Tag Archives: european

Flaviar, The First European Members Club For Spirits Aficionados, Review

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I am not a natural whiskey drinker. Mainly because I am a lightweight who barely drinks and whiskey is strong. But as the editor of this magazine I have come to appreciate whiskey due to the amount of samples we receive.
I have come to appreciate different types of whiskey, the sometimes subtle differences from one bottle to another is great and interesting. So when the opportunity to try Flaviar, a members club for spirit aficionados, came I jumped at the chance, and I am glad I did.
You get a tasting pack of five different 50ml bottles of whiskey. The 50ml is enough for three tasting shots. In my tasting pack is Nikka From The Barrel Whiskey, Hakushu Bourbon Barrel Whiskey (full of flavour and kick), Taketsuru 12 year Whiskey, Isawa 10 Year Whiskey, and Yamazaki 12 Year Whiskey. They are strong, one is even 51.4%. But they are luxurious and decadent. An ideal present to yourself or others. The whiskey is incredibly good quality as you would expect. For the £24.99 it costs, considering the quality and quantity, I think that is a bargain. You would be surprised how much 50ml is. 12 year old whiskey is incredibly special. These are hard-to-find bottles of whiskey at an incredibly affordable price. So, Flaviar: Frost loves….
whiskey review
FLAVIAR, the first European members club for spirits aficionados starts their second year with $400k seed funding and a launch of Flaviar Deals
Spirits subscription commerce startup Flaviar entered its second year of business with the launch of Flaviar Deals – limited sales of selected hard-to-find full bottles of high quality spirits at very special prices.
Flaviar’s unique approach to spirit tasting through storytelling and perfectly designed products received great feedback from the customers, many of whom were interested in the purchase of full bottles as well – thus the launch of Flaviar Deals. Just like the samples in Flaviar tasting packs, Flaviar Deals will also feature a fine selection of spirits, ranging from some of today’s most renowned brands to those from craft distilleries worldwide. The company also announced to have raised seed funding that will be used to pursue further growth of membership and new markets expansion, allowing them to ship the tasting packs also outside the EU.
Oliver Holle, founder and CEO of SpeedInvest, said:
“Flaviar is one of the rare examples that combines a proven model that can scale, with expert founders that think global. It is the poster child of European startups and we are really happy to be part of it.” 
First year’s lesson: There is more to spirits than Whisky
To date, Flaviar’s curators already prepared 16 packs with 80 drinks. “In the first year it was all about exploring new categories. Many spirits lovers were amazed to discover that there is much more to top-notch spirits than Whiskies. Rums were one of the biggest surprises and a big hit, but we also introduced our members to some great cognacs, grappas, peated whiskeys and even Austrian schnaps,” says Soba, founder and CEO. “We have some great discoveries on the shelves prepared for our future packs and we are very excited about introducing them to our members – with the last pack shipped, we took them to Japan.”
Personal spirits sommelier on your doorstep each month
Flaviar monthly tasting packs of 5 spirits samples are delivered in a robust and eco-friendly packaging. Each stylish gift-ready black package is a story itself, told by the spirits as well as by witty comments, tasting instructions and one-of-a-kind SmartAss Corner, prepared by Flaviar curators to help you improve your spirits-smarts. “Once they were pirates, arrrr!”, “Star Spangled Bourbon” and “Schnaps of the Alps” are just some of the previous Flaviar packs’ names. Each pack is available at only GBP 24.99, (compared to a GBP 200-300 full bottle price of a typical spirit included). “Flaviar promises to teach newbies to appreciate spirits, engage in new social activity and improve their smarts. As for aficionados, they get a chance to discover new flavours, show off their extensive knowledge and collections, meet with others alike and teach newbies. We encourage everyone to taste and fully appreciate specific properties of top shelf spirits at home, within the comfortable circle of their friends. Tasting experience is best when done in a small group, allowing one to “compare notes” and observations. That is why our tasting packs include five 50 ml samples, which is enough for 3 tasting shots,” says Soba, who is a seasoned spirit-maker himself. “After the tasting members can fill their virtual MyBar cabinets on Flaviar.com with information on the most wanted, tasted or owned spirits, thereby creating valuable feedback for the producers and us as curators.”

Cheap and cheerful sun in Gran Canaria

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When you want to escape the cold and gloom of a northern European winter, you generally have to think about travelling a long distance to get some heat and sunshine. The Caribbean, Thailand, India all offer warmth and great holiday resorts, but it takes a long flight to get there, and though there are deals to be had, they generally aren’t cheap.

An alternative that will save both travel time and money is to head to the Canaries – a group of Spanish islands that are situated off the north-west coast of Africa in the Atlantic. Known for their fantastic climate, they are sometimes nicknamed the Fortunate Isles and their climate is referred to as ‘eternal spring’. In fact, the climate varies little during the year, and while the winters are warm and mild, the summer temperatures don’t ever get unbearable.

The main islands are Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and they have been dedicated to mass tourism for the last sixty years. Consequently, these places are really ideally set up for holidaymakers looking for beautiful beaches, hotels with great facilities and lots of different things to do. The Canaries make an ideal location to take the family for a ‘fun in the sun’ holiday, but you can also find quieter resorts if you’re after a walking or hiking holiday.

The biggest and most popular resort on Gran Canaria has to be Playa del Ingles, where you’ll find the biggest concentration of tourist attractions like waterparks and hotels such as the IFA Continental which all boast excellent facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts and spas and are designed to make your holiday relaxing but simultaneously full of entertainment possibilities.

Whoever you’re going on holiday with, you’ll find a resort in Gran Canaria that is suitable for your party, and the fact that you can get there so cheaply and easily makes it an ideal place for a sunshine break any time of the year.

 

Reasons Why You Should Plan a European Cruise

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Vacations are a rare commodity in this economy. In many cases, people have become so strained for money that they have had to give up simple things like hobbies just to make ends meet. However, what if someone told you that it was possible to experience exotic European locales while avoiding the cost of a typical European vacation? Such a prospect is possible aboard a European cruise.

 

As someone who is ready to plan their well-deserved vacation, it might be time to consider a cruise through Europe as a viable option. From luxurious on board environments to breathtaking destinations, booking a European cruise has many obvious advantages. Below are a few of the most notable benefits covered in more detail.

Luxurious Comfort

In general, European cruises are the epitome of luxury. Whether you want to lie out on the deck or enjoy a drink at the bar, there are many compartments on cruise ships that provide that sense of relaxation and comfort. Simply put, you tour your favorite sites around Europe in style; not from the confined seats of a crowded bus.

Additionally, you generally travel with people who are in the same kind of situation as you – in that they all speak English and are out to enjoy a European vacation for the first time. This helps you become acquainted with local culture and hotspots without having to worry about a language barrier or getting lost in translation.

Exotic Locations

Europe is notoriously full of exotic locations. Whether you want to experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the continent or see some of the most historically significant sites in existence, there are plenty of desirable locales to keep you on your toes.

There is a wide array of cruises available that tour all the most popular destinations throughout Europe. As such, it is typically a simple process to find a particular cruise route that travels to one or more of your favorite places.

Affordable

Unfortunately, European hotels, restaurants and other amenities are more costly than in the U.S. due to the poor exchange rate. As an American leaving American soil aboard a cruise ship, you do not have to worry about the exchange rates between U.S. currency and the Euro.  Thus, taking your tour of Europe aboard a ship that deals with U.S. currency, will save you more money than if you were to travel by plane or tour by bus.

European cruises are a unique way to get that exotic vacation to Europe without the hassle of flying or putting up with stagnant bus rides. As you plan for your next vacation, consider the above benefits to decide if this is the year you finally get to take that trip to Europe as part of a European cruise.