The World's Best Value Whisky

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many whiskies being released each year it is hard to tell which are the ones that really punch above their price point. With the explosion of non-age statement expressions over the last ten years, the value proposition of whisky has never been better. Whisky fans the world over have come to realise that quality and flavour aren’t always about age.

There are of course countries where the whisky matures so quickly, that to have one which is older than the statutory three years is quite an accomplishment. I am thinking in particular about Paul John in India and Rochfort in Australia. Both are fabulous whiskies and I will write more on them later. This article is all about finding that incredible quality at a great price point. I’ve chosen six of my favourites, other people I am sure could add to this list, but I don’t think you’d go wrong if you picked up one of these in the shops.

Glen Moray Classic

Now, I accept this 1.75l bottle is not easy to find as you have to go to the distillery in Elgin to buy it, although some shops have stocked the odd one having first bought it at the distillery.

Once you take into consideration the size of the bottle, this works out at just £20 per standard 700ml, and it is amazing value. Full of orchard fruits, vanilla and honey, this is a classic Speyside. They say that with the microclimate at the distillery where the warehouses are, the whisky matures that little bit quicker than the rest of Speyside, which means this non-age statement whisky certainly tastes mature. This is a great gateway whisky into all things Glen Moray, and if you liked this I’d try the 12 and 18 year olds which are great value for their age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.85 // $34.99
Large sized bottle: 1750ml // £50

Filey Bay

This is the flagship expression from Filey Bay. Distilled in Yorkshire, this whisky is made using only homegrown barely at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery. The whisky has intense apricot and peach flavours mixed with lots of ex bourbon-cask characteristics of vanilla and honey. This is very easy going for 46% and is one of the new breeds of English whiskies which are full of flavour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £48.95 

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

This is a big step up from the standard Four Roses, and is well worth spending the extra on. It has a mixture of mashbills and is made in Lawrenceburg Tennessee. The skill is bringing all the different mashbills together and creating a whiskey with huge amounts of well balanced flavour. There are ten mashbill recipes at Four roses, and they use four of them to make this whiskey. It’s fabulous value for money with flavours of dark honey, spices, toasted oak and a little vanilla.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £29.90 // US $47.99

Wild Turkey 101

The 101 in Wild Turkey pertains to its alcohol strength. In the USA they have Proof rather than abv which is double whatever the European abv is. Hence 55.% abv and 101 proof. With the higher proof, this whiskey packs a punch, yet manages to remain smooth and balanced. The whiskey is at least six years old before it comes out of the barrel for bottling, adding to the extra punch of flavour. A great value bourbon with good age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 55.5%
Find here: UK £29.95 // US £32.99

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

Over the last decade, we have seen the rise and rise of Japanese whisky, and we have also seen the prices rise at an astonishing rate. A less expensive way of making whisky which is usually reserved for making grain whisky is to use a Coffey still which has a continuous distillation. Here Nikka use a Coffey for their malted barley and the result is a rich, fruity and typically Japanese whisky and is a great place to start a journey into Japanese whisky. It’s still not the cheapest malt whisky in the world, but it isn’t expensive for Japanese whisky and is certainly worth it.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £54.90 // US $99.99

J.P Wiser 18 year old

I tried this whisky a few weeks ago whilst in Ontario Canada where the whisky has been made since 1857 and started selling bottles in 1893. They sold only casks before that! It is a super smooth blended whisky with plenty of orchard fruits and a little cracked black pepper. A little fine oak comes through in the background and finish. If this were an 18 year old Scotch it would be at least 50% more expensive and therefore I think it is a great bang for your buck!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40.95

If you enjoyed this, then why not have a read of The Best Whisky for Beginners or The Most Luxurious Whisky in the World

The Best Whiskies For Beginners

Words by Colin Hampden-White

To begin to suggest great whiskies for beginners, I have presumed that the drinker has already determined that they like whisky. I believe that for those who don’t already know they do, or don’t yet like whisky, that there is a whisky out there for them- maybe they will find it by enjoying it neat, maybe they will discover their love for the spirit through a cocktail but that’s for another article. In this piece I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is good value in its category versus the quality it gives and will suggest whiskies in flavour types rather than regions or countries as In these modern whisky times, nearly all regions are creating whiskies of all flavour types.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky  

My first offering in the sweet flavour camp. Made from grain whisky, which although is less complex than malt, has great depth of flavour and this whisky certainly displays this. By using 1st fill bourbon casks, and then after a few years placing the whisky into another set of 1st fill bourbon casks, the spirit gets a double hit of rich crème brûlée sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £21.95

Glenfiddich and Glenlivet

Moving on from sweet to fruity I have two typical Scotch whiskies. They both compete for the world’s most sold single malt and with good reason. These are fabulous whiskies. Great value for money and often seen on special offer, especially around Christmas. They both come from Speyside and use a mixture of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. They are both 12 years old but have different fruits to offer. Glenfiddich is orchard fruit led and Glenlivet is more stone fruit led. Both are delicious.

Glenfiddich 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £32.99 // US $64.99 

The Glenlivet 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £33.49 // US $56.99

GlenDronach 12 year old

Now we move to some of the bigger bolder flavours. Firstly, spicy and I wanted to suggest a sherry bomb. This is a whisky which has been matured in mainly 1st fill ex-sherry casks giving huge depth and breadth of flavour with lots of Christmas cake flavours and typical spicy flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Balanced with sweetness, this whisky is big and bold. Whiskies matured in ex-sherry casks tend to be a little more expensive as the casks can be up to ten times more expensive than ex-bourbon casks, but they are certainly worth it if sherry spice is your thing.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £44.95 // US $63.99

Ardbeg An Oa

One of the biggest flavours of them all is peat. Smokey whiskies can split a room, but for those that like them there is nothing like a big smoky, peaty whisky. For those who know they like smoke in their whisky but are just starting out. Or for those who are just starting to experiment with smoky whisky, I’d suggest one which has a lot of other flavour to temper the smoke. This whisky has a high level of peat, but the fruity flavours created by the many different types of casks used brings everything into balance. There are flavours of golden syrup and cigars with hints of chocolate as well as a good dollop of sweet bbq smoke.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46.6%
Find here: UK £41.90 // US $76.99 

Strathmill 12 year old – Flora and Fauna

The lightest of the flavour profiles is floral. This profile can often be subtle as other bigger bolder flavours mask the floral notes. Sometimes a little water in a dram can bring out the florality in a whisky. This whisky comes from a range called Flora and Fauna, which gives you an idea of where it is heading. This Flora and Fauna range is discontinued but can still be found online at the moment quite easily. With notes of grass, citrus blossom, dry hay and cut herbs alongside vanilla and orchard fruits, the floral notes can easily be tasted.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £44.95

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 year old

I wanted to suggest a whisky which has all of the above in one bottle. It is of course a blend. I like to describe blends as an orchestra, with all the instruments playing at once giving balance and harmony. This whisky has a little sweetness and spice, some smoke, plenty of fruit, and a touch of florality. Being 12 years old means that the youngest whisky in the bottle is 12 years old but there are older whiskies in the blend. A great all-rounder and superb value for money.

Size: 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £26.89 // US $51.99

Jameson

Lastly, I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is the ultimate beginners whisky. It is very smooth being triple distilled, it is sweet and fruity and has none of the challenging flavours such as spice or smoke. It is the biggest selling Irish brand in the world and with good reason. With honey, apples, a touch of tropical fruit and a touch of florality, this is my best value versus flavour offering for any beginner.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $37.99

 For more whisky suggestions, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskey or 5 Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

The Best Rum For Under £30

Rum is a delicious spirit and has brilliant utility in cocktails, but when it comes to building your own collection - where do you even begin? There’s thousands out there, flavoured and unflavoured, dark and light, big brands and microdistilleries… It’s not just the sheer amount of brands to pick from, it’s also the massive price range.

Spirits can get really expensive at times, but we want to make sure you’re getting the best value for money when you go rum shopping. Because of that, we’ve put together this list of the best rums under £30!

Decorrum Spiced Rum

With such a stylish, mysterious, black bottle you’d be forgiven for thinking Decorrum Spiced Rum was actually an art deco perfume or ancient Egyptian vase. In fact, it’s a scrumptious spiced rum with a mix of spices that include honeycomb, vanilla, ginger, rhubarb, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel. That intricate blend makes for a stylish rum that is rich, creamy and spicy.

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70cl
Find it here: £28.75

Aluna Coconut Rum

When you think coconut rum, you probably think Malibu - but why not break out of that mindset! Try Aluna and we promise you’ll never go back. It’s a tasty combination of Guatemalan and Caribbean rums mixed with toasted coconut and coconut water to create a coconut rum you’ll be rushing to the kitchen to use in a daiquiri!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £21.20

O.V.D. Demerara Rum

If you’re wondering what OVD stands for, it actually stands for Old Vatted Demerara, so saying OVD Demerara Rum is basically saying Old Vatted Demerara Demerara Rum. That’s a nice, pedantic way of introducing this delicious and great value rum. The name doesn’t relate to its ingredients, but to the unique way that this rum is made. It’s distilled from molasses in a wooden Coffey still in Guyana but is actually bottled in Glasgow! That’s some journey… With a syrupy, buttery palate with notes of coffee and banana, this great value rum should be in your shopping basket ASAP.

ABV: 40%
Size: 70ml
Find it here: £20.90

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum is another rum made using the Demerara method! Created in Guyana using native sugar cane, the rum is then flavoured with clementine and a Caribbean spice mix that includes vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, star anise and clove. The zest of the orange balances the toffee flavours on the palate, with the spices hitting you on the finish.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £28.92

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo is a delicious, dark, Dominican rum with a rounded and balanced flavour profile. You’ll get espresso, dark chocolate, toasted hazelnut and manuka honey - indulgent but totally needed. You can either have this over ice with some lime or try it out in any rum cocktail of your choosing… you won’t be disappointed!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £22.99

El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum

White rum is always good to have on hand, and El Dorado 3 Year Old is shaping up to be one of our favourites - especially at such a good price! It’s another Demerara rum, meaning it’s been made using the traditional method. If you’re looking for something crisp and fresh while still maintaining those characteristic brown sugar notes, look to El Dorado 3 Year Old. It’s great in a rum-based Pornstar Martini!

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £22.90 // US $24.99

Greedy Fox Flavoured Rum

We can assure you that the name of this rum won’t be the only greedy thing in the house after you’ve acquired Greedy Fox Flavoured Rum. This dark rum is flavoured with caramel and honeycomb which gives it an aroma similar to a Crunchie bar.. Mmmm… However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a sickly sweet rum! It’s well balanced and is TO. DIE. FOR. in an Espresso Martini!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £29.95

Golden Buck Rum

Golden Buck Rum has been infused with cherry and vanilla, giving it a creamy and fruity taste not found in many other rums! It’s very moreish, with tropical flavours of cooked pineapple and brown sugar making Golden Buck a big favourite in the flavoured rum community! Try this simply mixed with cola to fully appreciate all of the cherry and vanilla flavours...

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £29.95

Ever wondered which rums will best elevate your cocktails? If, so read on! Otherwise, how about having a read of 7 Rums that Scream Luxury?!

New and Exciting Whiskies to Try

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There seems to be a new whisky release every few weeks these days. This can largely be attributed to the myriad of distilleries that started to distill a few years ago that now have spirit they can call whisk(e)y due to it having spent at least three years maturing in a barrel. I have tasted a great deal of them, and there are certainly whiskies which stand out in the crowd. Unsurprisingly, some of these come from outside of Scotland, but not all, and there is a particular whisky from the other side of the world which is already good and will get better and better with age. I’ll start off my recommendations in my home country and then range further afield giving my picks of whisky that is well worth discovering.

Nc’nean Organic Single Malt Whisky Batch 14

I have written about Nc’nean before with previous batches, and the consistency keeps on going. The batches are all very consistent and very good. The whisky is rich and fruity by using both wine and ex bourbon STR casks (shaved, toasted, re-chared). Added to that they are using 100% recycled bottles. A great start from one of Scotland’s newest distilleries.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £46.45

Isle of Raasay Batch R-02 Hebridean Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Continuing from the first whiskies produced by the Isle of Raasay distillery is a brilliant second batch. In the same tradition as the first, using peated and non-peated whisky, in various types of oak including American Oak Chinkapin and ex port pipes, this gives lots of red fruit flavours and rich honey with a soft bbq smoke running through the background. Even having been bottled at a slightly higher strength than most whiskies, it is still extremely smooth.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.4%
Find here: £48

White Peak 2 year old (That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company)

I visited White Peak for the first time for the launch of their new whisky called Wire Works. The whisky is seriously impressive with big bold flavours using STR casks. The balance and depth of the whisky is akin to drams a great deal older, and had I tasted this whisky blind I would never have guessed it was little over three years old. There were only tiny amounts of the first release, so look out for further releases, but for now to get an idea of how good this whisky is, the chaps at That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company have bottled an excellent spirit from White Peak. It’s called spirit as it’s only two years old, but excellent all the same!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £49.95

Masthouse Single Malt

Masthouse Malt comes from one of the most southerly distilleries in England. Down in Kent, right on the coast, the Copper Rivet distillery is specialising in local barley malted in Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The result is a fruity and complex whisky which has great balance. It manages to be mature and ready to drink whilst retaining its distillery and spirit character. It’s no mean feat, and a whisky I would certainly try if you’re after something new and exciting.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £39.95

Aber Falls Autumn 2021 release

Moving away from England we have only the second distillery to be built in Wales. At the foot of Snowdonia, Aber Falls is on the coast in a beautiful area that is well worth a trek to. They work with local farmers for their barley, so the whisky truly is from Wales. Using ex Pedro Ximénez, oloroso, bourbon casks and virgin oak casks, there are bountiful fruit flavours and a subtle underlying spice in this whisky. The whisky has lots of complexity with nuts and dark chocolate with coffee, zesty orange peel and vanilla toffee.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26

The Cardrona Growing Wings Solera – Sherry and Bourbon Cask

Hailing from the other side of the world in New Zealand is Cardrona. Their first batch “Just Hatched” was a huge success, and this next one is even more complex and fruity. Bottled at a huge 64.9%, it certainly packs a punch, but not so much as to blow your head off. It is surprisingly gentle on the nose and full of flavour. The wood and climate have certainly worked their magic. It’s an exotic whisky, and although quite pricy in comparison to other young whiskies, it is made in tiny amounts and is a real treat.

Size: 350ml
ABV: 64.9%
Find here: £73.99

Do you like Irish whiskey? If so, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskeys, or if you are a fan of an Old Fashioned Cocktail, how about checking out The Best Whiskies for an Old Fashioned?!

The Best Eco-Friendly Gins

Words by Leigh Andrews

With us all having to be more aware of the effect our lives have on our precious planet, we’ve found some great gins whose distillers are making a conscious effort to help us look after our environmental impact! From gin pouches through your letterbox, to refilling your bottle directly at the distillery, and even an innovative aluminium refill bottle, we’ve got a great selection so you can keep enjoying your gin knowing you’re doing your bit to help!

Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom

Dunnet Bay Distillers, the super talented bunch behind Rock Rose, and recent winners of an Environmental/Sustainability award are stepping ever closer to their net-zero ambition with their fantastic fully recyclable pouches. They also have a refill rewards club where you can choose any one of their gorgeous gin pouches (or vodka) to be delivered with some extra little delicious free goodies including tonics, at intervals of your choice directly to your door! We chose this SUPERB Pink Grapefruit Old Tom, an incredibly well-balanced gin, with the delicious zest of fresh organic pink grapefruit peel and that gorgeous Old Tom signature sweetness lingering on the palate. Enjoy with a light tonic garnished with fresh pink grapefruit peel.

ABV: 41.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32

Glaswegin Original London Dry Gin

One of those iconic bottles you want to keep on your shelf forever and the gin inside is no less of a talking point. Winner of World Gin Awards Best Scottish London Dry, Glaswegin not only provides a refill pouch for their amazing bottles, they also supply upcycling kits to turn your bottle into a soap dispenser (which they also sell refills for) or to keep the spotlight on that design winner….a Glaswegin Lamp Upcycling kit! To calm you down after all that homeware excitement, how about filling up your bottle and enjoying a bold, lightly sweet citrus gin that has an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel and a fresh finish, this is a no nonsense gin so serve simply with ice and tonic or we absolutely LOVE it with a sprig of fresh mint!

ABV: 41.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32.95

Darnley's London Dry Gin

Truly a cottage industry, Darnley’s established their gin making in a cottage right next door to their Kingsbarns whisky distillery. Passionate about using all natural ingredients, many of their botanicals, including the feature Elderflower in their London Dry, are growing wild in their surrounding area. In their drive for sustainability, all of their original gins including their Spiced and Navy Strength are available in refill pouches. So how about popping a pouch of this fabulously floral London Dry into a picnic basket and enjoying a glorious lazy afternoon sipping on a Darnley’s and light tonic with a slice of lemon and a big dose of sunshine?!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £28

Bullards Old Tom Gin

2020 Winners of The Gin Guide Sustainability Award, Bullards, as well as making AMAZING award winning Norwich gin are also passionate about reducing their carbon footprint. Encouraging their customers to keep their stunning bottles for life, Bullards has produced what we think is an exceptionally ergonomic refill pouch. Easy to pour and even easier to drink! You can choose from any one of their 4 exceptional gins, or why not try all of them, it would be rude not to! This Old Tom is wonderfully warming with pink pepper, rich fruity mango and luscious sweetness from Norfolk honey, lifted by gorgeous grapefruit citrus. Serve with tonic over ice with a slice of lemon or grapefruit for a true taste of Norwich!

ABV: 42.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £35

Wood Brothers Single Estate Gin

A true farm to bottle gin! Wood Brothers make their own base spirit using winter wheat grown on their Oxfordshire farm giving them full control of the quality going into their bottles. If that isn’t impressive enough they even reuse the waste water from the distilling process to heat the greenhouses to grow some of the botanicals such as lavender, rosemary and dill that go into this outstanding gin as well. Their stylish statement piece bottles deserve to be kept to grace your gin shelf. We LOVE this superbly smooth, aromatic gin with a light tonic and a sprig of rosemary, and it can absolutely hold its own in a classic Negroni or a gorgeous Martini!!!

ABV: 44%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: UK £27

And now some refills with a difference……..

There are some other options instead of pouches; if you are lucky enough to live near a local gin distillery you love, or even make a destination visit to, they could very well offer bottle refills where you take your empty bottle and they refill it for you for a discounted price! One absolute favourite is ….

Pickering’s Gin Navy Strength - bottle refill

In what was the old Edinburgh vet school animal hospital, lies Pickering’s Gin. Based on an inherited family recipe this exceptional gin is one you will keep wanting to refill that lovely little chunky bottle with, and in our case being the Navy Strength that little bottle comes with its very own Bearskin - not a real Bearskin we hasten to add but a perfect little replica! And you NEVER have to throw it away because if you treat yourself to a visit to the distillery, one of the lovely team will happily refill your bottle, it's like the everlasting gobstopper of the gin world! In Original or Navy Strength, they even let you attempt to do a wax resealing…I need a lot more lessons, my attempt was described as  “unique”! Just as well it has a hat to cover it! 

Bring out the wonderful spices of cardamom and anise, and the sweetness of the fennel in this gorgeous gin in a simple serve with tonic, ice and a generous squeeze of lime! 

ABV: 57.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: Pickering's Distillery 15% discount for refills

And last but definitely not least is this fabulous Refill Project innovation from London Spirits Competition Gold Award Winners Isle of Harris……created as part of an ongoing refill solutions experiment…

Isle of Harris Gin - Aluminium Refill Bottle

Anyone familiar with the absolutely beautiful Isle of Harris gin knows it comes in an equally beautiful bottle evocative of the wind-blown seas around the Isle. It’s a bottle that nobody wants to part with and now you don’t have to! Looking for an easily recyclable refill solution, they’ve come up with a ‘top-up’ subscription where you will be sent your gin monthly in a 500ml aluminium bottle, to regularly top up your existing 700ml gin….the neverending bottle!!. With aluminium being the most cost-effective material to recycle this is a great alternative to recycling the glass bottle…and who would want to! This wonderfully refreshing gin with that delicious sweet saltiness umami of the sugar kelp and that warming peppery finish is a gorgeous sipping gin!  If you want to get that WOW factor, serve it with a good tonic, a few drops of sugar kelp water and garnish with pink grapefruit! 

ABV: 45% 
Size: 500ml
Find Here: 12 month subscription see website for details

Wondering what to add your gin to? Then, have a gander at The Most Popular Gin Cocktails. If you're looking for more gin-ius (see what we did there?!) suggestions, then why not check out these Colour Changing Gins?!

The Best Tequila cocktails

Words by Ana Patterson

Everyone knows someone who ‘hates tequila’ and the chances are that a past experience with one too many tequila shots is to blame! There are some stunning tequilas and some equally stunning tequila-based cocktails out there that are well worth a try though. So, take that lime wedge out of your hand and pop it in the base of a cocktail shaker, you’re about to look at tequila in a whole new light.

Spicy Tommy’s Margarita

Once you’ve had this cocktail, you’ll never go back. You’ll also transcend reality. You might even run down the street barefoot shouting with joy because THIS. COCKTAIL. IS. AMAZING… have we convinced you to try it yet?! Top Tip: the spiciness of this cocktail depends on the chilli, so make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start shaking ;)

Ingredients
1 slice of deseeded and chopped chilli
60ml reposado tequila
15ml agave syrup
30ml lime juice
top of a chilli pepper for the garnish (deseeded) 

Method
Muddle the sliced chilli in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and fine strain into an ice filled rocks glass.

Añejo Old Fashioned

Massive whisky afficiando at the tequila party? There’s often one… However much they might insist that nothing will beat their whisky, you must insist harder that this Añejo Old Fashioned is very much worth their time. The aged Añejo tequila provides oaky notes, spice and flavours of roasted agave which is bound to put a smile on even their face.

Ingredients
60ml añejo tequila
7.5ml agave syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
orange peel

Method
Add the tequila, agave syrup and bitters to a tumbler with a big ice cube and stir well for around 30 seconds to combine. Garnish with the orange peel.

Tequila Mockingbird

Like the pun?! If not, off to the library with you it is! If you’re going for the classy, progressive Atticus Finch look - you’re going to need one of these in your hand. We’re not sure how the watermelon fits in with the novel, but it sure fits into the cocktail well!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
15ml lime juice
15ml agave syrup
3 watermelon cubes
1 slice jalapeño 

Method
Muddle the watermelon cubes and jalapeño in the bottom of the cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled and fine strain into a glass over ice.

Frozen Margarita

It may not quite be summer, but we’re certainly not far off now. That calls for the summer drink of all summer drinks - the Frozen Margarita! This is basically a margarita slushie and the recipe is the same as a normal margarita - just with added ice and a blender. Blend it baby!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml Cointreau
25ml lime juice
15ml sugar syrup
large handful of ice
wedge of lime to garnish 

Method
Place all the ingredients in a blender, excluding the lime wedge, and blend until smooth. Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!

Tequila Sunrise

It may be called a sunRISE, but we recommend you drink these at sunset instead… The name actually comes from what the drink looks like when it’s in the glass. For this reason, don’t stir in the grenadine when you pour it in or it will ruin the beautiful ombre effect that the different colours give! Don’t look at it for too long, however, because it’s really all about the flavours! Refreshing and fruity, this long tequila drink is one to note down.

Ingredients
100ml orange juice
50ml blanco tequila
30ml grenadine
maraschino cherry and orange wheel for garnish

Method
Fill a large glass with ice and pour in orange juice and tequila. Pour over the grenadine and do not stir. Garnish with the cherry and orange wheel. Enjoy!

Paloma

According to legend, the Paloma is named after a popular Mexican folk song written in the 1860s! Now isn’t that a fun fact! The grapefruit juice and grapefruit soda in this cocktail gives it a wonderful tang that tastes great with the blanco tequila. It’s super easy to make, and has a really pretty pink tinge to it that looks perfect with a grapefruit wheel garnish!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml grapefruit juice
12.5ml lime juice
7.5ml agave syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
wheel of grapefruit for garnish 

Method
Shake the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass and top up with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a wheel of grapefruit.

Bloody Maria

Had enough of Bloody Marys? Ready to move onto something a little different? Try a Bloody Maria! While the name might not be totally inventive (with Maria being Spanish for Mary), the swap of vodka for tequila really elevates this classic cocktail and gives it an extra hit of flavour not achieved by the vodka. Let us know if you have a go!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
100ml tomato juice
12.5ml lemon juice
1tsp horseradish
3 dashes tabasco
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch black pepper
lime wedge for garnish
lemon wedge for garnish
celery stick for garnish 

Method
Add all ingredients except for garnishes to an ice filled shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a glass over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge, lime wedge and celery stick. Extra chilli optional!

Mexican Mule

We love super simple cocktails, and so today we’re travelling to the other side of the world to mix up a Mexican Mule! Tequila and lime are always a perfect match, but putting them with ginger beer really takes things up a notch and creates a delicious cocktail that is easy to make and very easy to drink!

Ingredients
60ml reposado tequila
15ml lime juice
10ml agave syrup/sugar syrup
good quality ginger beer
lime wedge for garnish

Method
Add the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup/sugar syrup to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake until ice cold. Strain into an ice filled glass and top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a wedge of lime and enjoy!

If you want to read more tequila recommendations, have a look at The Best Tequilas for Margaritas or The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!

3 Ways to Get Better at Smelling Wine

[Partnership post with TasterPlace]

They say that the more you know about something, the more interesting you find it and nowhere is this more true than in the wonderful world of wine. The good news is, you can train your nose over a relatively short amount of time to pick out more complex smells in wine. The great news is, however, that any kind of smelling practice can have hugely positive effects on your wellbeing and can even help to stave off degenerative diseases like Alzheimers! Never has there been more reason to pay even more attention to what’s in your wine glass, so in this article, you will find three ways to help you do that better. 

What are the benefits of smelling practice?

Last year during lockdown, we put together this piece on the benefits of certain scents on our wellbeing, such as lavender for sleep or sandalwood for focus and calm. There are also links to articles on the psychology of smell with emotion and memory as well how we can stave off Dementia with smelling practice. One study, published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, also states that wine experts and those who work with olfaction-based industries such as perfume-making are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and Dementia compared to those in other professions. This is because those who train their noses in this way have ‘enhanced’, stronger or thicker parts of the brain that are tied to smell and memory. This is super important as it is these areas that are also linked to neurodegenerative diseases. 

Practice picking out aromas in wine

When first getting started with wine, it all just smells like… well.. wine, doesn’t it? We go to tastings and hear the expert bang on about crunchy red fruits or stewed purple plums and think, really? Is it possible to get that specific? Suddenly though, as soon as a specific smell is mentioned then wham! You find it right there. Has this happened to you? As one of those ‘experts’, I'm here to tell you that it is not all suggestive rubbish; the more you dive in and pay attention, the more you really do ‘see’ or in this case, smell. Here are three ways you can get better at playing the wine aroma detective:

1. Pay attention. That’s right! Just like driving a car after doing it for years, often when we drink wine, we literally just drink it without thinking about what it tastes like. Instead, ask yourself some questions: Does the aroma jump out of the glass or is it more reserved? Does it smell very fruity and if so, what kind of fruit? Can you pinpoint it? Is it blackcurranty like Ribena or more tart like cherries? Or maybe it’s jammy like ripe strawberries? The same goes for anything that isn’t fruit. Is it herbaceous? Are there hints of spices? If so, always ask yourself what kind!

2. Compare and contrast. Wine on its own tastes just like wine. With two or more, however, you will be able to play spot the difference. Take two different grape varieties for example, like Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Compare their looks; which one is more cherry red and which is more purple black? Next, compare the aromas. Is one more like raspberry or cherry and the other like cassis? Comparison is good because it’s the differences between them that help you learn. If ever you need an excuse for that second glass of wine, this is it!

3. Invest in a smelling kit. One very simple and effective way to regularly boost your sniffing skills is to invest in a blind smelling kit. This way, you can test yourself a little every day and start getting very specific about the exact notes that you are picking out in your favourite glass of wine - and all without feeling obliged to pop several corks a day! Kits such as the AROMAS made by TasterPlace come with small vials of aromatic oils, each with a specific scent often found in wine. The white wine kit, for example, has twelve vials of aromas, each numbered underneath so you can test yourself again and again until you can get them all right. Learn how to spot the difference between lemon and grapefruit, pear and green apple, honey and butter - and more! 

TasterPlace AROMAS collections 

Italian-owned TasterPlace currently has five kits on offer: one for red wine, one for white wine, one for beer, one for olive oil and one for chocolate. There are twelve vials in each kit as well as a full tasting guide that talks you through colour and flavour as well as aromatics. The aroma samples are produced with stable aromatic solutions which means they can be used over time without losing their intensity. They come in elegant black boxes the size of a hardback book and we think they make amazing gifts for the wine lover in your life! 

The AROMAS collections are on sale on TasterPlace’s website www.tasterplace.com, where you can also find a variety of information on the world of tasting and the TasterPlace blog.

6 Cocktails Perfect for Easter

This year the weather looks set to be beautiful over the Easter bank holiday, so why not indulge in a cocktail or two before you dive into those Easter eggs?! Whether you love gin or vodka, or whiskey or rum, there is a cocktail waiting for you to try.

For the Gin Lover: Royal Tea Cocktail

This may well be our favourite cocktail in the guide as it combines two well-loved drinky treats all in one delicious cocktail; gin and tea! Super easy to mix up and so refreshing, this really is the perfect cocktail to mix up during a lazy Easter Sunday.

Ingredients
45ml London Dry Gin
60ml chilled, freshly brewed Earl Grey tea
1 splash lemon juice to taste
1 tsp sugar to taste
Garnish with a lemon wheel

Method
Pour the gin and chilled Earl Grey tea into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice and add the lemon juice and sugar to taste. Stir well, garnish with a lemon wheel and enjoy!

For the Whiskey Lover: Whiskey Daisy

A favourite among whiskey lovers, this cocktail has many variations all of which are as easy to whip up as the next. The smokiness of the whiskey in this particular version combines beautifully with the complex flavours of the orange liqueur and the lemon juice and syrup tie all the flavours together perfectly leading to a cocktail you will be coming back for more of!

Ingredients
60ml (Smoky) Bourbon whiskey
30ml lemon juice
7.5ml simple syrup
15ml Grand Marnier
Sparkling water/club soda 

Method
Pour the whiskey, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add crushed ice and shake for 30 seconds until the shaker is cold to touch. Strain the chilled ingredients into a cocktail glass and top up with a splash of soda!

N.B. the whiskey will be the main stand out flavour in this cocktail so make sure you choose a premium one.

For the Champagne lover: French 77

It’s light, it’s refreshing, it’s floral and it’s sparkling… it truly is the perfect drink to enjoy at your Easter party.

Ingredients
30ml St. Germain
7.5ml lemon juice
120ml Champagne
Lemon twist for garnish 

Method
Pour the St. Germain and lemon juice into a flute, top up with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. Simple!

N.B. It is best to use a Brut champagne because of the elderflower liqueur’s sweetness. If you find the elderflower to be too sweet, lessen the amount you add to the cocktail until you find the right balance for you.

For the Tequila Lover: Paloma

Refreshing and so easy to make the earthy flavours of the tequila blend beautifully with the tartness of the grapefruit for an Easter cocktail that is bound to be a big crowd pleaser.

Ingredients
60ml Tequila
15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
Grapefruit soda
Lime wedge to garnish 

Method
Add the tequila and lime juice to the glass and fill it with ice. Top it off with the grapefruit soda stirring gently to combine, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

For the Rum Lover: Old Cuban Cocktail

Luxurious, minty and downright delicious, this cocktail was only invented in the early 2000s and is already a firm favourite of cocktail enthusiasts. It takes inspiration from the Mojito, with added complexity from the bitters all wrapped in a delicious champagne scarf. There truly is nothing not to like about it!

Ingredients
4 fresh mint leaves
45ml Havana Club 7yo rum
22.5ml freshly squeezed lime juice
15ml Monin Pure Cane Sugar Syrup
2 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
22.5ml Champagne
Garnish with a mint leaf. 

Method
Shake the mint leaves, rum, lime juice, sugar syrup and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Then, strain into a chilled coupe glass before topping with champagne and garnishing with a mint leaf.

N.B. The sparkling wine used here really makes a difference so if you are not a big fan of the champagne version, try mixing it up with prosecco or crémant instead. Prosecco will bring more fruit to the cocktail whereas the crémant will give a drier flavour.

For the Vodka Lover: Chocolate Martini

Rich, creamy and downright indulgent, this is a chocoholics delight. We couldn’t complete our Easter cocktail guide without a cheeky chocolate cocktail now could we?!

Ingredients
50ml Irish Cream Liqueur
50ml Chocolate liqueur (Godiva)
100ml vodka 

Method
Combine all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well until the outside of the shaker is cold to touch. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with shaved chocolate. NOM!

Wondering what to pair all that Easter chocolate with? Why not have a look at these Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?!