Our Team

Karl Tessendorf

Writer

Karl is a talented writer and recipe developer with a passion for the history of food and drink. He produced and starred in a TV series about craft beer and BBQ culture. He’s also written two recipe books about cooking over fire, and he loves to eat, drink and be merry.

Favourite Cocktail: I’m a seasonal drinker so it’s always changing but you can’t go wrong with a Caipirinha or a Negroni. Lime is my favourite citrus and I love its fresh zing on a hot summer’s day. And a Negroni, well it’s a Negroni—so what more is there to say?

Best Mixer Tip: If you’re just starting out in the world of cocktails then my advice is to always keep it simple. There are so many classic cocktails that are easy to make with just a few ingredients. They’re iconic for a reason so before you buy a fancy smoke machine for infusing cocktails, delve into the classics. You won’t be disappointed.

Top cocktails Karl thinks you should make:

5 min Easy

Between the Sheets Cocktail

5 min Easy

Americano Cocktail Recipe

5 min Easy

Black Manhattan Recipe

5 min Medium

Boulevardier Cocktail Recipe

5 min Easy

Mudslide Cocktail Recipe

Karl's articles

Negroni Week (2024): The Ultimate Guide

Since its inception in 2013, Negroni Week has transformed from a cocktail celebration with a charitable cause to a global movement for the greater good. It started small with just 120 participating venues, but over the years, hundreds turned into thousands, and now bars and restaurants celebrate the week globally. While the movement has boomed […]

The Complete History of the Negroni

The history of the Negroni stretches back over a hundred years. Its origins are steeped in Italian elegance and one man’s thirst for a bolder, more spirituous cocktail. At its core, it’s just a simple three-ingredient cocktail, but that hasn’t stopped it from crossing continents, changing cocktail culture, and capturing the collective imagination of the […]

Best Negroni Variations: Discover New Flavours & Expert Tips

The Negroni is an iconic Italian cocktail that traces its roots back to Florence in 1919. Legend has it that Count Camillo Negroni requested a stronger version of his favourite Americano, leading to the creation of this classic clinker. A traditional Negroni is a balanced blend of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, stirred together and […]

The Finest British Cocktails to Serve at Home

Friends, cocktail drinkers, and countrymen! Lend us your taste buds because we’re about to embark on a boozy journey of discovery around the United Kingdom. That’s right, we’re talking British cocktails today, and by Jove, are you in for a tasty treat! We’ve got whiskey, vodka, bourbon, and as you’d expect from the British, a […]

16 Cocktail Recipes for Those on a Budget

The end of the year is fast approaching, and with it comes that elusive list of New Year’s resolutions. If you’re anything like us, then right under ‘go to gym more’ will be ‘budget better’. Well, my penny-pinching friends, do we have a treat for you today! We’ve put together a list of 16 of […]

7 Best Cocktail Bars in Edinburgh for 2024

Edinburgh has many amazing cocktail bars, but which one should you visit? You could ask Siri to search ‘best cocktail bars Edinburgh’, but you’d still have to sift through the results. Well, my friends, it’s your lucky day because we’ve done the work for you, and compiled a handy list. It features Edinburgh’s best bars, […]