Apple Pie Cocktail

It’s getting around to one of our favourite times of the year! Fresh, Autumnal air, walks with the leaves crunching under your feet, a warm fire when you get home… oh, and a yummy apple pie cocktail to celebrate the season! Here’s how you can make yours… you’re welcome ;)

Ingredients

60ml Premium vodka
60ml Glen Moray Scotch whisky, sherry cask finish: ‘Elgin Classic’
230ml fresh apple cider or apple juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional rim:
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Honey

Method

1. Combine the sugar and cinnamon and place it on a shallow plate.

2. Rim 2 glasses with honey and dip them into the mixture.

3. Fill the glasses with ice.

4. Combine the vodka, whisky, and apple cider in a shaker and mix well.

5. Divide between the two glasses.

6. Garnish with sliced apples and a cinnamon stick if desired.

If you like the sound of this don’t forget to check out our Clover Club and The Daiquiri cocktail recipes too!

The Daiquiri

Often misunderstood as an overly sweet, alcoholic slushy, when made well, a Daiquiri is quite literally a simple stunner that really should be given a second chance.

Ingredients

2oz rum (we recommend Havana Club 3 year old rum)
1oz lime syrup
¾ oz sugar syrup*
garnish lime twist
*N.B. this cocktail will work with strawberry / banana syrup also

Method

1. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes.

2. Shake well.

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish.

Check out Aidy’s short history of the Daiquiri in episode 20 of our podcast here and if you are a fan of a good cocktail don’t forget to check out our White Russian and Clover Club recipes too.

White Russian

Whether it be summer and you don’t fancy a dessert but still want something sweet, or winter when you want to curl up in front of the fire with a good drink, this cocktail really is a hug in a glass that suites all occasions. Use a decaf coffee liqueur and it won’t keep you up all night too!

Ingredients

60ml Vodka (we recommend Belvedere / The Oxford Artisan Distillery)
30 ml Coffee liqueur (or Kahlúa). Conker Cold Brew is an excellent decaf version
15ml Cream

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together.

2. Put some ice cubes in a small tumbler and pour the cocktail over the top.

3. Garnish with some coffee beans or sprinkle over some chocolate powder if you’re feeling fancy!

 N.B. If you want to make a decaf version of this cocktail you can mix decaf coffee and sugar syrup together to taste and add instead of the coffee liqueur

Clover Club Cocktail

A classic cocktail that has been around since at least the 1910s, the Clover Club Cocktail is rich, silky and has a wonderful balance of sweet and sour. To be honest there is nothing not to like about this pretty pink cocktail. Be warned, once you’ve had one you’ll be hooked!

Ingredients

50 ml gin, we used Fifty Pounds Gin
20 ml lemon juice
20 ml raspberry syrup, we used Monin raspberry syrup
1 egg white
2 raspberries, to garnish

Method

1. Add the ingredients to a shaker, and shake vigorously without ice for around 30 seconds or until the egg white has emulsified.

2. Add ice and shake again until the drink is well-chilled.

3. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Thread a couple of raspberries onto a cocktail stick and balance on top.

4. Sip and enjoy!

   N.B. Instead of raspberry syrup, you can muddle 3 or 4 fresh raspberries and 15ml simple syrup (1 part sugar, 1 part water).

Fancy trying your hand at more cocktails? Then, check out this Rosé and Grapefruit Sparkle cocktail or one from our One Drink, Three Ways Cocktail Series.

One Drink, Three Ways: Don Papa Rum

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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Don Papa Rum: A premium, small batch, single-island, aged rum from Negros in the Philippines, known locally as Sugarlandia. This, their flagship rum, is aged for seven years to produced a light and fruity, amber coloured rum at 40% abv that is perfect for sipping alone or as the key ingredient in epic cocktails.

The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….

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Helena’s Choice: Manila Made

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A summery twist on the ‘made cocktail’, created by Sam Ross at Attaboy in New York, this is a smooth and mellow cocktail with gentle spice that wakes up on the finish thanks to the tabasco and freshness from the cucumber and mint. A delightful combination of flavours, it’s the kind of taste that can transport you back to far away shores.

Method: Combine the ingredients minus the cucumber and mint into a shaker and gently muddle, before adding ice and shaking vigorously for around 10 seconds. Strain and pour into a tumbler, then garnish with a sprig of mint and a cucumber ribbon. Tip: You can make honey syrup by using 1:1 simple syrup and any honey.

The ‘Manila Made’

Recipe

50ml Don Papa Rum

25ml Fresh Lemon Juice

20ml Honey Syrup

4 Cucumber Slices

Handful of Mint

2 Dashes Tabasco Sauce

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Aidy’s Choice: Papa Pearfection

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Don Papa rum has a special place in my heart since I visited the distillery a couple of years ago. One sniff of this cocktail and I’m right back in the Philippines sipping a cool drink as the sun goes down. With its relaxed vibe and sweet spice, it’s so simple to make and offers something totally unique at a party.

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a high ball glass and garnish with a couple of pear slices. Wonderful! Tip: make elderflower syrup by using 1:1 elderflower cordial with simple syrup.

Papa Pearfection

Recipe

45ml Don Papa Rum

25ml Lemon Juice

20ml Elderflower Syrup

45ml Fresh Pear Juice

Fresh pear slices to garnish

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Colin’s Choice: Don Detox

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I like this cocktail because it sounds like it’s good for you and I guess compared to some others, it is! Well, there is fresh apple and fresh lemon in it, so that’s vitamin C and other goodness. What’s a tot of rum between friends?

Method: Very simple and incredibly refreshing, pour the Don Papa rum straight into a highball glass with ice, add the apple juice, lemon juice and stir. Garnish with two fresh apples slices.

The Don Detox

Recipe

30ml Don Papa Rum

15ml Lemon Juice

Juice of 2 Green Apples

Green Apple Slices to Garnish

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Noilly Prat Vermouth, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

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

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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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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. ..

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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

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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

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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.