Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 104

We are together for Episode 104 and the season finale of the Bring a Bottle podcast! This will be the last episode for a while, so it’s a time for reflecting on the trends and value monsters of the year just passed and predict the trends for 2023. Top cocktails of the year, Mezcal, Martini, Dry January tips, a Buy it or Bin it that misses the mark and much more! Happy New Year drinkers!

What’s In Our Glass?

The perfect party wine, we’re loving the Graffigna Malbec Genuine Collection in this episode. Malbec is probably the greatest all-rounder red there is, and for an Uco Valley bottle, this is amazing value; concentrated with ripe berries and bursting with flavour.
Helena brings DeRosier raspberry chocolates along which go perfectly with it, and Aidy suggests pigs in blankets or aged gouda as another perfect match. To be honest, whether main or dessert, this elegant easy-drinking Malbec loves most dishes!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9 Sainsbury’s (often on offer so keep your eyes peeled!)

Drinks News

We look back at the most popular cocktails of the year and what do you think number one was? Dirty Shirly was a surprising 3rd, and Espresso Martin 2nd... what would your top be? Listen to find out!
Also, the Duke of Sussex pub has dipped into the Royal controversy by realising a, ‘Harry’s Bitter’ brew... some love it, some think it’s going too far, what about you?

What will be a big drinks trend next year?

We’d love to see Mezcal trending in 2023, and with Margarita and Picante so popular, tequila is getting there but we’re predicting more short serves. Helena’s crystal ball also fancies Vermouth to pick up more of the spotlight so we shall see!

Bang for Buck

A big shout out to Crémant de Loire from Lidl, a Chenin-based Champagne alternative that punches well above its pricepoint. Lees aging, a splash of Chardonnay, and weight and waxiness from Chenin – the balance is impeccable, and it would sing if served up beside something like salmon mousse.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.99 Lidl

Martini

If you love a Martini then you don’t want to miss this segment. Opposing the most famous Martini drinker of them all, Aidy says to never shake them! He likes to stir his Savoia vermouth in, whilst Helena prefers Cocchi vermouth. Sweet vermouth can overpower the vodka or gin in your glass, so consider trying a ‘vermouth rinse’ if you find this problematic!

Dry January

We’ve been singing the praises of Franklin and Sons tonic and soda for a while, and they’re perfect for a Dry January stand alone. Also, consider Wednesday’s Domaine for a great value non-alcoholic wine. It’s creative, fun and tasty to boot!

New Year’s Eve

What is our favourite cocktail for the big night? For a sparkling option, French 75 is hard to beat. For something with oomph, Death in the Afternoon! Or... what about Aidy’s homemade experiment? Grand Marnier, honeycomb syrup, bitters all shaken and topped up with Cava! Who knows, maybe that will be the top cocktail of 2023?

Buy it or Bin it

It looks like a dark Irn Bru, hits you with aniseed and sambuca... but there’s chocolate in there too? It’s Chocolate Absinthe Liqueur, by Devil’s Botany. The bottle is beautiful, but the drink inside doesn’t quite hit the mark with us when trying it neat. However, to bring balance to a savoury cocktail, it may well be ideal!

Listen in to our final podcast episode for all this and more!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 102

Episode 102 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast is packed with knowledge, with Helena joined by absolute cheese and wine guru and owner of Mouse and Grape, Jessica Summer! Inevitably, we took this opportunity to learn all about cheese and wine pairings, using an incredible value supermarket Graffigna Genuine Collection Reserve Malbec as an example. There are Earl Grey gin experiments, a G&T unlike any you’ve probably tried before, and money-saving insight into how wine lists work!

Our Guest Drinker

Sharing a drink with us this week is Jessica Summer, the owner of the cleverly named Mouse and Grape, a luxury cheese and wine business specialising in everything from gorgeous hampers to corporate tastings and events. Jessica really knows what she’s talking about and has WSET Level 3 and Cheese Academy Level 2 to back it up!

What’s In Our Glass?

We’re merrily sipping our way through Graffigna Genuine Collection Reserve Malbec, 2020, a fresh and fruit-forward Malbec. It’s voluminous and intense with black cherry and plum, and perfect alongside food for this time of year. Also, it was awarded 92 points from Decanter so it’s not just us that love it. Immense value.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £7.50 (usually £9)

Drinks News

The American lager brand Coors Light has released a nail varnish that tells you if your beer is cold by changing colour depending on how cold your beer is when you hold it. Surely, you’d already know if it was cold by that point though? But it’s a nice novelty and maybe it’s an attempt to get more women into beer?!

Graffigna Malbec and Cheese pairing

Of course, we were going to get up to some wine and cheese pairings when we’ve got Jessica on. We won’t do Jessica justice by trying to recreate her detailed pairing guide here, so you’ll have to listen! The Malbec is tested with Goat’s cheese and Cheddar with very different results, and you’ll definitely want to try it for yourself after.

Mixology with Helena

Helena’s got her mixology hat on and this time she’s concocting a milky cocktail inspired by Earl Grey Latte. With York Gin’s Grey Lady at the heart of it, it’s like a lighter aromatic Baileys with great flavour. Perhaps it needs more creaminess to really sing though? If you try it, let us know your thoughts here!

Drinkers Discovery

It looks like a potion discovered in an ancient alchemist’s lab with the pipette top, but it is in fact Cotswolds Gin Essence, 10x the concentrated flavour of usual gins. 4 or so drops of this with tonic and you get a G&T with a light and breezy feel, and less bitterness if you’re into that. Interesting!

Size: 100ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £17.95

Mailbag

This week’s question concerns where to find the best value wine on a wine list! Helena and Jessica advise targeting the mid-range, to avoid the huge mark up on the cheapest wines and hefty price tag of the top end. Look out for Malbecs and Portuguese wines in general!

For all this and more listen in today!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 101

It’s Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 101 and with us in the studio this week is Jack Charlton, traveller and lover of all things drinks who began at Café Rouge when he was 15 and is now Head of Brand Ambassadors for Remy Cointreau in the UK! There’s incredible Mount Gay rum to be sipped, odd advent calendars to be discussed, Jaffa Cake Vodka to be tried and a machine to completely transform your Hot Choc experience! Listen for all that and more!

Our Guest Drinker

Jack Charlton fell in love with hospitality working at Café Rouge when he was 15, later finding his passion for drinks too and becoming Head of Brand Ambassadors for Remy Cointreau in the UK. His younger years were filled with travelling the world alongside his parents, seeing Prague, Cuba and Zimbabwe to name just a few places. You can hear some tales from these trips on the podcast! Welcome, Jack!

What’s In Our Glass?

A delicious rum from the world’s oldest rum distillery, Mount Gay’s Black Barrel blend is distilled in traditional copper pot and column stills, matured for up to 7 years in American whiskey casks, and further aged for 6 months in heavily charred Bourbon casks. Unsurprisingly, that toasted oak comes through, as does gingerbread and the rich vanilla and pineapple you might expect from a golden Bajan rum. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £36 // US $29.99

We’re also sipping Mount Gay’s deep, dark and brooding XO Triple Cask Blend. Sitting in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks creates a beautiful balance, with a lovely underlining oakiness, notes of waxy pear and sticky toffee fig pudding. A large coconut water ice cube with this poured on top would be incredible to accentuate the coconut notes further.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £54.59 // US $66.99

Advent Calendars

We’re talking advent calendars and in particular the weirdest ones we’ve come across. Biscuits for pets? Dumplings? What would your ideal advent be, or maybe chocolate can’t be beaten?

How Can you Enjoy Hosting A Dinner Party?

All the stress and build up of hosting a dinner party can end up ruining the experience for the host themselves, and that can’t be right, so we’re looking at ways to avoid just that. From prepping to delegating, take these tips and hosting will become a pleasure and not a chore!

Buy it or Bin it

The colour of onion skin... gingery on the nose... whiffs of something very familiar, is it Terry’s chocolate orange? Almost. It’s Jaffa Cake Vodka. The Jaffa cake is bold on the nose, and much subtler on tasting so don’t worry that it’s overpowering or anything. This would sing wonderfully in an espresso martini with a Jaffa cake or two on the side.

National Hot Chocolate Day

Hot chocolate day is just around the corner so we chat about some of the best available. Hotel Chocolat and their Velvetiser isn’t just another underwhelming kitchen gadget – it’s incredible. Listen to find out more about this dream machine!

What pairs WELL with Mount Gay rum?

We’re thinking of indulgent mouth-watering pairings to sit beside this rum – choc, cheese, steak etc. For vegetarians, grilled crispy cabbage and anything with smokiness and umami like nutty mushroom dishes and miso would also work a treat.

This only covers the tip of the iceberg though so to hear what else we get up to, listen in today!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 100

A century of Bring a Bottle podcasts! Congratulations to us if we do say so and thank you, loyal listeners! We have both Aidy and Helena in the studio for the 100th special, and there was only one person to complete the trio – the legendary Colin Hampden White. This episode is packed to the rafters with our best bits, so you really won’t want to miss this one. There’s vagina beer, behind-the-scenes television moments, the biggest drinks trends, cask buying advice and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let the reminiscing commence!

Our Guest Drinker

For Episode 100, it had to be our original third drinker, the one and only man of many talents... Colin Hampden White! It’s been too long! Journalist, editor, photographer, presenter, judge... a true Three Drinkers legend. He may no longer be with us every day, but we love him on the podcast, and you can keep up to date with all his drinks news on our website and all things Colin on his Instagram at @champdenwhite.

What’s In Our Glass?

We’re toasting to our century with the gorgeous Westland whiskey. Made in Seattle, Westland American Oak is their flagship release, using 5 different barley varieties in a 5-malt mash bill. This creates a distinct malt whiskey that’s super smooth and soft with a gentle peppery note you’d expect from rye whisky alongside notes of chocolate custard. It’s unusual but boy is it good!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £48.96

Westland also produces a special Sherry oak cask whiskey called Garryana, an oak that only grows in the Northwest of America. Many peated whiskies use 100% peated malt, but this actually makes use of more non-peated malts locally grown in Washington State. As a result, there’s less out-and-out smoke (although still present), and more orange peel, roast banana, almonds, as well as green herbs and pistachio.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £164.99

Peach Whiskey Sours

Here’s one Aidy prepared earlier! Using Westland American oak he’s got the balance of peach just right, providing the small kick of sweetness needed without becoming overbearing. It’s a sublimely fresh cocktail with the Westland whiskey kick at the heart of it and gorgeous chocolatey flavours from the bitters coming through. A really well-rounded and complete sipper.

Ingredients
50ml Westland
15ml lemon juice
5-7ml peach syrup
Chocolate bitters

Method:
Simply shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and enjoy!

The Best of Drinks News

We’ve uncovered all manner of drinks news over the last 99 episodes, so we’re taking a moment to recap on our favourites. Who could forget Vagina Beer? The first beer to use vaginal lactic acid in the world! Or the dreamlike situation an Italian town found themselves in when red wine started to run from their taps! And the elephant in the room (and most likely snoozing in the corner), the time a group of thirsty elephants guzzled down pots of Mahua liquor in India. That’s right, we only cover the most important news here at The Three Drinkers.

Drinks Trends Through The Years

Drinking and everything that comes with it is constantly changing as the world does the same, so what are the biggest trends we’ve noticed?

Colin looks at the gin craze that began in the late 90s and shows no sign of slowing down, despite the prediction every year that it will! He also recommends the fabulous Audemus Pink Pepper Gin by the way – sweet and spicy and a big hit of pepper on the nose!

Helena takes us through the rise of CBD drinks and how brands like Goodrays, OTO, Tripp and INTUNE have overcome misconceptions to produce super-popular drinks with big benefits. Check out our Best CBD Drinks if this is something you want to explore, especially over the gloomy winter period!

Down with the kids as ever, Aidy talks about the super sweet drinks captivating younger drinkers. Think Smirnoff Ice, WKD, VK etc. (‘etc’ isn’t one by the way, even if it sounds like one!) Tasting almost indistinguishable from fizzy drinks, they’re many drinkers’ first experience of booze and something that Aidy was partial to in his youth ;)

Favourite Part of our Scotch TV Show

The Three Drinkers have got up to all sorts filming the show, and discuss their favourite moments, from missing Land Rovers to Aidy falling on his face in a barley field. Good times indeed... not so much for Aidy.

Best Drinkers Discoveries

Helena praises Cream Liqueur, like the fantastic value-for-money Spice Ginger Biscuit Irish Cream Liqueur by Sainsbury’s. Aldi’s Ballycastle also gets a nod, and the Vegan Cream Liqueur by M&S more than meets everyone’s approval.

Colin’s discovery is Axia, an expertly crafted aromatic Mastiha from Greece that behaves like a gin or flavoursome vodka. It’s dry and versatile, so would be amazing in a Bloody Mary, Margarita, or even G&T equivalent!

Aidy draws attention to Bitters, and how just a drop or two can completely elevate a cocktail. Especially around Christmas, festive bitters like Cacao or Orange work amazingly to spark up a Martini, Sidecar or G&T!

How to Buy a Cask and What to Look Out For

Buying a cask is a cautious game so this is a must-hear segment for anyone thinking of getting involved in the new year! It’s packed full of advice on due diligence, red flags, green flags, and lots more! There’s even a top investment tip thrown in!

Mailbag

The all-important Mailbag – What should we be drinking Christmas morning?

Colin’s beloved whisky gets a mention even here!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 83

Whether it be the best crisps to pair with your champagne, beer that tastes like chardonnay, stunning mixers for your vodka or £5 wine that tastes decent, we’ve got a little bit of everything for you in Episode 83 of the Bring a Bottle podcast! Listen in now via the player below!

What’s in our glass

We’re making our way through more of Franklin & Sons mixers this week and this time we’re mixing them with vodka. First up we tried the Rhubarb and Hibiscus Tonic with Assaranca Vodka – the result was a creamy well-balanced drink very evocative of childhood memories of rhubarb and custard sweets. The herbal nature of the vodka matched the rhubarb, which is also quite herbal in flavour, really well and the whole drink wasn’t overly sweet due to the slight bitterness from the tonic making for a delicious sip.

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 for 24

The second mixer we tried was the Guava and Lime soda. The guava came through first, more on the nose than the palate, and then the lime came racing in the back making for a very refreshing drink. This mixer would also pair beautifully well with a white rum such as Equiano white.

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 for 24

Assaranca Vodka

Size: 500ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £26.99

Drinks News

This week it’s all about Champagne and what to pair it with. Some say caviar works best, many say fish and chips are the way to go but Champagne Laurent Perrier have created the perfect bag of crisps to pair with their Champagne! This bag of crisps, aptly named ‘Chip Shop Scraps and Fries’ is a playful take on fish and chips and contains scraps of batter, thin-cut fries and crunchy peas seasoned with salt and malt vinegar! You can pick a pack up from Sainsbury’s for £1.75 and if you want the champagne to match you’ll only have to fork out an extra 24x the price of your crisps ;)

Bryan Rodriquez

We are joined in the studio by the wonderful Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer for Harvey Nichols. He tells us all about his upcoming wedding, what it’s like to be the wine and spirits buyer for Harvey Nichols and shares a few drinker’s discoveries you’re going to want to try!

Drinkers Discovery

We are treated to a Drinker’s Discovery this week as Bryan has brought a bottle of Boom Beer into the studio all the way from Belgium! This particular beer, VAT31, is a lambic style sour beer. It was brewed in 2015 before being naturally fermented in big old barrels which have been around for over 100 years before finally being bottled in 2020! The beer itself will last until 2040 and will age like fine wine. To look at, it is cloudy and orangey, it smells like beer but has a California chardonnay note to it and a lot of light woody influence from all its time in the barrel. It’s creamy to taste and not gassy at all and would work wonderfully with sushi, fish and chips and roast chicken. This would be a great way to get wine drinkers into beer although it is very hard to get your hands on in the UK. For those looking for something easier to find, Burning sky is a UK-based sour beer producer well worth looking into.

Bang for Buck

You can’t beat a bargain and Helena has found a corker! Tesco has a new range of £5 wines that are produced fairly and taste great for their price point! You can find out more here.

This next one is not a cheap bargain; however, it is still a big bargain. Harvey Nichols Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is actually made using the same grapes that are de-classified from Insignia, Joseph Phelps's world renowned 3-figure iconic wine. Considering a bottle of Insignia retails at nearly 10 times the price of this bottle, it is an absolute steal and it will age beautifully for another 10+ years.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £35

If you like the sound of this and want to hear more, make sure to listen in today and to read more of Bryan’s recommendations, click here!