Cocktails to rustle up at home

Sam Heughan shares his love of drinks and travelling in his new book

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After a series of Clanlands books and his memoir, Waypoints, Scottish actor Sam Heughan has taken a detour into the world of spirits.

"The adventures, and I guess the experiences and passion that I have, I'm an enthusiast for sure," says Heughan, whose new book, The Cocktail Diaries, is a deep-dive into the world of mixology.

Co-founder of award-winning Sassenach Spirits, with a portfolio of three carefully curated spirits-whisky, gin and a reposado tequila - the 45-year-old says his journey into the drinks world began when he returned back to Scotland to shoot Outlander.

"And I fell in love with my home country again. I've always loved whisky, but it was kind of an emotional thing for me.

"I was in London. I was a jobbing actor, and missing home," recounts Heughan. "I hadn't really ever touched whisky before then, I was in my mid-20s. And one Burns Night, I went to a local bar and had a single malt whisky... and the smell of it, the taste of it.

"And I was with a Sottish friend of mine, and it sort of transported me back to Scotland. I felt very homesick, and it was very comforting this glass of whisky, sort of like a hug in a glass."

And from that point on, Heughan says he really started experimenting with whiskies, and enjoying it more and more.

"And then over the years, and most recently, created my own whisky brand; and that journey has really been extended or enriched by the sort of people I've met, and travels I've been on."

Since finishing Outlander - and 11 years back in Scotland-Heughan's been embracing his love of travel and adventure. "I was in Australia recently, and San Diego [California], but I'm about to be in London for quite some time because I'm doing a play," reveals Heughan.