The Best Flavoured Vodka

We all know that vodka is great, but what if it could be even greater? This is exactly what vodka companies have been trying to prove for a long time with flavoured vodka. The world of flavoured vodka is a vast expanse that stretches as far as the eye can see and further than the mouth can taste. Let’s not beat around the bush, it has led to some awful creations but it has also led to some superb spirits that are ripe for mixology innovation and big satisfaction…

Here’s a list of some of the world’s best-flavoured vodka: 

Nemiroff Wild Cranberry Vodka - The Inked Collection

This flavoured vodka comes all the way from Ukraine! Nemiroff is an award winning brand known for their flavoured vodka, and their Inked Collection is really where they shine. The Wild Cranberry Vodka is flavoured with a mix of cranberry, honey, peppers, and a dash of Cognac. The cranberry tang along with the warming honey and Cognac make a flavoured vodka that is perfect for the upcoming Christmas season.

Try this in a festive cocktail, with some ginger beer or simple with soda and lime!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95

Nemiroff Burning Pear Vodka - The Inked Collection

Nemiroff back at it again with another brilliantly flavoured vodka, this time a ‘burning pear’. What is a burning pear, you may ask? Well, we’re not really sure but who needs to be when it tastes so good! Nemiroff Burning Pear is made with fresh pear alongside Nemiroff’s classic honey and local peppers. Warming but fruity is what Nemiroff does best, and their Burning Pear is perfect for experimenting with your favourite cocktails.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95

Koskenkorva Lemon Lime Yarrow Vodka

Koskenkorva is a Finnish brand that time and time again is a fan favourite for its flavoured vodkas. So, Lemon Lime Yarrow - we know what a lemon and a lime is but what is a yarrow? Well, as it turns out, a yarrow is a flowering plant from Finland that brings some light herbal notes to the vodka that complement the citrus flavours perfectly. You can try this on the rocks, but we love it with a splash of cranberry juice!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £23.50

Thunder Toffee Vodka

This vodka started as an apres ski treat, otherwise known as the afternoon fuel that skiers revel in after a freezing morning of ‘hitting the slopes’. Made with all natural toffee syrup that is sweet and rich without being sticky and sickly in the mouth. To truly get that apre ski vibe, have this vodka nice and chilled over ice while wearing some ski goggles and furry boots! It’ll warm you up and keep you coming back for more.

ABV: 29.9%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £23.40  

V-One Peppermint Vodka

You can either call this V-One Peppermint or V-One Mieta, as mieta means peppermint in Polish! The peppermint is refreshing and herbal with an edge of sweetness that gives it a wonderful rounded taste. If you’re looking for something aromatic with a cooling finish, give V-One Peppermint a try. For a delicious serve, try this in a spritz with lime wheels and plenty of mint.

ABV: 30%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £34.95

Moskovskaya Pink Raspberry & Lime Vodka

If you’re a fan of pink gin, you’ll be a fan of Moskovskaya Pink Raspberry & Lime. It’s got the bold juniper notes of gin alongside sweet and refreshing flavours of raspberry and lime. The raspberry is tart and fruity and tastes brilliant in cocktails such as the Clover Club! If you’re not down for some mixology, pair this with lemonade, lots of ice and a raspberry garnish.

ABV: 38%
Size: 500ml
Find it here: £17.95

Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka

While many flavoured vodkas rely on sweet fruit or citrus flavours, Zubrówka Bison Grass goes in the opposite direction. This is not just a flavoured version of a normal vodka, Zubrówka Bison Grass is a beloved vodka in its own right. The notes of cut grass, citrus peel and a variety of herbs combine to create a vodka worth raving about. Try this over ice, and then with a little apple juice.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.46

Tiger King Strawberry and Rhubarb Vodka

Yes, it is that Tiger King. We’re throwing in this bottle not just because of the name and theme, but because it’s actually a really tasty vodka! At first glance, the vodka might seem gimmicky and frankly a bit odd, but the addition of rhubarb gives a tang that sets off the sweetness of the strawberry leading to beautifully balanced flavours. It makes a brilliant present for lovers of the show, but you might want to ask them to open it on the spot so you can have a taste too!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £25.95

Enjoyed this? Then have a read of The World’s Best Vodka and The Best Value Vodkas For Martinis.

Best Whiskies To Invest In - November Whisky Investment Index

Springbank holds on

This month Springbank has just held onto the top position, but the story I think is about another bank, Rosebank. Rosebank has moved up the field significantly and with Brora also moving up it seems that distilleries that have been long gone, but are now being brought back to life are doing well. Whether this is to do with the publicity surrounding these distilleries or not we will never know, but with Rosebank resuming construction earlier this year and Brora being opened in the summer, there is a lot of excitement over these distilleries and their historical bottlings will be of greater importance as they get closer to bottling their new whisky.

As always, it seems the difference at the top of the field is very little in percentage terms and last month was tighter than ever proving that buying bottles from within the top echelons of whisky will probably do you well in the long run. 

With the prices of bottles from closed distilleries very high at retail, it really is best to find bottles at auction. Below the whisky ranking is a list of auction houses in the UK, US and Hong Kong which have been around for a while and are well respected.

Springbank .5%
Brora 1%
Macallan 1%
Bowmore 1.0%
Karuizawa .5
Rosebank Official Bottlings 2%
Clynelish 2%
The Dalmore 2%
Ardbeg 2%
Glen Grant

Best Whisky Auction Houses in the UK

Scotchwhiskyauctions.com

Based in Scotland, this auction house is one of the longer established businesses and has reasonable fees.

Whiskyauctioneers.com

This auction house is relatively new to the scene but has rapidly become the biggest auction house of all. With thousands of bottles in each auction, there is always something to pick up at a good price.

Whisky.auction

This house is owned by the hugely respected Sukhinder Singh and run by Isabel Graham-Yooll they have a huge amount of experience in weeding out fake whisky and are one of the safest houses to buy from. Their organisational skills are second to none and buying or selling is incredibly smooth and easy.

Best Whisky Auction Houses in the US

Ackerwines.com

The USA’s oldest wine and spirits merchant has been doing wine auctions for many years and retailing wines and spirits since 1820, however, in May 2019 they held their first Spirits auction in Hong Kong and are going from strength to strength. With a hugely knowledgeable team across Hong Kong, the UK and USA they are definitely worth consideration, and if you are USA-based then an obvious house to look at.

Best Whisky Auction Houses in Hong Kong

Bonhams

A subsidiary of the famous London auction house, Bonhams has been breaking records for selling whisky rather a lot recently. Well-known and well respected, I would say Bonhams is a great place to sell any collection.

Spinks

A smaller lesser-known auction house that gets less publicity than Bonhams and I would say a good place to find whisky. 

All the above auction houses are good places to buy and sell whisky, they have respected reputations and slick operations. But do some research. Some are better at selling and others better at consigning unusual bottles. All are happy to talk to you and help you in our quest for fabulous whisky though.

To catch up on the past couple of months of whisky investment advice and to see how it all started click on the following links: October, September, August, the beginning.

Dima's Vodka - Excellence in a Bottle

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I judge spirits for the IWSC including vodka. Technically speaking, a vodka should get a high score if it is clean and clear meaning there is very little flavour, and it is smooth with good clarity. Every year this brings about a conversation between the judges regarding vodka which has flavour. Not that the vodka is flavoured, but that there is a positive flavour. This can reflect the materials the vodka has been made from, for example, an earthy flavour where the vodka has been made of potatoes, or a light cereal note when made from wheat. The texture also comes into play with vodka being creamy in texture being scored highly. The general consensus between judges these days is that a clear clean vodka gets a high score, but a vodka that has great texture and taste, as well as clarity, will get an even higher score.

This brings me to a vodka that has won medals recently and as it was tasted blind, I only got to drink it under its brand name relatively recently. Good friend Douglas Blyde suggested I try Dima’s Vodka. A Ukrainian vodka created by its namesake Dima Deinega. Dima, although brought up in the UK is from Ukraine and has a passion for vodka.

What Does Dima’s Vodka Taste Like?

Dima’s Vodka is made from three types of organic grain. Wheat, Rye and Barley. These three grains give the vodka flavour without the vodka tasting like it has been flavoured in any way. The flavours are subtle but include a nuttiness on the nose together with a biscuit aroma. The palate brings in rye bread and hints of vanilla, a cereal earthiness and is sweet with fabulous viscosity allowing the spirit to be held on the palate to warm and develop. The finish brings in a liquorish note alongside the nutty flavour and there is a light chilli spice. This spirit can be savoured and is very flexible.

How Should I Drink Dima’s Vodka?

It makes a great base for cocktails as it can stand up to other favours well. Chilled it makes a great martini and keeping a bottle in the freezer is an excellent idea. However, in Ukraine, they eat pickles with vodka and a small, chilled pickle alongside a neat shot of Dima’s Vodka is a great way to experience the flavours of the vodka as the sweet flavours are cut by the salty and crunchy pickle.

It’s not often I single out specific products for praise, but I will continue to do so if a product really stands out as excellent in its category, and Dima’s Vodka certainly does that.

If you would like to support the people of Ukraine during this terrible time, please have a look at the following links:

British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal – Red Cross is raising funds and supplies for those affected. By donating you will help get food, water, medical supplies, clothes and shelter to those who need it. 

savelife.in.ua – This Ukrainian non-governmental organisation is urging people to donate to help.

The Ukrainian Institute London has also put together a really helpful list of different ways in which you can help Ukraine and its people.

Looking for something else to read? Why not check out The World’s Best Vodka or The Best Value Vodka for Martinis?

What is Umeshu?

Japanese alcohol, perfectly crafted and perfectly delicious. You already know the big faves: Japanese whisky, Japanese gin and the mouthwatering rice wine that is sake. However, there’s another Japanese drink lurking in the shadows. Mysterious, secretive, an indulgent treat: umeshu is here and she’s here to stay. Oh, you don’t know her? You’re about to find out...

Is umeshu wine?

Whilst commonly referred to as plum ‘wine’, umeshu is not in fact wine at all! Instead, it’s a liqueur made by stewing ume plums in sugar and alcohol over the course of a year (which is FAR too long to have to wait to drink it!). It’s pretty sweet due to the large amounts of sugar added, but it’s also a slightly sour drink that comes from the unripe plums. Sweet and sour is always a great combo, so umeshu really gets it right here! Enjoy it straight, on the rocks, or, as is becoming increasingly popular, in a cocktail.

Can I make my own umeshu?

Whilst it won’t have the same taste as true umeshu due to the difficulty of finding ume plums outside of Japan, you can easily make your own variation of umeshu! There’s just one downside... you have to wait a year to reap the rewards of your labour! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients
roughly 30 green plums*
1.5l white spirit**
700g rock sugar
a large sterilised Kilner jar or equivalent
1kg of self-control

Method
Wash and dry the plums then remove any stalks. Next, layer the plums and sugar up in the Kilner jar, pour the vodka over everything, seal, give a little shake each day until all the sugar has dissolved and then leave in a cool, dark place for 12 months shaking every couple of months.

 * The true plum variety is ‘ume’ but this can be difficult to find outside of Japan. However, you might get lucky at your local Asian supermarket - just ask!
**(shochu is best but sake or vodka can be used too)

Not sure you can wait 12 months to get your hands on some? Fear not, we’ve found 5 delicious bottles you can get your hands on right now waiting for you below.

Ooiri Nigori Umeshu Dakudaku Kiwami

Aside from the fact that this is the cutest bottle we’ve ever seen - Ooiri Nigori Umeshu Dakudaku Kiwami is a stunning umeshu with some really delicious flavours. This bottle is made by infusing the plums into sake. There’s a rich, intense aroma of plum to this umeshu, with savoury notes coming through from the sake. Though it is viscous, the flavours are fresh and clean - exactly what you’re looking for in a good quality umeshu.

ABV: 10%
Size: 720ml
Find here: £34

Bishamon Fuku Ume

This umeshu is made with the plum being infused into brandy, which gives it much stronger notes of red fruit than another umeshu may have. These red fruit notes work alongside the plum excellently. The finish on this umeshu is long and elegant, leaving a fresh taste on your palate. For a cleaner flavour profile, try this with ice. It gives a more persistent finish and gives a brilliant balance to the umeshu.

ABV: 12%
Size: 720ml
Find here: £37

Kyoto Umeshu

Kyoto Umeshu is another umeshu made by infusing the ume plums in sake and is noticeably more savoury, spicy and complex than many other types of umeshu. On the palate you’ll find bitter plums, cooked lime, mushroom, truffle, stewed tomato and bready notes, giving it a savoury flavour that makes this umeshu work so well with food. The unique taste means you can pair Kyoto Umeshu with almost any food and not be disappointed!

ABV: 10%
Size: 720ml
Find here: £43

Jurou Fuku Ume

Another brandy umeshu, Jurou Fuku Ume has wonderful aromas of spiced rum, molasses, red plum and oak. On the palate, the umeshu is rich and spicy with notes of nuts, smoke, oak and cooked greengage and an intense finish that gives notes of smooth plums and oak. As for a food pairing, red meat is definitely the way to go with this bottle!

ABV: 19%
Size: 720ml
Find here: £43

Matsunituru Whisky Umeshu

This umeshu is made with ume plums from the Japanese city of Nara, infusing them into a mix of whisky, sake and shochu! It’s got quite a high alcohol content for an umeshu, coming in at 25%, but this gives it an intensity that only amplifies the smoky whisky flavours. This umeshu works really well with salty food and can be drunk as a digestif. Try it over ice for a cleaner taste and an even more intense experience.

ABV: 25%
Size: 720ml
Find here: £46

Looking for more to read? Why not check out What is Vermouth? Or, The Best Rum for Under £30.

One Drink, Three Ways: X by Glenmorangie

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.

---

By now, you will all know that we are huge fans of Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the legendary master distiller that is Dr Bill Lumsden. Glenmorangie are the leaders for intriguing new whisky flavours and styles, from various incredible, limited edition wine finishes to whisky that is perfect for mixing. 

Enter X by Glenmorangie: a sweeter, richer style of the classic, delicate and fruity Glenmorangie that Dr Bill has crafted alongside top bartenders with the express intention of mixing into cocktails and highballs. Lucious and aromatic, think pear, vanilla and honeysuckle with a touch of chocolate orange and citrus spritz. The whisky was aged in ex bourbon casks and part finished in new char oak casks, which help elevate the tropical flavours. To inspire your drinks choices, Glenmorangie have also created a series of super simple cocktail recipes for the new X on their website (glenmorangie.com) and we have picked our favourites below. Have a try and let us know what you think! 

---

Helena’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Marmalade

---

This refreshing citrus combo with a bitter, orange rind kick on the finish is so light on its feet, it would work really beautifully to kick off a brunch, afternoon tea or as a cool sundowner. The zesty freshness is a great match for those finger sandwiches and cupcakes. Simply pour all the ingredients into a highball glass, stir well to mix in the marmalade, then add ice, stir again and finish it off with an orange twist for garnish.

Glenmorangie X Marmalade

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

10ml Fresh Lime Juice

3 tsp Marmalade

Orange twist for garnish

---

Aidy’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Date Night

---

The hint of sparkle with this combination brings an interesting twist to a whisky highball. It’s floral, fragrant and the perfect conversation starter for your date night as the leafy notes from the elderflower intertwine beautifully with the orange citrus and hint of spice from the whisky. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice and pour over all the ingredients. Stir and top up with sparkling water to your taste and garnish with a lemon or orange twist.

Glenmorangie X Date Night

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

20ml Lemon Juice

20ml Elderflower Cordial

Club Soda or Sparkling Water, to taste

Lemon twist for garnish

---

Colin’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Brunch

---

I love a good brunch as it invariably involves some kind of quirky, delicious drink like this one. Bright and citrussy with a lot of vitamin C, this is definitely the kind of cool, long drink you can take your time over at brunch. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice and add the ingredients. Give it a good stir and garnish with half a grapefruit wheel. Pink if you can!

Glenmorangie X Brunch

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

25ml 100% Grapefruit Juice

25ml 100% Orange Juice

10ml Agave Syrup

Pink Grapefruit wheel for garnish

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Belvedere Organic Infusions, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

Announcing TV Series 2: The Three Drinkers in Ireland

The Three Drinkers return to our screens in February 2022 with a brand new, six-part series on Amazon Prime called ‘The Three Drinkers in Ireland’ - and they've shaken things up!

The Three Drinkers are drinks experts, writers and broadcasters Helena Nicklin and Aidy Smith, joined by a deliciously diverse revolving roster of ‘third drinker’ guests. This will be the second Three Drinkers TV series for Smith and Nicklin who also produce the popular ‘Bring a Bottle’ podcast, run the drink, travel and lifestyle-focused online magazine thethreedrinkers.com and have a growing social media/influencer presence.

A New Focus

Their first Three Drinkers series, ‘The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky’, came to our screens on Amazon Prime in 2019 and is still streaming in over 170 countries (in 39 languages) as well as being broadcast in China and on various airlines including British Airways and Lufthansa.

The Three Drinkers in Ireland will take a slightly different tack from the Scotch show, exploring all sorts of drinks beyond the delicious whiskey, from gin and poitin to cider and Irish cream. Aside from discovering some of the country's oldest and most game-changing distilleries, they’ll also be taking a deeper dive into Ireland’s incredible food scene and showcasing some traditional activities such as bog snorkelling, cheesemaking, eel fishing and Irish dancing. The result is an escapist, gastronomic journey with a drinks hook through the picturesque island of Ireland that’s light-hearted and aspirational with plenty of take-home tips. It's the perfect pour of armchair travel and feel-good entertainment.

Nicklin says “We’ve loved bringing everything together here, from the food and drink, to the people, places, culture and tourism of the whole of the island of Ireland. We’ve been blown away by the sheer quality of Irish produce too. It’s world class! Ireland is also the perfect country to visit as the world opens up again, thanks to its wide open spaces and easy accessibility - and it’s a great location for lovers of fantastic food and drink to boot.”

New Guest Presenters

In this series, Aidy and Helena welcome two new faces from the world of food, drink, travel and lifestyle: Beth Brickeden, Irish native, wine consultant and alternative events specialist behind the renowned Drag & Wine Tasting, joins the duo for episodes 1-3, and Eulanda Osagiede, award-winning American travel writer, social influencer and co-founder of the popular travel, food and lifestyle blog ‘Hey! Dip Your Toes in’, comes along for the journey in episodes 4-6.

Along the way, they’ll also be getting a cheeky visit from iconic UK drag queen Vanity Von Glow as well as original ‘third drinker’ and whisk(e)y guru, Colin Hampden-White.

Smith & Nicklin have been keen advocates for better inclusivity within the drinks industry, with Smith being one of the only TV Presenters globally with Tourette Syndrome. He says:

“As part of the LGBTQIA+ community and having faced ongoing hurdles due to stigmas associated with Tourrette’s throughout my career, I’ve been very keen for us to play our part when it comes to increasing diversity and inclusion within the drinks industry. We are delighted that our key guests within this series showcase a more inclusive world; it’s a step forward for the trade and we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome our incredibly talented third drinkers.”

Take Home Tips

The new series sees an evolved format, with to-camera, take-home tips from wine and spirits experts Aidy and Helena, helping viewers navigate their at-home drinks discovery. From advice on forming the perfect egg white flip for cocktails to exciting, Irish-inspired drinks recipes, the duo even offer wine and spirit food pairings with their lifestyle-driven approach.

Smith says “Having been drinks professionals for over 25 years collectively, we felt it was time to take the leap and speak directly to our audience via the TV screen. We’ll be offering them a variety of tips, tricks and wisdom tidbits they can explore for themselves at home”.

Live Dates

The Three Drinkers in Ireland will be live on Amazon Prime in early February 2022 in 130 countries and territories. More information will follow over the coming months.

More about The Three Drinkers in Ireland

The Three Drinkers in Ireland is a feel good, infotainment-style travelogue with a drinks hook that showcases the beauty of Irish gastro-tourism in all its glory. Road trip in style with just the right amount of knowledge thrown in, this armchair travel series follows Aidy, Helena (renowned drinks and lifestyle communicators) and their ‘third drinker’ guests on the ultimate, lifestyle journey through the unique and diverse landscapes of the Emerald Isle.

Along the way, they’ll scope out famous local landmarks and characterful locals before heading off to key stops on their tour of distilleries, orchards, country pubs and more via numerous points of interest, delicious food and unmissable scenery. Packed full of personality and flavour and using a blend of epic drone videography, natural, amusing in-car conversation and sweeping landscape shots, this is Ireland for a new, global audience.

More about Aidy Smith

Aidy Smith is an award-winning TV presenter, journalist and wine and spirits expert. He currently writes a weekly drinks column for the Evening Standard. Aidy is one of the few LGBTQIA+ personalities within the industry and the only TV presenter in the UK with Tourette Syndrome, raising awareness for D&I across the board. He has spent his career developing a fun and curiosity-piquing mind-set to drinks through interactive tastings, video, written and social/influencer content. Find him on social media @Sypped.

More about Helena Nicklin

Helena Nicklin is an award-winning wine and spirits writer, TV and radio broadcaster and judge for various international wine and spirits awards, including the IWSC and The People’s Choice Drinks Awards. Helena also presents a weekly drinks segment on talkRADIO. A working mother of two young children, Helena is a strong supporter of female empowerment in a typically male-dominated industry. Find her on social media @HelenaSips.

More About Beth Brickenden

Working at the forefront of London’s trendy food and wine scene for over a decade since leaving the Emerald Isle, Beth has a wealth of experience and passion for all things wine and dine. Beth is currently heading up the wine for FIEND by Chris Denney whilst continuing to create her legendary wine tastings. She loves producing immersive dining experiences that to date have ranged from life drawing and wine tasting, to drag queens and wine (her two greatest loves). Find her on social media @my.corkscrew.and.i.

More About Eulanda Osagiede

Eulanda Shead-Osagiede is an award-winning food culture and travel journalist, photographer, TV presenter, and DEI marketing consultant. She has been featured in a number of high-profile print and digital publications. As a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the travel and hospitality industry, she has promoted DEI on multiple platforms as a speaker, workshop facilitator, and thought leader. Find her ons social media @dipyourtoesin.

When Brandy & Coffee Collide

If you’re a fan of darker spirits like whisk(e)y, cognac and brandy and deem coffee an important part of your life, this new release from Bardinet should be on your radar. 

Crafted from Bardinet’s smooth aged brandy from the heart of France and intertwined with fresh Arabica and bitter Robusta coffee beans, the result is rather spectacular. If you’ve been on the espresso martini’s for a while but always wished there could be a darker variation of the cocktail, well, you’ve just found it. 

When the brandy and coffee combine, an explosion of candied fried-fruit jump from the glass with a punch bitter coffee, raisin and treacle. 

You’re probably now thinking, “how do I drink it?!”. Well… allow us to tell you! 

Bardinet Espresso 

• 60ml Bardinet Coffee

• 30ml Espresso Coffee

• 10ml French Vanilla Syrup

• Orange zest twist to garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice, strainin to chilled glass, Garnish with orange zest twist

Coffee Tonic

• 45ml Bardinet Coffee

• Tonic Water

• 2 dahes of lemon juice

Fill a glass with ice, add all of the ingredients and gently stir. Garnish with a slice of lemon. 

Cold B Fashioned

• 30ml Bardinet Coffee

• 30ml Rye Whiskey

• 1 dash of Angostura Orange Bitters

• Orange twist to garnish

Combine all ingredients in an old fashion glass with ice. Gently stir for 30 seconds and then garnish with an orange twist. 

For more information, click here.

The World's Best Ready To Drink Gin Cocktails

RTD (ready to drink) cocktails are everywhere at the minute, and, lucky for us, the number of high-quality RTDs on the market is constantly going up! With such a massive selection to choose from we’ve narrowed this article down to some amazing gin-based ones, all of which have won awards at The Global Spirits Masters… and we have to say, we are not surprised in the slightest as they are outstanding. Read on to find out which RTD cocktails are certified amazing!

Berry Brothers and Rudd No. 3 Vesper Martini

 The big winner at this year’s GSM (Global Spirits Masters) in the RTD category was Berry Brothers and Rudd No. 3 Vesper Martini. This Bond cocktail was worked on with Alessandro Palazzi, the head bartender at London’s famed Dukes Bar. Make sure to stir this with plenty of ice before serving, and add a twist of orange!

Award : Master and Taste Master
ABV: 28.6%
Size: 500ml
Find it here: £29.95

Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic

If you love Bombay Sapphire G&Ts but don’t want to have to keep buying both tonic and gin, try these pre-canned G&Ts! They’re great for picnics or adventures as you won’t be laden down by a heavy bottle of gin and heavy bottles of tonic. It’s as simple as cracking open the can and sipping right then and there!

Award: Gold
ABV: 6.5%
Size: 12 x 250ml
Find it here: £26.95

Slingsby Solo Gooseberry Gin & Mediterranean Tonic

Slingsby Gooseberry Gin is already super delicious, which is why it's no surprise that their premixed serve is just as good! Though their Gooseberry Gin is the award-winning can, their Solo range is massive and well worth a look at!

Award: Master
ABV: 6%
Size: 12 x 250ml
Find it here: £30

Comte de Grasse Divine Orange Negroni 

Comte de Grasse is a French brand known for their exceptional craftsmanship and incredible 44°N Gin (you HAVE to see the bottle). With their pre-bottled Divine Orange Negroni, they’ve managed to pack some big flavours into a tiny bottle! 44°N Gin is delicious in any kind of Negroni, but sometimes you just don’t want to get out the shaker!

Award: Master
ABV: 31.7%
Size: 250ml
Find it here: €15.00 (ships to UK)

Portobello Road No. 171 Gin & Natural Indian Tonic Water

Portobello Star Distillery is always offering new and exciting products (check out their non-alcoholic gin!), and their premixed G&T cans are proof of this. The Indian tonic water really complements all the botanicals in Portobello Road No. 171 Gin, so you get the perfect serve every time!

Award: Gold
ABV: 5.5%
Size: 12 x 250ml
Find it here: £27.95 

Manchester Raspberry Gin & Sicilian Lemon Tonic

We love a bit of something sweet, and when that something sweet is raspberry gin - we’re ALL over it! Manchester Gin’s canned G&T makes wonderful use of a Sicilian Lemon Tonic to make a fun and fruity drink you won’t want to share! Pick some up now and serve with raspberries and lemon!

Award: Gold
ABV: 5.5%
Size: 12 x 250ml
Find it here: £28.86

Cotswolds Distillery Pre Mixed Wildflower Spritz

If you haven’t tried Cotswolds Distillery’s Wildflower Gin, you’re seriously missing out… It’s their classic dry gin layered with a blend of cornflowers, lavender and orange, making for a dreamy and very floral spirit. Their pre-mixed spritz is something you’re definitely going to want to try, and not just for the adorable bottles!

Award: Gold
ABV: 8.9%
Size: 275ml
Find it here: £3.95

Horse Guards Negroni Pre-Bottled Cocktail

Another Negroni! It does seem that the Negroni has seen a bit of a boom in popularity recently, and now in pre-bottled form! Horse Guards’ Negroni comes in a large 500ml bottle, meaning you can pour servings of the same cocktail for your whole party without having to pick up a shaker! We do recommend you stir this with ice, however, as you’ll want your Negroni to be SUPER COLD...

Award: Gold
ABV: 21%
Size: 500ml
Find it here: £29.95

Feeling thirsty? Have a read of The Best Gins for a Martini or What Are Colour Changing Gins!