The Best Whiskies in the World

Words by Colin Hampden-White

As time moves forward, World Whisky Day has greater meaning. Long gone are the days of whisk(e)y being dominated by Scotch and Irish drams. We have whiskies being made in the most unlikely of countries, and being made very well. Along with Scotch and Irish drams, Japanese whisky has held a respected position in the whisky world for over a decade. It is surprising it has taken so long for the whisky world to wake up to Japanese whiskies with it having been produced in Japan for nearly a century with the Yamazaki distillery being built in 1924.

Beyond Japan, there is great whisky being made in Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. With Lark distillery being build in 1992, and Sullivans Cove in 1994, Australian whisky began to be recognised for its quality with Sullivans Cove being awarded the world’s best single malt in 2014. To whisky lovers, these distilleries are well known, but there are also new lesser-known distilleries with fantastic whisky. Cardrona distillery in New Zealand launched their first Single Malt last year with Just Hatched and followed that up with another brilliant release Growing Wings.

Distilling in central Europe is also going from strength to strength. Well known distilleries such as Slyrs in Germany, Lagatun in Switzerland are continuing to keep their quality and consistency. Newer distilleries in central Europe are creating some incredible whisky, Broger and Pfanner in Austria being two favourites of mine. Moving a little further east to the Caspian Sea, I have even found good single malt whisky being made in Azerbaijan on a visit a few years ago. Closer to home for me, the distilleries in England and Wales are going great guns. Aber Falls is about to release their first whiskies this year, Copper Rivet released their first whisky, Masthouse and the Cotwolds distilleries created their sherry cask matured expression which was my favourite English whisky of the last year.

A country well known for its whiskey is the USA, although usually made with different grains and corn, but they are now making some fantastic single malt whiskey. St George in California make a complex and fruity single malt, whilst Balcones in Texas make a big bold powerful single malt which has great complexity with their cold winters and incredibly hot summers making maturation a rapid affair with plenty of interaction between wood and spirit.

With all these world whiskies it would be easy to think that Scotch and Irish are getting left behind, but this is far from the truth. There is a plethora of new distilleries which are now producing whisky. The Glasgow distillery, Ardnamurchan, Daftmill and Arbiki being a few of my favourites. And there are new whiskies on the way with distilleries being built now like Gordon & MacPhail in the Cairngorms and more planned for the future. The green light has also been given for Sukhinder Singh’s distillery on Islay.

From the world of old, three notable closed distilleries are coming back to greet us. Port Ellen is being rebuilt, as is Rosebank, and Brora is opening imminently. Over the last few years, a few existing brands that have been overlooked have had a revamp and are creating some very exciting whisky. My favourite is Fettercairn from Whyte and Mackay, with the 16 year old (made with chocolate malt) being particularly good. Glenturret, having been bought by Lalique has had a serious makeover and the new expressions are seriously good, with a 15 year old at 55% ABV really standing out. Lastly, I enjoyed the new expressions from Bladnoch. A distillery which we have seen little from over the years now has a very smart new bottle and quite a few new expressions. I very much liked the Vinaya which is excellent value and for the 2020 release of Talia, a 26 year old which they matured in American oak red wine casks for all 26 years, and the results were excellent.

With so much choice in the world of whisk(e)y it is hard to know where to start. Might I suggest wherever you might be in the world to start close by, there is bound to be a distillery not too far away, creating whisky, and on this day of all days, let’s celebrate together and keep the food miles down, and support the expansion of whisky throughout the world with a glass of something local.

If you want a more in depth look into Scotch whisky make sure you check out The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky and if you’re thinking of investing in your favourite bottles then have a read of Colin’s Whisky Investment Index.

Meet Glenmorangie’s New, Super Rare Expression

Dr Bill Lumsden has done it again. Known to some as Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company and to others as the ‘Willy Wonka of Whisky, Bill has created another fabulous, limited edition whisky finished in Chardonnay casks hailing from renowned wine producer Sonoma-Cutrer in Sonoma Valley, California. 

As a self-confessed wine geek, Dr Bill has always adored Californian Chardonnay and it was during a visit out there fifteen years ago that he managed to persuade Sonoma-Cutrer to sell him a few casks for experimentation. They agreed and Bill filled the casks with fifteen year old whisky - some that was distilled in his first days at the distillery back in February 1995. The casks were then put away to mature and allow the flavours to mingle together beautifully over time. 

Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Year Old Single Malt

After numerous tastings since then, Dr Bill has decided the whisky is ready - and ready it most certainly tastes. Bottled at 55.7% ABV, it is deep ochre in colour and with the same characteristic floral aromas and bready notes Glenmorangie is famous for, there is a wide range of citrus fun from grapefruit and fresh orange peel and to marmalade and lemon balm. “Like a honey and lemon hot toddy” is how Dr Bill describes it, as well as marshmallow, smoked pear, earthy biscuits and spicy ginger with a peppery kick on the tongue. All in all, it's super smooth and mellow, with a beautiful, buttery, sunshine finish reminiscent of the fruity, golden Chardonnay the casks once held. 

This Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve whisky was created as part of an experiment, where only 1000 bottles exist, each one hand-signed by Dr Bill Lumsden himself. They have described it as Glenmorangie’s ‘most rare and unique creations’. I was very lucky to taste it. 

The Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Year Old Single Malt was created for release exclusively through the Moët Hennessy Private Client team. RRP £1,750 (US$2,442) per 700ml bottle.

Which Whiskies to Invest in - April Whisky Investment Index

By Colin Hampden-White

This month has seen quite a bit of change in the leaders in Scotch whisky and we have added a tenth position as the volume for Macallan has risen recently. Dalmore is still riding high with great values as well as volumes being achieved. Bowmore has had a good month and overtakes Springbank. In the mid field everything is still very tight with only small percentages separating the brands. Notably Macallan has joined the list and not in last place, having had good volumes at auction with older bottles gaining in value.

As always, if I were buying at auction, I would be looking for rare, limited editions and single cask bottlings from good independent bottlers or official bottlings. I would also take a look at some of the brands that have done well historically but might not be on the top list at the moment, like Ardbeg and Mortlach. These might be a good bet for the future.

This page is always a pointer, and in no way should be taken as a proven way to invest in whisky. Like all investments, they can go down as well as up. Please do your own research as well, and if this informs that research, I’m glad we are helping.

When I started collecting, I bought nearly every release from the English Whisky Company, which were around £50 to £200 a bottle. They released quite a few bottles in their first few years. Apparently, the market thought too many, and I would have lost 50% of what I spent had I sold them. Luckily, they tasted great! On the converse side, I bought a bottle of Hanyu Joker from the card series for £215 which is now sold at auction for around £3,000. I have many examples of bad and good investments. The trick, like any investment portfolio, is to be diverse. Have a broad portfolio and hopefully the winners will outweigh the losers.

Dalmore 8%
Bowmore 3%
Rosebank 1.5%
Clynelish 0.5%
Yamazaki 1%
Springbank 1.5%
Karuizawa 2%
Glendronach 1.5%
Macallan 1%
Bunnahabain (base)

Above all, when I invest in whisky, I buy whisky I love. For example, if you don’t like peaty whisky, don’t buy Islay. At the end of the day, if it goes wrong, you can always drink it!

Bottles to Watch

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 6

Batch 7 has been released, so Batch 6 will become rarer and rarer and begin to go up in value in both the USA and UK.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50.4%
Find here: UK £300 // US $599.99

Scapa 16

A discontinued whisky with very few bottles remaining.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £225

Invergordon 50 year old

At 50 years old this is very special and is only cheap because it is grain whisky. I reckon grain whisky is going to become more and more expensive and there were only 328 bottles of this one produced.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 47.5%
Find here: £349.95

Clynelish 23

With only 187 bottles produced from this well respected and well followed distillery. This should be a good bet.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 47.3%

To compare this list to last month’s click here and 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 Ready-Made Garnishes for G&Ts

Say goodbye to the same-old lemon slivers, twists of orange, slices of cucumber – G&T garnishes just entered the 21st century. You heard us: a whole new world of unique, flavourful and (thank the heavens!) ready-made garnishes are out there to help up your G&T game with almost zero effort. They don’t only make drinks taste great, they let you customise them, making that Gin & Tonic one-of-a-kind… 

Rock Rose Gin Liquid Garnishes

Forgot to stock up on lemons? No problem: pop a few drops of Rock Rose’s ‘liquid garnish’ – a 41.5% ABV concoction akin to a cocktail bitter – into your G&T, and you’ve instantly got the bright, aromatic hit you’re craving. The four flavours are designed to go with Rock Rose’s own Highland-made gins, but in truth they enhance just about any G&T. Our go-to for summer? The slightly medicinal Lemon Thyme (a hint of gentian, popularly used in vermouth, gives it a gorgeous bitter edge). And, Coriander and Lime – one squeeze is as good as a wedge of fresh-cut citrus.

Size: 100ml
ABV: 41.5%
Fine here: £12

Hepple Douglas Fir Sherbet

Cocktail rims are just for margaritas: said no one ever. Bring the party to your G&Ts with this moreish Douglas Fir Sherbet powder from Hepple Gin, made with real fir tree needles. Sampled straight, it tastes a bit like a sugar-dusted Christmas tree. Applied sparingly to a glass, and paired with gin and tonic, it mellows, becomes tangier and boosts your drink’s resinous, piney juniper notes. It’s a no-brainer with Hepple Gin – it stars Douglar Fir as a botanical – but this should go with any rich, juniper-forward bottling. Note: we found it hard to resist snacking straight from the tin… you have been warned.

Find here: £12.50

Fruits for Drinks – Mixed Fruit Selection

When it comes to flavour concentration, freeze-dried fruits can often knock fresh ones out of the park. And – pop the celebration corks, folks – they don’t really go off, which means less waste. Plump for this set of six types of dried fruit (lime, orange, lemon, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry) and no matter which gin you’re serving, you’ll have a garnish to match the flavour profile. With an average of 120 portions in each set, it’s better value than fresh fruit too and should keep you going on the G&T front for months.

Find here: £39.50

Maddocks Farm Organics Budding Floral Cocktail Box

Not that you need a reason to treat yourself to a bouquet of blooms, but edible flower garnishes look fabulous in a G&T – floating delicately on the surface, or frozen into giant ice cubes. Of course, you can’t use just anything in that drink (some flowers are toxic, others don’t taste great). That’s where edible flower specialist Maddocks Farm comes in. They sell cocktail-perfect, 100% edible seasonal blooms in boxes of around 60, and they also throw in scrumptious edible foliage such as lemon verbena stalks or fennel fronds. That G&T has never looked more fabulous.

Find here: £20

DrinkStuff Juniper Berries

Gin plus juniper berries – a match made in heaven, right? If in doubt, a sprinkling of dried juniper berries not only adds flavour, it makes your G&Ts feel like they’ve been whipped up in a trendy bar. As you’d probably guess, the berries – which look similar to black peppercorns – give an extra lift to the resinous, piney flavour that this spirit is known for. In other words: it’s best left to those who really like classic gin profiles. Just be sure to sip with care; the aim is to leave the berries behind in the glass, not guzzle ‘em down with your G&T.

Find here: £2.80

Wondering which gin to pair with your garnishes? Then, take a look at The Best Flavoured Gins for your Money or these Stunning Scottish Gins.

The Science Behind your Hangxiety

We’ve all been there. It’s the day after the night before, and following a few too many drinks you wake up feeling majorly anxious. The reason seems unclear: was it an awkward drunken conversation? Did you do something embarrassing? Not necessarily: you’re probably just suffering from hangxiety.

Hangxiety is exactly what it sounds like: that anxious feeling that accompanies a hangover. And according to science, it’s real. Not just real, in fact, but normal – your brain’s rebalancing act after a night on the tiles.

When you drink alcohol, two things in your brain are affected: glutamate (which makes your brain more active) and Gaba (aka gamma-aminobutyric acid, which makes it less active). With every drink, glutamate decreases and Gaba increases, chilling you out, lowering your inhibitions and slowing your reaction time. According to Sophie Ward, a Tik Tok-er who recently posted a now-viral video on the topic, drinking basically makes your brain operate on slow-mo.

The next day, as alcohol leaves your system, your brain works to get the balance back to normal. But it over-compensates. Glutamate spikes, making your brain hyperactive, while Gaba, which would normally calm you down, is suppressed. And so hangxiety – which can last a few hours, days or even weeks depending on how much and how often you drink – is born.

Is there anything you can do to stop it? Not really, apart from moderating your intake. But next time you wake up hangxious, rest assured that it’s totally normal. The friends you partied with are probably feeling exactly the same way – and knowing that can be pretty anxiety-relieving in itself.

Don’t forget to check out our wellness campaign articles on how to make yourself happy and how to improve your mood.

The Power Behind the Crown: The Distilleries Behind Chivas Regal.

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Covid 19 has created some real problems for the world of wines and spirits. With hospitality having been shut down, and with fewer people shopping on the high street, businesses are under a lot of pressure. With the travel ban in the UK only allowing us to travel if we have to, many tourist sites are closed.

The distilleries keep on distilling; however, the distillery shops and visitor centres have been closed. There are some advantages for the whisky lover that this is the case. Distilleries often sell whisky in their distillery shops which cannot be bought anywhere else. This is a sort of reward for those venturing to visit the distillery. These bottles can be very special, ranging from bottles you can fill yourself (hand-fill bottles as they are known) as at Aberfeldy or Glenfiddich, to limited editions such as those created by Lagavulin and Oban. There are also occasionally single cask, cask strength bottles created, and it is a set of those I am particularly excited about.

Every now and again there are single cask, cask strength bottles created by Chivas to show off their single malt distilleries and these are sold in their shop at the Strathilsa distillery. Recently eight bottles have been created and, as we can’t visit the distillery shop to buy them, Chivas have opened their shop to everyone and are selling these unique expressions online.

There are four very different expressions from the Strathisla distillery itself, and four rare expressions from Strathclyde, Braeval, Glenkeith and Longmorn.

Strathisla 13 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

This is a perfect place to start. Strathisla is at the heart of the Chivas blend, and this cask gives sweet aromas and flavours of honey and vanilla. There are also sweet meadow floral notes and a core of fresh orchard fruits like apple and pear. For a whisky at a high ABV, it is smooth and satisfying and opens up a little with a drop of water. Being non-chill filtered and un-coloured, at £65 this single cask bottle is great value and if you are venturing out into the world of single cask bottles, a great place to start.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 57.1%
Find here: £65

Strathisla 13 Year Old 1st Fill Butt

We then come to another 13 year old Strathisla. This has been matured in a first fill sherry butt which shows perfectly the different flavour a sherry cask gives to spirit in comparison to the ex-bourbon cask and it is only a little higher in ABV at 59%. One can see from the colour alone that this is a very different whisky from the first. This whisky gives up aromas and flavours that are rich and robust with lots of dried fruits like raisins and figs with spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cardamom giving balance and interest. The spices continue well into the finish which is very long and dry. At £75 this is a great introduction to sherry cask maturation and when tried with the previous whisky, it is a great education into the differences between ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 59%
Find here: £75 

Strathisla 16 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

With the third offering, we have a little more age added to maturation in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel at 53.5%. This whisky shows the advantages of age, and has even more vanilla smoothness that the 13 year old. There is extra fruitiness too, with not only orchard fruits but tropical fruits coming into the mix. The honey flavours are a little more complex and the vanilla flavours develop into a creamy vanilla toffee fudge which persists right through to the finish. With extra age there are a few more pounds, but still great value at £85.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 53.5%
Find here: £85

Strathisla 16 Year Old 2nd Fill Butt 

The last of the Strathisla whiskies is another 16 year old expression at 62.6%. Using sherry butts which have been used once before, this high strength dram has lots of power but also has great complexity from the sherry cask. The balance created by using a second fill cask is clearly evident and the wood notes don’t overpower the spirit. There are lots of toasted oak flavours and nuts like hazelnut and oily walnuts. The spices are root spices like ginger and there is a touch of pepper in the background too. These strong flavours are all in harmony and although the ABV is very high, the whisky has a gentle laid-back character. With sherry butts costing nearly ten times the price of an ex-bourbon barrel, this is a steal at £90.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 62.6%
Find here: £90

Strathclyde 12 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

Blends are of course made up from both malt whisky and grain whisky, and it is a grain whisky Chivas have released in their fifth bottle of the collection. It is from the Strathclyde distillery. It is a 12 year old matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 62.2%. This whisky has a delicate body and is very smooth for a youngish grain whisky. For such a high ABV this is quite soft and has a creamy mouthfeel. There are floral and citrus aromas and flavours and touches of clear runny honey which persist all the way to the finish. This whisky gives an idea of the character needed to be the backbone of a great blended whisky. It is delicate enough not to overpower the malts and bold enough to allow the malt whisky flavours to shine. This whisky is only £45 and is a great way to experience grain whisky by itself.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 62.2%
Find here: £45

Braeval 17 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel 

We now move onto more unusual whiskies little seen as single malt. To make up a good blend many single malts are used to give great complexity and harmony. This single malt is Braeval (also known as Braes of Glenlivet). It is a seventeen year old whisky matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 56.4%. This whisky has the typical Speyside flavours of apples and pears which are joined by toffee and tropical fruits. These flavours are sweet and the dram has a very moreish quality. A great way to explore the single malts of Speyside further and taste a whisky with a slightly different character. With this whisky rarely seen as a single malt, like the whiskies before it represents good value for a rarity at £95.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 56.4%
Find here: £95

Longmourn 20 Year Old 2nd Fill Butt 

The penultimate whisky is one of my favourite distilleries in Speyside. It is a 20 year old Longmorn matured in a second fill sherry cask and bottled at 55.2%. With such a long time in cask, this whisky is complex and luxurious. The spices are subdued with sweeter flavours persisting. Almonds and toffee mix with sweet pear juice and dark chocolate, and there is a little manuka honey in the background. There is also a touch of ginger in the finish which becomes drier and spicier after a while. This is not a cheap whisky, but then it shouldn’t be, at 20 years old it is £175 and worth every penny.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 55.2%
Find here: £175

Glen Keith 22 Year Old First Fill Barrel

Lastly, we come to a distillery that had a change in its history. Glen Keith closed down in 1999 very soon after this whisky was distilled and was not re-opened until 2013 after a huge refurbishment programme. That makes this 22 year old whisky rather rare, and as the old distillery processes no longer exist we will not see the likes of it again. It was matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 49.5%. It is a sweet whisky with a zesty side to it. Honey and vanilla creams mix well with fresh orchard fruits and a little tinned peach and dried apricots. It is very smooth and satisfying and one of the best examples of Glen Keith at around this age I have tasted. It is £165 which I think is very good for a single cask, cask strength rare whisky at 22 years old and bottled by the proprietor.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 49.5%
Find here: £165

Although all these whiskies are great to try by themselves, as a collective they show the breadth of flavours that make up the Chivas blend, and the costs have been kept down by creating 50cl bottles rather than 70cl. And if you can’t buy all eight of them, I’d certainly get one ex-bourbon and one ex-sherry to try side by side, especially if you want to understand the role of a blender in Scotch whisky.

For more whisky goodness check out 5 Epic Chocolate and Whisky Pairings or Around the World in Six Whiskies.

Delicious No and Low Canned Drinks

Written by Helena & Aidy

Drinks in cans are set to be the big trend this summer as outdoor socialising will be the thing with the winding up of lockdown and local picnics will be the order of the day. Here are some great no and low canned drinks that we’ve discovered recently, from alcohol free, to CBD and even some good, old fashioned beer. Your favourite not on the list? Let us know! 

Hard Seltzers

Berczy Hard Seltzer, Passionfruit & Turmeric

Berczy was created by three friends who all wanted to create something delicious that would always use 100% natural ingredients, be low in calories and sugar and be made sustainably.  The result is a range of really delicious, fruity and natural tasting drinks. We particularly love the Passionfruit & Tumeric.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £14.95 for 6

Luv Jus

Low-alcohol hard seltzers have become a bit of a thing lately but LuvJus being anything but basic has decided to put an evolutionary spin on the category. This LGBTQ+ venture offers two super refreshing flavours with a kick of personality; Bloody Orange & Pomegranate and Pineapple & Mint. The best part? A portion of profits from each and every can goes right back into supporting a variety of LGBTQIA charities and making a real difference. Drink well, support those in need, kinda sounds like a win/win to me. These beauties are PERFECT for picnic drinking or to wind down at the end of a long day. Only 4.8% alcohol and a fraction of the calories. Oo la la, baby.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.8%
Find here: £14.95 for 6



Mixed Drinks

Austin’s Summer Punch Lemonade

ALDI’s answer to Pimms has gone down very well with its customers (and us!) offering a very similar flavour profile to what would be a Pimms and lemonade. Pour over ice with a bit of fruit and cucumber for an even more authentic experience, even from a plastic glass in the park!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5.4%
Find here: (and in store) for 85p!!!

Aperini Italian Style Spritz

Again, this is ALDI doing what ALDI does best and offering products very similar to ones we know and love. This is your Aperol Spritz in a can and we have to say, they’ve done a great job, with that quintessential tangy bitter orange flavour and the balance of booze with bubbles being spot on. Drink well chilled for a fabulous picnic tipple.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: (and in store) for 85p!!!

CleanCo Clean G & Tonic

Encouraged by the massive growth in the market for hard seltzers, TV personality and entrepreneur Spencer Matthews originally founded CleanGin and has just launched his canned range, including CleanRum & Cola and Clean G&T. While the ‘clean’ is always slightly misleading when it comes to drinks, at 0.5% alcohol, these feel like a decent alternative to a traditional hard seltzer, with just 0.5% alcohol and a low calorie count to boot. 

Size: 250ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £11.94 for 6

Strykk Not G*n & Tonic and Not R*m & Cola

These Strykk cans are another great example of a zero alcohol alternative to your regular G&T and Rum & Cola. They work as perfect picnic accompaniment or a great sip when you want to taste something good but don’t want the alcohol. Aside from tasting great, they are 100% natural with no sugar or artificial flavours, vegan, gluten free and low calorie so really there’s really nothing not to like!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £12 for 6

Bloody Drinks Bloody Classic

Bloody Drinks have hit the nail on the head with their perfectly balanced Bloody Classic. The balance of ingredients means each can has just the right amount of spice and is packed full of delicious flavour. As if that wasn’t enough, you can now get your hands on ‘The Bloody Box’ which contains everything you need to make the perfect Bloody Mary, garnishes and all, and is bound to wow your garden party guests! They’re bloody fantastic if you ask us!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 6.3%
Find here: £19 for 6

INTUNE CBD Drinks & Mixers

INTUNE make all-natural, delicious CBD soft drinks and mixers, but we’ve been drinking the mixers by themselves as they are so lovely. Full of flavour and not overly sweet, these are all classy, CBD soft drinks in their own right with a punch 10mg of CBD in the ‘originals’ and 5mg in the mixers.  We particularly loved the pomegranate and hops CBD drinks and the ginger mixer. Moreish and yummy. 

Size: 200/250ml
CBD: 10mg or 5mg
Find here: £29.99 for 12

Beer

Adnams Earl Grey Lager

There’s something about Earl Grey and its characteristic bergamot flavour that works brilliantly with this lager’s citrussy, Galaxy beer hops. Adnams have smashed it with this fabulous lager. The tannins from both the tea and the hops are well balanced and the result is a gloriously crisp and refreshing, flavourful drink that’s light on its feet and easy to love. I’d take this with my afternoon tea any day. 

Size: 330ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £19.99 for 12

Adnams Dry Hopped Lager

Here’s a lager for foodies. Brewed with Pilsner malt with Australian, Galaxy hops, here’s a rich and fruity lager with layers of hoppy, malty and tropical fruit notes that is crisp with a bitter finish, preventing it from being cloying in any way. Adnams say it would make a great match for spicy food and we are looking forward to finding out.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 3.2%
Find here: £24.99 for 12

Looking for even more canned drinks? Then we’ve got more yummy treats for you here: 5 Cracking Canned Drinks. If it’s no and low you’re after though, head over to 6 Must-Try No and Low Drinks!

Hidden Spirit Gems from the Oldest of the New World

With bans on selling alcohol South Africa only just lifted, we asked our friend Tobias Gorn to write something in support of a fascinating, unique industry and shine a light on one of the most exciting spirits brands coming out of the country today: Copper Republic.

The oldest of the New World wine and spirit producing countries; the Mediterranean of the southern hemisphere with great subtropical areas, beautiful landscapes and stunning flora and fauna; a rich history and culture and over 300 year old Dutch colonial farmhouses; vineyards older than some modern European countries. As you’ve probably guessed by now, I am indeed talking about South Africa and one of its finest parts: the Cape. South African wine has a rich and long history as the oldest of the ‘New World’ winemaking regions, but few people know about the fantastically rich history and diversity of its spirits.

The Spirit of South Africa

Right now, you can find world class whiskies, some unique brandies and wonderful gins; the latter with their local fynbos typicity. I am very lucky to be invited regularly to judge and consult in South Africa, as it is one of my favourite wine and spirit countries. The landscape is breathtaking and the wineries and distilleries have often retained their historic Dutch farmhouses and great gardens. On top of that, every winery and distillery has a nice restaurant and is usually set among wonderful countryside. The service is good and the people are very polite, friendly, and great fun too. It’s one of my favourite holiday destinations, with so much to see, from the Table Mountain to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the wineries of Constantia. A detour to Boulders Beach to see the penguins, popping down to the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Point Lighthouse and a visit to the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary in Hout Bay on the way back to Cape Town is a wonderful journey with many unforgettable things to see.

Unfortunately the recent pandemic and some questionable political decisions by their leaders made the local drinks industry suffer as a result of consecutive bans on selling alcoholic drinks. But instead of moody political comments, it’s time to write about this amazing country, to show support and raise greater awareness of its wonderful spirits.

South African Brandy

‘Hold my glass, Monsieur Cognac…’

Brandy is perhaps the longest produced spirit locally, given that they’ve had wines since the early settlers of the 17th century. The records show that the first wines were dated 1659 and so, not unexpectedly, brandy distillation began soon after. The stills are a bit different but still similar to other big and famous brandy producing regions and the diversity of styles is great. It is hard to define a singular style but from what we tasted, South African brandy is usually a smooth, fresh and floral, zesty and aromatic spirit, different from the over-caramelised examples of some other European counterparts. Often underrated, South African brandies are sometimes aged in slightly more adventurous casks than just French oak and so with all this comes a great price point and a new field to discover.

Try: Copper Republic Honeybush Wood Finish Brandy.

Copper Republic is one of the smaller, more artisan producers and they have some stunning expressions in the Zula Cape Brandy range. They are clean and long-aged, fine examples that can stand up to any international brandies. The Honeybush Wood Finish Brandy from Copper Republic is a Cape Pot Still Brandy finished in the local honeybush wood, giving it a truly unique local twist. giving it almost a sense of ‘terroir’. It is clean and rich with floral and fresh grape notes followed by some peach and mango and plenty of spices. The honeybush wood has a nice soft influence, not overpowering but more of a complement to go along the main spirit aromas and flavours. It is a great brandy to have with a medium bodied cigar and it can be a brilliant base for a Sidecar, not to mention a good old brandy sour (actually, it is much better than just chucking some discounted VS cognac in there). There are plenty of cocktail options, but this is a spirit that is made to be enjoyed how it is and it will not disappoint a seasoned brandy or even whisky drinker. The alcohol is nicely integrated and the flavour elements are all in harmony. Expect beautiful oak spices, fresh, ripe apples, as well as toffee apples, white peach, and apricots. This is a great example of South African brandy with a real local twist. It won a well-deserved gold at the World Brandy Awards in 2020. It is also tremendous value for money.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.95

South African Whisky

‘Scotch or Bourbon? Neither, South African Single Grain, please!’

Whisky is a popular drink in South Africa. Maybe the Brits are to blame, or maybe it’s because it’s a great drink and South Africans have a taste for finer things. Regardless of that, there are more and more local whiskies produced here and some of them are outstanding. Given the climate, the angel’s share is a bit higher but maturation is also quicker than in Scotland so it is not necessarily a bad deal. Bains and Three Ships are the bigger brands and some won World’s Best at the World Whiskies Awards, showing that whisky from South Africa should be taken seriously.

Try: Copper Republic Single Grain Whisky

Single Grain whiskies have a reputation for only being good for bulking up blended Scotch, traditionally. It’s true that there are still many light, neutral grain whiskies out there worldwide, distilled to a remarkably high strength in continuous column stills and aged in 2nd or 3rd filled casks, which hardly impart anything except faint vanilla notes and a light-yellow hue. They are usually cut down to 40% ABV and are gentle at best, if not dull. This example is definitely not one of those. It is time to think again. The Copper Republic Single Grain Whisky is a small batch whisky with a premium aim at 43%. Distilled from local yellow maize (corn) and matured in freshly charred and second fill ex-bourbon casks, one could say it might be closer to a great Bourbon whiskey than a Scotch but I’d like to say that it is truly South African in its own right. Made to be sipped like a single malt, it is truly the best of its kind. The tasting note from the World Whiskies Awards describes it thus: "on the nose there is buttery fudge, caramel and freshly split vanilla. The soft, sweet, candied palate is instantly attractive, with a pleasant fudge and coconut hit. Earl Grey tea, sea salt caramel, tons of vanilla and ginger spice.” There is indeed a nice spicy edge to the wonderful, smooth but pretty pronounced palate of this beauty and it well deserved its award in 2020.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.95

South African Gin

‘Dutch settlers? The British Empire? Modern fashion? All of that!’

Gin is fashionable and it’s sad that some critics are shouting about a bubble about to burst, but we are happy that they are wrong. There are still many gin brands popping up globally and sales are still going up. However, the situation with South African gin is a bit more complex and it goes back in time a long way. Just think about the Dutch settlers and the British Empire; both were obsessed with gin and imported the idea of gins to South Africa centuries ago. Some of the modern gins are trying so hard to be different and we’ve tasted many weird and wonderful concoctions that claim they are from a different continent using some botanicals that are so unique to them that other distillers don’t even know about it. Desperate and sometimes boring. It is rather refreshing to see people using their locality and turning their indigenous herbs into parts of their botanical bill. Similar things happen in the Swiss and Austrian Alps, where they use local herbs and berries to create a genuinely local product. The local fynbos vegetation of the Cape is perfect to inspire some gins with a great local twist. These ‘fine-leaf’ plants love the local Mediterranean weather and there are over 8000 different types of them so there is plenty to pick from.

Try: Copper Republic African Dry Gin

The African Dry Gin is a lovely example of a modern dry gin with some traditional botanicals and a local twist. Eleven botanicals have been used, most grown in the rich red soils of the Western Cape. It is round and smooth and that 43% ABV is justified. The wild rosemary, confetti bush and local Buchu plant, which is reminiscent of blackcurrant, work together beautifully with the juniper, citrus, coriander and honeybush. A crisp dry gin with a nice long finish and a sense of locality. Brilliant in a classic G&T with the local Indian tonic water brand Fitch & Leedes and it is wonderful in a dry martini. It’s no surprise that it picked up World’s Best Signature Botanical Gin winner at the World Gin Awards 2020.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £29.95

Also try: Copper Republic Rooibos and Grapefruit Gin

The Rooibos and Grapefruit Gin is a harmonious fusion of South African Rooibos and Cape ruby grapefruit combined with rare fynbos botanicals and African ginger root. Some flavoured gins can end up being as sweet as a liqueur and infused with manmade flavourings, but not in this case. It is a natural, artisan small batch product with a great balance between the juniper and other spicy gin elements and the rooibos and grapefruit. This is a full-bodied example with a more earthy approach, a round and big texture and plenty of fruit, sweet root notes and a nice warming finish. Try it on the rocks with a wedge of grapefruit or with the Fitch & Leedes Grapefruit Tonic for a full citrus explosion.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £35.95  

Local Tonic Water - Fitch & Leedes

Sometimes a bit of distance from the global buzz can help magical things happen to local brands. When the big tonic water boom was happening and a particularly successful brand was rising in the UK and beyond, Fitch & Leedes started to grow in South Africa. It is the local premium mixer brand with an amazingly crisp and well balanced Indian Tonic Water, a beautiful Bitter Lemon and a wide selection of other flavours including the aforementioned Grapefruit Tonic. It’s a brand to watch and I highly recommend trying their tonics, so you can decide for yourself how good they are, but we certainly love them.

Try: Fitch & Leedes Indian Tonic

Size: 500ml
Find here: £6.49 for 6

Also Try: Fitch & Leedes Grapefruit Tonic

Size: 500ml
Find here: £6.49 for 6

Copper Republic is a fascinating distillery with very high standards, represented around the world by Rusty Rabbit International. Alcohol bans have been lifted, but we still need to support South Africa’s incredible drinks industry and celebrate the beautiful drinks and culture of such a wonderful country. When all this is over and travel restrictions are lifted, why not plan a visit to enjoy the wonderful spirits of the Cape?

For more from Tobias, make sure you have a read of Tried & Tested: Tantalising Indian Tonics and for links of more companies in the hospitality industry you can support, check out Virtual Wine & Spirits Tastings.