The 12 Best Scotch Whiskies to Sip This Burns Night

It doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to have a dram or two on any evening of the year, but there is one night of the year that gives me a reason to open something very special. A very special whisky means different things to different people on different budgets and at different points on their whisky journey, so suggesting whiskies to try for Burns Night can be tricky.

Within this article, I am choosing the best whiskies I have tried over the last year or whiskies I have loved for many years at every price point beyond the bottom shelf of a supermarket. I will be brief with a few of them as I have written about them before extensively, and for others, which are new to me or the market I will try and give a fuller view of why they should pass your lips. Whether it be budget or blowout, I hope there is something here that whets your appetite for Burn’s Night.

Glen Moray Classic

The all-time best value single malt whisky on the market today. It can be found in most shops at around £20 and can occasionally be found on special offer for under that. With typical Speyside flavours of honey, vanilla and lots of orchard fruit, this is the perfect whisky to start with.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £23.24 // US $29.99

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

This is the whisky which, when asked what’s my favourite, I have no hesitation in choosing. I have listed it many, many times, like in this round-up of all the Johnnie Walker expressions. It is complex with fruit, smoke and sweetness. As Tina would say, it’s “simply the best”.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £26.89 // US $33.99

Glen Grant 10 Year Old

Another very good beginner’s whisky from Speyside, packed with flavour. This has an age statement so it is a little more expensive. Created with tall stills, there are lots of fruity flavours and lots of malty flavours, there is also a touch of peat, so for those wanting to experience a little smoke in their dram, this is a great place to start.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £30.99

Dailuaine 16 Year Old

This is one of my all-time favourite whiskies. The balance of fruit, sweetness and wood is perfect. It is one of the few bottles in my house that is immediately replaced when it runs out. I think it is still incredible value considering it is a 16 year old and from a distillery which is rarely found in any other bottling. This is the only official one from owners Diageo and it’s hard to beat. Usually, you’ll find it for around £60 but it can be found for less, like the link below.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £45.75

Jura Seven Wood

Hailing from the isle of Jura, and by looking at the name, this whisky is clear about the way it is matured. Using seven different cask types, there is American oak and six other types including French oak, Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges. All this makes for a complex whisky with lots of fine oak character and a mix of orchard and white stone fruits with peach being the main one. Fine oak on the finish with some vanilla and a touch of smoke. A great way to start an island adventure.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 42%
Find it here: UK £54.89 // US $83.99

Dalmore 12 Year old

Moving into the highlands, Dalmore is one of the luxury brands in Scotch, and with good reason. Here we start to see the use of ex-sherry casks in the maturation which gives a dried fruit character, as well as fruit cake and spice. There are also delicate citrus notes and a little marmalade, and you can expect a long finish too. Complex stuff and perfect for Burn’s Night.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £55 // US $64.99

Glen Grant 15 Year Old Batch Strength First Edition

A sweet and spicy expression of Glen Grant and at 50% abv this delivers flavour in abundance. Plenty of sweet orange and orchard fruit with caramel, fine oak and vanilla. Apricot jam is dominant on the palate and spices cut through the finish beautifully. An impressive dram where the alcohol helps rather than hinders all the delicate flavours. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £59.95 // US $80.99

BenRiach 16 Year Old

This is a new addition to the Benriach range and a great addition it is. It is unpeated and matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks. Based on the original expression of the 16 year old which was made quite a few years ago now, it is a fruity Speyside with spice, toasted oak, a little dried apricot and a finish that is long and satisfying. Class in a glass.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £76.95

Octomore 10.1

Octomore is a smoky whisky on steroids. The peating levels in Octomore are said to be the highest ever in a Scotch. However, whilst making this whisky pretty extreme, there is also an elegance allowing the fruit to come through the high levels of peat. The peat is also sweet rather than ashy making it surprisingly easy to drink given the high abv. I’d add a little water to remove some of the nose prickle, but each to their own, and at least at this strength, the whisky gives you the choice. The 10.1 series is now in short supply and getting difficult to find, so if you see one, I’d go for it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £149.00

Bruichladdich Black Art 10.1 1993 29 year old

This is the 10th release of this brilliant whisky and the cask recipe is unknown to those outside of the distillery. It is even more complex than previous expressions of the Black Art with lots of chocolate, dark fruit jams and manuka honey leading to ginger, raisins, tinned peaches, tobacco, and spices. I could go on and on. It’s very impressive and although a bit of a splurge, this is worth every single penny.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45.1%
Find it here: UK £403.57 // US $699.99

Islay Single Malt 32 Year Old from the Thompson Brothers

This is incredible value for a 32 year old single malt. Although we don’t know which distillery it comes from, we do know that is is absolutely delicious. Bottled in small quantities and with the usual, unusual, and colourful label from whiskyhobo especially for the bottlers, this is a wonderful Islay whisky. With typical briny notes and lots of crushed shells, ripe olives and some ripe tropical fruits, it is complex and grows with air in the glass. Simon and Phil Thompson have become a bit of a cult in the independent bottling world, and with drams like this one, one can see why.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 49.3%
Find it here: £350

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old

This particular release of the Glenfarfclas 50 year old was created for the 50th anniversary of the owner and chairman John Grant starting in the Scotch Whisky industry. John is the 5th generation of the grant family to take the helm and it is the oldest family owned and family run distillery. It is a hugely complex whisky with sherry influence and the influence of five decades of gentle maturation. This is something very rare and special, and finding it, or any 50 year old single malt for less than five figures is also rare these days.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £9,000

Hopefully, there is something here you can experience for the first time and make this year’s Burn’s Night a memorable one. With the world of whisky expanding very quickly these days, it is good to have a day to reflect on the more traditional home of whisky, Scotland, and all its fabulous offerings. If you’re not too sure that whisky is for you, firstly, well done for making it this far but also, why not check out these Great Alternatives for Burn’s Night?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

What is Baijiu and What Should I Try?

Have you ever asked yourself ‘what is the world’s most popular spirit?’ Is it Vodka? Whisky? Rum, even?

The answer is that it’s none of them. The world’s most popular spirit is in fact, Chinese Baijiu. With Chinese New Year upon us, here’s your comprehensive introduction to this mega spirit with 6000 years of history and 10 billion dollars worth of sales a year.

What type of alcohol is Baijiu?

Baijiu, sometimes known as Shaojiu, is a colourless grain spirit that’s massively popular in China. Most commonly, fermenting cooked Sorghum (a flowering grass plant) is chosen, but millet, barley and rice are also used and it varies a lot across the country.

‘Jiuqu’ is added too, with ‘Jiu’ referencing alcohol, and ‘qu’ is koji, which is a fungus that is also used in the production of sake and soy sauce. Just like most drinks, the choices made at this stage create distinct flavour characteristics, which brings us to the question…

What does Baijiu taste like?

Baijiu can be an acquired taste at first, particularly to a novice drinker. In its sense of texture and flavour complexity, it could be compared to whisky. As you’ll see below, styles vary, but overall, you might expect musky flavours with sweetness and over-ripe fruits. There can also be coffee and soy sauce flavouring though, so it’s difficult to pin down!

Most of the time, the white spirit falls into that 40-60% ABV range, though it’s traditionally enjoyed neat with food – particularly if it’s a premium bottle. Of course, tradition is tradition but in day-to-day life, it’s often mixed.

Baijiu can be roughly split into four styles, each using different ingredients, ageing vessels, and ageing duration. So…

What are the different styles of Baijiu and how do they taste?

Light Aroma: Light, elegant and subtly floral. Traditionally made in a stone vessel with sorghum. Hails from the north, around Beijing.

Strong Aroma: Fruity, tropical, aniseed, complex. Multiple grains but aged in mud pits. Hails largely from Sichuan province in the southwest.

Sauce Aroma: Umami, soy, bean. Mostly sorghum but with multiple fermentations in stone brick pits.

Rice Aroma: Sweeter and mellow. Hailing from the south and often the lowest grade.

Baijiu is a massive industry, so of course there are sub groups innovating with different aromas all the time. ‘Chi’ aroma can be infused with pork fat for example, as well as sesame aroma and medicine aroma. The good news if you like baijiu is that there’s so much to explore.

This variety is part of the reason Baijiu is so popular in China. It dates back thousands of years, there’s almost certainly a specific type that appeals to you, it’s claimed to have certain health benefits and it plays an important role in Chinese culture. Like Vodka in Eastern Europe and Rum in the Caribbean, spirits can become much more than just a drink.

How do you drink Baijiu?

A lot of people wonder if you should drink Baijiu cold and unlike many spirits in other parts of the world, ice isn’t always a go-to. It’s often served, as mentioned, neat and at room temperature or even slightly warm in very small glasses.

Usually, there’s food present or an occasion to celebrate. It’s a social drink and is often shotted, rather than sipped. But, with so much variation, you’ll find people drinking it in all kinds of different ways, so do whatever you like!

3 Baijius to Try

Ming River Sichaun Baijiu

This is a clear sorghum gain Baijiu from the oldest operating distillery in China – Luzhou Laojiao. Fermented with wheat yeast in earth pits, the 2 month old mash is then distilled in small batches in a traditional Chinese still for up to 2 years. Instantly on the nose, it’s very fruity with melon, mango and pineapple coming through, with a baked earth richness following. It’s super smooth and deceptively gentle with a clean but flavoursome feel. Enjoy it neat first but then experiment in cocktails (check out the ones below!)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £36

Fen Chiew 5-Year-Old Chu Yen Ching Baijiu

The vibrant golden green here is from bamboo-leaf, which is also what ‘Chu Yen Ching’ refers to. This Baijiu is a completely distinctive taste, with an instantaneous spicy tang making way for lemon, honey and citrus. It has a more medicinal profile though, with a crisp herby and peppery finish. It won’t be a guaranteed hit with everyone, but it's a diverse tasting experience that some will absolutely love.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £60

Fen Chiew Blue Flower Baijiu

The strongest Baijiu of the three, Fen Chiew’s Blue Flower arrives in style, with a gorgeous traditional design. It opens up to an intriguing herbal palate. Think rosemary, sage, saffron and umami notes. Lifting the liquid is tangy orange for an intense finish. Serve it neat!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £150

3 Baijiu Cocktails to Try

Baijiu Highball

This is one of the simpler Baijiu cocktails to pull together. The pineapple shines through, and the lime juice cuts through very pleasantly. Very clean and refreshing to sip on with plenty of subtle notes to keep you intrigued until the final drop.

Ingredients
60ml Baijiu (try Ming River)
Tonic (to the top)
Lime squeeze

Method
Just add your Baijiu first then pour tonic to the top and stir gently with fresh lime.

The Golden Empire

Baijiu’s intriguing use in mixology has been a big part of its newfound international popularity and this cocktail won a Fenjiu (Baijiu producer) cocktail competition a few years ago. It’s a golden, moreish concoction blending sherry, vermouth and Baijiu, created by Andrea Dionori of the Crazy Bear. Expect refreshment, sweetness and a cocktail unlike anything you’ve had before.

Ingredients
35ml Fenjiu Baijiu 10 year old.
10ml White Vermouth (preferred: Cocchi Americano)
7.5ml Palo Cortado sherry
10ml Homemade Palo Santo cordial (optional)

Method
Simply shake well with plenty of ice!

The Royal Rabbit

This is a lovely, sweeter Baijiu cocktail that might be ideal if neat Baijiu is a bit too much for you at first. With underlying tartness from the lemon and raspberry juice, it’s crisp and refreshing with the perfect amount of sweetness, really bringing out any fruity notes from your chosen Baijiu.

Ingredients
50ml Baijiu
40ml Raspberry juice
Top up with lemonade
Garnish with fresh raspberries

Method
Stir well until everything is thoroughly combined and finish with some ripe raspberries for the perfect flourish.

If you’re in the mood to explore iconic spirits synonymous with other countries, then check out our article on Tsikoudia, a Cretan Hidden Gem!

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night

January 25th brings Burns Night, the birthday of The Scottish Bar, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. His classic works like Auld Lang Syne are known across the world, and traditionally, haggis and Scotch are served after reading Rabbie’s words to ‘address the haggis’.

It’s the perfect excuse to pour out a special dram, but believe it or not Scotch lovers, not everyone loves it! So, whether it’s wine, spirits, or even alcohol-free drinks you’re looking for, these are the best alternatives to sip on during Burns Night, that give nods to the event without going the whole hog, or the whole haggis. Enjoy!

WINE

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

Another fantastic wine drinker’s choice for Burns Night is this Double Barrel Shiraz... because it’s literally aged in Scotch whisky barrels! Available in almost all supermarkets, this Jacob’s Creek range includes other wines finished with Scotch, but the Australian Shiraz is really top notch. It’s first matured in traditional oak wine barrels, building richness and elegance with hints of blueberry and ripe plum. Finishing in Scotch barrels leaves for a seriously moreish easy-drinking smoothness as well as vanilla and charry oak notes. It’s a fantastic food-friendly Shiraz that would sing alongside beef, mushrooms, and blue cheese.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £10 (usually £12!) Sainsbury’s // US $21.99

1000 Stories Chardonnay

1000 Stories make a number of wines, with each fermenting in charred barrels that once housed iconic Kentucky bourbon. We’ve picked out their Chardonnay which reimagines the Cali classic without losing the characteristic of what makes the full-bodied grape so loved. The result is lush, charred vanilla and toasted caramel perfectly balanced by the more familiar baked apple and pear. The inclusion of a little Viognier adds even more intrigue with tropical hints in the background. Gorgeous!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5% 
Find here: UK £16.50 Tesco // US $16.99

SPIRITS

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend

The peak of rum heritage is Mount Gay who release some absolute crackers, and the dark and brooding XO is right up there. Resting for between 8-15 years in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks creates a precision balance. A lovely oakiness underlines everything, decorated with inviting notes of waxy pear and sticky toffee fig pudding. Full-flavour, impossibly smooth, and finally the very gentle warming spice that you need on Burns Night – it’s the best rum option to replace Scotch. Try it with a large coconut water ice cube to really accentuate the coconut notes too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £54.59 // US $64.99

Firkin Gin Islay Cask

Firkin Gin produce some delicious gin, many finished with wines and whiskies. We even tried their Côtes Du Roussillon in, ‘The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky’, but on Burns Night, gin lovers should go to their Islay Cask! Best known for Scotch, Firkin Gin have imparted that Islay character into this London dry-style gin by resting it in oak casks that used to house local whisky. In amongst the juniper, lime and honey botanicals, peat smoke wafts through on the nose before distinct vanilla and sea-breeze notes on the palate. The peppery finish ties up the peaty elements nicely, for a gin that is both light, zesty, and coastal, but smoky too. Explore it neat but perhaps serve with ginger beer after that.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34.99

Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila

Raised in Texas but born in Scotland, Michael Ballantyne founded the award-winning Storywood to produce tequila, ‘with the heart of Mexico and the soul of Scotland’. It’s unusual to see Speyside and Tequila in the same sentence, but the 100% blue weber agave añejo matures in Scotch casks from the area for 14 months to create one of the most uniquely layered tequilas around. Think caramelised nuts and toasted oak, intertwining with the earthy and vegetal agave that sits at the heart of it. Innovative and well worth a try to see if the combination is a hit for you!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.30

Kalak Peat Cask Vodka

Another expression you don’t see often but just so happens to be the perfect alternative to Scotch for Burns Night... cask-aged vodka. Kalak’s crisp Irish malted barley vodka is distilled four times and finished in virgin American oak casks charred over Irish peat fires. What an image that is! A mellow smoke coats the bakery profile of vanilla, gingerbread, and cream wonderfully. The whisky presence is far from overbearing if you’re worried about that, it just adds a new toasted layer to the existing characteristics. We think this would also create some really unique cocktails, like a Smoky Martini. Cheers to Rabbie!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.90

Beeble Honey Whisky Liqueur

If you’re anything like us you’ll be instantly curious about that distinct honied hue and giant bee, and even more intrigued about what ‘honey spirit’ is. When the founders began their first hive, they found it difficult to avoid wasting the honey that stuck to the frames. They tried soaking them in whisky and the first Beeble batch was born. They now have over 130 sustainable hives, and still only use honey, water, and whisky. English apple blossom honey blends with Scotch for a super silky and floral bottling at just 30%. If you really don’t like whisky, then maybe stay clear but if you want to explore a much easier drinking sweet liqueur version, then this is a must try. It won a Great Taste Award in 2020 for its original flavour so see what you think!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 30%
Find here: £32

NO LO

Feragaia

If you don’t drink alcohol but still want to sip on something special for the celebrations, then how about Feragaia? It’s a Scottish alcohol-free spirit combining 14 wild botanicals including chamomile, bay leaf and seaweed with local Scottish water. The grounding spices like pink peppercorn work well with the coastal Kelp and fresh lemon and blackcurrant for a really balanced and clean feeling of flora and earth. It might look like a very pale whisky, but Feragaia doesn’t intend to try to replicate a spirit, instead they hope that this stands in its own right as its own thing. Bravo!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £19.94

Crossip ‘Dandy Smoke’

Crossip has a great range of booze-free spirits, but it was Dandy Smoke that picked up The Independent’s Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit of 2021, and it has that Scotch profile we’re looking for. It’s smoky (obviously!) and velvet smooth with satisfying viscosity, which is important because a thin feel can be an issue with booze-free spirits. Underneath the enjoyable texture are layers of warming spice with a subtly medicinal punch not dissimilar from Islay expressions. It’s a smaller bottle than most but a little goes a long way with this one. Try it with cola or ginger ale, or even at the base of a fresh mocktail!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £22

If after all that you’ve come full circle and just want quality Scotch for Burns Night, then check out our list of the very best, from budget to blowout.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Budmo! Dima’s Cocktail Book Supporting Ukraine

Dima Deinega is the man behind namesake brand, Dima’s Vodka, an award-winning triple-grain expression picking up prestigious gongs from the IWSC, World Vodka Awards and Vodka Masters… and now, he’s also the man behind, ‘Budmo!’, a book of vodka cocktails from his homeland.

If you’re wondering, Budmo (pronounced Bood-more) means, ‘let us be’ and is the shortest and most popular Ukrainian toast, usually featuring a hierarchy of toasts around the table. Dima’s book celebrating the art of toasting features fifty essential recipes created by expert mixologists from Kyiv cocktails bars, celebrating vodka’s special place in the culture. As Dima himself puts it, “Vodka is an integral part of the Ukrainian lifestyle with generations of expertise and tradition behind it. With different regional flavour profiles, it crosses class and status boundaries and is suffused into the country’s culture, uniting the nation.”

Highlights include the Kyiv Mule, The White Ukrainian, the Beetroot Bloody Mary and Parovoz Bar’s Green Pea Cocktail, a smoothly shaken cocktail entwining the richness of Dima’s Vodka with green pea shoots and celery bitters! You even get a QR code to walk you through making each one, as well as insight into the exciting Ukrainian bar scene, vodka infusions (nalyvkas), traditional pickles and beautiful accompanying photos.

Most importantly, a minimum of £5 from every purchase goes towards First Aid Ukraine in their time of need, and you can purchase the book on its own for £25 or combine it with a gorgeous bottle of Dima’s for £55 (the perfect star of the show for your vodka cocktails).

Super inventive recipes, stunning Vodka, and the opportunity to support and celebrate Ukraine – Budmo to that we say.

If it sounds like it’s up your street, please visit Dima’s website to learn more about their premium products and purchase the cocktail book!

The Best Hot Toddy Cocktail Variations

What is a hot toddy?

There’s nothing quite like a hot toddy to soothe the winter chill in our bones is there? The history of the hot toddy is by no means set in stone. In India, toddy has long been a fermented palm tree sap concoction, and by the end of the 1700s, it came to mean, ‘a beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices’ in the United Kingdom.

One man credited with its popularity is Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician who prescribed hot brandy, cinnamon, syrup, and water in the 1830s to his patients with flu. Now that sounds better than tablets to us!

These days, the winter warmer is loved by many to jump-start mornings, soothe colds, and sore throats, as a nightcap, or just to heat up during the chilly nights. So versatile! And the good thing about that is, there are tonnes of room to adapt the recipes...

So, without further ado, here are our best hot toddy variations, whatever you’re in the mood for, and even if you don’t like whisky!

For the traditionalists: The Original Hot Toddy

Some recipes are as simple as whisky + sugar + water, and others read more like full shopping lists, so we’ve kept it fairly simple with cloves and cinnamon for mellow and warming spice, honey for sweetness, lemon juice to cut through and of course, a gorgeous splash of whisky at the heart of everything. Balanced and beautiful, it’s soothing comfort in a mug.

Ingredients
1 clove
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
100ml-150ml hot water
35ml Whisky (Johnnie Walker Black Label is great)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Grab your favourite mug or handled glass and add the water. Mix in the whisky, lemon juice and honey until it’s completely disappeared. Chuck in the clove and the cinnamon if you like it. Most important of all, have a taste and adapt it how you like! You can add some sugar, or some more lemon, or even a splash of whisky if it’s not got enough oomph.

For the bourbon drinkers: Ginger Toddy

Bourbon works just as well as Scotch in a Hot Toddy, so it’s just down to your preference, but we love it with the ginger here. Those warming spicy notes, with vanilla and caramel bourbon hints create a delicious bakery feel to the cocktail. This is guaranteed to leave a lovely zing in your mouth and warm you down to your toes!

Ingredients
35ml bourbon
15ml ginger syrup
100ml hot water
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Combine the bourbon, ginger syrup and hot water in your favourite mug and stir thoroughly, adding a splash of lemon juice if you want extra zing! Then enjoy!

For the cider drinkers: The Hot Apple Toddy

Now be aware that this has a serious kick to it because the water is being swapped out for apple cider. You can still add cinnamon and a clove if you wish, but if you’ve used a good cider then there should be bold enough flavours without. Along similar lines, if you’d prefer an even fruiter version, use apple brandy instead of whisky! Oh so satisfying and that subtle tang is lovely.

Ingredients
1 tsp honey
100ml apple cider
35ml whisky or apple brandy
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Method
Heat up your cider in a saucepan and pour this into your mug or glass coated with honey at the bottom. Add your whisky and optional spices and stir well.

For the gin lovers: Hot Gin Toddy

There are even options for you gin lovers out there. The Hot Gin Toddy relies on the beautiful botanicals in the gin, with the heat opening them up and giving them a new lease of life. It’s just as warming, but with a pleasantly aromatic profile that’s surprisingly light and refreshing too.

Top Tip: Dry gin will work better because the botanicals tend to react to hot water more reliably.

Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
35ml gin (dry)
100ml hot water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick (garnish)
1 lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Super simple, just mix everything really well with the hot water and give it a final stir with the cinnamon stick. Make sure the water isn’t boiling hot because this may be too harsh on the gin.

For the rum drinkers: Hot Rum Toddy

Rum fits so nicely into the Hot Toddy recipe, with those warming spices and underlying sweetness accentuated beautifully. Whilst Scotch has always been the Hot Toddy go-to in the UK, rum used to be far more readily available in America, so this or brandy was usually used. Any rum works, but we would suggest dark rum for that deep caramel flavour, and the spicier notes.

Ingredients
1 tbsp honey
35ml rum (preferably dark)
100ml hot water
1 cinnamon stick
Lemon wedge (garnish)

Method
Stir together everything so that the honey is completely dissolved and drop in the cinnamon stick giving it plenty of time to diffuse. Garnish with a lemon wedge to finish, and squeeze in a little juice if you prefer! Truly a fireside sipper that gives the original a run for its money.

For the vodka drinkers: Toffee Apple Hot Toddy

This may ring some bells because we recommended it as the perfect Bonfire Night cocktail when Lewis Stairs, founder of Sunday Cocktail Club joined us in Ep.96 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast. It’s gorgeously smooth, with that slightly sweeter bourbon intertwining with crisp toffee vodka. The apple juice completes the hot toffee apple vibe, and it’s a fantastic option if you’ve got a sweeter tooth.

Ingredients
25ml toffee vodka
50ml bourbon
40ml apple juice
Splash of lemon (optional)
Cinnamon stick (garnish)

Method
All you’ve got to do is heat everything up in a saucepan until it’s hot throughout, but not bubbling. Keep some cool apple juice behind to cool it down if needs be. We love the very subtle sour edge that the lemon provides, but feel free to leave it out – it’s your creation! Feel free to check out Lewis making it here.

For the non-alcoholic drinkers: Apple Berry Toddy

There are lots of alcohol-free hot toddy variations using different types of tea, but we wanted something that still has the boozy profile to it... just without the booze itself. Step up Crossip Rich Berry, perfect for mulled wines but also hot toddies. It’s packed with rich blackberries and cherries, and a lovely layer of spice. Obviously, there isn’t quite the power that comes from a spirit, so swap out the water for some lovely hot apple juice and it’s a warming winner with heaps of flavour.

Ingredients
25ml Crossip Rich Berry
125ml Apple Juice
Lemon (garnish)

 Method
Like every hot toddy, it’s easy to pull together. Just heat everything together and decant! A little squeeze and garnish of lemon is a nice finishing touch. The only difficult bit is trying not to finish it all in one sitting!

If you are looking for more delicious drink ideas this January, why not check out our recommendations for the best no and low alcohol drinks?

Words by Calum Ecroyd

One Drink, Three Ways: Mirabeau Gin

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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Mirabeau is always one of our top choices for quality and value when it comes to rosé, so when they announced their journey into juniper a couple of years ago, we had high expectations! We were not disappointed. 

In this gin, there are the familiar base botanicals of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander, but inspired by the surroundings of the Saint Tropez estate, it’s the Riviera twist of herbs like bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really grabs your attention. The result is a fantastically fruity and well-rounded gin with fresh citrus character that’s bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. Those herbs add an extra kick at the end too for an extremely satisfying and complete drink with all the glamour of the Côte d’Azur.

There really is plenty here to enjoy neat, but with so many appealing notes, it only makes sense to get some stunning cocktails going eventually...

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Helena’s Choice: Mirabeau Pink Gimlet

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Mirabeau gin is perfect for a characterful, gin sour style cocktail. The lime and grapefruit play up to the citrus in the gin and are pitched perfectly against the sweet syrup. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and balanced while showing off the beautiful, fruity gin. Simply pour all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake together, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with half a wheel of lime and that’s it. You’re transported to the French Riviera!

Mirabeau Pink Gimlet

Recipe

50ml Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin

25ml Simple Syrup

50ml Lime Juice (1 lime)

75ml Pink Grapefruit Juice (1/2 a Grapefruit)

Crushed Ice

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Aidy’s Choice: Mirabeau Rosé Negroni

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Negronis are, by their nature, one of the most adaptable cocktails and I adore this rosé led version. All three work together to elevate the fresh floral and citrus notes, and the underlining herbs add a tonne of depth from the background to round it off. Immensely refreshing and a lip-smacker alright. Simply add the Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin, Lillet Rosé and Luxardo Bitter Bianco into a tumbler filled with plenty of ice and stir gently until the ice starts to melt. Take the zest of a grapefruit and wipe it around the rim of the glass. Pinch the zest to express a little oil, add it as a garnish and enjoy!

Mirabeau Rosé Negroni

Recipe

25ml Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin

25ml Lillet Rosé

25ml Luxardo Bitter Bianco

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Colin’s Choice: Mirabeau Rosé G&T

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There are cans of Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin & Tonic in Waitrose, but this cocktail version is a notch above if I can be so bold. The floral Mediterranean tonic with its herbal notes complements similar notes in the gin and provides a really light and refreshing base. The Angostura bitters emphasise the citrus fruitiness and embolden the cocktail to become more than just a refresher. 

Place some ice in a large wine glass and gently wipe the rim of the glass with the zest of grapefruit. Pour in the Mirabeau Riviera Dry Rosé Gin, the tonic, and add the drops of angostura. Stir gently with the sprig of rosemary which also makes the perfect garnish once you’re finished. Perfection.

Mirabeau Rosé G&T

Recipe

50ml Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin

150ml Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic

4 drops Angostura Bitters

Zest of Grapefruit

A sprig of fresh Rosemary

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35

We’re always mixing up new cocktails at Three Drinkers HQ, so make sure to check out the rest of our recommendations here!

House of Hazelwood Whisky

Occasionally in the world of Scotch, something comes along which is new. They tend to be innovations using younger liquid or unusual barrel finishes, or out-of-the-norm production methods. All are within the rules. However, this year something new arrived that opposed all the above. Old, sorry, very old Scotch whiskies in traditional casks, that were made many, many years ago, using traditional methods.

What types of whisky does House of Hazelwood produce?

House of Hazelwood for the last few years has been producing blends with some age to them. Starting at 18 and rising to 25, they were premium blends. However, the brand has now been re-invented and reimagined. They have taken this initial idea and gone way beyond creating premium blends.

House of Hazelwood has been re-born. As part of the William Grant and Sons portfolio, they have access to some of the rarest Scotch whisky casks in Scotland laid down by the Gordon family over a period of nearly 100 years. However, although they are a part of the William Grant and Sons portfolio, they are a separate entity and do not answer to the whisky team there. In being “independent” they can be creative and they can also be nimble as a new, smaller business. And oh my what they are creating is magnificent.

Which Whisky is Used in the House of Hazelwood Blends?

They are still blending, but with a difference. The youngest blend created to date is 33 years old, with many over 40 and 50 years old. The whiskies by nature of their age are very rare, and the blends created from these old and rare casks are one-off blends, never to be repeated. Two of my favourites were a blend from 1963, called ‘A Singular Blend’ created from both grain and malt whisky distilled in the same year and at the same highland distillery in 1963. The other is a blend from 1965 called ‘Blended at Birth’. Now forbidden by the SWA, this whisky was created by blending different new make spirits straight off the stills that were then placed in casks together to age. There is precious little liquid left in some of the casks leading to very small numbers of bottles being created for each blend. For example, ‘A Singular Blend’ had only 74 bottles in existence. Of which there must be less now as one was opened for us at Hazelwood House when we visited the Gordon family home after which the brand is named. Even though the whiskies are of such age and rarity, they surprisingly don’t cost the earth. Unlike many other whiskies, House of Hazelwood has whiskies from a little under £1000 and even the rarest of them all is under £5000. Although a lot of money for a bottle of whisky, these are no mere bottles of whisky.

The brand itself talks about these whiskies being a family of individuals, each whisky being unique within the overall collection. It seems very apt with the idea coming from the Gordon family. With such individuality in the whiskies, there is no precedent for them to release whiskies at a particular age or adhere to a particular formular. They can bottle the spirit when they feel it is ready, not feeling forced to push whiskies to an age beyond their natural conclusion. And once drunk, these one-of-a-kind snapshots of whisky history are truly gone forever. You can see more about this beautiful whisky here.

If you’ve enjoyed this feature, why not have a read of what Master Blender Billy Walker shared when we caught up with him to talk all about the GlenAllachie range?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

One Drink, Three Ways: Glen Grant 15-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch

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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We’ve been working our way through different ages of Glen Grant Scotch whisky lately and loving every sip. Their 15-year-old spirit is matured in a balanced combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks before eventually being bottled at 50% abv. Oomph! Behind that inviting gold colouring is a superbly well-rounded bold and fruity flavour profile, with rich vanilla oak char laced throughout. If you like Speyside whisky, you’ll love this.

You might have seen our Glen Grant 10-year-old cocktails, but these are a lot simpler with fewer ingredients. Put simply, all the hard work has already been done for you at the distillery and in this case, less is more. Enjoy!

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Helena’s Choice: Classic Highball

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With more and more drinkers looking to take their first steps on the whisky road, highballs are a great, accessible way to start the whisky journey before hitting the stuff neat. With such a flavoursome, well-rounded Scotch, a classic highball is the perfect way to enjoy a delicious 15-year single malt at its peak! Simply pour the whisky into a highball glass with ice and top it up with soda. Sublime.

Classic Highball

Recipe

50ml Glen Grant 15 YO

Soda

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Aidy’s Choice: Bobby Burns

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Here’s a classic Scotch cocktail if ever I saw one. Made in the same vein as a Rob Roy but superior (if I do say so myself), this is a deliciously boozy cocktail. The three liquids balance out really well to create a rich and subtly spicy concoction that is dangerously sippable. You can mix up the ratios to your taste, but all you’ve got to do is stir everything with ice, strain into a glass and serve with a nice orange twist! 

Bobby Burns

Recipe

40ml Glen Grant 15 YO

20ml sweet Vermouth

10ml Benedictine

Orange twist

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Colin’s Choice: On the Rocks

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A big lump of ice and a generous pour of beautiful whisky – sometimes you can’t beat simplicity. This Scotch certainly isn’t one to wilt in the limelight, so it performs well on the rocks where you can experience all of its layers. Just sip and enjoy as the ice melts.

On the Rocks

Recipe

50ml Glen Grant 15 YO

Big piece of ice

ABV: 50%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £59.95 // US $80.99

For a slight change of pace, check out our options for the younger 10-year-old Scotch!