculous of beverages has other uses. It does friends, it does. And these uses have got me out of a few scrapes in my lifetime let me tell you about a few.
For the last column or two I have been rather negative, telling you not to drink this, and what not to do. It weighs on a man’s soul to be so negative so often. Today I am going to tell you about a few things that are awesome in the world of wine, things that I am happy to recommend – ideas and wines that will hopefully make your week.