Archive For The “Drinks Reviews” Category
A Sparkling Cocktail Here is a gem and new to me. It’s Ginking and perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. This is a sparkling blend of blush pink English wine and aromatic London Dry Gin along with natural botanicals. It offers a host of presentation possibilities to impress the one you love. Ginking’s founder, Lord John…
Welsh Whisky with Character and Pride Penderyn Distillery produces award-winning single malt whiskies and spirits in the foothills of the beautiful Brecon Beacons in South Wales. The distillery is found in the historic village of Penderyn in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Distilling in Wales had ended long ago, but in the late 1990s, in…
An ethical spirits subscription service If you love craft gins and vodka and you also like choose sustainable packaging, the Dunnet Bay Distillers Refill Rewards Club is the one for you. The stylish, ethical spirits company which produces award-winning Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka using local Scottish botanicals, was the first spirits company launch eco-friendly,…
Drinks for the discerning Tom Savano isn’t a person. He (or should I say ‘it’?) is an independent company producing quality handcrafted drinks. Their cocktails take the lucky sipper on bespoke trips around the world. We can imagine balmy days, exotic sunsets, gentle music playing, light cotton dresses and Panama hats. A professional barman would…
120 years of Glen Moray whisky Glen Moray in the heart of Speyside has been around for 120 years. It all began in 1897, when the Elgin West Brewery, which had made local ales since 1830 was transformed into the whisky distillery we see today. The company continued to upgrade its facilities and in the…
The World’s First Super-Premium Aquavit Now available in the UK, Nuet Dry Aquavit is the first and only aquavit to ever receive an award in the gin category (Silver at the Nordic Spirits Awards 2021) Nuet Dry Aquavit is the world’s first super-premium aquavit combining almost 500 years of Scandinavian tradition and elevating the spirit with…
A Single Malt to Impress The anCnoc (pronounced a-nock) label was born a few years after Inver House Distillers bought the Knockdhu distillery, which had been established in 1894. The first official bottling of anCnoc was released in 1993, and by 2013 the core range was established. anCnoc whisky takes its name from the eponymous…
The Sunday Roast Companion Founded in 1870 by Santiago Graffigna, this is the third oldest winery in Argentina. It has a reputation for consistent quality. This Malbec is a prime example of this vineyard’s craft. Regular readers will know that I am an unashamed lover of Malbec. I have seldom had a bad one, and…
Rum to the Power of Five Étän is a premium award-winning 40% abv golden spiced rum. It has indeed two claims on their ‘Power of Five’ slogan. This rum has been distilled using a unique array of five botanicals found in and around West Africa and specifically in Cameroon. The second element is that five…
Lassies Toast Gin inspired by Robert Burns, and tea Whether it’s an evening in with friends, New Year’s Eve, Burns’ Night, or another celebratory occasion, Lassies Toast Gin is something rather special. Dressed in luxurious red, this deliciously herbal Scottish gin features thyme, citrus, and hints of tea. It is inspired by the Moorland Tea…
Festive Fizz The Glera variety of grapes for i heart Prosecco are cultivated in the region of Veneto in the north of Italy where one finds the beautiful city of Venice. The stylish cafés and restaurants there are proud to promote this popular local wine. But we don’t have to travel to enjoy a good…
Zero alcohol – plenty of fun It’s Christmas. The big day is a long one, but we want it to be festive from the start. The excitement could begin with a Bucks Fizz, or a Mimosa. That is usually a sparkling wine made a little less alcoholic by the addition of orange juice. But we…
Fresh taste of citrus I confess, Jatt Life is new to me. It’s a company which has its focus on vodka and whiskey. They are earning a creditable reputation for presenting prize-winning beverages. The founders of the brand noticed a gap in the premium spirits market in 2019. They noted that the marketplace was saturated…
A 10-year-old Single Malt of Distinction This distillery was built 120 years ago outside the town of Rothes in Speyside, a region famed for its whisky. The founders, John and Edward Hopkin, built up rather than out with malting floors of mesh raised high. The fresh water, a crucial ingredient, was found nearby in Granty…
Ready-to-Drink Holy Grass Vodka with Apple Tonic Launches Dunnet Bay Distillers, the family-owned eco-friendly Scottish gin and vodka company, has launched a new ready-to-drink cocktail – Holy Grass Scottish Vodka with apple tonic. The Wonders of the Wilderness can contains a refreshing, crisp apple tonic mingled with Holy Grass Vodka, named after the locally foraged botanical…
Cocktail and mocktail I have been enjoying Belvoir Farm products for quite a while now. They might seem a little pricier than some cordials on the supermarket shelves but it’s true what they say – you get what you pay for. Belvoir Farm is in the Countryside Stewardship scheme, meaning they are committed to balancing…
I found myself drawn to this rum even before the first sip. Who can resist the humour, the sheer fun of a Pirate’s Grog Spiced Rum? Avast me hearties! (translation: Stop, dear chaps) is emblazoned on the back label, begging the reader to learn more about this award-winning spirit. This rum was conceived in the…
The Twelve Days of Christmas with Dunnet Bay Distillers Spirited gifts from Scotland to suit every price range, from £1 – £90 Raise a glass to these gift ideas from Dunnet Bay Distillers, makers of the cool brand Rock Rose Gin – officially chosen earlier this year by CoolBrands. If you are looking for unusual…
Quality Liqueurs and Syrups Giffard is one of the most celebrated producers of essential bar ingredients, and they have a diverse range of liqueurs and syrups to fire the imagination of any mixologist or home aficionado. Back in 1885 Émile Giffard was a pharmacist in Angers in Val de Loire, France. The date is still…
The Father of All Rums from the Philippines The name ‘Don Papa’ was inspired by Papa Isio, a leader of the revolution in the Philippines against the Spanish. He led his island to independence before joining the main revolutionary movement. This national hero is prominent on the striking brand label, which was designed in New…