talk RADIO: Irish Drinks for St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick’s Day! And what an important one it is for us at 3DHQ as we launch our second global TV series on Amazon Prime: The Three Drinkers in Ireland! Whoop Whoop!

To celebrate the launch, Aidy and I are raising a few glasses with Mike Graham at talkRADIO taking in some fabulous Irish tipples:

The Irish Mule

This super simple highball cocktail is a take on the famous version made with vodka and features just three ingredients. Simply fill a highball glass with ice, pour over the whisky and lime, then stir. Top up with ginger beer and garnish with mint.

50ml Irish Whiskey (We’re tasting Slane triple Casked Irish Whiskey)
25ml Fresh lime juice
Ginger beer to taste
A sprig of mint to garnish.

Find Slane Irish Whiskey at Master of Malt for £20.95 in a flash sale, or Waitrose, Amazon, Ocado and more for circa £30

Irish Gin & Tonic

Where there is whiskey produced, you will often also find gin or vodka and there are some stunning gins coming out of Ireland these days. Try this unique Donegal gin, aged in Spanish red wine cakes, which give it a red berry burst of flavour and a pink tint.

25ml Irish Gin (We’re tasting An Dúlamán, Santa Ana, Navy strength gin from Slaibh League Distillers)
Indian Tonic to taste.
Garnish with freeze dried red berries.

Find Santa Ana Gin at Amazon, Master of Malt for circa £45

Chocolate Baileys

This Irish Cream needs no introduction and their chocolate version is even more indulgent than the original! If you’re a fan of double chocolate magnums, think of that melted in a glass - with booze. 

Find it at Tesco for £18

Poìtin

This is literally ’the mother of all whiskeys’ a spirit that used to be distilled from just about anything - sugar beet, potato.. Made illicitly all over Ireland and akin to an Irish Moonshine. It was lethal! Since 1997, production has been regulated and here’s one that is actually rather lovely. It’s made by Killowen Distillery in Northern Ireland and is peachy and aromatic with spicy notes.

Find it at Killowendistillery.com for £34.50

To watch The Three Drinkers in Ireland head over to Amazon Prime Video in your country now!

The Best Irish Whiskey

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Not only did Ireland beat the English at the weekend, but my Celtic cousins have one of their most important national days this week. St Patrick’s Day is not only important in Ireland, but also celebrated across the globe, and not only by the Irish. It gives us all a great excuse (not that we really need one), to find our favourite bottles of Irish whiskey, pop those corks, twist those caps and pour some of the delicious whiskey and celebrate with them.

Irish whiskey is now certainly out of the doldrums. It wasn’t very long ago that there were only two distilleries in Ireland, Bushmills and Midleton, until in 1987 when Cooley come along, and now the storey is entirely different. There are now over 35 distilleries up and running with more in the pipeline. When in the past, I wouldn’t have had to look long at my bottle shelf to find that favourite bottle of Irish whiskey, this St Patrick’s Day, it’s going to take a lot longer. And there’s likely to be more than one or two bottles sampled!

I’ve put together my most enjoyable bottles. Some are old favourites, some are very new, all I know is that they are all delicious, and would make St Patrick proud.

Redbreast 12

I have no idea how many times I’ve written about this whiskey. It is an all-time great and having just spoken to Billy Leighton, their master blender, it’s not going anywhere soon. With a perfect balance of ex Bourbon and ex Sherry cask matured whiskey, this is my ultimate pot still Irish whiskey.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £43.50 // US $68.99

Midleton very rare 2021

I have tried many of the Very Rare series from Midleton and haven’t had a weak vintage release yet. First started in 1984, as the years roll on the whiskey placed in the bottle gets older and older and this 21 year old release has whiskies well over 30 years old inside. I tried this last year and was blown away. A real treat.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £338.99 // US $349.99

Bushmills 10 year old

Another classic on the Irish whiskey scene. Bushmills 10 is a fruit forward, vanilla hugging, spicey dram of loveliness. Easy to drink and can be paired with so many different foods, this is a whiskey I shall always have on my shelf. If you want a typical Irish triple distilled whiskey, then this is one for you.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £31.80 // US $85.99

Waterford The Cuvée

Waterford are known for having terroir driven whiskies. Using old grain varieties distilled from single farms giving unique flavours from each farm. However, they also created a blend of single malt whisky. I know that is a bit of an oxymoron, but they took the whisky distilled from different farms and blended them together. Of course, each whisky in the blend was distilled at Waterford, and therefore still a single malt. The result is a beautifully balanced Irish whisky at a powerful 50% abv which is now a firm favourite of mine.

ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.95

Jameson

The all time best selling Irish whiskey in the world. And for a very good reason. It is simply brilliant. Smooth and fruity with a price tag that won’t break the bank. It is as happy in a glass with ice, mixed with coke or in a cocktail as well as simply by itself enjoyed by a warming fire. This is not just a safe bet if you can’t think of anything else this St. Patrick’s day. It’s a sure bet.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $32.99

Roe & Co

I have to admit to being bias about Roe and Coe. It’s distilled by one of my best friends, which gives me all the more reason to love it. Lora Hemy has done a magnificent job creating one of Ireland’s newest whiskies, and this isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. With innovation at the fore, Roe & Coe is going to be an exciting dram to have now and on future St Patrick days.

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £29.83 // US $32.99

Kilbeggan

One of the oldest sites of known distillation in Ireland, this reborn distillery is lovely and honied and malty. However unusually for an Irish whiskey, it has a little smoke in the background, which is well balanced and gives depth. Something a little different, but one I like very much and I’m sure you will too especially if you don’t like it too smoky.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.64 // US $36.99

Slane Special Edition

In homage to the music festival at Slane Castle, Slane Whiskey has created this special edition. The festival was started in 1981 with the first headline band being Thin Lizzie, an Irish band known for their song “Whiskey in the jar”. This whiskey has been created with increased use of virgin oak and a mix of both ex bourbon and ex sherry casks. With a higher-than-normal abv of 45%, this turns the flavour volume up to 11!

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka

I know this isn’t a whiskey, but I do know there is the odd person out there who doesn’t enjoy whiskey but would nevertheless want to enjoy a spirit on St Patrick’s day and this vodka is a cracker. Flavoursome by itself and brilliant in a cocktail, and no self respecting whiskey drinker would shy away from having a crack and chinking a glass with you on Thursday and exclaiming, “Slainte”!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

I hope that whets your appetites for Thursday, which for this year will definitely be the new Friday for me, and I hope to be raising a glass to you all this St Patrick’s Day.

Did you know the new The Three Drinkers in Ireland series will be live on Amazon Prime from 17th March? You can find the trailer and more information here.

Irish Spring

It doesn’t get much simpler than this! Using Glendalough’s Wild Botanical gin, sustainably hand foraged from the mountains around the distillery, this cocktail is light, refreshing, and a perfect sip for a Spring day… or any day to be quite honest!

Ingredients
60ml Wild Botanical Gin
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
20ml Simple Syrup
Garnish with Fresh Mint

Method
Shake up all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Or for a longer version, this can be built over ice in a highball glass and topped with soda water.

You can find out more about Glendalough Distillery by watching The Three Drinkers in Ireland on Amazon Prime!

Liked this? Why not check out The Most Popular Gin Cocktails or how about 10 Delicious Martini Variations?!

What is London Dry Gin and which ones should I try?!

Words by Leigh Andrews

Whether you are a classic gin enthusiast or favour the flavour, we are all familiar with the term ‘London Dry’ that graces our bottles - but what does it actually mean? Well, hold on to your school caps folks, here’s what you need to know and some delicious bottles you need to try!

Is London Dry Gin only made in London?

Unlike Plymouth Gin, which can only be made in Plymouth, London Dry doesn’t have to be distilled in London. It actually relates to the distilling process itself, which given the capital’s vast gin making history and the fact that this particular distillation technique (apparently) originated in London, the name stuck.

What is London Dry Gin?

To be called a London Dry, the base neutral spirit must be of an agricultural origin such as grain, potatoes and sometimes, even milk! It needs to be distilled to 96% alcoholic volume. This spirit is then redistilled with its plant botanicals, of which the lead must be juniper to create the gin profile we all know and love. You can’t add any flavourings or botanicals after distillation (sorry flavoured gin fans!) only water, and because it must be dry you can only add a minute amount of sweetening if any. 

So now you can wow your friends with your new found gin geek knowledge, here are some excellent London Dry gins you can impress them with at your next get together!

Which London Dry Gin Should I Try?

Whitby Gin Original

Nestled in the heart of the seaside town that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this award winning glorious gin has depths deeper than Dracula’s tomb! It’s distilled using locally foraged sugar kelp from the rich seas around Robin Hood’s Bay just 6 miles from Whitby, local honey and heather from the North Yorkshire Moors. The dry juniper is beautifully balanced with a citrus background against a herbaceous floral sweetness. Try it neat over ice (yes it is that smooth) or with your favourite tonic and a slice of red grapefruit or a sprig of rosemary to bring out the herby notes…..no garlic though unless you want to keep Dracula, and all your friends, at bay!

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK £37.95

Beefeater London Dry

An absolute classic in the world of London dry, great with a mixer and can hold its head high in a martini. Don’t bypass Beefeater because of its fantastically affordable price point. This gin is steeped in tradition! The botanicals are still weighed out by hand and not to mention it’s full range of gins are stocked in the Yeomans bar within the Tower of London - we have witnessed it first hand, the Beefeaters really do drink Beefeater! Still made in London using the original 200 year old recipe this gin features the zestiness of Seville oranges and lemon peel, the warm spiciness of coriander, liquorice and angelica with beautiful floral notes. All under an umbrella and bowler hat of Juniper, this is what London Drys are made of! Serve in a copa glass full of ice, with tonic and a slice of orange and lemon or in a classic gin martini with dry vermouth and a twist of lemon peel.

ABV: UK 40% // US 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
Find Here: UK £16.78 // US $29.99

Sweet Potato London Dry Gin

Even just the name of this glorious gin makes you want to try it just to see if it really does have sweet potatoes in it! In short, yes it does, and what an addition it is. Whoever thought of putting sweet potato as a gin botanical, together with cardamom, coriander and lemon zest, needs a pat on the back. This gin is smooth and aromatic with a classic strong juniper forefront, a deep earthy vanilla heart and a glorious finish of lemon cheesecake with florals lingering on the palate. With a punchy 45% ABV, this is another London Dry that you can easily have neat as well as in a G&T with a light tonic and a citrus slice, or with soda, grapefruit peel and a sprig of mint.

ABV: 45%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: UK £27.99

NB London Dry Gin

This London Dry comes with some serious credentials! Previously voted the Best London Dry Gin in the world, it was selected by the Royal family to represent her majesty's 90th birthday. More recently it featured at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding, was listed in the Rolls Royce "Top 100 Brands", AND was selected for the afterparties for ‘The Open’ 2018 and ‘The Brits’ for three consecutive years. This gin can do nothing but live up to the hype! You’d think this was some massive corporate distillery entrenched in a big brand, but no- NB’s distillery is family-run and nestles just off the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick, Scotland. You can happily spend a lost afternoon on their tasting tour in a beautifully relaxing lounge area (which can even be hired for a special occasion!) and enjoy this fantastic London Dry. This is a ‘no messing’ gin with a Juniper and herbal nose, lemon citrus on the palate and a light spicy finish. It is definitely a gin shelf staple! Glorious with a light tonic and a twist of red grapefruit zest.

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £27.50

Little Bird London Dry

Another of our London based London Dry gins, but we definitely didn’t pick this one purely because of location. This gin sings everything classic vintage and that includes the recipe, the bottle and the foundation of its beginnings. Friends gathered together, chatting about what their perfect gin would be and making it happen. The bottle itself features a 1940’s style redhead tattooed pinup on the label named “Miss Ginger'', and the spirit inside is just as nostalgic. Not surprisingly given the label, ginger features beside pink grapefruit and orange peel for superb crisp citrus on the nose. Glorious grapefruit with the warming ginger on the palate, light florals, juniper and that citrus lingering on. For fans of citrus forward London Dry gins, this one is an absolute cracker. Serve with Mediterranean tonic, loads of ice and a pink grapefruit wheel.

ABV: 40.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK £29.45 

Fuzzy Duck Distillery London Dry (Hero)

There is nothing fuzzy about the fabulous flavours in this new kid on the block. This ethically run distillery, founded by four friends with an aim to use locally sourced, seasonal British produce is more than achieving its aims. Holding on to the forefront of juniper as is classic of a London Dry, we then get aromas of the mediterranean, citrus and a light spice. This is a beautifully bold gin and can hold its own in character and style. The suggested serve with rosemary, blackberries and mediterranean tonic truly compliment the botanicals in this gin and take us from this awful winter weather to sunshine, herb gardens and lazy afternoons.

ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml and 700ml
Find here: UK £27 to £30

Liked this? How about having a read of these 8 delicious Scottish Gins or these Best Gins for a Martini

Lighter-bodied red wines styles to try

Not all red wines are the same and sometimes, we don’t necessarily want a massive, blockbusting fruit bomb. Here are some lesser known grape varieties and wine styles to look out for if you want something with a little more tartness, crunch and tang. All these wines do well when slightly under room temperature. Perfect for lunch and cold cuts!

Cabernet Franc

Country / Region: Saumur, Loire Valley, France

Try: Domaine des Ormes, Saumur, 2017. £8 from Co-op

The Loire Valley is the spiritual home of the Cabernet Franc grape and here, it is light-medium bodied with leafy, crunchy redcurrant and cherry notes and a characteristic whiff of graphite. Yes, this wine smells of pencil shavings! In a good way. Look out for the world ‘Saumur’ on the label as this is one of the key Loire appellations (sub-regions) that is famous for Cab Franc. Also look for Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC, which is often a little more concentrated and fruity.

Cinsault

Country: France & South Africa

Try: Tesco finest* Cinsault, W.O.Western Cape, 2020. £7.50 from Tesco

Cinsault is a grape that most famously perhaps comes from the South of France where it is blended to soften its often astringent tannins and temper its herbaceous notes. You’ll find it as part of the blends in Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon particularly. Out in South Africa, we are seeing it more as a single varietal where it feels a little softer with tangy cherry notes, dried herb and a hint of smoke. Fun fact: South AFrica’s signature grape variety Pintage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Cinsault used to be called ‘Hermitage’ hence Pino-tage!

Mencía

Country / Region: Bierzo, Spain

Try: Viento de Invierno, Mencía, Bierzo, Spain. £8.25 from Co-op

Mencía is a grape the professional winos go mad for as it’s a brilliant food wine and a little bit different. Lithe and nicely tart, it’s particularly aromatic with notes of morello cherry, raspberry and liquorice spice. It’s a great one to age. If you like Beaujolais Cru wines or Pinot Noir, you’ll love this.

The Best Margarita Variations

Words by Ana Patterson

Today, you are not just learning about cocktails – you are learning about life. You’ll be introduced to a mixture so influential and so great; it can be described as when life truly began.

“But what was it?” we hear you cry

“The collision of matter and anti-matter to create everything in existence?” Nope.

“The formation of H2O?” Not that.

“The primordial soup containing the earliest forms of life?” Wrong, wrong, and wrong again.

The most influential mixture in history was obviously when tequila, lime and Cointreau came together to form the cocktail to reign all cocktails: the magnificent margarita. So come in close, grab a shaker and a healthy amount of ice and let’s explore some brilliant margarita variations, from the classic to the experimental!

Classic Margarita

You know what they say, you can’t go wrong with a classic – especially when it comes to cocktails. The classic margarita is a perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and punchy - a summer favourite but perfect for any time of the year. Often, margaritas are served with a salted rim, though this can take away from the lip smacking flavours of the tequila, so try it without! Here’s a classic recipe, which you should 100% commit to memory:

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
25ml Cointreau
lime wedge for garnish 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds until chilled. Strain everything into a margarita glass. Add plenty of ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Spicy Margarita

This is the cocktail. However hard you try, once you’ve had a Picante, no margarita will ever taste the same again. Spicy, sweet with a WHOOSH of reposado tequila – this delight is a Tommy’s margarita with the addition of chili. Knocking up a few of these will guarantee a great night in.

Ingredients

 50ml reposado tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
20ml agave nectar
2 slices of chili to muddle
slices of chili to garnish

Method
Add the chili slices to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients along with some ice and shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over large ice cubes and garnish with the chili slices.

Hibiscus Margarita

If you love a pretty cocktail, you’ll love the hibiscus margarita. The vibrant magenta of the hibiscus syrup is a brilliant contrast with the lime wheel, and it tastes great too! Though it might seem a little exotic, you can get your hands on hibiscus syrup pretty easily – so pick some up and try it!

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
25ml Cointreau
25ml hibiscus syrup (we like Monin)
lime wheel for the garnish 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a margarita glass and garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy!

Blood Orange Margarita

As we know, the margarita is all about tang – but what about some bitterness? This blood orange margarita is not only beautiful to look at, but the blood orange juice works brilliantly against the tequila and makes for a tongue-tingling drink. This cocktail tastes great with a sugared rim to contrast the bitterness of the blood orange, but feel free to omit it if that’s not your style!

Ingredients

 50ml blanco tequila
50ml blood orange juice
25ml fresh lime juice
15ml agave nectar
caster sugar
blood orange wedge
blood orange wheel for garnish 

Method
Run a blood orange wedge around half the rim of a rocks glass and dip the rim in caster sugar. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a blood orange wheel.

Tommy’s Margarita

Though fairly similar to a classic margarita, the Tommy’s margarita is a super popular (and super tasty) variation. The most notable difference is the absence of orange liqueur, instead swapping it out for some agave nectar. Some argue that this deduction disavows the Tommy’s margarita of its margarita status – but who cares when it’s this good?!

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
12.5ml agave nectar 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and enjoy!

Smoky Margarita

If you’re after something a bit moodier and closer to a dark spirits cocktail, you might want to check out the smoky margarita. Instead of the typical blanco tequila used for a classic margarita, this cocktail uses a mixture of aged ‘añejo’ tequila and super smoky mezcal. It’s dark, it’s moody and its perfect for sipping in the corner of a candlelit room.

Ingredients

25ml añejo tequila
25ml mezcal
30ml Cointreau
25ml lime juice
lime wedge
smoked salt for garnish
lime wheel for garnish 

Method
Run a wedge of lime around half of the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the rim in smoked salt. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

Wondering which tequila to use in your margarita? We’ve got your back! Check out The Best Tequila For A Margarita and just for fun, why not check out these Top Celebrity Owned Tequilas?!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 78

Welcome back to another Bring a Bottle podcast! This week it’s all about garlic vodka, fancy bottled mocktails and drinks from Latvia. Listen in below for all this and more!

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

This week we’re revisiting Deanston Virgin Oak highland single malt Scotch whisky but this time it’s all about its versatility in cocktails – listen in to check out our favourites and Aidy’s interesting garnish suggestion.

ABV: 46.3%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £34 // US $36.99

Drinks News

What do you look for on a wine list? A recent study has published some rather surprising results Plus, we reveal some top tips to make life easier when ordering wine in a restaurant.

Bang for Buck

Listener, Milton, contacted us and told us all about his bargain supermarket finds. Like, for example, a magnum of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for… drumroll please… only £28! Want to know how he does it? You know what to do ;)

Drinks From Around The World

This week Aidy transports you to Latvia to sample Riga Black Balsam, a traditional herbal liqueur made with many, many different natural ingredients. And yes, it includes tree bark! The best bit? You enjoy it served in your coffee or poured over ice cream.

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.50 // US $33.59

No/Lo

Ever wanted a mocktail that actually tastes like what it says on the can? Well, Helena selects a quartet of really tasty mocktails from Savyll Beverage Co and tells us all about them. Available in cans or bottles from £12 for four, these vegan and gluten free drinks give that great authentic classic cocktail flavour without the booze.

Size: 250ml
Price: UK £11.99 for 4 // US sysco.com

Mailbag

A great question this week, “What is chill filtering?” . Listen in as we take you through what it is, why it happens and whether we think it’s a good thing or not.

Don’t forget to get in touch with us on Instagram to send in all your mailbag questions and of course to listen in ;) Cheers!

Ardbeg's New Release: Fermutation

Words by Colin Hampden White

Every now and again Ardbeg releases a whisky just for members of their committee (anyone can join the committee) and this February saw the release of Fermutation.

Apparently this was the result of a lucky mistake. A fermentation was left to run for far too long by mistake, in fact it was the longest fermentation ever run at Ardbeg. Rather than ditch the mistake, Dr Bill decided to distil it and this 13 year old is the result.

This long fermentation was created in November 2007 by a broken boiler which couldn’t be fixed, and rather than stopping the fermentation running at the time, Dr Bill decided to experiment. He quickly told the distillery team to open up the washback lids exposing the contents to the air. This was the start of a three week fermentation. A normal fermentation at Ardbeg is around 72 hours.

One gets the feeling that the results were not just down to luck. Some quick thinking and a desire to experiment certainly helped. The resulting whisky is still smoky, but is more in harmony with the fruity flavours which are citrus forward and as Dr Bill put it “Zingy”.

Dr Bill is well known for experimentation, and he’s always wanted to experiment with longer fermentation, but he admits what an experiment of this length of time would never have happened without the faulty boiler.

It went on sale to the committee earlier this month, and sold quickly. It can be found at auction and some retailers have it at inflated prices. But the best way to even have a chance of bottles in the future, is to join the committee which any lover of Ardbeg can do here on-line.

ABV: 49.4%
Size: 700ml
Price £150 (on release), expect £250 and upwards at auction or future retail.