Category Archives: Alcohol Reviews

Halloween Cocktail Recipes To Get In The Mood

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Pumpkin-Spiced Vodka Tonic

50 ml Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka | 15 ml Pumpkin Spiced Syrup | 100 ml Tonic Water | 3 Dashes of Orange Bitters 
Combine all the ingredients (except the syrup) in a tumbler glass. Drizzle the syrup over the top and stir. Garnish with a snapped cinnamon stick and a wedge of fresh orange. 
Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka – ABV: 40%, RRP from £30 for 70 cl, available nationwide from dutchbarn.com, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Amazon and other good retailers  

Newly Launched – Dutch Barn Ginger Spiced Vodka 

This new expression is the perfect addition to Halloween celebrations. Whether you bring it as a gift or enjoy it with friends, Dutch Barn Ginger Spiced Vodka is made with fresh organic ginger juice and designed to make bar-quality cocktails with zero fuss. 
Dutch Barn Vodka has partnered with The Donkey Sanctuary, supporting donkey welfare,  and is donating 25% of profits from every bottle to this great charity, which helps give donkeys better lives, every day. 
Dutch Barn Ginger Spiced Vodka –  ABV: 38%, RRP: £32 for 70 cl, available exclusively at DutchBarn.com

Renais Gin

Winter Citrus Punch 
30 ml Renais | 15 ml Blood Orange Juice | 15 ml Clementine Juice | 15 ml Pink Grapefruit Juice | 15 ml Lemon Juice | 10 ml Cinnamon Syrup |15 ml Ginger Syrup | 60 ml Cold Brewed Earl Grey 
Add all ingredients to a bottle and pop it in the fridge. To serve, pour over ice and garnish with a fresh orange wedge and a toasted cinnamon stick. 
Renais Gin – ABV: 40%, RRP: £45 for 70cl, available from Renais, Waitrose, Master Of Malt and Amazon

Cotswolds Distillery 

The Devils Share 
45 ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky | 25 ml Lemon Juice | 15 ml Cotswolds Amaro | 15 ml Honey Syrup | 7.5 ml Red Wine 


Place all ingredients except the red wine into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Drizzle red wine over the cocktail and ice to create a ‘bleeding’ effect in the glass. 

Cotswolds Distillery Signature Single Malt Whisky –  ABV: 46%, RRP from: £46 for 70cl, available from Waitrose, Tesco and Amazon.

Advent Calendars: A Fantastic Alcohol-Free Christmas From Wise Bartender 

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Christmas just got more inclusive with Wise Bartender’s brand-new Alcohol-Free Advent Calendars, the perfect choice for anyone cutting back or skipping alcohol this festive season. We have already dove into it and love the selection. It is a fantastic present for those who don’t drink or are cutting back.

Each calendar (£80 incl. delivery) includes 24 drinks from top brands like Lucky Saint, Tom Holland’s Bero Beer, Sea Arch and Sip Cocktails. Choose from:

  • Sweet & Tasty – cocktails, ciders & botanical spirits
  • Beer – a line-up of AF craft brews
  • Mixed – the best of both

Available to pre-order now at wisebartender.co.uk

Cotswolds Distillery, World’s No 1 English Whisky Producer Launches ‘Bold and Expressive’ Limited Edition

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 World’s No 1 English Whisky Producer Launches 

‘Bold and Expressive’ Limited Edition

This whisky is a huge hit in the Frost office.

The Cotswolds Distillery, producers of the world’s best-selling English whisky Cotswolds Signature Single Malt, today launches an exclusive limited edition of 1,500 bottles.

Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky is the latest in a series of whiskies released by the Distillery to celebrate the English harvest and is named after the ancient Wychwood Forest, near Witney in Oxfordshire.

Cotswolds Distillery was the first English Whisky Distillery to sell 100,000 bottles of English Single Malt Whiskyglobally and is available in more than 30 markets, including the US, Japan and Europe. “With the world spotlight on the Cotswolds region and many people relocating here from the US in particular, we feel the time is right to continue our global expansion, not only with our best-selling Signature English whisky but also introducing exciting new limited editions,” says Cotswolds Distillery Founder, Dan Szor.

Alice at 25 years old, is one of the youngest female distillers in the UK and has been personally involved in the Port cask selection which makes this whisky such a distinctive expression, with its deep red colour and depth of flavour.  Alice has crafted this release from a rare parcel of Port and selected Bourbon casks, laid down nearly 10 years ago. 

Under Dan’s guidance, Alice has been given free rein to innovate and experiment with different cask finishes and maturation lengths. It is Cotswolds Distillery’s most accomplished tribute to Port cask maturation to date and shines a spotlight on Alice’s innovative and creative mindset. 

Commenting on this launch, Alice Pearson says: “I am really excited to introduce this latest Harvest expression both to UK and international consumers. We wanted to create a whisky that celebrates the traditions of the farming community which is bold and expressive.”

A new Harvest Series expression is released once a year and celebrates the Cotswolds scenery through the art of painting and whisky selection. The region attracts artists and craftsmen from around the world who are drawn to the area by the beauty of the Cotswolds.  The design for the presentation tube for this fourth release was produced by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates. Taking inspiration from the Cotswolds landscape and a nod to the farmland that produces the harvest, it depicts a stunning farming landscape set against a cloudy sky.

Tasting Notes

The liquid offers deep crimson hues from being aged in the Port casks and delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant, and dark fruit compote. These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.

ABV: 50.0% | RRP: £100 for 70cl bottle. Available from the Cotswolds Distillery and other fine retailers around the world.

Alcohol-Free White Wine. Just In Time For Summer!

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I have a new favourite thing: luxury alcohol-free wine brand, Moderato

With brighter days ahead and summer socials well and truly on the horizon, Moderato (the award-winning French wine brand shaking up the alcohol-free scene) is here to answer all of our non-alcoholic needs.

With so many of us choosing a more mindful approach to drinking during the summer months, Moderato’s Cuvee Revolutionnaire White Wine lands in Majestic wine stores at just the right time. With <0.5% ABV and no compromise on taste, this white wine is fresh and crisp. What’s more, it tastes just like the real thing. A typical grape variety from Gascony, our colombard is responsible for our non-alcoholic white (<0.5%), which is highly aromatic and slightly acidic and a true representative of the region.

 So, whether you’re hosting a sun-soaked BBQ in the garden, picnicking in the park or simply enjoying golden hour with friends on the balcony, Moderato’s alcohol-free wine brings effortless elegance to the occasion – allowing you to make the most of your active summer social plans.  

Founders Sebastien and Fabien created Moderato, together with Oenologist Frédéric Brochet, to pioneer a new approach to alcohol-free wine. Just last year Moderato has collected a total of four medals from the globally recognised international Wine, Beer and Spirits Competition of Lyon, as well as the World Alcohol Free Awards. Moderato’s full range of award-winning alcohol-free wines is available to taste and buy at the Club Soda shop, bar and tasting room, online at joinclubsoda.com, with Moderato Cuvee Revolutionnaire Colombard, Moderato Cuvee Revolutionnaire Merlot-Tannat and Moderato Cuvee Revolutionnaire Rosé available at Majestic Wines.  

Moderato’s Cuvee Revolutionnaire white wine is available from Majestic wine.

Why not explore the rest of the Cuvee Revolutionnaire range (red, rośe and sparkling) at Majestic, Club Soda or Wise Bartender?

Christmas Cocktails from The East with Choya Umeshu

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If you are looking for something a bit different to add to your Christmas drinks cabinet, why not try Choya Umeshu which is a Japanese fruit liqueur made from the ume fruit, a popular fruit in Japan. It is one of the most well known drinks in Japan and is gaining popularity worldwide. 
Choya Umeshu offers a unique tasting experience reflecting Japanese cultures and traditions. With Umeshu’s strong sweet-sour flavour and fruity aromas, there are a number of ways of serving Choya both hot and cold. 

I adore the Choya Ume Salut Sparkling Wine. It is like a plummy champagne. Very rich and full of flavour. It’s a joy to drink and brings sparkle to the day.

Choya Ume Salut Sparkling Wine – A champagne alternative 

A crisp and refreshing blend of Italian wine blended with Choya’s exotic sparkling plum wine. A wonderful marriage of Japanese and Italian wines, best enjoyed chilled as an aperitif or with your favourite food.

Simply chill and pour into a glass

Choya Ume Salute Sparkling Wine RRP: 75cl from £11.99 ABV 5.5% Available from: DrinkSupermarket and Master of Malt

Choya Royal Honey Spritz 

Choya Umemshu Extra Years can be made with Royal Honey which imparts additional sweetness and a darker vanilla colour which is completely natural. It is perfect enjoyed on the rocks or with soda to release the honey flavour.

50ml Choya Royal Honey | 100ml Choya Sparkling | Soda Water


Add 50ml Choya RoyalHoney in an ice-filled wine glass, add 100ml Choya Sparkling and a dash of Soda Water

RRP: 70cl from £32.99 ABV: 

17% Available from DrinkSupermarket, Amazon and Master of Malt

From Shots to Spritz’s, Mamma Mia Limoncello is the perfect partner for all your festivities

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Mamma Mia makes a great gift for friends and family, or a light and refreshing treat to serve guests this festive season.With Limoncello being the shining star of supermarket Christmas collections, including Waitrose’s 

Limoncello infused Panetone, Stollen and Stilton, it’s a must have for your home bar too.

I love Limoncello. It’s delicious and refreshing. Mamma Mia uses only natural ingredients and it perfect for the party season.

Mamma Mia is made with the oldest variety of Italian lemons, the “Femminello del Gargano” which are small, flavourful organic lemons from the Puglia region in Southern Italy. The lemons have been harvested by hand since 1850 by the Ricucci family who continue to cultivate them to this day. The lemons are hand peeled and the outer part of the zest is infused in Italian grain alcohol for 30 days.
Mamma Mia is made with all natural ingredients, is free of preservatives and artificial colouring and is less sweet than traditional Limoncello. As part of Mamma Mia’s sustainable production process, the labels of the Mamma Mia bottles are entirely made of recycled lemon peel.

Mamma Mia Limoncello Spritz
40ml Mamma Mia Limoncello | 50ml Prosecco | Sparkling Water or Tonic
Pour Mamma Mia Limoncello and Prosecco over ice. Add some sparkling water or tonic and stir. Garnish with a lemon zest or a mint leaf.For an extra Christmas sparkle, add some edible glitter and watch your spritz glisten. 

The Limoncello Spritz is not just a summer serve, it makes the perfect Christmas Cocktail too. Requiring just three ingredients; Mamma Mia Limoncello, Prosecco and Soda Water, this is a delicious serve for the busy Christmas hosting season. 

The Mamma Mia Spritz is not only delicious but also lower in alcohol content and less sweet than traditional Limoncello, it is a great option for a light and refreshing drink. 

Mamma Mia Shooter 25ml of Mamma Mia Limoncello 
Pour into a shot glass, and cheers to a Mamma Mia Christmas!

A delicious sweet treat for welcoming guests, or serving as a digestif after an abundance of Christmas food. 

Mamma Mia Limoncello: RRP from £27.97 for a 70cl bottle | ABV 24%. Available from: Amazon, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt 

EMILY IN PARIS Premium Ready-To-Drink Kir Royal Cocktail Launches in the UK

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Quintessential Brands have launched a delicious and stylish premium kir royale ready-to-drink cocktail, Chamère, in collaboration with EMILY IN PARIS. Created by executive producer Darren Star. Season 4 part two is on Netflix now.

Chamère 250ml can – RRP £4 per can. Available to order in a case of 12 x 250ml cans for £48 from neatandshaken.com

Chamère 200ml bottle – RRP £7.95 per 200ml bottle. Available to order in a case of 6 x 200ml bottles for £47.70 from neatandshaken.com

During Season 3 of EMILY IN PARIS, Emily tasted and loved the French cocktail kir royale and pitched it as an RTD to her agency clients. Consumers picked up on the idea of a ready-to-drink version of the French cocktail and the kir royale became one of the most searched for cocktails online, with consumers suggesting this could be the new Spritz, becoming an overnight viral sensation. 

The new Chamère ready-to-drink cocktail is 10.5% ABV and is available in cans and bottles in the UK.The 250ml can and the 20cl bottles feature the words ‘kir royal’ which is the French spelling of kir royale. The packaging was developed in collaboration with Paramount and Sunhouse Creative agency.

@chamere_emilyinpariswww.chamere-emilyinparis.com

Flirt with your senses this Valentine’s Day: Explore Xīn and Voltaire’s frozen sorbet cocktails

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Love is in the air, and Xīn and Voltaire are poised to redefine romance this Valentine’s Day with their indulgent collection of frozen sorbet cocktails, bringing the joy, sophistication, and unforgettable sensory experiences to every date night and galentines celebrations this year. 

These sorbet cocktails taste great and are deliciously alcoholic. They also look great. There are a decadent and stylish treat for a moment of joy.

Xīn and Voltaire has reimagined the way we enjoy cocktails, offering creatively conceived, luxuriously crafted frozen sorbet cocktails that cater to every palate. By harnessing innovative technology and cutting-edge science, Xīn and Voltaire has made it possible to freeze alcohol at a higher ABV, ensuring that for the first time, the complex flavours of bar-quality cocktails are preserved in a frozen format, and elevated with the texture and mouthfeel of a sorbet.  

This Valentine’s Day, Xīn and Voltaire invite cocktail enthusiasts to create enchanting moments with their loved ones. Whether it’s a unique gift for a special someone or the perfect low-maintenance, yet elevated welcome drink to a galentines soirée, Xīn and Voltaire’s signature serves are sure to steal the spotlight; savour straight from the tub and serve with a spoon, or scoop into champagne coupes and top with prosecco for an at-home twist on the classic Sgroppino.  

With a diverse menu of four vegan, low-calorie and gluten-free frozen sorbet cocktails, each blend is sure to cater to various palates and captivate the senses. From the floral and elegant notes of Florian, the vibrant combination of dark rum, coconut liqueur and mango in Alphonse, the effervescent Giselle with mezcal and raspberry for a twist on the classic margarita, and finally Aurelie’s warming winter notes of wood and caramel released from single malt whisky and amaretto.  

Xīn and Voltaire’s on-demand delivery and personalised orders make it easy to enjoy these unique frozen sorbet cocktails in the comfort of your own home. Priced at £9 per cocktail, or £32.40 for their Taster Collection and Love Sharing Collection Boxes. Simply add to basket, select the preferred delivery date and the products will arrive at your door already frozen.  

You can also share the joy with an elevated date night at Sabine Rooftop Bar, where Xīn and Voltaire has partnered to create the ultimate Lover’s Week. The secret garden in the clouds is an oasis from The City, allowing guests to be transported to a hidden space away from the busy London streets, and where you can enjoy beautiful views of St Paul’s. Incorporating a bespoke Valentine’s menu running from 13th-17thFebruary, expect the immaculate setting to be accompanied by indulgent sorbet cocktails, sharing plates and entertainment.  

For more information about Xīn and Voltaire’s revolutionary sorbet cocktails and to discover the perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day celebrations, visit www.xinandvoltaire.com