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News and Blogs
We try and offer our customers some in-depth guides, tips and industry insight. Whether that be the next big trend in wines, how to match beer with food or some important business updates our guest blogs are crammed with drinks trends and ideas to make your business more profitable. They are also a great way to learn about the new products we sell and the best suppliers we work with.
23 March 2023
Inn Express
Vermouth is a fortified wine that has been a staple of the cocktail world for over a century. It is used in classic cocktails such as the Martini, Negroni, and Manhattan. Vermouth is a must-have for venues that take their cocktail offering seriously or want to improve their cocktail offering.
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23 February 2023
Inn Express
Cider apples make up about half of all apples grown in the UK, most of which due to their acidity and tannin content are not suitable for eating and are as a result grown exclusively for cider making. There are four types of cider apples used in cider making - bittersharps, sharps, sweets and bittersweets.
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23 February 2023
Inn Express
2022 saw a surge in craft cask ale sales. This recent surge in popularity is enhanced further by a rise of modern ‘keg led’ craft brewers entering the Cask Ale arena. Brewers such as Deya, Glasshouse, Cloudwater, Verdant and Wylam, alongside revered journalists such as Pete Brown, are now proving that the historical stigmas once associated with Cask Ale are a thing of the past.
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22 February 2023
Inn Express
Let’s face it wine labels are a minefield when it comes to trying to figure out what’s inside the bottle, right? Especially if it’s from a non-English speaking country, this might go some way towards explaining why consumers generally stick with what they know, playing it safe with recognisable varietally-labelled wines.
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22 February 2023
Inn Express
The exact date of the first cider is not known, but cider-making has been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years. The production of cider dates back to the Roman Empire and was widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages. Apples were grown for their juice, which was fermented to make cider, a popular beverage that was safer to drink than water. As apple cultivation spread to European settlers, cider-making became an important part of the colonial economy and culture. Today, cider continues to be made and enjoyed around the world.
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29 December 2022
Inn Express
Could Hard Seltzer finally make its mark in the on-trade? Is 2023 the year for Rum (AGAIN)?Mezcal? Vermouth? Low and no? Discover our 2023 picks...
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05 September 2022
Justin Sims
Now that the sun has been making a regular appearance and browning lawns across the UK, that familiar whiff of burning charcoal has been wafting across the country as the barbecues have been firing up. Whether its burgers, bangers, shellfish or veg, or even something a little more adventurous, there’s one grape variety that stands above all others when it comes to compatibility… …Shiraz. Or Syrah depending on which part of the world you’re standing in. They are one and the same, it’s really the climate that determines which moniker gets used.
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05 September 2022
Justin Sims
I have to confess that when I was first presented with a range of Romanian varietal wines to taste, my expectations were pretty low. This was back in 2016 and I hadn’t even considered that Romania was capable of making anything that represented decent value let alone anything of quality or interest. How wrong I was. After eating a large slice of humble pie washed down with a handful of said Romanian varietal wines, I quickly came to realise that there was a new contender for best everyday drinking wines that danced all over anything coming out of France, Spain or Italy at similar price-points. This is the story of how an Englishman acquired a ramshackle winery and a bunch of neglected vineyards and turned them into the country’s largest wine estate.
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23 August 2022
Justin Sims
With such a vast range of styles, flavours and different formats, let alone different languages on the labels to decipher, wine can seem quite a complicated category to get your head around. However, there are some basic guidelines that will help you to get the best out of your wines, whatever they are and however little you know about them.
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17 August 2022
Inn Express
As an Independent and family-run Drinks wholesaler Inn Express is delighted to announce we are now an accredited Living Wage Employer! This means that every member of staff working for Inn Express will earn a real Living Wage.
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09 August 2022
Inn Express
Far more than just an ingredient in a few classic cocktails. Vermouth is a fortified wine flavoured with various botanicals – roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices. The name comes from ‘Wermut’, (the German word for wormwood), as historically all vermouth was made using wormwood, which was responsible for giving Vermouth its characteristic bitterness.
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11 July 2022
Inn Express
Whilst legend has it that grains were distilled in 13th century China, it is widely accepted, that Ireland was the birthplace of the water of life made from barley. It is known from anecdotal writings that whisky played a part in Ireland’s life from the 1400s but the first official evidence seems to come from a 1556 Act of Parliament: “...graine in making of aqua vitae...”.
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30 June 2022
Inn Express
Grande Marques, Vignerons & A Bunch of Abbreviations: What Does It All Mean? Ever heard of the expression ‘Grande Marque’ in the context of champagne and wondered what it actually means? Who are the vignerons and why are they important? Why should we be concerned about the small print on the bottom of champagne labels? If you’ve got absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, I’m referring to the two letter abbreviations followed by a series of numbers.
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17 June 2022
Justin Sims
Saturday 18th June we celebrate ‘Drink Chenin Blanc Day’, but how much do you really know about this dark horse of a grape? It’s long been revered by wine aficionados and has quietly sat below the radar, but times they are a changin’ and now is as good a time as any to find out why.
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17 June 2022
Almost 300 year since their first brew, and after over 60 years in the wilderness, Allsopp’s is back. To brew beer for people who love beer. Allsopp & Sons, creator of the original Burton IPA, is making a welcome return to pubs, restaurants, bottle shops and homes around the country. The brand returned last year, using the original ledger with a fresh take on the original British beer style that has shaped the beer world today. The re-introduction of two of its classic brews, Allsopp’s Pale Ale and Allsopp’s India Pale Ale have been embraced by today’s real ale drinkers.
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10 June 2022
Justin Sims
“Pisco is a clear spirit from Peru and Chile, made by distilling fermented grape juice and then it becomes a brandy. There are several laws when it comes to pisco production. Pisco can only be distilled once, typically in a copper pot still. Another rule is that it must be distilled to proof so there’s no water added.” Adding water after distillation is common practise in the production of whisky, rum, vodka and gin where it increases the yield of the product.
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10 June 2022
Justin Sims
Apart from observing the odd pisco sour listing on cocktail menus, I have to confess that I knew nothing about Chile and Peru’s national drink and certainly couldn’t describe its taste. That is until I chatted to Sam Owen from Moseley’s Chakana restaurant last week. Sam’s the assistant manager and looks after the drinks-side of Birmingham’s first Peruvian restaurant. This intimate, relaxed eatery in the heart of Moseley village is the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Robert Ortiz, a Peruvian native who delivers authentic culinary brilliance in small plate format. It’s no wonder that during their two years since opening, they’re attracting a wide audience of curious diners, including repeat visits from proud Peruvians!
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03 June 2022
Justin Sims
Now am I feeling patriotic this week. The Union Jacks are flying, there’s bunting appearing all over homes, shops and businesses and there’s a strong sense of community spirit as everyone makes their final preparations for the long weekend’s street parties and fêtes that will be celebrated the length and breadth of the country. This is a chance to honour our amazing monarch and at the same time, do what we Brits love to do best. Throw a damn good party and consume plenty of Great British produce, and that obviously extends to wine too! And if you still think that English wines can’t be taken too seriously, well then allow me to help you reconsider.
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27 May 2022
Justin Sims
Continuing our ‘speed-dating’ series on the hottest grape varieties around, we’ve got another fine cluster who cannot WAIT to meet you. Without further ado focus your eyes in, check your nose is clean, remove any lipstick and check your teeth for signs of lunch, we don’t want anything to interfere with this discerning bunch!
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26 May 2022
Justin Sims
In this opening round, and in true speed-dating style, prepare to get better acquainted with some of the most popular white wine grape varieties of the moment. Find out more about their personality, are they cool or are they sun-seekers, and who else they might like to pair up with. We’ll also find out their favourite foods and whether or not they like to travel. Are you ready?
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25 May 2022
Justin Sims
Now before you think I’m talking about some hipster chick who can do Hardflips and Backside Tailslides with her eyes shut, sadly not, although I’m sure she’s out there somewhere. No, I’m talking about how Chardonnay, following a period of hard reflection, seems to have grown up from its embarrassing overripe, over-oaked, overloaded adolescence during the 80s and early 90s and followed Odyssey’s advice by getting back to its [cool climate] roots.
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24 May 2022
Inn Express
NEW FEATURES ADDED. The Inn-express.com ordering portal is live and all customers are now able to register for an online account. This platform is exclusively for Inn Express customers offers an unrivalled range of products teamed with live stock availability. To ensure you are able to make the most of all the features below you will find a few key tips.
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23 May 2022
Justin Sims
I know what you’re thinking. Is this really doable? Surely they’re too different? After all, one’s made from grapes and the other’s made from grain, right? Well, yes, not really, and yeah, but if you look at them both from a purely sensory perspective, you’ll be gob-smacked by the similarities. By sensory, we’re mainly concerned with aroma and taste, but there are some instances where, visually, certain beers and wines are uncannily similar. We’ll come onto that in a bit. As the UK beer market has evolved over the past 15 years, in close succession to the US market, the David’s have collectively become Goliath, and now the choice of brew for the consumer is mind-boggling.
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21 April 2022
Justin Sims
If there’s one Spanish wine that’s instantly recognisable, wherever you are in the world, it’s Rioja. It was one of the first wines that made a big impression on me as a 20-something while cutting my teeth in wine retailing. You could say it’s made an even bigger impression on Victor Fernández de Manzanos, the young CEO and joint owner of Manzanos Wines. The difference is that Victor, along with his younger brother David, was born with Rioja in his blood!
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20 April 2022
Justin Sims
If you’ve ever been to central or northern Argentina during the summer months, you’ll know it gets pretty chuffing hot at low level. Too hot and too dry for cultivating wine grapes. Gain some elevation and it cools down sufficiently to give the vines a sporting chance. The higher you climb, the more favourable it becomes, especially if you want to create quality wines with structure, balance and elegance. Altitude is the magic ingredient behind Argentina’s viticultural success.
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12 April 2022
Justin Sims
Indisputably the greatest sparkling wine producing region in the world, Champagne was quick to establish itself from humble beginnings in a monastery to the true global icon that it is today. The burning questions are what exactly is champagne, how is it made and what does all the terminology on the labels tell us about what’s inside the bottle? Let’s find out.
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24 March 2022
Justin Sims
You may have already guessed that the term terroir hails from France and like many French words and expressions, it has no literal translation. And yet winemaker’s, sommeliers (yep, there’s another one with no direct translation) and other wine industry professionals, in fact any artisanal producer of food or drink that relies on the land in some way, are all mildly obsessed with the word.
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03 March 2022
Justin Sims
One of the challenges of taking on new and inexperienced members of bar and waiting staff, is where to begin when it comes to wine training. It’s perfectly natural and easy for anyone, other than a seasoned pro, to feel overwhelmed by the sheer diversity and complexity of the subject, let alone attempting to overcome the pronunciation of the non-English names! So how on earth does anyone know where to begin?
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15 February 2022
Yes, we’ve been listening to you, our faithful customers, we’ve searched the vinous highways and are thrilled to be fleshing out our wine range further with some absolute stonkers. It goes without saying that everything’s been sipped, swirled, spat, tasted again and swallowed…repeatedly. We like to do things rigorously here! Here’s what’s coming…
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15 February 2022
Justin Sims
The days of offering a fixed and extensive wine list for months at a time will have to be reconsidered if you want to avoid disappointing your customers this year. This may sound stark but unfortunately it’s a harsh reality. So what steps can we take to make our wine lists fit for 2022 and beyond and how can we minimise the impact of unavoidable price increases on many of the most popular wines?
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24 January 2022
Justin Sims
What are the benefits of drinking organic wines? How do they differ from conventionally made wines and what’s happening in the global wine industry to help facilitate this burgeoning interest?
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20 January 2022
Justin Sims
If you’re a fan of Californian wines, you might be interested in entering your bar or restaurant into a cool promotion that’s taking place in over Californian Wine Week in June l this year.
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17 January 2022
Justin Sims
As we start 2022 and look back at another particularly tumultuous year for the hospitality industry, I manage to talk to Ned Llewellyn, Alliance Wine’s Off Trade Sales Director, to look back over the past twelve months to find out how the year has been for one of our key wine suppliers, and what we might be able to expect in 2022.
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22 December 2021
Inn Express
It may be all hands to the pumps at Inn Express HQ right now, what with Christmas just a matter of days away, but one thing you can be sure of is that we’re already thinking about how we’re going to unwind with our favourite festive tipples.
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21 December 2021
Justin Sims
Ever wondered what the rest of the World drink when they want a sparkling wine. Well the options are not limited to Champagne & Prosecco. Delve into some excellent value sparkling wine alternatives.
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02 December 2021
Inn Express
For years we have been told that tying your machine in with your beans is the best value. Well, not any more! Divorce your beans from your machine & embrace the new love of your life! PROFIT!
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02 December 2021
Justin Sims
The festive period is a key time when dessert wines and fortified wines are consumed. And this year, of all years will see consumers really letting their hair down, so don’t miss out on this golden opportunity to upsell and sweeten your punters!
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30 November 2021
Justin Sims
It’s no secret that there’s a global shortage of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough NZ and it’s unlikely to resolve itself in the near future. What are the options, given consumers’ unwavering demand?
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25 November 2021
Justin Sims
Ever wondered what other grape varieties are available outside of the major ones? read our simple guide to offering excellent alternatives to the more commonly found options on many wine lists.
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23 November 2021
Did you know it takes 42 beans to make a perfect espresso? Aaaaah Coffee! Possibly the most underrated revenue stream in the on trade?
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23 November 2021
How do you match beer with food? Follow our three simple steps and master the art of food and beer!
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09 November 2021
Inn Express
We are delighted to introduce our old friend and former long-standing wine supplier, Justin Sims. Justin will be helping us increase our wine knowledge base and create informative, relevant and interesting content using his extensive wine knowledge and experience.
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28 October 2021
Justin Sims
Game. It's leaner than farmed meat and it's easier to prepare than you think. It's also easier to match wines now more than ever to make your experience much better this autumn.
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26 October 2021
Justin Sims
We chat to Sonal Clare, all round industry heavyweight and head sommelier at the Wilderness Restaurant in Birmingham about how he has found things since the lifting of restrictions in the UK.
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05 October 2021
Inn Express
Update - Co2 shortage - CF industries & UK government support deadline
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21 September 2021
Inn Express
Read the latest updates from our key partners regarding the 'critical' shortage of leisure gas in the UK.
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17 September 2021
A big favourite of ours, Vocation, one of the UK’s largest and fastest-growing craft beer breweries, is rebranding its entire range. The new designs bring more personality to the packaging and better reflect the distinct character of each beer inside.
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17 September 2021
Where do you think the Worlds best Vermouth is made? Italy or France maybe? Nope! Right here in England. Get your hands on the hottest trend for 2021.
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17 September 2021
We are hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning. Raising money for those living with Cancer. Help us hit our £200 by donating.
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13 August 2021
Learn how the Cheltenham based Brennen & Brown got started, where they got their inspiration and how expanded to what they are today
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03 August 2021
In August Inn Express are offering a great deal. Buy a case of all three flavours and receive a launch kit FREE.Launch kits include paper cups, table talkers and social media assets to help you launch in your venue.
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02 June 2021
Inn Express
A brief update on some of the challenges we continue to face and how we are working hard to combat them.
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01 May 2021
We hear it mentioned a lot in modern drinks marketing, but do you know what single estate actually means? Learn more about Woods Distillery and their quest to turn a 200-year-old stone granary barn into a thriving spirits business.
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Orange Wine. Is it sweet or dry? Is it orange? What does it taste like. By no means a new phenomenon, orange (or skin contact wine as it’s sometimes referred to), Orange Wine is actually one of the oldest types of wine in the world.
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In a super competitive market place here are some tips, that might help you tackle the competitive craft beer market and boost your sales. PS, its REALLY simple!
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The right drink demands the right glass. We all have our favourite beer trophy in a cupboard at home. Dive deeper into why your favourite glass was chosen to house your favourite beer!
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Ever wondered who is recognised as the most innovative distillery in the world? Seems like your quest for the answer has come to an end!
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What is the hard seltzers opportunity in the UK? Hard Seltzers are the hottest trend of the summer: it’s alcoholic sparkling water with a refreshing taste and a fruity flavour. Low in alcohol and low in calories.
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Low intervention, Biodynamic, Organic & Natural Wines. Should you be rethinking your wine list?
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A Q&A session with Mcphersons winemaker Jo Nash. We talk innovative wine blends and the strange story behind 'don't tell Gary' shiraz!
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Inn Express
When we asked 'What is Rum' to our friends down the road at Shakespeare Distillery. We didn't expect the answers we got! Get a deep level of understanding to how Rum is made & what great rums are currently being made from scratch in rural Warwickshire.
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