Have you tried the Queen's Gin?

Are you still looking for that perfect sip for the Jubilee weekend? Could there be a more fitting choice than sipping on a gin from the Queen’s very own garden?! We don’t think so!

It turns out that during the reign of James I, planting Mulberry trees became a very popular tradition in England that is still upheld today, and 40 different species of these trees can be found in the Palace gardens. It is these mulberry leaves, along with 11 other botanicals including lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and bay leaves that are used to produce this special gin with nearly every botanical being taken from the grounds of Buckingham Palace itself.

The gin is a premium small-batch London dry gin and can be found at the Royal Collection Trust shops for £40 a bottle. For those, who are lucky enough to be invited to the palace, you may be able to sip it while you socialise. For those of us still waiting for our invite to rock up in the post, try mixing the gin in a simple G&T. We’d recommend Franklin & Sons Natural Indian Tonic Water with a slice of lemon for the perfect thirst-quencher. 

Producer: The Queen (kind of)
Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Price: £40

The Most Luxurious Whisky in the World

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There are a lot of very expensive bottles of whisky on the market these days. Although nearly all of it is good, as one would expect, there are some that are extraordinary. Over the last few months, I have come across a few of those bottles and wanted to share them with you here. A lot of them may not be on the market, so will have to be found at auction, but they are all worth hunting down if you have quite a lot more to spend on a bottle or have a special occasion when splashing out is appropriate. I’ll start off in the hundreds to give a couple of more affordable bottles but will end up in the thousands. At whatever price point you’re looking at they are all incredible whiskies.

Bushmills 2000 The Causeway Collection

This comes from a collection of vintage Bushmills and is my favourite dram outside of Scotland this year so far. This one was completely matured in first fill ruby Port casks and bottled in 2021. It was also bottled at cask strength with no colouring or chill filtering allowing the whisky to express itself without any hindrance. This is a decadent whiskey with lots of jam on the nose with some dry tobacco and rich manuka honey. The palate has lots of confected red fruits and the jam then turns to marmalade. There are hints of tropical fruit in the background too. The finish is very long, and the red fruits continue with a little cigar and spice in the background.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 54.1%
Find here: £239.95

Whistlepig 13 The Boss Hog edition 2018

My favourite whiskey I’ve tasted in the North Americas this year has been This Boss Hog. It is an annual release from Whistlepig and is very sought after by those who like rye whiskey. This expression has been finished in Calvados casks making the 2018 edition stand out. The core flavour of the whiskey is apples, and the Calvados casks bring out the cooked apple flavours balancing the fresh red apple. Other flavours include Maple syrup, bitter chocolate, and spice. The typical rye peppery and oily aromas and flavours are still there so the rye fans aren’t going to be disappointed, but the fruit is rich and complex making this one of the best Whistlepig whiskies I’ve tried.

Size: UK 750ml // US 700ml  
ABV: 57.9%
Find here: UK £574.95 // US $1,199.99

Caperdonich 30 Secret Speyside Collection

We now come into the world of Scotch, and this is a rare whisky which I think is undervalued considering the distillery no longer exists, so as time goes on there is less and less Caperdonich in the world. This 30 year old is an unpeated Caperdonich and was matured in first fill bourbon casks which I think allow the whisky to show itself at its best. The nose gives of dark stone fruit aromas as well as dark honey and some confected orchard fruits leading to rich apricots and tropical fruits on the palate and some spice. The finish is very smooth and goes on for a long while.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 51.1%
Find here: £820

Balvenie 30

The Balvenie 30 is released in batches. Once one batch has run out, they find some more exceptional casks to blend another batch. The one I tasted recently and is in the link below is from 2014. All the releases are very consistent, and I’ve never tasted one that hasn’t been brilliant. This won best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards, and Gold Outstanding at the IWSC in 2013, both of which I am a judge on. It is a rich and very well-balanced whisky with lots of heather honey and nuttiness. There is plenty of spice, which is a Balvenie trait, and the palate shows a hint of smoke as well as vanilla, honey and damp tobacco leaves.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 44.2%
Find here: UK £1800 // US $1999.99

Mosstowie 45 Year Old 1973 Cask 7622

Mosstowie was a whisky produced for a short time at the Miltonduff distillery when it had a Lomond still, so effectively is a ghost whisky never to return. Bottled by Signatory this is a great expression. It has lots of sweet honey and some gorse flower aromas leading to a grassy style of whisky on the palate but still retaining soft stone fruits at its core. The finish is fine with woody notes and a little citrus. A refined whisky which has held its abv well over the 45 years it has spent in a cask. Only 410 bottles of this were produced and when it’s gone it’s gone.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 51.6%
Find here: £1494.99 

Dallas Dhu 50 Year old 1969 (Gordon and MacPhail)

This is possibly the most astonishing whisky I have tasted over the last year. It is incredibly rich and complex, yet the tannin is so well balanced the whisky remains smooth with a great mouth feel and weight to it. The distillery closed in 1983 so Dallas Dhu is becoming rarer and rarer. This expression was matured in a refill sherry hogshead and only yielded 176 bottles when Gordon and MacPhail bottled it in 2019. My tasting notes for this were very long and as I left the whisky in the glass more and more aromas and flavours developed. The main ones being fruit cake with all the complexity that cake as, zesty orange and ginger spice, marzipan and toffee apples mix with a tiny bit of smoke. The tannins slowly build up bringing in wood flavours, and by the finish coffee, chocolate and heather flowers can be found.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.1%
Find here: £6,913.72

Strathisla 65 Year Old 1953 (Gordon and MacPhail)

Another release from the oldest independent bottler in the world, Gordon and MacPhail. Gordon and MacPhail are well known for releasing very well aged whisky, and with this release they have excelled themselves. Matured in a first fill sherry butt and bottled in 2019 there were only 143 bottled produced. There are lots of dried fruits and sherry aromas and flavours all the way through this whisky with older flavours like antique furniture polish and cloves and pencil box aromas. The palate opens with berry flavours and complex spices and dark chocolate. Fruity coffee, dark berries and oak make up the finish with a little cigar box in the background.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.5%
Find here: £12,500

Glenfarclas Family Cask Trunk

For any Glenfarclas fan, this is the ultimate collection and at the time of writing of the 60 made I found one left. I wish I could say I have tasted the entire collection from 1954 to 2003, but I haven’t, I have however tasted enough of them to experience the huge range of flavours, from delicate, fruity drams matured in a refill bourbon cask, like 1979 to massive sherry bombs with lots of tannin that are almost black in colour like 1971. Within the collection, there is just about every flavour imaginable, and even touches of smoke in some of the older expressions. The trunk comes with other accoutrements, such as a replica of the oldest painting of the distillery, the original, from 1791 hangs at the distillery, four coasters and three hand-painted leather-bound books which give tasting notes and distillery history. There are also four tumblers and four nosing glasses, and a water jug made by Glencairn Crystal. All in all, a marvellous collection which can be enjoyed over many World Whisky Days to come.

Size: 10000ml
ABV: 50.5%
Find here: £105,000

If you enjoyed this but are looking for an exceptional dram at a lower price point, have a read of The World’s Best Whisky or New and Exciting Whiskies to Try.

The World's Best Value Whisky

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many whiskies being released each year it is hard to tell which are the ones that really punch above their price point. With the explosion of non-age statement expressions over the last ten years, the value proposition of whisky has never been better. Whisky fans the world over have come to realise that quality and flavour aren’t always about age.

There are of course countries where the whisky matures so quickly, that to have one which is older than the statutory three years is quite an accomplishment. I am thinking in particular about Paul John in India and Rochfort in Australia. Both are fabulous whiskies and I will write more on them later. This article is all about finding that incredible quality at a great price point. I’ve chosen six of my favourites, other people I am sure could add to this list, but I don’t think you’d go wrong if you picked up one of these in the shops.

Glen Moray Classic

Now, I accept this 1.75l bottle is not easy to find as you have to go to the distillery in Elgin to buy it, although some shops have stocked the odd one having first bought it at the distillery.

Once you take into consideration the size of the bottle, this works out at just £20 per standard 700ml, and it is amazing value. Full of orchard fruits, vanilla and honey, this is a classic Speyside. They say that with the microclimate at the distillery where the warehouses are, the whisky matures that little bit quicker than the rest of Speyside, which means this non-age statement whisky certainly tastes mature. This is a great gateway whisky into all things Glen Moray, and if you liked this I’d try the 12 and 18 year olds which are great value for their age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.85 // $34.99
Large sized bottle: 1750ml // £50

Filey Bay

This is the flagship expression from Filey Bay. Distilled in Yorkshire, this whisky is made using only homegrown barely at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery. The whisky has intense apricot and peach flavours mixed with lots of ex bourbon-cask characteristics of vanilla and honey. This is very easy going for 46% and is one of the new breeds of English whiskies which are full of flavour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £48.95 

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

This is a big step up from the standard Four Roses, and is well worth spending the extra on. It has a mixture of mashbills and is made in Lawrenceburg Tennessee. The skill is bringing all the different mashbills together and creating a whiskey with huge amounts of well balanced flavour. There are ten mashbill recipes at Four roses, and they use four of them to make this whiskey. It’s fabulous value for money with flavours of dark honey, spices, toasted oak and a little vanilla.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £29.90 // US $47.99

Wild Turkey 101

The 101 in Wild Turkey pertains to its alcohol strength. In the USA they have Proof rather than abv which is double whatever the European abv is. Hence 55.% abv and 101 proof. With the higher proof, this whiskey packs a punch, yet manages to remain smooth and balanced. The whiskey is at least six years old before it comes out of the barrel for bottling, adding to the extra punch of flavour. A great value bourbon with good age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 55.5%
Find here: UK £29.95 // US £32.99

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

Over the last decade, we have seen the rise and rise of Japanese whisky, and we have also seen the prices rise at an astonishing rate. A less expensive way of making whisky which is usually reserved for making grain whisky is to use a Coffey still which has a continuous distillation. Here Nikka use a Coffey for their malted barley and the result is a rich, fruity and typically Japanese whisky and is a great place to start a journey into Japanese whisky. It’s still not the cheapest malt whisky in the world, but it isn’t expensive for Japanese whisky and is certainly worth it.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £54.90 // US $99.99

J.P Wiser 18 year old

I tried this whisky a few weeks ago whilst in Ontario Canada where the whisky has been made since 1857 and started selling bottles in 1893. They sold only casks before that! It is a super smooth blended whisky with plenty of orchard fruits and a little cracked black pepper. A little fine oak comes through in the background and finish. If this were an 18 year old Scotch it would be at least 50% more expensive and therefore I think it is a great bang for your buck!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40.95

If you enjoyed this, then why not have a read of The Best Whisky for Beginners or The Most Luxurious Whisky in the World

The Best Whiskies For Beginners

Words by Colin Hampden-White

To begin to suggest great whiskies for beginners, I have presumed that the drinker has already determined that they like whisky. I believe that for those who don’t already know they do, or don’t yet like whisky, that there is a whisky out there for them- maybe they will find it by enjoying it neat, maybe they will discover their love for the spirit through a cocktail but that’s for another article. In this piece I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is good value in its category versus the quality it gives and will suggest whiskies in flavour types rather than regions or countries as In these modern whisky times, nearly all regions are creating whiskies of all flavour types.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky  

My first offering in the sweet flavour camp. Made from grain whisky, which although is less complex than malt, has great depth of flavour and this whisky certainly displays this. By using 1st fill bourbon casks, and then after a few years placing the whisky into another set of 1st fill bourbon casks, the spirit gets a double hit of rich crème brûlée sweetness.

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

Glenfiddich and Glenlivet

Moving on from sweet to fruity I have two typical Scotch whiskies. They both compete for the world’s most sold single malt and with good reason. These are fabulous whiskies. Great value for money and often seen on special offer, especially around Christmas. They both come from Speyside and use a mixture of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. They are both 12 years old but have different fruits to offer. Glenfiddich is orchard fruit led and Glenlivet is more stone fruit led. Both are delicious.

Glenfiddich 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £32.99 // US $64.99 

The Glenlivet 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £33.49 // US $56.99

GlenDronach 12 year old

Now we move to some of the bigger bolder flavours. Firstly, spicy and I wanted to suggest a sherry bomb. This is a whisky which has been matured in mainly 1st fill ex-sherry casks giving huge depth and breadth of flavour with lots of Christmas cake flavours and typical spicy flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Balanced with sweetness, this whisky is big and bold. Whiskies matured in ex-sherry casks tend to be a little more expensive as the casks can be up to ten times more expensive than ex-bourbon casks, but they are certainly worth it if sherry spice is your thing.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £44.95 // US $63.99

Ardbeg An Oa

One of the biggest flavours of them all is peat. Smokey whiskies can split a room, but for those that like them there is nothing like a big smoky, peaty whisky. For those who know they like smoke in their whisky but are just starting out. Or for those who are just starting to experiment with smoky whisky, I’d suggest one which has a lot of other flavour to temper the smoke. This whisky has a high level of peat, but the fruity flavours created by the many different types of casks used brings everything into balance. There are flavours of golden syrup and cigars with hints of chocolate as well as a good dollop of sweet bbq smoke.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46.6%
Find here: UK £41.90 // US $76.99 

Strathmill 12 year old – Flora and Fauna

The lightest of the flavour profiles is floral. This profile can often be subtle as other bigger bolder flavours mask the floral notes. Sometimes a little water in a dram can bring out the florality in a whisky. This whisky comes from a range called Flora and Fauna, which gives you an idea of where it is heading. This Flora and Fauna range is discontinued but can still be found online at the moment quite easily. With notes of grass, citrus blossom, dry hay and cut herbs alongside vanilla and orchard fruits, the floral notes can easily be tasted.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £44.95

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 year old

I wanted to suggest a whisky which has all of the above in one bottle. It is of course a blend. I like to describe blends as an orchestra, with all the instruments playing at once giving balance and harmony. This whisky has a little sweetness and spice, some smoke, plenty of fruit, and a touch of florality. Being 12 years old means that the youngest whisky in the bottle is 12 years old but there are older whiskies in the blend. A great all-rounder and superb value for money.

Size: 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £26.89 // US $51.99

Jameson

Lastly, I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is the ultimate beginners whisky. It is very smooth being triple distilled, it is sweet and fruity and has none of the challenging flavours such as spice or smoke. It is the biggest selling Irish brand in the world and with good reason. With honey, apples, a touch of tropical fruit and a touch of florality, this is my best value versus flavour offering for any beginner.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $37.99

 For more whisky suggestions, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskey or 5 Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

The Best Rum For Under £30

Rum is a delicious spirit and has brilliant utility in cocktails, but when it comes to building your own collection - where do you even begin? There’s thousands out there, flavoured and unflavoured, dark and light, big brands and microdistilleries… It’s not just the sheer amount of brands to pick from, it’s also the massive price range.

Spirits can get really expensive at times, but we want to make sure you’re getting the best value for money when you go rum shopping. Because of that, we’ve put together this list of the best rums under £30!

Decorrum Spiced Rum

With such a stylish, mysterious, black bottle you’d be forgiven for thinking Decorrum Spiced Rum was actually an art deco perfume or ancient Egyptian vase. In fact, it’s a scrumptious spiced rum with a mix of spices that include honeycomb, vanilla, ginger, rhubarb, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel. That intricate blend makes for a stylish rum that is rich, creamy and spicy.

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70cl
Find it here: £28.75

Aluna Coconut Rum

When you think coconut rum, you probably think Malibu - but why not break out of that mindset! Try Aluna and we promise you’ll never go back. It’s a tasty combination of Guatemalan and Caribbean rums mixed with toasted coconut and coconut water to create a coconut rum you’ll be rushing to the kitchen to use in a daiquiri!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £21.20

O.V.D. Demerara Rum

If you’re wondering what OVD stands for, it actually stands for Old Vatted Demerara, so saying OVD Demerara Rum is basically saying Old Vatted Demerara Demerara Rum. That’s a nice, pedantic way of introducing this delicious and great value rum. The name doesn’t relate to its ingredients, but to the unique way that this rum is made. It’s distilled from molasses in a wooden Coffey still in Guyana but is actually bottled in Glasgow! That’s some journey… With a syrupy, buttery palate with notes of coffee and banana, this great value rum should be in your shopping basket ASAP.

ABV: 40%
Size: 70ml
Find it here: £20.90

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum is another rum made using the Demerara method! Created in Guyana using native sugar cane, the rum is then flavoured with clementine and a Caribbean spice mix that includes vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, star anise and clove. The zest of the orange balances the toffee flavours on the palate, with the spices hitting you on the finish.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £28.92

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo is a delicious, dark, Dominican rum with a rounded and balanced flavour profile. You’ll get espresso, dark chocolate, toasted hazelnut and manuka honey - indulgent but totally needed. You can either have this over ice with some lime or try it out in any rum cocktail of your choosing… you won’t be disappointed!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £22.99

El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum

White rum is always good to have on hand, and El Dorado 3 Year Old is shaping up to be one of our favourites - especially at such a good price! It’s another Demerara rum, meaning it’s been made using the traditional method. If you’re looking for something crisp and fresh while still maintaining those characteristic brown sugar notes, look to El Dorado 3 Year Old. It’s great in a rum-based Pornstar Martini!

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find it here: UK £22.90 // US $24.99

Greedy Fox Flavoured Rum

We can assure you that the name of this rum won’t be the only greedy thing in the house after you’ve acquired Greedy Fox Flavoured Rum. This dark rum is flavoured with caramel and honeycomb which gives it an aroma similar to a Crunchie bar.. Mmmm… However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a sickly sweet rum! It’s well balanced and is TO. DIE. FOR. in an Espresso Martini!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £29.95

Golden Buck Rum

Golden Buck Rum has been infused with cherry and vanilla, giving it a creamy and fruity taste not found in many other rums! It’s very moreish, with tropical flavours of cooked pineapple and brown sugar making Golden Buck a big favourite in the flavoured rum community! Try this simply mixed with cola to fully appreciate all of the cherry and vanilla flavours...

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find it here: £29.95

Ever wondered which rums will best elevate your cocktails? If, so read on! Otherwise, how about having a read of 7 Rums that Scream Luxury?!

New and Exciting Whiskies to Try

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There seems to be a new whisky release every few weeks these days. This can largely be attributed to the myriad of distilleries that started to distill a few years ago that now have spirit they can call whisk(e)y due to it having spent at least three years maturing in a barrel. I have tasted a great deal of them, and there are certainly whiskies which stand out in the crowd. Unsurprisingly, some of these come from outside of Scotland, but not all, and there is a particular whisky from the other side of the world which is already good and will get better and better with age. I’ll start off my recommendations in my home country and then range further afield giving my picks of whisky that is well worth discovering.

Nc’nean Organic Single Malt Whisky Batch 14

I have written about Nc’nean before with previous batches, and the consistency keeps on going. The batches are all very consistent and very good. The whisky is rich and fruity by using both wine and ex bourbon STR casks (shaved, toasted, re-chared). Added to that they are using 100% recycled bottles. A great start from one of Scotland’s newest distilleries.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £46.45

Isle of Raasay Batch R-02 Hebridean Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Continuing from the first whiskies produced by the Isle of Raasay distillery is a brilliant second batch. In the same tradition as the first, using peated and non-peated whisky, in various types of oak including American Oak Chinkapin and ex port pipes, this gives lots of red fruit flavours and rich honey with a soft bbq smoke running through the background. Even having been bottled at a slightly higher strength than most whiskies, it is still extremely smooth.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.4%
Find here: £48

White Peak 2 year old (That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company)

I visited White Peak for the first time for the launch of their new whisky called Wire Works. The whisky is seriously impressive with big bold flavours using STR casks. The balance and depth of the whisky is akin to drams a great deal older, and had I tasted this whisky blind I would never have guessed it was little over three years old. There were only tiny amounts of the first release, so look out for further releases, but for now to get an idea of how good this whisky is, the chaps at That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company have bottled an excellent spirit from White Peak. It’s called spirit as it’s only two years old, but excellent all the same!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £49.95

Masthouse Single Malt

Masthouse Malt comes from one of the most southerly distilleries in England. Down in Kent, right on the coast, the Copper Rivet distillery is specialising in local barley malted in Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The result is a fruity and complex whisky which has great balance. It manages to be mature and ready to drink whilst retaining its distillery and spirit character. It’s no mean feat, and a whisky I would certainly try if you’re after something new and exciting.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £39.95

Aber Falls Autumn 2021 release

Moving away from England we have only the second distillery to be built in Wales. At the foot of Snowdonia, Aber Falls is on the coast in a beautiful area that is well worth a trek to. They work with local farmers for their barley, so the whisky truly is from Wales. Using ex Pedro Ximénez, oloroso, bourbon casks and virgin oak casks, there are bountiful fruit flavours and a subtle underlying spice in this whisky. The whisky has lots of complexity with nuts and dark chocolate with coffee, zesty orange peel and vanilla toffee.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26

The Cardrona Growing Wings Solera – Sherry and Bourbon Cask

Hailing from the other side of the world in New Zealand is Cardrona. Their first batch “Just Hatched” was a huge success, and this next one is even more complex and fruity. Bottled at a huge 64.9%, it certainly packs a punch, but not so much as to blow your head off. It is surprisingly gentle on the nose and full of flavour. The wood and climate have certainly worked their magic. It’s an exotic whisky, and although quite pricy in comparison to other young whiskies, it is made in tiny amounts and is a real treat.

Size: 350ml
ABV: 64.9%
Find here: £73.99

Do you like Irish whiskey? If so, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskeys, or if you are a fan of an Old Fashioned Cocktail, how about checking out The Best Whiskies for an Old Fashioned?!

The Best Eco-Friendly Gins

Words by Leigh Andrews

With us all having to be more aware of the effect our lives have on our precious planet, we’ve found some great gins whose distillers are making a conscious effort to help us look after our environmental impact! From gin pouches through your letterbox, to refilling your bottle directly at the distillery, and even an innovative aluminium refill bottle, we’ve got a great selection so you can keep enjoying your gin knowing you’re doing your bit to help!

Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom

Dunnet Bay Distillers, the super talented bunch behind Rock Rose, and recent winners of an Environmental/Sustainability award are stepping ever closer to their net-zero ambition with their fantastic fully recyclable pouches. They also have a refill rewards club where you can choose any one of their gorgeous gin pouches (or vodka) to be delivered with some extra little delicious free goodies including tonics, at intervals of your choice directly to your door! We chose this SUPERB Pink Grapefruit Old Tom, an incredibly well-balanced gin, with the delicious zest of fresh organic pink grapefruit peel and that gorgeous Old Tom signature sweetness lingering on the palate. Enjoy with a light tonic garnished with fresh pink grapefruit peel.

ABV: 41.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32

Glaswegin Original London Dry Gin

One of those iconic bottles you want to keep on your shelf forever and the gin inside is no less of a talking point. Winner of World Gin Awards Best Scottish London Dry, Glaswegin not only provides a refill pouch for their amazing bottles, they also supply upcycling kits to turn your bottle into a soap dispenser (which they also sell refills for) or to keep the spotlight on that design winner….a Glaswegin Lamp Upcycling kit! To calm you down after all that homeware excitement, how about filling up your bottle and enjoying a bold, lightly sweet citrus gin that has an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel and a fresh finish, this is a no nonsense gin so serve simply with ice and tonic or we absolutely LOVE it with a sprig of fresh mint!

ABV: 41.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £32.95

Darnley's London Dry Gin

Truly a cottage industry, Darnley’s established their gin making in a cottage right next door to their Kingsbarns whisky distillery. Passionate about using all natural ingredients, many of their botanicals, including the feature Elderflower in their London Dry, are growing wild in their surrounding area. In their drive for sustainability, all of their original gins including their Spiced and Navy Strength are available in refill pouches. So how about popping a pouch of this fabulously floral London Dry into a picnic basket and enjoying a glorious lazy afternoon sipping on a Darnley’s and light tonic with a slice of lemon and a big dose of sunshine?!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £28

Bullards Old Tom Gin

2020 Winners of The Gin Guide Sustainability Award, Bullards, as well as making AMAZING award winning Norwich gin are also passionate about reducing their carbon footprint. Encouraging their customers to keep their stunning bottles for life, Bullards has produced what we think is an exceptionally ergonomic refill pouch. Easy to pour and even easier to drink! You can choose from any one of their 4 exceptional gins, or why not try all of them, it would be rude not to! This Old Tom is wonderfully warming with pink pepper, rich fruity mango and luscious sweetness from Norfolk honey, lifted by gorgeous grapefruit citrus. Serve with tonic over ice with a slice of lemon or grapefruit for a true taste of Norwich!

ABV: 42.5%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £35

Wood Brothers Single Estate Gin

A true farm to bottle gin! Wood Brothers make their own base spirit using winter wheat grown on their Oxfordshire farm giving them full control of the quality going into their bottles. If that isn’t impressive enough they even reuse the waste water from the distilling process to heat the greenhouses to grow some of the botanicals such as lavender, rosemary and dill that go into this outstanding gin as well. Their stylish statement piece bottles deserve to be kept to grace your gin shelf. We LOVE this superbly smooth, aromatic gin with a light tonic and a sprig of rosemary, and it can absolutely hold its own in a classic Negroni or a gorgeous Martini!!!

ABV: 44%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: UK £27

And now some refills with a difference……..

There are some other options instead of pouches; if you are lucky enough to live near a local gin distillery you love, or even make a destination visit to, they could very well offer bottle refills where you take your empty bottle and they refill it for you for a discounted price! One absolute favourite is ….

Pickering’s Gin Navy Strength - bottle refill

In what was the old Edinburgh vet school animal hospital, lies Pickering’s Gin. Based on an inherited family recipe this exceptional gin is one you will keep wanting to refill that lovely little chunky bottle with, and in our case being the Navy Strength that little bottle comes with its very own Bearskin - not a real Bearskin we hasten to add but a perfect little replica! And you NEVER have to throw it away because if you treat yourself to a visit to the distillery, one of the lovely team will happily refill your bottle, it's like the everlasting gobstopper of the gin world! In Original or Navy Strength, they even let you attempt to do a wax resealing…I need a lot more lessons, my attempt was described as  “unique”! Just as well it has a hat to cover it! 

Bring out the wonderful spices of cardamom and anise, and the sweetness of the fennel in this gorgeous gin in a simple serve with tonic, ice and a generous squeeze of lime! 

ABV: 57.1%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: Pickering's Distillery 15% discount for refills

And last but definitely not least is this fabulous Refill Project innovation from London Spirits Competition Gold Award Winners Isle of Harris……created as part of an ongoing refill solutions experiment…

Isle of Harris Gin - Aluminium Refill Bottle

Anyone familiar with the absolutely beautiful Isle of Harris gin knows it comes in an equally beautiful bottle evocative of the wind-blown seas around the Isle. It’s a bottle that nobody wants to part with and now you don’t have to! Looking for an easily recyclable refill solution, they’ve come up with a ‘top-up’ subscription where you will be sent your gin monthly in a 500ml aluminium bottle, to regularly top up your existing 700ml gin….the neverending bottle!!. With aluminium being the most cost-effective material to recycle this is a great alternative to recycling the glass bottle…and who would want to! This wonderfully refreshing gin with that delicious sweet saltiness umami of the sugar kelp and that warming peppery finish is a gorgeous sipping gin!  If you want to get that WOW factor, serve it with a good tonic, a few drops of sugar kelp water and garnish with pink grapefruit! 

ABV: 45% 
Size: 500ml
Find Here: 12 month subscription see website for details

Wondering what to add your gin to? Then, have a gander at The Most Popular Gin Cocktails. If you're looking for more gin-ius (see what we did there?!) suggestions, then why not check out these Colour Changing Gins?!

The main styles of tequila

It’s Cinco de Mayo - the 5th of May - a day when all things Mexican are celebrated and in my world, that usually means one thing: tequila! It makes me happy. We’re tasting a few with Mike Graham on talkTV this week so here are the details along with a bit of background. 

What exactly is tequila?

Tequila is a spirit hailing from Mexico that is made by cooking, fermenting and distilling the piñas that grow within the blue agave plant. To be called tequila, the agave must be grown in the five designated areas of Jalisco or the production areas of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. In practice, most tequila actually comes from Jalisco. Sales of tequila grew by 175% during lockdown and have continued to stay strong!

What are the key styles of tequila?

The three main types of tequila are tequila blanco (also known a silver tequila), tequila reposado and tequila añejo. You can also find some tequila joven (joven means young) and at the other end of the scale, small amounts of extra añejo (extra old) tequila exists.

Tequila Blanco

Blanco is unaged tequila made from the blue Weber agave. It’s bottled shortly after distillation, is clear in colour and showcases the freshest style of tequila.

Tequila Reposado

‘Reposado’ means rested in Spanish and refers to tequila that has been aged in oak barrels (American or European) for between two and twelve months. The colour will be slightly darker yellow thanks to the contact with wood. 

Tequila Añejo

‘Añejo’ means ‘old’ in Spanish and it refers to tequila that’s been aged in oak barrels for at least twelve months and is darker in colour. These tequilas you will want to sip neat as they are very complex and delicious. They also make a good alternative to brown spirits like whisky or cognac. 

Tequila joven and extra añejo are harder to find. Jovens are usually unaged tequilas with a tiny amount of aged spirit blended in. Extra añejo tequilas are very rare and aged for at least three years in wood. 

Some premium tequilas to try

Ditch the lime and salt please, premium tequila should be treated like other premium whiskies, cognacs and other spirits. Take your time to sip and savour them and see how they open up in the glass. 

Mijenta Blanco Tequila

Mijenta is a sustainable, artisanal, super premium tequila from Jalisco. Made by female maestra, Ana Maria Romero, it’s pure, silky, subtle, yet complex.

Find it at The Whisky Exchange for £49.95

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

The name Pancho Datos is homage to the great historian and poet of the Mexican Revolution, Ricardo Grijalva de León. It’s made with agave aged for 6 years before cooking, then distilled twice and rested for 6 months in ex Bourbon barrels. Think earthy, creamy, spice and toffee. 

Find it at Master of Malt for £49.95

Patrón Añejo Tequila

A super premium tequila from the original, premium tequila brand. It’s made in small batches and oak aged for over a year. Think smooth, sweet, woody, candied citrus.

Find it at The Whisky Exchange  or Ocado for £56.95

Maestro Dobel Diamanté Tequila

The first ever crystal clear, multi-aged tequila (a blend of 100% Agave Reposado, Añejo & Extra-Ańejo). Think maple, nuts, honey, 

Find it at Waitrose, Amazon and others for £49.90