Thursday Club with Talk Radio: Festive Aperitifs

We’re feeling festive today on the Thursday Club! Here is an eclectic mix of delicious drinks, all perfect for this time of year. We’ve a flavoured gin, a spiced rum and a fortified wine.

Hortus Rhubarb & Ginger Gin (37.5%)

If you’re looking for something to elevate your G&Ts there’s something seriously moreish about this tangy rhubarb number. Try it with a Mediterranean tonic and a slice or add it to cocktails. The Hortus gin and gin liqueur range from Lidl is showcasing some delicious flavours at the moment. 

Find it at Lidl from £14.99

Liberté Spiced Rum (40%)

Spiced rum is quite simply a rum that has been flavoured in some way, either with fruit, spices or herbs. This one features a blend of Trinidadian and Dominican rums aged in ex-bourbon casks. Smelling sweet but finishing drier than you would expect, this is all about coffee bean and cocoa powder, vanilla, orange peel and cinnamon. Good enough to sip alone and excellent in a dark and stormy.

Find it at Lidl for £14.99

Malamado Fortified Malbec (18%)

This is a top end Malbec red wine made in a style similar to port. ​​Wine is fermented as normal but stopped early to keep the residual sugar, then fortified with grape spirit to 18%. Fermented aged for just over two years in aged French oak. Soft and dark purple with notes of dried fig, blueberry nuts and baking spice. Try it mixed for a different kind if aperitif:

15 ml Malamado Malbec,

25 ml Aperol

15 ml Red vermouth

25 ml Grapefruit juice

Find it for £15.99 for 75cl from TasteArgentina.co.uk, Field & Fawcett, NY wines.

£9 for 50cl from various supermarkets.

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 71

Episode 71 is here and we’re feeling festive! This week we chat all about how to make mulled wine that tastes decent, Irish Cream Liqueur - how do you drink yours?! and free gin cocktails! Listen in here…

What’s In Our Glass?

This week it’s Deanston 18 year old! Recently crowned Whisky of the Year 2022 in a blind tasting, Deanston 18 year old is matured for 18 years, including a finishing period in first-fill Kentucky bourbon casks and bottled without chill-filtration, this is a rich, luxurious whisky with notes of vanilla and sugary shortbread. Try a dram alongside your mince pies or an apple and pear crumble. Nom!

ABV: 46.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.99

Who’s The Third Drinker?

We have two ‘third drinkers’ joining us for episode 71. In the studio with us is Eulanda Shead-Osagiede, third drinker in The Three Drinkers in Ireland and travel content guru who is back from her trip to the orange groves of Portugal and eloquently explains her theory on how travel is a celebration of cultures. Check her out on Instagram at @heydipyourtoesin. We also catch up with Deanston’s Master Distiller Brendan McCarron who discusses his new challenges at Deanston and a ‘secret’ project! You can find him on Instagram at @mcc_brendan.

Drinks News

York Gin is feeling very giving this Christmas and is handing out free gin cocktails but you’ll have to listen in to find out how to get your hands on them! We also chat about alcoholic tea, Britney’s first toast to freedom and some fun recipes to make with Irish Cream Liqueur - you’re going to love Helena’s!

And finally…

Mailbag

This week’s question is: ‘What is the secret to making the perfect mulled wine?’ See what we had to say about it here!

Warm Scotch Cider

Colder days scream for warm, spiced cocktails to heat you up from the inside out so here is a gorgeous one to get you started!

Ingredients
1 gal. (16 cups) fresh apple cider
5 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
750ml whisky (we recommend Deanston 12)

Method
In a stockpot, gently heat the apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. When the mixture is hot but not boiling, remove from the heat and add the whisky. Stir to distribute the spices and divide it between 20 mugs.

Like the idea of a cocktail but not this one? Then have a look at The Best Negroni Recipes or One Drink, Three Ways: X by Glenmorangie.

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 70

Episode 70 is here and this week we chat drinks gadgets, delicious prosecco, vodka made from chips and much, much more! Listen in via the player below now!

What’s in our glass?

This week it’s all about Deanston 12 year old. A lovely whisky with caramel notes and honey sweetness that is perfect for people who live smoother fruiter whiskies. Try it in a Warm Scotch Cider – trust us you won’t regret it!

ABV: 46.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £37.60

In the news

Aidy has discovered a vodka made from curly and crinkle cut fries and Helena is getting excited about wine trains!

Third Drinker

Lauren Horne joins us this week and tells us all about her brand Dottie’s Espresso Martini. Vegan friendly, gluten free and using barista grade style Guatemalan coffee along with the amazing crema that forms on top once it’s poured it really is a revelation in the canned drinks industry and one to try!

ABV: 7%
Size: 250ml
Find here: dotties.co.uk

Call the shots

Helena puts Aidy and Lauren to the test to see if they can figure out what the orangey, bubbly, toffee popcorn and salted caramel smelling drink is that they have been given. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

And finally…

Mailbag

White wine is a trigger for my acid reflux – is there a white wine out there that you think wouldn’t upset my stomach as much.

Listen in for all this and more!

The Best Port for a Port and Tonic

Haven’t you heard?! Port is trendy now. No longer just the fortified wine that you bring out while stuffed full on Christmas Day when you realise you seem to have drunk everything else. No, port is back in fashion. Heralded as a cost-efficient and adventurous alternative to a G&T, a port and tonic (or a P&T that is) is a drink that needs to be on your radar! 

What is a Port and Tonic?

It’s already extremely popular in Portugal, and depending on what type of port you go for, a P&T can be quite varied as a drink. It’s mainly white port that is put into a port and tonic, but we’ve decided to mix it up a bit and throw in some red ports too! We’ve recommended some tonics to go with the different ports, but remember that at the end of the day it’s always down to your personal preference.

Here are our favourite ports for a GREAT port and tonic:

Barros LBV 2015

Barros LBV is a ruby port in a  beautiful deep red colour, making for a very stylish drink. It’s very full-bodied and has flavours of ripe fruit and wild berries. The aromas are reminiscent of figs and plums, so you’ll find yourself feeling wonderfully indulgent with one of these in your hand. Try with Fever Tree Mediterranean to give a bitter edge to those rich fruits, and why not garnish with a few berries?

Size: 75cl
ABV: 20%
Find here: £17.83

Portal Fine White Port

White port makes for a more traditional G&T alternative than a red port, and not just because of its colour. White port has a more citrusy zing than a red port and is often less sweet. Portal Fine white port is quite floral and has notes of white peaches, so if you’re looking to be adventurous you could try an elderflower tonic alongside it.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 19%
Find here:£16.75

Kopke 10 Year Old White Port

This port is elegant and refined, with notes of dried fruit threatening to push it towards the flavour profile of a red port. That would make sense, as the white grapes are treated like red grapes in this port, having an extended maceration to increase the aging potential and giving it a stunning gold colour. The flavour is very complex, so much so that you may not even want to drink this port with tonic. If you do, use a light tonic so as to not overpower the flavours of spice, dried fruit and wood.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 20%
Find here: £29.99

Quinta Do Noval 10 Year Old Tawny Port

Another 10 year old port, this tawny port is wonderfully smooth on the tongue and its notes of figs, raisins and caramel are perfect for this time of year. As it’s aged, this is another port you should try on its own before slamming in the tonic water, just to experience that complex flavour profile. If you still want the tonic, we’d recommend a lighter one.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19.5%
Find here: £22.20

Graham’s Blend No. 5 White Port

The crispness of this port is really what makes it shine in a port and tonic. The modern bottle design is something you don’t often see with ports, but perhaps it is a sign that port is now in! Graham’s Blend is definitely aimed at gin lovers and port sceptics, with its aromatic and fruity flavours reminiscent of a flavoured gin. This is a port that takes to tonic like a blanco tequila to a hen party, so get experimental with what you pair it with.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19% 
Find here: £21.25

Not sure you fancy a port and tonic? Then how about having a read of The Best Gins For A Martini or The Best Vodkas For Espresso Martinis?

The Most Popular Gin Cocktails

The distinct, botanical taste of gin is not only something to be admired - but also something that can be built upon in a tasty cocktail. Whether you want something fruity, something bitter, or just something to appreciate the deep flavours of gin, a cocktail is a perfect way to show your love for this beautiful spirit. We’ve lined up our favourite gin cocktails and given you some recipes so you can get cracking!

Martini

Gin at its utmost classiest: the martini is one to drink pensively while sitting in a hotel bar (though a living room will do) thinking of your lost lover and the expanse of poetry yet to be written… Basically, it’s a bit dramatic but seriously cool. Learning how to make the perfect martini is an impressive skill to be proud of, so start practicing now!

Ingredients
50ml gin
12.5ml dry vermouth
lemon twist or olives for garnish 

Method
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with cracked ice, stir (sorry James B) vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with either a twist of lemon or a couple of olives. Enjoy!

Negroni

The negroni, another simple but perfect gin cocktail that’s boozy, bitter and moreish. The blend of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari is enough to make your mouth water just at the stunning, scarlet sight of one! Cheers!

Ingredients
25ml gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
orange slice 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 slice of orange.

Gin Fizz

If you like frothy, foamy cocktails then the Gin Fizz is for you. It’s sweet with a tart kick from the lemon and a delicate botanical finish from the gin. In our opinion, it’s a bit like a lemon meringue pie in a cocktail! If you love that dessert and also love gin (like us) whip up one of these today for something delicious that will quench your thirst and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients
50ml gin
25ml lemon juice
2 tsp sugar syrup
1 egg white or 2tbsp aquafaba
lemon slice for garnish 

Method
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice for 15 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Strain into a tall glass and carefully garnish with a lemon slice!

French 75

New fact for the day, the French 75 is actually named after a gun that was used by the French and Americans in WW1 and was noted for its speed and accuracy. Why, then, is it used to describe a cocktail?! According to the inventors, this drink hits you as accurately and quickly as the ‘French 75’ - so watch out! Champagne and gin might at first seem like a weird combination, but seeing (or tasting) is believing! Mix up some of these at a party for a proper show stopper!

Ingredients
25ml gin
12.5ml lemon juice
12.5ml simple syrup
champagne
lime twist for garnish 

Method
Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Double strain into a champagne flute and top up with champagne. Garnish with a lime twist and enjoy!

Gin and Tonic

This is the simplest and simultaneously the most customisable gin cocktail EVER. You won’t have to go hunting for expensive ingredients or spend hours crafting the perfect foam, the G&T is all about you. There’s so many different tonics out there now that we’re certain you’ll find something you’ll adore. If you’re a gin connoisseur, try working out the best pairings of tonics and gins! When it comes to garnishes, it’s again all about personal preference (and what you have in the cupboard/fridge/garden). Go wild and have fun! 

Ingredients
25ml or 50ml gin
any tonic that takes your fancy
any garnish that takes your fancy 

Method
Add the gin to the bottom of a large glass and fill with ice. Top up with tonic until the taste is to your liking, give it a gentle stir and garnish with anything you want! You do you!

Aviation Cocktail

Despite its name, this cocktail won’t induce instant flying abilities. We’re yet to find a cocktail that does - but in the meantime why not crack out the crème de violette and make this beautiful purple cocktail that’ll at least have your heart soaring!

Ingredients
50ml gin
12.5ml crème de violette
12.5ml maraschino liqueur
20ml lemon juice
brandied cherry or lemon twist for garnish 

Method
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until cold. Strain into a glass of your choice and garnish with a brandied cherry or lemon twist. Up, up and away!

Bramble

If you want to make the very best version of this cocktail, we suggest you make it with foraged blackberries, but if that’s not an option store bought is completely fine! This cocktail will have you feeling like you’re sitting in the garden of your tiny remote cottage in the woods communicating with your animal friends, dressed head to toe in gingham. Bring out the checkered tablecloth, make a blackberry pie and enjoy this Bramble cocktail with all your foresty foraging friends…

Ingredients
50ml gin
25ml lemon juice
6 blackberries
25ml sugar syrup
lemon slice and blackberries for garnish 

Method
Muddle blackberries in a rocks glass and add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup. Fill the glass with crushed ice and mix with a bar spoon. Garnish with a lemon slice and blackberries!

Clover Club

Legend has it that the Clover Club is named after a top-secret organisation concerned with, and only with, raspberry liqueur. Okay, maybe that’s made up - but that doesn’t stop this cocktail being our favourite way to use raspberry liqueur! It’s fruity, bright and a little sharp, guaranteed to having you party all night long…

Ingredients
75ml gin
1½ tbsp raspberry liqueur
25ml lemon juice
1 egg white or 2tbsp aquafaba
lemon twist or raspberry for garnish 

Method
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice for 15 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist or raspberry!

Not found anything you like here? Make sure to have a look at The Best Gins to Try This Year and What Are Colour Changing Gins?!

The Best Flavoured Vodka

We all know that vodka is great, but what if it could be even greater? This is exactly what vodka companies have been trying to prove for a long time with flavoured vodka. The world of flavoured vodka is a vast expanse that stretches as far as the eye can see and further than the mouth can taste. Let’s not beat around the bush, it has led to some awful creations but it has also led to some superb spirits that are ripe for mixology innovation and big satisfaction…

Here’s a list of some of the world’s best-flavoured vodka: 

Nemiroff Wild Cranberry Vodka - The Inked Collection

This flavoured vodka comes all the way from Ukraine! Nemiroff is an award winning brand known for their flavoured vodka, and their Inked Collection is really where they shine. The Wild Cranberry Vodka is flavoured with a mix of cranberry, honey, peppers, and a dash of Cognac. The cranberry tang along with the warming honey and Cognac make a flavoured vodka that is perfect for the upcoming Christmas season.

Try this in a festive cocktail, with some ginger beer or simple with soda and lime!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95

Nemiroff Burning Pear Vodka - The Inked Collection

Nemiroff back at it again with another brilliantly flavoured vodka, this time a ‘burning pear’. What is a burning pear, you may ask? Well, we’re not really sure but who needs to be when it tastes so good! Nemiroff Burning Pear is made with fresh pear alongside Nemiroff’s classic honey and local peppers. Warming but fruity is what Nemiroff does best, and their Burning Pear is perfect for experimenting with your favourite cocktails.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95

Koskenkorva Lemon Lime Yarrow Vodka

Koskenkorva is a Finnish brand that time and time again is a fan favourite for its flavoured vodkas. So, Lemon Lime Yarrow - we know what a lemon and a lime is but what is a yarrow? Well, as it turns out, a yarrow is a flowering plant from Finland that brings some light herbal notes to the vodka that complement the citrus flavours perfectly. You can try this on the rocks, but we love it with a splash of cranberry juice!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £23.50

Thunder Toffee Vodka

This vodka started as an apres ski treat, otherwise known as the afternoon fuel that skiers revel in after a freezing morning of ‘hitting the slopes’. Made with all natural toffee syrup that is sweet and rich without being sticky and sickly in the mouth. To truly get that apre ski vibe, have this vodka nice and chilled over ice while wearing some ski goggles and furry boots! It’ll warm you up and keep you coming back for more.

ABV: 29.9%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £23.40  

V-One Peppermint Vodka

You can either call this V-One Peppermint or V-One Mieta, as mieta means peppermint in Polish! The peppermint is refreshing and herbal with an edge of sweetness that gives it a wonderful rounded taste. If you’re looking for something aromatic with a cooling finish, give V-One Peppermint a try. For a delicious serve, try this in a spritz with lime wheels and plenty of mint.

ABV: 30%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £34.95

Moskovskaya Pink Raspberry & Lime Vodka

If you’re a fan of pink gin, you’ll be a fan of Moskovskaya Pink Raspberry & Lime. It’s got the bold juniper notes of gin alongside sweet and refreshing flavours of raspberry and lime. The raspberry is tart and fruity and tastes brilliant in cocktails such as the Clover Club! If you’re not down for some mixology, pair this with lemonade, lots of ice and a raspberry garnish.

ABV: 38%
Size: 500ml
Find it here: £17.95

Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka

While many flavoured vodkas rely on sweet fruit or citrus flavours, Zubrówka Bison Grass goes in the opposite direction. This is not just a flavoured version of a normal vodka, Zubrówka Bison Grass is a beloved vodka in its own right. The notes of cut grass, citrus peel and a variety of herbs combine to create a vodka worth raving about. Try this over ice, and then with a little apple juice.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.46

Tiger King Strawberry and Rhubarb Vodka

Yes, it is that Tiger King. We’re throwing in this bottle not just because of the name and theme, but because it’s actually a really tasty vodka! At first glance, the vodka might seem gimmicky and frankly a bit odd, but the addition of rhubarb gives a tang that sets off the sweetness of the strawberry leading to beautifully balanced flavours. It makes a brilliant present for lovers of the show, but you might want to ask them to open it on the spot so you can have a taste too!

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £25.95

Enjoyed this? Then have a read of The World’s Best Vodka and The Best Value Vodkas For Martinis.

Thursday Club with Talk Radio: Accessible Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a word that is capable of striking fear into many people who want to get to know wine. We know it's good. We don’t necessarily know why. We know that it can be super expensive but we’ve also seen bottles for about six quid. It’s fair to say it’s all a bit confusing. 

In a nutshell, Bordeaux is a wine region in France down on the central west coast and it’s mostly famous for making expensive red wines using a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a few others. While this is true, there are some world class white wines that come from this region, which are usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon as well as more entry level whites, pinks, reds and sparkling ‘crémant’ wines. In recent years, the revolution really has been with the quality of these more price accessible bottles. 

Here are some to try:

Maison de la Rougerie Brut Crémant de Bordeaux

Bone dry with a whiff of floral aromatics, think crunchy green apple and white fruit. Made in the traditional method just like Champagne, this is an exceptional value fizz. A gret one for Bucks fizz or Kir Royales. 

Find it at Iceland for £8.75 

L’émigre Blanc 2020, Graves

Fine white Bordeaux will be a blend of zesty, citrusy sauvignon, with the more axy, weight Sémillom and the result is rich and intense yet elegant . This white Bordeaux is organic with great intensity offering well defined flavours of elderflower, lime and blackcurrant leaf. 

Find it at Virgin Wines for £14.99

Château Barreyres Haut-Médoc 

This is a typical ‘left-bank’ Claret, based on Cabernet Sauvignon with a whack of Merlot. Hailing from the posher part of the left bank, this is an old school style of red with cedar and blackcurrant notes with a lean, mineral core. Fab value for a lovely Cru Bourgeois.

Find it at Sainsbury’s for £13