The Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 59

It’s that time again and boy have we got a fun filled podcast waiting for you! You can listen to the full podcast via the player below or via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify. Here is a sneak peek of what to expect this week:

What’s in the Glass?

Aidy and Helena are sipping on a beautiful Californian Cabernet Sauvignon from Dark Horse. A delicious red wine with notes of chocolate fudge, blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum that tastes way above its price tag of under £10/$10. Listen in to find out what Aidy and Helena think it pairs perfectly with!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: UK £7.50 (on offer) // US $9.99

Drinker Discovery

You may have already read our Piña Colada Flavoured Cheese article but if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat as Aidy and Helena take you through Aldi’s latest cocktail flavoured cheese… Get in touch via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and let us know which one you would try!

BRAND NEW SEGMENTS:

Dine First, Wine First

Brought to you by popular demand, in this brand new segment, Aidy takes you through perfect pairings for the dishes you love. This week is all about Peking Duck, and we think you will be surprised by what he chooses! There’s also a tasty recipe for all you chicken lovers waiting to be discovered.

Call the Shots

Aidy and Helena are professional wine and spirits judges but when put on the spot will they know what is in their glass?! In this brand new segment, Aidy is put to the test to see if he can figure out what the salmon pink coloured liquid in his shot glass is… let’s hope Helena has been kind to him!

3rd Drinker

Helena has a really informative chat with Beth Liston, Director of Winemaking at Dark Horse, all about what Dark Horse means to her, how they make such deliciously balanced wines at such an affordable price tag and how she built credibility in the wine industry as a female.

Mailbag

This week it’s all about the great debate of: ‘How should you drink a Pornstar Martini?!’ Why does a random shot of prosecco come with it? Are you meant to shot it or pour it into the drink?! All your questions, along with some interesting information on the cocktail’s name and where you can find the best one in London is waiting to be discovered!

This article is just scratching the surface of everything waiting to be discovered in Episode 59 of The Bring a Bottle Podcast so make sure you don’t miss out - tune in now!

One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret Triple Wood

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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The Glenturret Triple Wood Scotch whisky is the perfect continuation of Glenturret’s long whisky history, being part of the older range and then reborn into the new. It’s a delightfully subtle, golden whisky that’s light on its feet with lots of ripe, fruity notes with sweetly spiced aromas thanks to a combination of European and American Sherry oak casks with Bourbon barrels. Try it alone to sip and savour or give it a go in one of these fantastic serves.

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

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Helena’s Choice: Vanilla Highball

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Highballs are back as new generations discover whisky in an accessible way before hitting the stuff neat. The Vanilla highball is a long serve that’s incredibly simple to make at home. Here’s a refreshing version with a twist to bring out those beautiful sweet spice flavours from the wood casks: Simply pour the whisky into a highball glass topped up with ice, splash in some vanilla bitters (to taste) and top up with cream soda. Garnish with a slice of orange or a vanilla pod if you have one. 

The ‘Vanilla Highball’

Recipe

25ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

200ml Cream soda

Ice

Orange slice or vanilla pod for garnish

Highball glass

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Aidy’s Choice: Pineapple Whisky Sour

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Whisky cocktails don’t have to be heavy, dark affairs; there are tonnes of lighter, fruity options too. Here’s a particular serve that I consider my TGIF drink (Thank God It’s Friday!) or quite frankly, any time I’m just in the mood for a little pick me up! Method: place the sugar, whisky, lemon juice, pineapple juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds. Strain into an old fashioned cocktail glass and serve.

Pineapple Whisky Sour

Recipe

60ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

25ml Lemon juice 

25ml Pineapple juice 

1 egg white

2 tsp Caster sugar

Pineapple wedge to garnish (optional)

Glass tumbler

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Colin’s Choice: The Rob Roy

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Here’s one for fans of a classic Manhattan but with a Scotch whisky twist! Originally created in 1894 at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel and was named after the opera Roby Roy that was premiering in New York at the time. Method: Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing glass with ice, then pour into the coup. Garnish with an orange twist or a maraschino cherry.

The Rob Roy

Recipe

50ml The Glenturret Triple Wood 

30ml Martini Rosso Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

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

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: The famous grapes from Piedmont, Italy

This week on the Thursday Club, we start to feel a little more Autumnal and head to Piedmont in Italy, which always comes into it’s own at this time of year. Think truffle hunting, wild boar stews, foggy mornings… it’s just beautiful. Piedmont is also home to some of the most famous wines in Italy. It’s the home of Barolo, Barbaresco, Gavi, Barbera and Dolcetto to name but a few and all are fantastic food wines. Today we are looking at three grapes that deserve your attention: Arneis, Barbera and Nebbiolo. Huge thanks to Corney & Barrow who supplied al l the wines for this tasting.

Roero Arneis, Cascina Ghercina, Italy, 2019

Keep your eye out for this white grape as it becomes more popular. If you’re looking for an alternative to Gavi, this elegant little white is for you. Arneis is the grape and here it comes from it’s spiritual home in the hills of the Roero, northwest of Alba in Piedmont. It’s a tricky grape to grow, which is why it’s often called the little rascal, but when treated properly, it flourishes to give a crisp, white wine with delicate floral aromas, notes of ripe pear, apricot and a touch of sweet spice. 

Find it here for £12.95 

Barbera d'Alba, Fratelli Antonio e Raimondo, Italy, 2019

The pretty, foggy hills of Piedmont’s Alba is the perfect place for classic Barbera (that’s the grape) like this one. Silky smooth and perfumed with notes of red cherry and fruits of the forest, this is a red for those who like less tannic reds like Pinot Noir without the bombastic fruit and oak of the New World. Quietly elegant and seductive, this is cracking with charcuterie too.

Find it here for £12.75.

Langhe Nebbiolo, Pian delle Mole, Giulia Negri, Italy, 2019

Nebbiolo is the most famous grape of Piedmont and one of the most notable in Italy, being responsible for the wines of Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara. It’s a paradox, looking quite pale and elegant in the glass but packing real power on the palate. Think Dita Von Tease and what she can do with a pole... The elegance but oh, the power! Tar and roses is the classic tasting note for Nebbiolo as well as a touch of marzipan, violet and truffle when it has a bit of age. They can keep for years thanks to the tannin and often need time to age. When from the Langhe region however like this one, they can be much more fruit forward and ready to drink earlier. 

Find it here for £18.50

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 58

Welcome back to another episode of the Bring a Bottle Podcast by Aidy and Helena, and welcome to the first official podcast companion article. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things we’re chatting about this week and some extra information for the curious among yourselves.

Make sure to listen to the full podcast so you can catch up on all this and more either via the player below or Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify!

What’s In The Glass?

This week, Helena and Aidy are enjoying a lovely bottle of Dark Horse Chardonnay 2018 (cue horse braying noises here)! This Chardonnay is tasted 100 times before being bottled so it’s refined down to a T. It hits three points especially: a butteriness (otherwise known as Diacetyl), a caramel mellowness, and a crisp nectarine finish. An affordable and incredibly tasty Californian Chardonnay, this rare occurrence is not to be missed!

Helena’s Infinity Bottle - Crime or Not?

What’s an Infinity Bottle we hear you cry! Well, in the whisky world an Infinity Bottle (also known as a living bottle or solera) is a personal blend of whisky made by YOU! It often begins with the stubborn dregs of unfinished whisky bottles that need somewhere to go, which it seems is what Helena has been using it for! But is this a crime? Check out the podcast to see how she has made hers!

Aidy’s Hard Shakes

Alcoholic versions of non-alcoholic beverages have been around for a long time now (Irish coffee anyone?), but have you ever heard of an alcoholic milkshake? Aidy treated us to a story about some ‘hard shakes’ he’s discovered recently - and we think they sound pretty good. 

Want to make your own? Here’s a quick recipe for your very own Hard Shake: 

Oreo Baileys Hard Milkshake:

Ingredients (for one)

280ml (half a pint) vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
3 Oreo cookies
25ml Baileys Irish cream 
25ml Vanilla vodka
whipped cream
crushed Oreo for garnish

Method

Add the ice cream, Oreos, Baileys, and vodka to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into a glass and garnish with whipped cream and crushed Oreos.

KFC Has A Hotel Suite?

Aidy’s made another crazy discovery this week - a KFC hotel suite? KFC have teamed up with Hotels.com and House of Harland to create a completely KFC themed hotel suite. You’ll be picked up from Kings Cross Station in a classic black Cadillac and driven to the hotel where you’ll be met with a ‘chick-in’ clerk! In your suite you can find a multitude of ‘chick flicks’ and an ominous ‘PRESS FOR CHICKEN’ red button… We assume that it brings the button presser chicken…

In The Kitchen With Aidy

As we all know, Aidy loves his cooking adventures and loves his reductions. This week he’s made a reduction of raspberries and sauternes (French sweet wine)!

In a pan put one pack of raspberries and add 100ml sauternes. Reduce the sauce down and sieve it. This sauce goes perfectly with some chicken liver patê!

That’s just some of what’s in this week’s episode - so tune in to the podcast now!

Champagne shortage feared at Christmas

Take a deep breath and grab a chair, you might want to sit down before we tell you this…  Though it pains us to an excruciating degree to break the news, it’s important we share this with you: we’re heading towards a Christmas Champagne shortage… 

Before you start sweating, checking your pulse and bulk ordering online - the shortage won’t be massive. It’s just very unlikely we’ll see any deals this Christmas on Champagne, so you’ll have to put your money where your Champagne flute is if you’re looking for some bubbly to deck the halls. We fear getting a deal on Champagne may be completely out of the question when New Year’s Eve rolls around… 

Due to the fall in demand over lockdown in 2020 (which does make sense…), Champagne houses took the decision to reduce the number of bottles produced as the Comité Champagne put a tight cap on the yields. Not only this, but many strong vintages are being held back to be released as vintage wines, leaving less to be used in a non-vintage blend Champagne. However, as people celebrate the easing of the pandemic’s icy grip, Champagne demand is picking up - a demand that will only increase as we come into the holiday season. 

The question on many Champagne Agents’ lists is whether this lack of supply will trigger an increase in prices, allowing the affected houses to reduce losses. It’s not certain yet what will happen but we personally aren’t keen to see hiked up prices, especially after the financial and employment difficulties suffered over the course of the pandemic.

If you are feeling keen to begin stocking up, it’s always a good idea to look out for any deals that might be about and take advantage of them now. However, if it sounds like Champagne might just be too expensive for this Christmas - why not venture into the worlds of Cava and Prosecco.

Here’s a guide to the Proseccos we think you should be buying in 2021.

What is Pimm's?

Pimm’s first made an appearance back in the early 19th century when it was served by its creator, James Pimm, as a tonic from a tankard to aid digestion at his oyster bar in east London. The classic Pimm’s ‘No. 1 Cup’ recipe is still a gin liqueur-based tipple featuring a secret recipe of herbs and spices, only now it’s usually served with lemonade, a tonne of ice and half a fruit salad as a light, summer punch. 

Having a secret recipe has not stopped others from having a go at making their own versions, however. Sometimes, they nail it. Sometimes, it’s a mess and in some cases, it’s even better than the original. Here’s my verdict on the latest Pimm’s-like plonk for all budgets because you know, someone has to do it!

How to serve the perfect Pimm’s

The Pimm’s rule of thumb is one part punch to two parts lemonade or thereabouts, whether you make it by the (highball) glass or jug. Start by filling whatever you’ve chosen with ice, then add fresh wheels of orange, lemon and cucumber with sliced strawberries and a handful of mint. Add the punch and stir before topping up with lemonade when you’re ready to serve it, stirring very gently to keep the bubbles bubbling. 

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

The Original

The original Pimm’s summer punch should be mahogany in colour with aromas of baked strawberry, orange rind, cooking spice and a medicinal herb-like note that finishes with a bitter bite. This is the benchmark bevvy. Now let’s see how the others compare. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 25% 
Price: £18.95

Summer Cup (Tesco)

The Frothy One

For the price tag, this is an ‘ok’ copy and it tastes exactly how the bottle looks: a bit simple and thin. This summer cup is more like a sweet, orange cordial and feels like it’s missing something, though it leaves a lot of froth. The simplicity is reflected in the lower price, at least. 

Score: 5/10
Size: 70cl
ABV: 25%
Price: £8

Oxford Originals Summer Cup (Morisson’s)

The Low Alcohol One

If you like strawberry ice lollies, the Oxford Originals Summer Cup is for you. Quite a lot sweeter than Pimms, it’s less bitter and spiced but also, lower in alcohol. Despite all this, it’s not unpleasant and is also half the price. Just don’t expect all the fancy flavours! 

Score: 6/10
Size: 70cl
ABV: 15%
Price: £6.99

Plymouth Fruit Cup

The Connoisseurs One

Created by the famous Plymouth Gin company, their fruit cup is quite a different animal to Pimm’s. The highest in booze of the lot, it’s got a syrupy texture and lots more blackcurrant and warm spice to it. Make sure you add less lemonade to this one - and you could even try it neat. Pretty good quality, but much more pricey than Pimms. 

Score: 7/10
Size: 70cl
ABV: 30%
Price: £19.75

Sipsmith: The Original London Cup

The Fancy One

Very much its own style this one, with plenty of table appeal and a lighter colour in the glass. Think cola cubes and wild strawberry sweets with a bite of bitter bark on the finish and decent weight from the higher alcohol level. If Pimm’s did a posh rosé, this would be it. A great one to gift someone this summer.

Score: 8/10
Size: 1L
ABV: 29.5%
Price: £19.13

The Great Summer Cup (Asda)

The Surprise

I have to say, one look at this inexpensive looking packaging and I was not expecting great things. How wrong I was! Packing a punch (literally) at 21.9%, this is a really tasty summer snifter that’s very similar to Pimm’s, just with a teensy bit more strawberry sweetness and texture. This ‘Great’ summer cup is actually pretty great. You might just want to hide the bottle after you’ve poured it...

Score: 8.5/10
Size: 70cl
ABV: 21.9%
Price: £7.50

Pitchers (Sainsbury’s)

The Identikit

If it’s a pure Pimm’s copy you want, Sainbo’s Pitchers is pretty much identical, taste-wise. For a pound less, 250ml more and a bit lower on the booze (though you can’t tell), it’s a bit of a no brainer. The packaging is also fairly smart too. Big thumbs up. 

Score: 9/10
Size: 1L
ABV: 17.5%
Price: £11.70

Austin’s Summer Punch (Aldi)

The Winner

Not identical to Pimm’s but actually better, in my opinion. More layers of flavour, well balanced and bitter with a yummy, yeasty note like baking bread. For half the price, lower alcohol (not that you’d know) and another 250ml to boot, this Austin’s is properly awesome. Well done, Aldi!

Score: 10/10
Size: 1L
ABV: 17.5% 
Price: currently unavailable but will hopefully be back this summer!

If you are looking for more quintessentially British drinks, have a read through The Queen has a Gin! or English Sparkling Wine you Have to Try!

The Tegroni

We love a Negroni here at The Three Drinkers, the boozy bitterness an indulgent treat for a dark evening. This mesmerising red cocktail is one of the world’s most treasured, and its simplicity is marvelled at by home drinkers and bartenders alike.

In the most recent wave of Negroni-mania, we’ve seen a lot of experimentation going on. But why mess with perfection? Oh no, it’s not messing. Those who condemn deviating from the norm seem to have forgotten the history of Negroni. Count Camillo Negroni, obviously tired out after a long day of being a Count, asked a bartender to strengthen his Americano cocktail. Soda water was replaced with gin and the world gave a collective, peaceful nod of approval as the Negroni was born.

“So, where should I start?” we hear you cry. Well, why not go for a super popular, funky variation of the Negroni: the Tegroni. A portmanteau of Tequila and Negroni, the Tegroni is an exotic variation of a Negroni with the gin swapped out for blanco tequila. Tequila balances out the Campari perfectly and brings out some earthy tones.

Here’s our favourite recipe:

Ingredients

25ml blanco tequila
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
grapefruit twist for garnish

Method

Add ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Add large ice cubes and garnish with a twist of grapefruit.

For more variations of a Negroni have a look at The Best Negroni Cocktail Recipes and if you’re wanting to check out other cocktail recipes, there are plenty here!

The Best Gins to Try This Year

Gin, a spirit adored by bartenders and home drinkers across the world. Its versatility in cocktails and spritzers make it a home bar essential. From a dry martini to a Negroni to a humble gin and tonic, this spirit’s got it all. We’ve listed our summer favourites of this botanical delight, whatever your taste may be.

Best London Dry Gin: Sipsmith London Dry

Where better to begin than with the classic gin we all know and love, a London Dry. Unlike other drinks that bear a name, London Dry gins don’t actually have to be made in London as it’s only a nod to the heritage of gin. However, every drop of Sipsmith’s artisinal London Dry is made in the leafy London suburb of Chiswick, so you are tasting a truly London gin. Sipsmith is quite the all rounder, though the dry zestiness of the gin really shines in a classic G&T.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 41.6%
Find here: UK £27.95 // US $39.99

Best Tropical Gin: Whitley Neill Watermelon and Kiwi Gin

Tropical, fun and summery: Whitley Neill’s fruitiest addition to their already wide spanning line up is both a wonder to behold and to drink. It’s not often watermelon and kiwi are associated with gin, but the tartness of the kiwi alongside notes of watermelon sorbet is exactly what a summer gin is supposed to taste like. Though it tastes great in a G&T, why not spice it up and add lemonade to this fruit favourite. Garnish with watermelon for an impressive cocktail.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: £25.95

Best Citrus Gin: Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla

This gin is quickly becoming a BIG favourite in the world of flavoured gin, achieving near perfect scores in BBC Good Food’s Citrus Gin Tasting Session. With Tanqueray’s rich history as the pioneer of London Dry gin, it already has an excellent leg to stand on. The orange flavour isn’t too sweet, nor does it take away from Tanqueray’s winning formula of botanicals. The sophistication of the drink is not lost either, with notes of blossom that round out the gin with a floral finish. Have this in a simple G&T garnished with orange.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: UK £28.95 // US $28.99

Best Pink Gin: King of Soho Variorum Gin

Shine a torch through this bottle and you might mistake it for the dazzling neon lights of The King of Soho’s namesake. This funky gin is dedicated to a London tycoon who transformed Soho into the entertainment capital of London, Paul Raymond. His son Howard and a gin lover named Alex Robson worked together to create King of Soho, a gin brand that encapsulates Raymond’s style and vigour. Variorum is their pink gin, fruity and opulent with notes of camomile and juniper. The lightness of the gin means it can be taken neat or over ice, however a dash of tonic complements the botanicals well.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £30.05

Best Gin for a Martini: Monkey 47

The 47 in Monkey 47 stands for the number of botanicals used when making this gin (which is a lot!). Funnily enough, 47 crops up again in the gin’s alcohol content - 47%! It’s a shame Monkey 47 isn’t bottled in 47cl bottles, but then again, you won’t want to be missing that extra 30ml. This gin definitely deserves to be tasted in its entirety, as every time you drink it you’ll discover a new flavour. Try it in a martini or a G&T.

Size: UK 500ml // US 350ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: UK £35.40 // US $46.99

Best Sloe Gin: Bathtub Gin

The packaging and name of Bathtub Gin is a throwback to the prohibition era between 1920-1933 where people actually made gin in their bathtubs. We love the extra detail of the brown paper packaging which makes owning the gin feel a bit like smuggling some contraband (shhhhh). Their sloe gin is a brilliant addition to the range, especially since sloe gin is an often homemade drink. This infused gin has notes of hazelnut turkish delight, tart plums, figs and cream. Yes, sloe gin might not be a summery drink - but Autumn is creeping up on us! Ease into the next season with a Sloe Gin Fizz made with Bathtub Gin… 

Size: 50cl
ABV: 33.8%
Find here: UK £27.95

Enjoyed this? Why not have a look at The World’s Most Luxurious Gins or The Best Gins for a Martini.