Crabbie's Colada

On the Bring a Bottle Podcast this week (episode 40), Aidy mixed up a storm with his Crabbie’s Colada: a twist on a Pina Colada using Crabbie’s Yardhead whisky. Here’s how you can make one yourself for a tropical fiesta in a glass.

Ingredients

40ml Crabbie’s Yardhead
20ml Dead Man’s Fingers Coconut Rum
50ml Coconut Water
50ml Pineapple Juice
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
25ml Agave Syrup
Glassware: Poco Grande Glass

Method
Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and give it a good go for a minute or so. Strain and pour over more ice into a Poco Grande Glass or similar large, copa style glass and garnish with as much pizazz as you would like. Umbrellas are a must.

Like this? Try Aidy’s Marmalade Sour recipe, the Fettercairn 1824 Martini or the White Russian

A rum deal: Discover two new rums from Cuba

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Rum, it seems, is finally having its day. We are seeing more and more rum brands on the shelves of our supermarkets and even more being offered by specialist retailers. We are beginning to understand rum beyond white, dark and spiced. Although there are different rules for different countries producing rum, consumers are starting to recognise the styles from these varying countries. For example, Barbados is relaxed and easy going, Jamaica is a little funkier and high in esters, especially those rums from Trelawny district. There are countries producing rich full rums and others with a speciality in unaged expressions. There is a lot to get our head around, but it is a fun journey and gives the opportunity to excite our tastebuds.

This interest in rum is now extending to single casks from specific distilleries. Single casks of rum have been increasing in price over the last few years and many more bottlings of single cask rum can be found. I think it is a good time to invest in this category.

One country which is lesser known to us all is Cuba. With the exception of Havana Club, which produces many styles of rum, from white through to rich blends, we have seen no other brands outside of Cuba. A few bottles appear from time to time, but nothing of any real significance. All this has now changed. In the past, Havana Club has been on its own because, through a deal done with the Cuban Government, Pernod Ricard had the exclusive rights to markets Cuban rum under the Havana Club brand, outside of Cuba. This contract has now come to an end and there have been some exciting developments. I want to share two of those developments at different positions on the economic scale.

Eminente

Firstly, Moet Hennessey has recently launched a 7 year old Cuban rum called Eminente. It is a great piece of blending with rums that are at least seven years old. The story is all about Cuba and starts with César Martí. This master distiller is the youngest of the ten Maestros in Cuba and attained his position faster than any other Maestro in Cuban history taking only nine years. He is a bit of a star in the Cuban rum world. He grew up in the province of Villa Clara from where Eminente originates.

César creates extra complexity in Eminente by ageing and blending aguardientes. These are flavourful, complex distillates produced from molasses and distilled to 75% ABV. These are aged in oak barrels that were previously used to age whisky. These barrels are blended and then aged again with a little light Cuban rum which has been distilled to 96% ABV. The blend of light rums and aguardientes creates what we know as Cuban rum.

Eminente Reserva is aged for a minimum of seven years and is one of only a few Cuban rums that are classified ‘Denominación de Origen Protegida’ (D.O.P. Ron de Cuba).

The design of the bottle has been well thought out. It looks and feels good, with its crocodile skin textured glass and label showing the island, which is in the shape of the indigenous Cuban crocodile. The side label is reminiscent of a travel ticket and has the Maesto’s portrait.

The whole concept is well produced and, more than that, it also tastes wonderful.

Nose: Lots of spice up front with cinnamon being dominant. Dried fruits follow with chocolate, coffee and tobacco. There is sweet manuka honey in the background giving balance.

Palate: The sweetness is subtle, and the palate is fresh with floral hints overlaying the darker chocolate and coffee notes. There is a touch of smoke in the background, and the spices reappear towards the end of the palate.

Finish: A very long finish which is satisfying with lots of dark chocolate and a touch of sweet dark honey.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: £43.95

 Cubana No.1

My second discovery is a fascinating ode to Cuba. The ingredients come from Cuba, yet the distillation takes place in London. Using a Caribbean fermentation process, Cuban cigar tobacco, fermented limes and fermented cacao nibs, this creates a very special rum with huge amounts of complexity. This is the first release from Atelier called Cubana No.1. The heart of this rum comes from the small family farms in Cuba and the flavours show this authentic background.

The base spirit is a high ester rum from Jamaica which has been distilled from estate-harvested sugar cane. There are no artificial colours or flavours. There is also no added sugar. The distillation strength is very high at 79% and is reduced to a drinking strength of 52.6% giving lots of power but allowing the complexity to travel across the palate well.

Nose: Lots of aromatic spices, limes and mixed nuts come through first, followed by dried fruits of dates and raisins. There is a floral element of honeysuckle and passionflower. The background holds the deeper flavours of cigar smoke, leather and burnt wax. There are some very well-balanced umami aromas that develop if the rum is left to air for a while.

Palate: Cacao comes through immediately followed by dried fruits and a sherry note. Mulled flavours of spiced oranges and sweet pineapple mix with soft spices like saffron and turmeric. Again, there is the tobacco in the background lingering with other spices like cinnamon and cardamon, and a subtle sea salt on the very back of the palate.

Finish: The finish is very long, and the complexity continues with waves of spice, cacao and dried apricots. The salinity persists, and the tobacco comes out of the background to be more prevalent.

The story throughout is the Cuban cigar, distilled with cured black lime, fermented cacao nibs, transmitted via the Hi-Ester Rum fermented and distilled from cane juice. The result is a unique experience that embraces a balance between an aged rum and a humidor filled with the aroma of fresh cigars.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 52.6%
Find here: £250

For more of our rum guides check out: Brilliant Rums for Under £30 and 4 Stunning Rums from Around the World.

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.

---

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.

---

Helena’s Choice: Stinger

---

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.

---

---

Aidy’s Choice: Smash & Fresh

---

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.

---

Colin’s Choice: Nouaison Old Fashioned

---

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