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Alicia Miller

Canadian-born Alicia Miller is an award-winning travel and food writer, and a former editor at The Sunday Times. She specialises in food/drink and wellness travel, as well as city breaks and exceptional places to stay. Her work has taken her to destinations as diverse as glaciers in Iceland, drag bars in Tokyo, wineries in Napa Valley and beaches in French Polynesia. As well as The Independent, she is a regular contributor to National Geographic Traveller, Evening Standard, The Telegraph, The Times, Decanter and Woman & Home, where she is travel editor. In 2022 AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) named Alicia as Travel Writer of the Year

<p>Piazza del Duomo, home to Milan Cathedral and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II </p>
Italy

The best things to do in Milan, Italy’s northern powerhouse

<p>Think of it as an ingredient that can inject an enticing smokiness to your food </p>
BBQs & Accessories

Best charcoal for BBQs 2023, tried and tested for summer grilling

<p>We considered the balance of botanicals, flavour intensity and complexity, and the length of the finish</p>
Spirits

15 best gins, tried and tested

<p>The spirit – distilled from the blue agave plant in Mexico’s Jalisco state – is one of the most diverse out there</p>
Spirits

13 best tequilas that are made for sipping not slamming

<p>A sunset over Kirkjufell mountain on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula</p>
Iceland

Whirlwind Iceland: The peninsula that’s easy to see in just a few days

<p>We used the cult favourite Hotel Chocolat velvetiser, for a perfect mugful </p>
Chocolate

13 best hot chocolates for an indulgent treat

<p>Kyoto in Japan </p>
Japan

Japan travel guide: Everything you need to know

<p>We were on the hunt for proper cocktails, Pimms in a tin didn’t cut it </p>
Food & Drink

8 best letterbox cocktails that bring the bar to you

<p>France’s Loire Valley is picture-perfect and ripe for exploring in autumn</p>
Sustainable travel

How to explore France’s beautiful Loire region, car-free

<p>We sipped for days, comparing similar blends to find out which came out on top </p>
Food & Drink

13 best herbal teas for a full-flavoured brew without the caffeine

<p>These two-in-one holdalls are even more helpful if you’re short on space at home </p>
Luggage

8 best backpacks with wheels for smoother travel

<p>Praia de Rodas in the Cies Islands, Spain</p>
Inspiration

Best lesser-known European destinations for sun without the crowds

<p>We tried drinks of different origins in a wide variety of styles</p>
Spirits

15 best vodkas perfect for martinis, mixing and straight sipping

Spirits

15 best vodkas perfect for martinis, mixing and straight sipping

<p>We tried drinks of different origins in a wide variety of styles</p>
<p>From pink peppercorn to dragon fruit, even the most pink-averse classic gin fans can find a pour that will tick their boxes in this round-up </p>
Spirits

15 best pink gins to mix up your G&Ts this summer and beyond

<p>Tangy, sweet, savoury, spicy – we taste tested each and every one straight from the bottle</p>
BBQs & Accessories

10 best BBQ sauces to fire up your summertime cookouts

<p>We left guidebooks and novels out of the final cut</p>
Travel Books

9 best travel books to inspire your next adventure

<p>Reims’ handsome cathedral</p>
France

The ultimate guide to Reims, France’s foodie, Champagne-swilling city

<p>Reims’ handsome cathedral</p>
France

The ultimate guide to Reims, France’s foodie, Champagne-swilling city

<p>Stow-on-the-Wold, the Cotswolds</p>
Sustainable living

How to do a classic Cotswolds weekend, car-free

<p>With a wide, flat base and a perky rim to keep liquids contained, the humble pasta bowl can serve in almost any eating scenario</p>
Kitchen Accessories

9 best pasta bowls for loading up the carbs

<p>Everyone deserves to have a table setting straight out of one of London’s finest restaurants</p>
Home & Garden

8 best cutlery sets to jazz up your table

<p>The ginaissance means that alongside a boom in boutiquey brands, related paraphernalia has flourished</p>
Food & Drink

12 best gifts for gin lovers: Glasses, games, tonics, sweets and more

<p>We prepared each bird the way you would at Christmastime, with the full retinue of sides, cranberry sauces and gravies</p>
Food

9 best turkey crowns for festive feasting

<p>While it’s easy to concoct your own at home, these professionally crafted tipples are hard to beat</p>
Spirits

12 best sloe gins: Fresh, fruity liqueur for cocktails or sipping neat

<p>We’ve only tested spirits that came in over 37.5 per cent – so haven’t included liqueurs or sloe gins </p>
Spirits

15 best flavoured gins to spice up your favourite tipple

<p>Some of these tomes are themed, while others act as the perfect guide for beginners</p>
Non-Fiction Books

10 best cocktail recipe books for creating tantalising tinctures

<p>While it’s easy to concoct your own at home, these professionally crafted tipples are hard to beat</p>
Spirits

12 best sloe gins: Fresh, fruity liqueur for cocktails or sipping neat

<p>We’ve only tested spirits that came in over 37.5 per cent – so haven’t included liqueurs or sloe gins </p>
Spirits

15 best flavoured gins to spice up your favourite tipple

<p>Some of these tomes are themed, while others act as the perfect guide for beginners</p>
Non-Fiction Books

10 best cocktail recipe books for creating tantalising tinctures

<p>Thanks to the backing of Michelin-starred chefs and celebrity influencers these premium cookers have become the OGs</p>
Home & Garden

Big Green Egg vs Snaffling Pig Co pig bluey: Which BBQ is the best?

Home & Garden

Big Green Egg vs Snaffling Pig Co pig bluey: Which BBQ is the best?

<p>Thanks to the backing of Michelin-starred chefs and celebrity influencers these premium cookers have become the OGs</p>
<p>Mixers matter – the best spirits in the world can fall flat if you’re mixing it with a subpar tonic</p>
Spirits

10 best tonic water for mixing with gin, vodka and vermouth

A city staycation is more relaxing than you might think
Hotels

Why now is the perfect time to book a city staycation

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