Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 93

Have you heard of Crémant? Made in exactly the same way as Champagne but with decent bottles available for under £10 – you are going to want to listen in to our Crémant special podcast to find out more! That’s not all we cover this week though, we chat to two Crémant producers, Helena is joined by a very special guest and we have a ‘Buy It or Bin It’ you will not want to miss!

Our Guest Drinker

This week Helena has welcomed Libby Brodie to the podcast. As City A.M.’s wine columnist, and passionate communicator of the world of wine without any of the stuffiness, Libby is a true inspiration and her passion and enthusiasm is infectious! You can find her here!

What’s in our Glass?

This week it’s all about Crémant and Helena opens up two stunning examples of it. For those who are wondering, ‘What is Crémant?’ It’s a sparkling wine made using exactly the same method that is used to make Champagne. Once not thought of to be particularly well produced, current-day Crémant is stunning and massively over-delivering given its price and quality. It has continued to fly under the radar for many years but it won’t for much longer if we have anything to do about it! Here are the bottles we tasted this week:

First up was Maison de la Rougerie Crémant Blanc Brut. It’s easy drinking, with a gentle but generous fizz. It’s lovely alone but it would also work perfectly in a Kir Royale! Want to know the even better news? Check out the price!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: Iceland £8.75

Next up we have Celene Opale Blanc de Blancs Brut. A blend of Muscadelle, Sémillon and Sauvignon, it’s elegant with notes of lemon cream to start that later turn into subtle tropical fruits as it opens up in the glass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £18

Drinks News

We’ve got all the stories this week as we chat about putting vodka into Brita filters (…yep!), Nigel Farage’s latest endeavour…a new trio of red, white and blue gins… Libby fills us in on what she’s been getting up to with The Wine Collective of late, and Aidy and Helena catch up with Crémant producers, Céline Lannoye and Clément Lescouzères!

Buy it or Bin it

It’s creamy, it’s opaque, it’s beige… any guesses?! You’ll have to listen in to see if you got it right 😉

Mailbag

This week the question is ‘You can get a perfectly nice bottle of wine for £6 so why spend more?!’ With working conditions and chemicals in wine cropping up in the answers Libby and Helena give, it’s well worth a listen to find out more.

To listen to our previous podcasts, click here!

17 Tasty No/Low Alcohol Drinks you Need to Try!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

With the arrival of Sober October and Dry January on the horizon, you may well be searching for your new go-to non-alcoholic drink. In the past, cutting back on the alcohol content of your drinks or even removing it altogether has often led to being thoroughly underwhelmed, let’s face it. Fear not, however, for the times they are a-changin’. 

The alcohol-free industry has grown considerably over the last decade, so brewers and scientists across the world have been innovating to create authentic ‘NoLo’ drinks, and below are some of our favourite options… 

WINE (No Alcohol)

McGuigan Zero

Australian winemaker McGuigan has a pretty broad selection in their ‘Zero’ range these days, including Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé. Their secret weapon is the spinning cone technology which allows the alcohol to be removed at lower temperatures than usual, meaning you lose all the booze but none of the taste. Win win!

Size: 750ml bottles
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £31.19 for a case of 5 or find it at most supermarkets for £5 a bottle.

Wild Life Botanicals

These two 0.5% wines are not just super bubbly and refreshing but they’re also infused with a mix of vitamins and botanicals, including Lemon Balm, Damask Rose and Rosemary. In fact, each 125ml glass contains 15% of your recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals so not only will you be avoiding any hangover, but you’ll also be feeling reinvigorated. Charmingly packaged, both the nude (white) and the blush (rosé) would make perfect gifts.

Size: 750ml 
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £15

Oddbird Low Intervention Organic White Wine No.1

Oddbird have built a reputation for their alcohol-free wines but this time they decided to make a low-intervention version that’s low in CO₂ emissions, completely organic and of course, alcohol-free. This natural white wine is produced from the local grape varieties in Northern Italy; Garganega and Vespaiola, and to taste has beautiful flavours of aromatic pear and citrus. Great for both the environment and your tastebuds!

Size: 750ml 
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £10.00

COCKTAILS (No Alcohol)

Mocktails

Mocktails was born from a conversation with friends looking for fun, alcohol free drinks without the artificial ingredients, preservatives or sugary corn syrup. These are drinks inspired by small batch mixology that are low in calories chemicals and hassle! The Mocktails mixologists worked with master perfumers and spent years sourcing the botanicals, to create this well-balanced, delicious drinks. Flavours include the punny flavours of Sansgria, Mockscow Mule, Mockapolitan and even an Espress0% Martini!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: 12 x 250ml cans or bottles £29.99

The Cocktail Society

The Cocktail Society is home to cocktail subscription boxes, cocktail gifts, bottled cocktails and cocktail kits. Their Apple &Cinnamon Martini iteration is a premium DIY, alcohol-free cocktail kit. Made in collaboration with Warners Distillery, each box comes with ingredients to make four cocktails, a cocktail shaker, a snack and a recipe card. Check their site for alcoholic version of everything too. They make excellent gifts!

Size: various
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: 1 kit for 4 cocktails plus shaker £39.99

Savyll Cocktails

Finding your favourite non-alcoholic cocktail is tough when there are so many options, but Savyll cocktails may well be the answer. Distinguished inside and out with gorgeous packaging and sophisticated flavours, these drinks carry all the prestige a cocktail should and all whilst being gluten and alcohol-free, and vegan. With Bellini, Mojito, Moscow Mule and Paloma on offer, there is something for everyone. They’re constantly switching up their products too so keep an eye out for new editions!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: 4x250ml cans £11.99 / 12x250ml cans £27.99

SPIRITS (No Alcohol)

CROSSIP Dandy Smoke

An honourable mention to CROSSIP’s other spirits (Fresh Citrus, Pure Hibiscus and Blazing Pineapple), but today we’re shining the spotlight on The Independent’s Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit of 2021; Dandy Smoke. Smooth, smoky, and layered with warming spice, it’s just at home as a mocktail base as it is with Cola. Sure, it’s pricier than some other options, but its strong flavour means a little goes a long way, and the reviews speak for themselves!

Size: 500ml 
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £22

Lyre’s Italian Orange

Lyre’s have smashed it with this Italian ‘spritz’ that is the perfect non-alcoholic version of Aperol, only slightly more interesting. Can we say that?! Oops, we just did! Make sure you check out the rest of their range of non-alcoholic versions of classics such as Vermouths, Triple Sec, Coffee liqueurs, Gins, Amaretto and more too! 

Size: 700ml 
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £19.95

Æcorn Bitters

If you’re familiar with Seedlip’s hugely successful non-alcoholic drinks, then let us introduce you to their sister company; Æcorn. Earthy and bittersweet with flavours of juicy grapefruit, this drink is perfect served spritz style with soda, ice and a slice!

Size: 500ml 
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £17.95

Mockingbird Spirit

As the name suggests, the aim of Mockingbird is to mimic the iconic taste of Tequila. Using authentic Mexican Agave, it’s perfect for cocktails like Margaritas, or as mixer. Unlike Tequila, Mockingbird also features pure ashwagandha for added health benefits, so this is really a win-win.

Size: 700ml 
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £22.99

Wilfred’s Non-Alcoholic Aperitif

Two years of experiments and 100 different recipes finally paid off, as Wilfred's Bittersweet Orange & Rosemary Aperitif was awarded the top spot at the 2020 Great British Food Awards. With flavours of zesty orange and rhubarb followed by more savoury notes of rosemary, it suits a refreshing spritz down to the ground. Nom!

Size: 500ml 
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £19

Longbottom & Co. - Virgin Mary & Tomato Juices

New eye-catching brand Longbottom & Co have gone all in to corner this niche, producing these stylish cans of Virgin Mary and Tomato Juices. Slightly smoky, subtly spicy, and entirely vegan. They are delicious.

Size: 250ml 
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £2.50 250ml can / £6.50 750ml bottle

Salcombe New London Light Midnight Sun

New London Light is a brand-new collection of non-alcoholic spirits, and Midnight Sun is a Nordic inspired sea and land combination. Elderberries and pine are offset by seaberries and the inventive use of kelp to create a unique, fresh, and natural taste.

Plus, what it takes from the sea it gives back, as 27p for each bottle sold goes to the Marine Conservation Society to help protect and regenerate seagrass! Cheers to that.

Size: 70cl 
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £27.50

Sentia

Sentia is a plant based alcohol-free spirit with a unique feature. If we can get scientific for a moment, Sentia makes use of botanicals that promote GABA activity in your brain, replicating the effect alcohol has. Much like the real thing, this leads to feelings of relaxation and calm. As for the taste, it’s a pretty intense bittersweetness with a spiced gingery kick to finish. Sentia are one of the first brands to focus on feeling as well as taste, so we’re excited to see what other flavours they produce!

Size: 500ml
ABV: <0.5% ABV
Find here: £29.50

Trip CBD

CBD is everywhere these days, and drinks are no exception. If you’re not aware of what CBD does, check out our handy guide because it can be massively beneficial. Trip have been preaching about the benefits of CBD since launching in 2019 and have attracted a lot of praise for their gluten-free, vegan and 100% recyclable sparkling drinks. Peach Ginger, Lemon Basil, and Elderflower Mint are the ultimate refreshment trio, and with additional calming botanicals like Lemon Balm and Ginseng, it won’t just be the taste that lifts your spirits! 

Size: 70cl 
ABV: 0% ABV
CBD: 15mg
Find here: £39 24x250ml / £14 6 x250ml

Crodino Aperitivo

Whilst the movement for low alcohol drinks has picked up pace over the last decade, Crodino have been at it since 1965! The Italian brand have hardly changed their methods since way back then, still extracting their unique mix of spices, woods, roots, and herbs in the same way. With the vibrant orange flavour and rich honey colouring, it’s no wonder Crodino has spread across the continent!

Size: 17.5cl
ABV: 0% ABV
Find here: £28.99 12x17.5cl

BEER (No Alcohol)

UNLTD – Alcohol Free IPA

Let us introduce you to The Alcohol Free Brewing Co.’s first attempt at an alcohol free beer; UNLTD. A full flavoured IPA with citrus and tropical fruit flavour, it doesn’t just taste great, but it’s also a ridiculously low 13 calories per bottle. This maiden voyage into alcohol free beer is definitely one worth seeking out.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 0.5% ABV
Find here: £11.89 6x330ml / £23.29 12x330ml

Innovation in this area is absolutely thriving at the minute so if you want to explore even more of our recommendations, try here and here for more ‘LoNo’ beauties. There are some stunning sets available to gift over Christmas that will make Dry January a breeze. 

Bring A Bottle Podcast: Episode 92

Aloha drinkers! It’s time for a brand new Bring a Bottle Podcast, and it’s jampacked with knowledge and experience this week. Expert guests, refreshing tonics, chili liqueur, cheese chat - we’ve got it all. What drink goes with classical music? Can Aidy guess exactly where a wine is made? Those questions and many more are answered in this one. Listen and as always, let us know your thoughts!

Our Guest Drinkers

We’re treated to two guests this week. First up, Aidy welcomes Georgie Bentinck to the podcast! From PR, Events, Communications, and every creative job under the sun, Georgie’s done it all in food & drink. These days she’s the Head of PR for Campari Group looking after a seemingly endless range of drinks such as Aperol, Campari, Appleton, and Glen Grant. Welcome, Georgie!

Our second wonderful guest is Master of Cheese Dan Belmont. Discovering and teaching for some of the most famous cheese retailers on the planet, Dan branched out further, and in this case, those branches had grapes on. He’s got a particular passion for the wines of his home nation, which you’ll figure out as soon as he speaks! After years of learning all there is to know, Dan took the plunge and founded his own retailer called Good Wine x Good People. Listen to find out what the exciting new concept for his company is!

What’s In Our Glass?

Episode 92 marks the final episode in which we’ll be exploring Franklin & Sons tasty tonics and sodas. In this episode, Aidy’s chosen their Grapefruit & Bergamot tonic, and this time he’s pairing it with Ancho Reyes, a Mexican chili liqueur. 

Ancho Reyes is a perfect addition for your margaritas, or to add a kick to your mixer. Made with Ancho chiles, it’s a smoky spice rather than a fiery spice and is a fantastic option to have if you’re into cocktails. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.44 

At the other end of the spectrum, the Franklin & Sons Grapefruit & Bergamot tonic contains pink grapefruit, bergamot, spring water and a new one for us, Cinchona bark extract, which adds a pleasant bitterness to the drink.

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 Franklin & Sons 200mlx24

The two drinks combined work so well - if you like a Bloody Mary, then definitely listen in to Aidy’s recipe as this drink is for you!

Cheese With Dan

Our resident cheese master imparts his wisdom on us with many amazing cheese facts. If you’re lactose intolerant, you might usually skip a section like this but hold up! Dan lets us know that as cheese ages, the lactose decreases, so you can still enjoy cheese! Listen in for this and many other facts!

Drinks News

Our drinkers debate one of the world’s most unique vineyards where the owner actually encourages you to never drink his wine! Producing just 29 bottles a year, each one is priced at $5000 and you can only buy them at the local art gallery in Reggio Emilia. Is it art? Is it a vineyard? Either way, the backstory it is fascinating.

Cocktail and Music Matches

An interesting thought experiment this week as the team match up genres of music with drinks…
What’s the perfect drink partner for trance?
And what cocktail matches the finery of opera?
Find out and see if you agree!

Drinkers Discovery

Aidy’s wine senses are put to the test as he tries to identify a wine Dan brings in. A difficult challenge to pinpoint the wine and where it’s from so how will Aidy fare? You’re not going to want to miss this bit!

Perfecting your Negroni

Finally, Georgie fills us in on how to make the perfect Negroni, and she would know! Listen to find out the common mistake people make!

The Best Vodkas of 2022

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Vodka, a spirit born in Russia but now adored across the world with new distilleries popping up every week, its price and quality can both vary massively, so it’s handy to keep on top of the latest and greatest drinks. What better time to do that than after the Vodka Masters Awards 2022, we ask?! Well, luckily, you can chill because we’ve done the hard work for you. Here is our round-up of the world’s greatest vodka!

Budget <£20

Count Pushkin

Count Pushkin has been making waves in South Africa for a while now, and it’s finally been awarded praise on the International stage too, picking up a Gold at the 2022 Vodka Masters. It was first bottled in 1965 but has been tweaked ever since and seems to have reached its pinnacle! The only downside is that it doesn’t appear to be available outside of South Africa just yet. After this award win though, watch this space!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 43% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: 145 rand (approximately £8) 

Absolut

A stalwart of the supermarket shelves, Absolut Blue’s design inspired by an 18th century medicine bottle still catches the eye, and now it’s what’s inside that’s being praised too. Rewarded for its ‘texture and minerality’, it achieved a Gold prize at the Vodka Masters. It’s great value and ideal for a no-nonsense cocktail base, or even neat with ice and lime. Cheers!

Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 40%
Award: Gold
Find here: UK £18.90 // US $27.99

Tamova Quadruple Distilled 

This is a stunning coup for Aldi Australia whose Tamova Vodka came out on top of 139 competitors, earning a prestigious Masters Award. Part of the everyday range but with a quality you definitely don’t find every day, this velvet smooth spirit is simply perfect in your Cosmos or Bloody Marys. Right now, the four times distilled version is only on shelves down under, so we have a short wait to try it. In the meantime, the triple distilled Tamova is also well worth a try.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: $30.99 AUD (£18)

Mid-tier £21-£30

Black Cow

This is a rather unusual vodka that has been on everyone’s lips in more ways than one. It’s created on a West Dorset dairy farm and claims to be the world’s first pure milk vodka. The whey left over from the farm’s cheddar (also top notch by the way) isn’t wasted, and instead goes into Black Cow. Unsurprisingly this creates a subtle creamy note and as a result, it is amazing at the heart of an Espresso Martini, but it is flavoursome enough to enjoy neat too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: £24.83

Stalinskaya Gold

Sharing the top award with Black Cow is Romania’s finest, Stalinskaya Gold. Using pure water from 170 metres below ground, this mineral rich and finely filtered vodka has a surprisingly creamy finish and will no doubt be available elsewhere very soon. We can’t wait to try it!

Size: 70cl 
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: 85 lei (£16 but expected to increase in UK/US)

Koskenkorva Original 

Despite the string of awards over recent years, Koskenkorva is still produced in the tiny Finnish village of the same name. Made using continuous distillation, the end result is an incredibly pure and smooth vodka that you’ll be dying to Finnish ;)

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: UK £21.22 // US $22.89

Kingdom Recommends 

Like the beautiful elephant on the bottle, you won’t ever forget your first sip of this vodka. Five times distilled and charcoal filtered for a stronger flavour, only 250 bottles are produced in each small batch. The beginnings of a stunning cocktail right here. If you are a fan of gin too, make sure you check out Kingdom’s range of gins… trust us, you won’t regret it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £28

Slingsby

Spirit of Harrogate distil their vodka, not three, not four, not five, but seven times! It’s then blended with Harrogate’s natural spring water, which has been attracting visitors since 1571 we must add! The vodka is bottled in a delightfully vintage design ready to pour over plenty of ice or into a cracking martini. Bottoms up!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £25

Amundsen Expedition 1911

Amundsen was created to honour the famous Norwegian expedition of the same name, which set out to conquer the South Pole in 1911. In keeping with the ice brick bottle design and the expedition itself, serve this crystal-clear water at 0°c in a chilled glass. Skål!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £24.95

Masons Classic

With a background in gin, Masons have taken to this new challenge like a duck to vodka (that doesn’t really work but go with it). It’s a fantastic all rounder that carries all the traits of a top notch vodka – fresh, smooth and crisp. Their Espresso Vodka has also attracted attention too so if you fancy an Espresso Martini that is really bursting with coffee, that might be worth a try!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £29.80

Respirited

Nothing is wasted at London-based distiller Hayman’s, who have channelled their leftover grain spirit into this sustainable award-winning vodka. It’s not just the vodka that is repurposed either because the 100% recycled glass and label, sustainable cork and 1% of sales being donated to environmental causes make this one of the most forward-thinking vodkas on the list. And don’t worry, there’s absolutely NO compromise on taste!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40.2% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £26

Top end £30+

Chapel Down Chardonnay

You might be wondering what Chardonnay is doing on a list like this?! Well, well-known winery, Chapel Down, are at home working with grapes, and they’ve taken this into their vodka production too. Distilled Chardonnay grape skins go into this ultra-smooth spirit that picked up all the plaudits at the awards this year. It’s a very smooth vodka with notes of vanilla and citrus. Try it out now to see what all the fuss is about!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: £30.99

58 and Co

Another gin specialist dipping their toe into the vodka industry here, with a crisp 100% British wheat spirit. That’s not where the British theme ends either, as this vodka has subtle notes of clotted cream and biscuit to it – unusual for vodka, but we like it! It’s perfect in an Espresso Martini or a White Russian! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36

Desi Daru Original

Desi Daru is another vodka stilled seven times over, combining rich English wheat with pure Himalayan mineral water over 5,000 miles away. For lovers of fruity vodka, their Mango is well worth checking out too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £35

Royal Mash 2020

Hailing from the island of Jersey, you might be able to guess what goes into this high-end vodka. That’s right, world-famous Jersey Royal potatoes. Unlike the other award winners, this is distilled only once, retaining the character of the key ingredients. It’s vodka royalty with Royal Mash. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36.50

Cobalte

Cobalte is a lovely French vodka so no surprise then that there’s grape at the heart of it – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier to be exact. Usually used in Champagne, these grapes add a fruitiness perfect for cocktails but there’s more than enough flavour here to enjoy neat. Just add plenty of ice and voila!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £38.56

Snawstorm

When you think of Speyside you probably think of whisky, right? Well, Speyside vodka is here to challenge that with the powerfully named Snawstorm. Speyside malted barley spirit (the same stuff the famous whisky comes from) is blended with spring water from the Cairngorms and ta-da, you have a ridiculously smooth, clean Scottish vodka with delicate fruity notes.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36.50

X Muse

There’s a bit of a jump up in price with the stylish X Muse which also picked up a Gold award. Uniquely, two barley varieties are distilled completely separately before being expertly blended later on. Another gloriously sleek vodka flying the flag for the UK at the awards and living up to its higher price tag. You can read more about X Muse here.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £55

Broken Clock

Hidgate’s Broken Clock is produced at one of England’s oldest distilleries in Cheshire infused with apples and a smorgasbord (we’ve been waiting to use that word) of botanicals discovered in old Georgian recipes. This is a broken clock that’s well and truly stuck at vodka time! Try it in a Martini with an olive and you will never look back!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £34.99

Cove

The British invasion of the top-end vodkas continues as we head to Devon for this one. Like its offshore competitor Royal Mash, it’s a potato-based vodka using King Edwards grown locally. Overlooking Hope Cove and distilling with a row of copper pots, the production site looks as blissful as this tastes. It’s a straightforward creamy vodka. Nom!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £39.50

Griffiths Brothers Vodka

A family run distillery deep in the Chiltern Hills, GB began as two brothers challenging each other to make the best gin. Years later, they’re now making not only gin but rum and now vodka too! It’s re-distilled with samphire, lemon and most peculiarly, horseradish. ‘Jack of all trades and master of all’ it seems, as this vodka has been awarded a Gold at the 2022 Vodka Masters. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £31

From great value to absolute excellence, there’s something for everyone there. Now, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be itching to mix up some delicious vodka cocktails after reading that. Put these award winners to the taste test in a classic cocktail here. Or check out even more great value vodkas here!

50 Years of Whisky Making History: Billy Walker’s Favourite Bottles from the GlenAllachie Range

We recently had the greatest pleasure of talking to one of the legends of the whisky industry, Billy Walker. Billy has been in the Scotch Whisky industry for 50 years and throughout his time in it has gained many awards including Master Distiller/Blender of the Year at the World Whisky Awards as well as being inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame in 2020!

Billy grew up in the whisky town of Dumbarton and having developed an interest in making whisky at a young age he went to The University of Glasgow and studied Chemistry gaining a BSc Honours Degree in 1967. It is this chemistry background that Billy has always said stood him in great stead along his whisky making career, and his advice to anyone wanting to make whisky is that having a background in chemistry would be very useful.

Billy’s huge enthusiasm for whisky was evident when he told us “The blending side of the business is unquestionably the most exciting part for me. It encompasses looking at what you have at the start of the journey and using experience to decide what needs to happen to a whisky to get it into that sweet spot such as which casks to place it in, or which casks to finish it in. That’s the most enjoyable side of the business for me”.

As for his favourite thing about the industry, he replied, “There is one thing I will say about this industry, and it may not be my favourite thing, but it is important. While we are competition (for each other), we are friendly competition, we will help each other out. There is no great envy or secrecy about who we are and what we are doing, and we will help each other out in certain circumstances which perhaps wouldn’t happen in other industries”.

We congratulate Billy on his fifty years and can’t wait to see what he produces next. Here are some of his favourite bottles from the GlenAllachie range:

What is the Best Bottle of Whisky for Newbies?

‘If you’re dipping your toe in the water, the 8 year old and the 12 year old are great. These two whiskies give an introduction to the style and the flavour experience that represents the real flavour and personality of GlenAllachie.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £47.95

GlenAllachie 8 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.44

What is the Best Bottle of Fruity Whisky?

Billy told us ‘From the start we wanted the whisky to be a sherry style whisky which delivers flavour characteristics such as mocha, chocolate, vanilla, Christmas cake and so on, but in terms of a fruity whisky I would say the Port finish or Marsala finish releases. All of these are different styles but they are wonderfully fruity experiences.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Ruby Port Wood Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £62.99

What is the Best Bottle of Smoky Whisky?

‘The one I would go for in the range at the moment is the Lum Reek 10 year old Cask Strength. It’s not too peaty and has lots of fruity flavours too. Our journey isn’t finished here as I have been looking at and spending time with these casks and there will be some really, really nice peated expressions coming out in the future.’

Lum Reek 10 Year Old Cask Strength

Size: 700ml
ABV: 55.4%
Find here: £69.99

What is the Best Bottle from the GlenAllachie Range for Those Who Want to Splash Out?

‘The single cask range is always good to look out for, but in the near future, a very nice release with a mizunara cask twist is coming. That would be a good call. Also, If you were lucky enough to be in the visitor centre in the last few weeks, there was a sherry cask release which was transferred into a peated cask which was delicious.’

GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Mizunara Virgin Oak Finish
Unfortunately, this has now sold out but more single casks are coming soon!

What is the Best Wine Finished Whisky?

‘I’ve done quite a few of these, I have to say, and we’re continuing to do a lot of interesting work with wine casks. It’s a tough choice, but it would be between a Sauternes cask release and a Grattamacco cask release. It’s hard to choose between the two but the Sauternes release has lots of sweet fresh fruits and is wonderfully well balanced.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £59.95

What is the Best Virgin Oak Whisky?

‘We have used many virgin oak casks. We’ve looked at Ozark, Chinquapin, Japanese Mizunara, French, Spanish and Scottish oak. My initial favourite was Chinquapin, which as well as the usual notes of honey, vanilla and butterscotch has a hint of anise and liquorice in the background. But the one that I really love is the Scottish Virgin Oak. Some was bottled quite recently but it is hard to get your hands on. The wood is difficult to work with, the coopers hate working with it because it is complicated and has lots of knots but once the whisky is in it and it has been given two to three years it’s terrific.’

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £61.50

And our final question…

What is your favourite whisky from the whole GlenAllachie Range?

‘That’s difficult to answer. It would have to be the 15 year old, but it would have good competition from the 21 year old. It’s the whisky that I spend a lot of time engaging with... and drinking!’

GlenAllachie 15 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £66.95

With those last tempting words from Billy, we leave him to his work of creating some of the most magical drams around and wish him all the best for all the further years of distilling, blending and keeping our palates excited and souls warmed.

For more exciting whisky news, click on this link!

Celebrating Scotland: 8 Stunning Scottish Gins you Need to Try

Words by Leigh Andrews

Great Scot it’s Scottish gin day! It’s 1st of October and it’s time to celebrate International Scottish Gin Day! We have chosen some absolutely fantastic Scottish gins for you to celebrate with! With gins from the mystical beauty of the Highlands and Islands all the way to the stunning Scottish Borders there’s something here for everyone! 

Great Glen - Pink Gin

What could be more Scottish than a gin made from the pure waters of the breathtaking Loch Ness itself? Hailing from Drumnadrochit on the western shore of Loch Ness is this wonderfully complex pink gin. Initial citrus gives way to the beautiful crisp fruitiness of pink lady apples and Scottish raspberries, with the luxurious floral finish of vapour-infused hibiscus and rose petals. Unlike Nessie, these glorious botanicals definitely do not want to stay hidden! Serve it simply with lots of ice, premium tonic and some fresh raspberries or boost that pink even more with some hibiscus petals! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.95

Smugglers Gin

It may be new but this award-winning gin was inspired by age old tales of 18th century Edinburgh’s devious drinks smugglers. Thankfully there are now much easier ways to bag the perfect tipple! This fantastic gin was created using sustainable distilling and organic botanicals including vibrant lemon verbena, lemon balm and Scots lovage. This superbly balanced combination creates a gorgeous, exceptionally smooth, citrus-led gin that any smugglers of old would be desperate to cache. So if, like us, you don’t want to share, keep it under lock and key! Serve neat over ice, with tonic and a squeeze of fresh lemon or if you love a cocktail we reckon it would be sublime with any recipe using lemon and thyme  …..which doesn’t necessarily have to be picked wild from a Scottish mountain!   

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.95

Biggar Herbaceous Gin

Biggar by name, even bigger by nature! This award-winning, incredibly bright, bold, and gorgeously herbaceous gin hails from the South Lanarkshire town of Biggar at the foot of the Tinto hills. It is packed full of harmonious herbal flavours. With its array of beautiful botanicals such as sage, lemon verbena, dandelion root, clivers herb and elderflower this gin is a herb lover's delight.  Although everything else about this gin is big it’s made in small batches of just 140 bottles at a time! Ensuring those smooth, sensational flavours are kept as colourful as a Scottish tartan! Serve with plenty of ice, premium tonic and a generous twist of orange peel.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £36.00 

Rutland Square Chai Spiced Gin

Spiced gin fan? Or a spice fan in general? You will LOVE this beautiful gin! It’s nspired by the wonderful history of Edinburgh founder, Nishant Sharma’s Great-Grandfather in 1940’s India. While working on a tea estate, he became fast friends and subsequent moonshine maker with a Scottish Army Officer who taught him how to distil. Fast forward to 2021, using Oolong white tea from that very estate his Great-Grandfather worked on, Rutland Square Gin was born! Wonderfully balanced aromas, warm comforting spice from cardamom and star anise, with a delicious floral sweetness from the white tea… what’s not to love?! Try it neat over ice, in a spiced negroni, or with premium tonic, orange peel and star anise!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £36.95

Foghouse Small Batch Gin

Foghouse invites you to ‘Escape the ordinary’ and we can wholeheartedly verify there’s nothing ordinary about this gin! Multiple award winning Aberdeenshire based Foghouse Gin is in short…sublime! It’s incredibly smooth, with subtle creamy sweetness giving way to citrus notes and depth a deep sea diver would be proud of! With rosemary and olive for a beautiful Mediterranean finish, this gin is escapism at its best. The goal was to produce a gin that could hold its own in a classic Martini and also make a perfect gin and tonic. You could also, most definitely, have it neat over ice…so we’d say that’s a hat trick! For a classic Martini create with just a swirl of dry vermouth or a classic G&T with a sprig of rosemary and a twist of orange peel  

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £38.99

Misty Isle Gin

This gin is distilled in Portree, one of the most colourful villages in Scotland, on the dramatically beautiful Isle of Skye, the misty Isle. Inspired by their incredible surroundings, Isle of Skye Distillers has produced a spectacular spirit. It has been expertly blended using the crystal clear waters drawn from the nearby Storr Loch, juniper, lemon, grains of paradise and one secret botanical hand-picked from the breathtaking mountains of Skye. The beautiful floral dryness of the juniper, the citrus spark of the lemon, and the perfect wild edge of the peppery grains of paradise make this a stunning gin. If you’re looking for the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Islands in a glass, this is it! Serve with plenty of ice, premium tonic and a twist of orange for the perfect gin and tonic!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.5%
Find here: £35.99

Shoogle Junniperous Gin - Navy Strength

Any self respecting Scot will have heard of the phrase ‘a wee shoogle’ For those unfamiliar, it means ‘a little shake’, often used when dancing! There is absolutely nothing little about this incredible Navy Strength gin. Juniper rules, with orange citrus and intriguing botanicals like kumquat and tonka bean giving a beautiful sweetness. Almonds and pink peppercorns give an incredibly smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a superb spicy finish. This is no wee shoogle on your tastebuds, it's more like an explosion! It’s difficult to believe this is a Navy strength. Serve it with plenty of ice, a slice of orange and a premium light tonic and go on, have a wee shoogle!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57%
Find here: £45

Alexander’s Gin

Handcrafted in the beautiful area of Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, from natural highland mountain spring water comes the superb Alexander’s Gin. Although only founded in 2018 it has the profile of a gin that surely must have taken decades to perfect! Being a London dry, juniper is prominent, followed by classic citrus, beautiful sweetness from Royal Deeside honey and a gorgeous warming spice finish. Mixing with tonic only adds to the pleasure, and lifts it to almost sherbet-like freshness. Quite simply this has to be one of the smoothest London Dry gins we have ever had the pleasure of tasting, it’s not Alexander’s gin now …it’s OURS! Serve as a classic G&T, in an espresso martini, or with cloudy apple and a cinnamon stick, sit back and dream of Scotland!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44.4%
Find here: £37.95

If you’re looking for more tasty gin goodness to feast your eyes upon then head over to 8 Delicious Gins for a G&T or The Best Eco-Friendly Gins!

Bring A Bottle Podcast: Episode 91

Good morning or good afternoon wherever you are! In this week’s Bring a Bottle Podcast, we cover stylish sodas from a Victorian brand, TikTok chili trends, the subtlety of sake, and Helena is put on the spot to match drinks with some of the most popular dishes around. Listen in now for all of that and much more.

Our Guest Drinker

This week, Helena welcomes Eddy Temple-Morris back to the podcast! Eddy is a musician by trade having been in a band since the 1980s, but also a regular voice over the airwaves for the last 30 years. You can currently find him live on Virgin Radio every day from 10-1. If you want to find out more about Eddy and his passions make sure you listen to the podcast today! @EddytempleMorris @eddyTM

What’s in Our Glass?

In this episode, we’re focusing on mixers, and more specifically a company producing premium drinks since 1886 – Franklin & Sons. 

First up in Episode 91, Helena uses the Pink Grapefruit Soda in her own cocktail concoction, the ‘Palovignon’ which goes down very well indeed.

Size: 200ml
Find here: £17.50 24x200ml

Next up is the Rhubarb and Hibiscus Tonic Water. Light, slightly tart and sweet on the nose, Helena and Eddy decide that pink gin or vodka would make the perfect dance partner for it. 

Size: 200ml
Find here: £16.99 24x200ml

Drinks News

Drinkers over on TikTok have been experimenting by adding chillies to their glasses of Rosé this summer and so naturally we had to give it a go! Helena opted for red chillies, but has she judged the amount correctly?! And is the chilli flavour a welcome addition or a waste of good Rosé? Listen to find out!

Instant Sommelier Quick Fire

Eddy fires 3 popular dishes at Helena to see what drinks she would pair with them (not literally, although we are always looking for new features). 

Which wine can complement the fire of a Chicken Madras? 

And which tomato loving wine is perfect for Lasagna?

This and more all answered in the podcast!

MAILBAG

Finally, another mailbag question and Podcast 91’s is, ‘What is the deal with cold sake?’

Listen in to hear what Helena has to say about why your sake might be served hot or cold.

The 10 Most Popular Cocktails in the World

A classic cocktail is a beautiful thing. Sweet, bitter, fruity, strong, there’s something for everyone. In a world where new cocktails are invented every day with ever increasingly odd names, there’s a reason each of these classics holds up.

Fentimans have narrowed down the world’s favourite cocktails to these 10, and we’re giving you a reminder on how to make each one. Shakers at the ready!

10. PINA COLADA

The definitive tropical cocktail. It’s part beverage, part smoothie (if you want it to sound healthier) and the perfect choice for you drinkers with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients:
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple Wedge

Method: The blender is coming out for this one. Combine 60ml of your favourite white rum, with the same amount of coconut cream. Add 120ml of pineapple juice or crushed pineapple, a handful of ice, and blend. A wedge of pineapple for the garnish and you’re there. Umbrella optional ;)

9. COSMOPOLITAN

Sweet, tangy, and packing a punch, we love the Cosmo for its fresh and clean feel. 

Ingredients:
45ml vodka
15ml Triple Sec
30ml cranberry juice
a dash of lime
Garnish: orange zest

Method: Dust off the cocktail shaker and combine the vodka (citrus flavoured works well), triple sec, cranberry juice, a cup of ice, and a dash of lime juice for added freshness. Get your shake on, and then pour the mix into a martini glass with orange zest for the quintessential Cosmo experience!

8. OLD FASHIONED

Over 200 years old and still going strong, there is a reason the Old Fashioned is the most popular cocktail in the US today. It’s simple, dark, and delicious.

Ingredients:
40ml bourbon
2 tsp sugar syrup/1 tsp sugar
2-3 dashes of bitters
Garnish: orange slice & Maraschino cherry

Method: Take your glass and add in the sugar syrup (or sugar), a tiny splash of water, and 2 or 3 dashes of bitters depending on your preference. Stir, layer with ice, pour in your favourite bourbon whiskey over the top and garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry for the complete cocktail. Some people like to add a little soda water too so make it how you like it best. There are no strict rules when it comes to cocktails!

7. APEROL SPRITZ

Created in Italy and now Germany’s favourite, Aperol Spritz is one of the most straightforward cocktails you can make. Just 3 ingredients give you a true taste of summer. 

Ingredients:
50ml Aperol
75ml prosecco
soda water

Method: Pop a few ice cubes in your glass and combine the Aperol and prosecco. Top up with soda, stir gently to keep the fizz and then garnish with a slice of orange! Voilà! Again, you can adjust the ratios for your tastes and mood.

6. SANGRIA

Synonymous with Spain and Portugal, a cold jug of sangria on a hot day is hard to beat which is why it’s the top wine-based cocktail in the world.

Ingredients (for a jug)
750ml good red wine
100ml brandy
200g berries
2 oranges
2 pears
2 lemons

Method: Chop two oranges, two pears and two lemons. Add them along with 200g of whatever red berries you like best, into a bowl and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over them. Fill a jug with ice, your fruit, brandy and red wine. Stir, taste, and add in a little triple sec if you want it stronger, or some sparkling water for the opposite. Enjoy!

5. MARTINI

The choice of 007, and apparently millions more as the simple Martini remains as popular as ever.

Ingredients:
60ml vodka/gin
20ml vermouth
Garnish: lemon/olive

Method: Shaken or stirred? Vodka or gin? Olive or lemon? We’ll leave it down to you, but you’ll need 60ml of vodka/gin, 20ml of dry vermouth, ice, and olives or lemon to finish. Top Tip: Make sure to pop your martini glass in the freezer/fill it with ice to chill it right down before you use it. Did you know you can put your vodka/gin in the freezer to cool it right down too?

4. CAIPIRINHA

Originally based on a remedy to cure Spanish flu (yep!), this national drink of Brazil has only 3 ingredients and highlights the distinct taste of cachaça, a spirit made from sugarcane. It’s totally refreshing and delicious.

Ingredients:
50ml cachaça
juice from 1/2 lime
1 tsp sugar

Method: Crush half a lime and mix with the sugar to dissolve it. Add the cachaça and ice and stir. That’s it – ridiculously straightforward!

3. PORNSTAR MARTINI

A modern-day classic, this sweet and sour cocktail has become the UK’s favourite. Its evocative name may have helped spread the word, but it’s the iconic taste that makes it one of the best.

Ingredients:
30ml vanilla vodka
15ml Passoa
2 tsp lime juice
seeds from 1 passion fruit
50ml prosecco

Method: There’s a tad more work to do for this cocktail but trust us, it’s worth it. Scoop the seeds from a passion fruit into your cocktail shaker and add the vanilla vodka (if you only have plain vodka, use a little vanilla syrup). Add a handful of ice, Passoa and the lime juice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and add a passion fruit slice on top. But we’re not done there. A 50ml Prosecco shot is often served in accompaniment, so you can have two drinks in one cocktail!

2. MOJITO

Narrowly missing out on the top spot, but loved most in France, Italy and Portugal is the iconic Mojito. It’s rum, mint, and lime – the ultimate refresher.

Ingredients:
50ml white rum
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar/ 15ml sugar syrup
a handful of mint leaves
soda water
Garnish: mint

Method: Crush a handful of mint leaves with the lime juice and sugar. Add ice and a white rum that you love. Top up with soda water to a level you enjoy, gently stir to combine, garnish with mint and sip away! Top Tip: When preparing a mojito always crush the mint leaves as opposed to dicing to unlock oils that will assist with enhancing the minty flavour.

1. MARGARITA

So, here it is. The world’s favourite cocktail at the moment– the Margarita. Easy to make, simple to adapt and perfect for any occasion. Salty, sweet, bitter, and sour, the Margarita triggers four of the five possible human tastes, so there’s actually some science behind its popularity too.

Ingredients:
50ml tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
20ml triple sec
a dash of syrup (optional)
Garnish: lime wheel, salt rim (optional)

Method: Shake the tequila, lime juice, triple sec and ice together until the shaker is cool to touch. You can add a dash of syrup also if you like it sweet. Strain the ingredients into a small glass and garnish with an appetising lime wheel and a salt rim if you fancy. Sit back and enjoy cocktail royalty. 

The methods above will guide you in the right direction but as with any cocktail, experiment. Add stuff in, take stuff out, change the ratios, shake it, stir it, do whatever you can think of (pretty much), and create your ultimate cocktail.

To learn more about the Margarita and all the variations you could make at home, take a look at our guide here: The Best Margarita Variations. And if you want to explore some lesser-known but still delightful cocktails, then why not have a flick through our, ‘One Drink, Three Ways’ feature? We take some of our favourite drinks and give you three great cocktail options for each. Who knows, maybe one will top this list one day.