Rum's The Word: 6 Quality Rums You Need To Try

Words by Colin Hampden-White

In the last few years, the world of rum has exploded. The easiest way to tell how popular rum is becoming is to look at the supermarket shelves, the independent spirits specialists, and duty-free. As with whisky, when wine no longer dominated the duty-free (travel retail) shelves, some of that space whisky took over has now been taken over by rum. In the specialist rum world, auction prices have been rising. As rare whiskies like Port Ellen and Brora from closed distilleries used to be found at retail for a couple of hundred pounds, rums like Caroni like their whisky equivalents are now reaching into the thousands.

What does all this mean for the consumer? It means more choice, and good quality at the supermarket and specialist retail end. It’s the specialist retail side of the rum market that I find the most interesting. What would be known as premium rums are great value and there are big differences in style, but the quality is really shining through. I have found a few favourites over the last couple of months and thought you might like to know about them and maybe try a few that sound like rums you’d like. Unusually for me, there is no Hampden in this list, but then I can’t really say it’s a new discovery!

Bumbu

The first offering of Bumbu was a little weaker, but now the rum is at 40% it makes a big difference. It is still extremely smooth having been aged in the Caribbean and traditional spices which would have been used in the 16th and 17th centuries. These spices give lots of tropical fruits like caramelised banana and there are touches of ginger and chocolate. Overall it is rich, smooth and has a sweet edge without being sweetened.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £35.99 // US $34.99

MacNair’s Exploration Rum Jamaica - Unpeated

The rums under the MacNair’s Exploration collection are all blended by Billy Walker of GlenAllachie fame. The un-peated Jamaican expression was distilled at Clarendon distillery in Jamaica. This pot still rum was sourced by Master Blender Billy Walker from Southern Jamaica’s Clarendon Distillery and transferred to the cool Scottish climate for full maturation at The GlenAllachie Distillery. Initially filled with a mixture of American and French oak at 86% ABV, the rum was left to mature for 30 months at high, medium and low ester levels. After being expertly blended and reduced to 69% ABV, the spirit was re-filled to similar casks to complete its maturation journey. Even with two different wood types the rum still shines through with its unmistakable fruity tropical and slightly high estery funk. This is a great introduction to the rums of Jamaica.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £44

Mezan Chiriqui Moscatel Cask

This expression from Mezan comes from Panama and is named after the Chiriqui province in western Panama. The distillery uses sugar cane from its own plantations and even its own strain of yeast for fermentation giving the rum a unique flavour. The rum is also “untouched” as they call it, meaning no sweeteners or colouring has been added. These are small batch rums so will change, coming from different distilleries or having different styles. So, if you like this one, it’s a good idea not to buy just one bottle!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £32.50

Spirited Union Queen Pineapple & Spice

This is by far the most natural flavoured pineapple rum I have come across. With the slightly lower than normal abv it is very drinkable and also makes a brilliant Daiquiri. The pineapples used, Queen Victoria pineapples, are much smaller than normal pineapples, being about the size of a large lemon. These give fresh pineapple flavours and the spices added give waves of cinnamon, and there are nutty flavours and touches of brown sugar. Rich and comforting, and very mixable.

ABV: 38%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £24.59

Appleton Estate 12 Years Old 

This isn’t exactly a new discovery for me, and I have listed it before. But if you haven’t yet discovered it, then it’s about time. One of my all-time favourites for under £40. From Jamaica, it is fruity, but it also has lots of complexity with nutty flavours and crème caramel. The spices come through on a creamy plate along with brown sugar and fresh guava. The finish is very long, and this rum is great to be sipped or mixed.

ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £42.99 // US $45.99

Caroni 1996 21 Year Old 100% Imperial Proof

For the collectors or sippers of rare, exquisite rums, this Caroni is one of the best I’ve tried. It originally came to market at a little under £200 and just a couple of years later can be found for around double that if you’re lucky, and I’ve seen it sell for £500. It was aged for 21 years in Trinidad which created a huge 86% loss of liquid to the angles. It was then shipped to France and bottled in 2017. The style of the label is a reproduction of a 1940’s classic label and was created in homage to a golden period in Trinidadian rum.

ABV: 57.18%
Size: 700ml
Find here: Find at Auction for £350 - £500 (as of August 2022)

The above rums should give every rum fan something to explore and if you are at the beginning of your rum journey, a couple to start with which should whet your appetite for further exploration are the Bumbu, and if that wasn’t a new one for you, the MacNair’s. Both are very different, but both are delicious.

Enjoyed reading this? Then how about checking out The Best Rums to Elevate Your Cocktails or why not check out The Best Rum for under £30

9 White Wines Perfect for Summer Sipping

Words by Colin Hampden-White

In the northern hemisphere the summer is in full swing. Records are breaking with the UK hitting 40 degrees centigrade for the first time. Climate change is upon us and it’s not looking good. As a race we are very good at celebrating, but also commiserating so whatever the news be, bad or good let’s pop a cork, and in this heat it’s time for some white wine. With popular varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay flying off the shelves, it’s about time we stopped and recognised some of the other brilliant varieties we can get our mitts on and enjoy in the sun. Whether with food, or an aperitif, with cheese, chocolate or simply by itself, there is a white wine for every occasion. I’d like to show you a few of my favourite varieties which are not the norm but are brilliant. With white wine it really does pay to push the boat out and spend a little extra to get a lot more, and these wines are especially good value even if they are mostly a little over ten pounds.

Chapel Down Bacchus 2019

Starting off this little list is a small bottle. One doesn’t always need or want a full bottle, especially if you’re not sharing, and this little wine is a British classic. Bacchus is a grape variety which thrives in the UK, and in a good summer, which 2019 was, the wine can be even better. This wine goes very well with seafood or Thai food giving a crisp counterbalance to any heat.

Size: 187ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £6.06

Faustino VII Blanco

In Spain they have quite a few different varieties of grape we don’t see much of in the rest of Europe and in Rioja where this wine comes from Viura is used a lot. It’s a variety which is full of fruity flavours and will go very well with Tapas as one would expect, and with pasta dishes. This wine has been fermented in stainless steel giving the wine freshness and vibrancy as it doesn’t have any of the oaky flavours associated with barrel fermentation.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £9.45

Hanewald-Schwerdt Riesling Trocken 2018

This is a dry yet very fruity Riesling from Germany, the king of Riesling. Riesling tends to age very well, and I find drinks much better having had a few years in the bottle as this one has. With lots of orchard fruits there is also a mineral backbone to the wine as the grapes are grown in limestone soils. This would be a great accompaniment to seafood, or even something a little fatty like a pork dish or cheese.  

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here:  £10.49

Beronia Rioja Viura 2020

Beronia is a well-known brand in the UK for their red wines which are rich and expressive. Their white wine is also full of fruit, and this Rioja has lots of tropical fruit which goes very well with fish, salads, and charcuterie. The balance of the wine is very good with a backbone of acidity able to cut through fattier foods like salami and prosciutto. The slightly raised abv also helps this wine stand up to richer dishes.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £11.03

Tornai Furmint F 2017

Furmint is a grape variety which is usually known for producing sweet wines, but the dry wines created from this grape variety can be excellent. The wines are a little like chardonnay and are full of flavour and body. This one has been fermented in stainless steel to keep the freshness and fruitiness in check with a backbone of minerality. Like chardonnay, Furmint can age very well, and this wine at five years old has lots of complexity and will pair very well with complex foods like those from Asia.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £11.72

Diamantakis Vidiano 2018

I am a fan of Vidiano, I go to Crete every year and Vidiano is indigenous to the Island. My favourite Vidiano comes from the Manousakis winery under the brand Nostos, and if you’re in Sweden or the USA you may well be able to find some. But more widely spread is this excellent bottle also from a family fun winery Diamantakis. The wine is fresh as its grapes are grown with a little altitude and it has a creamy velvety texture which pairs very well with risottos and grilled fish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £12.98

Lionel Faury Condrieu La Berne 2018

This is a wine for special occasions or for moments to remember. The name La Berne comes from the previous owners of the land the grapes are grown in, it’s made from 100% Viognier and the vines are over 35 years old. Oak is used in the process with 30% of it being new barrels. The wine has touches of creamy oak in amongst the fruits which are dominated by fresh apricots and touches of orange blossom. At 14% it is full bodied, but very well balanced and like the Vidiano this is a brilliant wine to pair with risotto.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £44.95

Inniskillin Gold Vidal Icewine 2018

This wine is from the brilliant 2018 vintage and is made from 100% Vidal grapes which are harvested and then pressed when they are frozen. This process allows the juices to be very concentrated. It is very sweet, but also has a lot of apricot fruit and touches of pomelo. If you’re a fan of Sauternes then this is something different, but is in no way a lesser wine to its more famous cousin. Like Sauternes it pairs well with cheese, but also has enough complexity to have with a main dish too!

Size: 375ml
ABV: 9.5%
Find here: £46.85

Pongracz Brut Brut Méthode Cap Classique

This wine is an absolute bargain. Made from traditional champagne grape varieties in South Africa’s Western Cape, the vines are cooled by a maritime breeze keeping the wine fresh and balanced yet fruity. There are flavours of crisp apples and brioche and a little nuttiness. Like Champagne this wine will pair with many foods but is particularly good with raw fish or Oysters. For under ten pounds, this wine will never fail to impress.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.6%
Find here: £9.80

With such variety in the white wine world, it is only right there is a day dedicated to it, but it really needs to be a week! If you try any of the above, don’t let them just be for summer. They are wines which will be very tasty at any time of year and will last for a while in bottle too, just don’t keep them on a top shelve in the kitchen, but rather in a cool cupboard.

If you’re looking for more white wine recommendations, then make sure you check out the Albariño grape and the stunning Spanish wine region of Rueda.

9 Beautiful Bottles of Shiraz you have to try!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Shiraz is a grape variety that is a little misunderstood I feel. Most will know what they will get from a Shiraz. Something bold, sometimes a little jammy and a touch sweet, but always full of fruit.

Shiraz is Syrah by another name. Some think that it originated in Shiraz in Iran, but in fact, the grapes from that area are completely different and we now know the variety probably originated in Southwestern France. However, today in Europe, Shiraz is mostly called Syrah, and in the new world of wine (areas outside of Europe with a couple of exceptions), Syrah is mostly known as Shiraz.

Wherever it is being grown, there are some great wines being created so here are a few of my favourites. I’m going to start at a price point that’s affordable for most, up to some very special occasion wines from some of the best that Australia has to offer.

Outback Jack Shiraz 2020 Berton Vineyard

Hailing from South Eastern Australia comes this very good value for money wine. It’s big and bold, but the tannins are rounded and smooth. There are lots of red fruits and well-balanced oak. Ideally, I’d let this wine age for a year or two, but with a big old BBQ it will drink very well. I’d chill it a little if you’re drinking it in the midday sun, as the flavours are full enough to handle it and that little cooling will take the effect of the alcohol on the nose down and let the fruit shine.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.95

Pete’s Pure Shiraz 2019 

Coming from New South Wales in Australia, this is a little less bold than The Outback Jack, but still not a shy wine. The flavours are full and complex. With lots of blackcurrant, oaky vanilla and chocolate notes, this wine is very versatile and will pair very well with good cuts of red meat. The alcohol level is slightly lower than most Australian wines giving the feel of refined quality. It’s smooth, dry and quite soft which is great for a wine that’s ready to drink now and for the next few years.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £9.99

Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz 2020

The grapes for this wine come from all over the Barossa area and the resulting wine is intense and opulent with lots of mocha flavours from the oak ageing and dark brooding fruits, like blackberry and plums. This would pair well with game or with a flame-grilled steak. Ideally, I’d decant the wine and let it breathe for an hour before drinking as this will soften the tannin and bring out the more complex flavours.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.50

Leaps and Bounds Shiraz

From South Eastern Australia this wine is an easy-going everyday wine that is great value. Here at Amazon, it’s £9, but can be found on offer frequently. In the UK in Sainsbury’s, for example, it is now only £7. It’s a lighter-bodied Shiraz than many but still has bold flavours and will pair well with pizza, Italian dishes, charcuterie, and cheese. The dog on the label is Bob, who was a masterless dog traveling all over Australia as a companion to train drivers and the wine is inspired by friendship and a spirit of exploration.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9

Hermann’s Vineyard Shiraz 2018 JJ Hahn 

Another full-flavored wine from the Barossa with lots of cassis, chocolate, sweet berries, and spice. There are hints of soft vanilla and ripe black forest fruits too. Well-balanced and rounded tannins and restrained use of oak make this wine fresh and vibrant leaving you wanting another sip. I’d pair this with slow-cooked lamb as the acidity in the wine will cut through any fatty meat.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.3%
Find here: £16.45

Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz 2018

2018 was a very good vintage for the Hunter Valley. Although there was little rainfall earlier in the season, heavy rains eventually came and gave the vines all they needed to create a great wine. This wine is quite aromatic and medium bodied for a Shiraz making it a very flexible wine for food pairings but it matches particularly well with cheese and venison.

Size: 750ml
ABV: £14
Find here: £26

The Dead Arm Shiraz d’Arenberg 2017

An Iconic wine. The Dead Arm is probably the best bang for buck in the world for Shiraz. A big brooding wine that takes a few years to begin to start drinking well. This one is five years old and at the beginning of its drinking window. I’m drinking vintage 2000 this year and it’s spectacular. With rich dark fruits and light spices, dark chocolate, tobacco, and a myriad of red and dark berries, this wine is always a winner. It’s on offer at Vivino now, and usually around £30 to £35.

Size: 14.5%
ABV: 750ml
Find here: £28.99

Mount Edelstone 2016 Henschke 

From the Eden Valley in Australia, this is a wine for a very special occasion. It is bold yet refined. The tannin has great structure, and the wine will pair with big bold meats, game, and strong cheeses. The Mount Edelstone vineyard was planted in 1912 and the first single vintage wine produced was in 1952. 2016 is the 64th release. There are aromas of violets and spicy aromas of black pepper and star anise mixing with plums and blackberry and soft notes of tarragon and cedar. The palate is complex and has great texture with flavours of mulberry, blackberries and plums with layers of age and black pepper. Amazingly deep and complex. It is just starting to drink well now, but will last another twenty years!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here:  £131

Penfolds

Penfolds creates so many Shiraz wines at every price point that it is hard to know which ones to suggest. They are so reliable in quality and flavour at every price point I would go as far as to say that if you see a bottle of Penfolds on the shelf within your price range you won’t go wrong. My favourites are Koonunga Hill for great value at £8 to £10, Max’s (which is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon) at around £20, Bin 128 at £35, St Henri at £85 and for something very special Magill Estate at around £120. There really is something for everyone at Penfolds!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13% - 14.8%
Find here: £8 - £120

If you’re looking for a bit more light reading, then why not check out The Best Red Wine for Roast Beef or The Most Popular Red Wine Grapes.

Great Gins for Summer

Words by Leigh Andrews

It’s finally that time of year when the birds wake you up in the morning instead of your alarm, the parks are full of sunbathers and picnics, and you’ve got round to cleaning up the barbecue after the final one of last year (we all do it!). All we need now are some fabulous gins to complete the glorious summer! Look no further, we have some crackers here to brighten up any summer day!

Pollination Gin

With a name evoking visions of nature and busy bees flitting between the flowers, this small-batch, multi-award winning Welsh gin is so exceptionally smooth, piney, herbaceous, light and fresh that it will give you a fabulous glimpse of the glorious Welsh flora and fauna without you ever having to leave your back garden. 20 of its 29 botanicals are sustainably foraged from species native to the Dyfi Valley UNESCO Biosphere reserve, in the Snowdonia foothills where Dyfi distillery calls home. Due to this, it’s only available for a limited time in the year so go on, improve your summer tenfold by grabbing a bottle while you can! Try it served with lots of ice, quality tonic and some juniper berries or a generous piece of lemon peel.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find Here: £34.95

Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin

You may look at the name of this gin and think that we are picking this one because of people’s perception of a good old British summer! Nope, the name does not lie, it is an absolute Downpour….. of FLAVOUR! This incredible pink grapefruit gin from North Uist distillery not only comes in an absolutely stunning bottle (which we will be keeping to upcycle!) but the gin inside is an explosion of grapefruit citrus flavours that will leave your mouth watering for more. There is no mistaking the sweet freshness of hand-peeled pink grapefruit zest and this continues to shine through when you add tonic and a generous wedge of pink grapefruit. There is nothing rainy-day about this gin!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40

Rosemullion Summer Gin

When a gin tells you it’s Summer Gin you have an expectation in your head…..bright, fresh, citrus, fruity…and Rosemullion is all of those and more. Distilled near Falmouth in Cornwall using their own fermented base spirit with Cornish rainwater and local botanicals, this multi-award-winning Cornish gin, in its gorgeous bottle, has a beautifully warming peppery finish. It would be absolutely perfect for sipping on whilst sitting out on a balmy summer evening just as the sun is going down. Take yourself to the gorgeous Cornish coastline with this beautiful gin, served with lots of ice, Mediterranean tonic and a raspberry garnish or if you’re feeling extravagant, pop the champagne and make a French 75 cocktail!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35

York Gin Old Tom

Distilled in the ancient city of York this absolutely fantastic Old Tom Gin is perfect for the glory days of summer. An Old Tom is one of the oldest styles of gin and is sweeter than its contemporary London Dry gin. This Old Tom though comes with even more superb provenance in the name of the Michelin Star restaurant Star Inn in York! The herb infused syrup used to sweeten this Old Tom is produced in their kitchen! The gin itself is nothing short of incredible. So smooth you could drink it neat over ice, a beautiful sweetness with lots of fabulous floral notes from the foraged hedgerow botanicals and Yorkshire white roses. Try it neat over lots of ice, tonic and a garnish of pink peppercorns/star anise, or, for a sumptuous simple summer cocktail, in a Tom Collins!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.5%
Find here: £35.45

Decem London Dry style

Here’s another chef connection! This time to Masterchef finalist Billy Wright, the brains behind this spirit. Now before we go any further we need to break it to you….this is reduced alcohol (10% ABV) so not officially a gin, but before you decide to read the next one, stay exactly where you are (we’re watching you!) as this spirit has been carefully distilled to retain all of the flavour of a really good gin without the 37.5% required ABV. Served as a traditional G&T with tonic and a wheel of lemon this is superbly fresh, think juniper, freshly cut grass, lots of fresh green herbs and citrus. For the sake of not having burnt barbecue sausages from the tipsy chef, this is exactly the summer drink you need!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 10%
Find here: £30

Brixham Market Garden Gins

For a little change, we are featuring not one but two gins from this distillery set in the beautiful seaside fishing town of Brixham in the Torbay district of Devon. The reason? They have two fantastic summery gins, made using fresh local ingredients, that will evoke memories of summer’s past and perfect sunny days.

So without further ado…

Market Garden Strawberry Gin

Made using beautiful juicy fresh strawberries from their local green grocer, this full strength gin is not overly sweet and the freshness of those gorgeous strawberries is instantly apparent along with that beautiful pink hue. The strawberries are slowly steeped with pink peppercorns giving it a wonderful warming finish, fabulous for those glorious sunny afternoons with great friends. To bring out that gorgeous strawberry, serve it simply with lots of ice and go easy on the tonic (2:1 ratio), garnish with a strawberry and a sprig of lightly crushed mint. We want that strawberry to shine as bright as the sun!

Size: 50ml, 350ml and 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: from £5 to £39

Market Garden Rhubarb and Ginger Gin

Ok, so this one took those of us who may or may not be 70’s children (a lady never tells her age!) right back to gorgeous days in the summer holidays, being given a stick of rhubarb from your Mum, fresh out of the garden and a little brown paper bag of sugar to dip it in! By slow steeping the locally sourced rhubarb in this full-strength gin, it infuses its delicate colour and superb flavour and is incredibly fresh! There’s a hint of citrus and then that wonderfully subtle kick of ginger spiciness on the finish. Rhubarb is definitely for so much more than crumble! Serve with lots of ice, light tonic and a slice of fresh ginger.

Size: 50ml, 350ml and 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: from £5 to £39

To see more of our gin recommendations, make sure you check out The Best Eco-Friendly Gins or The Best Flavoured Gins for your Money!

The 10 English/Welsh Whiskies you Have to Try!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

For centuries whisky has been dominated by Scotch, however as whisky drinkers seek out new drams and new flavours, whisky is being made all over the world more than ever before. I recently learnt that over the last few years in Québec alone over sixty new distilleries have sprung up, and many of them are making whisky. Much closer to home, on the doorstep of Scotch, there are also some fabulous whiskies being created. In Norfolk in 2006, James Nelstrop and his son Andrew founded the first distillery in 100 years and it has been producing bottles since 2009. Since 2006 many others have built distilleries in England and Wales too. There are so many in fact that I now have the pleasure of having to choose which are my favourites!

Cotswolds

Founded by Daniel Szor in 2014 this distillery has several of my favourite English Whiskies. Using the skills of Dr Jim Swan they had whisky ready for drinking in just three years, and now have several impressive expressions, including some brilliant single casks. As these are so difficult to find, I am listing my three favourites which are easier to find below:

Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

This is a heavily sherried whisky created using locally grown barley and matured in a mixture of casks. They used a mix of American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts which were seasoned with both Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry. This combination gives a very rich whisky which is toasty with lots of fruitcake flavours but also cooked orchard fruits, orange peel, nuts and lots of dried berries and raisins. Big, rich and utterly delicious.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.4%
Find here: £63.95

Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky

This expression is also made from 100% local barley and has been floor malted. The spirit has then been matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and STR red wine casks. STR stands for Shaving, Toasting and Re-charring which gives a particular richness to the whisky at an earlier age. There is no colouring or chill filtering and is bottled at 50%, which for me is my sweet spot for most whisky. This whisky has lots of sweet honey and vanilla, lemon and a touch of spicy heat on the back of the palate. Easy drinking whisky with oodles of flavour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £54.95

Cotswolds Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky

This does exactly what you’d expect. It gives lots of vanilla and honey with orchard fruits. There’s a touch of toasty oak and a creamy mouthfeel. What I like about this expression the most though is that by using just ex bourbon casks the spirit shines through the wood, so as well as all the sweet flavours, the orchard fruits really sing. A lighter style of whisky, this is perfect for summer. Careful of the abv though, it’s pretty high and I love this whisky reduced in a classic highball.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 59.1%
Find here: £64.95

The English Whisky Company

St George’s distillery is the one which started it all in England after a hiatus of whisky making for more than 100 years. Being first out of the blocks wasn’t easy and the first few expressions, although good, still had to compete with Scotch, and that took a while to do. Now, however, the whiskies are brilliant! I have quite a few I like, but my two favourites lately have been these:

The English Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead

“The English” was launched in 2016 with two expressions, but now they have several more. This as it says is gently smoked. The smoke is sweet and well balanced with the sherry flavours. There is lots of rich oak and dried fruits with soft smoke and anise. Sweetness comes from toffee flavours and there are nuts and vanilla that come through at the end. There were only 1800 bottles produced, so grab one whilst you can!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £63.94

The English Wine Cask Matured

This is a very fruity whisky. There is some spice, but it is all about the fruit really. Second fill Cabernet Sauvignon casks were used to great effect giving lots of red fruits and toasty oak. With rich flavour and with lots of complexity in the fruit profile, this is an excellent after-dinner dram. Added to the fruit there are notes of ginger and there is also a chocolatey note in the background. One for cold nights when winter is drawing in.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £55.95

White Peak

One of the newest distilleries in England, White Peak is in Derbyshire and had some direction from Dr Jim Swan. Whiskies which have been made with his help tend to be ready to drink earlier than many others, and this is no exception with the White Peak whiskies. They have only had two releases so far, and the first one was a blinder, but impossible to find anymore. This lightly peated expression however can be found at our good friends Master of Malt, but do hurry, you can only buy one each and it’ll run out soon!

Wire Works Whisky Small Batch

This whisky has been matured in a mix of American and French oak and most of those casks in Dr Jim Swan style have been shaved toasted and re-charred. They previously held bourbon. With warming buttery flavours including some ginger, vanilla and a little tropical fruit there are wafts of sweet smoke running in the background. This is fulfilling, very moreish and is one of my English drams of the year so far.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.2%
Find here: £59.94

Aber Falls

Aber Falls distillery is in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales situated in Abergwyngregyn in the shadow of mount Snowdon. It might be a bit of a trek to get to but if you can make the journey, it’s well worth it. The distillery started production in 2017, and because of a little thing called COVID 19, only released its first whisky, the inaugural release in late 2021. But it was well worth waiting for. There were only 200 bottles of the first release, and it was delicious. Luckily, they had another release shortly afterwards:

Aber Falls Autumn release 2021 

This has to be the best value for money whisky in England. It was matured in a mixture of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, bourbon and virgin oak casks giving loads of rich fruit and touches of spice in the background. They work with local farmers so they can use local welsh barley and have a keen eye on sustainability overall. This is a very easy-to-drink, tasty whisky.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26

Aber Falls Single Malt Whisky Distillers Cut 2021

This is a slightly unusual whisky. The casks used in the maturation previously held wine which had been made from oranges. Understandably therefore there are lots of citrus flavours which range from fleshy sweet citrus to dried and pithy and also a little zesty peel. The flavours are carried well with an abv a little higher than normal. Something a little different, but no less tasty for it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.1%
Find here: £49.95

Copper Rivet

This distillery is situated in an old pumphouse at Chatham Maritime in Medway. It took three years to renovate the pumphouse and the distillery began distilling in 2016. It is the only spirit producer in Kent, owned and run by Rob Russell and his two sons. They make a few different spirits, including whisky for which they only use grain grown in the county and they use a few different types of grain too, not only barley. Here are two of my favourites:

Masthouse Column Malt Whisky 

It is very rare to have a malt whisky created on a column still and it gives a great deal of smoothness to the whisky. The flavours are precise with lots of sweetness and have a great balance with the wood integration from maturation not overpowering the spirit at all, allowing the fruity estery flavours to shine through. The grain comes from a single Kentish field less than 15 miles from the distillery keeping the Kent provenance.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £45

Masthouse Grain

This whisky was produced to champion the use of grain in whisky making. They use three different grains; wheat, barley and rye which come together to give lots of sweet complex flavours with a little spicy, peppery kick from the rye. The whisky is not only distilled in a column still like most grain whiskies but also in a pot still giving plenty of fruity flavours too. Something a little different, but something very tasty too.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £42

Enjoyed this but want to read some Scotch whisky recommendations? Then, make sure you head over to From Budget to Blowout: The Best Scotch of 2022.

From Budget to Blow Out: The Best Scotch of 2022

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I know we are only really halfway through the year, however, I have come across some blindingly good whiskies and wanted to share them with you. As with most great things, they are not all easy to find. However, this little selection covers some which are, some which you will have to find at auction or somewhere on the secondary market, and some I am afraid you will never find, but do show how private bottlers of whisky someone owns in cask can be absolutely brilliant. The one thing they all have in common is that they are uncommonly good whiskies! I am starting off with one that can be found fairly easily, and if the second half of this year is as good as the first, my Christmas round-up of 2022 is going to be a belter.

Thompson Bros SRV5 8-year-old Blended Malt

The Thompson Bros are both independent bottlers and distillers. The independent bottling side of their business has been lauded with praise. They manage to find extraordinary expressions of whiskies and sell them for a reasonable price. They had maintained the idea that they would in time have a regular expression they would be able to create with consistency, and this is that expression. The balance of the malts is superb and the resulting whisky is very moreish and easy to drink. The SRV5 stands for Station Road VAT 5, as the whisky is created in a solera vat which is never emptied more than 2/3 for any bottling run. The flavours are complex with green apples and lemon. A little char and grassiness. There is gentle smoke in the background and lots of citrus on the finish. An incredibly affordable blended malt, and if you haven’t got into smoky whisky yet and want a good opener, then this is a good bet.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48.5%
Find here: £34.95

Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year old

From the stable of the biggest brand in Scotch Whisky, Johnnie Walker sells more whisky than any other brand globally, which is a testament to the consistency of the whisky they produce. This 15 year old blended malt is one of the greatest value whiskies of all time. It is rich and incredibly well balanced with orchard fruit flavours and a deep maltiness and honey sweetness. With vanilla and toffee ice cream and a touch of spice, this is a great dram.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £37.95 // US $58.99

Glen Moray 18 year old

This has to be the best value 18 year old whisky on the market. It is from their heritage range that gives approachable and easy to drink whiskies. This was matured in first-fill American oak barrels giving lots of vanilla with apricot and honey. There are some dried fruits on the palate and a touch of florality and the finish includes a little spicy ginger and dark honey. It’s an impressive dram for the money.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 47.2%
Find here: UK £62.90 // US $121.19

Fettercairn 16 2nd release

This is the second release of the Fettercairn 16 year old, and it is quite different from the first but is certainly not a lesser whisky. This is very sherried in style, using three different sherry cask types in the maturation: first fill Oloroso, refill Oloroso and first fill Palo Cortada butts. This is a complex whisky which is very impressive. The bottling strength might put off purists, but I think they have got it just right. Smooth, yet spicy and brilliantly balanced, with lots of dried fruits and toasty oak too. This won’t be around for long, so grab it whilst you can.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.4%
Find here: £64.95

Lagavulin 12 year old Fèis ìle 2022

This is the first bottling under the new distillery manager Jordan Paisley and is very rich for a Lagavulin. It is sweet and spicy with a full body and lots of spice as well as well integrated smoke and oak. It was matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in virgin American oak casks. One of the other things I liked about this year’s Fèis ìle release is that it came with no outer packaging. Diageo is reducing the number of products that have packaging and that makes environmental sense to me.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.7%
Find here: £165

GlenAllachie 2006 Single Cask 3292 Oloroso Sherry Butt

Exclusively bottled for The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022, this is a 15-year-old single cask expression. It has a great colour and the flavours are intense and rich. It was initially matured in an ex-bourbon cask, and then re-racked into a first fill Oloroso puncheon, and left to rest in a very old Sherry butt which had been part of a solera system for 55 years. It’s got lots of spice and Christmas cake characteristics, as well as fine oak, chocolate, and damp tobacco and on the finish, there are fine tannins and touches of sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 59.4%
Find here: At auction for around £200 - £250

Benromach 40 2022

This 2022 40 year old recently won best in show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and it was well deserved. Having spent a full maturation in sherry casks the result is complex and elegant. With nutty flavours and cooked orchard fruits, mixed with ginger and chocolate, cedar wood and dark honey with touches of orange zest in the background it’s an absolute delight. There are only 1132 bottles, so be quick when it is released!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.6%
Find here: Coming soon 

The Octave Cask Glenglassaugh Whisky for Everyone  

A bit of a leftfield whisky here as it isn’t for sale. It was bottled by my friends Matt and Karen from Whisky for everyone from a quarter cask. Normally I am not too keen on quarter casks as the wood quite often overtakes the spirit and distillery character, giving a rich whisky, but taking away its essence. This whisky has been bottled with near perfect balance. The distillery character is still there, even though the flavours are rich and warming. Expect cooked and dried fruits and manuka honey with soft spices and a touch of umami. If you ever come across a bottle. Enjoy. It was one of my favourites this year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 56.7%

Royal Lochnagar 1994 26year old Casks of Distinction

This was bottled within Diageo’s Casks of Distinction range and was sold at auction with the proceeds going to the Scottish Ballet Endowment Fund to support the future of scotland’s national dance company. There were only 470 bottles, and occasionally they come up again at auction. Expect to pay upward of £600. The whisky was incredibly elegant and refined with dried apricots and touches of fresh red apple. The spices were soft and there was a layer of honey running throughout the dram. With a little water, floral notes come through and the finish is not dry at all. A satisfying whisky.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 56.3%
Find here: At auction upward of £600

Brora Tryptic

To mark the reopening of the Brora distillery 36 years after it closed, this set of very special bottles is incredibly rare. Selling originally for £30,000 these can usually only be found at auction. The expressions show off three eras of Brora flavour each giving waxy, peated and earthy flavour. The 1972 Elusive Legacy at 42.8% gives an earthy background, the 1977 Age of Peat gives a peaty flavour and the 1982 Timeless Original shows off the typical Brora waxy flavour. In their own ways, each of these whiskies is incredible to taste and is worth savouring. At the time of writing, I could find one of the 300 sets available at retail in the Netherlands.

Size: 1500ml
ABV: 42.8%, 46.8%, 47.5%
Find here: €53,500

Are you interested in investing in whisky? Then why not have a read of How to Invest in Whisky? If you’re looking for more whisky recommendations, this is a great place to start: The World’s Best Value Whisky.

The Best Tequilas to Say Olé to National Tequila Day

Did someone say Margaritas? Whether you like your tequila shaken into a lime-drenched cocktail, or sipped straight over a giant ice cube, we’ve got a bottle to suit. Welcome to our round-up of the best tequilas, for drinking on National Tequila Day – July 24th – and all summer long…

El Rayo Plata

Ever tried a T&T – that is, a tequila and tonic? It’s a fun, approachable and fresh way to sip tequila, especially in summer, and El Rayo has been specially designed for it. Created by two childhood friends living in Peckham, it’s made, as all good tequilas are, from 100% blue agave. Expect citrussy, herbaceous and vegetal notes that really lengthen out and come into their own when mixed with a quality tonic.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.45

Padre Azul Blanco

Topped with a giant 3D skull, Padre Azul’s bottle is a real bold, love-it-or-hate-it presentation (see also: Crystal Head vodka). But there’s no arguing that this smooth-drinking tequila is crowd-pleasing on the palate, bursting with sweet agave, molasses and pepper. It’s on the pricier side for a blanco, but once you’ve drained the last drop you can repurpose that bottle as a stylish bit of décor, right? Right?

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: UK £78.62 // US $74.99

Mijenta Blanco

One thing we love about this premium blanco is that it’s made, somewhat unusually, by a female ‘maestra tequilera’, Ana Maria Romero. Her talent shows in the glass – Mijenta has a complex nose and a savoury, spiced and honeyed backbone, with butter and citrus on the palate. The pastel label is a lovely touch – it’s a fresh, stylish take that shows off the modern side of tequila, beyond the tired clichés. As for the perfect serve? We like this poured straight over a giant ice cube and garnished with a wedge of lime. If you want to hear more about Mijenta tequila, tune in to Ep.81 of our Bring a Bottle podcast!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £54.99 // US $49.99

Tapatio Blanco

Tapatio’s been made the same way since the 1930s, and as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This traditional-style tequila has a cult following for a reason: its powerful palate sings with classic blanco character, with cooked and raw agave, pepper, earth and citrus, plus a distinct vegetal lilt. If you’re new to drinking tequila you might find Tapatio a little bit full-on to begin with – it’s certainly no shrinking violet – but for fans of the spirit this is pretty much a perfect pour at its price point. Roll on the Margaritas…

Size: UK 500ml // US 1L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £25.45 // US $74.89

Casamigos Blanco

This is an outstanding tequila. Unlike most blanco tequilas, the piñas used in Casamigos Blanco are roasted for 72 hours before going through an 80 hour fermentation period. This leads to a crisp, clean tequila with unique flavours including hints of citrus, vanilla and sweet agave and a beautifully smooth finish. Try it in a spicy margarita or a mojito for a mouth-wateringly good cocktail!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £50.00 // US $41.99

Don Julio Añejo

It’s one of the big dogs of the agave world, so we couldn’t have a round up of National Tequila Day sippers without Don Julio. The bottling is an añejo style, which means by law it’s been aged for a minimum of one year in barrel – though, in this case, it’s spent a full 18 months hanging out in new American oak. As you might expect, this aging imparts some of the woody character you might find in a whisky, including vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and honey notes. Serve it neat to do it justice.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: UK £52.08 // US $88.90

Herradura Reposado

This was the first reposado – that is, a tequila that has been oak-aged for between two and 12 months – to hit the mainstream market, all the way back in the 1970s. And as its continued presence on shelves will attest, it’s a classic with staying power. Vanilla, oak, pepper and caramel aromas join a rich smoky palate with a heady cinnamon bite. We think that this is just the pour for mixing into richer cocktails, so if you haven’t tried a tequila old fashioned yet, pick up this spirit and get to work.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £41.95 // US $43.99

VIVIR Reposado

Aged in bourbon barrels for at least six months, this reposado shows off the newer, more contemporary side of tequila-making. It’s not just the minimalist branding, which feels like pure millennial catnip. The flavour profile, too, is super smooth, sweet and subtle – perfect for winning over agave sceptics who might still be reeling from old tequila-shots-at-the-bar memories (we all have ‘em). Like El Rayo, VIVIR is really made for mixing, and they recommend giving it a go with ginger ale.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.99 

Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado Tequila

If you love whisky, you’ll love Storywood – this reposado has been aged for 7 months in ex-Speyside casks from Dufftown, imparting a smoky, oaky and honeyed character to the tequila. It’s made with lowland agave, which gives it a bit of a vegetal, herbal profile, perfect for both sipping straight or subbing into whisky-based cocktails. If you’re in an experimentation mood, do as Storywood cheekily suggests and serve it up in a tall glass mixed with Scotland’s (other) national drink, Irn Bru. You’ll never think of tequila the same way again.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £42.45

If you love a tequila cocktail then have a read of The Best Tequila Cocktails, recipes included! If, sipping neat is your preferred way to imbibe then have a look at The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 87

We’re back with another fun-filled podcast and this week we’re joined in the studio by special guest Christian Smith. Listen in as we chat all about the perfect mixers for your tequila, a great hangover cure, 24-carat gold covered fish and chips and more!

What’s in our glass?

This week we’re focussing on great mixers for tequila and have chosen Franklin and Sons Grapefruit and Bergamot tonic water and Pink Grapefruit Soda.

Bergamot is what you associate earl grey tea with and the tonic didn’t disappoint. Subtle and floral with a nice fruity edge from the grapefruit, it made for a beautiful and very refreshing drink alone and then in combination with the tequila led to a more savoury drink with a slight peppery edge to it. Nom! 

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 for 24

The Pink Grapefruit soda is a beautiful and very sophisticated soda that we would quite happily enjoy on its own as a soft drink. Today, however, is all about the tequila mixers and this soda did not disappoint. It smells just like that burst of oils you get when cutting into a grapefruit and tastes just as good with a touch of zesty lime on the finish. 

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 for 24

Third Drinker

This week we are joined in the studio by Christian Smith who is the online editor for The Drinks Business. He shares with us his favourite stories, including one about 24-carat gold adorned fish and chips being sold for £80 in Glasgow, a stunning whisky and tells us more about what it is like to work as the online editor for The Drinks Business!

The Three Drinkers in Ireland Wins an Award

For those who haven’t yet heard, The Three Drinkers in Ireland won an award for ‘The Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism’ at the Drinks Business Awards this June! If you haven’t seen the series yet, all 6 episodes can be found on Prime Video!

Drinkers Discovery

Stepping away from our usual Drinkers’ Discoveries this week, we bring you ‘Phizz’. These are orange or apple and blackcurrant flavoured tablets that dissolve in water and enable you to absorb 3x the amount of water you would from just drinking a glass of it. Full of natural electrolytes, like sodium, potassium and zinc, not only are they perfect for rehydrating but they’re also great for your skin, hair and nails… and we reckon they would work a treat when you have a hangover too ;)

That’s not all though, we also have a fantastic ‘Buy it or Bin it’, Aidy brings back his ‘Wine and a Whine’, we share a dishwasher hack for your cloudy glasses and talk about vines grown in space! Listen in today!