Flävar: The Upcoming World of Swedish Schnapps

Flävar: The Upcoming World of Swedish Schnapps The Three Drinkers

If you’ve not heard of Flävar just yet, then chances are you will have by the end of 2023. The Swedish schnapps brand landed in many UK venues from May onwards, most notably cementing a place for itself on the Wetherspoons bar where 15,000 shots of each flavour are being poured out every week! So, what is it that’s captivated British drinkers?

Set up beside the easy-on-the-eye Lake Boren in southern Sweden, Flävar uses some of the freshest water anywhere to craft award-winning vodka with indulgent flavours. Railing against, “memories of garish neon glittery shots slammed back in the student union” as founder Rolf Munding put it, these 25% ABV schnapps are not only delicious, but super smooth, stylish, clear, and crisp. The distinctive and nostalgic herbal schnapps taste anchors the sweetness of their current three flavours in what appears to be a winning combo!

Inspired by traditional Swedish flavours, there’s Strawberry and Lime for a succulent and vibrant taste of summer, then bittersweet warmth of Raspberry and Liquorice and Salted Caramel, praised for its moreish sweet and salty character. With Blueberry and Lemon on the horizon as well as a fleet of other new flavours, Flävar looks like it’s here to stay.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about for yourself, you can expect to see Flävar on supermarket shelves soon, but until then you can order a 700m bottle from their website here for £19.99.

If you’d like to read more product reviews, click here!

8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try

8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

We all know mocktails can easily totally miss the mark, but these 8 recipes are delicious in their own right with zero compromises. Whatever alcohol-free bottle you’ve got stocked; we’ve got the perfect mocktail for you to put it in.

Simple to make, gloriously refreshing and with the special feeling a cocktail should always come with, check out the magical mocktails below!

Tropical Passion Nojito – for the rum lovers

Tropical Passion Nojito 8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

This mocktail is the perfect tropical getaway. If you can find a white rum alternative that’s ideal, but darker alternatives will be fine too because it’s unlikely that the No-Lo will smother the delicate flavours. The passion fruit just lifts the flavour with extra sweetness and adds a lovely touch of tartness that really adds to the refreshment. A glass of summer!

Ingredients
50ml No-Lo Rum
20ml passion fruit juice/1-2 slices of passion fruit
15ml sugar syrup
1 fresh lime
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Soda water

Method
Muddle the mint, lime juice and passion fruit and add your rum alternative. If your passion fruit is particularly sweet, you may want to skip out the sugar syrup but we like it left in. Top up with soda, plenty of ice and garnish with passion fruit, mint, or lime – whatever you have left basically!

Orange Square – for the vodka lovers

Orange Square	8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

This is essentially an orange Moscow Mule, made using one of the top-notch vodka alternatives out there. The warmth and zip of the ginger balances wonderfully with light and bright orange and lime, but it’s mellow enough for the No-Lo to cut through as the show stealer. It looks delicious and tastes even better. Enjoy!

Ingredients
50ml vodka alternative
15ml lime juice
100ml ginger beer
30ml fresh orange juice
Orange slice (garnish)
Mint leaves (optional garnish)

Method
Strain freshly squeezed orange and lime juice into your glass and add your ‘vodka’ and ginger beer. Feel free to add a full slice of orange in there too. Garnish with an orange slice (we just can’t get enough) and some mint makes for a nice flourish too. Nom!

Palo-no – for the tequila lovers

Palo-no	8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

There is an increasing number of more than credible tequila alternatives coming out in recent times, making use of that same agave flavour. This vibrant mocktail is a perfect way to enjoy those distinctive flavours without the alcohol. With sharp grapefruit juice and lime, it’s bittersweet, sour and a little salty, just like a good Paloma should be!

Ingredients
50ml tequila alternative
50ml fresh grapefruit juice
Soda (to top up)
15ml fresh lime juice
10ml agave Syrup
grapefruit wedge (garnish)
salt (garnish)

Method
Add ice and all ingredients except for the soda to your shaker and shake shake shake. Strain into a highball glass and top up with more ice and soda. Voila!

Whisky Sour Mocktail – for the whisky lovers

Whisky Sour Mocktail	8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

This will work for your favourite whisky alternative, but also those No-Lo creations that don’t fit as neatly into one category. If it’s got smoky and woody notes, or subtle caramelly vanilla notes, or if you just feel it has characteristics like whisky, then this silky sour is a safe bet.

Ingredients
60ml whisky alternative
30ml lemon juice
10ml sugar syrup
15ml egg white / aquafaba (chickpea juice)
2 dashes of aromatic alcohol-free bitters (something like Æcorn)

Method
Shake everything without ice first, then add ice, shake hard again, and strain into your glass. You can skip the egg white/aquafaba and bitters if you like, but you’ll miss out on the easy-drinking texture and added layers. As is always the case with cocktails though, do what you want!

Basil Gimlet – for the gin lovers

Basil Gimlet 	8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

This is a more aromatic option that will suit a herbaceous gin alternative down to the ground. There are a few different ways you can do this, but we prefer elderflower and lime cordial with some peach for sweetness instead of syrup. It’s a botanical bliss, with tangy citrus and fragrant herbs giving enough space for the No-Lo to shine through.

Ingredients
50ml gin alternative
10ml elderflower cordial
10ml lime juice
10ml lime cordial (if not, then more juice and syrup)
Around 5 basil leaves
1 slice of peach (garnish)

Method
Muddle the basil thoroughly and then simply shake everything before straining over ice. Garnish with a sweet slice of peach and basil leaf and you’re all set.

Top Tip: If you want to go the extra mile, then some mint tea syrup (1:1 mint tea: sugar syrup) adds an intriguing cooling earthiness to this.

Apple Pie Sangria Mocktail – for the wine lovers

Apple Pie Sangria Mocktail

Simpler than it first appears, this a really nicely balanced mocktail that elevates a white wine apple spritzer to new levels. A sip of your No-Lo wine with sweet apple and sour lemon, underlined with vanilla syrup and honey and cinnamon on the rim is absolute heaven.

Ingredients
40ml wine alternative (preferably white, like Chardonnay)
40ml apple juice
20ml lemon juice
Dash of vanilla syrup
Honey, cinnamon and sugar(for rim)
Apple slice (garnish) 

Method
A simple syrup is always heating equal parts sugar and water, and we recommend vanilla pods to get the flavour here, but you could use vanilla essence. Shake your juices with the ‘wine’ and this syrup until it feels cold to the touch. Roll the rim of your glass in honey and then cinnamon sugar so it sticks evenly. Strain your creation over ice and garnish with an apple slice to top it off. Glorious.

Pink Fizz – perfect for the bubble lovers

Pink Fizz 8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

If you’re looking for something simple and refreshing, this is it. It’s fun, bursting with citrusy tang and refreshing till the last drop with those beautiful bubbles. Pretty much any sparkling alcohol-free wine of good quality will suit this mocktail, so it’s super easy to pull together with whatever you’ve got in. Sometimes simple is best!

Ingredients
50ml sparkling wine alternative
15ml simple syrup
50ml grapefruit juice
Grapefruit slice (garnish) 

Method
No complicating this one, just give everything a good stir and serve chilled!

Prohibition CBDaisy – perfect for CBD lovers

Prohibition CBDaisy 	8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try The Three Drinkers

The Prohibition Daisy goes way back to an era when drinkers were forced to get creative. So, in that spirit, we’ve added a CBD spin so you can unwind because isn’t that what cocktails are for? It’s super fruity, invigoratingly fresh and CBD replicates the relaxation of a boozy cocktail without the hangover!

Ingredients
30ml orange juice (ideally fresh)
15ml lime juice (ideally fresh)
15ml lemon juice (ideally fresh)
30ml pineapple juice
30ml raspberry syrup (like Monin)
CBD Bitters (like OTO) 

Method
The more freshly squeezed juices the better here. Shake everything with ice and strain into a glass with crushed ice. And remember to check your CBD amounts before adding!

We’ve kept it brand free so you can use whatever alternatives you might have in the cupboard, but if you need ideas for the best No-Lo drinks to buy then look no further! Check out our favourites here!

calum ecroyd writer bio 8 Stunning Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try


Viajante 87

Listen to us when we tell you: Go try Viajante 87 as soon as you can. This newly opened experimental bar is by Los Mochis and the agave-based drinks menu is crafted with a zero waste approach. ‘Waste’ from Los Mochis restaurants is used as the inspiration for each cocktail and is used to infuse the tequila or mezcal, added to the cocktail itself, or to create a garnish. The bar gives the impression of a speakeasy, located in the basement of 87 Notting Hill Gate. The decor is elegant and dark, making each guest feel like a VIP as they sip on their drink and nibble on the bar snacks. 

While you can get overwhelmed by the menu, the bartenders and staff are all incredibly knowledgeable and will manage to find the perfect drink for you. Each cocktail is based on a classic cocktail, just with added twists and the Viajante flair. Every drink has a unique palette and presentation, however we would recommend the Smoked Earth. The name does describe the flavours perfectly: a savoury cocktail with beautiful smokiness. If you are searching for something sweeter, you could try the Lana in Tulum, with a lovely freeze-dried strawberry garnish adding that extra zing. 

Although the kitchen is not fully renovated yet, we did get a small taste of what is going to be on offer such as the guacamole with homemade tortilla chips, truffle guacamole on crispy rice, and baked crab taco-maki. We can confirm- the food tastes even better than it sounds.  

Viajante 87 is great for one on one drinks, whether it is for a special occasion or even just a treat-yourself-moment.

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Value:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Range:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 10/10

Address: Basement, 87 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JZ

The 12 Best Scotch Whiskies to Sip This Burns Night

The Best Scotch Whisky to Sip This Burns Night The Three Drinkers

It doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to have a dram or two on any evening of the year, but there is one night of the year that gives me a reason to open something very special. A very special whisky means different things to different people on different budgets and at different points on their whisky journey, so suggesting whiskies to try for Burns Night can be tricky.

Within this article, I am choosing the best whiskies I have tried over the last year or whiskies I have loved for many years at every price point beyond the bottom shelf of a supermarket. I will be brief with a few of them as I have written about them before extensively, and for others, which are new to me or the market I will try and give a fuller view of why they should pass your lips. Whether it be budget or blowout, I hope there is something here that whets your appetite for Burn’s Night.

 

Glen Moray Classic

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Glen Moray Classic

The all-time best value single malt whisky on the market today. It can be found in most shops at around £20 and can occasionally be found on special offer for under that. With typical Speyside flavours of honey, vanilla and lots of orchard fruit, this is the perfect whisky to start with.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £23.24 // US $29.99

 

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old the three drinkers

This is the whisky which, when asked what’s my favourite, I have no hesitation in choosing. I have listed it many, many times, like in this round-up of all the Johnnie Walker expressions. It is complex with fruit, smoke and sweetness. As Tina would say, it’s “simply the best”.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £26.89 // US $33.99

 

Glen Grant 10 Year Old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Glen Grant 10 Year Old the three drinkers

Another very good beginner’s whisky from Speyside, packed with flavour. This has an age statement so it is a little more expensive. Created with tall stills, there are lots of fruity flavours and lots of malty flavours, there is also a touch of peat, so for those wanting to experience a little smoke in their dram, this is a great place to start.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £30.99

 

Dailuaine 16 Year Old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Dailuaine 16 Year Old the three drinkers

This is one of my all-time favourite whiskies. The balance of fruit, sweetness and wood is perfect. It is one of the few bottles in my house that is immediately replaced when it runs out. I think it is still incredible value considering it is a 16 year old and from a distillery which is rarely found in any other bottling. This is the only official one from owners Diageo and it’s hard to beat. Usually, you’ll find it for around £60 but it can be found for less, like the link below.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £45.75

 

Jura Seven Wood

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Jura Seven Wood the three drinkers

Hailing from the isle of Jura, and by looking at the name, this whisky is clear about the way it is matured. Using seven different cask types, there is American oak and six other types including French oak, Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges. All this makes for a complex whisky with lots of fine oak character and a mix of orchard and white stone fruits with peach being the main one. Fine oak on the finish with some vanilla and a touch of smoke. A great way to start an island adventure.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 42%
Find it here: UK £54.89 // US $83.99

 

Dalmore 12 Year old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Dalmore 12 Year old the three drinkers

Moving into the highlands, Dalmore is one of the luxury brands in Scotch, and with good reason. Here we start to see the use of ex-sherry casks in the maturation which gives a dried fruit character, as well as fruit cake and spice. There are also delicate citrus notes and a little marmalade, and you can expect a long finish too. Complex stuff and perfect for Burn’s Night.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £55 // US $64.99

 

Glen Grant 15 Year Old Batch Strength First Edition

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Glen Grant 15 Year Old Batch Strength First Edition the three drinkers

A sweet and spicy expression of Glen Grant and at 50% abv this delivers flavour in abundance. Plenty of sweet orange and orchard fruit with caramel, fine oak and vanilla. Apricot jam is dominant on the palate and spices cut through the finish beautifully. An impressive dram where the alcohol helps rather than hinders all the delicate flavours. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £59.95 // US $80.99


BenRiach 16 Year Old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night BenRiach 16 Year Old the three drinkers

This is a new addition to the Benriach range and a great addition it is. It is unpeated and matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks. Based on the original expression of the 16 year old which was made quite a few years ago now, it is a fruity Speyside with spice, toasted oak, a little dried apricot and a finish that is long and satisfying. Class in a glass.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £76.95

 

Octomore 10.1

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Octomore 10.1 the three drinkers

Octomore is a smoky whisky on steroids. The peating levels in Octomore are said to be the highest ever in a Scotch. However, whilst making this whisky pretty extreme, there is also an elegance allowing the fruit to come through the high levels of peat. The peat is also sweet rather than ashy making it surprisingly easy to drink given the high abv. I’d add a little water to remove some of the nose prickle, but each to their own, and at least at this strength, the whisky gives you the choice. The 10.1 series is now in short supply and getting difficult to find, so if you see one, I’d go for it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £149.00

 

Bruichladdich Black Art 10.1 1993 29 year old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Bruichladdich Black Art 10.1 1993 29 year old the three drinkers

This is the 10th release of this brilliant whisky and the cask recipe is unknown to those outside of the distillery. It is even more complex than previous expressions of the Black Art with lots of chocolate, dark fruit jams and manuka honey leading to ginger, raisins, tinned peaches, tobacco, and spices. I could go on and on. It’s very impressive and although a bit of a splurge, this is worth every single penny.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45.1%
Find it here: UK £403.57 // US $699.99

 

Islay Single Malt 32 Year Old from the Thompson Brothers

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Islay Single Malt 32 Year Old from the Thompson Brothers the three drinkers

This is incredible value for a 32 year old single malt. Although we don’t know which distillery it comes from, we do know that is is absolutely delicious. Bottled in small quantities and with the usual, unusual, and colourful label from whiskyhobo especially for the bottlers, this is a wonderful Islay whisky. With typical briny notes and lots of crushed shells, ripe olives and some ripe tropical fruits, it is complex and grows with air in the glass. Simon and Phil Thompson have become a bit of a cult in the independent bottling world, and with drams like this one, one can see why.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 49.3%
Find it here: £350

 

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old

The Best Scotch for Burns Night Islay Glenfarclas 50 Year Old the three drinkers

This particular release of the Glenfarfclas 50 year old was created for the 50th anniversary of the owner and chairman John Grant starting in the Scotch Whisky industry. John is the 5th generation of the grant family to take the helm and it is the oldest family owned and family run distillery. It is a hugely complex whisky with sherry influence and the influence of five decades of gentle maturation. This is something very rare and special, and finding it, or any 50 year old single malt for less than five figures is also rare these days.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £9,000

Hopefully, there is something here you can experience for the first time and make this year’s Burn’s Night a memorable one. With the world of whisky expanding very quickly these days, it is good to have a day to reflect on the more traditional home of whisky, Scotland, and all its fabulous offerings. If you’re not too sure that whisky is for you, firstly, well done for making it this far but also, why not check out these Great Alternatives for Burn’s Night?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

TalkTV: Drinks to Celebrate Chinese New Year

chinese wines the three drinkers

On the 22nd January 2023, we start to celebrate Chinese New Year. This period is also known as the Lunar New Year, which changes date every year because it is based on the sun and moon cycles, which are usually around 20-50 days behind our normal Gregorian calendar. This period will always happen between the 20th January and the 20th February and celebrations last around sixteen days. This year, the Chinese New Year’s day is Sunday 22nd January and it ends with the traditional Lantern festival on February 5th. It is the year of the rabbit! We raise a glass to this new beginning with four super sips, all hailing from China. 

Evidence of wine grape fermentation in China dates back years before Chirst, but its winemaking prowess was eclipsed by the rise of spirits - Baijiu in particular. Nowadays, winemakers are keen to show that China can also compete on the world stage with fine wines that showcase specific terroir. 

Xige Estate Wines

Based in the Ningxia region, Xige Estate (pronounced Shee-Gah) was founded in 2017 but with vines that were already twenty years old. Their focus is on wines that are understated and elegant, allowing the special terroir of the Helan Mountain range to shine through.

XIGE N28 Chardonnay 2019

A beautiful style of Chardonnay that hints at a Burgundian style with a kiss of oak, and a more floral, tropical style that reminds me of high end, high altitude, Argentinian Chard. If this is what modern Chinese winemaking can be, I like it!

Find it for  £27.95 at www.wine-embargo.co.uk and propeller.wine

Jade Dove Red 2018

A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with just a splash (5%) of Merlot. This is an intense and fruity red with an impressive minerality and structure and touch of spice from oak. Impressive, well-made and with an air of something really quite different. 

Find it for £22.95 at www.wine-embargo.co.uk and propeller.wine

BAIJIU

Baijiu is the world’s most popular spirit, even though many of us in the West may not have heard of it! Made from cooked, fermented grains such as sorghum, Baijiu is a clear spirit with a savoury, what we might describe as an acquired, taste. See more about Baijiu and how to drink it here.

Jiang Xiao Bai ‘Pure’ Baiji

Made by the Jiangji Distillery in Baisha Town, located in South West China, this is a very light and delicate Baijiu that feels and tastes a little like new make spirit or a particularly flavoursome vodka. A great starting taster as it’s a light style - they can get very umami and savoury. See here for some cocktail ideas!

Find it for £6.95 at Oriental Mart

Blanc de Noirs Wine

Changyu Moser XV Blanc de Noir

This is the first ever white Cabernet Sauvignon from China and is made by winemaker, Lenz M. Moser from the famous, Austrian, Moser winemaking dynasty. Another wine from the Helna mountain range in Ningxia, it gives a quirky style that sits somewhere between Chablis and Sauvignon blanc with a touch of red apple skin. A really interesting drop. 

Find it for £18 from Ocado

What is Baijiu and What Should I Try?

What is Baijiu and What Should I Try?

Have you ever asked yourself ‘what is the world’s most popular spirit?’ Is it Vodka? Whisky? Rum, even?

The answer is that it’s none of them. The world’s most popular spirit is in fact, Chinese Baijiu. With Chinese New Year upon us, here’s your comprehensive introduction to this mega spirit with 6000 years of history and 10 billion dollars worth of sales a year.

What type of alcohol is Baijiu?

Baijiu, sometimes known as Shaojiu, is a colourless grain spirit that’s massively popular in China. Most commonly, fermenting cooked Sorghum (a flowering grass plant) is chosen, but millet, barley and rice are also used and it varies a lot across the country.

‘Jiuqu’ is added too, with ‘Jiu’ referencing alcohol, and ‘qu’ is koji, which is a fungus that is also used in the production of sake and soy sauce. Just like most drinks, the choices made at this stage create distinct flavour characteristics, which brings us to the question…

What does Baijiu taste like?

Baijiu can be an acquired taste at first, particularly to a novice drinker. In its sense of texture and flavour complexity, it could be compared to whisky. As you’ll see below, styles vary, but overall, you might expect musky flavours with sweetness and over-ripe fruits. There can also be coffee and soy sauce flavouring though, so it’s difficult to pin down!

Most of the time, the white spirit falls into that 40-60% ABV range, though it’s traditionally enjoyed neat with food – particularly if it’s a premium bottle. Of course, tradition is tradition but in day-to-day life, it’s often mixed.

Baijiu can be roughly split into four styles, each using different ingredients, ageing vessels, and ageing duration. So…

What are the different styles of Baijiu and how do they taste?

Light Aroma: Light, elegant and subtly floral. Traditionally made in a stone vessel with sorghum. Hails from the north, around Beijing.

Strong Aroma: Fruity, tropical, aniseed, complex. Multiple grains but aged in mud pits. Hails largely from Sichuan province in the southwest.

Sauce Aroma: Umami, soy, bean. Mostly sorghum but with multiple fermentations in stone brick pits.

Rice Aroma: Sweeter and mellow. Hailing from the south and often the lowest grade.

Baijiu is a massive industry, so of course there are sub groups innovating with different aromas all the time. ‘Chi’ aroma can be infused with pork fat for example, as well as sesame aroma and medicine aroma. The good news if you like baijiu is that there’s so much to explore.

This variety is part of the reason Baijiu is so popular in China. It dates back thousands of years, there’s almost certainly a specific type that appeals to you, it’s claimed to have certain health benefits and it plays an important role in Chinese culture. Like Vodka in Eastern Europe and Rum in the Caribbean, spirits can become much more than just a drink.

How do you drink Baijiu?

A lot of people wonder if you should drink Baijiu cold and unlike many spirits in other parts of the world, ice isn’t always a go-to. It’s often served, as mentioned, neat and at room temperature or even slightly warm in very small glasses.

Usually, there’s food present or an occasion to celebrate. It’s a social drink and is often shotted, rather than sipped. But, with so much variation, you’ll find people drinking it in all kinds of different ways, so do whatever you like!

3 Baijius to Try

Ming River Sichaun Baijiu

Ming River Sichaun Baijiu

This is a clear sorghum gain Baijiu from the oldest operating distillery in China – Luzhou Laojiao. Fermented with wheat yeast in earth pits, the 2 month old mash is then distilled in small batches in a traditional Chinese still for up to 2 years. Instantly on the nose, it’s very fruity with melon, mango and pineapple coming through, with a baked earth richness following. It’s super smooth and deceptively gentle with a clean but flavoursome feel. Enjoy it neat first but then experiment in cocktails (check out the ones below!)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £36

Fen Chiew 5-Year-Old Chu Yen Ching Baijiu

Fen Chiew 5-Year-Old Chu Yen Ching Baijiu

The vibrant golden green here is from bamboo-leaf, which is also what ‘Chu Yen Ching’ refers to. This Baijiu is a completely distinctive taste, with an instantaneous spicy tang making way for lemon, honey and citrus. It has a more medicinal profile though, with a crisp herby and peppery finish. It won’t be a guaranteed hit with everyone, but it's a diverse tasting experience that some will absolutely love.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £60

Fen Chiew Blue Flower Baijiu

Fen Chiew Blue Flower Baijiu

The strongest Baijiu of the three, Fen Chiew’s Blue Flower arrives in style, with a gorgeous traditional design. It opens up to an intriguing herbal palate. Think rosemary, sage, saffron and umami notes. Lifting the liquid is tangy orange for an intense finish. Serve it neat!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £150

3 Baijiu Cocktails to Try

Baijiu Highball

Baijiu Highball

This is one of the simpler Baijiu cocktails to pull together. The pineapple shines through, and the lime juice cuts through very pleasantly. Very clean and refreshing to sip on with plenty of subtle notes to keep you intrigued until the final drop.

Ingredients
60ml Baijiu (try Ming River)
Tonic (to the top)
Lime squeeze

Method
Just add your Baijiu first then pour tonic to the top and stir gently with fresh lime.

The Golden Empire

The Golden Empire

Baijiu’s intriguing use in mixology has been a big part of its newfound international popularity and this cocktail won a Fenjiu (Baijiu producer) cocktail competition a few years ago. It’s a golden, moreish concoction blending sherry, vermouth and Baijiu, created by Andrea Dionori of the Crazy Bear. Expect refreshment, sweetness and a cocktail unlike anything you’ve had before.

Ingredients
35ml Fenjiu Baijiu 10 year old.
10ml White Vermouth (preferred: Cocchi Americano)
7.5ml Palo Cortado sherry
10ml Homemade Palo Santo cordial (optional)

Method
Simply shake well with plenty of ice!

The Royal Rabbit

The Royal Rabbit

This is a lovely, sweeter Baijiu cocktail that might be ideal if neat Baijiu is a bit too much for you at first. With underlying tartness from the lemon and raspberry juice, it’s crisp and refreshing with the perfect amount of sweetness, really bringing out any fruity notes from your chosen Baijiu.

Ingredients
50ml Baijiu
40ml Raspberry juice
Top up with lemonade
Garnish with fresh raspberries

Method
Stir well until everything is thoroughly combined and finish with some ripe raspberries for the perfect flourish.

If you’re in the mood to explore iconic spirits synonymous with other countries, then check out our article on Tsikoudia, a Cretan Hidden Gem!

Calum Ecroyd Writer Bio The Three Drinkers

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night

the best whisky alternatives for burns night

January 25th brings Burns Night, the birthday of The Scottish Bar, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. His classic works like Auld Lang Syne are known across the world, and traditionally, haggis and Scotch are served after reading Rabbie’s words to ‘address the haggis’.

It’s the perfect excuse to pour out a special dram, but believe it or not Scotch lovers, not everyone loves it! So, whether it’s wine, spirits, or even alcohol-free drinks you’re looking for, these are the best alternatives to sip on during Burns Night, that give nods to the event without going the whole hog, or the whole haggis. Enjoy!

WINE

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

Another fantastic wine drinker’s choice for Burns Night is this Double Barrel Shiraz... because it’s literally aged in Scotch whisky barrels! Available in almost all supermarkets, this Jacob’s Creek range includes other wines finished with Scotch, but the Australian Shiraz is really top notch. It’s first matured in traditional oak wine barrels, building richness and elegance with hints of blueberry and ripe plum. Finishing in Scotch barrels leaves for a seriously moreish easy-drinking smoothness as well as vanilla and charry oak notes. It’s a fantastic food-friendly Shiraz that would sing alongside beef, mushrooms, and blue cheese.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £10 (usually £12!) Sainsbury’s // US $21.99

1000 Stories Chardonnay

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night 1000 Stories Chardonnay

1000 Stories make a number of wines, with each fermenting in charred barrels that once housed iconic Kentucky bourbon. We’ve picked out their Chardonnay which reimagines the Cali classic without losing the characteristic of what makes the full-bodied grape so loved. The result is lush, charred vanilla and toasted caramel perfectly balanced by the more familiar baked apple and pear. The inclusion of a little Viognier adds even more intrigue with tropical hints in the background. Gorgeous!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5% 
Find here: UK £16.50 Tesco // US $16.99

SPIRITS

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend

The peak of rum heritage is Mount Gay who release some absolute crackers, and the dark and brooding XO is right up there. Resting for between 8-15 years in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks creates a precision balance. A lovely oakiness underlines everything, decorated with inviting notes of waxy pear and sticky toffee fig pudding. Full-flavour, impossibly smooth, and finally the very gentle warming spice that you need on Burns Night – it’s the best rum option to replace Scotch. Try it with a large coconut water ice cube to really accentuate the coconut notes too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £54.59 // US $64.99

Firkin Gin Islay Cask

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Firkin Gin Islay Cask

Firkin Gin produce some delicious gin, many finished with wines and whiskies. We even tried their Côtes Du Roussillon in, ‘The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky’, but on Burns Night, gin lovers should go to their Islay Cask! Best known for Scotch, Firkin Gin have imparted that Islay character into this London dry-style gin by resting it in oak casks that used to house local whisky. In amongst the juniper, lime and honey botanicals, peat smoke wafts through on the nose before distinct vanilla and sea-breeze notes on the palate. The peppery finish ties up the peaty elements nicely, for a gin that is both light, zesty, and coastal, but smoky too. Explore it neat but perhaps serve with ginger beer after that.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34.99

Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila

Raised in Texas but born in Scotland, Michael Ballantyne founded the award-winning Storywood to produce tequila, ‘with the heart of Mexico and the soul of Scotland’. It’s unusual to see Speyside and Tequila in the same sentence, but the 100% blue weber agave añejo matures in Scotch casks from the area for 14 months to create one of the most uniquely layered tequilas around. Think caramelised nuts and toasted oak, intertwining with the earthy and vegetal agave that sits at the heart of it. Innovative and well worth a try to see if the combination is a hit for you!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.30

Kalak Peat Cask Vodka

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Kalak Peat Cask Vodka

Another expression you don’t see often but just so happens to be the perfect alternative to Scotch for Burns Night... cask-aged vodka. Kalak’s crisp Irish malted barley vodka is distilled four times and finished in virgin American oak casks charred over Irish peat fires. What an image that is! A mellow smoke coats the bakery profile of vanilla, gingerbread, and cream wonderfully. The whisky presence is far from overbearing if you’re worried about that, it just adds a new toasted layer to the existing characteristics. We think this would also create some really unique cocktails, like a Smoky Martini. Cheers to Rabbie!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.90

Beeble Honey Whisky Liqueur

Beeble Honey Whisky Liqueur

If you’re anything like us you’ll be instantly curious about that distinct honied hue and giant bee, and even more intrigued about what ‘honey spirit’ is. When the founders began their first hive, they found it difficult to avoid wasting the honey that stuck to the frames. They tried soaking them in whisky and the first Beeble batch was born. They now have over 130 sustainable hives, and still only use honey, water, and whisky. English apple blossom honey blends with Scotch for a super silky and floral bottling at just 30%. If you really don’t like whisky, then maybe stay clear but if you want to explore a much easier drinking sweet liqueur version, then this is a must try. It won a Great Taste Award in 2020 for its original flavour so see what you think!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 30%
Find here: £32

NO LO

Feragaia

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Feragaia

If you don’t drink alcohol but still want to sip on something special for the celebrations, then how about Feragaia? It’s a Scottish alcohol-free spirit combining 14 wild botanicals including chamomile, bay leaf and seaweed with local Scottish water. The grounding spices like pink peppercorn work well with the coastal Kelp and fresh lemon and blackcurrant for a really balanced and clean feeling of flora and earth. It might look like a very pale whisky, but Feragaia doesn’t intend to try to replicate a spirit, instead they hope that this stands in its own right as its own thing. Bravo!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £19.94

Crossip ‘Dandy Smoke’

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night Crossip ‘Dandy Smoke’

Crossip has a great range of booze-free spirits, but it was Dandy Smoke that picked up The Independent’s Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit of 2021, and it has that Scotch profile we’re looking for. It’s smoky (obviously!) and velvet smooth with satisfying viscosity, which is important because a thin feel can be an issue with booze-free spirits. Underneath the enjoyable texture are layers of warming spice with a subtly medicinal punch not dissimilar from Islay expressions. It’s a smaller bottle than most but a little goes a long way with this one. Try it with cola or ginger ale, or even at the base of a fresh mocktail!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £22

If after all that you’ve come full circle and just want quality Scotch for Burns Night, then check out our list of the very best, from budget to blowout.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

calum ecroyd writer bio

Budmo! Dima’s Cocktail Book Supporting Ukraine

Budmo! Cocktail Book

Dima Deinega is the man behind namesake brand, Dima’s Vodka, an award-winning triple-grain expression picking up prestigious gongs from the IWSC, World Vodka Awards and Vodka Masters… and now, he’s also the man behind, ‘Budmo!’, a book of vodka cocktails from his homeland.

If you’re wondering, Budmo (pronounced Bood-more) means, ‘let us be’ and is the shortest and most popular Ukrainian toast, usually featuring a hierarchy of toasts around the table. Dima’s book celebrating the art of toasting features fifty essential recipes created by expert mixologists from Kyiv cocktails bars, celebrating vodka’s special place in the culture. As Dima himself puts it, “Vodka is an integral part of the Ukrainian lifestyle with generations of expertise and tradition behind it. With different regional flavour profiles, it crosses class and status boundaries and is suffused into the country’s culture, uniting the nation.”

Highlights include the Kyiv Mule, The White Ukrainian, the Beetroot Bloody Mary and Parovoz Bar’s Green Pea Cocktail, a smoothly shaken cocktail entwining the richness of Dima’s Vodka with green pea shoots and celery bitters! You even get a QR code to walk you through making each one, as well as insight into the exciting Ukrainian bar scene, vodka infusions (nalyvkas), traditional pickles and beautiful accompanying photos.

Most importantly, a minimum of £5 from every purchase goes towards First Aid Ukraine in their time of need, and you can purchase the book on its own for £25 or combine it with a gorgeous bottle of Dima’s for £55 (the perfect star of the show for your vodka cocktails).

Super inventive recipes, stunning Vodka, and the opportunity to support and celebrate Ukraine – Budmo to that we say.

If it sounds like it’s up your street, please visit Dima’s website to learn more about their premium products and purchase the cocktail book!