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!

8 Sparkling Wine Cocktails To Serve This Festive Season

You can’t beat adding some fizz and sparkle to festive proceedings with sparkling wine cocktails. They’re super simple to make, refreshing, delicious and they’re amazingly versatile when it comes with food pairings. From classics to more unusual concoctions, these are 8 of the best cocktails using various sparkling wines!

Negroni Sbagliato

Don’t be surprised if younger family members bring this cocktail up, because it went viral on TikTok recently after House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy announced her love for it. In short, it’s a Prosecco Negroni. This makes for a lighter Negroni, perfect if you’re not a big fan of the usual bitterness Negronis can have. An extra dry Prosecco like Giusti Rosalia works perfectly because the slight sweetness counteracts the spirits’ bitterness.

Ingredients
25ml Prosecco
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
orange slice (to garnish)

 Method
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill it with ice. Top up with Prosecco. Stir gently to chill and garnish with the orange slice. Voilà!

Mimosa

Any sparkling wine of your choice will do for a Mimosa, but we’ve gone for Cava. It’s the light and fresh option that’s perfect for pretty much any special occasion, and Christmas is no different! Just sparkling wine and orange juice here, so it’s perfect to ratio to your liking. If you’ve got a sparkling wine that you particularly love, go heavy on that! But if Nan’s on her 3rd Baileys before the turkey’s even out of the oven? Maybe it’s a good idea to up that OJ before handing her one.

Ingredients
100ml Cava
100ml orange juice 

Method
It’s just a case of combining the two in flutes here, so make sure you’ve got a sparkling wine that you love, and a good quality orange juice! It couldn’t be simpler.

Top Tip: Remember, chill everything to avoid using ice as this will kill off the bubbles!

Bellini

Famously easy to make, this a reliably refreshing Italian cocktail with only two ingredients – Prosecco and peach. It was supposedly named after Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini because the drink’s gorgeous colour reminded the Venetian bartender of Bellini’s warm colour palette!

Ingredients
60ml peach purée
160ml Prosecco
Peach slice (garnish)

Method
You can buy peach purée but unless you’re a Bellini lover, you probably won’t have it in the cupboard. All you have to do is blend some peeled peaches until smooth and refrigerate. When it’s time to serve, strain into a flute, top up with Prosecco and gently stir. If you’ve got a peach left, of course a slice as garnish tops it all off!

Kir Real

Crème de Cassis is a gorgeous blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon in France and topping it up with a sparkling white gives you the Kir cocktail, created in 19th century France. Using Champagne instead creates the Kir Royale, but we’ve gone for Spanish Cava to create a much better value Kir Real. It requires the same time-consuming method as Champagne, there’s just more of it about! But it’s far closer a Champagne than something like a Prosecco so works great for this. Bubbly bite with juicy fruity sweetness! Fit for a royal indeed.

Ingredients
1 tbsp crème de cassis
Cava
Blackberry (optional garnish) 

Method
Nice and simple. Pour your crème de cassis into a Champagne flute and top up with Cava! A fresh or frozen blackberry or lemon twist makes a great garnish.

Rosé Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz was created in Italy and is now officially Germany’s favourite cocktail. If you want to inject some summery feeling into your festive season, or maybe you’re somewhere sunny for Christmas, then this Rosé version is there for you. The passion fruit juice is ideal for bridging the gap between the subtle bitterness of the Aperol and the fruity wine. The result is a fruitier, more refined Spritz that’s a very drinkable switch up. Who says it's just for summer?

Ingredients
50ml Aperol
75ml rosé
30ml soda
30ml passion fruit juice
Lime wedge (garnish)

 Method
Pop one ice cube in your glass and combine the Aperol with rosé. Top up with soda and juice, stirring gently to avoid breaking up the fizz, and then garnish with a lime wedge! Enjoy!  

The Golden Dram

Scotch cocktails can often be thought to be dark and moody affairs, but this unusual pairing with sparkling wine changes that. Combined with an Angostura-soaked sugar cube, you create a unique and refreshing cocktail that’s probably not quite like anything you’ve tasted before.

Ingredients
Angostura bitters-soaked sugar cube
25ml Scotch
100ml Prosecco

 Method

Drop a single sugar cube into your Champagne flute and soak with a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then add Scotch before topping up to the top with Prosecco! Stir lightly to slowly dissolve the sugar and you’re all set.

Top Tip: If you like your cocktails sweeter, soak the sugar cube in a teaspoon of honey too!

Black Velvet

Legend goes that the Black Velvet was thought up by a London steward as Britain mourned the death of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1861. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly looks the part. Traditionally, it uses Champagne, but we’re using this opportunity to shout out Crémant. It’s a sparkling wine made using the same method as Champagne, and although it was once looked down upon, the current crop of Crémant producers have upped their game and it massively punches above its price point! You can find decent bottles for under £10, and still pull together a delightful Black Velvet that blends the bitter richness of Guinness, with the fizzing lightness of the wine.

Ingredients
100ml Guinness
100ml Crémant

 Method
Super simple apart from a drop of bartending technique. Fill half a Champagne flute with your crémant, and top up the rest with Guinness, pouring over the back of a spoon to achieve beautiful layering.

Rosé Bowler

This is an adaption of the Champagne bowler that dates back to the 1930s, but we’re going all out on the strawberries using rosé instead. The trio of grapes with brandy, dry white, and rosé provide a really interesting foundation for the muddled strawberries, and the good thing about this is, if you’ve picked up some berries that aren’t as sweet as you’d like, the rosé picks up the slack.

Ingredients
3 chopped strawberries
20ml brandy (preferably Cognac)
30ml dry white wine (like Chardonnay)
60ml rosé
Dash of syrup (optional)

 Method
Chop 3 strawberries and muddle them well in a shaker. Add your brandy, white wine and ice and shake well. Pour into your glass (without straining) and top up with Rosé.

Top Tip: We know winter strawberries can be a bit hit and miss, so if it’s still not sweet enough just re-introduce the syrup from the original Champagne recipe!

If you’re in the process of planning your Christmas offerings, then make sure to complete your set up with some Boozy Crackers that look stunning and taste delicious inside (the drinks inside that is, not the cracker itself).

And if you’re looking for the perfect Prosecco to make the above, take a look at our Best Proseccos for Under £15 here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

One Drink, Three Ways: Bruichladdich - The Classic Laddie

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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Bruichladdich (pronounced like ‘brookladdie’), is a distillery doing things differently. Based on Islay, a southern island of the Inner Hebrides, they are the first company of their kind in Europe to become a ‘BCorp’. What does that mean? Well, without getting into the nitty gritty, Bruichladdich meet an incredibly high standard of social and environmental performance. They’re a progressive, forward-thinking company with a focus on the world around them as much as their liquid.

They’re also unusual in how they produce their products themselves. Unlike the neighbouring distilleries on the island, the entire range is made without peat. Instead, local barley is pushed to the fore and each batch is unique. The recipe is, ‘not set in stone’ and they’re ‘never striving for absolute consistency’. 

The Classic Laddie is a floral and elegant Single Malt Scotch, trickle distilled and matured in American oak by the banks of Loch Indaal before bottling at a lip-smacking 50%. The intriguing paleness is somewhat of a mirage when you taste the flavoursome and harmonious blend of sweet oak and barley, with ripe green fruits and sugary fruit in the background. It’s super smooth and well-rounded with very little smoke or spice. 

There’s a tonne of interesting information about The Classic Laddie and Bruichladdich on their website, but for now we want to get to our cocktails! We’ve prepared three fantastic serves below that make great use of this delicious dram.

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Helena’s Choice: Laddie & Ginger

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Highballs are one of the most popular ways to ease whisky drinkers in, and this Laddie & Ginger is no different. The warming ginger ale emphasises the lingering sweetness of the Scotch. For a whisky cocktail this is incredibly refreshing, with the vibrancy of the fruit coming through and subtle sea-spray to finish. Pour the whisky over plenty of ice, top up with ginger ale and stir gently to retain those bubbles!

Laddie & Ginger

Recipe

60ml Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scotch

Ginger Ale to the top

Lots of ice

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Aidy’s Choice: Classic Laddie Sour

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Anyone that knows me knows I love sours, and what an opportunity this is to make just that. The Scotch is smooth already, but the egg white gives it a foamy and luxurious feel. Sour lemon balances out the sweet malt and maple syrup for a tantalising tang, and the complexity of the whisky isn’t overshadowed at all. What a gem! Dry shake everything first, then repeat with ice and strain over a rocks glass. Dried apple slice to garnish.

Top Tip: Vegans out there, the egg white can be substituted for aquafaba!

Smoked Apple Whisky Sour

Recipe

60ml Bruichladdich Classic Laddie Scotch Whisky

1 Egg White

20ml Lemon Juice

10ml Apple Juice

10ml Maple Syrup

Freeze-Dried Apple (or just a thin slice of apple) as a garnish

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Colin’s Choice: Young Laddie

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I’ve opted for a variation on the Old Fashioned which I adore. Invented by Joaquin Simo of Death & Co in Manhattan, the Young Laddie replaces traditional bourbon with the Bruichladdich for a smoke-free version. If you don’t have grapefruit bitters at hand, then Angostura steps in nicely but the two garnish twists tie the drink together really well at the end, so make sure to include those. Simply combine everything (except the twists) in an Old Fashioned glass, add a large chunk of ice and stir until chilled. Squeeze the twists before dropping them in and there you have it.

Young Laddie

Recipe

60ml Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scotch

7.5ml simple syrup

1 dash Peychaud's bitters

1 dash Bittermens hopped grapefruit bitters

Orange twist

Grapefruit twist

ABV: 50%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find Here: UK £41.45 // US $69.99

For more like this, head over to our One Drink, Three Ways page now!

IT London

Words by Hannah van Houweninge

Last week we had the absolute privilege of trying out the new cocktail menu at IT London. The bar is perfectly situated in Mayfair, and a five minute walk from Green Park Station. The setting itself is beautiful, with the round bar being in the centre of the restaurant. The in-house DJ plays upbeat music creating a social vibe without disrupting your conversation.

Now onto the most important part: the drinks. The new cocktail menu is expertly curated by Mattia Lufrano who combines classic cocktails that everyone knows and loves with Mediterranean twists. Mattia’s recommendation would have to be the Milk and Cereals cocktail. This cocktail reminds him of his breakfast of choice when he was young- the star of the show being… Cheerios. Don’t let the cereal-cocktail put you off. This beautifully made drink includes Wisemen Kentucky Whiskey, hazelnut liqueur and caramel tea to make a lovely smooth drink experience. The cocktails range from £18-26. The steeper price is 100% validated by the incredible attention to detail and stunning craftsmanship. Even the ice cubes are engraved with IT’s logo. 

If you still can’t wrap your head around the cereal-concoction, perhaps try the Chocolate and Coconut Negroni. This lovely twist on my favourite cocktail order has coconut infused Whitley Neill Gin and dark chocolate liqueur. Who wouldn’t love this?

IT London is great for a special night out such as an anniversary or birthday drinks.

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Value:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Range:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 9/10

Address: 28-29, Dover St, Mayfair, London W1S 4LX

One Drink, Three Ways: Glen Grant 10-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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Brothers John and James Grant began as illicit smugglers but having built up a network of connections in Scotland, they founded The Glen Grant distillery in 1840 and even helped build local railways to help the Speyside region of Scotland become the whisky hotbed it is today. 

Beautifully amber on the eye, the 10-year-old Glen Grant Scotch is the definitive Speyside whisky. It has wonderfully unique notes of green orchard, toffee, and vanilla and it’s equally quaffable for a whisky beginner or a seasoned drinker, which is part of the reason it’s picked up so many awards and heaps of praise. 

Truth be told, Glen Grant is super satisfying to sip on its own, but when a whisky is this gorgeous it would be a crime not to experiment with it!

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Helena’s Choice: Orchard High Ball

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I’ve gone for a little orchard twist on the classic Whisky Highball. The green orchard notes of the Glen Grant work wonders so I’m emphasising them with a little pear liqueur and zesty freshness from orange bitters and wedge. Simply pour all the ingredients into a highball glass, stir well to blend everything, then add ice, and finish it off with an orange wedge for garnish.

Orchard High Ball

Recipe

50ml Glen Grant 10YO

10ml pear liqueur (Merlet works well)

2 dashes orange bitters

Soda Top

Orange wedge

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Aidy’s Choice: Brigadoon

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Originally from The Player, now Basement State in Soho, this is a modern classic that delights whisky drinkers and seasoned dram fans alike. The sour lemon and sweet apricot in this combination mirror each other so well, and at the heart of it is the strong Speyside Scotch that remains the worthy star of the show. There are a few bold flavours jostling here so make sure to shake well and serve over ice.

Brigadoon

Recipe

50ml Glen Grant 10YO

20ml Apricot liqueur (Briottet works well here)

20ml lemon juice

10ml orgeat

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Colin’s Choice: Grant’s Buck

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This short and sharp tipple is a delight. The green fruit notes of the whisky are brought to the fore, and there’s a little extra sweetness that goes nicely too. I’m also a fan of the finish with the gentle lingering spice from the Scotch and ginger ale. Fill a rocks glass with ice and add the ingredients. Give it a good stir and garnish with a lemon twist.

Grant’s Buck

Recipe

50ml Glen Grant 10YO

50ml ginger ale

Lemon twist

UK
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £30.99

If you approve of our concoctions, check out what we put together for Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisk Cream Liqueur, or if you want to stay on the whisky train, check out our three cocktails for Glenmorangie X!

10 Must Try Irish Cream Liqueur Cocktails

Autumn is in full-flow, winter, Christmas, and a New Year are on the horizon, and the nights have drawn in before dinner is even cooking. One thing is in order and that’s Irish Cream liqueur! Indulgent, creamy, and delicious, it’s the perfect pick-me up and that’s why we love putting it in as many cocktails as possible. Below we have winter warmers, wake-me up Martinis and unusual pairings that will blow you away. There’s something whatever your mood!

Irish Cream Coffee

Irish Coffee is made by adding sugar, whiskey, coffee and cream separately, so why not go direct by using Irish Cream? It’s the perfect cozy cocktail for a winter pick-me-up, with warming coffee and whiskey flavours, and super indulgent cream. The definitive hug in a mug.

Ingredients
50ml Irish cream liqueur
80ml coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated nutmeg (garnish)

 Method
Pour in your chosen Irish Cream, and slowly stir in your freshly brewed coffee, making sure to combine them thoroughly. If you want even more cream and extra sweetness you can add a bit of lightly whipped cream at the end. Oh, and let’s not forget a bit of grated nutmeg on top to finish. Nom!

Mudslide

The Mudslide was adapted from a White Russian in the Cayman Islands in the 70s - not what you might expect from such a tropical place! It’s since become an American stalwart, often being mixed with heaps of ice cream for a boozy dessert. Ours doesn’t include ice cream, instead focusing on the spirits and liqueurs at play because they’re too good to be drowned in ice cream (no matter how nice that may be).

Ingredients
40ml good quality vodka
60 ml Irish cream liqueur
40ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
Chocolate (to garnish)

Method
Add everything bar the chocolate to a cocktail shaker and shake really well with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and grate a generous amount of choc over the top! Top Tip: If you want to make them look that bit more special for a party, melt the chocolate and dip the rims of the glasses into it. Then stand them upright and return them to the fridge for gorgeous chocolate stalactites!

Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

Next. Level. Indulgence. This is a wonderfully warming treat to perk you up whilst the nights are drawing in fast. It’s creamy, smooth and just perfect for fireside sipping if you’ve got a sweet tooth.

Ingredients
60ml Irish cream liqueur
100ml hot chocolate
Whipped cream
Grated chocolate (optional)

 Method
You’ll want to make the hot chocolate separately here, and how you make that is up to you. Some mix powder with water, others use milk, so choose depending on how lean you’d like this cosy cocktail to be. Simply pour it over your Irish cream, add some whipped cream on top, and grate some chocolate to complete the look!

Irish Cream Martini

This is a luscious adaptation of a classic Martini, with crisp vodka cutting through the velvety cream beautifully. It has more of a backbone than other options on this list, and if you pick out a vodka that’s particularly smooth, with a touch of sweetness or creaminess (Black Cow, Ketel, Tito’s for example), it’ll be a match made in heaven.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
70ml Irish Cream liqueur
Espresso shot
Coffee beans (optional garnish)

 Method
It’s ridiculously simple once you’ve got your espresso shot. Just shake everything well with ice, and strain it into a classic martini glass! Coffee beans sit on top gorgeously if you want to go the extra mile!

Irish Cream White Russian

This Irish Cream White Russian packs a bigger punch than the original, replacing most of the milk and cream with Irish Cream instead. It’s delightfully decadent and so smooth that it’s dangerously moreish.

Ingredients
60ml Irish Cream liqueur
30ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
30ml vodka
20ml milk (optional)

 Method
Add the vodka and coffee liqueur to your glass, preferably a lowball. Fill it with ice and pour your Irish Cream liqueur over the top. Stir gently until cold and watch the beautiful swirls as the colours mix! Top Tip: For those wanting to taper the boozy edge a touch, top up with a little bit of milk.

Irish Cream Espresso Martini

If you haven’t guessed by now, we love Espresso Martini and all the spin offs. Introducing the Irish Cream to this classic takes it to the next level, swapping any sharpness for sweetness and of course, pulling everything together with an easy drinking creamy texture. A nice autumn/winter makeover of the original we think.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
35ml Irish Cream liqueur
Espresso shot
25ml coffee liqueur
1 tbsp of syrup (optional)
Coffee beans (optional garnish)

 Method
Half fill your shaker with ice and add everything, shaking until it’s cold to the touch. If you like it sweeter, add a dash of syrup. This can be a simple homemade syrup (sugar and water), or agave will do.

Irish Cream Chocolatini

Chocoholics, all eyes here. This Chocolatini is sweet, creamy, and oh, so delicious. Original vodka works well as a sturdy base, but vanilla vodka would also pair well with the chocolate and Irish Cream. Maybe avoid a chocolate flavour though unless you really just can’t get enough.

Ingredients
35ml vodka (vanilla optional)
30ml Irish Cream liqueur
20ml chocolate liqueur (like Godiva)
Grated chocolate (garnish)

 Method
Pour your vodka and liqueurs into a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Grate some chocolate over the top and eat what’s left of the bar. Yes, that is part of the recipe.

Irish Cactus

Tequila lovers rejoice - this one is for you. This is a cocktail that blends an unusual duo to create something very intriguing indeed. The agave flavour of the tequila lurks in the background, with the sweetness and fruitiness providing a really enjoyable second layer behind the delicious Irish Cream. Getting the right balance is important with this one, so experiment and see which does it for you.

Ingredients
30ml tequila
60 ml Irish Cream liqueur

 Method
First, fill your glass with ice, and then pour over the stars of the show. Stir well to combine and enjoy!

Irish Slammer

Now, this is a St. Patrick’s Day drink if ever we’ve seen one. Malty Guinness with its notes of chocolate and coffee pairs so nicely with Irish Cream, not that you’ll have much time to savour it, because this is supposed to be guzzled down.

Ingredients
25ml Irish Cream liqueur
25ml Irish whiskey
½ pint Guinness

 Method
Combine the Irish cream and whiskey in a shot glass and prepare your Guinness. Allow the foam to settle, and then drop the shot glass into the dark depths and enjoy!

Greenbeard

Another slightly unusual pairing with this rum and Irish Cream cocktail. The rum brings out the warming subtle autumnal spices of the liqueur really nicely, and despite being two very different characters, they blend to create something totally distinctive with lots of oomph.

Ingredients
25ml Irish Cream liqueur
25ml spiced rum
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated chocolate (garnish)

 Method
Simple again – just shake with ice and strain into a tumbler. Cream and chocolate sprinkles to top it off.  

We’ve just used generic ‘Irish Cream’ in these recipes, but each has its own subtleties of course... and it’s the star of these cocktails so it’s gotta be spot on! Explore some of the best options to use in these cocktails by checking out our Best Cream Liqueurs guide here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

One Drink, Three Ways: Mount Gay Black Barrel

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 that 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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Mount Gay is the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, with the oldest surviving deed dating from 1703! Ironically, it was a man called John Sober who originally started the small distillery at the top of Mount Gilboa, Barbados. After a while, Sir John Gay Alleyne, a fourth generation Barbadian was introduced, and the distillery grew from there, hence the company being named after him.

Their Black Barrel blend is distilled in traditional copper pot and column stills, matured for up to 7 years in American whiskey casks, and further aged for 6 months in heavily charred Bourbon casks. Unsurprisingly, that toasted oak comes through, as does gingerbread and the rich vanilla and pineapple you might expect from a golden Bajan rum. 

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Helena’s Choice: Cinnamon Twist

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My Cinnamon Twist is a kind of milky, spiced rum punch, variations of which have been around since the 1600s. The cinnamon syrup sits perfectly beside the deep vanilla and gingery notes and the milky rum behind it is so deliciously creamy, but still allows the toasty elements of the rum to shine. Shake with ice, then strain over a singular hefty ice cube in a chilled rock glass!

Cinnamon Twist

Recipe

60ml/2oz Mount Gay Black Barrel

44ml/1.5oz Whole Milk

22ml/0.75oz Cinnamon Syrup*

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Aidy’s Choice: Good Old Pine

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I’ve gone for pure Caribbean sunshine with Good Old Pine. The pineapple in the Black Barrel is mirrored by the tropical pineapple syrup, and the Angostura bitters keep that sweetness in check while also pairing well with the gentler spices in the rum. This is island refreshment at its best. To make it, add all the ingredients to a glass and stir over a big ice cube. Garnish with lemon peel and/or a pineapple frond if you’re feeling fancy.

Good Old Pine

Recipe

60ml/2oz Mount Gay Black Barrel

7.5ml/0.25 Pineapple Syrup*

2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

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Colin’s Choice: Bajan Cafe

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The detectable vanilla and gingerbread in the Black Barrel pairs nicely with the coffee and almond flavours for a gently warming experience in this Bajan Café. Combined with the toasted notes, it gives a bakery profile to the cocktail that I absolutely love. Add everything, add ice and shake. Strain over ice and garnish with mint. Voilà – the Bajan Café.

Bajan Cafe

Recipe

60ml/2oz Mount Gay Black Barrel

30ml/1oz Orgeat

30ml/1oz Coffee

* To make your own pineapple syrup, you can just blend simple syrup with pineapple chunks. Keep the skin on for an earthier flavour, and just make sure to strain well before using. Try grilling it for another level of flavour!

For cinnamon syrup, take one part water (try 1 cup) to one part cane sugar and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Add 4 cinnamon sticks and allow to infuse for at least 1.5 hours - or overnight if you want more of a kick!

UK
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £36

For more of our cocktail suggestions (they’re pretty good if we do say so ourselves), try our Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisky Cream Liqueur concoctions here! The rest of our cocktails are here, where you’ll find wine, whisky, gin and much more.

The Best Boozy Christmas Crackers You Need To Try This Christmas

The fortune telling fish, miniature nail files and Dad jokes tumbling out of crackers on Christmas Day are enshrined in festive law and we wouldn’t have it any other way, but that’s not to say we can’t try for something a little more exciting, is it? 

These alcohol-filled crackers are perfect to spice things up a little on the big day, filled with whatever tipple takes your fancy! Whether it’s rum miniatures that pack a punch, create-your-own crackers, or cream liqueurs to get the Baileys open even earlier than usual, we’ve got it all covered and more!  

The Best Gin Christmas Crackers:

Fever-Tree Ultimate Gin & Tonic

If you’re a gin lover and you haven’t heard of Fever-Tree then we don’t know where you’ve been. They are about as reliable as it gets when it comes to premium tonic varieties, and this cracker set matches four of them wonderfully. The Audemus Pink Pepper Gin with Elderflower Tonic in particular is delightful, but there isn’t a bad option in the box!

Find here: £34 Box of 4

Franklin & Sons Gin & Mixers

Founded in Victorian London, Franklin & Sons are pioneers in the soft drinks space, using the best natural ingredients to churn out unique flavours and top-notch classics. Inside this beautiful box are six crackers with the same Christmas tree design, each containing an award-winning combo of gin and mixer. From classics like Rock Rose and Sipsmith Dry to newer innovations from Manchester Gin and Masons, this is a cracker pull you’d definitely want to win. 

Find here: £35 Box of 6

York Gin

York Gin orchestrates its range of stunning gins around the history of the equally beautiful city of York. Their box of six contains one of each flavour, telling the story from the Roman foundations (Roman Fruit) to the Chocolate Orange flavour honouring the iconic Terry’s, whose factory was just a couple of miles from the York Gin distillery. A 100% renewably powered distillery, with a great concept and award-winning gin to back it up – not a bad thing to pull out of a cracker at all!

Find here: £60 Box of 6 (or £10 for 1)

The Best Mixed Spirit Christmas Crackers:

The Lakes Distillery

Each swanky cracker contains one premium 50ml miniature to experience the range of products the Lake District distillery has on offer. There’s a classic Lakes gin that doesn’t shy away from vibrant juniper, and a zesty pink grapefruit version too. As promised, this is a mixed set, but that mix is completely up to you. You can select whichever four from those two gins, or a fruity, gently smoky whisky, as well as a very alluring salted caramel vodka liqueur! Or you can have all four the same, but a surprise element when you’re opening is nice wouldn’t you agree?

Find here: £20 Box of 4

Lakeland Spirits Mix

You get the best of both worlds with these crackers. Not only are there miniatures of the UK’s most popular spirits in Bacardi, Baileys, Smirnoff, and Beefeater, but you also still get the terrible jokes and hats that come with your standard cracker...there’s no escaping them!

Find here: £39.99 Box of 6

The Best Beer Christmas Crackers:

Bier Company

These beefy crackers will need a real tug of war to break them open, and that’s because they contain not one but two premium craft beers each! Also included in these stylishly designed colourful crackers are the usual party hats, riddles and jokes we all know and love.

Find here: £39.95 Box of 5 (£12.95 for 2)

Black Sheep Brewery

This Yorkshire brewery’s crackers are ideal for experimenting with a range of intriguing beers. You simply select how many of each you want from their list of nine. So, you could throw in two reliable Riggwelters, and then add on one Pineapple Milkshake IPA and a Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale? You’ve got a really inviting selection with plenty of classic and unusual IPAs, Ales and Stouts, so it’s up to you – that’s the beauty of it!

Find here: £5.50 per cracker

The Best Whisky Christmas Crackers:

Drinks by the Dram

This selection of six bowtied crackers arrives in a lovely box, each containing a 30ml wax-sealed mini dram from a curated selection of fine whisky producers. For example, there’s the award winning softly sweet Glengoyne 10-Year-Old, the rich and peaty palate of Smokehead, or the experimental World Whisky Blend, which has combined single malts, single grains, and bourbons of all kinds into one. It’s a nice selection that will please beginners and seasoned dram drinkers all the same!

Find here: £39.95 Box of 6

The Best Cream Liqueur Christmas Crackers:

Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has put together 50ml bottles of, ‘Velvetised Creams’, with real chocolate, crisp vodka, and silky cream. These would be perfect to save for a Boxing Day boozy hot choc, or if you can’t wait (we don’t blame you), enjoy them as an after-dinner digestif. You can expect two original chocolates, two salted caramels, one mint, and an Espresso Martini version, all super decadent and definitely worth fighting over... or diplomatically swapping, whatever works. 

Find here: £24.95 Box of 6

Baileys

Well, it’s a Christmas list so it was only a matter of time before Baileys showed up! These four colourful crackers complete the table, with two 50ml Irish Creams, a Coffee Liqueur, and an Orange Truffle flavour too. It’s the only cream liqueur to be awarded a World Spirits Medal every year since 2003 and when it’s so synonymous with Christmas, how can you not want it around? 

Find here: £14.99 Box of 4

Aldi Ballycastle 

The quality that comes with some of Aldi’s own versions of much-loved products is no longer a secret, and in terms of value, these 50ml Ballycastle creams are hard to beat. Inside there’s the classic, Chocolate & Clementine, Espresso, and White Chocolate, which sounds like a gloriously indulgent selection to us, just what every Christmas feast demands. 

Find here: £7.99 Box of 4

The Best Rum Christmas Crackers:

Sly Dog Spiced

Don’t worry rum lovers, because behind those ominous eyes is a Sly Dog miniature, filled with a Jamaican and Dominican rum blend and their secret recipe of spices. This is a sublime spiced rum with perfect balance, picking up Gold at the World Rum Awards in 2022. If you want something to crack open after the cracker itself that really hits the spot, then this is it. 

Find here: £30 Box of 4

The Best Cocktail Christmas Crackers:

Candy Cane Fizz & Berry and Bright Gin

Now this a box that screams luxury. The Cocktail Man in London has pulled together Chase GB Gin with his secret signature Sliqueur giving you everything you need to get started on that Christmas cocktail. You also get garnish, hats, jokes and don’t worry, there are very clear cocktail instructions because the last thing you need is another thing to get sorted on the big day. 

Find here: £59.95 Box of 4

The Best Vodka Christmas Crackers:

J.J Whitley 

J.J Whitley has been making spirits for 260 Christmases now (since 1762 that is by the way, just in case our maths is off), so it’s no wonder that they’re still winning awards on a yearly basis. It’s lovely and fresh on the nose and unravels into a creamy and full-bodied delight... and that’s just their Artisanal original! You’ll also get to try Vanilla, Raspberry, Watermelon & Lime, Blood Orange, and finally Passion Fruit. Serve them as chilled as a Christmas Day and you’ll be sure to have a jolly one!

Find here: £15.99 Box of 6

The Best Wine Christmas Crackers:

Virgin Wines 

You get more booze for your buck with these classy crackers, as each one reveals a 187ml bottle of fabulous wine. There’s Aussie Pinot Grigio, South African Chardonnay Viognier (which would be great with the Christmas dinner itself), Chilean Merlot, French Malbec, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and South African Cinsaut. Something for everyone

Find here: £35.99 Box of 6

Virgin Wines Prosecco

If Prosecco is more your thing, then Virgin still have you covered. Each cracker contains a 200ml Extra Dry Senti, an exquisitely crisp and fruity Prosecco with the perfect amount of fizz. Prosec-ho-ho! (Had to be done.)

Find here: £36.99 Box of 6

Create Your Own Christmas Crackers

Lakeland Fill-Your-Own

Often the most memorable moments around Christmas time involve personalised gifts and decorations, that show you’ve gone the extra mile and thought about the people you’re with. That’s why Lakeland have created these fill-your-own crackers. They arrive with some festive embossing and minor decoration, but it’s down to you to personalise them and fill them with whatever you like! If you know someone loves a particular drink but it can’t be bought in a cracker, then what a pleasant surprise for them to find it!

Find here: £14.99 Box of 6

If you’re now ramping up Christmas preparations, then why not booze-up the advent calendar as well as the crackers? Who says they’re just for kids? We’ve compiled our Favourite Advent Calendars For 2022, each one with a tasty treat behind every door!

Words by Calum Ecroyd