Posts Tagged “spirits”
Let’s Get Tropical: Over 60 Cocktail Recipes from Caribbean Classics to Modern Tiki Drinks It will soon be that time of year. Those warm (we hope) summer months when our thoughts turn to al fresco lunches and dinners under the stars. To go with those meals will probably be some exotic drinks, and it’s the…
Many, in the past, viewed Aldi as something of bargain basement supermarket, but that perception is changing. Yes, they sport attractive price tags on their goods but that, at least in my experience of the spirits department, doesn’t indicate a lowering of standards – just the price. Old Hopking Dark Rum is another Aldi gem….
Here we are again! Visiting the spirits department of Aldi. This store has made a name for itself by offering groceries at a lower price than some of their larger competitors. They are now becoming justifiably celebrated for their beverages, and they are not putting a foot wrong – at least from the review samples…
I first met Nordés Atlantic Galician Gin a few years ago. I was dashing through an airport returning from a stay in this unique region of Spain. No, it wasn’t a purchase made after lingering research, but it turned out to be a wonderful choice. It was several weeks before I even opened the bottle,…
Aldi have done it again! Topaz Blue Premium Gin is perhaps one of the best Premium gins around considering its very attractive price point. Its blue-backed bottle has shelf appeal and is rather reminiscent of another gin with a similar azure hue. Aldi say, ‘Topaz small-batch, hand-crafted superior gin is a testament to the passion…
Well, here is a rather different rum. Bumbu has great shelf appeal with a bottle and oversized cork which have as much to do with swashbuckling pirates and Errol Flynn as contemporary drinks marketing. The black glass is embossed with the company name, and a metal ‘X’ flies like a pirate’s insignia right in the…
New York-based wine and spirits company Sovereign Brands has produced a new and rather exceptional gin called McQueen and the Violet Fog. This contains a wealth of botanicals, and six of them are said to be “found in no other gin in the world”. The McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin bottle is statuesque and…
Yes, gin is trending and has been for a while. Shelves are filled with bottles of crystal-clear and water-white gin; but then there are a very few that have another hue. Four Pillars Sherry Cask Gin stands out! Four Pillars distillery in Australia is all about gin. They have a selection of gins and two…
Yes, it’s trending. Gin is ubiquitous in every bar throughout the nation. It is loved by young sippers who have irrevocably banished the dusty reputation of ‘Mother’s ruin’. Gin is presented as a key component in every guise of cocktail, from fruity and floral to spicy and exotic. These often-colourful libations may mask a fairly…
It’s trending! Anything to do with gin is popular just now, and there are so many different bottles to try – traditional gins, floral gins, spicy gins, and sweet gins. Gin makes a perfect gift, but it’s a bit like buying perfume for a friend. It’s tricky to buy such a personal gift and get…
Vodka – The Essential Guide for Vodka Purists is a one-stop shop for lovers of this versatile spirit …but what actually is it? Vodka is more popular than ever due to the cocktail-drinking trend. It has introduced vodka to a new audience as well as knowledgeable bartenders who appreciate this spirit as a base for…
Abelha means ‘bee’ in Portuguese and the striking label offers a swarm of them on this bottle of Abelha Organic Cachaça. It speaks to one of summer days, nature, wholesome pleasures, and all of those happen to be found in Brazil from where this characterful spirit hails. Cachaça is a popular spirit which some describe…
Gin: The Essential Guide for Gin Aficionados offers a wealth of information. Gin is one of the world’s best-loved spirits. It has a rich history – made in medieval monasteries it was thought to protect against the plague. The science had come from the Arab world with their elevated knowledge of medicine. Gin’s botanicals were…
Well, what a surprise. A bottle of Foxhole Gin arrived. The event was no surprise, but the shelf appeal was. There are so many new gins around, but this one grabbed my attention before the nose or palate could evaluate quality. Each Foxhole Gin bottle is screenprinted by hand with a precious-metal ink, which is…
Tequila has long been popular in the US, north of the border from Mexico, the land of its origin. It is now rather trendy in Europe, where its unique taste is prized in cocktails. But there are some tequilas that are so well-crafted that they deserve to be enjoyed alone or simply in the company…
This is a little gem of bartending support. The Bartender’s Book, or to give it its full and impressive title The Bartender’s Book: The Essential Guide for Mixologists, by Dave Broom, is something of a barman’s/woman’s almanac. The cover gives a sense of the early 20th century, when cocktails became fashionable. The book offers excellent…
Originally produced in the Val-de-Travers region in Switzerland and in Pontarlier, France, Absinthe is a distilled anise-flavoured spirit made from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the plant Artemisia Absinthium, also called Wormwood. It’s the same botanical as used in Vermouth. Although it is sometimes termed a liqueur, absinthe has no added sugar and…
The first thing one notices about Caorunn gin is, well, the gin! Its rather classy bottle presents mountain-stream-clear aromatic alcohol in its purest form. It invites the prospective drinker to anticipate the cool, crisp gin within. For me, Caorunn is a classic gin. It’s well-crafted and balanced. Its infusion is delicate, a few of the…
The label uses a strong old gold and black design which sets well on the inky dark rum in the tall slim bottle. The artwork is embossed and tactile and excites the expectation of a taste of something a bit different. There is the story of the name ‘Parlay’ emblazoned on the back and it’s…
Well, this is right on trend. Cocktails have become the cornerstone of every restaurant bar, and we want to try our hands at barista-ing at home. Most of the fixin’s are available to civilians and with little equipment some delicious and beautiful cocktails can be ours. Craft Spirits is a comprehensive glossary of worldwide spirits…