One Drink, Three Ways: Samuel Gelston's Irish Whiskey Cream Liqueur

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.

---

Introducing Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey Cream Liqueur. The icons of Irish whiskey have ventured into liqueur for the first time in their long history and there’s serious indulgence here with notes of creamy vanilla, toffee, caramel, marshmallow and nougat. It would be amazing in desserts, but we’ve been busy trying it out in cocktails. The Three Drinkers each share their favourite ways to taste it….

---

Helena’s Choice: The Belfast Shake

---

Smooth and creamy, The Belfast Shake is an absolute indulgence. With notes of vanilla and chocolate and nutty tones too, all intertwined with the rich Irish whiskey backbone it’s a proper boozy shake and I love it! Simply Blend everything until it’s completely mixed and pour it into a hurricane glass. Grate the chocolate on top, add the hazelnuts if you like them, and voila!

The Belfast Shake

Recipe

50ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

60ml almond milk

10ml Orgeat/almond syrup

1 scoop of vanilla ice cream

1 scoop of ice

Garnish: grated dark chocolate & chopped hazelnuts

---

Aidy’s Choice: Coffee & Cream

---

If you’re anything like me you will love the sound, look and taste of this. Made in the same vein as the Espresso Martini, the Cream Liqueur just takes it to a new level of decadent delight. To mix it up, shake everything without ice. Then add the ice and shake everything again. Strain into a coupe glass and sprinkle some coffee beans over the foam. Think your mouth is watering now?! Just wait until you taste it!

Coffee & Cream

Recipe

30ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

30ml vanilla vodka

40ml expresso

10ml caramel syrup

Garnish: coffee beans on foam

Glass: Coupe

---

Colin’s Choice: Benbane Cup

---

The Espresso Martini’s Irish cousin is the perfect fireplace sipper. Rich liqueur, glorious coffee flavour, creamy texture, and a vodka backbone – I think that’s a very nice checklist indeed. It’s very simple to make. Pour all the ingredients into a glass over ice. Stir to your blending preference and top up with extra ice.

Benbane Cup

Recipe

30ml Samuel Gelston’s Cream Liqueur

30ml vodka

20ml cream

20ml coffee liqueur

Glass: Tumbler

UK
ABV: 17%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £17

Enjoy those suggestions? We’ve got plenty more here with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Glenmorangie X, or Don Papa Rum!

What is Mezcal and What Should I Try?

For many, mezcal is a drink shrouded in mystery. Is it tequila? Is there a worm in it? We’re here to let you know that mezcal shouldn’t just be in the shadow of tequila’s sombrero, so we’ve given you some great places to begin your mezcal journey.

What is Mezcal?

Chances are if you’ve heard of mezcal, you’ll associate it with tequila and that’s because they’re both made from agave plants. Unlike tequila which can only be made from the blue agave plant, mezcal can be produced from many different varieties. With a deep-rooted Mexican history, production methods vary widely so it really is a diverse spirit and well worth exploring.

What is the Best Mezcal Cocktail?

In Mexico, mezcal is often enjoyed neat, but since becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the U.S, it has found a home as a fantastic cocktail ingredient.

Our favourite is the Mezcal Margarita, providing a darker and smokier alternative to the tequila original. We think a subtle sweetness compliments it nicely, but the syrup is completely down to your taste. You can take it out altogether or add more in – that’s the beauty of making your own cocktail!

Ingredients
50ml mezcal
25ml lime juice
20ml triple sec
5ml syrup (agave if you have it)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Take your rocks glass, run a wedge of lime around half of the rim, and dip it into salt (smoked ideally). Add your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice and shake until everything is chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a lovely lime wheel. A thing of beauty!

What is the Best Mezcal to Try?

Mezcal Tasting Set

If the world of mezcal is completely new to you then you may not want to risk splashing out on a whole bottle only to find it isn’t to your taste, so how about a tasting set? This includes 5 different samples so you can experience each flavour profile and start working out what kind you like best. A warm introduction to mezcal indeed.

Size: 15cl
ABV: 42.4%
Find here: £28.95 5x15cl

Ojo de Dios Joven

Joven is a word you will see more of if you delve deeper into the world of mezcal. It is the youngest form of aging possible, so once the agave is roasted for 10 days and double distilled, it goes straight to bottling. As a result, you are hit by fresh fruit and pronounced smokiness. A perfect first mezcal.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £39

Dangerous Don Joven Mezcal Espadín

Dangerous Don might sound like someone to avoid at a bar, but the opposite can be said for this mezcal. Much like Ojo de Dios, it is produced from Espadín agave plants in the traditional artisanal fashion and is also joven. It’s super fresh and smoky from the heart of Mezcal heaven – Oaxaca!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £45

Dos Hombres Mezcal

If you’ve heard of just one mezcal then there’s a good chance it’s this one because Dos Hombres is co-founded by Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. Aaron wanted Bryan to fall in love with the spirit like he had, so they went to Mexico to sniff out the best Mezcal, and this is the end result. A traditionally produced Espadín mezcal that uses no modern technology, it has been smothered with awards since it began. Another hit for these two it seems – salud to that!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £56

Annabel’s for the Amazon x The Lost Explorer Mezcal

This sweet and smoky Espadín mezcal is a limited-edition collaboration between private members club Annabel’s and high-end mezcal brand The Lost Explorer. Available in a beautiful jungle gift box, each purchase plants trees in the Amazon, and The Lost Explorer make some of the most awarded mezcals in all of Mexico, so if you want something stunning inside and out then why not treat yourself? 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £120

Codigo 1530 Ancestral Mezcal

Codigo 1530 started as a private tequila stock available only to friends and family, but it was clearly too good to keep secret. Unlike most, this is an ancestral Mezcal which means certain production methods are required, such as clay-pot distillation and the inclusion of agave fibres. It uses 100% papalome agave and is produced in partnership with a small village of families who bleed mezcal. Top end but top notch.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.1%
Find here: £165

Clase Azul Mezcal Durango

Clase Azul’s mezcal range stands out for a few reasons. Firstly, they tend to make some of the most beautiful bottles in the drinks business and secondly, the lofty price tag. This edition uses prized Cenizo agave that grows wild in the Mexican state of Durango, where the climate is more extreme, and the soil is extremely rich in minerals. The curved bottle is colourfully topped by a pattern made by local artisans, and each batch is handmade and very small. It’s a very special drink if you want to go all out and try the most premium mezcals available. Definitely try it neat first to get the most out of it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £375

Any of these would spark new life into all of your tequila classics, so why not try mezcal in our Best Tequila Cocktails. Or for more detail on all things mezcal from fermentation to aging, flick through our deeper mezcal guide.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Bushmills Whiskey: An Irish Resurgence.

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I remember when Bushmills was the predominant Irish whiskey in the UK and Ireland. It was a while ago in the 1990s when I was at university and was learning as much as I could about whiskey. Scotch was all dominant, but if you liked Irish whiskey Bushmills was more than likely to be your dram of choice. After this time, other Irish whiskies came to prominence, however, if Proximo, who became Bushmill’s owner in 2014, has anything to do with it, this situation is about to change.

Bushmills has big ambitions to become the biggest Irish whiskey in the world. Now they know this takes time and effort, and that time and effort has to start somewhere. And where better than at home? I recently spoke to Alex Thomas, the master blender at Bushmills. Alex took up the post at the end of last year, and although she said it was a daunting prospect, it was a challenge she relished. Having worked at Bushmills for many years, being given the opportunity to blend Bushmills at a time when the brand was being marketed well for the first time in a long time is exciting. She said “we need to start at home, then one country at a time we have the possibility of becoming the biggest brand in Irish Whiskey”. A big claim, however, she has such conviction I don’t doubt her for a minute.

Bushmills have two great advantages to help them achieve this goal. Alex herself is a great asset, not only with her blending skills but also as an ambassador for the brand, she has an infectious enthusiasm and her knowledge is inexhaustive so to a whisky geek like myself Alex is fascinating to listen to. And secondly, but just as importantly, the whiskies, which are fabulous. I recently tasted three, the 10, 16 and 21 year old expressions and all were very good and exceptional value for money. Especially if one considers the prices of single malt Irish whiskey today.

Bushmills 10 year old

This whisky was the dram I most recognised from the days of old. Smooth and fruity. Melons and peach mix with hints of tropical guava fruit with a floral spicy finish. This whiskey won the best Irish single malt in 2007, and the quality is still there. Found in specialist retailers as well as supermarkets it is great value.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.99

Bushmills 16 year old

This 16 year old expression is a big step up from the 10 year old in its depth and breadth of flavour. Starting its life in ex bourbon casks, the whiskey was then extra matured in ex sherry casks, before finally spending a little time in ex Port casks. All these casks give different flavours and all marry very well together. With a nose of honey and stone fruits it develops on the palate with rich summer fruits, dark honey and tropical flavours. The finish is viscous with syrup and red fruits and a touch of spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £78

Bushmills 21 year old

This expression moves on nicely from the 16 year old. It has a similar richness, but a great deal more finesse. The nose has similar honey notes but also spiced fruit and dark chocolate. The whisky is matured, like the 16 year old, in ex bourbon and ex sherry casks, but finished for two years in an ex Madeira cask. This gives a tropical mango note on the palate balancing the nutty and dried dark fruit flavours. The finish is sweet with a little damp tobacco and spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £160

For more whisky content, such as great fruity whisky,  the best whiskies of 2022 and more, click here!

Au Vodka – The Most Talked About Vodka in The World?

If you’re not on social media you might never come across Au Vodka, but since launching in 2016 they’ve been making huge waves in the vodka pool. Through TikTok fame, endorsements from the famous, ‘Gold Gang’ and on-trend innovations like colour changing vodka, they’ve become one of the most talked about premium vodka brands.

Now, if you turn your minds back to Secondary School chemistry, you might remember that Au is the chemical element for Gold. So, if you’ve seen their all striking all gold bottle (or the two gold Lamborghinis on their website), that will make sense. Welsh duo Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn thought up the brand in 2015, and over the last few years, it has exploded. By the way, if you follow football, you may know Charlie Morgan better as the ball boy who was infamously kicked by ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard in 2013. So, it seems he has a knack for going viral, whatever the means!

Charlie gained some profile from this, and with rap DJ Charlie Sloth on board too, Au picked up the pace (ironic for a sloth). With his connections, he established The Gold Gang, an extensive list of well-known ambassadors including AJ Tracey, Big Narstie, Headie One and Tion Wayne to name a few.

Innovations like becoming the first colour changing vodka in the UK have kept Au on people’s lips in more ways than one. Their new Bubblegum flavour begins blue but add a little lemonade and you get a vibrant purple! Pretty cool and perfect for Halloween.

It’s not just the rappers, packaging and bubble gum bamboozling that’s getting attention either, it’s the vodka itself. It’s a 5 times distilled vodka, filtered through charcoal before being put through a high-pressure gold filter chamber! No expense is spared here.

If you want to taste ‘the gold standard’ of vodka and see why it’s getting so much online traction, it’s available for around the £30 mark here and in most supermarkets.

For those wanting to read more vodka news, make sure you check out The World’s Best Vodka in 2022 or if you fancy a martini tonight then The Best Value Vodkas for Martinis is a great place to head.

8 Of The Best Dark Rums Under £30

The amount of choice within dark rum, let alone all rum, can be quite overwhelming. But if you know someone who can wade through to find the best value bottles it’s a pretty good problem to have. Lucky for you, that’s us! No more (r)umming and ahing by the supermarket shelves – check out our best options for £30 or less below!

Mount Gay Eclipse

We start our Caribbean holiday in Barbados, swinging by the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, Mount Gay. Eclipse is named after the 1910 total solar eclipse, and the flavour is out of this world to match. It’s a blend of Bajan rums (what rums from Barbados are called if you didn’t know!), meaning no additives are present except caramel for that beautiful amber colouring. It’s quintessential Bajan nectar, enjoy!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £20.19 // US $26.99

Iguana Rum

‘Iguana tell you about this amazing rum’ is the best pun we have for this, so we’re just going to get straight into it. It’s a centuries old recipe from Cuba that made it’s away over to Panama where this is now made. Five years of maturing in oak barrels delivers a subtle oakiness and a hint of vanilla and spice. No crazy flavours, just a quality Panamanian rum. It makes a rock-solid base for any rum cocktail for sure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £20.27

Dunderhead Rum

You can be forgiven for not knowing what ‘dunder’ is, so let us help. It’s the liquid left in after distilling a rum batch (kind of like backset in bourbon production). It’s not alcoholic but can be added back in to bring new flavours, and that’s exactly what Dunderhead do. If you like Jamaican rums bursting with tropical flavour, then you might just be a Dunderhead! That’s no insult. There’s so much flavour for under £30 with pronounced notes of banana, pineapple and orange all packing a punch. Do not dunderestimate this one ;)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £21.95

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

A dark and delicious, well rounded Dominican rum with layers of flavour. Espresso, dark chocolate, and toasted hazelnut are a trio with a track record for tastiness, and we’re spoiled with manuka honey too. Indulgent ingredients at a fantastic price make this hard to beat. You’ll want to taste everything here so just lime and ice would be perfect. But let’s be honest this will suit any rum cocktail down to the ground as well – so go for whatever mood takes you!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £22.99 // US $21.99

Skipper Demerara Rum

We love a good vintage bottle and Skipper have stepped up to the plate with this one. Except it isn’t vintage in style, it is actually vintage – the label hasn’t changed since 1930! They’ve been distilling in Guyana since then, finetuning their rich and raisin-y Demerara Rum. Don’t change what isn’t broke as they say. Beautiful inside and out!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.44

Plantation Original Dark Double Aged

There’s a reason this rum picked up the top award at the Rum Masters in 2019 as well as 2020, and it remains one of the top value choices today. A tasty combination of Caribbean rums infused with plum, banana and vanilla before being further matured miles away in Southwest France. It’s a rum that’s been everywhere and that should definitely end up in your glass. Add ginger beer, ice, and lime and you’ve got yourself a top-notch dark ’n’ stormy.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.45 // US $17.99

Havana Club Anejo 7 Year Old

This is Havana Club’s first attempt at a sipping rum rather than a cocktail rum, and they hit the nail on the head first time because this Cuban Dark Rum has picked up more Gold Medals than Usain Bolt since its release. Matured in bourbon barrels, it carries notes of iconic Cuban tobacco, tropical fruits, and vanilla. What’s not to love? See for yourself why it’s so popular by trying it neat over ice as intended.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here £24.95

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

Appleton Estate celebrated their 250th anniversary in style with the release of this sweet and velvety smooth rum. Aged for 8 years in tropical Jamaica, it won Gold at the San Francisco Spirit Awards once it was unleashed, praised for its layers of honey, toffee, and warming spice. It’s delicious sipped neat but would sit perfectly in a Mai Thai with ice and lime too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £27.45 // US $34.99

For more rums to build a brilliant cocktail around, try these.

Or, if rum isn’t your thing, well done for making it to the end anyway, and explore our great value whiskies or best gins guides.

9 Boo-zy Cocktails for Halloween

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Halloween is very nearly upon us, and these drinks are perfect to feel the chill. Swamp juice or witch’s brews, which will you choose? Pick your poison below!

The Black Widow

Stare into the abyss with this striking Black Widow cocktail. As you put it to your lips you won’t know what to expect, but it’s actually surprisingly sweet and fruity. Scary at first but after tasting you’ll want to drink these deep into the witching hours!

Ingredients
30ml Crème de cassis
40ml vodka (black if you have it)
25ml ginger beer
0.5tsp activated charcoal (optional)
Black food colouring (optional)
Blackberries (garnish)

Method
Your aim is here to achieve that jet black colour and there are a few ways to do that. Black vodka rather than clear is obviously great if you have it. If not, black food colouring works perfectly and lastly, there’s activated charcoal which creates the deepest black. Other than that, you just need to shake everything except the ginger beer. Pour it over ice, top it up with ginger beer, and garnish with a blackberry. Simple!

Monster Milk

Freshly squeezed from the depths of hell is Monster Milk. A disgusting name sure, but a delicious drink. It’s a milky sweet base with spiced rum at the heart of it because this is no ordinary milk, it’s monster milk!

Ingredients
80ml milk
35ml spiced rum
Dash of bitters (preferably chocolate)
0.25tsp of vanilla extract
1 tbsp of syrup
15ml cream (optional)

Method
Frighteningly simple – shake everything with ice and pour!
Top Tip: If you want Hot Monster Milk, then you just need to heat up the milk before adding!

Death in the Afternoon

Created by Ernest Hemmingway himself in 1935, this bubbling cocktail contains only two ingredients. The luminescent green of the absinthe with champagne bubbling through it makes it look like something that’s come straight out of an evil laboratory… come to think of it, it would look even better if you got hold of some dry ice!

Ingredients
35ml green absinthe
100ml Champagne

Method
Add your absinthe and then add your ice-cold bubbly. That’s it! Voila!

Pumpkin Martini

It wouldn’t be a Halloween party without pumpkin present! The flavour can be a little love or hate, so it’s probably not best for a massive batch unless you’re partying with a Pumpkin Fan Club. It’s creamy, earthy, and delicately sweet with a tasty crunch to finish.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
15ml cream
10ml syrup
2tbsp pumpkin puree
¼ tsp of pumpkin pie spice (optional)
¼ tsp of vanilla extract
Crushed biscuit (garnish) 

Method
It’s spookily simple this one. Just shake all ingredients thoroughly with a large handful (werewolf sized) of ice. Strain the mix into your martini glass. Rub the rim with a light coating of maple syrup and add crushed biscuit around it.

Witch’s Brew

A colour changing cocktail to stun your guests! The key to this is the colour changing gin which you might think is difficult to find, but they have exploded in popularity recently and so are pretty easy to track down. A classic from any Witch’s recipe book.

Ingredients
60ml colour changing gin
25ml blue Curacao
Dash of lemon juice
Top up with flavoured tonic

Method
Fill your glass with crushed ice, blue Curacao, and a squeeze of lemon. Now the showstopper – gather your guests and slowly pour in the magical gin. Ta-da! Top up with your favourite tonic (raspberry works well), and repeat your trick for the inevitable queue that will have formed!

Swamp Juice

There’s nothing better than a glass of swamp juice on Halloween is there? Especially when the swamp is made from whisky and cider! Also lurking beneath the surface is lemon juice to shock you into life and an egg white for true sliminess. It’s the best tasting swamp around if you ask us!

Ingredients
45ml bourbon
45ml apple cider
Juice of 1 lemon
15ml syrup
1 tbsp egg white
0.5tsp of green food colouring (optional)

Method
There’s nothing fancy about a swamp so throw everything into a cocktail shaker with some ice. Strain into your glass over ice to finish. Bottoms up!

Bloody Pomegranate

With the rich darkness of the pomegranate, the froth of the wine, and the pomegranate seeds floating disturbingly, this is a gruesome sight indeed. The taste on the other hand is delicious!

Ingredients
60ml sparkling wine
25ml pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds

Method
If you wish, you can freeze the pomegranate juice in ice cubes beforehand or simply pour everything together and add ice. Crush some of the seeds so they’re misshapen and look like something that’s fallen off a zombie.
Top Tip: Continue the ‘blended body’ vibe by adding in a floating eyeball or fake finger if you have them. (Top Tip within a Top Tip – stuff lychees with grapes to create your own eyeballs!)

We’ve kept the above recipes super simple, but you can pretty easily add dry ice for more mystery or even LED ice cubes for extra luminescence. If you need help with the colour changing gin, we’ve written a full article on it here. Check out, ‘5 Easy Halloween Cocktails’ for more easy to make spooktacular cocktails too!

5 Negroni Variations you Need to Try!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Whether you love a Negroni but want to mix it up, or you’re wanting to give it another chance, you’ve come to the right place.

Loved for its simplicity, we know that there are drinkers out there who would condemn us for experimenting with this cocktail. To them, we say that experimentation and cocktails have always gone hand-in-hand, and if it tastes great then it tastes great. And these variations definitely do. So there ;)

The Classic

Let’s take you back in time to Florence, 1919 where it all began. When Count Camillio Negroni ordered his Americano (the cocktail, not the coffee) but fancied something stronger, his bartender swapped the soda for gin and in doing so, wrote his name into the history books (or the Count’s name at least). If you’re going to dive deeper into the world of Negroni, then it only makes sense to nail the classic first.

Ingredients
25ml gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
Orange slice (garnish)

Method
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until everything is thoroughly blended and chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Add more large ice cubes and garnish with a slice of orange.

White Negroni

Jumping over the border, the White Negroni is essentially the French adaptation. Campari and sweet vermouth were harder to find there back in the day, so two French aperitifs filled the vacancy instead. Surely it can’t compete with the classic though? Well, au contraire!

Ingredients
37.5ml gin
25ml Lillet Blanc
12.5ml of Suze Liqueur
Lemon slice (garnish)

Method
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Lemon is a perfect garnish.

Prosecco Negroni

Don’t even bother unpacking because we’re going back over the border again, this time swapping the gin for the lifeblood of hen parties, Prosecco. Italy’s bubbly is the perfect addition if you’re not overly keen on the bitterness of the gin, and it makes for a slightly sweeter and lighter drink.

Ingredients
25ml Prosecco
25ml Campari
12.5ml sweet vermouth
Orange slice (garnish)

Method
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill it with ice. Top up with your prosecco and give it a gentle stir. Orange slice to finish.

Rosé Negroni

If you didn’t know about Rosé vermouth then you do now. Combined with Aperol instead of Campari alongside the dash of strawberry liqueur, this is a sweeter, fruitier version of the original, perfect for those put off by the usual bitterness of a Negroni.

Ingredients
25ml Gin
25ml Rosé vermouth
12.5ml Aperol
12.5ml Strawberry Liqueur
Strawberry (garnish)

Method
Add everything into a rocks glass filled with ice and stir well. Sit a strawberry on top and enjoy!

Tequila Negroni

The ‘Tegroni’ is the Negroni’s Mexican cousin, swapping out the traditional gin for Tequila. Bringing a bitter earthiness to the cocktail, this is one of the more popular adaptations and well worth a try. Arriba, arriba!

Ingredients
25ml Tequila
25ml Sweet Vermouth
12.5ml Campari
Grapefruit twist (garnish)

Method
 Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir until thoroughly mixed and strain into a rocks glass. Add large ice cubes and garnish with a twist of grapefruit and some zest for added zing.

Whisky Negroni

There’s a chance you’ve heard this drink by another name before, and that’s Boulevardier. Well, Boulevardier is essentially a Whiskey Negroni - it’s a variation so popular that it’s got its own name (which translates to man-about-town). Some refer to it as Negroni’s edgier, darker, older brother, but with the Mexican cousin above, the whole family thing is getting a bit confusing so we’ll leave that there.

Ingredients
25ml Bourbon
25ml Sweet Vermouth
25ml Campari
Orange slice (garnish)

Method

For this one, chill a cocktail glass by placing it in the freezer. Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass and fill it two thirds of the way with ice. Stir for around 30 seconds to chill and then strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

Negronis and all their variations are pretty simple cocktails with only a handful of ingredients so making sure each one tastes great is essential.

If you want to pick out the perfect Bourbon for your Boulevardier, take a look here.

Or was it the Tegroni that took your fancy? If so, check these glorious Tequilas out.

And don’t forget you can let us know if you’ve got your own customised Negroni that you think competes with the original by getting in touch here!

TalkTV: Retro Liqueurs

It’s official. Liqueurs are back with a bang! Rediscovered through our post lockdown obsession with mixology and ingredients, drinkies from years ago are back and we are also welcoming some new brands taking a modern take on retro styles of liqueurs. Here are some delicious, old fashioned drinks to seek out, including the Queens favourite tipple!

Amaretto Adriatico (28% abv)

As Seen on TalkTV

A new generation of amaretto liqueur, made with 100% natural, roasted almonds from Puglia distilled and infused with coffee, cocoa, cinnamon and a pinch of Adriatic sea salt.  It’s morish, sweet and delicious but not sickly.

Serve: Simply over ice or in many cocktails, such as an almond margarita.

Find it for £28.74 from Master of Malt or Amazon

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge (40% abv)

As Seen on TalkTV

This premium, iconic orange liqueur is one of a kind. First created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle, it’s a Cognac based liqueur made with the distilled essence of Caribbean oranges and sugar. Weighing in it at 40% abv, it’s punchy and full, but fine, fresh and complex with notes of vanilla, baking spice and marmalade. 

Serve: Chilled over ice or try it in a Sidecar cocktail. 

Find it for £17 from Ocado (50cl) or £19 from Sainsbury’s 

Créme de Cassis Liqueur ‘Cocktail Collection’ (15% abv)

As Seen on TalkTV

Crème de Cassis is a traditional blackcurrant liqueur that famously comes from Dijon in France. This version was created for Sainsbury's by a multi-award-winning producer using a recipe based on whole blackcurrants, blackcurrant buds and raspberry. The nose is literally jam-packed with fresh, ripe blackcurrant. Try their other flavours too, especially the peach for your bellinis!

Serve: Splash a small amount into a wine glass then top up with white for a kir or Champagne for a Kir Royale.

Find it for £8 from Sainsbury’s (35cl)

Dubonnet (14.8%)

As Seen on TalkTV

The Queen’s favourite tipple is not technically a liqueur, it’s more like a vermouth but it certainly is retro. She loved it so much, she even gave it a royal warrant! Originally  created in 1846 by French chemist Joseph Dubonnet, to help combat malaria among the French Legionnaires, it’s a French, fortified wine, naturally flavoured by herbs, quinine and spices then aged in oak barrels. 

The Queen’s serve: Take two parts Dubonnet to one part gin, stir with icem then strain into a wine glass and serve with a lemon wheel. 

Find it for £10 from Waitrose, Ocado & Amazon