This Summer: The Smoke Sessions with Ardbeg Whisky and DJ BBQ

Words by Helena Nicklin

It’s great news for fans of smoked meat and smoky whiskies as world-renowned Islay Distillery Ardbeg teams up with the brilliant master of the grill: Christian Stevenson aka DJ BBQ.

Launching today, The Smoke Sessions is an online series designed to offer the ultimate guide to barbecuing and smoking meat as well as the preparation of smoky whisky cocktail serves. In the sessions, DJ BBQ will explain and demonstrate the fundamental laws of smoke, wood and heat while spinning the decks in his inimitable style. All the while, Brendan McCarron, Ardbeg Distillery’s Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks will help creating spectacular, smoky drinks using Ardbeg Ten, An Oa and Wee Beastie.

“The taste of braided beef fillet alongside an Ardbeg Ten Old Fashioned is just awesome, and a sip of hot Wee Beastie punch with a slow smoked pork shoulder is unrivalled,” says DJ BBQ. “My smoky barbeque recipes share so many characteristics with the flavours of Ardbeg whisky, and they complement each other perfectly. The laws of wood, heat and smoke are so important to barbecue and single malt alike, and once mastered, you’ll become a barbeque boss!”

Watch  DJ BBQ create amazing recipes such as the 18-Hour Whisky-Smoked Pulled Pork, served with Ardbeg Wee Beastie Hot Apple Cider, Coal-Roasted Beef Plait served with Ardbeg Ten Maple & Bacon Old Fashioned, and Whisky Planked, Pit-Smoked Salmon served with Ardbeg An Oa Bloody Mary.

How to Watch

To watch the Ardbeg Smoke Sessions, tune into Ardbeg’s Instagram Live on Friday 24 July at 8pm BST to watch DJ BBQ kick it all off. Keep an eye on all of Ardbeg’s social channels and the videos can be watched at any time on YouTube here: 

Law of Heat 

Law of Smoke 

Law of Wood

How to Taste

Cocktail fans will be able to order DJ BBQ’s Maple and Bacon Old Fashioned for delivery across the UK, via Mothership on the Drinks At Home platform, for a limited period from 21 July 2020.

Like this? Try this piece on the Ardbeg releases ranked by smokiness and What is peated whisky?

6 Perfectly Premixed Negronis for the Summer

Words by Helena Nicklin

From what we can see at The Three Drinkers, one of this summer’s top drinks trends is bottled cocktails and drinks subscriptions services. There are several new companies that have sprung up recently, all offering some seriously good, balanced and beautiful looking premixed cocktails. Being huge fans of the Negroni however, we thought we’d highlight some of those specifically that have really turned our heads. All these are available to be delivered and make great gifts in the process, both for your friends or even, yourself!

Halo

Halo have won lockdown drinks. It’s official. Their selection of expertly prepared, super-fresh cocktails don’t just look the part and taste the part, but they are offered as a Zoom team drinks delivery service and are also available on a monthly subscription. Their Negroni comes in a 50cl bottle and comprises of London Dry Gin, Vermouth and Campari. A little softer than some you might get offered in a real bar, it’s dangerously drinkable. Serve over ice with an orange slice. Every month, they support a charity and this July it’s Black Minds Matter. Even more reason to taste!  £32 for 50cl. See more here. 

Cambridge Distillery Negroni

This luxury gin producer Cambridge Distillery has smashed it with the presentation and preparation of this pre-mixed Negroni. Deliciously aromatic with a warming, spicy kick, this Negroni is a limited edition, so get it while you still can. They are also donating 10% of all proceeds to a teaching hospital nearby. What is not to love about that? Find it here for £30 for 50cl.

Bottle Proof Negroni

Created for the hospitality industry to help train bartenders and to offer a high quality, reliable cocktail product that takes seconds to prepare, Bottle Proof makes both single serve measures (in the cutest bottles) as well as 70cl bottles. Buy one small bottle of each and it makes the greatest, most colourful drinky gift! I loved their Negroni; more fruity than some with pretty, perfumed notes thanks to the addition of bitters. Find it here at Laraza Cambridge, in 60cl bottles for £29.70 or single serve, 95ml bottles for £4.75.

Batch

This SE London cocktail bar has pivoted prettily during lockdown to offer some of its most famous cocktails in batches for local delivery. All small-batch and handmade, their Negroni is famously good, thanks in part to an extra splash of Bathtub gin. Why have we never tried this before? You can order online or through Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Find the Negroni here for £15.

Cocchi Negroni In A Box

Here’s a Negroni that fits through your postbox and can be carried in your handbag! Using one of our absolute favourite Italian vermouths ‘Cocchi’, this is a delicious version with equal parts Cocchi vermouth, London dry gin and Campari. Perfectly balanced with a smoothness that‘s characteristic of Cocchi, this is a cocktail that upgrades your picnic and park drinks. Find it here for £8.25 per 100ml or £39.95 for a 5 pack. 

SendANegroni.com

Another letterbox Negroni with the added fun of being able to personalise it with a message. From the team behind Porter’s Gin, it's a blend of this with Campari bitter and a new Parisien vermouth called Baldoria Rosso. There are two versions to choose from: the Classic One, which uses Porter’s gin or the Tropical One, using Porter’s Tropical Old Tom. They make brilliant alternatives to a birthday card and a fun gift for anyone of drinking age. Find them here for £10 for 50cl, message and delivery all in. Banging.

Like this? Try our latest Drinker Discovery post, 7 Rums That Scream Luxury, and the World’s best Sipping Tequilas

One Drink, Three Ways: Aloha 65

---

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.

---

This brand new style of spirit isn’t quite a gin, a vodka or anything else. It’s a refreshing, all-natural spirit with a tropical vibe, infused with fresh pineapple, ginger and lemon, a few herbs and a wonderful kick from local scotch bonnet chillies. Invented on the west coast of the U.S in a surf bar, it became so popular, the owners decided to bottle it. Delicious as a chilled shot, it's also extremely versatile; a great ingredient for relaxed cocktails at sundown and is vegan to boot, so a great crowd-pleaser. At 27% abv, it's also more social and session-able than other spirits. Here are three ways you can try it this summer at your barbecue. ..

---

Helena’s Choice: The Alohan

A refreshing, long summer serve with a burst of flavour and spicy kick. Perfect for batch cocktails and so simple to make. Simply pour 1 part Aloha 65 into a jug or pitcher. Add 2 parts ginger ale, a tonne of ice, lemon slices and sprigs of mint. Serve in highball glasses, jars or a copas.

The Alohan

Recipe

1 part Aloha 65

2 parts Ginger Ale

Ice (lots)

Lemon and mint to garnish

---

Aidy’s Choice: The Aloha Colada

The Pina Colada was recently tipped to be the number one cocktail ordered when bars reopen after lockdown, thanks to its celebratory, summery vibe! Here’s a much more interesting version of that, using Aloha 65 and its super simple to make. Just stick everything in a blender and blitz it for a few seconds before pouring into cool, large wine glasses or tiki glasses. Umbrella optional!

The Aloha Colada

Recipe

Ice

60ml Aloha 65

50ml coconut milk

75ml fresh pineapple juice

1 tbsp sugar syrup (2 parts white sugar to 1 part water)

Juice of ½ lime

Slice of pineapple and cocktail umbrella to garnish

---

Colin’s Choice: The Aloha Old Fashioned

Those who know me know I love all kinds of Old Fashioned recipes from the classic to the quirky. This is definitely the latter but it really works and is a much better option for sunny evenings. Stir all the ingredients together with ice, then strain into a tumbler and garnish with orange and a cherry, if you have one. Superb!

The Aloha Old Fashioned

Recipe

40ml Aloha 65

20ml Bourbon

2 dashes of bitters

Large ice cubes

Orange peel and a maraschino cherry to garnish.

Like this? Try our other One Drink, Three Ways articles: The Macallan, Tanqueray Gin and Noilly Prat Vermouth.

The World’s First Peated Tomato Juice

Yep, that’s right. This is the first tomato juice to have been infused with Islay peat smoke. The result? A totally unique flavour that screams “Bloody Mary!”. Not only is it richer and deeper in taste than your standard tomato juice, it’s hand-crafted in Scotland itself by a small team of gastronomic food innovators. 

Quite exciting, given how much we love a bloody mary. Now, they recommend you mix it up with vodka (recipe below), but I would argue for those who love peat as much as we do, drop a wee dram of whisky in there instead for a double whammy peat punch. Don’t forget that mandatory slice of shortbread on the side too.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with peat – it’s an organic material that has decomposed over millions of years. On Islay, it absorbs all of the sea salt from the atmosphere given you’re never far away from the coast, in doing so infusing all of that rich goodness when smoked.

A local smokery is used to extract maximum flavour, with the dried peat being infused into the fresh, seasonal tomatoes. What you get is a super rich batch of sweet, smoky and salty tomatoes and in turn, their juice. Damn. 

Okay, enough talk, let’s get to the good stuff. 

---

Tongue In Peat’s Smoky Mary Recipe 

Ingredients: 

50ml vodka (or a peaty whisky!)
6 drops Tabasco
8 drops Worcestershire sauce 1 pinch celery salt
1 tsp horseradish
2 tsp fresh lime juice 

Method: 

Rub a wedge of lemon along the rim of your glass, then coat with black pepper. Add the vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, salt, horseradish and lime juice before topping up with Tongue in Peat Smoked Tomato Juice. Fill the glass with ice then stir, and garnish with a wedge of lemon and celery stick. 

Tongue in Peat is now available in 250ml or 500ml glass bottles from selected online retailers including directly from Tongueinpeat.com as well as Paisley Drinks Company and Craft56.co.uk 

---

Cocktail Squad - Cocktails in a can

There is a long history of companies trying to make cocktails in a can and, up to now, there have been varying results. But there is now a company that has managed to create something really tasty. Cocktail Squad was created by Lauren and John Maggio. Lauren was born and raised in New Orleans, so it’s fair to say that the Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler attitude runs deep in her soul. 

A few years ago, Lauren was immersed in the world of raising four young children.  Actively trying to find a balance between her old and new life, she rarely had babysitter back-up and dinners out were not a frequent affair.  Frequently, Lauren and John were passing ships but when they could, they would steal away to catch up.

On one such occasion, the couple met at the bar of a new restaurant in Boulder and had a great cocktail. Having returned to the bar for more, they realised they couldn’t do this all the time and asked the barman for the recipe. He kindly obliged. Having made the cocktail for themselves, they thought: wouldn’t others like a cocktail that was ready to drink? And wouldn’t it be even better if it was in a can and therefore portable? With John’s experience of guiding companies in the food and beverage arena, Lauren knew she had the beginnings of something special.

They have six cocktails in the range which are all different and all very good. They are: the Greyhound, Gin and Tonic, Margarita, Vodka Soda, a Whisky Sour and a Bourbon Smash. If you have any of these cocktails made for you in a bar, they will vary in flavour and quality. I’ve had incredibly simple cocktails in one bar and then the same in another bar, only a few streets away, and it’s been terrible. The great advantage of the Cocktail Squad cocktails is the consistency. They will always taste great, and the next one will taste just as good as the last one! All are 10% ABV, gluten free and should retail at $4.99 – $5.99 per can and $20 – $24 per four pack.

The cocktails in their range have won many awards. Launched in 2018, they boast fifteen to date with some gold awards in the mix too. The Whisky Smash took gold in the Sunset International Spirits Competition in 2019 and the Greyhound won gold in the New York Spirits Competition in the same year.

People might say that it’s easy enough to make some of these cocktails at home. Whilst I can agree with that, it’s pretty tricky taking your perfectly-made cocktail out with you. The can is hugely convenient and no other mixers are needed. Perfect for any excursion, picnic, BBQ, rock concert or any situation where you’d like quick and easy access to a delicious drink.

My only complaint is that having enjoyed these in the USA, I can’t get them at home in the UK. So I’ll be booking my ticket back as soon as I can.

One drink, three ways - Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee

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.

If you pair the flavours of coffee, chocolate and a balanced but good dose of alcohol, what do you get? The Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee: a twist on a traditional Irish coffee. Containing only naturally occurring caffeine (30mg, or about 1/3 of a cup of coffee), and made from 100% Arabica beans, this drink has a very clean mouthfeel and very little bitterness. The stabilised and pasteurised cream needs no refrigeration and there are only 16 calories per ounce. This drink can be enjoyed in more than one way and we’ve got three to suggest as well as simply enjoying it out of the can. Whilst that is perfectly delicious, you can make more of this drink with a little imagination. 

Helena’s choice: Chocolate Espresso Margarita

Ingredients

Cocoa powder for the rim

2oz heavy cream (aka double cream)

½ oz Coffee Tequila

1oz Silver Tequila

½ oz orange liqueur

2oz Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee

Wet the rim of a cocktail glass and dip it into the cocoa powder. Place the heavy cream in a bowl and whisk until it has thickened to the consistency of whipped cream. Place the tequilas, orange liqueur, Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee and ice in a mixing glass and stir until chilled. Strain into the glass, float the cream on top and garnish with chocolate shavings and an orange twist.

The Chocolate Espresso Margarita is perfect for those late night chocolate cravings and when a proper drink is still wanted. By using the Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee, the cocktail is super-smooth and super-easy.

Colin’s Choice – Choco Peat

Ingredients

1oz of Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee

¾ oz Kahlua

1 ¼ oz Spicy vodka (Stolichnaya hot vodka)

¾ oz very peaty whisky, e.g. Peat Monster

Place all the ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice, stir and strain into a cocktail glass. 

Being a big whisky fan, I had to try this with whisky. This is simple to make and I particularly like the combination as peated whisky is a favourite of mine. Along with the peaty whisky the Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee gives a smooth mouthfeel, creamy texture and still keeps the alcohol levels in perfect balance. Perfect on a hot lazy afternoon for a pick-me-up.

Aidy’s choice – the experiment!

Ingredients

Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee

Whatever you want to mix with it

Aidy likes to try drinks with lots of variation, and he’s been mixing traditional coffee syrups with the Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee to suite the mood he’s in. This morning, he was in a salted caramel mood and this afternoon he preferred vanilla. He thought both of these variations worked very well. He then went on to try the Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee with different spirits. First of all he tried vodka, then Tequila and finally he even tried some crème de menthe which he said tasted a little like dark mint chocolate and coffee. 

He came to the conclusion that the Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee is very versatile and can be mixed with lots of different things. His suggestion is to think of a drink, alcoholic or not, and try mixing it with Mad Bean Mocha Iced Coffee. Have a go for yourself. 

Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee

Iced coffee made well is a fabulous thing, especially as a cocktail with cream liqueur and using the finest ingredients. These drinks are typically found in the best bars and restaurants and, because of the ingredients employed, are very difficult to make at home. They also have to be kept chilled as dairy products don’t do well out of a fridge.

This has changed, however, with the introduction of the Mad Bean Iced Coffees and, in particular, the Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee. Mad Bean wanted to create an iced coffee that can be consumed anywhere at any time. Made from 100% Arabica beans, this naturally occurring caffeinated beverage is a unique twist on the traditional Irish coffee. Mad Bean Hard Coffee provides a great blend of popular coffee flavours with an alcohol kick. It can be drunk hot or cold.

Mad Bean Vanilla Hard Coffee does exactly what it says on the tin. The vanilla flavours are natural and very well-balanced with the coffee, and it has a little kick of alcohol. It can be put over ice but also stands alone. It’s very good straight from the can.

The Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee can also be used as an extra ingredient in cocktails. An espresso martini can be made smoother and sweeter by adding Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee to the glass before the other ingredients, or by pouring it into the shaker.

Espresso Martini with Mad Bean Iced Vanilla Coffee:

Ingredients

3 parts vodka

1 part Kahlua

2 parts espresso (cooled)

2 parts Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee

Place the all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, strain mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with a few espresso beans.

From a can in your bag to a sophisticated cocktail, the Mad Bean Vanilla Iced Coffee really is all things to all coffee-loving folk!

One Drink, Three Ways: Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth

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.

Originally used as a tonic for medical purposes, a vermouth is wine that has been infused by botanicals and fortified with spirit. It can be dry or sweet, red or white and currently, most vermouth comes from France and Italy, though we are starting to see other brands appear globally. Noilly Prat is the original French vermouth and their dry white is the benchmark. Created in the fishing village of Marseillan in the south of France using local grapes high in acidity such as Picpoul, grape juice is part-fermented, then fortified to 18% to keep the sweetness. After that, some of the liquid is aged in casks inside and some outside in the elements, allowing a slow oxidation to take place. The two are blended, then macerated with a herbs and spices for several weeks before resting and bottling.

---

Helena’s Choice: The Original Apéro

---

The Original Apéro

Ingredients

Tumbler or wine glass

50ml Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth

Lemon or lime slice and /or rosemary sprig

Ice

Perrier water to taste

In the heat of the south of France, simplicity is king and it's easy to forget that with Noilly Prat Original Dry, you don’t actually need anything at all other than a large chunk of ice, a twist of lemon and if you can rustle one up, a lovely view. If you’re particularly thirsty, you could spritz it up with some Perrier water. Serve as an aperitif before any meal or more drinks and it’s the ideal way to cleanse the palate. I like mine with a sprig of rosemary too for that extra southern French je ne sais quoi.

---

Aidy’s Choice: The Vodka Martini

---

The Vodka Martini

Ingredients

Martini Glass

25ml Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth

25ml Grey Goose Vodka

Dash of orange bitters

Twist of lemon

No vermouth, no Martini. It really is such a key player in this classic cocktail and Noilly Prat is the go-to. My recommendation is to have 50% vodka (I like Grey Goose) to 50% vermouth, stirred together simply in a mixing glass over ice, then poured into a cool glass. Add a dash of orange bitters if you’re feeling a bit crazy and garnish with lemon. It’s simple and super elegant.

---

Colin’s Choice: The Pink Daisy

---

The Yellow Daisy

Ingredients

Nick & Nora glass

30ml Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth

30ml Gin

5ml Triple Sec

5ml Pastis

Maraschino cherry or Rosemary to garnish

Ice cubes

Going a little left-field with the vermouth cocktail here, there’s a surprising combination we discovered recently that just works and will appease those Martini drinkers who prefer gin to vodka. The Pink Daisy is an explosion of French flavours from the vermouth to the pastis and the triple sec and it looks rather glamorous too. Combine the wet ingredients in a mixing glass over ice, stir, strain and pour. The cherry gives it extra retro pizazz though if you’re not into that, rosemary works too!

If you like this, check out our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces on Macallan Whisky, Tanqueray Gin or Rémy Martin Cognac.

---