The World’s First Peated Tomato Juice

Yep, that’s right. This is the first tomato juice to have been infused with Islay peat smoke. The result? A totally unique flavour that screams “Bloody Mary!”. Not only is it richer and deeper in taste than your standard tomato juice, it’s hand-crafted in Scotland itself by a small team of gastronomic food innovators. 

Quite exciting, given how much we love a bloody mary. Now, they recommend you mix it up with vodka (recipe below), but I would argue for those who love peat as much as we do, drop a wee dram of whisky in there instead for a double whammy peat punch. Don’t forget that mandatory slice of shortbread on the side too.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with peat – it’s an organic material that has decomposed over millions of years. On Islay, it absorbs all of the sea salt from the atmosphere given you’re never far away from the coast, in doing so infusing all of that rich goodness when smoked.

A local smokery is used to extract maximum flavour, with the dried peat being infused into the fresh, seasonal tomatoes. What you get is a super rich batch of sweet, smoky and salty tomatoes and in turn, their juice. Damn. 

Okay, enough talk, let’s get to the good stuff. 

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Tongue In Peat’s Smoky Mary Recipe 

Ingredients: 

50ml vodka (or a peaty whisky!)
6 drops Tabasco
8 drops Worcestershire sauce 1 pinch celery salt
1 tsp horseradish
2 tsp fresh lime juice 

Method: 

Rub a wedge of lemon along the rim of your glass, then coat with black pepper. Add the vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, salt, horseradish and lime juice before topping up with Tongue in Peat Smoked Tomato Juice. Fill the glass with ice then stir, and garnish with a wedge of lemon and celery stick. 

Tongue in Peat is now available in 250ml or 500ml glass bottles from selected online retailers including directly from Tongueinpeat.com as well as Paisley Drinks Company and Craft56.co.uk 

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Father's Day Gift Ideas For Drinks Lovers

Words by Helena Nicklin

Every dad is different as is every son or daughter. What can you give him that showcases his personality or yours? Here is our pick of some delicious drinky gifts that will suit the wine lover dad, the beer explorer or spirits connoisseur. Bottoms up and Happy Father’s Day!

The Wine Lover

A selection of half bottles

If your dad is like mine, he will eye you suspiciously when presented with a 75cl bottle of wine as he’ll expect it’ll need to be shared! Show your dad his gift is just for him with a pair or selection of half bottles of wine. Louis Jadot makes some beautifully approachable Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs (available in Tesco), or you can take your pick from a range by half bottle specialist, the Little Fine Wine Company. 

The English Fizz Fanatic

Roebuck Estates Blanc de Noirs, 2015

Roebuck is one of the newest English wine estates who stormed onto the scene with their inaugural, classic cuvée 2014. This new wine from the Estate located near Petworth in Sussex, is made exclusively from hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes from the 2015 vintage that were grown in their Roman Villa vineyard. With its smart, hand drawn black and gold label, it looks as good as it tastes with an alluring perfume of red berries and apple skin with beautifully balanced notes of orchard fruit and brioche. Exceptionally poised and elegant. Drinking now but will keep for several years. 

Find it for £45 from Roebuckestates.co.uk

Monthly Wine Delivery

Feel Good Grapes

How about a wine club where each bottle has been handpicked by the team for being not only delicious, but organic or biodynamic and sustainable too! Feel Good Grapes are keen to only work with producers who understand their impact on the earth and they are so dedicated to the cause that they also offset the carbon footprint from all their deliveries AND plant a tree for every bottle of wine sold. The buying team are expert tasters too, so you can feel extra good about the wines you're drinking.

From £20 a month to £200 at Feel Good Grapes

The Gin Genie

Fifty Pounds Gin

This super smart bottle houses a rather exceptional London Dry Gin. Triple filtered, it’s incredibly smooth with a range of complex flavours that jump out, as if wrapping the juniper in a delicious, scented scarf from sage to lemon peel, gentle spice and liquorice. The name alludes to the 1736 Gin Act in London, when if you wanted to produce and sell Gin, a 50 pound tax was levied. It’s not surprising many went underground! 

RRP £34.45 from Master of Malt

The Beer 

The Original Small Beer Company

The Small Beer Company have brought back the old tradition of Small Beer, which used to be drunk instead of water as it was safer, back in the London Streets of the 1700s. Brewed to a maximum of 2.8 percent as it always used to be, Small Beer is isotonic with trace elements left in rather than dehydrating so it’s actually rather good for you (can we say that?!) There are four styles to choose from: Lager, Session Pale, Steam and Dark Lager, but you can also try a handy four pack of 330ml bottles - and it makes the perfect gift.

Find the gift pack for £15 from the originalsmallbeer.com

The Spirits Aficionado

Glencairn Crystal Glassware

The ‘Glencairn’ has become to-go to glass not just for whisky, but most neat spirits nowadays. Endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association, its unique shape was crafted to allow the fullest appreciation of the whisky from the nose to the palate.. The glass now comes in many styles, uncut or hand cut, a price that will suit all budgets. Enter the code DADSDRAM20 to receive a Father’s Day 20% discount too!

RRP from £6 a glass, go to Glencairn.co.uk

The Cognac Connoisseur

Cognac Frapin Millésime 1992 -26 years old 

With a limited release of just 3000 bottles, this stunning 1992 vintage is the latest addition to Frapin’s collection of rare vintage cognacs, where it has been gently ageing in the dry cellars on the Frapin estate. Bright in colour with an elegant, floral nose and palate of prune, apricot and liquorice, this is an elegant, complex cognac and an excellent ambassador of the Frapin house style.

Find it for from £145 to £160 from Master of Malt

The Rum Romantic

Drum & Black Spiced Rum

The new generation of dark rums on the scene are to die for and England is knocking it out of the park with some new brands! Dad will love this one from Drum & Black with its eye-catching bottle and brooding, sweet notes of coffee bean, vanilla, honey, dark chocolate and orange peel. Try it alone over ice or as a ‘Mule Noir’ with a sprig of mint and some ginger beer (The team recommend Fentimans).

Find it for £33.75 from Master of Malt. 

The Whisky Collector

Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Buffalo Trace is a much-loved, American distillery that has been making Bourbon whiskey the same way for more than 200 years. It has a deep, rich, amber colour with a complex aroma of vanilla, mint and molasses. Sweet but not cloying, with notes of brown sugar and spice, subtle oak, toffee and dark fruit, it’s a warming, easy-going whiskey with a long, smooth finish. There’s a competition too! You can enter your father to win a Buffalo Trace home bar! See their social platforms for details @BuffaloTraceUk.

Find the whiskey for £23.99 from Master of Malt.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old

Glenmorangie is one of our all time favourite Scotch distillers and is renowned for pioneering the art of extra- maturation. For this single malt, the whisky is first aged in bourbon casks, then finished in ruby port pipes and barriques from Portugal. Quinta Ruban is a bold and velvety, 14-year-old Highland whisky, with unctuous flavours of orange and dark chocolate.

Find it for £49.95 from Master of Malt

John Crabbie & Co, single cask 1994 25-Year-Old Island Malt (247 bottles only)

SPLASH OUT! Appealing to top-end collectors particularly, this special, sherry-cask whisky is dark gold, with rich notes of fruitcake, orange peel, dark chocolate and smoky spice. It comes with its own elegant presentation box too. Distilled at the Tobermory Distillery, the Crabbie 1994 Island Single Malt has been matured for 25 years in an ex-sherry hogshead. Each bottle is non-chill filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 46.2% ABV.

RRP £300. Please email john.kennedy@johncrabbie.com for enquiries.

For more drinks round ups, check out Best Bang for Buck Sipping Bourbon, The Best Wines to have Chilled and 7 Great French Rosé Wines for Summer.

Best Bang for Buck Sipping Bourbon

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Bourbon is having a boom. There are lots of new distilleries opening and some of the rare bourbons are becoming extremely expensive. The big brands are selling more than ever before with premium versions of their standard bottles selling more than ever. With so much bourbon on the market The Three Drinkers wanted to put a short list together of bourbon we have tried, didn’t cost the earth and think should be on anyone’s shopping list if you wanted to try bourbon that not only can be mixed to make great long drinks and cocktails, but which are fabulous to sip, read on.

 Eagle Rare 10

From the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, comes Eagle Rare 10 Year Old. A spectacular Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey, matured for at least a decade before making its way into its very smart bottle at 45% ABV. What's so distinctive about the bottles, you ask? Well, we're going to say it's the massive bald eagle, wings outstretched, looking like it's about to snatch up some dinner. Distinctive, yes? The whiskey is also pretty distinctive too, boasting full-bodied notes of toffee, orange peel and buttery corn. This is a bourbon for those who like them big and bold.

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £36.99

Four Roses Small Batch

Four Roses Small Batch is a step up from the classic Four Roses Bourbon, showcasing the variety of mashbills that the distillers have to work with in Lawrenceburg - and their talents at making them sing together. Ten bourbon recipes are produced by Four Roses, and four of them are blended together to create this approachable but flavoursome expression. Great value-for-money, this whiskey has a huge amount of flavour for your buck and goes down very smoothly to boot. There are notes of manuka honey, winter spice, toasty oak, a little crème anglaise.

 ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £27.23

Yellowstone select Bourbon

From the Yellowstone range (owned by Limestone Branch and run by Steven Beam, which was founded to bring back the glory that Yellowstone once held many moons ago) comes the Select Bourbon. Full-bodied, with a good kick of rye lurking around in the background. If you like your Bourbon with a little nutmeg spice then you will love this. It is rather creamy with lots of vanilla fudge notes. Some herbaceous spice appears on the mid-palate giving lots of complexity.

ABV: 46.5%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £33.64

Woodford Reserve

The mashbill for Woodford Reserve features a high percentage of rye: 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt. Unusual also for being triple distilled and having the lowest proof upon entering the barrel where it matures for at least six years. A must have Kentucky bourbon. It is very thick and full. There are notes of espresso beans, winter spice, cereal sweetness, plenty of rye, ground ginger, almond oil, toasty oak and a little rum. A lovely whiskey to ponder as you sip.

 ABV: 43.2%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £33.99

Michter’s US*1 Bourbon

The US*1 Bourbon from Michter's in Louisville, Kentucky, is made in small batches, typically comprised of no more than two dozen barrels. Top quality stuff, brimming with caramel, vanilla and fruit notes, alongside a pleasing earthy quality at its core. Even though this is produced in small batches, there is a core style which is particular to Michter’s which run through all the batches, with the batches giving extra interest as none are exactly the same. If you like this bourbon, the different batches will keep rewarding you time and time again.

 ABV: 45.7%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £53.83

Hudson Four Grain Bourbon

Up in New York, Hudson Four Grain bourbon is made using the Tuthilltown distillery's unique recipe of corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. Hold on a minute, that’s four grains - like what the name says! Tuthilltown Spirits were producers of the first legal pot-still whiskey in New York since prohibition. Four Grain is aged in small three-gallon barrels to accelerate maturation, and each bottle is numbered and wax-dipped by hand. The interaction of the four grains is intriguing and rather unique, but certainly tasty.

 ABV: 46%
Size: 350ml
Buy it now for £36.13

Elijah Craig Small Batch

Elijah Craig has long been a favourite bourbon of many whiskey enthusiasts, and certainly is with The Three Drinkers - to the point where their stocks of 12 year old bourbon have been under a lot of pressure, not that we are drinking all of it! The producers made the decision to discontinue the 12 Year Old expression and create this expression to take its place. It manages to maintain the incredibly high quality that Elijah Craig is known for, including the delicious core of cooked apple drizzled in honey notes. This expression has been well received, taking home not one but two San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold medals!

 ABV: 47%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £39.95

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon

Wild Turkey's Rare Breed Bourbons are bottled at cask strength, and are often absolutely staggering. The bottles have had a little redesign recently, and look very stylish indeed - though the eponymous turkey on the label looks rather surprised to be there. This particular edition was bottled at 58.4% ABV. Heavy caramel and chocolate. A touch of smoke develops on the back pallet, there is brown sugar and touches of pepper on the finish too. This is a bourbon on for the feint hearted! 

ABV: 58.4%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £52.25

Brough Brothers Bourbon

This came to our attention recently and we can’t recommend it highly enough. Brough Brothers Bourbon is the brilliant brainchild of Victor, Chris and Bryson Yarbrough in Louisville, Kentucky. A marvellous small batch Bourbon full of spicy sweetness, cooked fruit and toasty oak notes. Great for sipping, but it also shines in some classic cocktail recipes, too. At a bourbon that is under £30, we would have this in our drinks cabinet at all times. If you want a bourbon which is a true all-rounder, then this is the one to buy. We also love the funky label with the brothers on it.

ABV: 41%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £28.95 

Pappy Van Winkle 23

Now we know this is a whiskey which is beyond most of our pockets, but if you ever get the chance to try it on a special occasion in a restaurant or bar, then go for it, it is a truly memorable experience. This has to be the king of sipping whiskey. At 23 years old it has so much complexity, and yet is still simply pleasurable to drink, the complexity isn’t demanding yourw attention. With aromas of Dark fruit, espresso coffee, oak and buttery toffee. The flavours are rich and spicy. Oak underpinning nutty sweetness, honey and star anise come in on the finish. Produced yearly in very small batches, this hits the market at £250, however this increases to well over £2000 once sold out and bottles find their way onto the secondary market, which happens almost as soon as it is released. 

 ABV: 47.8%
Size: 700ml
Savour it if you get the chance

If you’ve enjoyed exploring bourbon then have a read about one of its founding fathers, and the man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey: Uncle Nearest.

The Last Drop Distillers: The World’s Most Exclusive Spirits Collection

Words by Aidy Smith

I’ve always considered alcohol like art – you have your raw ingredients, whether grape, grain or anything in-between, much like you have your paint, chalk or pencils. Upon taking your palate you begin to create your masterpiece on the canvas, one colour and one stroke or brush at a time. Take your distillation methods or winemaking process, which yeasts you use, how many times you filter and the same can be said for producing wine and spirits. The connection between the two has always fascinated me and much like procurers of fine art, I spend a lot of my time searching auction sites around the world in an attempt to find a truly old, truly unique piece of history that I can add to my collection. Sometimes I’ll drink it, sometimes I’ll simply admire it. 

You see, out there in the world, hidden in the darkest corners of distilleries, wineries and bodegas sit rare treats that have stood the test of time. Some of these, their owners are very much aware exist, whereas others have simply gone forgotten given the sheer number of casks stored. While I may be able to look up a listing on an auction site, I’m not able to walk into a highly fortified warehouse to take a peak at 50+ year old casks. But there is a company who are – and my god have they sourced some treasures. Enter, The Last Drop Distillers. 

But here’s the thing, regardless of what your company is, you don’t get to simply walk into any old warehouse, for that, you need credentials and relationships  that have been forged over many years – and these two things are exactly what this team hold, which is why this company has been able to achieve so much in such little time. 

Co-Founders James Espey and the late Tom Jago are two very familiar names within the drinks industry, having throughout their joint careers of over 110 years been responsible for the growth of countless iconic spirits like J&B Rare, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Bailey’s Irish Cream to name just a few. Today, the company is overseen by the next generation, Rebecca Jago and Beanie Espey, both of whom’ over the years have comfortably called the drinks industry their home, following in the footsteps of their fathers and in the process showcasing that this industry is just as much for women as it is for men. 

Then there’s the various directors of the company, each with their own unique skillsets – take Ben Howkins for example, one of the most charming gentlemen I have met and an encyclopaedia for anything sherry, port, tokaji and so much more. It’s people like this who attain the much-needed knowledge, relationships and palates based on decades of experience to determine the quality of those magical finds. 

The point I’m trying to make is that this company is built up of a family of gracious people who have an exceptional talent to seek out precious ‘last drops’ of some of the oldest and most perfect spirits in existence. But even then, it’s not easy and the team openly acknowledge just how difficult it is to succeed in their quest; not all spirits age well and too long in wood can ruin them. But occasionally all the elements – original distillate, type of wood, the right climate for storage – combine to produce an unlikely miracle. 

Right, I keep referring to these miracles, so at the risk of beginning to sound like a cork-tease, I suppose I should tell you about some of the most fascinating finds The Last Drop have come to discover. Here are six instrumental releases that have given this company its reputation over time.  

The Last Drop Release No 1:
1960 Blended Scotch Whisky. 

This was the very first release and how it all began. Upon launching the company James and Tom knew they needed to do something special, so calling upon their incredible list of contacts in Scotland, Tom narrowed down his search to three casks, which upon tasting, he immediately knew were the ones. Up until the day he passed away in October 2018, Tom swore this was the best whisky he’d ever tasted – which coming from a man whose career was built on building brands made from the stuff, is quite a lot. 

Hidden away in the back of a warehouse in the Lowlands, what really set these casks apart was not where they were hidden so much as the treasure that was hidden inside. You see, The Last Drop aren’t just ‘rare spirit hunters’ in the sense of the quest, and the treasure hunt, but also in their ability to source and uncover gems that are literally hidden in plain sight. It took three years to sell out of the first release, but this bottle set the benchmark of quality for what was soon to become the most highly accoladed rare spirits company in the world.  

The Last Drop Release No 2:
the 1950 Cognac. 

Their second release was one of grave importance because it set them apart from being an ‘independent bottler of Scotch Whisky’ by that I mean a company who simply bottles a whisky then sells it on. You see, by releasing a cognac they became a ‘Spirits Company’ and cognac was by no means their only foray beyond the dram. Once again, that carefully built contact list of colleagues became invaluable and they found themselves sourcing a 1950 Cognac from a family-owned business on the banks of Charente that has been in operation for multiple generations. This was the beginning of a fascinating evolution.  

The Last Drop Release No 7:
the 1972 Lochside Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Only 106 bottles were ever created from this incredibly rare single cask. It’s not often to firstly find a whisky as old as this, but secondly from a distillery which no longer exists and Lochside is an example of just that.  Their mission to champion single grain whiskies continued as they maintained their reputation for producing incredibly small amounts of precious liquids. A light, but complex whisky which deserved to be seen for the gleaming gem it had become. 

The Last Drop Release No 14:
the 1925 Hors d’Age Grande Champagne Cognac

As if a 1950 cognac wasn’t a triumph in itself, the team decided to take things one step further and the story behind it this particular find is stunning. A single barrel of a cognac, distilled by the current owner’s grandfather in 1925, was hidden behind a wall of rubble as the Germans approached the south west of France before WWII. Forgotten, it lay there until late 2017, when the grandson undertook some renovation work on one of the barns, and there was a treasure: barely enough for 182 bottles of a simply glorious 93 year old cognac, untouched for over 70 years. It had never been topped up or in any way tampered with and is believed to have spent its life in an ex-Pineau des Charentes barrel, which imparts an extraordinary sweetness. In a fitting tribute, this true beauty was made in the year Tom Jago was born and bottled in the year he passed – a lovely nod to a man who has helped get moments of history like this into the hands of those who will truly appreciate them. 

The Last Drop Release No 11:
Centenario Duo of Tawny Ports 1870 and 1970 

As both a wine and spirits lovers, this is where the two worlds intertwine, and this is a product I have been fortunate enough to call my own. I remember the first time I took a sip, the two side-by-side and tears began to form in my eyes. Much like anyone with a passion there are some moments where we try a liquid so rare in its nature and so tasty that it hits us in a way we simply can’t explain and that’s when I realised exactly what The Last Drop offers its customers. Tasting this for the first time was one of those rare occurrences that will stay with me for a lifetime. 

To put things into historical reference - to taste a port that is older than the titanic, well, you can imagine the beauty of that moment. But these things are by no means easy to source and it was Ben Howkins, a true pioneer in port exploration leading the effort alongside Cristiano van Zeller – a name synonymous with the port industry. Together they discovered not one, but two aged tawny ports from the same vineyards, but made 100 years apart: in 1870 and in 1970. Not only 100 years apart, but also divided by Phylloxera: the older port was made from grapes on pre-Phylloxera vines, the younger on vines grafted onto American root stock after the louse wiped out almost all the vines of Europe. A chance to taste history, and to take enormous pleasure in doing so: these ports are incomparably delicious and so different from one other, the 1870 is deeper and more savoury, while the 1970 is positively fresh and floral.

The Last Drop Release No 13:
1982 Bourbon Whisky from Buffalo Trace

This takes us to one of the most recent releases as the company decided to venture even further beyond its origins in Scotch to the other side of the pond. This tiny release of just 44 bottles of 1982 bourbon was at the peak of its perfection and while some believe that bourbon isn’t meant to be aged, The Last Drop felt differently (as do I to be honest!). Turns out many others agree, the bottles were sold out incredibly quickly – although they did spot a bottle on auction recently selling at $18,000, more than 4 times the original price. In a further fitting tribute, 1982 is the birth year of Beanie Espey, with the bottling of this product taking place the same year her first son was welcome into the world, as well. 

As this piece draws to a close it’s worth my mentioning just how much I truly adore writing on topics like this – getting a glimpse into the historically rich universe of drinks and how they came to be. If you’re anything like me, I like to have at least one wonder sitting atop my shelf, the bounty of my collection and something so exquisitely rare that others can only look at in envy. The Last Drop has created something truly wonderful – the ability to help people experience a piece of history, emotion, wonder and above all else quality. I now can only wait in anticipation to discover what their next releases may be. Until then, if you’d like more information on any of the above – simply contact The Last Drop Distillers directly.  

The Last Drop Distillers
www.thelastdropdistillers.com

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.

The Ultimate Gin Cheesecake Recipe

With World Gin Day 2020 happening on the 13th June, our thoughts are turning to the juniper-scented deliciousness of Gin and various ways of enjoying it. This week, we came across this incredible Gin cheesecake recipe created by TV chef (and winner of MasterChef 2015) Simon Wood that he created in partnership with Didsbury Gin. We reckon this would work quite nicely with most classic Gins, though Didsbury is a good place to start as it has been tried and tested (#NotAnAd)! We’d also pair it with a cocktail version of a Gin cheesecake too, just because.

Ingredients for Gin Cheesecake

• 120ml Gin

• 30g Caster Sugar

• 125g Digestive Biscuits, smashed to crumbs

• 40g Butter, melted

• 280g Cream Cheese

• 397g Can Condensed Milk

• 90ml Fresh Lemon Juice

• 1 Grapefruit

• 1 Orange

• 1 Lime

• 1 Lemon

Method

1. Add 120ml Gin to a saucepan along with the caster sugar and simmer to reduce by two thirds.

2. Combine the biscuit crumbs and melted butter and press into the base of your moulds, taking care to keep it crumbly and not over bash it until it becomes dust!

3. Zest your citrus fruits and set aside. Retain a little of each for the garnish.

4. Whisk the cream cheese and condensed milk together, then slowly stir in the lemon juice and reduced gin ‘syrup’. Add in the citrus zest and mix well before pouring over the prepared base.

5. Chill everything for at least 2 hours in the fridge until set.

6. Serve with your remaining citrus zest sprinkled on the top- and possibly, a Gin and tonic!

Have a go, take a picture and tag us on Instagram @TheThreeDrinkers!

Didsbury Gin is available from £29.95 from Master of Malt.

If you like this, try Hamish’s famous Amaretto crumble recipe.

The Best Gins For A Martini

Words by Colin Hampden-White

This Saturday it is world gin day which has been gathering popularity every year. With a multitude of gins to choose from in bars, the Martini is the most drunk cocktail of the day. This year is different as most of us will be locked down and at home. When we would have been in bars with a plethora of gins at our disposal, most of us don’t have the budget for more than one or two. Here we have compiled a list of the gins we think are the best gins in the world for making a Martini, from classics to new exciting brands, all lovingly created for your delectation. I believe there is a gin in the world for every palate, and here we come a long way in finding them.  

 Classics

 Bombay Sapphire

This is one of the most delicately perfumed gins in the world, which makes it perfect for a dry martini. Be careful with the vermouth with this one, it can easily drown it. But with just the right amount, which can be achived by simply rinsing the glass in vermouth, this can make a truly memorable martini. Chill the gin in the fridge for perfect results. One for those who have a delicate palate. Expect light juniper and sugared almonds, but still lots of herbaceous flavours too.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.98 // US $32.99

Tanqueray 10

Introduced to the world in 2000, Tanqueray No. Ten is named after the still it is made in, pot still number 10, which is nicknamed Tiny Ten. The small batch gin is created using whole fresh citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes and grapefruit, alongside chamomile flowers and other traditional botanicals. Expect a burst of citrus with every sip. Quite notably, it is also the only gin to secure a spot in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition Hall of Fame. This iconic tipple makes a mean Martini.

ABV: 47.3%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £28.50 // US $49.99

No.3

A beautiful looking gin from Berry Bros. Made to a special recipe, the name No.3 refers to the address of Berry Bros & Rudd - Number 3, St James's Street. With juniper at its heart, it's also made with three fruits and three spices using copper pot stills. Juniper to the fore, supported by floral notes and spicy, warm cardamom. Plenty of citrus ‘zing’ complemented by the gingery spiciness of coriander. This is a powerful gin, and is superb in a Martini, especially when the bottle is kept in the freezer, I think it’s a good idea for all higher strength gin to be kept in the freezer all the time. Topping off this gins credentials is the fact it has won the International Spirits Challenge best gin in the world four times.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £33.49 // US $39.99

Beefeater 24

A more recent addition to the Beefeater range. When creating Beefeater 24, Desmond Payne knew he had to come up with something totally different for his selection of botanicals. He used tea! The 12 ingredients used are Japanese Sencha Tea, Chinese green tea and then Seville orange peel, grapefruit peel, lemon peel, juniper, coriander seed, liquorice, angelica root, almond and orris root. It is called Beefeater 24 because the botanicals are steeped in the spirit for a full 24 hours. The result is a fragrant gin with good sweetness and plenty of complexity. A cerebral gin for those who like to ponder.

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £25.90 // US $44.99

Modern Classics

Sipsmith London Dry Gin

Produced in the workshop previously used by the late, great Michael Jackson (whisky writer, not Moonwalker), this super-small-batch artisinal Gin is flavoured very carefully, making it easier for the natural quality of the spirit to shine through. Distilled in a marvellously compact pot still / column still combo. named Prudence, Sipsmith epitomises distilling on a truly artisinal scale. At the time of her installation, Prudence was the first copper pot still to be brought to life in London for over 200 years. This makes a clean Martini, and is great for those who want to experiment with different vermouths as it will let the flavour of the vermouth shine through. 

ABV: 41.6%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £26.99 // US $37.99

Ki No Bi

This is my favourite gin for a Martini of all time. Ki No Bi Gin is the first release from the Kyoto Distillery! Unveiled in 2016, Ki No Bi Gin has been made using a rice spirit base, as well as a selection of botanicals including locally-sourced ingredients - like yuzu, hinoki wood chips, bamboo leaves, green sansho and gyokuro tea. The botanicals are split into six flavour groups (Base, Citrus, Tea, Spice, Fruity & Floral and Herbal), and each group is distilled individually before being blended together. Incredible stuff, this. Like No.3, Ki No Bi is great in a Martini when kept in the freezer. 

ABV: 45.7%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £43.99 // US $79.99

Chase GB

This dry, juniper led gin tastes like it has been designed for the much loved G&T, but as well as making a great G&T, it also makes a well-rounded Martini. This exceptional gin starts life as Chase's Potato Vodka, but is then combined with a selection of 10 botanicals - like juniper, almond, angelica, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, ginger, lemon peel and liquorice root. Boasts a good balance of spice and citrus, with the all-important juniper commanding the room. If you like a juniper led gin, but also want to taste the other flavours coming through on the palate, then you will adore Chase.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £27.99

Cotswolds Dry Gin

The Cotswolds distillery was built to make whisky, but luckily for us, their founder Dan Zsor also has a passion for gin. The Cotswolds Dry Gin, is made with juniper, coriander and angelica root macerated in their pure wheat spirit for 24 hours. Following this, they add a botanical selection including bay leaf, grapefruit, lime, black pepper, cardamom seed and Cotswolds lavender to their carter head still for distillation. To bring it down to bottling strength, a robust 46% ABV, they use naturally refined Cotswolds water. A modern gin in a classic style which makes a rounded and easy to drink Martini.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £31 // US $46.79

The New Wave

Oxford Rye Organic Gin

The Oxford Artisan Distillery was founded by Tom Nicolson in the historical city of Oxford, making it the first, legal gin distillery in the 'city of dreaming spires'! The first gin release from these intrepid new distillers was Spirit of Toad, billed as an 'Oxford Dry Gin' this progression is made with rye grown exclusively on organic farms within a 50 mile radius of the site, this is truly a local spirit, now known simply as Oxford Rye Organic dry gin. It was distilled in two, handmade, purpose built stills, Nautilus (2,200 litre) and Nemo (500 litre), which were built by Paul Pridham from South Devon Railway. For those who like a little peppery kick to a Martini, this will be for you.

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £33.50

Due Sorelle

Due Sorelle, meaning two sisters in Italian has been created by two sisters. They wanted to create a gin that went very well with Champagne, and it really does. However it also makes a mean Martini. The sisters got together with the Yorkshire Dales distillery to create this gin. Only released towards the start of 2020 it has already got a loyal following. This versatile gin is fabulous in all gin cocktails, but when not mixing with lots of ingredients, it makes a great Martini, especially if you go light on the vermouth.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £39.95

Beaufort smoked sipping gin

Here’s something a little bit different and for all the right reasons. Inspired by Heston Blumenthal, Beaufort Spirit have created a ‘whisky barrel’ smoked water as part of their Smoked Sipping Gin. Szechuan pepper, pink pepper and citrus oils combine once poured to give the illusion of gunpowder smouldering in the glass. At 57% this gin certainly passes the ‘gunpowder’ test and has taken its place as the new ‘big smoke’ in town. Definitely one to discover if you like sipping gins. 

ABV: 57%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £39.95

Gießen Dry Gin

Giessen or Gießen in its home town in Germany is great if you’re looking for something exotic, Gin is an element of Gi(eße)n and the makers of this gin would like to introduce this essence to all connoisseurs of high-quality juniper distillates. In a meticulous search for the perfect taste, friends Yan-Tobias Ramb & Michael Karber have chosen ingredients that characterise their home in central Hessen and have accompanied through childhood into their lives today. In addition to the juniper berry, Dry Gin also emphasises the wonderful fruit combination of apple and rhubarb and refines it florally with elegant hibiscus blossoms and eight other exquisite supporting botanicals. For those who like a fruity gin, then look no further. You can even buy it in a Magnum sized bottle!

ABV: 46%
Size: 500ml
Find here: €35.39

Chase pink grapefruit & pomelo

OK, so this is a bit of a curve ball. Flavoured gins used to be not very good. They used to taste synthetic and unnatural, but today there are some great expressions of flavoured gin, and many of them can be found in our article on flavoured gin. They make fabulously fruity summer tasting Martinis. Not an everyday cocktail, but when you have a hot summer day and want to capture that summer feeling, take your favourite fruit flavour, buy a gin with that predominant flavour, chill it down and don’t use vermouth and sip it neat. Delicious. Our favourite at the moment is Chase pink grapefruit and pomelo gin.

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

For more gintastic suggestions, we’ve got a great guide to Scottish gin which might just get you wanting to go to Scotland to visit a gin rather than whisky distillery.  

Uncle Nearest: A True, Black, Whiskey Icon

You may well know what I’m going to say, but I shall tell you the story regardless. There has never been a more important time to tell it. Events in the US are showing us that we need to do so much more to raise awareness of black culture and history in every pocket of society as well as heal the gross divide we still see seen when it comes to opportunities and privileges. Let us start here by raising a glass to one man in the drinks industry that history almost forgot. Let us shout about his name, his story and now, his whiskey.

Who was Uncle Nearest?

More than one hundred and sixty years ago, in the hills above Lynchburg in Tennessee, there was a farm owned by a young preacher man called Dan Call that still stands today. Reverend Call had a side hustle down the road on his farm: a small whiskey distillery, which made a silky smooth, maple-sweet whiskey that was highly regarded by all that tasted it. The man who distilled the whiskey was a black slave named Nathan Green, known affectionately as Uncle Nearest, and he brought with him a special technique of charcoal filtering that he had learned back home when cleaning water in West Africa. This method of filtering whiskey through sugar maple tree charcoal became known as the famous ‘Lincoln method’ and it’s still used today.

A fascination for distillation

At some time in the 1850s, a young white boy came to Reverend Call asking for work. The Reverend took him on and gave him chores but the boy became increasingly fascinated by what was going on down the road at the distillery. Eventually, after begging his master, the boy, named Jasper, was introduced to Nathan ‘Uncle Nearest’ Green, who was told to teach him what he knew. A natural entrepreneur, Jasper so believed in this whiskey that he started selling it as far and wide as he could. 

December 6th 1865 came around and the thirteenth amendment was finally passed. Uncle Nearest was a free man. Not long after, Jasper bought the distillery and named it after himself, though he didn’t use his given name; he preferred what the locals called him: not Jasper Daniel, but Jack Daniel. He asked Nathan to be his very first master distiller, a position which he happily accepted. The men worked together until Nathan retired.

Nathan’s story was lost for a long time. We can only imagine why. However, a new distillery was built just down the road from Jack Daniel’s, where Nathan’s descendents work today. Quite rightly, it was named after the man who turned out to be the true founding father of Tennessee Whiskey: Nathan Green. Uncle Nearest. Both distilleries still enjoy a warm bond formed by their shared histories.

There are three Uncle Nearest Whiskies to try. Seek them out and please, tell the story. 

1884 Small Batch Whiskey

Whiskey aged a minimum of 7 year-old, the 1884 commemorates the final year Nearest is believed to have put his own whiskey into barrels before retiring. Now blended by his descendents. Lighter in style and proof than the 1856. A great, accessible whiskey.

See more here.

1856 Premium Aged Whiskey

Tastes like the mix for fruit cake! Raisins, sultanas, butter, vanilla and soft cinnamon spice.

Find it for £55 at at Master of Malt.

1820 Nearest Green Single Barrel Edition

Aged a minimum of 11 years, with a cask strength above 108, less than 1% of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey barrels are selected as these rare, single barrels.

See more here.

Black charities to support

Please help us go beyond just this story to helping those on the ground. We’ve compiled a list of official charities that support this vital cause. Let’s stamp out inequality. For Good.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund -Established in 1987 to support public historically black colleges and universities and students. (US)

Black Girls CODE - Teaching young, black girls how to code. (US)

100 Black Men of America -Improves educational, quality-of-life and economic opportunities within African-American communities. (US)

Black Minds Matter - To support black people struggling with their mental health during this particularly triggering time for the community. (UK)

Exist Loudly Fund - Set up by youth worker and activist Tanya Compas to support Queer Black young people in London and across the country. (UK)

Black Lives Matter UK - “To eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes”.

If you liked this, check out our articles on ‘Three best whiskies to invest in’ and the ‘World’s favourite whisky glass’.

Wine Finished Whiskies: Where to Start

Words by Colin Hampden-White

We all know we love whisky, and today 90% of whisky is simply matured in an ex bourbon cask, and they are very nice. But there is a way to excite our palates even more. A small proportion of ex bourbon cask matured whisky is placed in a different type of cask, and these are mostly ex wine, port or sherry casks. This adds extra colour, complexity and flavour to the whisky. The amount of extra flavour depends on the quality of the cask and how long the whisky is left in the cask. The use of these casks at the end of a whiskies maturation, known as finishing, means there are a world of new flavours to experience and variations on our much loved favourites. These are a few of the best examples catering for all pockets, to start your wine finished whisky adventure.

Glen Moray port finish

One of the best value finished whiskies on the market, this Port cask finished whisky was introduced in 2014 and had been a firm favourite of ours. Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, this whisky is then placed in tawny Port casks for the last eight months of its maturation to give huge amounts of extra flavour and complexity. With flavours of butterscotch, redcurrants, vanilla, raisins and a touch of cinnamon, this is a dram for those who want a big bang for their buck. Trust us, once you have tried this one, you will be going back for more.

 ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £26.95

Glenfiddich Grand Cru

The folks at Glenfiddich clearly enjoy exploring new cask types for their whisky. Whether it's peaty whisky in rum casks, or making good use of icewine casks, the distillery certainly has some experimental flair. And if experimental flair is what you're after, Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old is the perfect thing. This single malt initially ages in American and European oak casks, before being moved over to rare French cuvée oak casks. The influence these casks have had on the whisky is fantastic, lifting the palate with notes of baked goods and fresh fruit.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £220

Glenmorangie lasanta

Glenmorangie are known for their expertise in finished expressions of their whisky. This is the 12 year old, sherry cask finished expression from Glenmorangie, called The Lasanta. It first matures in bourbon casks before being moved over to Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for a finishing period. It’s rich and creamy with dark chocolate, dried fruit and fresh honey. The effect of using Pedro Ximénez as well as Oloroso gives a sweetness to balance the spice. For those who like both, this whisky will be right up your street.

 ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £41.75

Glen Scotia 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish - Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020

This is a limited run of high strength Glen Scotia. I tasted this at the on-line Summerton Whisky Festival and is a belter! The extra ABV is held in check by the rich berry fruit flavours imparted by the tawny port cask, and there is still plenty of the fruity and salty flavours typical of Glen Scotia. There is still enough sweetness given by the fist maturation in first fill ex-bourbon casks. For those who like their whisky big and strong, give this a go.

ABV: 52.8
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £74.95 

Spey Tenné port finish

The Spey Tenné is a single malt from the Speyside Distillery. Owned by Harvey's of Edinburgh, this distillery only started in 1990 and it is producing some incredible whisky. This one is initially aged in bourbon casks before enjoying a 6 month finishing period in Tawny Port casks, giving a subtle ruby hue and a vibrant, fruit-filled flavour profile. Being 46% and bottled in very smart packaging, this is a great whisky for a gift. Although if you taste this one, you won’t want to give it away.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £39.95 

Glenfiddich Winter Storm – Ice Wine Finish

A second whisky from Glenfiddch in the guide, the eagerly-awaited second batch of Glenfiddich's Winter Storm once again sees well-aged whisky from the legendary distillery. It is finished in casks that previously held Canadian icewine (made using grapes harvested while frozen, resulting in a powerfully sweet elixir). Released as part of the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, malt master Brian Kinsman believes that only older whiskies can stand up to the intense influence of icewine, which is why Winter Storm is built around 21 year old single malt. This is one, like the Glenfiddich Grand Cru, is for those who like older whiskies that also have a lovely fresh fruity core.

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £199 

Hinch 10 sherry cask finish

A 10 year old whiskey from Hinch, which takes its name from the nearby town of Ballynahinch. The distillery is based just south of Belfast in the grounds of the Killaney Estate. The blend was initially matured in American oak before being treated to a six month finish in Oloroso sherry casks from Jerez. It's then bottled at 43% ABV, released as part of the Time Collection. Like most Irish whisky this is very smooth, but has a spicy edge to it because of the sherry cask influence, making this whiskey smooth yet characterful.   

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £43.95

Balvenie 21 Port wood

One of my all-time favourite whiskies. This has all the fruity flavours one expects in Balvenie, and then a big rich dark fruit dollop given by the port casks. It is indulgent and hedonistic. An additional period of maturation in 30 year-old port pipes has given this aged Balvenie an extra level of depth and concentration of flavour, adding potent fruit and smoke notes to the silky-smooth full-bodied palate. Rich, indulgent, after-dinner Speyside at its best. For the epicureans out there, get stuck into a bit of this. 

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £149.95