Our Top Drink Discoveries: April

We’re fortunate to try a lot of beautiful drinks from around the world, in fact, sometimes our homes end up a bit like warehouses… but it’s all in the name of research. Research which leads us to writing pieces like this to share the very best discoveries we make with our amazing community… you!

Whether, wine, spirits or no-lo are your thing, check out our April ‘Best of’ picks and add something new to your discovery shelf today. You may just find a new favourite…

Gusbourne Rosé Brut 

I just wrote a massive article about English Sparkling Wines so it would be a little silly if I didn’t highlight one. This gem has been one of my favourites for quite some time – so much so that whenever I travel internationally, I make sure I’ve at least one bottle to share with those I know have a fond appreciation for sparkles. Fact is, we’re creating some dazzling sparkles and it’s the texture and mouthfeel on Gusbournes wines that really impress me. The nose gives you ripe red meadow berries with hints of flowers and apricots. As you take a sip your taste buds are overwhelmed with an assortment of strawberries, cherries and redcurrants which seem to intertwine into a raspberry cream and slight lemon curd. As I mentioned before, the texture is everything and the bubbles gently wrap themselves around the tongue as they glide into a long harmonious finish. This is English sparkling wine at its best. 

Buy now for £45

Gran Moraine Chardonnay 2017

I love a good Chardonnay to wind down in the evening and right now I’m loving this beauty from Oregon. Deriving from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this rich, fruity and balanced Chard is teaming with flavour and the most important thing for me in a wine like this – texture. Some people love oak, others don’t, but for me this has the perfect in-between balance and just a enough to make it a really well rounded and quality driven Chardonnay. Rich, but now overpowering you can expect to taste apricot, buttery lemon, kiwis and clementine’s. For those who love Chardonnay, this is for you. For those who don’t, I’d dare say it will convert you. 

Buy for £56 (£336 per case)

McGuigan Philosophy 2014

McGuigan is known for being a quality-driven everyday wine at an affordable price – but they’re not just about great supermarket finds. Take for example The Philosophy, a top shelf Cabernet Shiraz blend which was produced in 2014 from some of the wineries top vineyards in Langhorne Creek, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. This elegant yet dark ink bomb is packed full of blackcurrant and plum offering a combination of terroir driven notes while keeping true to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. A generous 24 months in French oak barrels paves way to chocolate, black meadow fruits and cedar oak with a velvety texture and soft tannins.  

Buy now for £71

Orin Swift Machete 2016 

This wine is simply divine. It’s a testament to the insanely good Petit Syrah coming out of California, held up in this case with a structured blend of syrah and grenache to complete the story. David Phinney (the winemaker) is a true genius and anything he seems to touch these days turns to gold. This red blend packs a bunch of flavour, with deep dark plum, cassis and cedar oak brought together with vanilla, chalky tannins and a smooth raspberry chocolate finish. If it’s cold outside, this is a sure-fire way to warm up. 

£66 from Great Western Wine

Mirabeau Provence Rosé Gin

When it comes to rosé my top choice for quality and value is always Mirabeau, which made me pretty god damn excited when they announced they were making a gin. While the base botanicals consist of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander it’s the Provençal twist containing a variety of herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really makes this gin stand out from the crowd. The result is a fruity and textured gin with lemon, coriander and citrus bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. The story ends on a final note as those herbs add an extra kick of character to the blend.  

£35 from Waitrose

Gran Patrón Platinum Tequila

I love a good tequila it seems to be one of the spirits I’ve really found an appreciation for over the last few years. If I was to name one house that consistently delivers quality across it’s whole portfolio, my mind takes me straight to Patrón. It seems there’s a little something for everyone and while I’ll happily get my hands on a Reposado for my margarita needs (quick tip, avoid the salt rim, it ruins the drink), I love nothing more than to sip on something of premium quality. That brings me to Gran Patrón Platinum, arguably the world’s first ulta-premium tequila. With each bottle taking around 30 people to create, quality is of the utmost level. Agave is individually sourced for its rich sugar content before being harvested, triple distilled  and left for 30 days in oak tanks to create pure elegance. The result is a smooth and seductive nectar of agave, orange, vanilla. Lime and white peppercorns. Pure bliss if you ask me and don’t even get me started on a Mexican Martini (google it, you won’t be disappointed). 

Buy now for £180

Æcorn Aromatic

In this day and age we are all about balance and I applaud those beginning to discover non-alcoholic spirits. The truth is, we don’t always want to drink booze, but what I do always insist on is creativity when it comes to what’s in my glass. This brings me to Æcorn, my new favourite non-alcohol tipple. My attention has taken me to the ‘Aromatic’ option which is rich and smoky in flavour. The difficulty up until now is that non-alcoholic spirits lack flavour, texture and any form of excitement, but this is where Æcorn has changed the game. I find myself frequently pouring a measure over ice with tonic water or simply just in a chilled ice with a couple of cubes and neat. When it comes to the flavour there’s a lot going on, with vanilla, cherrywood a smokiness and even a little cola combined with a silky-smooth mouthfeel and warming clove and oak on the finish. It may be a little daunting getting into this world, but once you’ve tried it you’ll be just as hooked as I am. Give it a go, you won’t regret it and you’ll likely feel better for it! 

£20 from Waitrose 

Don Papa 10 Year 

I first discovered Don Papa when I took a trip to the Philippines and I had no idea the country was even producing rum. Turns out it became one of the best discoveries I made, as I’m totally hooked on the stuff now. The 10-year old is their super premium version, distilled from some of the finest sugar canes in the world from the Negros Occidental region. Aged for 10 years in re-charred oak barrels it is then blended, leading to dried fruit flavours, pure cocoa, coconut, caramel and a kiss of cedar oak. Few people know that due to the humidity in the Philippines, the barrels are prone to some of the highest angel share yields in the world (that’s where spirit evaporates from the barrel). The thing is, Don Papa never re-fill them with recent vintage stock, meaning what you get in the bottle is not only pure but incrediblt concentrated. Rum is a beautiful drink that more people should be exploring, start here, like I did and you wont be disappointed. 

Buy now for £52

This content was originally published in Oracle Time Magazine under Aidy’s Drinks Column. You can subscribe to the online magazine here to view online or order the magazine in print format.

Brilliant rums under £30

Rum is a difficult category to delve into and decipher which bottles on the shelf will taste good. It seems that the rum category, as with many spirits, is as much about the brand as the area of the world in which the rum is made. There are some rums that are great value for money and more than that, they taste much better than their price tag would suggest. You will certainly recognise the names of some of the rums below, but you may not have tasted them recently. Others may be completely unknown, but if you love rum, I would definitely try them. Some of them are spiced, but none of these are flavoured, I may cover that another time, but for now I’m keeping it traditional.

Dead Man’s Fingers

Dead Man’s Fingers is a spiced rum made in St Ives in Cornwall, UK. It’s made on the premises at the Rum and Crab Shack which, if you’re down that way in the future, serves great food, and of course their own rum. This rum is a blend of Caribbean rums with a decent dose of spices. So why not order “Three fingers of Dead Man’s Fingers”! 

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £18

The Duppy Share Caribbean Rum

In the world of whisky, it is the angels who take their share of the spirit as it matures, but in the Caribbean, it is the Duppy spirits who travel around the islands taking their cut. That is the story of where this rum gets its name. Matured in ex bourbon barrels, there is a mix of rum from Barbados which is five years old and rum from Jamaica, which is three years old.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £26

Goslings Black Seal

There is a black seal on the label, but the name originally comes from the black wax seal which was used to seal the bottles. Made with rums from pot stills and continuous stills, this rum has been produced in Bermuda since 1806. This is the perfect rum for a Dark’n’Stormy cocktail, which is lucky really as the Gosling brothers hold the trademark to that cocktail.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £23

Mount Gay Black Barrel

Black barrel gets its name from the heavily charred barrels in which it is matured, and it’s those barrels that give it the flavour which punches well above its price point. The rums are created in a double distillation in a pot still, and a single distillation in a column still. The larger proportion comes from the double distillation. Altogether, a brilliant rum.

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £27

Appleton Estate Signature Blend

This rum is matured in smaller barrels than normal, giving the spirit more contact with the wood and a richer flavour in a shorter period of time. Called the “Signature Blend”, it is rounded out by marrying the rums in oak casks before bottling. Fruity and full of flavour, it is excellent value and tastes like rum that costs double the price.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £16

Kraken Black Spiced Rum

Named after the legendary sea monster, this rum is incredibly rich and very spicy. It has been in the UK for ten years now and it has gained a reputation for being a great rum. At its recommended retail price of £26, Kracken is very well priced and tastes like rums that are over £40, so at £20 on Amazon right now, it is an absolute bargain.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £20 

Lamb’s Navy Dark Rum

This rum has a long history and a great reputation for value for money. Made from rums from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, it is smooth and easy. Where it really shines beyond much more expensive rums is with a mixer. The flavours in this rum are made for mixing and I’d rather have this with coke than many rums four times the price. 

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £14 

Ableforth’s Rumbullion!

Here is my exception to the title of this piece. Ableforth’s Rumbullion is one rum worth spending just a touch more than my £30 upper limit. It has won a bunch of awards and it’s not hard to see why. With high proof Caribbean rum at its core, it is richly spiced with Madagascan vanilla and zesty orange peel. Small amounts of cassia and cardamom are also added. This rum is great to enjoy neat, or on ice with a squeeze of fresh lime.

ABV: 42.6%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £31.69 

For more on rums from around the world, Aidy Smith gives us the best four rums to look out for.

How to invest in whisky

Global markets are crashing, and the investment market is a difficult place to navigate. As we drink more in this time of lockdown, why not invest in something we are drinking? Colin Hampden-White gives us the lowdown on how to invest in whisky...

Investing in whisky

There are two principle ways to invest in whisky: one is to invest in bottles. These can be old or new bottles, and the brand or distillery of bottle is important. Then come casks of whisky. In the case of casks, the distillery from which the whisky comes is of lesser importance. A good return, between 10% - 15%, can be made from whisky casks from almost any distillery, as the blended whisky market always needs them.

Investing in bottles of whisky

The challenge with bottles is that it’s difficult to invest serious money as you need an awful lot of them to make it worth investing at all. Finding the right bottles, at auction or new releases, takes time and expertise and even then, a return is not guaranteed and you really need to know your shallots from your onions.

Investing in whisky casks

Casks are a different prospect. As blenders will always need whisky, there is a stronger market for casks. Scotch whisky casks are a simple asset, held in bond in Scotland and no duty is levied whilst it stays in bond. As whisky is considered a depreciating asset, there is no capital gains payable on its sale. So how does one buy the right casks? Diversity is the key to good investment portfolio. Casks can be bought freshly-filled to well-aged. A cask at zero age is called a ‘new fill cask’. The liquid is called ‘new make spirit’ and will legally become whisky after three years and a day. Casks can also be bought at any age beyond. The casks become more expensive as they gain maturity and the rate of return grows exponentially the older it gets.

Another consideration is the type of oak the whisky is stored in. Whisky can be stored in what is known as a first fill a refill or a rejuvenated cask. Think of the cask like a tea bag: the first fill is like an unused tea bag which gives out lots of flavour. The refill is a lightly-dunked tea bag; it takes longer for it to impart flavour to the whisky. Whisky in a first fill cask may be very good for a return on a young whisky, say up to twelve years old. When buying an older cask, a refill will be much better. An old, first fill cask may make the whisky taste too woody.

There are blended whiskies that like to have a good percentage of rejuvenated casks. These are much-used casks whose surface wood has little flavour left, so a couple of millimetres are shaved off the inside to expose active wood, ready for reuse. They have a different flavour profile, impart flavour at a similar rate to a first fill cask, so blenders can use the whisky earlier and they are less expensive.

Lastly there are two types of oak cask: European oak and American oak, providing the whisky with different flavours. American oak gives vanilla, coconut and sweeter flavours whilst European oak gives spicy and nutty flavours. European oak casks are much rarer in the industry and are more sought after. They are more expensive, but can give a great rate of return. Around 90% of the Scotch market uses American oak casks and 90% of Scotch sold around the world is blended whisky. So whisky from a European oak cask (ex-Sherry for example) is a sound bet. If the whisky is sold to an independent bottler rather than for blending, and perhaps further maturing before bottling, then a first fill European oak cask would be more desirable.

How do you find whisky casks to buy?

In general terms, the best investment would be a range of casks including new make and aged casks in a mixture of American and European oak. If you’re buying a very old cask or wanting a longer term investment, I would suggest a re-fill cask. So how and where do you find and buy casks? You can’t just rock up to a distillery and pop a cask in the boot. Whisky brokers only deal with the industry, however there are companies who can buy from brokers and do deal with private investors. Of course, you can find brokers on the internet. But for reliability of service and quality of product, you might look at Cask Trade Ltd. I have been in the whisky industry for many years and have consulted to them since their start, and they understand the market well. Cask Trade don’t broker other peoples casks, they sell their own stock, so you know when you buy a cask it exists and won’t be bought from under your feet having been sold by another broker.

So settle down one evening with a dram that’s old enough to vote and contemplate owning more than just a bottle or two. Here are some specialist recommendations:

Auction: whisky.auction

Cask sales: Cask Trade Ltd

A few suggestions which would make good bottles to buy now:

Glenmorangie, A tale of Cake

Limited release from this distinguished distillery. A tale of Cake has been finished in Tokaji Casks giving it a sweet sponge cake flavour mixed with the traditional flavours of orange, vanilla and orchard fruits, one expects from Glenmorangie.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: £89.95 USA: $109.99

---

Auchroisk 25 

A limited release from Diageo of this little seen distillery is a good bet. This release was from 2016 and therefore should be selling out pretty soon. Once sold out the auction prices will start to rise.

ABV: 51.2%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: £380.10 USA: $589.99

---

Balbalir 1990 AND 1983

Balblair stopped producing vintage bottles two years ago in favour of aged statements like 12, 15 and 18. Already sold out at retail in the the UK, these vintage Balblair’s would be a good buy for someone in the USA, or at auction.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: Sold out USA: $259.99

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: Sold out USA: $499.99

Like this? Try: Move over Macallan: it’s Tamdu time! or Johnnie Walker from £60 to £100K or Rare and independent whisky bottling

Move over Macallan! It's Tamdhu time...

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Gordon Dundas of Tamdhu runs through the character of the whisky.

Tamdhu is a whisky worth discovering…

There is a penchant for Scotch whiskies having been matured in Sherry casks and Macallan has been the brand to buy. It is difficult to find whisky which has been completely matured in sherry conditioned casks and not just finished in sherry casks, or blended with casks of other types. There is however a brand with whom you can be sure that the 100% of the whisky has been matured in sherry casks: Tamdhu. If you are a Macallan fan,you are going to love Tamdhu.

More than just sherry casks

Tamdhu believe that a wide range of casks gives them plenty of options to create great whisky. They use a mixture of American oak and European oak sherry casks. Their sherry casks are conditioned in Jerez for the whisky industry and nearly all of those casks are created using American oak. Tamdhu, however, also have casks created using European oak and conditioned for them. What this gives them is the ability not just to create more complex whiskies, but also to bottle single casks matured in both American oak and European oak. This gives us an interesting insight into the differing flavour profiles of these two types of oak.

The Tamdhu range is growing

Tamdhu until recently had a 10 year old in their line up. This has now been upgraded to a 12 year old and the strength increased from 40% to 43%. They have a 15 year old at 46% and they say that in a couple of years, an 18 year old will be added to their line up.

The whiskies are blended from casks of both first fill and second fill American and European oak and the casks are of differing sizes. It is unusual in this day and age to see a whisky brand increasing the age statements of their whisky rather than decreasing them or moving to non age statements. Not that Tamdhu don’t do non age statement whiskies; they have a limited batches of cask strength none age statement whisky, which is now on batch four.

What can one expect when trying Tamdhu?

The 12 year old is rich and remarkably smooth at 43%. One can sip it over time or just as easily add water or a mixer and drink in long. It is versatile; a whisky which is difficult to get bored of. At the other end of the spectrum, the single casks are big bold whiskies, especially the European oak whiskies, which have the typical fruit cake and demerara sugar dominant flavours, with added spices to keep the palate lively and fresh. The American oak single casks still have dried fruit flavours, but they tend to be stone fruits such as apricots and there are core flavours of vanilla and dedicated coconut so often associated with American oak. The two casks I tasted recently, cask 2986 American oak Cask at 56.2% and 2014 European oak cask at 58.9% typified the two flavour profiles and are deeply satisfying whiskies. If your budget can stretch to a single cask bottle though, I’d thoroughly recommend buying one. At a more affordable level, if you are looking for cask strength whisky, then at £65 the limited batch number four is a cracking dram. It can be found at the House of Malt. If you like Macallan, or any whiskies matured in ex Sherry casks, then I think Tamdhu is a whisky you should add to your list, and once you’ve tried it, I think it will stay on your list forever.

I love this limited release batch strength Tamdhu:

ABV: 57.8%

Size: 70cl

Buy now for £68

The incredibly drinkable and fruity 12 year old can be found at The Whisky Exchange:

ABV: 43%

Size: 70cl

Buy it now for £44.99

And my favourite, the single cask American oak offering can be found at The Whisky World:

ABV: 56.2%

SIze: 70cl

But it now for £449.90

For more on brilliant whisky that’s blended rather than a single malt, have a read about the great lesser known Johnnie Walker whiskies

From £60 to £100K: The Beauty of Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker is a name synonymous with great value, consistency of quality and having a long heritage. Most of us know about the varying colours of the Johnnie Walker family: Red, Black, Green, Gold and Blue, with the last being reassuringly expensive at around £150. But did you know there are Johnnie Walker whiskies which are far more expensive than that? There is even an expression that cost £100,000 + VAT! 

The “Diamond Jubilee” was created in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which celebrated her 60 years on the throne. The spirit was distilled in 1952 but it’s not only the whisky you are paying for. It comes in a Baccarat decanter on a crystal base, the stopper is Britannia silver and there are diamonds woven into the design. Further even than that, the casks used to marry the whisky are made from oak grown on The Queen’s Sandringham estate. They had been lightly toasted and seasoned with Pedro Ximenez sherry and then grain whisky. 

The cabinet housing the bottle is handmade from Sandringham oak and pine from The Queen’s Balmoral estate. And there is even more: the book which accompanies it is hand bound on the Isle of Skye by Laura West and the writing done in calligraphy by Sally Mangum. Finally, there were only 60 bottles available, plus one for Her Majesty.  

Luckily with Johnnie Walker, one doesn’t normally have to spend £100,000 to get some very fine whisky. Beyond the regular Johnnie Walker colours range there are some super-premium treats at a much more reasonable price point than the Diamond Jubilee expression. Here are a few of my favourites, including one at £60 which will surprise:

Johnnie Walker XR 21 Year Old Blended Whisky

A 21 year old blended whisky inspired by the Johnnie Walker Master Blender Alexander Walker II. It is a whisky full of both lemon and orange citrus with a finish of dried fruits soaked in sherry.

ABV: 40%
SIZE: 70cl
Buy it now for £147

Johnnie Walker - Blue Label Ghost & Rare series - Port Ellen

A complex blend of many of the usual whiskies that go into Johnnie Walker Blue label, with the added component of some old whisky from Port Ellen distillery, (which closed in 1983) the stocks of which are very rare. This whisky has all the hallmarks of Blue Label, but the salinity and peat come through gently from the Port Ellen.

ABV: 43.8%
Size: 70cl
Buy it now for £253

Johnnie Walker King George V

King George V is a very special edition of blended whisky from Johnnie Walker. Packaged beautifully, it is clearly a super-premium product. It was created to celebrate the Royal Warrant bestowed upon the company by the monarch. This is made with some of Johnnie Walker's rarest stocks, including Cardhu, Lochnagar and even Port Ellen.

ABV: 43%
Size: 70cl
Buy it now for £532

Johnnie Walker - Private Collection 2018, Midnight Blend, 28 yr old

A whisky made for drinking after dinner, hence the name Midnight Blend. This is the final edition in the Private collection series, started in 2014. Only 3,888 bottles were created for the world market. It is known to have malt whiskies from the four corners of Scotland giving lots of complexity, mainly butterscotch, caramel and toffee with a touch of spice.

ABV: 42.8%
Size: 70cl
Buy it now for £650

https://amzn.to/3cfT9fo

Johnnie Walker - Blue Label Ghost and Rare Series – Brora

This is the first in the Ghost and Rare series and some might say the best. Like the previous Ghost and Rare, which drew upon Port Ellen, Brora distillery in this expression closed its doors in 1983 and is extremely rare and holds cult status amongst whisky aficionados.

ABV: 46%
Size: 70cl
Buy it now for £735

Johnnie Walker - Excelsior - 1947 50 year old Whisky

If you really fancy pushing the boat out, then this extremely hard to find whisky is on Amazon today! Distilled in 1947 and released at 50 years old in 1997 it epitomises the brand and its complex blends. Just think, for around 100 times less than the Diamond Jubilee, this whisky was distilled five years earlier, and is still 50 years old.

ABV: 43%
Size: 70cl
Buy it now for £1049

Johnnie Walker aged 18 years old

Back down to earth on the price, but not on the flavour, front is this 18 year old blended whisky from Johnnie Walker. It is a great whisky and, for me, gives the best bang for buck in the Johnnie Walker range. It is very smooth and complex and although it says 18 on the label, there are some whiskies in this blend that are quite a bit older. 

ABV: 40%
Size: 40%
Buy it now for £60

For more on Johnnie Walker’s colours get the low down from our previous article and if you are just starting out on your whisky adventure, we have a quick guide to help you on your way.

The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas

Words by Aidy Smith

There’s no debate that one of my favourite spirits on this planet is tequila. While some may have ruined it for themselves by being reckless shot-slamming teenagers, it’s become a liquid that I have come to love and appreciate like no other. But what is the trick to crafting such an incredibly good tequila? Purity. There should be no burn, there should be no overpowering ethanol, instead, you should feel like you are tasting the agave nectar itself which each and every sip. 

These beauties are not meant to sit beside a lime and salt, they are meant to be cherished and enjoyed for exactly what they are and by themselves. For that reason, Ladies and Gentlemen, today I give you the World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!

Casa Dragones Blanco

These guys create another one of the ultimate sipping tequilas and arguably one of the ‘purest’ looking bottles I’ve seen too. I love to use these as water bottles once I’ve finished the nectar inside. Small batch, 100% blue agave which has been around for 7-9 years ripened to perfection in the rich lands of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The water is pretty neat too, beneath the earth’s surface in hundreds of 70-meter natural aquifers straight from the Volcano of Tequila! Perhaps that what gives it such a pure and distinct taste…

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £88.95 // US $64.99

Patron Burdeos

Created in super limited quantities each year, Burdeos sits atop the perch of Patróns collection of tequilas. Those who read my pieces often will now that reposado is one of my favourite tequilas for making cocktails, but Burdeos is a very different beauty for very different reasons and it all starts with its name. The translation actually means ‘Bordeaux’, given how this tequila is aged for one year in American and French oaks before then being transported to ex-Bordeaux casks given it that robust nose and velvety smooth texture. Once again only 100% Weber Blue agave is used from the heart of Jalisco’s highlands. The result is a divinely rich dark amber tequila with notes of fresh roasted coffee and chocolate. What about the taste? Pure with hints of raisins and vanilla intertwined by a velvety smooth mouthfeel. This one is difficult to share. 

 Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £499.99 // US $499.99

Clase Azul Reposado

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful bottles on the planet which also happens to contain one of the most magnificent tequilas too. You may have heard about this tequila because of it’s fun little bell which goes ‘Ding Ding’, but there’s a lot more to its design than just that. Each bottle is unique and 100% handcrafted by over 100 artists and artisans who dedicate their time to create just one bottle at a time. Produced at one of the highest points in Los Altos (the highlands) in the town have Jesus Maria (Jalisco), legend has it the altitude has a unique effect on the flavour profile of the tequila. Whether that’s true or not, I’m completely in love with what’s in the bottle.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £199.99 // US $169.99

Padré Azul

I think I need to sit down for a second. Woah, this is one of the purest tequilas I’ve ever tasted, and it still blows my mind as to how they are able to make it this way. It’s literally like drinking fresh from the agave plant. Undeniably smooth with so much rich plant-nectar flavour, it’s difficult to just keep to one sipping glass of this stuff. On the outside, it can look a little bit gimmicky with its cow-hide bottle cover and skull closure, but don’t let that put you off. The liquid inside is something of true magic and for that reason this tequila is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Originally intended to be a product imported into Austria, word has since spread and Padré Azul is finding itself into more and more markets within Europe. Still fairly undiscovered and underrated I’d say. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £90.95 // US $109.99

 Casamigos Anejo

If it’s got George Clooney’s face on it, let’s not beat around the agave bush, you want that in your mouth. No but seriously, this is an outstanding tequila. It may be widely available but their master distiller (who’s never actually been named) is working wonders. I have as much confidence in this as I do in Clooney’s acting career. Strong game. They use 100% Blue Weber agave with an age of 7-9 years, slow cooking the piñas for 72 hours in their traditional brick ovens. The 80-hour fermentation process coupled alongside a signature yeast blend give this tequila its refined flavour. The Anejo then sits in American white oak casks for 14 months to elevate its game even further. Pure agave, soft caramel, gentle vanilla and a sweet spiced oak fill your mouth with joy. If only it came with a side of George…

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £67.45 // US $59.99

Enjoyed this? Then make sure you check out The 6 Tequilas you Need in Your Life Right Now and The Best Tequila for Margaritas!

Best Flavoured Gins For Your Money

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There is a lot of gin on offer at the moment and many of them are flavoured. Like many drinks, however, some feel better in our glass at certain times of the year. We consider Pimm’s to be a summer drink for example, along with rosé wine and elderflower on the non-alcoholic side. In the same way with gin, most people would leave a spiced gin for Christmas time but are more likely to enjoy a flavoured gin in the summer. So without further ado, here are some of our favourite flavoured gins to enjoy this summer.

Gordon's Sicilian Lemon Distilled Gin

Gordons make a classic gin and this gin has all the DNA of its better known brother, but with a twist of lemon. The lemon flavours are lovely and fresh - perfect for a warm summer day. With Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, this gin is a delight. Rather than a slice of Lemon try using some rosemary as a garnish to give some extra spring in its step, or a sugar rim to add some sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £14 

Beefeater Pink Strawberry Flavoured Gin

Strawberries are one of the first fruits of summer and make us immediately think of warmer weather, Wimbledon and cream tea by the seaside. This gin encapsulates all that in a glass. It goes well with tonic but is also very fresh with some soda water and a few slices of strawberry as a garnish to give it an extra boost.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £14.00

Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur

One would normally associate ginger with autumn, but this little number is all about summer. The ginger is fresh and the rhubarb gives lovely red fruit flavours. At 20% it is a little sweeter than a gin with more alcohol and makes a fabulous long drink with tonic, soda, or even lemonade. It’s a great lower alcohol option for the lengthening days. 

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find it here: £16.50

Malfy Con Arancia (Blood Orange), Italian Gin

As fruits and flowers continue to ripen over the summer months, the aromas in the air begin to concentrate and this gin is all about concentration. The blood orange flavours are very concentrated, but fresh in flavour not confected. Sip it over ice with soda and a sprig of thyme to be transported to the south coast of Italy where this gin hails from. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find it here: £25

Zymurgorium Turkish Delight Gin

Much like the roses that are now in full bloom, this gin gives a sense of a true British summer. At 18.8% it has a sweet touch just like the sugar dusting on Turkish delight. This gin is an absolute delight mixed with Fentimans tonic and garnished with a slice of grapefruit.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 18.8%
Find it here: £16.89 

Kopparberg Premium Gin Strawberry and Lime

This is the second Strawberry gin on our list, but it has a twist with fresh zesty lime flavours added in. A slice of lime is best to add to this drink. It will be good with most tonics as long as they are not too sweet, but we think Barker and Quin Hibiscus works very well and adds to the complexity in the glass.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find it here: £16

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Distilled Gin

Our favourite gin on this list is this one. The flavours are so fresh one could have imagined the oranges squeezed in and the floral flavours are complex and lively across the palate. We like to keep this bottle in the freezer and sip it slowly neat over ice to while away the warm summer evenings.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find it here: £17

Miniature Gin Set (Pack of 8)

If you haven’t tried many flavoured gins yet, then this little sample pack may just be the thing for you. Try out eight flavours here and discover which of them you like the most before buying a full bottle. These are lovely with soda, tonic or simply over ice as non of them are particularly strong.

ABV: 23-27%
Size: 400ml
Find it here: £29.95

If you’d like to read more about fancy gins, then head over to Aidy’s article on the most luxurious gins on the planet.

The Best Wine and Spirit Matches with Chocolate

In the lead up to Easter, we’ve been matching some of our favourite drinks with chocolate, where each benefits the other. This is no mean feat. The decision on the type of drink, and which expression of that type, has stimulated much discussion. We eventually came to an agreement and think you’ll find these chocolate and drink matches as delicious as we do.

White Chocolate – Milky bar eggs - Moscato d’Asti 

White chocolate can be stickily sweet and there is only so much one can consume in one sitting. But we have found a way to eat more of it! White wine has great acidity which can cut through the fat and sweetness that’s delicious in white chocolate. Alongside the chocolate, the wine creates lots of fresh flavours like apricots, honey and citrus. With everything in balance, you can chomp your way through a few more bars. 

ABV: 5.5%%
Size: 750ml
Buy the wine now for £8.95 
Buy the chocolate for £6.99

Milky – Maltesers truffles - Old Pulteney 12 year old

Maltesers truffles are a guilty secret for all The Three Drinkers, and so is the whisky which goes with them extremely well. Old Pulteney 12 year old has a salinity that counterbalances all that lovely honeycomb. With lots of complexity, it keeps the palate clean, lively and ready to take on more chocolate!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy the whisky now for £27.50
Buy the chocolates now for £8.99

 50% Cocoa – Cadbury’s dairy milk egg - Aberfeldy 12 year old

There are so many whiskies that match well with dairy milk chocolate, so we had to think long and hard about which one to suggest. We needed a whisky that wouldn’t take over from the milky chocolate, but would still be characterful enough to keep the Drinkers happy. The whisky that we all agreed did this job the best was Aberfeldy 12 year old; a super-fruity and easy going whisky, it can also be matched with fruit and nut milk chocolate. 

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy the whisky here for £32.90  
Buy the chocolate here for £18.99

 70% Cocoa – Port - Callebaut dark chocolate

With the bitterness of dark chocolate, we feel there needs to be a little sweetness in the drink to best match it, but the drink also needs lots of flavour to balance and acidity to keep the palate fresh. Port did the trick. Select Vintage or Late Bottled Vintage in preference to a tawny port. Our favourite was Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage 2007.

ABV: 20%
Size: 750ml
Buy the port now for £27.95  
Buy the chocolate now for £27.75

 All rounder – Quality Street - Amarone

When The Three Drinkers think of holiday chocolate, Quality Street always comes to mind: a smorgasbord of milk and dark chocolate, nuts, soft fillings and fudge. That’s quite a mix for any drink to contend with! A wine with some sweetness, lots of fruit and acidity would be needed, so look for a ‘ripasso’ style of red wine, with big red/dark fruit balance and plenty of acidity. We particularly like Riondo Amarone della Valpolicella 2015 for a great value Amarone. A treat wine, it punches well above its price tag and certainly deserves the biggest tin of chocolates.

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Buy the wine now for £22.95 
Buy the chocolate now for £17.98

 Mint Chocolate – After Eights – Mezcal

Mint chocolates are more difficult to match with alcohol. However, most smoky spirits do work, like smoky whisky. One drink that works particularly well however, is Mezcal, with its smokiness and fruity agave flavour. Our favourite Mezcal at the moment is San Cosme which pairs well with After Eights.

 ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy the Mezcal now for £39.13
Buy the chocolate now for £4.73

Chocolate Orange - Sauternes

An all-time great chocolate needs an all-time great drink to pair with it. We love sauternes, with its honey, apricot and marmalade flavours that mix well with the orange. It’s a match made in heaven as its acidity cuts through the chocolate. We obviously would love to eat chocolate orange all day whilst quaffing Chateau d’Yquem, but all sauternes goes well and at a more reasonable price, we like Sichel’s version.

ABV: 14%
Size: 750ml
Buy the Sauternes now for £15.39
Buy the chocolate now for £29

100% Cocoa - Cognac

At the top end of fine and healthy chocolate is 100% cocoa. With its refined, bittersweet yet unctuous flavours, you don’t need much of it. The same can be said of cognac. Younger cognac will pair well, but for the full experience, a good, aged cognac like Frapin XO will knock your socks off!

 ABV: 64%
Size: 730ml
Buy the cognac now for £155
Buy the chocolate now for £13.50