10 Top Drinks Discoveries for the Summer with Bryan Rodriguez

Words by Bryan Rodriguez (Wine & Spirit Buyer at Harvey Nichols)

Bryan recently joined us for Episode 83 of our Bring a Bottle Podcast where he shared a number of fantastic products with us, so naturally, when asked if we would like to hear more we jumped at the chance to bring more drinky news your way. Here’s what he had to say…

As a Wine & Spirit Buyer, I am always discovering new and exciting beverages, as well as re-tasting and going back to old favourites that provide consistency and comfort. When asked, I always have a wine or spirit recommendation to offer, whether for a specific occasion or the appropriate vessel to drink from.

In this line up, I offer my suggestions based on topics discussed during my appearance on the Bring a Bottle Podcast with Aidy and Helena.

When recording the podcast, I brought a bottle of the wonderful Lambic Geuze beer with me, all the way from the brilliant Boon Brewery based in Lembeek near Brussels, Belgium. The beer really caught both Aidy and Helena’s attention. The beer is known as the Vat 31, it’s difficult to find commercially so below I recommend two of their more widely available styles. 

Rum was also discussed and for me, the Daiquiri is the ultimate rum cocktail. As an avid lover of rum, I am always testing out different rums in a daiquiri. Every bartender has their own recipe and version. This is my personal recipe I use at home…

Ingredients
60ml White or Gold Rum
25ml Velvet Falernum
25ml Fresh Lime juice
2 to 3 dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters
Method
Shake over ice and pour into a frozen glass 

Of course, depending on the rum used, measurements might need to be adjusted but the above should offer a good starting point.

I recommended a brilliant Harvey Nichols Own Label red wine from Napa Valley. Along with this, I offer my personal favourite white and sparkling from our Own Label range. A perfect dinner party trio that will match up against a wide variety of foods and will certainly be crowd pleasers.

Finally, as an extra addition, I offer what I describe as “essentials” – two of the products used in the Daiquiri recipe, as well as specific glassware that works with the drinks recommended, as well as a whole host of other cocktails and beverages. I always like to recommend different glassware according to the drink being consumed. I find it can elevate the drinking experience, especially for wine, with grape and region-specific glassware being released by the likes of Riedel. Plus, I always find that elegant glassware can enhance your online and social imagery of bottles, drinks, and cocktails in the same way a beautiful piece of jewellery can enhance a fashion shoot.

BEER

Boon Geuze Marriage Parfait

One of the finest beers in the world full stop. The Boon Geuze Marriage Parfait is an unfiltered Lambic sour beer made in Belgium at the Boon Brewery. The beer itself is a 3-year-old Lambic, aged in large oak barrels known as Foeders. Boon uses Foeders built between 1883 and 1914 so the beer you’re drinking may have been ageing in wood over 100 years old. The unique addition to the beer that gives it its sourness, character and complexity are the wild yeasts and bacteria from the brewery which descend on the beer during the wild fermentation. This includes microflora of previous generations of wild yeast remaining on the wood. This all results in a wine like beer. A beautiful gold colour with rich ginger, grapefruit and bergamot citrus aromas along with gentle vanilla, sweet cooking spices and oakiness reminding you of both light styles of Scotch whisky and buttery chardonnay. Enjoy chilled now and in decades to come as this beer can outage fine wine. Just have a look at the best before dates on the back label. It will only get better with time and ageing, preferably in a cool and dark place. Gives this a try with fish and chips. The acidity will cut through that batter leaving your palate ready and refreshed for the next bite. Serve in a wine glass or tulip shaped beer glass.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 8%
Find Here: UK £6.00

Boon Kriek Cherry Lambic

There are fruit beers and then there’s the Boon Kriek. It stands on its own, heads and shoulders above the rest. The beer is made using 250 grams of fresh cherries per litre fermented naturally with young lambic beer before being blended with older lambic beers for added complexity and left to mature in barrels. It is bottled unpasteurised for a fuller bodied mouthfeel and texture. This should definitely be on every beer or drink lover’s list of drinks to try. It has an aroma of wonderful, deep, marzipan like cherries, kirsch, vanilla oakiness and acidity that keeps your palate feeling fresh and vibrant. It’s perfect as an aperitivo but also works with dessert alongside a dark, rich chocolate mousse. The vintage date on the beer represents the year the cherries were picked. Serve in a wine glass or in a tulip shaped beer glass.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 4%
Find Here: UK £4.60

RUM 

Plantation 3 Stars White

The Plantation 3 Stars White is difficult to beat when it comes to value for money. This is a seriously good rum which is appreciated by both industry professionals as well as the home consumer. The rum is made using distillates of various ages from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad with distillation taking place in a mix of Column and Pot stills. After blending, the colour is then removed via filtration through carbon resulting in a slight yellow hue. A textbook white rum made for use in a daiquiri but try sipping it neat out of the freezer or give it a go in a mojito. The slightly fuller bodied nature of the rum will add to the weight and texture of the drink.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.2%
Find Here: UK £26.00

Equiano Light Rum

At Harvey Nichols, we declared the original Equiano release as “Probably the most important and critically acclaimed inaugural release from any rum company ever.” We still hold to that belief, and I feel the Light Rum is a perfect continuation of their journey. It is a blend of two distilleries. Firstly, it uses molasses based 3-year-old ex-Bourbon barrel matured distillates from the Legendary Foursquare Distillery which adds weight, power and robustness. Secondly, it uses unaged sugarcane juice-based distillates from the Gray’s Distillery in Mauritius which impart some grassy, vegetal, and citrus notes. Both distillates are blended at the Foursquare distillery by master blender Richard Seale and result in a beautiful, balanced, and delicious rum. The company is female led and has Global Rum Ambassador, Ian Burrell as a co-founder. The rum itself is named after Olaudah Equiano (Born c.1745, Died 1797), a Nigerian slave turned writer, public speaker, and anti-slavery activist. Donations from the rum go towards quality projects and ending modern day slavery around the world. All this said, the rum is beautiful to drink, elegant with a real mix of complex flavours that work perfectly sipped neat or in a Piña Colada using fresh pineapple.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: UK £44.00

Doorly’s XO

Have you ever tried a Daiquiri with dark, aged rum? If the answer is no, now is as good a time as ever. My first was at OXO Tower Bar in a cocktail named The Gayle Seale, a daiquiri recipe created by Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell in honour of Gayle Seale, the Foursquare Distillery Global Brand Ambassador and wife of Master Distiller/Blender Richard Seale. If you want the exact recipe, it is…

Ingredients
50ml Doorly’s XO
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
15ml Taylors Velvet Falernum
5ml Simple syrup
3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
Method
Shake over ice and pour into chilled glass.

Aged rum adds a complexity and flavour to a cocktail like the daiquiri that sends it in a different direction. It adds to its texture and gives it a certain morishness, especially the Doorly’s XO which sees maturation in Oloroso Sherry cask. Talking of the Doorly’s XO, I picked this rum as it’s a consistent, affordable, and outstanding rum made at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. It is bottled un-coloured and un-sweetened resulting in a rich, wonderful, moreish rum that sips beautifully neat or can be used in a Corn N’ Oil, Mai Tai or simply mixed with Ginger Beer for those days when you want a break from a Daiquiri.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: UK £43.50

OWN-LABEL WINES

Harvey Nichols Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Imagine finding a fully blown, full bodied, powerful Napa Cab made by a producer like Joseph Phelps that doesn’t cost the world? Well, here it is! A wine we are very proud of and one I always like to show off. The wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Some of the grapes used in the blend are de-classified from Insignia, Joseph Phelps flagship, 3 figure iconic wine. It sees 14 months of maturation in a mix of used American and French oak. Open and decant for a few hours to reveal a polished, decadent Cab Sav with wood polish, cedar wood, crème de cassis, graphite, and sweet cooking spices. Perfect alongside a fillet of beef, roasted lamb or with robust, earthy vegetable dishes. It comes with some bottle age on it but will age for another 10 years+ so a perfect wine to buy and put away.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find Here: UK £35.00

Harvey Nichols Aconcagua Chardonnay 2019

Probably my favourite of the Own Label white wines. This particular Chardonnay is produced by the excellent Chilean winery, Errazuriz Estate from vineyards in the cool climate Aconcagua region, roughly 100km north of Chile’s capital Santiago. Errazuriz makes South America’s best examples of Chardonnay, some of which could easily compete and beat the Burgundians best, but at much lower price points. This Chardonnay is made from hand picked grapes and matured for 10 months on its lees in French oak barrels. 20% of those barrels are brand new. The result is an elegant, creamy, citrus, and tropical fruit lead white with perfectly balanced, vibrant acidity and a whisper of smoke from the barrel. Big complexity levels but not so much that you can’t just simply enjoy a glass in front of the TV or outside in the sun. Perfect with grilled fish, white meats, steak tartare or on its own, chilled in a big round wine glass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find Here: UK £15.95

HN Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV

My personal favourite style of wine is Champagne, so I feel it is appropriate to add the Harvey Nichols NV Brut Champagne to the list. I absolutely love this wine. It shows the essences of what a good, solid non-vintage champagne should be like year after year. Consistency is key with own label products, and this is the perfect example of that. Made from a blend consisting mainly of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir from Premier Cru sites by Champagne Lombard & Medot who are based in Epernay. Made in the traditional style, this is a vegan friendly, comforting Brut style champagne that drinks perfectly on its own or will match any starter and light bite. It can also be used in a variety of cocktails such as the Classic Champagne cocktail. Imagine lightly toasted brioche, macadamia, yellow and stone fruits with refreshing acidity. Perfect!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find Here: UK £32.50

ESSENTIALS

Angostura Orange Bitters

Bitters can help to elevate a cocktail and add complexity to it. Most people will recognise the standard Angostura Bitters with its yellow cap and oversized label usually used in an Old Fashioned. I always tend to recommend the orange variant of this brand as it’s slightly softer, lower in ABV and has a pronounced bitter orange and sweet spice woody aroma. I use it in just about everything from Daiquiris to Gimlets, G&T’s and even Martinis. You can also use it in food too. Just a few drops can make a big difference!

Size: 100ml
ABV: 28%
Find Here: UK £10.00

John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

Falernum is tropical based syrup usually containing a mix of lime, ginger, almond and can also include clove, nutmeg, and other sweet spices. You can find it in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. The John D. Taylors Falernum is an 11% abv Falernum made in Barbados. The alcohol helps to preserve the syrup making it last longer while adding to the flavour and texture of the liquid. I enjoy using this as an alternative to sugar syrup as it can add interesting notes to a sweetened cocktail. Next time you try a Gimlet, try the Falernum instead of simple sugar syrup for a tropical take on the classic cocktail. I recommend keeping this in the fridge.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 11%
Find Here: UK £18.00

Riedel Nick & Nora Glasses

The right glass can heighten the experience of the drink you are enjoying. Brands such as Riedel make glassware specific to the grape, spirit and even cocktail being consumed. With varying price points, there is an option for everybody and every pocket. The Nick & Nora glass was made famous by the 1934 movie “The Thin Man”. The design is a curved lip on a small bowl. It directs the alcohol to the mid-palate, allowing the aromas to travel directly to the retronasal olfaction, (the back part of your nose that allows you to “taste” flavour). Short and elegant, these will fit nicely in a freezer ready for a Martini, Daiquiri, Gimlet, Manhattan, or any shaken or stirred cocktail.

Size: Set of 2 Glasses
Find Here: £29.00

Riedel Overture Beer Glasses

As I mentioned a few beers earlier on, I thought I would add a beer glass recommendation that works with any beer type including the Lambic beers. I love these tulip shaped glasses. When full of delicious, crisp lager or hoppy IPA, deep, dark Stout or Sour Geuze, there’s something immediately pleasurable from holding these up, taking a sip and enjoying that perfect beer. The shape helps to maintain aroma, temperature as well as the head of the beer.

Size: Set of 2 Glasses
Find Here: £28.00

Riedel Performance Tasting Set Wine Glasses

The Riedel Performance glass is a very attractive, elegant glass that I personally use daily. The glass has an optical effect on the inside of the lip which increases the inner surface allowing the wine to open even more. It also adds to its attractive appearance. This set comes with (from Left to Right), 1x Sauvignon Blanc Glass, 1x Chardonnay Glass, 1x Pinot Noir Glass, 1x Cabernet Sauvignon Glass. Each glass can be used for different styles making this set very versatile and keeping in mind the three Harvey Nichols Own Label Wines recommended earlier, this set goes perfectly with them. The Sauvignon Blanc glass can be used for sparkling wine and champagne. The Chardonnay glass could be used for oaked-Sauvignon Blanc or even Junmai Sake. I use this for Blanc de Blancs Champagne too. The Pinot Noir glass can be used for Nebbiolo, Gamay or softer and lighter red styles, I also use it for Blanc de Noirs Champagne. The Cabernet Sauvignon glass can be used for Merlots, Malbecs, Cab Francs or any big, hefty red wines. With a set like this, you are pretty much covered!

Size: Set of 4 Glasses
Find Here: UK 110.00

If you’d like to hear more from Bryan, make sure to listen to Episode 83 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast!

8 Fantastic Gins to Gift this Father’s Day

Words by Leigh Andrews

Whether your Dad is the chief cook and bottle washer, head gardener, family taxi driver or the world’s best storyteller, they all have one thing in common, they love to feel appreciated! With this fantastic selection of gins we’ve picked out he most definitely will, so step away from the socks and check out these little beauties!

Keepr’s Honey Infused Gin

This is a gardening and nature lover’s dream tipple! This classic multi-award winning London Dry is delicately infused with 100% pure British honey, supporting our British beekeepers. The absolutely stunning honeycomb design bottle is made from 50% recycled glass and even the label is made from recycled paper. It is full of those gorgeous light, sweet, floral honey flavours, juniper, a hint of vanilla, citrus, and a wonderful kick of spiciness. Try the perfect serve of lots of ice, premium tonic and a sprig of rosemary or even neat over ice with a squeezed wedge of lemon to perfectly balance that sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.00

Abingdon Single Malt Barrel-Aged Gin

Nope, we haven’t accidentally put a whisky in the mix, but if your Dad loves a ‘wee nip’ he will LOVE this! A multi-gold medal award winner, this gin is aged for a secret length of time in Speyside single malt whisky casks. The casks themselves were originally sherry casks, then used to mature single malt whisky for over 10 years so this imparts incredible flavours in this gin. Light woody notes, warming fruity spice, caramel and juniper make this a taste sensation. Enjoy with ginger ale, neat like a whisky or it is excellent in a martini!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95

Dà Mhìle Organic Seaweed Gin

This is a SPECTACULAR Welsh savoury gin. Infused with organic seaweed from Cornwall after distillation, and with several garden herb botanicals used in producing this gin, they are all stars in their own right…just like your Dads are! Without losing its dry juniper base this gin evokes memories of day trips to the seaside, with that salinity on the palate, or sitting relaxing in the garden with aromas of fresh mint and garden herbs. This gin is just gorgeous as a G&T with a slice of lemon/rosemary or an olive. We were even recommended, by a Welsh mixologist nonetheless, to try it with a pickled onion (tell your Dad it’s an actual onion, pickled onion crisps will not do!) which worked fabulously and set it right up for a gorgeous Gibson Martini! 

Size: 50ml, 350ml and 700ml 
ABV: 42%
Find here: £28.80 (smaller sizes available directly from Dà Mhìle )

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

If your Dad loves a great story along with a great gin he will love this! The story goes that this gin was originally created by Royal Air Force Wing Commander Montgomery “Monty” Collins, who, after WW2, helped rebuild Berlin Zoo where he sponsored an Egret Monkey named Max. After moving to the Black Forest he ran a guesthouse producing his own gin, using the natural abundance of botanicals and juniper in the area. At the turn of the century during renovations of the house a box containing an ingredients list and an old dusty bottle of gin was found, with a hand-drawn label saying “Max the Monkey-Schwarzwald Dry Gin”. Containing 47 botanicals and at 47% ABV, it was renamed Monkey 47! A complex, beautifully smooth, refreshing gin, it’s perfect in a gin and tonic, with lots of ice and a slice of orange and can hold its own in any Martini!

Size: UK 500ml // US 375ml
ABV: 47%
Find Here: UK £36.99 // USA from $46.99

Upperhand Irish Craft Gin

Those sport loving Dads may be interested to know that this gin, in its beautifully stylish ocean blue bottle, was co-founded by Italian Judo Champion Alberto Borin. On meeting Alberto he is as passionate about this gin, which he produces with his wife Claudia, as he is about sport. It isn't surprising then that this new gin on the block has a massive Mediterranean influence with Sicilian lemon, dill and basil taking centre stage to the juniper. They are, in fact, the only botanicals in this intriguing spirit. A truly distinctive gin, distilled in Ireland, this is definitely one for the herb lovers and tastes absolutely delicious with a good quality tonic garnished with a slice of lemon or a few basil leaves, just leave the judo moves to Alberto!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.00

Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin

If your Dad likes his gins with more punch than pinch then this is the gin you’ve been looking for! This multi-award winning Australian beaut is distilled at a whopping 58.8% ABV but still manages to retain an incredibly smooth mouthfeel as well as superb flavour intensity. Distilled with finger limes it retains incredible fresh citrus with all of the warmth of ginger and earthy turmeric in the mix. A gin like this is perfect for cocktails, so your Dad can pretend he is James Bond to his heart’s content and ask for a ‘shaken not shtirred’ in his best Sean Connery impersonation!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 58.8%
Find here: UK £42.00

Templar Spirit Daniel Hooper Lion Edition

We have featured the exemplary Templar Spirit Gin before, with their previous Limited edition hand finished Joker bottle by renowned British artist Daniel Hooper. As if by fate, this one is perfect timing for those avid collector Dads out there! The bottle’s label features an incredible depiction of a lion in Hooper’s distinctive style and contains their classic smooth, lightly sweet London Dry Gin. This time not only are there just 50 bottles but some of them will be a surprise Navy Strength edition! Founded by an ex-Matelot and Royal Marine Commando, a percentage of all sales will be donated to military charities to support veterans and their families.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% or 57%
Find here: £100.00

Tayport Distillery Scots Pine Gin

A beautifully stylish, elegant bottle of gin, distilled, bottled and labelled on-site at Tayport Distillery. Inspired by the stunning coastline of Fife and the local Tentsmuir Forest this gin is a soft bed of pine needles underfoot, the smell of the fir trees and fallen wood. A gorgeously flavourful gin, with eight botanicals of Juniper, Scots Pine, Coriander, Cassia, Cardamom, Orange Peel, Angelica and Almond. This wonderfully warm, citrus gin is perfect for the Dads who love a bit of spice in their life and perfect to sit down, glass in hand in front of the fire with, after a long country walk with the family. Serve with either premium light tonic and a slice of orange, or with premium ginger ale and a slice of orange.

Size: 200ml and 500ml
ABV: 40% 
Find here: £15.00 - £25.00

Alnwick Sloe Gin

Sloe gin is for life, not just for Christmas! This stunning bottle of Sloe gin from award-winning Northumberland Spirit Co. is perfect. It’s not only fantastic for those Dads who love a little after-dinner Port but how about a gorgeous summer cocktail with Prosecco while the barbecue is on! It’s a beautiful combination of Northumbrian sloes, natural sloe concentrate perfectly blended with their fabulous Alnwick gin creating a delicious gin bursting with fruit flavours and warmth. Try it neat, with a crisp, cold Prosecco or pack a jug with summer fruits, cucumber, mint, ice and cloudy lemonade and create your own Summer refresher! Dad’s barbecues will be taken to another level!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 26%
Find here: £29.00

If you’re looking for a different sort of gift for Dad then we have plenty of suggestions in this wine and spirits gift guide or you can find plenty more tasty treats here.

Great Wine and Spirits to Gift this Father's Day

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many choices of premium sparkling wine and Champagne on the market, I wanted to highlight two I’ve had recently. One traditional, and one non-alcoholic and from England. Both excellent. I have also found some amazing rum, cocktail pouches, a big, luscious, marvellous Malbec, and a couple of gins, one with sweet pineapple and ginger because dads like sweet things too!

Roger Daltray

I first tasted this on release before the pandemic. It was released for The Who on their 50th anniversary and having tasted it again a few days ago, I am pleased I thought so much of it in 2019, because I am still hugely impressed. Sometimes when a celebrity has a bottle made for them, it can go horribly wrong, and the juice in the bottle isn’t that good, but in this instance it is excellent. The design is also excellent giving the impression of a premium product yet not being overly showy. The design holds onto the brand identity of The Who well. The Champagne itself made by Charles Orban, has finesse and intensity. Made with 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, there is good complexity with lots of citrus notes and hints of vanilla and brioche. A percentage of the price of each bottle goes to Teen Cancer America too so should you find yourself with your hands on a bottle, you can sip knowing you are doing good.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £95

Wild Idol

A little while ago I tried and very much liked the Wild Idol Rosé, and the white takes off where that left off. There is the same elegance of fruit and balanced acidity giving a satisfying drink, not too acidic like a lot of sparkling wine and not too sweet. Lots of floral aromas and delicate fruit give elegance. This is the second time I’ve tried a non-alcoholic sparkling and thought it benefited from not having any alcohol and the first time was its pink sibling. Bravo Wild Idol!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0.0%
Find here: £35

 

Santiago de Cuba 11 Years Old Extra Añejo

11 years old is old for a tropically aged rum. So when one comes along from one of the best Cuban brands one expects it to be very good, and this is certainly that. It’s rich with lots of fruity esters and brown sugar flavours which perfectly balance each other, there is huge complexity with pineapple, and spices including cinnamon and cumin. A little banana and caramel and a touch of black cracked pepper on the finish. A decadent rum perfect for decadent dads.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.83

Luigi Bosca | Malbec Selección de Vistalba 2020

This is a stonking wine for the price. Wines from Argentina are always good value as they are subsidised for the UK market but this wine punches way above its price mark. It’s a big rich wine with lots of red fruit and floral aromas and dark fruit flavours. There is some spice and liquorice too. It is drinking now but will certainly age for at least 5 years and is a perfect wine to serve up with a big steak or a hearty bean casserole. You might want to pick up two bottles though because once dad gets a taste we’re not sure he’ll want to share!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £16.99

MYXD Dad Box

A box full of cocktails! What’s not to like? Well, not a lot really. Finally, cocktail pouches are delivering very good cocktails akin to one you would receive from a good bartender, and in a lot of cases even better. I’ve been served some pretty dodgy cocktails in my time, and with these pouches not only do you get a good cocktail, but you also get them consistently. Super for sharing and easy to put together. Literally, chill add soda to some and pour. What could be easier?!

In the box:

Long Island Iced Tea where they have combined Flor de Caña 4 year old white rum with vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, sugar syrup, organic citric acid, lemon bitters and cola reduction.

Smoked Banana Colada combining coconut rum, single cream, banana syrup, coconut syrup and smoky Scotch whisky.

Pinapple & Jalapeno Mai Tai where Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva Rum is the star of the show, accompanied by triple sec, jalapeno syrup, orgeat, organic citric acid and pineapple juice.

Popcorn Old Fashioned mixing Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, popcorn syrup and fragrant Angostura bitters.

Penicillin combining Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon with Smokehead peated single malt whisky, ginger and honey syrups, organic citric acid and lemon bitters.

If you wanted to you could add garnishes like orange for the Old Fashioned or Pineapple leaves for the Colada, they make them look pretty, but if you can’t be bothered, they are still going to taste great.

Size: 100ml - 150ml
ABV: 13.7% - 26.5%
Find here: £28.95

 

Bullards Pineapple, Ginger and Lime Gin

Pineapple is a flavour I would normally associate with rum rather than gin, but in this case, it works beautifully giving tropical sweetness to balance the lime and the ginger that comes through to give a little heat and spice. The gin is very smooth and makes a very good G&T, but where it shines for me is with ginger ale. Again, something I’d normally mix with rum or whisky, but with this gin, it makes a great spicy long drink and remains fresh which is perfect for this time of year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40

Lind and Lime Gin

A gin with a very nautical feel. This is the first spirit to come from the Port of Leith distillery in Edinburgh and is inspired by Dr James Lind who came from Edinburgh. He noticed that patients who had scurvy and were eating citrus fruits were showing good signs, which explains the lime in the gin, and how we know how to cure scurvy today. Not that I think there is enough lime in the gin to cure scurvy! But it certainly tastes good. The cap label says there are flavours of lime, pink peppercorn and juniper, and that’s the perfect tasting note for this gin. It literally “does what it says on the tin”, and with 44% abv, those flavours are delivered effortlessly. My gin of the moment, and a perfect dad day present for a gin loving dad.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £34.95

If you still don’t feel like you’ve found the perfect present, have a browse through our wine and spirits pages as they’re packed full of delicious drinks to try!

Celebrate Pride with these Top LGBTQIA+ drinks

It’s Pride Month, and we’re celebrating all things LGBTQIA+ not only with a hefty dose of rainbow-themed décor, but by toasting to it in style with tipples that proudly support the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether you’re a community member yourself, or a thirsty ally, here are some must-tries to show your spirit…

Gays Who Wine

This wine club, founded by Shaun Houcke, is all about giving people the chance to meet up and mingle with great vino – without having to resort to a raucous bar. You can also shop from a gorgeously curated online offering – including a weekly changing mixed case, with the likes of rosé fizzes and juicy reds (from £65). Beer drinker? An edit of top pours includes tempting nibbles such as artisan cheese, smoked almonds and sourdough crisp breads (£45). If you need an extra feel-good reason to buy, know that 10% of profits go to LGBTQIA+ charities.

Find out more here!

Luv Jus

Following one helluva time at Tel Aviv Pride in 2016, housemates George and Owen decided to launch Luv Jus – a healthy craft vodka pop that comes in two delicious flavours: pineapple, mint, ginseng and jasmine, or blood orange, pomegranate and ginseng. At just 107kcal per tin, with no added sugar, they’re as gentle on the waistline as they are dangerously sippable, plus have the added bonus of being vegan-friendly and gluten-free. We know what we’ll be drinking come London Pride Week this September… 

ABV: 4.8%
Find here: £14.95 for 6

Stonewall Spirits

A family run brand based in Skegness, Lincolnshire, Stonewall Spirits is committed to supporting and donating to the LGBTQ community all year round. Not only do they do this by re-telling the story of the ‘Stonewall Riots’ throughout their brand, but they also donate £1 to Stonewall UK from every bottle purchased to continue the fight for acceptance and equality in the UK. As if that wasn’t great enough news as it is, they also produce absolutely cracking gins. Mix their Pink Rhubarb gin into a G&T for a beautifully refreshing drink this Summer!

ABV: 40% // 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £36.95

Digby Fine English

It was during a trip to a Seattle winery that married couple Jason Humphries and Trevor Clough had a lightbulb moment and decided to move back to the UK and go into business together with the aim to bring English sparkling wine to the luxury market. Meet Digby Fine English; the high class sparkling English wine from West Sussex that is outperforming Champagne in blind tastings and winning countless awards. 

Find here: From £32

Proud Beer

The UK’s first ‘queer beer’ was launch back in 2018 by boyfriends Ethan Spidey and Sören Scharf and as well as a beer, is a platform for all that they do for LGBTQIA+ charities. They worked around their day jobs to create their ‘LGBTQIPA’: a truly inclusive drinks brand with a clear message to the businesses to put their money where their mouth is if they truly want to support the community. Ethan explains: “We got fed up with people slapping a rainbow flag on their brand once a year and pretending they cared. We thought, why don’t we start a beer company that benefits the charities we have worked with for years?” Quite right. Cheers!

Find here: From £2.30 a bottle

Gentleman Farmer 

Next time you’re in the US, look out for Gentleman Farmer wines, produced by vino extraordinaire couple Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham. This Californian vintner duo specialises in producing powerful Cabernet Sauvignon – all dark fruity and earthy character – as well as elegant Chardonnays. Looking for something summer-fabulous to toast Pride month with? Grab a bottle of their delicate blushing pink rosé, with refreshing watermelon and brioche notes on the palate.

Find here: From $35

Crystal Head Limited Edition Pride Vodka

In case the whole bottle-shaped-like-a-skull thing wasn’t already theatrical enough for you, we present Crystal Head Pride edition. Painted in dramatic rainbow tones, this will double as a statement decor piece long after you’ve drained the final drop of vodka (which, by the way, is made using pure Canadian water). It doesn’t just look good though – a percentage of sales goes to the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international LGBTQIA+ human rights charity that works across the Commonwealth, for example by ensuring that trans women in Pakistan have access to safe housing. And if that standard 70cl bottle isn’t quite enough? Plump for the brand new 1.75-litre release, available at Selfridges for a cool £140.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK From £46.48 // US $39.99

Tom Savano Finnish Liberation Cosmopolitan

When you can’t be bothered to mix your own cocktail, Tom Savano comes to the rescue with its premixed pours. And this bottling – comes with a splash of Pride, not only because the Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice is said, according to Punch, to have originated in the Cleveland gay scene in the 1980s. It’s also mixed up with Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, named after the gay icon and fetish artist. The vodka’s own association spreads awareness about LGBTQIA+ erotic art, so you can feel extra virtuous with every sip. Chill it right down in the fridge, pour it out in Sex and the City-style cocktail glasses and toast to liberation. 

ABV: 20%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £29

Barefoot Wines

Barefoot takes great ‘pride’ in the fact that it’s been an LGBTQIA+ ally for more than 30 years, since 1988 to be exact. Over the decades this Californian wine brand has partnered with dozens of different LGBTQIA+ organisations and popped up at countless Pride festivals, so you know it’s genuinely supporting the community for the long haul. Choose from the range of easy-drinking wines, perfect for celebrations – whether your bag is a fruit-forward Merlot, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or sweet Moscato, there’s something here to suit. Bottoms up!

Find out more here (UK)! // From $9.99 (US)

What is Cognac and What Should I Try?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

From VS, VSOP, XO and vintage, there is a lot of confusion around Cognac. Some Cognac seems to be very reasonably priced, and yet others, without seemingly any rhyme or reason, are excruciatingly expensive. It is about time The Three Drinkers explained and cleared up Cognac.

The various letters are names of age statements for Cognac. Below is how they stack up:

VS: Meaning “Very Special” and can also be called ✯✯✯ or Three stars. This is Cognac which has been aged in barrels for at least two years.

VSOP: Meaning “Very Superior Old Pale” or Reserve. This is Cognac which is a blend of barrels of which the youngest is at least four years old.

Napoleon: This is Cognac which is at least six years old.

XO: Meaning “Extra Old”. This is Cognac of which the youngest in the blend is at least ten years old. This came into force in April 2018, so if you have a bottle of XO from before then the youngest Cognac in the blend had to be six years old.

XXO: Meaning “Extra Extra Old”. This has Cognac in the blend which is at least 14 years old.

Hors d’âge: Means “Beyond Age”. This is a designation given by the Cognac governing body, which is equal to XO, but is used by brands as marketing to sell products that are high quality and beyond the official age statements.

Vintage: Some Cognacs have a vintage date on them. This is the date of distillation. Many Cognacs do not put the bottling date on them, so it is difficult to define the actual age of the Cognac inside.

I drink quite a bit of Cognac and have a few favourites I’d like to share. These are of all price points and ages. I hope you find something that suits your palate and pocket.

VS

Courvoisier VS

This is a great starter for Cognac. It isn’t the most complex, but it still has lots of flavour, can be found in most shops and is a classic. It was the Cognac of choice for Napoleon who took huge amounts of it with him in exile. It goes well on the rocks and mixes well too, especially with ginger ale or tonic.

Size: UK 700ml // US 375ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £29.95 // US $19.99

VSOP

Rémy Martin VSOP

One of the most popular VSOP Cognacs around it is very consistent and well worth the little extra. This is a Cognac that both mixes well giving any cocktail a good dollop of rich Cognac flavours, but can also stand on its own without ice. With berry fruits on the nose and lots of honey and vanilla, dried fruits and a little spice on the palate, there is good complexity putting this at the top of my VSOP list.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £36.95 // US $49.99

XO

There are lots of styles of XO. I am choosing two very different styles here. One which is big and rich and the other refined and finessed. The two show how different Cognac can be.

Hennessy XO

A big, rich brooding Cognac with lots of dark dried fruit flavours, bitter chocolate and coffee. It serves well with a lot of ice in a balloon glass or big wine glass on a hot sunny day, as well as neat by a fire after dinner on a cold winter evening and pairs beautifully with cigars. Hennessy is the best-selling Cognac by volume in the world and this expression shows why. The term XO was created in the 19th century especially for this Cognac.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £162  // US $324.99

Frapin Chateau de Fontpinot XO

Frapin is known for making elegant Cognacs with finesse and Frapin Chateau de Fontpinot is an excellent example of the house style. It is a single state Cognac and one of the best XO Cognacs in the Grand Champagne region. With lots of fruity and floral aromas and flavours it still has richness, but a refined quality throughout.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £175  

Delamain Pleiade Ancestral

Delamain are known for long aged Cognacs with intensity, but also delicacy. This expression has plenty of both with great complexity. There are lots of summer flowers and rich baked fruit flavours with a touch of spice and vanilla custard. Only 180 bottles were produced making it a rare Cognac. When Delamain reduce the spirit before bottling, they do it very gently by adding a mix of water and spirit which has had time to marry and therefore doesn’t shock the delicate Cognac when it is reduced in alcohol for bottling.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £475  

Hermitage 50 Year Old

This is one of the most impressive Cognacs I have ever tasted. It won the trophy medal for Cognac at the IWSC I judged in 2021 beating Cognacs which were even older than this dating back to the 19th Century. There is so much complexity with chocolate, coffee, rich dark dried fruits, and also soft floral notes and delicate spice. It’s definitely a Cognac to savour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £485  

Hennessy Paradis

This expression of Hennessy was created in 1979 by Maurice Fillioux who was a master blender at Hennessy. He used a selection of eaux-de-vie (new spirit) which had been laid down by his grandfather. Typical of the house style this is a rich Cognac, but also has fresh floral notes and blossom. There is plenty of spice with cinnamon and pepper, a little honey and dried citrus peel. It is very well balanced and has a long finish.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £995 // US $1799.99

Frapin Cuvée Rabelais

My favourite Cognac of them all. Not a Cognac for every day, and not a Cognac I could afford to buy, but having tasted a generous sample I am now playing the lottery again. If you can afford this level of Cognac, then this is for you. There are other Cognacs I have tried at this price point, and they are very very good, but this one somehow just pips them to the post. There is an elegance like no other, and flavours which hark back to the century before last. Dusty books and old mahogany furniture. Soft spice and very gentle fine oak. Sandalwood and a touch of beeswax lie underneath light floral notes from a summer meadow. The Cognac is very complex and increases in complexity as it is left to air and oxygen interacts with it. They say one should drink a drink the way you want it. And should you want to mix this with coke, I certainly wouldn’t stop you I hope you enjoy it. But for me, this is a singular pleasure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £7500

One last word

Not strictly in the Cognac category, but there is another spirit which has caught my attention lately. Typically an unchanged, and great recipe for many years Grand Marnier has been a blend of Cognacs, bitter orange essence and sugar. They have now created some very special expressions.

Grand Marnier Révélation

This expression is made from some very aged Grande Champagne Cognacs and Bigaradia essence. There are aromas of vanilla and nuts with intense honeysuckle floral notes. On the palate there are dried fruits including apricots and bitter orange peel which continue long into the finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £615

Grand Marnier Quintessence

This limited edition from Grand Marnier takes the finest Grand Champagne Cognac infused with orange using Grand Marnier’s double parfum Method. It is hugely complex and includes Cognacs from 1875, 1906, and 1955. There are lots of toasted orange and nuts on the nose followed by peach on the plate along with floral notes.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £1895

If you enjoyed this make sure you check out 4 Things You Need To Know About Cognac or One Drink, Three Ways: Remy Martin VSOP Cognac!

Great Gins for the Jubilee

As the long bank holiday celebrating her Majesty's platinum jubilee rolls around, our thoughts turn to street parties and boozy celebrations. Will you be getting festive with fizz? Patriotic with Pimm’s or raising spirits with whisky, gin, rum and the rest? Of all the spirits, gin is the most quintessentially British, so we’ve picked out eight Jubilee-tastic gins to celebrate the Queen (and our extra time off work) this long weekend. 

Beefeater London Garden Gin

This gin is so good, it needs its own royal security. Inspired by the famous botanical Chelsea Physic Gardens that were said to inspire Beefeater’s original recipe, this stunning sipper has all the citrus and zest of classic Beefeater with luscious, lemon verbena, basil and thyme notes. Classic and classy. A great garden gin for your garden party!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £25

Cotswolds Distillery Jubilee Gin

This limited edition, regal looking tipple tastes as good as it looks in its royal purple bottle. It’s gin with a British summer twist as bramble fruit bursts from the glass, buddying up with the juniper without being cloying. You can sip this alone thanks to its creamy mouthfeel and it's awesome with a rhubarb tonic. Garnish with blackberries for a right royal knees up.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34

Windsor Great Park Gin

Distilled from Windsor Great Park Vineyard’s award-winning Chardonnay using herbs and flowers grown in the royal Savill Gardens just next door, this booze is bursting with botanical beauty. Think fresh herbs and elderflower in a shower of lemon citrus. Rich and creamy to boot, you could sip this alone. Very smart label too. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95

Buckingham Palace Gin

A more floral and savoury twist on a classic London Dry, this super refreshing sip is made with twelve botanicals foraged from the Queen’s own palace garden including hawthorn and mulberry. Flavoursome but subtle, this gin gets extra points for its posh, perfume-like bottle too! A great gifting option, though a tad pricey.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £40

Whitley Neill Gin, Jubilee Edition

If you’re looking for a brilliant, benchmark London Dry Gin, this is it. Pure spirit on those nose with gentle juniper and a slick of moreish saltiness. This is a gin for gin purists not keen on the extra bells and whistles. The iconic mirror and flags bottle will grab attention too. Well worth a place at the party. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £25

Hortus London Dry Gin

For the price, you can’t knock it. Hortus is Lidl’s own gin brand and this is a decent London Dry that’s pretty classic in an attractive bottle. Compared to some of the others it’s not as smooth or as complex but a punchy tonic will cover any sins. Throw in some fresh fruit and you’ll be laughing. A pocket friendly choice when you need a few for that street party! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £15.99

Sainsbury's Limited Edition, Blackfriars Scottish Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin

Rhubarb crumble in spirit form! This limited edition sipper is a good choice for those not so keen on juniper who want to jump on the gin train. Not one for the purists, it’s very heavy on the rhubarb with a ripple of raspberry, but tastes bone dry and is terrific with tonic. Serve with a small stick of rhubarb or a handful of raspberries with lots of ice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £16

M&S Jubilee Gin  

This is a gin liqueur rather than a straight gin so as expected, it’s very sweet like strawberry candy and not very gin-like at all. In fact, you really can’t taste any juniper. Having said that, it’s gotta lotta bottle appeal. Pour it over your summer pudding or sip it cool over ice with a fruit tonic and it's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 20%
Find here: £16

Pinkster pink Gin

Don’t let the colour put you off - Pinkster pink gin is well worth a try. It gets its pink hue from fresh raspberries which are steeped in the gin. The use of fresh fruit rather than flavourings leads to a subtle, smooth gin with just the right amount of raspberry making for a perfect G&T (or two!). Try it with fresh raspberries and mint as a garnish and you won’t look back!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £35

Beefeater London Dry Gin

First made by James Burroughs in 1820, Beefeater London Dry Gin is still made using exactly the same recipe today. It’s fresh with big juniper character and strong bursts of citrus, and for its price point, it is an exceptionally good gin. Try it with a good quality tonic and a slice of lemon or orange!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £16 // US $24.99

Crazy Lassi Gin

Inspired by the fusion of British and Indian cultures through food, Crazy gin follows the same idea and pushes flavours that people wouldn’t normally associate working together in their gin. Botanicals of turmeric, coriander and black pepper inspired by base ingredients of Punjabi cooking, along with the more British botanicals of juniper and pomegranate are harmoniously joined together before the whole gin is fat washed with ghee to make for a beautifully flavoursome, really smooth gin that does just what it intended.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £39.95

London No. 1 Gin

Whether sipping neat or mixing this gin into a cocktail, you will not be disappointed. It’s a quadruple-distilled, small batch gin flavoured with botanicals including cinnamon, angelica, bergamot and gardenia. Check out its subtle blue hue - that’s bound to be a conversation starter during your Jubilee party!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £29.77

For more gin-spiration, check out The Best Gins for a G&T or The Most Popular Gin Cocktails!

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.