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I admit that the major part of this column isn’t about wine. But it is about alcoholic drinks so I’m okay with that.

I’ve just received a copy of Lonely Planet’s Global Distillery Tour, a guide to tasting whisky, gin, bourbon and more at the world’s best distilleries and bars, and I really can’t put it down.

The book explores an exciting new world of spirits and cocktails, from gin, bourbon and whisky to vodka, cachaça, tequila and more.

In it, Lonely Planet Food’s specialist spirit reviewers, writers and bloggers recommend where to go and what to taste at the best distilleries and bars in more 30 countries.

Australia is represented in the book by 24 distilleries:
 Cape Byron Distillery, Archie Rose Distilling Co, Manly Spirits Co, Young Henrys and Husk Distillers in NSW; Prohibition Liquor Company, Twenty Third Street Distillery, Adelaide Hills Distillery, Applewood Distillery, Ambleside Distillery and Kangaroo Island Spirits in South Australia; Lark Distillery, Hellyers Road Distillery, Hartshorn Distillery, McHenry Distillery, Old Kempton Distillery, Sullivans Cove Distillery and Shene Estate & Distillery in Tasmania; and The Whiskery, Timboon Railway Shed, Starward Whisky Distillery, Hurdle Creek Still, Bass & Flinders and Four Pillars in Victoria.

With local itineraries recommending top sights and experiences, as well as a special section showcasing the world’s best cocktails, Lonely Planet’s Global Distillery Tour also includes top regional drinks from South Africa, Canada, Indonesia, the USA, Mexico, Japan, the UK and New Zealand.

The hardback Lonely Planet’s Global Distillery Tour features 264 full-colour pages and is priced at $29.99.

WINE REVIEWS

Huntington Estate 2013 Vintage Fortified Shiraz ($25/375ml): It used to be called ‘port’ when it was made here, until the Portuguese rightly tackled us, but quite independently of nomenclature, producing VP has become something of a rarity in Australia. Which is a shame because this is such a good drink — neat after dinner, or mixed with soda as a post-work spritzer. The fruit hails from Mudgee and the wine has been fortified with top-class aged brandy spirit.

D’Arenberg 2018 The Money Spider Rousanne ($20): Winemaker Chester Osborne believes that the tiny spiders covering the vines will bring good fortune. They’ve certainly bought good wine from this white French Rhone Valley variety noted for its soft, rich character, which chardonnay fans will love. Those really in the know say look for notes of honey, pear and herbal tea. I say drink with a good white-meat dish.

WINE OF THE WEEK

Huntington Estate 2017 Tim Steven Cabernet Shiraz ($100): This ultra-premium red was recently used to help celebrate the Mudgee winery’s fiftieth and it really is a ball-tearer. Winemaker Tim Steven describes the wine as more modern than the traditional Huntington red style and he’s quite right. The wine, incidentally, grew out of an earlier release of Tim’s called the Growers’ Revenge. Go the growers. It’s getting time to match this top-class red with the best of cold-weather stews.

Written by John Rozentals