5 Weird Yet Wonderful Bottles For Your Alcohol Cabinet

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Don’t get us wrong, we are firm believers that what goes into a bottle is much more important than how it looks. There are however, some really fun, creative bottles out there that you will just want to buy for the bottle alone! Here are some of our favourites…

Medea Vodka

Weird drinks bottles Medea Vodka thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Have you ever been in that situation where you’ve got your friend a beautiful bottle for their birthday, you’re all ready to send it to them and then you realise you forgot to get them a card? Well, panic not as Medea has your back with their patented LED programmable bottle! Just programme in your message and you’re good to go. As a bonus, Medea vodka is actually really delicious so not only does your friend get to add a high-tech bottle to their collection, they can make a serious Martini too!

Check them out here

Bong Vodka

Weird drinks bottles Bong Vodka thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A second favourite has to be Bong Vodka. Created according to a hundred and fifty-year-old recipe in, you guessed it, Holland, it is distilled six times and filtered four times, leading to the creation of a wonderfully smooth vodka. Oh, and just in case the name wasn’t a giveaway, it’s shaped like a bong too. Bonus!

Find it here

Deadhead 6-year-old Rum

Weird drinks bottles Deadhead Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another unique bottle, this six-year-old rum is placed in a bottle resembling a tsantsa, or a shrunken head, and pays tribute to the Shuar indigenous people who collected tsantsa as trophies when defeating their enemies. The rum itself has a rich, spicy flavour profile and makes for an excellent sipping rum.

Find it here

Il Gusto Pink Gin Gold

Weird drinks bottles Il Gusto Gin Vodka thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Because who doesn’t want a shoe on display in their drinks cabinet? This gimmicky shoe contains edible 22 carat gold flakes and can also be bought in a vodka version. Both are described on the website as bringing ‘a unique taste and a subtle sweetness matched with elegance to special moments’. Interesting… Let us know what you thought if you’ve tried it! 

Get your new shoes here

Khukri Rum

Weird drinks bottles Khukri Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Finally, check out Coronation ‘Khukri’ rum. The bottle is hand crafted into the shape of a traditional Nepalese dagger known as a ‘Khukri’ and the drink was first produced in 1974 to mark the coronation of His Royal Highness Bir Bikram Shah Dev. This award-winning rum is smooth and balanced with a complex range of flavours that grow stronger with each sip. Nom nom.

Find out more about getting your taste of the Himalayas here

If you know of any other bottles that should be on this list send us an email to sophie@thethreedrinkers.com and if you liked this make sure you check out Whisky Infused with a Severed Human Toe, Anyone? and 12 Hilariously Unfortunate (and Downright Naughty) Drinks Names.

One Drink, Three Ways: Don Papa Rum

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One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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one drink three ways the three drinkers

Don Papa Rum: A premium, small batch, single-island, aged rum from Negros in the Philippines, known locally as Sugarlandia. This, their flagship rum, is aged for seven years to produced a light and fruity, amber coloured rum at 40% abv that is perfect for sipping alone or as the key ingredient in epic cocktails.

The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….


Helena’s Choice: Manila Made

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A summery twist on the ‘made cocktail’, created by Sam Ross at Attaboy in New York, this is a smooth and mellow cocktail with gentle spice that wakes up on the finish thanks to the tabasco and freshness from the cucumber and mint. A delightful combination of flavours, it’s the kind of taste that can transport you back to far away shores.

Method: Combine the ingredients minus the cucumber and mint into a shaker and gently muddle, before adding ice and shaking vigorously for around 10 seconds. Strain and pour into a tumbler, then garnish with a sprig of mint and a cucumber ribbon. Tip: You can make honey syrup by using 1:1 simple syrup and any honey.

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The ‘Manila Made’

Recipe

50ml Don Papa Rum

25ml Fresh Lemon Juice

20ml Honey Syrup

4 Cucumber Slices

Handful of Mint

2 Dashes Tabasco Sauce


Aidy’s Choice: Papa Pearfection

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Don Papa rum has a special place in my heart since I visited the distillery a couple of years ago. One sniff of this cocktail and I’m right back in the Philippines sipping a cool drink as the sun goes down. With its relaxed vibe and sweet spice, it’s so simple to make and offers something totally unique at a party.

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a high ball glass and garnish with a couple of pear slices. Wonderful! Tip: make elderflower syrup by using 1:1 elderflower cordial with simple syrup.

papa pearfection don papa the three drinkers

Papa Pearfection

Recipe

45ml Don Papa Rum

25ml Lemon Juice

20ml Elderflower Syrup

45ml Fresh Pear Juice

Fresh pear slices to garnish


Colin’s Choice: Don Detox

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I like this cocktail because it sounds like it’s good for you and I guess compared to some others, it is! Well, there is fresh apple and fresh lemon in it, so that’s vitamin C and other goodness. What’s a tot of rum between friends?

Method: Very simple and incredibly refreshing, pour the Don Papa rum straight into a highball glass with ice, add the apple juice, lemon juice and stir. Garnish with two fresh apples slices.

don detox don papa the three drinkers

The Don Detox

Recipe

30ml Don Papa Rum

15ml Lemon Juice

Juice of 2 Green Apples

Green Apple Slices to Garnish

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Noilly Prat Vermouth, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

The 7 Tequilas You Need in Your Life Right Now

Best Tequilas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Tequila is a drink for all times of the year and all drinking occasions. Gone are the days of shotting it with salt and lime (bleurgh!). Whether you like it neat to sip, with a simple mixer or as something more sophisticated like your own version of a margarita, you can’t go wrong with these wonders below. In my opinion, they are the best 7 tequilas you need in your life right now.

Casamigos Añejo

Best Tequilas Casamigos Anejo Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

It used to be owned by George Clooney and let’s not beat around the agave bush, that’s reason enough to give it a go. Seriously though, this is an outstanding tequila. It may be widely available but their master distiller (who’s never actually been named) is working wonders. It’s a 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 Añejo (which means aged or similar to ‘vintage’), 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. Sip this one neat before attempting to mix it as it’s glorious just by itself.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £54.90 // US $62.99

Vivir Blanco

Best Tequilas VIVIR blanco tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

One of the best Blanco’s on the market right now. This 100% agave beauty is produced from 9-year-old Weber Blue Agave on their estate. One smell gives you fresh clean agave with a floral burst. Super easy drinking and premium in nature you can sip or turn into one of the best margaritas you’ll ever have. Just avoid the salt-rim, this is a tequila you WANT to taste.

 Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Find here: £35.90

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

Best Tequilas Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Don’t you love it when people do something and do it really bloody well. Enter, Pancho Datos with their Reposado. We’re talking 100% Blue Weber Agave aged in American white oak barrels which had previously held mature bourbon whisky. The result is an ultra-smooth sip-worthy tequila with a pure agave, vanilla-caramel flavour. Perfect either by itself or enjoyed in the form of cocktail creativity such a Tequila Old Fashioned.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Find here: £49.50 

Tequila Dobel Diamante

This complex spirit is made with 100% pure blue agave, using a blend of Extra-Añejo, Añejo and Reposado tequilas. It is then filtered to remove the colour leaving you with a a mix of sweet flavours – caramel, honey and maple alongside a nutty, creamy vanilla finish. It is a beauty and will certainly leave you wanting more.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £54.90

Don Fulano Imperial

Best Tequilas Don Fulano Imperial Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This particular expression is an absolute treat and a fantastic example of an aged expression. Each batch is aged between 5-12 years and finished Oloroso sherry casks giving it an incredibly smooth and rich texture. Dark rich and fruity flavours of coffee, agave spice, cinnamon and nutmeg jump from the glass. Taking a sip gives you a sticky maraschino cherry with dark chocolate, spice and vanilla. A beautifully long finish is what I love most about the Imperial, reminiscent of dark cocoa and stewed meadow fruits. Nom.

 Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Find here: €157 // US $197.99

Casa Dragones Blanco

Best Tequilas Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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…

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £88.95 // US $78.52

Gran Patrón Platinum Tequila

Best Tequilas Gran Patron Premium Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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 its 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).

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £209.65 // US $199.99

For more tequila fun why not check out The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas or check out these 3 Delicious Tequila Cocktails

The Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The showstoppers of Scotch whisky tend to be either powerful smoky whiskies or big rich sherry bomb whiskies. These extremes have their dedicated followers and certain cultures around the world have a preference for them. For example smoky whisky is particularly loved in Germany, and sherry cask matured whisky is loved in Hong Kong and China. However most whisky falls outside of these two styles, and it is fruit flavours which give them their popularity. Here are eight fruity whiskies which have great quality and are also fabulous value for money. They just happen to all begin with “Glen”.

Glen Moray Classic

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glen Moray thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This "Classic" expression is the entry level bottling from the Glen Moray distillery. It has made one of our top lists in the past and is probably the best value single malt Scotch whisky today. It is distilled in Speyside which is known for sherry cask matured whiskies, but like most of this list, although they are distilled in Speyside, they are still part of the highland region which has a fruity character at its core.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £21.90

Glenmorangie Original

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glenmorangie Original thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The Original is the flagship single malt Scotch whisky from the Glemorangie Distillery in the Highlands. Matured in a combination of first-and-second-fill American white oak casks for 10 years, the expression is a benchmark for creamy, approachable fruity single malt. A long-running go-to dram for many whisky enthusiasts (including us here at The Three Drinkers), this stuff is brilliant as an aperitif, though more than suitable for enjoying on a cooler evening.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £32.95

Glen Grant 10 year old

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glen Grant thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A great beginner's whisky right here from the Glen Grant Distillery, produced in tall pot stills. This 10 year old Speyside single malt, having spent a decade in bourbon casks, boasts oodles of light, malty notes. A top dram for warmer weather, and full of lovely fruity orchard flavours with a little toffee and a touch of peat. It’s like eating a toffee apple at a summer BBQ.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £29.90

Glengoyne 10 year old

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glengoyne thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Completely unpeated which is unusual in the highlands, this Glengoyne is soft, fruity and very quaffable. A fine single malt! Not known to many, but Ian MacLeod, the owners of Glengoyne are creating great whisky and are beginning to really shout about it. It’s going to be found in more and more shops and I’m sure it’s going to be loved.

ABV: 43%
Buy it now for £37.39

Glenfiddich 12 year old

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glenfiddich thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This classic Speyside from Glenfiddich was the Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2007 International Wine and Spirit Competition and has been the best selling single malt in the world for several years. Aged for 12 years in American and European Oak casks this whisky has classic fruity apples and touches of honey. Macallan might be known as the king of Speyside, but this whisky should be an emperor.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £31.95

Glen Keith Distillery Edition

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glen Keith thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This Fairly unknown whisky is the first permanent no age statement single malt from Glen Keith that the distillery in Speyside has released. Matured in ‘traditional’ American oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV, the release of this laid-back malt is very welcome indeed. The distillery had a complete refurbishment a few years ago and now the liquid from the distillery is being bottled. Once a cult fruity Speyside whisky, it’s sure to regain that status.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £29.75

Glenlivet 12 year old

Best Value Fruity Scotch Whisky Glenlivet thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Excellent 12 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside, which enjoys its maturation in both European and American oak casks. It's an immensely popular expression which disappeared from shelves in 2015, but has since returned! A great example of the character of Glenlivet's whisky, boasting a bounty of orchard fruit, fragrant florals and honeyed malt notes carried on a creamy mouth feel.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £36.25

Glen Elgin 12 year old

Best Value Fruity Scotch Glen Elgin Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A very soft and fruity 12 year old Speyside dram, distilled at the Glen Elgin distillery. Glen Elgin is very well known for having a very fruity palate, mixing orchard fruits with tropical fruits. It might be soft on the palate making it very easy to drink, but it is full of flavour and, although owned by Diageo, it’s not that well known. A little secret for those of us who love fruity whisky.

ABV: 43%
Buy it now for £41.45

To continue your exploration of whisky why not check out Sherry Bombs: The Best Sherry Matured Whiskies In The World or Wine Finished Whiskies: Where To Start

Best Rums to Elevate your Cocktails

Leith Rum

Best Rums for Cocktails Leith Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The Leith Spirits range grows once again with the addition of Leith Rum! Inspired by the maritime history of Edinburgh, this expression features a blend of tasty rum and Madagascan vanilla, which has helped to round out the spirits flavour profile and bolster its creamy, honeyed notes. Ought to go well in all sorts of cocktails and with a medley of mixers - particularly cola.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £39.95

Sailor Jerry

Best Rums for Cocktails Sailor Jerry thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A spiced rum created by the famed tattoo artist 'Sailor Jerry' Collins. This is perhaps our favourite spiced rum and it makes an incredible spiced mojito! The recipe was recently changed, and made slightly less sweet, but spicier.

We know that some of you out there aren't so keen on the new recipe so here’s a tip, you can correct the flavour of the new version very easily by adding some dark sugar and vanilla essence to the bottle and giving it a good shake - it really does work!

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £19.99

Lamb’s Navy Rum

Best Rums for Cocktails Lamb's Navy Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Lamb's rum is a very good value for money Navy rum made with rums from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. This dark rum covers all the bases. It’s got plenty of complexity from the blend of rums, which makes it stand out in a cocktail. It is smooth so it can be drunk over ice if need be, and the price versus quality ratio is brilliant. Drink up!

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £17.54

Appleton Estate Classic White

Best Rums for Cocktails Appleton Estate Classic White Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

I am bias towards rums made in Jamaica, as you will see from my last selection here, but for now here is one made in Kingston, Jamaica, Appleton Estate Classic White rum and it is exactly that; a classic white rum. Perfect for mixing, it wouldn't go amiss in a Yellow Submarine or a traditional mojito.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £17.83

Havana Club Añejo 7 Year Old

Best Rums for Cocktails Havana Club thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Feast your eyes upon Havana Club Añejo 7 Year Old, a wonderfully flavoursome Cuban rum that is no stranger to awards. Back when it was created, this was the first Havana Club expression that was intended for sipping neat rather than for using in cocktails and mixed drinks. Though saying that, if you think your cocktails could use an upgrade of rich, aged rum tastiness, this stuff is ace. We've been particular impressed when using it in place of a whiskey for Old Fashioned and Manhattan cocktails...

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £25.84

Rumbullion!

Best Rums for Cocktails Rumbullion! thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A sure-fire hit from Ableforth's, Rumbullion! is a warming spiced rum, based on the kind of rich, full-bodied rums the seafaring fraternity would have enjoyed centuries ago.

At its core lies a blend of the very finest high proof Caribbean rum, to which was added Madagascan vanilla and a generous helping of zesty orange peel and it is finished with a handful of cassia and cloves and just a hint of cardamom.

Rumbullion! proudly flaunts its maritime inspiration with a label that bears a hand-drawn illustration of a Navy grog tub, emblazoned with the words: “The Queen, God Bless Her”, each bottle is wrapped in crinkled brown paper, wound with twine and sealed with black wax. You can enjoy it neat, or with ice and a squeeze of fresh lime, but it makes amazing cocktails too.

ABV: 42.6%
Buy it now for £34.90

Hampden Estate Rum

Best Rums for Cocktails Hampden Estate Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

I’ve not just chosen this rum because of the name! The Hampden Estate in Jamaica has long produced excellent aged rum, much of which goes into blends, making it a bit hard to come by (independent bottlers do sometimes get their hands on a few casks, mind). However, the time has come for the distillery to release some of its aged rum itself! This edition is made using pot still rum, is matured in Jamaica and bottled at 46% ABV - and it's excellent. It is a high ester rum with a blast of fruity tropical fruits which really stand out in a cocktail. It might be the most expensive rum on this list, but it’s definitely worth it.

ABV: 46%
Buy it now for £54.95

Stroh Inländer 80

Best Rums for Cocktails Stroh Rum thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Yes, the 80 does mean 80% ABV. For those of you who like to have a lot of punch to a cocktail, and not just in the flavour department, Stroh 80 is an intense, fiery spiced rum from Austria, made with all kinds of spice extracts and essences. It is worth trying in warming hot chocolates, or in spicy cocktails such as the Jagertee. Drink it responsibly.

ABV: 80%
Buy it now for £29.20

If you’d like to explore some more from the world of rum, why not try 7 Rums that Scream Luxury or Brilliant Rums under £30






3 Simple, Smoky, Whisky Cocktails For Your BBQ

Words by Helena Nicklin

smoky cocktails for your bbq the three drinkers

Ardbeg, one of our favourite Islay distilleries has created ‘Smoke Sessions’ video guides to barbecuing meat and smoky drinks with grilling legend DJ BBQ (you can read about those here). The cocktail recipes looked so good however, that we got the lowdown for you on how to make them. Here they are: three epic, seriously smoky whisky cocktails for your summer barbecue. You’re welcome!

Smoky Apple Cider

smoky apple cider the three drinkers

Ingredients:

• 50ml Ardbeg Wee Beastie
• 50ml apple cider
• 50ml ginger beer
• 25ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• Demerara vanilla sugar to taste

Method

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, then stir and strain into a tumbler or a jar. Garnish to your taste with a cinnamon stick, star anise or even a slice of red apple. Take this from summer to winter by making it in a batch, warming it up and serving with a ladle. Amini toffee apple, if you can find one makes a special garnish for halloween too.

Maple & Bacon Old Fashioned

maple and bacon old fashioned the three drinkers

Ingredients:

• 50ml Ardbeg Ten Years Old
• 15ml maple syrup (to taste)
• 3 dashes orange bitters

Method

Stir all the ingredients together and serve over a large cube of ice. You can have fun with the garnishes here: try a rasher of streaky bacon as a stirrer, add a spring of torched rosemary or simply, an orange twist. 

An Oa Bloody Mary

bloody mary with ardbeg the three drinkers

Ingredients:

• 50ml Ardbeg An Oa
• 100ml roasted tomato juice (find one with garlic and herbs if you can)
• 1 dash hot sauce
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 25ml lemon juice
• 12.5ml Pedro Ximenez sherry

Method

Combine all the ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice and then pour again into a second mixing glass, straining the liquid as you do so. Repeat a few times until the mixture is super smooth and well blended. Rim your glass with celery salt and add your garnish. For this, we recommend dill or even grated horseradish. 

Like this? Read about Ardbeg’s Smoke Sessions with DJ BBQ here, or look at the best sherry matured whiskies or even best bang for buck sipping bourbon.

This Summer: The Smoke Sessions with Ardbeg Whisky and DJ BBQ

Words by Helena Nicklin

DJ BBQ The Three Drinkers ardbeg

It’s great news for fans of smoked meat and smoky whiskies as world-renowned Islay Distillery Ardbeg teams up with the brilliant master of the grill: Christian Stevenson aka DJ BBQ.

Launching today, The Smoke Sessions is an online series designed to offer the ultimate guide to barbecuing and smoking meat as well as the preparation of smoky whisky cocktail serves. In the sessions, DJ BBQ will explain and demonstrate the fundamental laws of smoke, wood and heat while spinning the decks in his inimitable style. All the while, Brendan McCarron, Ardbeg Distillery’s Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks will help creating spectacular, smoky drinks using Ardbeg Ten, An Oa and Wee Beastie.

“The taste of braided beef fillet alongside an Ardbeg Ten Old Fashioned is just awesome, and a sip of hot Wee Beastie punch with a slow smoked pork shoulder is unrivalled,” says DJ BBQ. “My smoky barbeque recipes share so many characteristics with the flavours of Ardbeg whisky, and they complement each other perfectly. The laws of wood, heat and smoke are so important to barbecue and single malt alike, and once mastered, you’ll become a barbeque boss!”

Watch  DJ BBQ create amazing recipes such as the 18-Hour Whisky-Smoked Pulled Pork, served with Ardbeg Wee Beastie Hot Apple Cider, Coal-Roasted Beef Plait served with Ardbeg Ten Maple & Bacon Old Fashioned, and Whisky Planked, Pit-Smoked Salmon served with Ardbeg An Oa Bloody Mary.

DJBBQ smoke sessions ardbeg the three drinkers

How to Watch

To watch the Ardbeg Smoke Sessions, tune into Ardbeg’s Instagram Live on Friday 24 July at 8pm BST to watch DJ BBQ kick it all off. Keep an eye on all of Ardbeg’s social channels and the videos can be watched at any time on YouTube here: 

Law of Heat 

Law of Smoke 

Law of Wood

How to Taste

Cocktail fans will be able to order DJ BBQ’s Maple and Bacon Old Fashioned for delivery across the UK, via Mothership on the Drinks At Home platform, for a limited period from 21 July 2020.

Like this? Try this piece on the Ardbeg releases ranked by smokiness and What is peated whisky?

6 Perfectly Premixed Negronis for the Summer

Premixed cocktails Negroni thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Words by Helena Nicklin

From what we can see at The Three Drinkers, one of this summer’s top drinks trends is bottled cocktails and drinks subscriptions services. There are several new companies that have sprung up recently, all offering some seriously good, balanced and beautiful looking premixed cocktails. Being huge fans of the Negroni however, we thought we’d highlight some of those specifically that have really turned our heads. All these are available to be delivered and make great gifts in the process, both for your friends or even, yourself!

Halo

halo negroni cocktail the three drinkers

Halo have won lockdown drinks. It’s official. Their selection of expertly prepared, super-fresh cocktails don’t just look the part and taste the part, but they are offered as a Zoom team drinks delivery service and are also available on a monthly subscription. Their Negroni comes in a 50cl bottle and comprises of London Dry Gin, Vermouth and Campari. A little softer than some you might get offered in a real bar, it’s dangerously drinkable. Serve over ice with an orange slice. Every month, they support a charity and this July it’s Black Minds Matter. Even more reason to taste!  £32 for 50cl. See more here

Cambridge Distillery Negroni

Premixed cocktails Cambridge Distillery Negroni thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This luxury gin producer Cambridge Distillery has smashed it with the presentation and preparation of this pre-mixed Negroni. Deliciously aromatic with a warming, spicy kick, this Negroni is a limited edition, so get it while you still can. They are also donating 10% of all proceeds to a teaching hospital nearby. What is not to love about that? Find it here for £30 for 50cl.

Bottle Proof Negroni

bottle proof helena nicklin the three drinkers negroni

Created for the hospitality industry to help train bartenders and to offer a high quality, reliable cocktail product that takes seconds to prepare, Bottle Proof makes both single serve measures (in the cutest bottles) as well as 70cl bottles. Buy one small bottle of each and it makes the greatest, most colourful drinky gift! I loved their Negroni; more fruity than some with pretty, perfumed notes thanks to the addition of bitters. Find it here at Laraza Cambridge, in 60cl bottles for £29.70 or single serve, 95ml bottles for £4.75.

Batch

Premixed cocktails Batch Negroni thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This SE London cocktail bar has pivoted prettily during lockdown to offer some of its most famous cocktails in batches for local delivery. All small-batch and handmade, their Negroni is famously good, thanks in part to an extra splash of Bathtub gin. Why have we never tried this before? You can order online or through Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Find the Negroni here for £15.

Cocchi Negroni In A Box

cocchi negroni in e box the three drinkers

Here’s a Negroni that fits through your postbox and can be carried in your handbag! Using one of our absolute favourite Italian vermouths ‘Cocchi’, this is a delicious version with equal parts Cocchi vermouth, London dry gin and Campari. Perfectly balanced with a smoothness that‘s characteristic of Cocchi, this is a cocktail that upgrades your picnic and park drinks. Find it here for £8.25 per 100ml or £39.95 for a 5 pack. 

SendANegroni.com

Premixed cocktails sendanegroni.com Negroni thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another letterbox Negroni with the added fun of being able to personalise it with a message. From the team behind Porter’s Gin, it's a blend of this with Campari bitter and a new Parisien vermouth called Baldoria Rosso. There are two versions to choose from: the Classic One, which uses Porter’s gin or the Tropical One, using Porter’s Tropical Old Tom. They make brilliant alternatives to a birthday card and a fun gift for anyone of drinking age. Find them here for £10 for 50cl, message and delivery all in. Banging.

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