One Drink, Three Ways: Nouaison Gin Reserve

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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Nouaison Gin Reserve recently won the coveted ‘out of the ordinary’ spirits prize at this year’s People’s Choice Drinks Awards; a category that was sponsored by us, The Three Drinkers! It’s an intriguing spirit, made by distilling French grapes (like Cognac), which is then redistilled with botanicals, herbs, fruit and spices using traditional Gin methods, before being aged in Cognac-seasoned oak barrels. It’s Gin meets Cognac in a quirky and complex way, but it absolutely works. Sip it alone or try it in one of these three delicious serves.

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Helena’s Choice: Stinger

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I love the Nouaison Gin Reserve in this cocktail for something totally out of the ordinary. The mint really lifts the botanicals and the cream enhances the spice. The result is something unlike anything you’ve tasted before and totally moreish.

Stinger

Recipe

60 ml Nouaison Gin Reserve

5 ml Mint cream

Garnish: Mint Sprig and  / or a piece of white chocolate.

Glassware: Rocks glass

Method

Build the drink in the rocks glass by combining the ingredients over ice cubes, then stir with a bar spoon, garnish and serve.

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Aidy’s Choice: Smash & Fresh

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You know I love my Gin sours and this serve offers something very different from the norm that your guests will adore. With a refreshing kick from the Absinthe cordial and lemon juice combo, it’s the perfect kick starter to any meal or festive occasion. I know I know, absinthe does come with a stigma that it’s way too powerful and overbearing, but trust me, everything here balances together so well - you will be super surprised and thoroughly refreshed!

Smash & Fresh

Recipe

45 ml Nouaison Gin Reserve

20 ml Cordial Absinthe

20 ml Lemon Juice

20 ml Egg White

Garnish: Mint Sprig

Glassware: Coup or coupette

Method 

Pour all the wet ingredients into a shaker, dry shake (without ice) to get the egg white to foam, then shake with ice for ten seconds. Double strain over a coupette glass and garnish a mint sprig.

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Colin’s Choice: Nouaison Old Fashioned

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The Gin botanicals and the citrus spice here add an intriguing twist to a traditional Old Fashioned recipe, pepping the whole thing up. Try serving it to your guests or to your partner without telling them what it is and watch as they become a Gin Reserve convert!

Nouaison Old Fashioned

Recipe

45ml Nouaison Gin Reserve

5ml Sugar Syrup 

2 Dashes Orange Bitters 

1 Orange Zest 

Garnish: Orange Peel Twist

Glassware: Old Fashioned Glass or Tumbler

Method 

Gently blend ingredients into a mixing glass and strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a large ice cube or sphere. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

UK
ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml
Buy it now for £37.00

Don’t forget to check out our whisky, rum and vermouth One Drink Three Ways suggestions too!

A History of York Through the Medium of… Gin!

We recently discovered a Gin company that base their entire range on historical happenings and spooky stories from the fabulous city of York. As such a lovely base for some boozy stories, we invited Simon Henry from York Gin to write us this guest post, taking in some colourful characters from York’s past. 

Think of York and something historical will probably spring to mind: Romans, Vikings, a Gothic cathedral, Judy Dench ... 

York claims to be the most haunted city in Europe, wth ghost stories going back centuries. Even the city’s most famous chocolate companies are fairly aged;  Rowntrees were formed in 1862, while Terry’s goes back to 1767 and don’t get us started on the city’s premier gin company. Ok, maybe not the gin company (est. 2018), but York Gin’s motto is ‘History in the Tasting’ as it celebrates the city’s rich history and culture. Time for a little taste of history, perhaps?

The Romans

The Romans founded York - Eboracum in Latin - in 55AD. The most common varieties of apples and berries in Britain were introduced by the Romans, so it was only fitting for York Gin to take this inspiration for its fruit gin. They also asked Dame Professor Mary Beard for some help with their research and their Latin motto for the gin, ‘Veni, Vidi, Bibi’ (I came, I saw, I drank). Apparently, Mary likes a Roman Fruit Negroni. You can find the recipe for that and other gin cocktails on our website. 

The Vikings

The Vikings came next: Ivar the Boneless invaded the city on November 1, 866AD. 1118 years later, in 1984, the city opened its Jorvik Viking Centre (Jorvik was the invaders’ name for York) on the site of a famous archaeological dig. Today, its gift shop sells bottles of York Gin London Dry with garnish bags containing dried nettles and bilberries, both found on the site during the dig. Try this one for a little taste of Viking York.

Ghosts & Spirits

Ghosts have played a big part in York’s history - and they certainly play a large part in the lives of its many ghost tour guides today! The city’s Theatre Royal is home to one of the most famous of York’s spectres: the Grey Lady. Her ghost is said to haunt the site of the theatre since she died in tragic circumstances in the Middle Ages. In homage to this famous specture, The Grey Lady gin itself is distilled with Earl Grey tea and infused with blue pea flower to give it a haunting blue grey hue.

Outlaws

York has had its fair share of baddies, inspiring the dangerously strong (57% ABV) Outlaw Navy strength gin. The serving suggestion says: ‘Drink with ice, tonic … and care.’ Dick Turpin - horse rustler and highwayman - was hanged in the city and his grave lies within the city walls. Guy Fawkes, Gunpowder Plotter is an old boy of York’s St Peter’s School (which has never thrown a Guy on its annual bonfire out of respect for the former pupil). Mary Bateman, the ‘Yorkshire Witch’, was a swindler and poisoner from the 18th Century. After she was hanged, her skin was stripped from her body, dried and sold as lucky charms. The olden days, eh?

The Chocolate Orange

More tasteful than that previous bit of gore is York’s chocolate history - the story of the Terry's Chocolate Orange in particular. The Terry’s factory where the Chocolate Orange was invented and made from 1932 until 2005 is only a couple of miles from the York Gin distillery. A natural inspiration for our Chocolate & Orange Gin, we’ve made an unsweetened spirit with a rich chocolate and zesty orange character. The Terry family certainly won’t be turning in their graves. 

For more gin-tastic suggestions why not have a read of The Best Scottish Gins to Explore and 6 Perfectly Premixed Negronis?

Which Whiskies to Invest in - March Whisky Investment Index

By Colin Hampden-White 

Which whiskies should I invest in?

Once you have decided you would like to invest in whisky, the biggest question is going to be which distillery’s whiskies to invest in. Like the stock market, distilleries’ value and popularity go up and down, and this on-going set of articles aims to make the decision a little easier.

I am not a financial advisor, and I strongly suggest you also do your own research. That research may differ from mine and have a different result. There are also other rankings available and they will use a different formula from mine in determining a ranking.

I sort our ranking by looking at a few of the most popular whisky auction sites in the UK. Most whisky which is invested in is bought at auction and the results of auctions can tell us a great deal about the popularity and desirability of certain whiskies and brands. I look at the volume of whisky being sold from any particular distillery and also the average value from that distillery. Taking both these sets of data into account I then create a ranking which I will update once a month, as whisky auctions are generally held monthly.

For example, the most traded may be Macallan and at the highest prices. However, if the price increase is marginal over time, giving not much rise in price, then it will be lower down the ranking. I am looking for whiskies which are rising in price. It may be that a rarely traded distillery, which has had recent high increases in value, could be at the top of the rankings.

How can I invest in whisky?

In my experience whisky is a great investment and, like any investment portfolio, it should be varied. Rather than investing in one expensive bottle, I would suggest buying a few less expensive bottles from different distilleries and at different ages. This can make the process less daunting and a lot more fun. Some people collect certain vintages, or distilleries or regions, By doing this a portfolio can have a definite direction and hold more meaning.

I am including Japanese whisky in the rankings as the investment value in the right Japanese whiskies has become evident. I am not including bourbon, but lookout for a forthcoming article on bourbon about which are regularly the best to invest in. Bourbon has its own following, especially in America and some bottles rise in price quickly after release.

I think it is not useful to include expressions that are regular bottlings but are being auctioned as part of a collection, house clearance, and generally don’t fetch their retail price as they are very widely available. I understand this is subjective, but with my experience, I decided to cut off at around the £100 mark on most distilleries.

The rates below relate to how much of a percentage higher a distillery has been trading above the next. In the future, as we now have this index base mark, I will track the increase of each distillery over time as well as increase over each other.

Distillery Index

The Dalmore 9%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 4%
Bowmore 1%
Yamazaki 0.5%
Clynelish 5%
Springbank 1%
Karuizawa 1.5%
Bunnahabhain 1.5%
Glendronach (base)

To reiterate I am not a financial advisor, and please do your own research. I cannot be responsible for gains or losses. This is simply a guide that hopefully helps people in their whisky investment journey.

I would advise getting other expert advice and, if you are looking to invest in excess of £2,000, then looking at cask investment may be a good way to invest in whisky, and we suggest Cask Trade Ltd. Cask Trade helped us with sourcing for our 17 year old blended malt, and we know them to be a very professional outfit.

And always remember. At the end of the day, you can always drink it!

Bottles to Watch:

Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish

Mostly sold out around the world.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 53.9%
Find here: UK £2250

Bowmore 25 year old 1969

Already historic and produced in tiny numbers.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £2750

Springbank 21

As an annual release, these become historic and collectable.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £439.99 // US $499.99

Springbank 21 That Boutique-ey Whisky Company

Small batch and from a collectable brand

Size: 50cl
ABV: 47.5%
Find here: UK £339.95

Dalmore 40 year old 2018

Top of the tree, and a vintage 2018

Size: 70cl
ABV: 42%
Find here: £6,736.50

Dalmore 40 year old 2017

From top of the tree Damore as above, but from the sold out 2017 vintage.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 42%
Find here: UK £6750

8 Year old Clynelish from Simply Whisky

If you’d like to invest at a lower level, then good independent bottlings are a good choice.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 51.6%
Find here: UK £58.95

If you want to find out more about Scotch whisky then don’t forget to watch The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky on Amazon Prime now!

The Best Chocolate-themed Alcoholic Drinks

Goodbye, chocolate eggs. This Easter we’re getting our cacao fix from scrummy chocolate liqueurs, spirits, no-lo drinks and choco-themed wines. Whether your bag is moreish milk, creamy white or bitter dark, read on for our list of the finest chocolatey tipples out there:

Bottle Bar and Shop Cacao Martini

Fancy a chocolate martini, but can’t be bothered to make it? Enter, this pre-bottled pour from Catford-based Bottle Bar & Shop. With minimal effort comes maximum taste – just chill the bottle in the freezer, pour into a frosted glass and voilà! Ready-made chocolate vodka martini, rich in silky chocolate tones, and with a balanced sweetness from pure sugar cane. For the final flourish, add a twist of orange, then serve up to a crowd of friends in awe of your newfound ‘bartending’ skills.  

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find here: UK £28.00

Elephant Gin Orange Cocoa Edition

Terry’s Chocolate Orange obsessives, mark the 26th of March in your diary – because that’s when this new gin, marrying chocolate and orange, hits the shelves. Smooth and intensely aromatic, with roasted cacao nib and orange peel notes, this London Dry is – of course – more sophisticated than the classic chocolate stocking stuffer. Besides the rare African botanicals that are always used in Elephant Gin, whole organic Spanish oranges have been vacuum distilled to produce a supremely fresh pour that celebrates fruit as much as chocolate. And if that’s not enough to convince you, 15% of profits go towards saving elephants in Africa.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £32.90

Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Liqueur

If you’ve had Hotel Chocolat’s salted caramel chocolate before, you’ll know that it’s so good it should be X-rated. Well, this drink from the premium chocolate brand raises the bar further, combining the sea salt-flecked caramel and chocolate with vodka and cream. The result? A velvety, decadent liqueur that isn’t overly sugary, and really sings when it’s poured over ice. Hotel Chocolat jokes on its website not to drink the whole bottle in one go, which sounds ridiculous… until you taste it. Definitely not for those with weak willpower.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: UK £22.00

Three Spirit Social Elixir

Technically this is not a spirit – because there’s not a drop of alcohol. What it is, however, is a drinkable ‘mood elevator’, made with natural ingredients such as yerba mate, lion’s mane mushroom, damiana and cocoa nibs, which combined are meant to get you feel relaxed, chatty and sociable. Unusually for a lot of non-alcoholic spirits, this one has real weight and taste: bitter notes of cacao blend with balsamic, Worcester sauce prune flavours, and a tea-like tannin. It’s interesting served over the rocks, but a splash of premium spicy ginger beer really brings out the subtle chocolatey character.

Size: 500ml
ABV: None
Find here: UK £24.95

Coole Swan

White chocolate lovers, we haven’t forgotten about you. Basically the Milkybar version of Baileys (shhhh – whisper it), this Irish-made cream liqueur blends single malt whiskey and Belgian white chocolate in one decadent bottle. Sweet, smooth and creamy, it’s also genuinely delicious, especially when served as you would a Bailey’s, over ice. Though we wouldn’t judge if you also drizzled this over vanilla or chocolate ice cream; poured it over a raspberry cheesecake; splashed some in your morning coffee…

Size: 700ml
ABV: 16%
Find here: UK £23.25

Bicerin Chocolate Liqueur

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This Italian chocolate liqueur, made in the northern Italian city of Turin, has been produced since the 19th century. And much like that iconic Italian chocolate – the Ferrero Rocher – it is a heady mix of chocolate and hazelnut (a combo known as giandujiotto). A winner for vegans as it doesn’t contain dairy, Bicerin is still thick and creamy, and flavourful. Many reserve this liqueur for chocolate martinis, but we are happy drinking it as the Ambassador himself would: simply chilled, with a pile of Rochers to hand. Look out for other versions too, such as white chocolate, chocolate orange, or – in what we call the unofficial ‘After Eight’ edition – chocolate peppermint.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: UK £20.99

The Chocolate Block 2019, Boekenhoutskloof

No, it hasn’t actually got chocolate in it. But with such an evocative name, we couldn’t resist including this popular South African wine in our list. With its rich, dark berry character – all blackberries, plums and cherries – liquorice notes and smooth tannins, it kind of feels like the vinous equivalent of smooth dark chocolate. The Mediterranean varietals, including Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon are mostly to thank, though a wee splash of Viognier gives it lift. Just the stand-out match you need for your slap-up Easter feast.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.69%
Find here: UK £21.99 // US $29.99

For some great no-low suggestions take a look at these 6 delicious drinks and don’t forget to check out the perfect red wine to pair with roast beef!

Best Scotch Whisky Distillery Tours

We don’t need to tell you we’re big fans of Scotch whisky; chances are you already know thanks to our Amazon Prime series. And while a dram at home always hits the spot, Scotch can taste even more magical when sipped at the source. Whether your thing is Highlands or Lowlands, Islands or Islay – pack those bags for our virtual round-up of Scotland’s best distillery tours. Cheers!

Talisker, Islands

Perched on the shores of jaw-drop-beautiful Skye – full of rolling green hills, misty peaks and fluffy herds of roaming sheep – Talisker’s setting alone is worth the epic journey from the nearest city (Inverness: two and a half hours away). Its sweet, full-bodied malts can be tasted on a Cask Tasting tour, where drams are hand-drawn atmospherically from warehouse casks. Mitigate the long (albeit beautiful) drive with an overnight on this pretty isle; a drive along undulating roads to the north, The Three Chimneys is one of Scotland’s finest restaurants with rooms.

Find more info here

Glenfiddich, Dufftown

If you join just one distillery tour, it might have to be this one. Pedigree aside – world-renowned, family owned Glenfiddich has been distilling in Dufftown since 1887 – this 35-hectare site is one of the most impressive in whiskydom. Rich in detail on the whisky-making process, Glenfiddich’s tours hop between Instagrammable stone-fronted buildings, bottling lines, giant stillhouses and a seriously atmospheric traditional aging warehouse. Guides are lively, answer all your questions, and (obviously) take you through a generous tasting flight of golden Speyside liquor at the end.

Find more info here

Ardbeg, Islay

Seriously smoky, sweet and citric, Ardberg isn’t for the faint-hearted. But fans keen to make the peaty pilgrimage to Islay – a ferry ride or flight from mainland Scotland – can down their fill on a series of daily tours. The 2021 schedule is still being confirmed, but historically a tasting of the core range kicks off at an ambitious 10:30am, then at lunchtime is followed the Committee Bottle Tasting - a set of pours picked by a guide - before peaking in the Old, Mature and Unusual tasting in the afternoon. Book into the distillery’s onsite Seaview Cottage and you can wake up and do the whole thing all over again tomorrow. 

Find more info here

The Dalmore, Alness

One of Scotland’s more accessible distilleries, The Dalmore is stumbling distance from Alness rail station, a hop north of Inverness – so it’s great if you don’t drive (or if, for obvious reasons, you don’t want to). It’s a pretty one too: aged stone buildings, blue shore waters of Cromarty Firth, green fields. Tours are intimate – with a maximum of just about a dozen guests, and often fewer – so there’s plenty of opportunity to ask questions and learn all you’d like about this popular single malt. Videos walk you through proper ‘nosing’ and tasting technique, too, great for whisky beginners.

Find more info here

Glenkinchie, Pencaitland

This Victorian distillery needs to be on your hit-list for two reasons: it’s only a half-hour drive outside of Edinburgh, making it perfect for city-breakers or car-free travellers, and it’s the Lowlands home of Johnny Walker. And in case you need a third – it’s just had a major revamp, with its red-bricked buildings now housing a top-quality multi-levelled visitor experience. A lovely orchard and garden, speckled with blooms in summer, is a great spot to chill and wait out sobriety after a few Highballs in the bar.  

Find more info here

Glenlivet, Speyside

If we could move into a distillery, it might be this one: set above Speyside hills in a remote glen, with floor-to-ceiling windows along the still room that let sunshine spill in, it’s one of the best-looking distilleries out there. And, if you’re serious about your whisky, it’s one of the finest for deep-dive tastings, too. While many distilleries offer just one tour, Glenlivet has a roster that includes sessions aimed at knowledgeable enthusiasts as well as beginners. They’ll be announcing new experiences very soon, so keep eyes on their website for details.

Find more info here

Glenmorangie, Tain

You’ll get a warm Highland welcome at this famed distillery, home to Scotland’s tallest stills – the copper necks are as long as a fully grown giraffe – and some of its most elegant malts. Set on the banks of Dornoch Firth, Glenmorangie runs a series of expert-led tours that illuminate the whisky-making process from grain to glass. Sign up to The Innovator and you’ll get the chance to taste some of the distillery’s most prized expressions.

Find more info here

Fancy a sneaky peek of some of Scotland’s distilleries while you wait for things to open up again? Then, make sure you check out The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky on Amazon Prime!

Lockdown List: Companies running virtual wine & spirits tastings

With Lockdown not ending again for a while, we may as well try to see friends online over a glass or six. If you’ve been thinking about doing any form of online tasting, check out my tips for running your own wine tasting here. If you’d like a pro to lead you through the process and sort all your drinks for you, then here are some companies to support. Email me at helena@thethreedrinkers.com if you want to be listed!

If you’re a company looking for a private online tasting, please click here to get in touch. We are constantly updating this list.

Here are some other companies that offer mix of tastings you can join in with and private tastings you can do at home, online with your mates.

** 8th April - tasting tour of Stauning Distillery. **

Guests will be led on a tour of the beautiful state of the art, premium whisky distillery on Denmark's west coast as they uncover the unique and curious ways Stauning makes its wonderful whiskies - think floor malting, 24 small (and gorgeous) copper pot stills - resulting in truly special spirits. Stauning's very own storyteller Pernille Nielson, will guide guests through the tasting, as they explore the distillery and discover the world of this innovative Danish spirit. It's a super exciting and rare opportunity to see this Danish distillery, particularly with the travel bans at the moment, as well as enjoying some delicious drams. Each tasting kit includes three 50ml samples - one of each of Stauning's whiskies, Rye, Kaos and Peat - and a special Stauning tasting glass. Tickets are £35 and are available to purchase on Design My Night. The tour will start at 6:30pm.

Online Wine Tasting Club

Brand new venture, Online Wine Tasting Club send you five incredible wine samples every month through your letterbox, in their unique mini bag-in-box packaging. You can join a live wine tasting show / masterclass where they introduce you to the stories behind the wines, explain winemaking to you and take you on virtual tours of the vineyards and wine regions. Great fun and jargon-free, it is enjoyed by more than 1000 people every month. Prices start from £20 a month or £32 for a couple. Winner of a 2021 Drinks Retailing Award. Support a new, lockdown-born business!

onlinewinetasting.club

Feel Good Grapes

Run by the brilliant Mike Turner, Feel Good Grapes runs relaxed, private tastings for you, your friends and colleagues. Ideal for groups of 8-25, they can theme the tasting for you and send out all the wines based on your budget.

feelgoodgrapes.com

Huxley's Bar

Huxley's Bar UK, provide fun wine tasting and whisky tasting events in a virtual format. Our beautifully presented boxes delivered to your door are great as a group tasting or as a gift. You will receive our professionally made videos for each of your drinks or you can make your experience V.I.P and one of our experts will attend your Zoom Call. Huxley's Bar UK also provide pre-made cocktails delivered to your door.

Huxleysbar.co.uk

FORTIFY

FORTIFY is a wine & spirits appreciation and education company founded by Ali Finch, Drinks Director for the Angela Hartnett restaurant group. Hosting bespoke group tastings as well as one-off special events, these virtual masterclasses combine Sommelier insight and hospitality. Open discussion and questions are actively encouraged, from myth-busting & revealing insider knowledge, to offering pairing suggestions and getting downright nerdy when required.

fortifyws.com

Plonk Wine Co.

Join us for an exclusive, unforgettable, bespoke, virtual wine tasting event — tailored to impress, surprise and delight your clients, colleagues and customers. What sets us apart from the competition? Well, it’s simple. No one else offers the kind of wines that we do. 

plonkwine.co

The English Vine

You, your family, friends or colleagues, some amazing English wines and us. These aren't your usual stuffy wine tastings. We'll bring our best chat and let you really discover what our wines are about in a way that everyone can understand, even your Auntie Dora. We’ll even ask you to bring a beer (you’ll find out why on the day).

theenglishvine.co.uk

VineDrops

VineDrops is a virtual wine tasting platform that partners with independent vineyards to offer virtual events directly with the vineyards. Explore the history and heritage of these vineyards as you enjoy their wines in these interactive sessions.

www.vinedrops.co.uk

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

Get Tasting

Get Tasting started almost 18 months ago (pre-lockdown) listing wine tasting experiences both virtual and in-person. We also list online and on-demand courses and have over a thousand wine tasting resources.

gettasting.com/virtual-wine-tasting-events

The Vine Untangled

Join experienced wine & spirit educator Tim Haslam for customised online tastings for you and your friends, relatives and work colleagues. Fun and informal, Tim will take you behind the scenes of the wine trade to understand some of the factors professional wine buyers take into account to bring the world's finest wines & spirits to your door!

thevineuntangled.com

Manchester Wine School

Owned by the wine writer and presenter Simon Woods, the Manchester wine school offers a range of online sessions, some in partnership with independent wine merchants, some “byo” style on a theme, specialist courses and masterclasses as well as WSET qualifications. We also offer private sessions for corporate clients and virtual private parties at home.

Manchester Wine School

Jackson and Seddon

Jackson and Seddon wine tastings are run by Rob the business owner and focus on the stories behind the wines and his experiences in finding each one personally and the people that put their heart and soul into producing them.

www.jacksonandseddon.com

Brixton Wine Club

This is not your Mum and Dad’s wine club. Brixton Wine Club sells premium wines, but in cans. Choose from a one off box or a monthly subscription and wine delivered straight to your door with tasting notes.

www.brixtonwineclub.com

VINGIN

Wine and gin cocktail tastings for private parties, corporate business and charitable tastings. We also run a weekly wine and gin club, which is currently a BYO format related to a theme, but soon moving to a postal service whereby we supply the wines and gin samples.

www.vingin.co.uk

Bolney Wine Estates

Bolney are offering a range of virtual tasting experiences including Classic & Luxury virtual tastings and private virtual wine tastings.  Afterwards, you can compete to become wine champion as your guide puts your newfound knowledge to the test with a fun quiz to finish! Bookable tastings as well as virtual tasting vouchers are available.

BolneyWineEstate.com

Rose Murray Brown MW

Regular online wine tastings (sometimes with winemaker as guest host) on some classics, such as Tuscan Reds, Christmas wines, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Small French Growers etc.

Rosemurraybrown.com

ThirtyFifty

This events team is hosting a series of virtual wine tastings via Zoom which are educational yet fun and a great way to socialise while increasing your wine knowledge during the current lockdown period. Vouchers available too!

www.thirtyfifty.co.uk

BiB Wine Company

BIB Wine Co are offering tasting boxes with 6 x 100ml samples as well as online tastings in December. One coming up on the 3rd Dec!

www.bibwine.co.uk

Brianne Cohen

Brianne runs a monthly public #virtualvino class as well as individual tastings. Her signature is a small-format tasting set sent to each attendees home for the class.

Briannecohen.com

Newcastle Wine School

Newcastle Wine School regular online tastings with local wine merchants and winemakers. 

Newcastlewineschool.com

Winebound

Entertaining wine tasting classes with wines delivered. led by Fabio Adler and his company.

winebound.designmynight.com

Caviste

Wine, spirits and festive tastings from this merchant based in Hampshire.

caviste.co.uk

Tipple-Talk

Tipple Talk is a virtual wine club covering a new region each month. 6 mini bottles delivered in advance of a webinar zoom. No subscription needed. Run by Katrina; an award-winning wine professional with over 8 years experience in the industry.

tipple-talk.com

Vineyards Wine Shop

Dorset wine shop running Instagram Live tastings and private tastings. Coming up: a Sherry tasting in a with Gonzalez Byass, plus ‘drinks cabinet staples’ in Dec and more!

Vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

Virtual Tastings

Offering private tastings showcasing our collection of unique, lesser-known wines (as well as ciders and gin!)

virtualtastings.co.uk

Enjoy Discovering Wine

Tastings for fun and WSET courses online! Open to all in the UK & Europe. WSET Diploma worldwide.

enjoydiscoveringwine.com

Unicorn & The Vine / Wine At Home

Luisa is a certified WSET Wine Educator who runs interactive virtual tastings for corporates or to connect friends and family. Wines and cheeses delivered to the door! Wine from Wine at Home.

Unicornandthevine.com / wineathome.org

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

Occitanie Wine School

An 11-episode series that’s easy to catch-up with on YouTube. offering and insight into the wine regions of Occitanie, bringing to life its top performing, distinctive appellations. 

suddefrance.co.uk

Online Spirits Tastings and Masterclasses

Sky Wave Gin

Sky Wave Gin create bespoke gin themed corporate virtual events for you and your clients or friends through the magic of the internet. Our virtual events can run for 1 hour as a stand alone event or can  incorporate a new product demo or corporate announcement followed by a 45 minute Virtual Gin Tasting session – both are led by Sky Wave Gin’s Master Distiller with a curated gin tasting, quiz, fun facts and a Q&A section. Follow them on Instagram @SKYWAVEGIN and see more on the web address below.

skywavegin.com/virtual-gin-tasting

York Gin

York Gin are running regular events on Zoom featuring all six of our gins, mixers and garnishes, snacks and surprises. Hosted by two of our experts who normally do the tastings in our beautiful Tudor shop in York.
yorkgin.com/product/york-gin-night-in-tasting-zoom

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

Liberated Liquid

Fine Whisky, Gin & Rum masterclasses by @LiberatedLiquid using stocks from their city bars. Liberatedliquid.com

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

Virtual Tastings

Offering private tastings showcasing our collection of unique, lesser-known wines (as well as ciders and gin!)

virtualtastings.co.uk

Online Beer Masterclasses

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

not an online virtual whisky tasting as such, I still think it is relevant to the lockdown list considering the product was developed during and for the purposes of lockdown!

Angel Share Artworks

We are reinventing the whisky flavour chart to enhance the whisky tasting experience at home. Whether you are looking to train your senses or display unique whisky wall art, an Angel Share Artwork is a fantastic addition to the enthusiasts’ collection. While not an online tasting, it will enhance any that you do!

www.AngelShare.Art

For a list of tastings you can join in with, Spitbucket.net have compiled a huge database of tastings that are happening online, with over 7400 tasting listed since May! Check out VirtualWineEvents.com. Another list to peruse is grapegathering.com

5 Women in Drinks to Toast!

Words by Helena Nicklin

The world of wine and spirits has traditionally been male-dominated through the years, from winemakers and distillers to salespeople and communicators of all kinds. Happily, we’re seeing more women take the lead creating safe, communicative spaces for others and with the rise of digital media, we are seeing a wave of younger women enter the communications space too. This is all having a knock on effect on our opening up drinks to new consumers and is to be celebrated. Here are some ladies in wine and spirits that we would like to applaud. 

Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin: The Original Wine Woman 

Barbe Nicole Ponsardin, known better to most people as the widow, ‘veuve’ Clicquot, smashed the glass ceiling two hundred years ago at the tender age of 27 after her husband died, refusing to sell the family wine business and building it into a world famous Champagne brand. This tenacious, single mother insisted on getting more training in wine making and made several bold choices, inventing techniques along the way that are still used today: riddling, to clarify the wine and stop it being cloudy like everyone else’s and blending. She created the first ever rosé Champagne. It’s thanks in large part to Barbe-Nicole and her technique for making clear, elegant wines that Champagne gained such a strong reputation around the world. 

Try: Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame Rosé 2008

92% Pinot Noir, 8% Chardonnay, Veuve Clicquot’s Grande Dame, vintage Champagne was named in homage to Barbe-Nicole herself. Think smoky, ripe, red fruit with aromatics of rose petal and blackcurrant. A powerful yet elegant wine. 

Find here: UK £254 // US $385.58

Nichole Johnson - Rusty Rabbits Drinks Distribution & Champagne Producer

The formidable Nichole Johnson is not only the youngest, but the only African-American, female-owned liquor importer, exporter and distributor in the world. Her business, Rusty Rabbit International, was formed to create and curate premium drinks brands and to promote them globally. It’s a dynamic, adaptable and forward thinking drinks company, founded, as she says, ‘by rebels willing to shake up the norm and take the world by storm.’ Despite the challenges of 2020, Nichole managed to bring eight new brands on board to her business and the international drinks market. Her clients include some of the most exciting, new global drinks products but she herself is a force to be reckoned with in her field, having also just launched her very own Champagne called Lapin Rouillé, after ‘rusty rabbit’. Definitely a woman to watch. 

Try: Lapin Rouillé Champagne

Made unusually from 100% Pinot Meunier, Lapin Rouillé is richly fruited, ripe and aromatic with notes of red berries; a vibrant, easy-drinking Champagne with a cool, mineral core helping to maintain its freshness. With its bright red bottle and rabbit logo, it really stands out on the shelf! Limited to just over 3,000 bottles, you can find Lapin Rouillé on the RRI website, at Harvey Nichols and London retailer Gerry’s.

Find here: UK £42.99

Ellie Webb - Founder of Caleño, Alcohol-Free Spirit

Frustrated by the lack of decent alcohol-free drinks on the market and with a desire to step away from corporate life and create something entirely of her own, Ellie Webb founded a company to produce something special and delicious that was inspired by the colourful culture of her Colombian homeland. Caleño was born; a zesty, tropical and aromatic ‘free spirit’ as she calls it, which did so well that at just three months in, it was launched into 500 Sainbury’s stores. Such was the success of her white ‘free spirit’, Ellie recently developed a sister for it, based on a spin on dark spirit. Caleño now has two official forms: Light & Zesty and Dark & Spicy and they come in various sizes and gift box options. 

Try: Caleño duo bundle (2 x 50cl)

Both the Caleño drinks are deliciously different. The Light & Zesty is based on Juniper with citrus notes and an exotic splash of Inca berry. The Dark & Spicy is warming and, naturally, spicy with moreish notes of kola nut, ginger, vanilla and cardamom.

Find here: UK £32

Robin Christenson, Blinking Owl Distillery

In 2016, entrepreneur Robin Christenson launched the first craft distillery in Orange County since prohibition together with her husband Brian. With Level 3 WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) certification to her name, Robin wanted to approach their spirit production at Blinking Owl with the same attention to terroir as wine and committed herself to working as part of California’s sustainable farming community. She has since been lauded for her distillery's ‘grain-to-glass’ influence. We can expect to see Blinking Owl seriously going places in 2021, especially as it is also part of Rusty Rabbit International’s stable.

Try: Blinking Owl Four Grain Bourbon.

Made with organic California corn, wheat, rye and malted barley, the whiskey is distilled and left to age for two years in New, American charred, white oak casks. It’s sweet and spicy with powerful notes of aromatic vanilla, citrus peel and toast. 

Find here: UK £42.99

Jill Russell - Winemaker at Cambria Estate Winery

Having grown up in Castro Valley, California, Jill worked at a winery while at high school before going on to study wine and viticulture in San Luis Obispo high school. Since then, she’s travelled globally, soaking up as much experience as she can and now with ten years of winemaking under her belt, she has brought her skills and energy to Cambria in Santa Barbara, where her very first vintage of the famed, Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay was selected as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2019. A new jewel in the renowned Jackson Family Wines crown, Jill is a winemaker to watch, especially where it concerns maintaining the fine traditions of world class, cool-climate wine making.

Try: Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

An elegant blend of ripe peach and crisp, citrus fruit, with a refreshing, cool salinity, this is a sunshine Chardonnay that is anything but blousy. Subtle oak pops through on the palate in the form of cooking spices and a touch of smoke, creating a flavoursome wine in perfect balance. 

Find here: UK £19.99 // US $19.99

Taste This! 

Want to taste whisky, support women and raise some money for charity? 

We wanted to mention this fantastic Women in Whisky box, which is accompanied by a live tasting panel on 10th March. It features miniature whiskies made by six women and is a special charity edition in aid of both a local Bristol women’s charity and the Drinks Trust, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day 2021. The boxes are being sold on a not-for-profit basis by The Dram Team, with proceeds all going to the charities. In the box: Tamnavulin, Double Cask, J.J. Corry, The Hanson, Nc'nean, Organic Single Malt, Compass Box, Hedonism, Penderyn, Celt and Cardrona, Just Hatched.

Find here: £32.99

To find out more about the original wine women herself, click here!

This New Whiskey Costs More Than a Car!

Love Irish whiskey? Got a cool 10K lying around? If so, you can snag just one bottle of Craft Irish Whiskey Co’s new Devil’s Keep – the most expensive debut whiskey release, ever. 

Just 333 bottles of this triple-distilled, 29-year-old Irish single malt were initially released last November, and it broke records when the first bottle sold at auction for USD $60,000 (about £46,000 / €51,000). Another 333 bottles are expected to be released this year, costing a sweet €10,000 each.

What makes it worth the big bucks? Besides being one of the oldest triple-distilled Irish whiskeys in existence, according to Craft Irish Whiskey Co it’s an ‘alchemy’ of Irish water and barley, aged in three stages. First, it started off in 200-litre ‘first fill’ American oak bourbon barrels, before hitting French oak barrels – previously filled with tawny port. Finally, it was finished in toasted virgin Hungarian oak. Irish Craft Whiskey Co notably casks its whiskey at 52%, believing that adding water early allows it to integrate better with the whiskey over time. The resulting tipple emerges at a sippable 48.5% ABV cask strength.

But, hey, if you’re going to spend all that money you probably want to know what Devil’s Keep tastes like. And the suggested serve is simple: enjoy with just a few drops of pure water from the same place the whiskey was made. You get that special H2O, plus double-locked box, designer glasses, obsidian cooling stones, blingy golden pipette and more when you buy the whiskey.

Now, who wants to lend us €10,000?

Do you love whisky? Make sure you check out The Three Drinkers do Scotch whisky here.