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With the arrival of the second World Gin Day, an inspired initiative from Yet Another Gin, what better reason to take a look through GinandTales.com, the site from the lovely guys at Beefeater and Plymouth Gin designed to help us celebrate our favourite juniper-infused friend at home.

Hosted and curated by engaging mixologist, Dré Masso, this is like your very own live gin wiki-pedia. With several decades in the world’s finest bars, including stints at the legendary Atlantic Bar and Jamie’s Fifteen, plus the launch of his own award-winning tequila bar, Green & Red, Dré has obviously spent his time wisely.

Here at DrinkBritain.com we know that you can't always manage to get to the more far flung corners of the country to track down a rare bottle, so we are pleased to hear that a new specialist spirits store has opened its doors in Glasgow.

The Good Spirits Company was born of its three founders' frustration at the lack of rare, interesting, or simply unusual spirits available to buy. The trio have decades of combined experience in the drinks industry, and have brought this to bear in selecting a range of drinks where the emphasis is on taste over packaging.

Don't let anyone tell you that vines are only grown in the southern counties. Those within striking distance of  Sheffield and Nottingham should hotfoot it to the majestic surroundings of Renishaw Hall for their taste of English Wine Week – but don’t delay: its wine, cheese and chutney tasting is scheduled for 11am Sun 29 May.

Vieing for the title of the UK’s most northerly vineyards, the Sitwells family home has just 1500 vines in a walled paddock.

Think of it as Taste Idol: one lucky person will have a chance to join Greene King’s official tasting panel following the Test your Tastebuds challenge taking place at the St  Edmunds Real Beer & Food Festival on 21–22 May

“We are simply on a mission to find Britain’s top taster – young or old, male or female, ale aficionados or complete beginners,” says Susan Chisholm, Greene King’s head beer taster, pictured. “The key is a highly tuned palate but you don’t need to be an ale lover to do it. Some of our tasters had never even drunk a full pint of beer before they joined the panel.”