THE TONIC MAGAZINE
A HEADY COCKTAIL OF DRINK, TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
TONIC TALKS - THE HEART CUT
The Heart Cut is an independent whisky bottler founded by husband-and-wife duo Georgie Bell and Fabrizio Leoni. The company specialises in releasing limited-edition single-cask and small-batch whiskies sourced from distilleries around the world. Their mission is to spotlight innovative and lesser-known distilleries, providing consumers with unique tasting experiences while educating them about the whisky-making process and the stories behind each bottle. We asked the couple what inspired them to start the business, how they choose the distillers they work with, their plans for the future, and what it's like to work with your other half.
TONIC VOLUME 6
Going Bananas
There is a lot of terroir talk in Tonic Volume 6, and some of it is pretty surprising, including our specially commissioned cover art by Gianluca Cannizzo.
What's inside?
We join Kate Wickers in Rwanda as she hunts for banana beer, the inspiration behind our cover image, and we plunge into the depths of the Bay of Biscay with Alex Green on a quest for wine hidden beneath the sea. Robin McKelvie traverses the Isle of Islay, where the land's rugged beauty shapes the character of its whiskies. Katja Gaskell takes us to Normandy, where she indulges in the region's renowned cider, and Carol Wright unearths some of the secrets and fascinating history of Sherry.
Susan Schwartz invites us to hop in the saddle as she weaves an unusual tale about a horse, the Epsom Derby, Kentucky, The Beatles, Oxford University, and whisky. We discover the timeless charm of Liverpool's iconic pubs with Will Hawkes while Emmie Harrison West sheds light on being a Woman in the Beer Industry.
Tim Bird leads the charge on wine and attempts to reshape perceptions of Denmark as a wine-producing nation. Abigail Blasi charts the evolution of Cambodian wine. At the same time, Andrew Church explores the burgeoning Nova Scotian Wine scene, and Jacopo Mazzeo unveils the secrets of Lebanese wine shaped by the land's rich history and diverse influences.
Clinton Cawood takes us to southern Italy, where a town known for its historic bread uses its wheat to make vodka. Finally, Benita Finanzio taps into her Italian roots and explores the magical Venetian cocktail scene.
‘You going to tell me what happened to you?’
‘That’s a tale requiring a wine. What of you? ‘
‘That’s a tale requiring a wine cellar.‘
- Nivellen and Geralt, The Witcher