8 Stunning Wine Finished Whiskies You Need in Your Glass

If you’re not familiar with a ‘whisky finish’, then let us very quickly explain what it is. It’s when the spirit is aged in a cask from a certain origin, before being moved to a different cask for further maturation. More often than not you’ll find American oak ex-Bourbon barrels have been used for the first cask, but it’s often with the second cask that more unusual flavours come into play. 

One of our favourites for this whisky finish is wine, but there’s a hell of a lot of inconsistency with the results. It’s no simple task aging whisky with wine, so if it sounds like it might be up your street, here are a few of our absolute favourites worth seeking out.

Black Bottle Double Cask Alchemy Series

Two blends intertwine to create this; a malt whisky matured in Spanish sherry casks and a grain whisky matured in red wine casks. As a result, the red fruits and berries are influential from nose to finish, but they are balanced out by vanilla and nutty notes. This is delightfully sweet wine finished whisky and we love the bottle too!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find here: £25.75

Tamnavulin Red Wine Cask Edition

This splendid whisky is matured in American oak barrels and finished in French Cabernet Sauvignon casks imparting gorgeous notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and sweet red berry. It’s beautifully balanced because the mellow Tamnavulin works so well with the expressive fruity sweetness. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.74

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish

This is a gloriously golden single malt distilled in the Scottish Highlands finished in a 225-litre cask - hence the name! These casks used to hold Sauternes dessert wine, so it’s no surprise that this whisky is particularly creamy and citrusy, with traces of sweet spice lingering on the finish. It would work really nicely for a fruitier Irish Coffee.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.90

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 Bordeaux Edition

A fairly rare dram with a total of 358 bottles produced, it was distilled at Linkwood in Speyside and finished in a Bordeaux wine barrique (a fancier way of saying oak barrel, but particularly used for wines like Bordeaux). There’s a lot of very alluring baking notes with this one, including gentle spice, buttery pastry, baked apples and rich red fruits. The finish in particular is very warming with touches of roasted nut, pepper, and nutmeg. Super sippable!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £49.95

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton

Another whiskey finished in barriques, but this one is Irish! In fact, it’s billed as the first of its kind in that respect. Before reaching these Château Léoville Barton casks though, it’s initially matured in a mixture of ex-Oloroso Sherry and ex-bourbon barrels. The result is a deeply layered blend, with floral fruity notes, and a lingering spice that continues from palate to finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £53.99

Glenmorangie Nectar D'or Sauternes

The exquisitely named Nectar d’Or has the syrupy, honeysuckle, and orange peel notes that you’d expect from a sweet Sauternes wine. No smokiness, it’s golden inside and out and is definitely one for the wine lovers out there. It would work well with a lightly flavoured soda like grapefruit, but at this quality you’ve got to try it neat first. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £58.94 // US $81.99

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Finish 

This was whisky legend Billy Walker’s favourite wine finished whisky when he spoke with us recently, so you’re in good hands trying this one. A wonderfully well balanced Sauternes cask finish with plenty of fresh fruity sweetness on the palate, it’s a delightful dram.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £59.95

Whistle Pig 12 Year Old - Old World

Whistle Pig have been impressing people big time with their releases over the last few years and their award shelves must be feeling the strain, which explains the jump in price for this one. Old World is straight rye whiskey finished in three different wine casks – Madeira, Sauternes and finally Port. The spicy rye combines so well with the sweetness from the casks to create probably the best wine finished rye whiskey in the world. If you want to go all out, then this is the one for you.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £174.95 // US $179.99

We love wine finished whiskies at The Three Drinkers, so there’s a more detailed article here about Helena’s journey of discovery in Scotland. There’s also a few other fantastic options there that aren’t mentioned above!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

The Best Gins For Your G&T Under £30

You don’t need an excuse, but if you’re looking for a reason to pour yourself a crisp G&T today then we’ve assembled a fantastic collection of gins below for you to enjoy, and all for under £30 too!

The humble G&T goes back hundreds of years when it was originally used to ward off malaria and its official day of celebration, International G&T Day celebrated on 19th October, is a recent invention. On this day in 2010, 95-year-old gin lover Mary Edith Keyburn had her family sneak in one final gin and tonic to her hospital bed before passing away, so what began as a private family moment has become a global celebration of Mary’s favourite beverage! What a woman!

So without further ado, here are our gin recommendations for a delicious and affordable G&T…

Brecon Botanicals Gin

As you might guess from the illustrations on the bottle, this special edition from the wonderful Welsh Penderyn Distillery uses botanicals from the four corners of the world. There is a hint of citrus and deep bergamot that gives way to oriental spice, with a luxuriously clean and crisp finish as it’s made with pure water from the Brecon Beacons National Park. After all, there’s a reason it picked up a Gold at the 2021 Gin Masters! Serve it simply with lots of ice, premium tonic and some fresh lemon slices to really elevate the citrus notes. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £22.99

Broker’s Gin

Andy and Martin Dawson set out on a mission in 1998 to create the best London Dry Gin, and in 2010 they became the first ever gin to be awarded a score of 98 at the prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge, so you could say that’s mission complete. This fantastic gin is produced in a 200-year-old distillery using traditional copper pot stills and 10 botanicals including orange and lemon peel, angelica root, cinnamon, liquorice, and cassia bark. As the Broker’s themselves say, there are, ‘no frills and no peculiar ingredients’ and that’s true, it’s just a superbly balanced combination that creates a gorgeous, very subtly herbal, and slightly creamy profile. Hats off! Serve it over ice, with tonic and a lime for garnish. It would also make for a top drawer Negroni, but it’s a weighty 47% so careful with the ratios ;)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £23.75

Boodles British Gin

This is another London Dry Gin, and one that has gone from strength to strength since a big 2013 overhaul. Inspired by a recipe dating back to 1845 when Boodle’s Gentlemen’s Club was in full swing, Boodles oodles with flavour. The botanical list includes sage, rosemary, and nutmeg but there is a very unusual omission; there’s no citrus. As a result, Boodles has a mellow, aromatic, and gorgeously herbaceous quality to it. Serve with plenty of ice, premium tonic, and a peppermint leaf for a glass of refreshing coolness.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.93 // US $24.99

Edinburgh Gin

Made in the heart of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh Gin have been making a name for themselves for over a decade now. This is a gin that isn’t afraid to lead with its smooth juniper, but underneath that is citrus sweetness, earthy pine, and a really complimentary creaminess from the inclusion of milk thistle. All of this is topped off with a gentle touch of warming spice to finish, what’s not to love?! Try it over ice with your favourite tonic and an orange slice for garnish.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £25.94 // US $34.99

Malfy Gin Rosa

Malfy Gin Rosa is easily a gin you can get lost in and after a few sips you’ll wish you were enjoying it on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s still pretty good at home we have to say. Underneath that stunning pale rose colouring is a beautiful aroma of rhubarb and fresh citrus, followed by vibrant fresh Sicilian grapefruit and a long juniper finish. This would be fantastic with a Mediterranean tonic and of course some pink grapefruit to top it all off! On the other hand, or perhaps even in your other hand, if you’re in the mood for cocktails then it’s begging to be at the centre of a Clover Club, or perhaps a Gin Fizz too! Stunning.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: UK £26.49 // US $27.99

Love Delhi Gin

Have you ever thought about accompanying Indian food with gin? Well now’s the time. Love Delhi was created by one of the largest Indian caterers in the UK to compliment gourmet Indian food, paying homage to the fact that G&T originated in India! At the heart of this vibrant gin is the national fruit, Mango. Alongside pomegranate and juniper, they offset the spicy undertone superbly to create a wonderfully unique tropical gin. Plenty of ice (maybe more if you’re having a particularly spicy curry with it) and premium tonic is great to allow the gin’s strong flavours to come to the fore, and there’s only one garnish here – a sweet slice of mango! Nom!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £27.99

Crafter's London Dry Gin 

This gin is distilled in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia as it has been for over a century. Their oldest pot has even got its own name, which is Mamma Ilse named after the legendary master who worked there, Ilse Maar. Production secrets have been passed down through the years, including the skill involved in distilling 6 different botanicals separately. The unique bouquet of Nordic plants is spearheaded by veronica and fennel seed, creating herbaceous and flowery notes. It’s a beautifully aromatic dry gin that tends to win people around on a first try – see for yourself! Premium tonic, ice and a sprig of rosemary provide the perfect set up for this herby gin and tonic.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £27.99

Boxer Gin

Named in honour of the first Heavy Champion of the World, Tom King, who knocked back gins before each fight, Boxer Gin packs a mighty punch. The juniper berries are harvested from the slopes of Mount Everest and the botanical elixir is completed with fresh Italian bergamot, lemon, and orange, all meticulously blended in Victorian copper pot stills. These lively flavours are painted on a canvas of woody spice and subtle floral notes to create an incredibly complex and rewarding dry gin. This will make for a great G&T with a classic or elderflower tonic, and cucumber garnish to sit perfectly with the fresh and mellow palate. Truly a gin for champions!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.99

That’s your gin covered, but a great gin must be paired with a premium tonic to match right? Have a look here or here for some of our favourites!

By Calum Ecroyd

One Drink, Three Ways: Samuel Gelston's Irish Whiskey Cream Liqueur

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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Introducing Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey Cream Liqueur. The icons of Irish whiskey have ventured into liqueur for the first time in their long history and there’s serious indulgence here with notes of creamy vanilla, toffee, caramel, marshmallow and nougat. It would be amazing in desserts, but we’ve been busy trying it out in cocktails. The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….

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Helena’s Choice: The Belfast Shake

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Smooth and creamy, The Belfast Shake is an absolute indulgence. With notes of vanilla and chocolate and nutty tones too, all intertwined with the rich Irish whiskey backbone it’s a proper boozy shake and I love it! Simply Blend everything until it’s completely mixed and pour it into a hurricane glass. Grate the chocolate on top, add the hazelnuts if you like them, and voila!

The Belfast Shake

Recipe

50ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

60ml almond milk

10ml Orgeat/almond syrup

1 scoop of vanilla ice cream

1 scoop of ice

Garnish: grated dark chocolate & chopped hazelnuts

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Aidy’s Choice: Coffee & Cream

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If you’re anything like me you will love the sound, look and taste of this. Made in the same vein as the Espresso Martini, the Cream Liqueur just takes it to a new level of decadent delight. To mix it up, shake everything without ice. Then add the ice and shake everything again. Strain into a coupe glass and sprinkle some coffee beans over the foam. Think your mouth is watering now?! Just wait until you taste it!

Coffee & Cream

Recipe

30ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

30ml vanilla vodka

40ml expresso

10ml caramel syrup

Garnish: coffee beans on foam

Glass: Coupe

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Colin’s Choice: Benbane Cup

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The Espresso Martini’s Irish cousin is the perfect fireplace sipper. Rich liqueur, glorious coffee flavour, creamy texture, and a vodka backbone – I think that’s a very nice checklist indeed. It’s very simple to make. Pour all the ingredients into a glass over ice. Stir to your blending preference and top up with extra ice.

Benbane Cup

Recipe

30ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

30ml vodka

20ml cream

20ml coffee liqueur

Glass: Tumbler

UK
ABV: 17%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £17

Enjoy those suggestions? We’ve got plenty more here with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Glenmorangie X, or Don Papa Rum!

What is Mezcal and What Should I Try?

For many, mezcal is a drink shrouded in mystery. Is it tequila? Is there a worm in it? We’re here to let you know that mezcal shouldn’t just be in the shadow of tequila’s sombrero, so we’ve given you some great places to begin your mezcal journey.

What is Mezcal?

Chances are if you’ve heard of mezcal, you’ll associate it with tequila and that’s because they’re both made from agave plants. Unlike tequila which can only be made from the blue agave plant, mezcal can be produced from many different varieties. With a deep-rooted Mexican history, production methods vary widely so it really is a diverse spirit and well worth exploring.

What is the Best Mezcal Cocktail?

In Mexico, mezcal is often enjoyed neat, but since becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the U.S, it has found a home as a fantastic cocktail ingredient.

Our favourite is the Mezcal Margarita, providing a darker and smokier alternative to the tequila original. We think a subtle sweetness compliments it nicely, but the syrup is completely down to your taste. You can take it out altogether or add more in – that’s the beauty of making your own cocktail!

Ingredients
50ml mezcal
25ml lime juice
20ml triple sec
5ml syrup (agave if you have it)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Take your rocks glass, run a wedge of lime around half of the rim, and dip it into salt (smoked ideally). Add your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice and shake until everything is chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a lovely lime wheel. A thing of beauty!

What is the Best Mezcal to Try?

Mezcal Tasting Set

If the world of mezcal is completely new to you then you may not want to risk splashing out on a whole bottle only to find it isn’t to your taste, so how about a tasting set? This includes 5 different samples so you can experience each flavour profile and start working out what kind you like best. A warm introduction to mezcal indeed.

Size: 15cl
ABV: 42.4%
Find here: £28.95 5x15cl

Ojo de Dios Joven

Joven is a word you will see more of if you delve deeper into the world of mezcal. It is the youngest form of aging possible, so once the agave is roasted for 10 days and double distilled, it goes straight to bottling. As a result, you are hit by fresh fruit and pronounced smokiness. A perfect first mezcal.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £39

Dangerous Don Joven Mezcal Espadín

Dangerous Don might sound like someone to avoid at a bar, but the opposite can be said for this mezcal. Much like Ojo de Dios, it is produced from Espadín agave plants in the traditional artisanal fashion and is also joven. It’s super fresh and smoky from the heart of Mezcal heaven – Oaxaca!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £45

Dos Hombres Mezcal

If you’ve heard of just one mezcal then there’s a good chance it’s this one because Dos Hombres is co-founded by Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. Aaron wanted Bryan to fall in love with the spirit like he had, so they went to Mexico to sniff out the best Mezcal, and this is the end result. A traditionally produced Espadín mezcal that uses no modern technology, it has been smothered with awards since it began. Another hit for these two it seems – salud to that!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £56

Annabel’s for the Amazon x The Lost Explorer Mezcal

This sweet and smoky Espadín mezcal is a limited-edition collaboration between private members club Annabel’s and high-end mezcal brand The Lost Explorer. Available in a beautiful jungle gift box, each purchase plants trees in the Amazon, and The Lost Explorer make some of the most awarded mezcals in all of Mexico, so if you want something stunning inside and out then why not treat yourself? 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £120

Codigo 1530 Ancestral Mezcal

Codigo 1530 started as a private tequila stock available only to friends and family, but it was clearly too good to keep secret. Unlike most, this is an ancestral Mezcal which means certain production methods are required, such as clay-pot distillation and the inclusion of agave fibres. It uses 100% papalome agave and is produced in partnership with a small village of families who bleed mezcal. Top end but top notch.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.1%
Find here: £165

Clase Azul Mezcal Durango

Clase Azul’s mezcal range stands out for a few reasons. Firstly, they tend to make some of the most beautiful bottles in the drinks business and secondly, the lofty price tag. This edition uses prized Cenizo agave that grows wild in the Mexican state of Durango, where the climate is more extreme, and the soil is extremely rich in minerals. The curved bottle is colourfully topped by a pattern made by local artisans, and each batch is handmade and very small. It’s a very special drink if you want to go all out and try the most premium mezcals available. Definitely try it neat first to get the most out of it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £375

Any of these would spark new life into all of your tequila classics, so why not try mezcal in our Best Tequila Cocktails. Or for more detail on all things mezcal from fermentation to aging, flick through our deeper mezcal guide.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Bushmills Whiskey: An Irish Resurgence.

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I remember when Bushmills was the predominant Irish whiskey in the UK and Ireland. It was a while ago in the 1990s when I was at university and was learning as much as I could about whiskey. Scotch was all dominant, but if you liked Irish whiskey Bushmills was more than likely to be your dram of choice. After this time, other Irish whiskies came to prominence, however, if Proximo, who became Bushmill’s owner in 2014, has anything to do with it, this situation is about to change.

Bushmills has big ambitions to become the biggest Irish whiskey in the world. Now they know this takes time and effort, and that time and effort has to start somewhere. And where better than at home? I recently spoke to Alex Thomas, the master blender at Bushmills. Alex took up the post at the end of last year, and although she said it was a daunting prospect, it was a challenge she relished. Having worked at Bushmills for many years, being given the opportunity to blend Bushmills at a time when the brand was being marketed well for the first time in a long time is exciting. She said “we need to start at home, then one country at a time we have the possibility of becoming the biggest brand in Irish Whiskey”. A big claim, however, she has such conviction I don’t doubt her for a minute.

Bushmills have two great advantages to help them achieve this goal. Alex herself is a great asset, not only with her blending skills but also as an ambassador for the brand, she has an infectious enthusiasm and her knowledge is inexhaustive so to a whisky geek like myself Alex is fascinating to listen to. And secondly, but just as importantly, the whiskies, which are fabulous. I recently tasted three, the 10, 16 and 21 year old expressions and all were very good and exceptional value for money. Especially if one considers the prices of single malt Irish whiskey today.

Bushmills 10 year old

This whisky was the dram I most recognised from the days of old. Smooth and fruity. Melons and peach mix with hints of tropical guava fruit with a floral spicy finish. This whiskey won the best Irish single malt in 2007, and the quality is still there. Found in specialist retailers as well as supermarkets it is great value.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.99

Bushmills 16 year old

This 16 year old expression is a big step up from the 10 year old in its depth and breadth of flavour. Starting its life in ex bourbon casks, the whiskey was then extra matured in ex sherry casks, before finally spending a little time in ex Port casks. All these casks give different flavours and all marry very well together. With a nose of honey and stone fruits it develops on the palate with rich summer fruits, dark honey and tropical flavours. The finish is viscous with syrup and red fruits and a touch of spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £78

Bushmills 21 year old

This expression moves on nicely from the 16 year old. It has a similar richness, but a great deal more finesse. The nose has similar honey notes but also spiced fruit and dark chocolate. The whisky is matured, like the 16 year old, in ex bourbon and ex sherry casks, but finished for two years in an ex Madeira cask. This gives a tropical mango note on the palate balancing the nutty and dried dark fruit flavours. The finish is sweet with a little damp tobacco and spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £160

For more whisky content, such as great fruity whisky,  the best whiskies of 2022 and more, click here!

Au Vodka – The Most Talked About Vodka in The World?

If you’re not on social media you might never come across Au Vodka, but since launching in 2016 they’ve been making huge waves in the vodka pool. Through TikTok fame, endorsements from the famous, ‘Gold Gang’ and on-trend innovations like colour changing vodka, they’ve become one of the most talked about premium vodka brands.

Now, if you turn your minds back to Secondary School chemistry, you might remember that Au is the chemical element for Gold. So, if you’ve seen their all striking all gold bottle (or the two gold Lamborghinis on their website), that will make sense. Welsh duo Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn thought up the brand in 2015, and over the last few years, it has exploded. By the way, if you follow football, you may know Charlie Morgan better as the ball boy who was infamously kicked by ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard in 2013. So, it seems he has a knack for going viral, whatever the means!

Charlie gained some profile from this, and with rap DJ Charlie Sloth on board too, Au picked up the pace (ironic for a sloth). With his connections, he established The Gold Gang, an extensive list of well-known ambassadors including AJ Tracey, Big Narstie, Headie One and Tion Wayne to name a few.

Innovations like becoming the first colour changing vodka in the UK have kept Au on people’s lips in more ways than one. Their new Bubblegum flavour begins blue but add a little lemonade and you get a vibrant purple! Pretty cool and perfect for Halloween.

It’s not just the rappers, packaging and bubble gum bamboozling that’s getting attention either, it’s the vodka itself. It’s a 5 times distilled vodka, filtered through charcoal before being put through a high-pressure gold filter chamber! No expense is spared here.

If you want to taste ‘the gold standard’ of vodka and see why it’s getting so much online traction, it’s available for around the £30 mark here and in most supermarkets.

For those wanting to read more vodka news, make sure you check out The World’s Best Vodka in 2022 or if you fancy a martini tonight then The Best Value Vodkas for Martinis is a great place to head.

8 Of The Best Dark Rums Under £30

The amount of choice within dark rum, let alone all rum, can be quite overwhelming. But if you know someone who can wade through to find the best value bottles it’s a pretty good problem to have. Lucky for you, that’s us! No more (r)umming and ahing by the supermarket shelves – check out our best options for £30 or less below!

Mount Gay Eclipse

We start our Caribbean holiday in Barbados, swinging by the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, Mount Gay. Eclipse is named after the 1910 total solar eclipse, and the flavour is out of this world to match. It’s a blend of Bajan rums (what rums from Barbados are called if you didn’t know!), meaning no additives are present except caramel for that beautiful amber colouring. It’s quintessential Bajan nectar, enjoy!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £20.19 // US $26.99

Iguana Rum

‘Iguana tell you about this amazing rum’ is the best pun we have for this, so we’re just going to get straight into it. It’s a centuries old recipe from Cuba that made it’s away over to Panama where this is now made. Five years of maturing in oak barrels delivers a subtle oakiness and a hint of vanilla and spice. No crazy flavours, just a quality Panamanian rum. It makes a rock-solid base for any rum cocktail for sure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £20.27

Dunderhead Rum

You can be forgiven for not knowing what ‘dunder’ is, so let us help. It’s the liquid left in after distilling a rum batch (kind of like backset in bourbon production). It’s not alcoholic but can be added back in to bring new flavours, and that’s exactly what Dunderhead do. If you like Jamaican rums bursting with tropical flavour, then you might just be a Dunderhead! That’s no insult. There’s so much flavour for under £30 with pronounced notes of banana, pineapple and orange all packing a punch. Do not dunderestimate this one ;)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £21.95

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

A dark and delicious, well rounded Dominican rum with layers of flavour. Espresso, dark chocolate, and toasted hazelnut are a trio with a track record for tastiness, and we’re spoiled with manuka honey too. Indulgent ingredients at a fantastic price make this hard to beat. You’ll want to taste everything here so just lime and ice would be perfect. But let’s be honest this will suit any rum cocktail down to the ground as well – so go for whatever mood takes you!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £22.99 // US $21.99

Skipper Demerara Rum

We love a good vintage bottle and Skipper have stepped up to the plate with this one. Except it isn’t vintage in style, it is actually vintage – the label hasn’t changed since 1930! They’ve been distilling in Guyana since then, finetuning their rich and raisin-y Demerara Rum. Don’t change what isn’t broke as they say. Beautiful inside and out!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.44

Plantation Original Dark Double Aged

There’s a reason this rum picked up the top award at the Rum Masters in 2019 as well as 2020, and it remains one of the top value choices today. A tasty combination of Caribbean rums infused with plum, banana and vanilla before being further matured miles away in Southwest France. It’s a rum that’s been everywhere and that should definitely end up in your glass. Add ginger beer, ice, and lime and you’ve got yourself a top-notch dark ’n’ stormy.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.45 // US $17.99

Havana Club Anejo 7 Year Old

This is Havana Club’s first attempt at a sipping rum rather than a cocktail rum, and they hit the nail on the head first time because this Cuban Dark Rum has picked up more Gold Medals than Usain Bolt since its release. Matured in bourbon barrels, it carries notes of iconic Cuban tobacco, tropical fruits, and vanilla. What’s not to love? See for yourself why it’s so popular by trying it neat over ice as intended.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here £24.95

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

Appleton Estate celebrated their 250th anniversary in style with the release of this sweet and velvety smooth rum. Aged for 8 years in tropical Jamaica, it won Gold at the San Francisco Spirit Awards once it was unleashed, praised for its layers of honey, toffee, and warming spice. It’s delicious sipped neat but would sit perfectly in a Mai Thai with ice and lime too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £27.45 // US $34.99

For more rums to build a brilliant cocktail around, try these.

Or, if rum isn’t your thing, well done for making it to the end anyway, and explore our great value whiskies or best gins guides.

The Best Vodkas of 2022

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Vodka, a spirit born in Russia but now adored across the world with new distilleries popping up every week, its price and quality can both vary massively, so it’s handy to keep on top of the latest and greatest drinks. What better time to do that than after the Vodka Masters Awards 2022, we ask?! Well, luckily, you can chill because we’ve done the hard work for you. Here is our round-up of the world’s greatest vodka!

Budget <£20

Count Pushkin

Count Pushkin has been making waves in South Africa for a while now, and it’s finally been awarded praise on the International stage too, picking up a Gold at the 2022 Vodka Masters. It was first bottled in 1965 but has been tweaked ever since and seems to have reached its pinnacle! The only downside is that it doesn’t appear to be available outside of South Africa just yet. After this award win though, watch this space!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 43% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: 145 rand (approximately £8) 

Absolut

A stalwart of the supermarket shelves, Absolut Blue’s design inspired by an 18th century medicine bottle still catches the eye, and now it’s what’s inside that’s being praised too. Rewarded for its ‘texture and minerality’, it achieved a Gold prize at the Vodka Masters. It’s great value and ideal for a no-nonsense cocktail base, or even neat with ice and lime. Cheers!

Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 40%
Award: Gold
Find here: UK £18.90 // US $27.99

Tamova Quadruple Distilled 

This is a stunning coup for Aldi Australia whose Tamova Vodka came out on top of 139 competitors, earning a prestigious Masters Award. Part of the everyday range but with a quality you definitely don’t find every day, this velvet smooth spirit is simply perfect in your Cosmos or Bloody Marys. Right now, the four times distilled version is only on shelves down under, so we have a short wait to try it. In the meantime, the triple distilled Tamova is also well worth a try.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: $30.99 AUD (£18)

Mid-tier £21-£30

Black Cow

This is a rather unusual vodka that has been on everyone’s lips in more ways than one. It’s created on a West Dorset dairy farm and claims to be the world’s first pure milk vodka. The whey left over from the farm’s cheddar (also top notch by the way) isn’t wasted, and instead goes into Black Cow. Unsurprisingly this creates a subtle creamy note and as a result, it is amazing at the heart of an Espresso Martini, but it is flavoursome enough to enjoy neat too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: £24.83

Stalinskaya Gold

Sharing the top award with Black Cow is Romania’s finest, Stalinskaya Gold. Using pure water from 170 metres below ground, this mineral rich and finely filtered vodka has a surprisingly creamy finish and will no doubt be available elsewhere very soon. We can’t wait to try it!

Size: 70cl 
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: 85 lei (£16 but expected to increase in UK/US)

Koskenkorva Original 

Despite the string of awards over recent years, Koskenkorva is still produced in the tiny Finnish village of the same name. Made using continuous distillation, the end result is an incredibly pure and smooth vodka that you’ll be dying to Finnish ;)

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: UK £21.22 // US $22.89

Kingdom Recommends 

Like the beautiful elephant on the bottle, you won’t ever forget your first sip of this vodka. Five times distilled and charcoal filtered for a stronger flavour, only 250 bottles are produced in each small batch. The beginnings of a stunning cocktail right here. If you are a fan of gin too, make sure you check out Kingdom’s range of gins… trust us, you won’t regret it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £28

Slingsby

Spirit of Harrogate distil their vodka, not three, not four, not five, but seven times! It’s then blended with Harrogate’s natural spring water, which has been attracting visitors since 1571 we must add! The vodka is bottled in a delightfully vintage design ready to pour over plenty of ice or into a cracking martini. Bottoms up!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £25

Amundsen Expedition 1911

Amundsen was created to honour the famous Norwegian expedition of the same name, which set out to conquer the South Pole in 1911. In keeping with the ice brick bottle design and the expedition itself, serve this crystal-clear water at 0°c in a chilled glass. Skål!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £24.95

Masons Classic

With a background in gin, Masons have taken to this new challenge like a duck to vodka (that doesn’t really work but go with it). It’s a fantastic all rounder that carries all the traits of a top notch vodka – fresh, smooth and crisp. Their Espresso Vodka has also attracted attention too so if you fancy an Espresso Martini that is really bursting with coffee, that might be worth a try!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £29.80

Respirited

Nothing is wasted at London-based distiller Hayman’s, who have channelled their leftover grain spirit into this sustainable award-winning vodka. It’s not just the vodka that is repurposed either because the 100% recycled glass and label, sustainable cork and 1% of sales being donated to environmental causes make this one of the most forward-thinking vodkas on the list. And don’t worry, there’s absolutely NO compromise on taste!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40.2% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £26

Top end £30+

Chapel Down Chardonnay

You might be wondering what Chardonnay is doing on a list like this?! Well, well-known winery, Chapel Down, are at home working with grapes, and they’ve taken this into their vodka production too. Distilled Chardonnay grape skins go into this ultra-smooth spirit that picked up all the plaudits at the awards this year. It’s a very smooth vodka with notes of vanilla and citrus. Try it out now to see what all the fuss is about!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Master
Find here: £30.99

58 and Co

Another gin specialist dipping their toe into the vodka industry here, with a crisp 100% British wheat spirit. That’s not where the British theme ends either, as this vodka has subtle notes of clotted cream and biscuit to it – unusual for vodka, but we like it! It’s perfect in an Espresso Martini or a White Russian! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36

Desi Daru Original

Desi Daru is another vodka stilled seven times over, combining rich English wheat with pure Himalayan mineral water over 5,000 miles away. For lovers of fruity vodka, their Mango is well worth checking out too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £35

Royal Mash 2020

Hailing from the island of Jersey, you might be able to guess what goes into this high-end vodka. That’s right, world-famous Jersey Royal potatoes. Unlike the other award winners, this is distilled only once, retaining the character of the key ingredients. It’s vodka royalty with Royal Mash. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36.50

Cobalte

Cobalte is a lovely French vodka so no surprise then that there’s grape at the heart of it – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier to be exact. Usually used in Champagne, these grapes add a fruitiness perfect for cocktails but there’s more than enough flavour here to enjoy neat. Just add plenty of ice and voila!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £38.56

Snawstorm

When you think of Speyside you probably think of whisky, right? Well, Speyside vodka is here to challenge that with the powerfully named Snawstorm. Speyside malted barley spirit (the same stuff the famous whisky comes from) is blended with spring water from the Cairngorms and ta-da, you have a ridiculously smooth, clean Scottish vodka with delicate fruity notes.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £36.50

X Muse

There’s a bit of a jump up in price with the stylish X Muse which also picked up a Gold award. Uniquely, two barley varieties are distilled completely separately before being expertly blended later on. Another gloriously sleek vodka flying the flag for the UK at the awards and living up to its higher price tag. You can read more about X Muse here.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £55

Broken Clock

Hidgate’s Broken Clock is produced at one of England’s oldest distilleries in Cheshire infused with apples and a smorgasbord (we’ve been waiting to use that word) of botanicals discovered in old Georgian recipes. This is a broken clock that’s well and truly stuck at vodka time! Try it in a Martini with an olive and you will never look back!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £34.99

Cove

The British invasion of the top-end vodkas continues as we head to Devon for this one. Like its offshore competitor Royal Mash, it’s a potato-based vodka using King Edwards grown locally. Overlooking Hope Cove and distilling with a row of copper pots, the production site looks as blissful as this tastes. It’s a straightforward creamy vodka. Nom!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £39.50

Griffiths Brothers Vodka

A family run distillery deep in the Chiltern Hills, GB began as two brothers challenging each other to make the best gin. Years later, they’re now making not only gin but rum and now vodka too! It’s re-distilled with samphire, lemon and most peculiarly, horseradish. ‘Jack of all trades and master of all’ it seems, as this vodka has been awarded a Gold at the 2022 Vodka Masters. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42% ABV
Award: Gold
Find here: £31

From great value to absolute excellence, there’s something for everyone there. Now, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be itching to mix up some delicious vodka cocktails after reading that. Put these award winners to the taste test in a classic cocktail here. Or check out even more great value vodkas here!