The Best Japanese Alcohol You NEED To Try This Summer

Best Japanese Alcohol thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Love or hate it, Japanese cuisine is undoubtedly classy - and this goes for their alcohol too! While known for their whisky, Japan offers a whole host of other refined alcoholic drinks, including sake, gin and plum liqueur! Now is the perfect time to explore the wide and wonderful world of Japanese drinks, so take a look over our top picks and try something out this summer!


Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Best Japanese Alcohol Hibiki Japanese Harmony thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A long time favourite of the Japanese whisky loving community, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a delicately blended whisky made with malt whisky from Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries and grain whisky from Chita distillery. It’s not just the beautiful cut glass bottle that makes this whisky so desirable, its tasting notes of honey, orange peel and dates make for a deliciously buttery, smooth sipping treat! With such a diverse range of flavours, this whisky certainly lives up to the ‘Harmony’ in its name and is light enough to be the perfect gift for a novice Japanese whisky drinker. 

Try with an orange rind and some soda water for a very harmonious highball!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £69.95 // US $99.99

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

Best Japanese Alcohol Nikka Whisky from the barrel thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Whisky? From a barrel? Never…

Though the name may seem to be a friendly reminder as to how the whisky was made, Nikka’s intention with ‘Whisky From The Barrel’ is actually to make you feel as if you are one of the blenders trying the whisky straight ‘from the barrel’. Even the bottle itself oozes luxury, its simple white label reminiscent of an expensive perfume bottle - but with a much less hefty price tag! More than 100 different batches of malt and grain whiskies are blended to create a very rich and flavourful whisky. The notes of dried fruits, spices and caramel are present alongside a heavy kick of alcohol - so you might want to give it a go with an ice cube. However you choose to drink it though, Nikka Whisky is one to pop in your basket ASAP.

Size: UK 500ml // US 750ml
ABV: 51.4%
Find here: UK £43.95 // US $89.99


Roku Gin

Best Japanese Alcohol Roku Gin thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another beautiful bottle containing another beautiful drink… In English, Roku translates to the number six - which is the same number of local botanicals used alongside eight gin botanicals in Roku Gin. The Japanese yuzu fruit is a standout flavour among the botanicals, and the delicate balance of flavours makes Roku a gin you’ll want to take neat. However, cocktails fans despair not - it’s also been known to make an extremely delicious martini! Get your hands on one of these flower engraved bottles today and transport yourself to Japan without having to pay for a plane ticket!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £28.84 // US $35.99


Aldi Shirayuki Japanese Sake

Yep, you’re not going mad - that’s Aldi making their own exclusive sake (and selling it for a fiver - which is more than three times cheaper than the same size bottle at Selfridges)! Launched for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Aldi’s sake from Japan’s Itami region is being marketed as ‘an adventurous alternative to dry white wine’. While sake is the perfect companion to traditional Asian cuisine - Aldi’s even promoting it to be drunk alongside a cheeky fish and chips and we couldn’t agree with this match more! Check out our beginners guide to sake link at the bottom of the article to see what else sake pairs well with!

Unfortunately for our international friends, the Shirayuki Japanese Sake is only available in Aldi stores across the UK - but you’re very welcome to hop on a plane and grab a bottle! This release has got us super excited to see what Aldi’s got up its sleeve in the future...

Size: 300ml
Find here: In an Aldi store near you!

Akashi-Tai Shiraume Umeshu

Best Japanese Alcohol  Akashi Tai Shiraume Umeshu thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Made from steeping plums in liquor and sugar, umeshu is often mislabelled as plum wine - it’s not wine made from fermented plums, it’s alcohol infused with plums. Umeshu is closer to a liqueur in how it's made, but in taste has been compared to a vermouth or a fortified wine. Though it’s pretty easy to make at home - Akashi-Tai Shiraume Umeshu is a properly tasty pick if you don’t want to wait the three months or more that infusion takes. Shiraume has been made with premium sake as the base alcohol. Take it chilled in the garden this summer, but look forward to drinking it warm for a cozy winter treat.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: UK £19.25 // US $25.99

Whatever you’re looking to drink to end the summer, Japan can offer something a bit different to spice up your cocktails and diversify your collection. There are loads more to discover than just our top picks, so make sure you share some of your favourite finds over on our socials at @thethreedrinkers! 

If you’d like to read about sake in more detail including recommended bottles and what to pair them with then check out our Beginner’s Guide to Sake!

The Best Beer to Drink this Summer

Best Beer to Drink this Summer thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

As the summer pushes out one more month, we’re breaking down some of our favourite beers (some of which are a little strange) to drink on those warm sunny days. There’s even some non-alcoholic beer on the list, which is definitely worth checking out!


Corona Extra

Best Beer to Drink this Summer Corona Extra thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Undoubtedly the beer of the last one and a half years, Corona has become even more of a hit with thousands of people enjoying the ice cold irony of the name topped with a lime wedge. While brilliant straight out of the ice bucket with lime, we’re loving the Corona cocktails popping up all over the internet. Our personal favourite is the ‘Corona Sunrise’, which can be made in the bottle using tequila, orange juice, grenadine and lime juice and turns the beer a punchy grapefruit colour. Since we can’t go to Mexico, let’s make Mexico come to us!

Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.5%
Find here: UK £12.60 for 12 // US $16.99 for 12

Snake Venom Beer

Best Beer to Drink this Summer Snake Venom Beer thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Are you looking for a challenge this summer? How about a 67.5% beer challenge? No, we haven’t put the decimal point in the wrong place - Scottish brewery Brewmeister’s ‘Snake Venom’ is officially the world’s strongest beer at 67.5% ABV, which is more than most vodkas! This beer isn’t meant to be chugged, however, as a bright yellow warning tag recommends you take it in 35ml portions. Even still, it’s an impressive feat and the beer is so alcoholic that it can’t carbonate! This one of a kind beer does come with a bit of a price tag, but then again, extracting venom from snakes is tricky work!

Size: 330ml
ABV: 67.5% (WOW)
Find here: UK £39.99 (on offer) // US $69.51

Damm Inedit Beer

Best Beer to Drink this Summer Damm Inedit Beer thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

From the packaging, this beer looks more like an expensive champagne than a Spanish wheat beer. It’s Estrella’s luxury makeover that happens halfway through the movie, Inedit’s gorgeous golden colour encased in a glossy dark bottle. Created by one of Spain’s top chefs, Ferran Adrià and a team of sommeliers, Inedit is flavoured with spices that create a complex aroma and expertly pair with many dishes. Whether sour, salty, bitter, spicy or buttery, Inedit compliments whatever you’re cooking with style and flair. While it may be an older creation, it is a luxury beer not to be missed.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 4.8%
Find here: UK £4.89 // US Price differs, find your nearest supplier here.

Brewdog Punk AF (AF for alcohol-free, not AF for as f-)

Best Beer to Drink this Summer Brewdog Punk AF thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Being teetotal in summer isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially when it seems everyone is out having a tipple in the sun. However, Brewdog has knee slid onto the scene with their new Punk AF beer and is making not drinking pretty damn sexy. Full of tropical flavours and pine but still tasting like beer, Punk AF is rocking our world with its funky houndstooth can. Never again fear feeling not cool when you’re not drinking - Punk AF is here. And it’s cool.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 0-0.5%
Find here: UK £4.00 for 4 // US $7.99 for 4

BONUS BEER: Brains’ Bayside

Best Beer to Drink this Summer Brains' Bayside thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This beer has been placed in its own special section as it might be a bit tricky to find at the moment, but is still worth the mention. Bayside Lager is Welsh Brewery Brains’ newest addition to their line of Welsh beers and is currently only available on tap at their pubs and B&Bs across Wales (sad face). If you do find yourself in a Brains pub, run to the bar and grab a pint (or three) of this crisp, light and very drinkable lager - it’s a perfect summer drink and a true tribute to Welsh living.

ABV: 4.3%
Find here: Available at Brains pubs and B&Bs. Find your nearest here.

Seen any summery beers you think we’d like? Give us a buzz on our social media channels at @thethreedrinkers - we can’t wait to hear from you. If you fancy drinking up some more delicious beer goodness on our website, then head over to our beer page for lots of more beer-iliant articles now!

Goose Poop Beer? Take A Gander At THIS!

Wasted Potential Goose Poop Beer Ant Brew weird beers thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Holy Sh*t! Just when you think craft beer has done it all… 

A tasty beer probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you hear ‘goose droppings’, but for Finnish microbrewery Ant Brew, those droppings are a key ingredient in their latest line of eco-conscious beers! Yes - really! We’re not sure how, shall we say, aromatic Goose Poop Imperial Stout (8-10% ABV) is going to be as it’s not yet on the market - but this weird and potentially pongy blend is already causing a stir on the internet. 

Ant Brew’s new ‘Wasted Potential’ series was dreamed up after its home city Lahti, Finland was named European Green Capital 2021. Each of its seven planned beers tell a story about sustainability and the circular economy using ingredients such as local food waste, moss, and wild herbs. The City of Lahti aims to be zero-waste by 2050 and is already repurposing 99% of its waste, so this beer seems to be a goose-step in the right direction.

So how do goose droppings fit into this?

Goose Poop Beer Ant Brew weird beers thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Are they even safe to use for beer? Apparently, yes! Ant Brew assures in a statement that ‘the poop is used in a food-safe way to smoke malt to create a unique stout beer’, so we needn't worry about catching any scary goose poop disease. The droppings are lovingly gathered from local parks, which I’m sure was an interesting job advertisement for Ant Brew to put out - WANTED: NIMBLE HANDS, ANIMAL LOVER, BAD SENSE OF SMELL, GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF CRAFT BEER. It does mean, however, that the parks of Lahti will be the booziest, cleanest and greenest in Europe. 

If the thought of drinking poop beer gives you goosebumps, you’re not alone - but perhaps zero-waste alcohol is something we should be looking to take a gander at in the near future. Innovation is essential to improving how we consume products in an environmentally friendly way, and what better product to start with than everyone’s favourite summer beverage. 

Goose Poop is still in production at the moment, but Ant Brew has already released two of their seven beers from the range. The first, Dumpster Diver, is a wit-style beer brewed with expired fruit purees and orange peels from a local juicer’s stall; the second, Boreality Check, is a sour beer made with local moss. The Wasted Potential beers are currently only able to be purchased in Ant Brew’s pub, however zero-waste beers are popping up worldwide - so keep your eyes peeled and your nose peg on! 

If you happen to come across a zero-waste or eco-friendly beer, please let us know on our Instagram, Twitter or Facebook at @thethreedrinkers! 

We’re always on the lookout for the next big thing when it comes to inventive drinks and we’d love for you to get involved in the process!

For more weird and wonderful beer flavours make sure you check out Prawn Cocktail Crisp Beer or Vagina Beer!

Which Whisky Should I Invest in?

5.jpg

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The summer months are normally a little slower for auctions. This year has been a bit different. With few traveling on holiday and little opportunity to spend, alternative investments tend to do very well and this seems to be the case for Scotch.

This month sees the king has fallen and Macallan has taken the top place again. Macallan is always dominant in Asia and this month even more so taking it above all others. The mid table has been very steady with only minor changes. At the bottom, Ardbeg is still rising, and Glen Grant has taken the place of Bunnahabhain.

With little volatility, there doesn’t seem to be a bad bet in the top ten at the moment, although buying a bottle from the middle of the table would seem the safest thing to do.

Like last month I would still look at Springbank, and add Clynelish to your watch list. Below are a few bottles of the latter I’d be interested in.

Macallan 1%
Bowmore 1%
The Dalmore 2%
Springbank 1%
Clynelish 5%
Karuizawa 1.0%
Rosebank Official Bottlings 1%
Ardbeg 2%
Yamazaki 1%
Glen Grant

Bottles to Watch

Clynelish 1996 21 Year Old - Mission Gold Single Malt Whisky (Murry McDavid)

Best whisky to invest in Clynelish 21 Year Old 1996 - Mission Gold Single Malt Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Size: 700ml
ABV:
50%
Find here: £344.94

 

Clynelish 1995 22 Year Old - Cask Strength Collection Single Malt Whisky

Best whisky to invest in Clynelish 1995 22 Year Old  - Cask Strength Collection Single Malt Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Size: 700ml
ABV:
55.4%
Find here: £344.94


Clynelish 1995 24 years old Wemyss Malts

Best whisky to invest in Clynelish 1995 24 years old Wemyss Malts thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Size: 700ml
ABV:
46%
Find here: £260.35

 

Clynelish 1995 25 Year Old - Cask Strength Collection Signatory

Best whisky to invest in Clynelish 1995 25 Year Old - Cask Strength Collection Signatory theethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Size: 700ml
ABV:
51%
Find here: £313.15

When buying single cask bottles which seem cheaper than others, have a look at the abv. The price might be lower because the abv is also lower and therefore hasn’t been bottled at cask strength. Cask strength bottles will be more desirable, but also more expensive. Of the above four my pick would be the last one. Decent abv, good age, and less expensive than the first two.

Clynelish is never bottled by the distillery as a single cask. Diageo release a limited amount each year within the special releases, so the best way to invest in Clynelish is by buying independent bottles. These usually sell out quickly, so if you find one at the right price, don’t delay! Happy hunting.

As with March, April , May and June’s Whisky Investment Indexes, any bottles mentioned are just suggestions, I don’t pretend to have a crystal ball, but it will point you in the right direction to do your own research and start you on your journey in whisky investment.

The Top Celebrity Owned Tequilas

Celebrity Tequila thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Tequila is, finally, becoming a more and more popular drink to enjoy on a night out. The image of salt and lime chasers is thankfully becoming a thing of the past as more people are getting wise to the fact that there are some exceptional sipping Tequilas out there to be enjoyed neat, in highballs or in fancier cocktails. It’s so popular in fact that we are also now seeing celebrities create their own tequila brands just as we have done with wine! From George Clooney (swoon - don’t judge) to The Rock, here is a list of the celebrity tequila you can get your hands on.

Sauza 901

Celebrity Tequila Sauza 901 Justin Timberlake thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The story goes that the celebrity behind Sauza 901, Justin Timberlake, first became interested in creating his own tequila after seeing the craftsmanship, culture and tradition that goes into cultivating fine tequila on a road trip to Jalisco, Mexico. This then saw the birth of his 901 tequila, which is now known as Sauza 901. Justin may be best known for his music but we have to say that with its piquant, fiery scent and delicious smoothness on the tongue, this is one tequila well worth a try!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: Currently out of stock :(

Próspero

Celebrity Tequila Prospero Rita Ora thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another singer to dip their toes into the world of tequila is Rita Ora, who has joined forces with master distiller Stella Anguiano to create Próspero. This tequila is available in three styles: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. The Blanco is quite different from standard, un-aged tequila with its vibrant bouquet of dried and fresh floral aromas, which lead seamlessly through to the agave notes and and spice. This would be great tequila in a cocktail as it has enough character to shine through.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here:
Blanco UK £40.95 // US $40.99
Reposado UK £45.45 // US $46.79
Añejo UK £51.99 // US $52.99

 

Casamigos  

Celebrity Tequila Casamigos George Clooney thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Be still our beating hearts (and that goes for Aidy’s too) as we introduce the celebrity behind this next tequila: George Clooney! Partnering with his good friend Rande Gerber and their business partner Mike Meldman in 2013 to create Casamigos, Clooney’s brand has since become so popular that by the end of 2020, it hit the million case sales a year milestone! Little wonder when you taste the three versions; there’s the refreshing Blanco with its subtle hint of agave, a Reposado with notes of caramel, buttery vanilla and delicate oak spice and an Añejo, which is a gorgeous tequila brimming with toffee penny, roasted agave, dark chocolate and sweetly spiced oak notes. Every single sip tastes like Christmas!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here:
Blanco UK £50.00 // US $41.99
Reposado UK £57.49 // US $83.99
Añejo UK £62.99 // US $59.99

 

818 Tequila

Celebrity Tequila 818 tequila Kendall Jenner thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Founded by model and ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ star Kendall Jenner, 818 Tequila was first launched in May this year and has since been rolled out across various states in the US (sorry UK!). So, if you are lucky enough to live stateside then you have a choice between the Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, which have racked up a combined total of 16 tasting awards between themselves already! We haven’t tasted this yet but if you have, get in touch and let us know what you thought.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here:
Blanco $42.99
Reposado $52.99
Añejo $69.99


Teremana

Celebrity Tequila Teremana Dwayne The Rock Johnson thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Teremana tequila, the brainchild of film star Dwayne Johnson aka ‘The Rock’, was launched at the beginning of this year after multiple exciting social media teasers. There are Blanco and Reposado styles available, the former being described as having notes of bright citrus with a fresh finish and the latter as having notes of oak and vanilla with a smooth, rich finish. Much like 818 Tequila, this too is only available in the USA right now but hopefully, it won’t be too long before everyone else can get sipping on it too!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here:
Blanco UK £47.99 // US $29.99
Reposado UK £47.69 // US $34.99

For more tequila deliciousness make sure you check out The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas and The 6 Tequilas You Need in Your Life Right Now!

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Albariño for Albariño Day!

SOPHIE WEBSITE IMAGES 2020 (6).jpg

The 1st of August is Albariño Day! Yes, another wine grape day that serves as a fantastic excuse to take a deep dive into a particular wine style. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could LITERALLY do that? Today’s tasting aim is to show that this classy, citrussy, peachy, white Spanish grape is no one trick pony. Experimentation is happening all over the region of Rias Baixas in Galicia, northwestern Spain (where this grape is the queen), which means that we have several styles to choose from these days. Some are zesty and refreshing, perfect alone. Others have a creamy weight thanks to extended ageing on the lees (dead yeast cells left after fermentation) and there is more and more oak ageing happening too that increases texture and body and in some cases, adds a touch of spice. These last two styles can handle various types of cuisine very well. See this article for more on the Albariño grape and its spiritual home in Rias Baixas. 

Don’t forget to check out albarinoday.co.uk for details of

promos and events near you! 

Pazo de Villarei Albariño, Rías Baixas 2020

Pazo translates as a typical house of the region, so something a bit like ‘domaine’ in French. This wine hails from the O Rosal sub-region of Rias Baixas and is a great place to start your Albariño journey, thanks to its approachable, fruity, citrussy freshness.

Find it at The Wine Society here for £9.95.

You & Me Albariño 2019

Taking a small step up with grapes harvested from the Salnés Valley (the most northern and coolest subzone of Rías Baixas), this wine is perky and fresh with floral notes and a touch of peach. There’s a little more body and complexity than the previous wine, so it can handle foods well, especially hard, nutty cheeses, white fish and seafood. 

Find it at Ocado here for £13.99.

Santiago Ruiz `O Rosal` Rías Baixas 2019

Here’s a wine that showcases how well Albariño can blend with other grapes. While 82% is Albariño, there’s a smattering of other local grape varieties that we more traditionally see used in the Vinho Verde wines of Portugal which are literally just around the corner from Rias Baixas. There’s 9% aromatic Loureiro, with 4% Caíño Blanco, 3% Treixadura and 2% Godello for good measure. It’s a crisp and refreshing Albariño with added notes of lime, white flowers and an interesting herbal note too, like lemon balm. One to savour but is still incredibly easy to drink. 

Find it at Bodega Movil here for £17.95.

Check out this link for an article and short video all about Albariño from Rias Baixas! Also, to be in with a chance to win a case of these gorgeous wines head over to our competition!

The Best Scotch Whisky to Try This Year

Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I find the days of the year which celebrate a particular spirit very useful. It allows one to contemplate the year gone by and what we have drunk. I particularly like international Scotch day as it goes one step further. Beyond the world of whisky (or Whiskey), international Scotch day makes me concentrate on the whiskies which first captured my imagination and spawned decades of pleasure in whisky. Scotch was my first love, and although there are many great whiskies around the world. Scotch still amazes me with its breadth of style and flavour.

Over the last year, my journey through Scotch has been pretty epic. I have tasted some superb very young whisky from new distilleries with great sustainable programs, to old and venerable whiskies which have passed their 50th birthday, and even their 60th in some cases!

I’d like to share the highlights with you, and should you ever get the chance to taste the following drams, I’d jump at the chance.

Nc’nean

NcNean Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The very first batch from newcomers Nc’Nean. Made from organic barley with a long fermentation, matured in three different cask types, and having a bottle completely made of recycled materials, this whisky really hit the mark. Ripe apricots and vanilla custard, oak spiciness and hints of lemon and orange give this whisky lots of character.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
46%
Find here:
£46.95

Glenallachie 13 Wine Cask Finish Rioja

Glenallachie 13 Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Under the new ownership of Billy Walker, Glenallachie has had some brilliant whiskies released. However, this 13 year old really stood out for me. The whisky was matured in ex-bourbon and extra matured for two years in Rioja wine barriques. These wine barriques gave a subtle summer berry flavour to the already honied whisky and the balance was fabulous. A very sophisticated whisky for its age.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here:
£62

Lagavulin 13 Feis Lle 2021

Lagavulin 13.jpg

Matured in ex bourbon casks and finished in high charred Port seasoned casks, this whsiky was rich and refined for its age. Only 6000 bottles were produced, and the flavours included oily mineral notes, linseed oil and fragrant smoke. An intense whisky bottled at full strength.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
56.1%

Bladnoch 14

Bladnoch 14.jpg

This was a surprise whisky for me. I have never really been a fan of Bladnoch. I’ve had some good ones, but many have been not very good. However, under new ownership this 14 year old 2021 has been released and it’s a cracker. Matured exclusively in ex Oloroso Sherry casks, it is full of fruit cake, dark chocolate and cinnamon flavours which add a great deal to the Bladnoch lowland fruity style.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
46.7%
Find here:
£99

Fettercairn 16

Fettercairn 16.jpg

Like Bladnoch, Fettercain in years gone by has been very overlooked. Now under the eye of blender Greg Glass, the whole range has been re-released, and smaller batches released within the regular line up. This 16 year old was made with a percentage of chocolate malt (heavily roasted malted barley), and is super sumptuous and rich with lots of sweet dark dried fruits and dark chocolate with a touch of spice and maltiness. This was so good that once I had finished my bottle and it sold out in the UK, I found one for sale in Europe and bought it.

Size: 1L
ABV:
46.4%
Find here:
£103.25

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Inchmurrin 20 Year Old

Inmurrin 20 yr old Boutique-y.jpg

This was batch 3 of Inchmurrin from That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Only 708 bottles where produced. With all the different style of whisky produced at the Loch Lomond distillery, there are different names ot the whisky. This style gives lots of marzipan and caramel aromas, sweet apples and gingerbread too. The palate brings in buttery notes and vanilla, soft spices and milk chocolate. Complex and very well balanced.

Size: 500ml
ABV:
51%

Glenburgie 1998 21 Year Old Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

Glenburgie 21 Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Distilled in 1998, this whisky was matured in a hogshead for 21 years with no finishing. Although bottled in 2019 I only tasted it in 2020 and loved it. With lots of tinned fruit and cocktail cherry aromas with a toasted oak, tropical fruit and brown sugar palate it was decadent and with a little water as waxy polish flavour came through which was particularly attractive.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
55.4%
Find here:
£150

Ardbeg 25 Year Old

Ardbeg 25 Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Whenever Ardbeg release a whisky with significant age there is always high expectation and a lot of excitement. With this 25 year old there was good reason to be excited. It was one of the best Ardbegs I had tasted in a long while. With the typical smoke still there, the intensity had be quelled with lots of tropical fruits and fine oaky flavours. Soft spices and white pepper come though on the finish. It’s a whisky to spend time getting to know as it changes in the glass and continues to develop with each sip.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
46%
Find Here: US $1,199.99

Glenmorangie Sonoma Cutrer 25

Glenmorangie sonoma Cutrer Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This expression of Glenmorangie was a one off. There were only 1000 bottles produced and this age of whisky having been matured for fifteen years of its life in Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay barrels will never be released again. Seek out and taste if you can. It is a rich sumptuous whisky with confected fruits like wine gums, vanilla and soft spice. Complex oak and white chocolate with white pepper on the finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
55.7%

Jura 1989

Jura 1989 Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

This whisky is a great example of a single maturation with no finishing. It was matured in ex bourbon barrels for over 30 years and is very exotic with honeyed pears and ripe bananas. Vanilla holds everything together and soft spices like cinnamon and fresh apple hold the mid palate. Some sweet white chocolate lingers in the background and the finish is sweet. A great summer sipping whisky as the sun sets.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
53.5%
Find here:
£650

The Glenturret Provenance 33 Year Old

Glenturret Provenance 33.jpg

This was the first release of the Trinity series and was a limited release of 320 lalique crystal decanters designed by Marc Larminaux. Now that is all very well, but the whisky also tastes as good as the bottle looks! With lots of dried fruits like raisins and sultanas with cherry red fruit and cinnamon the aromas are complex and rich. The palate brings dates and soft dried oak with a hint of fresh green apple. It is an elegant and refined whisky.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
43.7%
Find here:
£9,800

Last Drop 50 Year Old Blend

Last Drop 50.jpg

This is a very complex whisky. Firstly, blended from over 50 different Scotch whiskies in 1995, and was then as a 30 year old married together in ex bourbon casks. A little of that original blend was held back and extra matured in Oloroso Sherry casks for 20 years! With only 898 bottles all coming with a 5cl miniature in a lovely leather case it made a great gift. It is an elegant whisky with cedar and lots of honey and a touch of sweet smoke on the nose. Red fruits and stewed autumn fruits like plumbs mix with cinnamon and dark chocolate and a little fennel. The finish has spice, waxy orange peel and a hint of aromatic oak.  

Size: 750ml
ABV:
51.8%
Find here:
£2,990

Singleton 54 Paragon of Times II

Singleton 54 Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The oldest Dufftown whisky I have ever tasted, and it didn’t disappoint. Having spent over half a century in European oak barrels since distillation in 1966 it was then finished in a single Pedro Ximenez cask. There were only 235 bottles made. This had all the hallmarks of an old whisky with furniture polish, dusty books and a little beeswax with sandal wood, but also fresh and baked fruit with apple and a touch of peach. The spices are complex but not too dry and the finish is incredibly long.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
44.1%

Mr George 67 Years Old 1953 Legacy First Edition Gordon and MacPhail

Mr George 67 year old Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Nearly the oldest whisky I tasted over the last year, but more on the oldest later. This whisky was certainly my most memorable. This was filled into a first fill Sherry butt on Christmas Eve 1953 and never left that cask until the 5th of January 2021. With a rich nose of dried fruits and manuka honey it is inviting. There is a soft smoke in the background. Higher notes of antique furniture polish and fresh meadow flowers keep it alive and interesting. The palate has cigar leaf as well as sweet leaf tobacco, some coffee and dark chocolate with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Nutmeg and sandalwood bring in the finish which is long with bitter chocolate and stem ginger finally finishing on dry but sweet oak.

Size: 700ml
ABV:
59.4%
Find here:
£4,995

20 Whiskies That Changed The World, By The Whisky Exchange

20 whiskies that changed the world Best Scotch Whisky thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Now, not all the whiskies in this tasting set are Scotch, but most of it is and it’s the best tasting set I have come across for learning and pleasure. From new world, to smoky. Islay and fruity highland whiskies. Blends and Blended malts. They are all there and are a great set of well-chosen drams to learn from or re-visit.

Size: 20 x 30ml
ABV:
45.4%
Find here:
£160

I think it is always good to remember the whiskies one tastes over the year and having a day like International Scotch day helps to focus the mind and think back to some of the pleasures of the past year. 

Why Albariño from Rías Baixas is the Next Big Thing in White Wine

Celebrate Albariño Day on the 1st August!

Check out AlbarinoDay.co.uk for details of events and promos all around the UK.

We’ve seen various grape varieties take their place in the sun over the last few years especially in the UK market. With some, it’s because they are easy to say. With others, it’s because the wines from that region offer a clear, recognisable personality. Enter Albariño in this camp; the white wine grape taking the wine world by storm as consumers seek out whites with flavour and freshness as well as complexity and texture. Here’s everything you need to know about Spain’s flagship white wine grape from the country’s premium white wine region: Rías Baixas. 

The Mermaid of Wine Grapes

You know us and our penchant for describing grape varieties as personalities? Well in our minds, Albariño is the elegant mermaid of wine grapes, swimming in the stormy seas of Galicia. Imagine the scent of ripening lemons, wet granite rocks and sea spray as she calls us with her siren song, that pale and peachy complexion shining in the water. In a classic tasting note, Albariño is pale, dry, crisp and fresh with notes of lemon citrus, white peach and a cool, saline kick on the finish. 

Albariño from Rías Baixas 

Where is Albarino white wine Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

The stunning region of Rías Baixas can be found on the southwestern coast of Galicia, which itself is located to the very northwest of Spain. It’s a beautiful location made up of lots of small fjords (known as rias) set out over four estuaries. Compared to the rest of Spain, Rías Baixas is particularly green thanks to its high rainfall and misty mornings. It does also however boast over 2,200 hours of sunshine per year, which together help vines produce healthy, ripe grapes. 

As a wine region, Rías Baixas comprises of five distinct subregions, which each offer subtle variations on the classic Albariño style thanks to differences in their geography, though there tends to be granite-heavy, mineral-rich soils throughout. These sub regions are Ribeira do Ulla, Val do Salnés, Soutomaior, Condado do Tea and O Rosal. You will currently see these on the label as Rías Baixas Salnés, Rías Baixas Condado and Rías Baixas Rosal only. If the wines are simply labelled ‘Rías Baixas Albariño’, it means they are made with 100% Albariño grapes from any sub-zone.

Unusual vines 

unusual grape vines Albarino white wine Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Due to the humidity in the region, vines are often planted up to seven feet high to allow air to circulate (thus preventing mildew) and helping the grapes to ripen evenly. The vines are supported by granite posts called ‘parras’ where they form canopies and the bunches are harvested in the Autumn by pickers from below.  If you drive around the region, you will see lots of small vineyards with these parras, all owned by single families. There is a long history of artisan families passing down their vines through the generations and this is why hand harvesting has also always been important as this is how it was always done. Combine this with the unique terroir in Rías Baixas and wines that so beautifully express their sense of place and you have real fine wines in your hands. 

More than just a white wine

Albarino white wine grapes Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Unusually for a Spanish wine region, 99% of all wines made in Rías Baixas are white and of these, 96% of the grapes used are Albariño! Of the remaining 4%, there are 13 other local grapes allowed in the DO; most of which are blended with Albariño, though you will occasionally see some of them standing alone. The most important ‘other’ grapes are Treixadura, Caiño Blanco, Torrontes, Loureiro and Godello. Red wine is made in Rías Baixas (Rías Baixas Tinto) but it’s rare at under 1%. Sparkling wines (Rías Baixas Espumoso) are also still very rare, but we are starting to see some well-known producers experimenting - and to great effect. 

Albariño wine style trends in Rías Baixas

Albarino white wine style Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Here’s the geeky part! Producers of Albariño in Rías Baixas have been experimenting over the last few years, finding ways to make their wines age for longer, to create more food friendly styles and generally put this grape through its paces to see what it is capable of. As a result, we are seeing producers try more maceration of the grapes with their skins before fermentation, which increases the aromatics and gives more structure. They're opting for native yeasts to kick off this ferment too as they've noticed that it gives the wine a more authentic, less generic flavour. In very ripe years, some barrel ageing (Rías Baixas Barrica) is now starting to be used to tone down the overt fruit and balance things up, offering a more robust texture. One particularly exciting development however, is seeing producers let the wine sit on its lees for longer (the dead yeast cells left after fermentation). This gives body, weight and structure to the wines and means they can age for a bit longer. It also means that these wines can take a bit more on the food matching front, from nutty cheese to creamy, chicken and rich fish dishes. 

What to eat with Albariño

Albarino white wine pairings Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Albariño was born by the sea so naturally, it should be a top choice for fish and seafood. The lighter, more zesty styles are great by themselves or make a fantastic aperitif with salmon blinis or fresh sheep cheese. The weightier, more lees-aged or barrel-aged wines can take some heavier textures and flavours, be that nuttier cheese or grilled, smoky flavours. Creamy pork and potato dishes work well here too. All in all, it’s a very versatile grape variety!

Try these Albariño Wines

We’re seeing more and more Albariño from Rías Baixas in the UK every year, with exports having increased by twenty five times in the last nine years alone. Many supermarkets now stock their own label Albariño wines as well as carrying key brands and more gastronomic styles of wines can also be found in independent shops, bars and restaurants. Here are some to try.

You & Me Albariño

You and Me Albarino white wine Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

With grapes harvested from Salnés Valley, which is the most northern and coolest subzone of Rías Baixas, this wine is perky and fresh with floral notes and a touch of peach. Very easy drinking.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £13.99

Serra da Estrela Albariño, Adegas Valmiñor 2020

Albarino white wine Serra da Estrela Adegas ValminorRias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another refreshing Albariño with a touch more body and great salinity. Think peaches, lemon peel and white flowers. So pretty!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £13

Lagar de Cervera Albariño

Albarino white wine Lagar de Cervera Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

A creamier, weightier drop this thanks to some extended lees ageing, making it a perfect match for food such as white fish and seafood. Grapes harvested in O Rosal and Condado.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £14.99

Linar de Vides Albarino, Bodegas Coto Redondo

Albarino white wines Linar de Vides Rias Baixas thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

Another elegant white with the perfect balance of citrussy freshness and creamy texture. This is the wine to take home to meet the parents. A great all-rounder, with or without food.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £14.99

For more wine content make sure you check out these articles next.