Tag Archives: alcohol

Discover The Fine Cider Company

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Olivers Fine Cider

Olivers Fine Cider

It’s no surprise that the UK are the biggest consumers of cider in the whole World. We wanted to help you by whittling your search down in finding the best The UK have to offer. Introducing, The Fine Cider Company’s Fine Cider. Felix Nash the founder, together with his team set out to find the finest ciders in all the land and making the art of drinking our ‘native wine’ a refined experience by introducing new ways to drink it as well as pairing them with fine foods. The ciders are picked by Felix and are chosen based on exceptional quality and flavour profile. He wanted to make sure the ciders and perry which were picked matched well with fine foods to rival the competitive wine market. In the process Felix developed a close relationship with the cider produces and chose the finest of products from them. The very best bottles have been supplied to some of the city’s most prestigious restaurants including The Clove Club, Lyle’s and Fera at Claridges, as well as them selling through whole-sale on The Fine Cider Company website. So cider afficionados make sure to try some ciders which are a cut above the rest and find out more;

www.thefinecider.company

Baileys Launch New Iced Coffee Cans

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Hip Hooray, the Sun’s out and finally we don’t need a fireplace to enjoy the delicious taste of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur. Introducing the pick-me-up you’ve been waiting for… Baileys Iced Coffee. For the very first time Baileys lovers’ can enjoy the delicious taste of Baileys on the go in a convenient single serve can. Available in Iced Coffee Latte and Iced Coffee Mocha, the creamy, velvety combination of Baileys Irish Cream, pure milk and Arabica and Robusta Coffee go down as smooth as silk. Pure refreshing indulgence from start to finish. It’s a revelation, who doesn’t love an iced coffee, but on a lazy Saturday afternoon with the sun shining bright we like it laced with Baileys. So swap your regular Irish coffee with a Baileys Iced Coffee, we tried ours as a digestif and this will be firmly on our menu for all the warm summer evenings ahead of us…

Baileys Iced Coffee Latte (200ml, 4% ABV) and Baileys Iced Coffee Mocha (200ml, 4% ABV) will be available in a store near you for RSP £1.90.

Find out more here; Baileys

Köld Unveil Single Cocktail Pouches – Just in Time for Picnic Season

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We love a good lunch al fresco and this summer, Köld have given us a good reason to chill out and enjoy the sunshine with their genius frozen cocktail pouches. With four different cocktails to choose from, Köld pouches are a game changer using only the finest natural ingredients. We think that this is going to be your number one picnic item this summer!

The range of cocktails currently include; Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Lychee Martini and Elderflower Martini which are sold in double measure pouches (8% abv), ready to pop in your freeze and enjoy wherever you like.

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Out of all the ready-to-serve cocktails we have tried, Köld have really gone above expectations to ensure that they are serving up a really authentic and delicious, cocktail. You would be fooled into thinking a bartender had mixed these up in a flash as the cocktails retain their flavour and freshness and we enjoy the generous serving. The ingredients are undoubtedly premium as you can taste the quality flavours of the triple-distilled grain vodka and barrel aged rum on the first sip. Personally, the fact that a ready-to-serve can retain such a high quality as Köld have, makes it a top product.

Our favourite was Lychee Martini and it’s no surprise having won the great taste award. Köld have outdone themselves bringing your cocktail favourites into these handy pouches perfect for parties, picnics and BBQ’s and it’s no surprise that they are already in high demand. We’re sure to hear more wonderful things from Köld soon and here’s hoping for some more tasty cocktails from Köld in the future, (hints massively at Margarita?)

Köld is available now from Whole Foods Market, Ocado and Amazon and are sold as a pack of 2 for £6.99 or 1 for £3.00.

For more info visit www.koldcocktails.com

Win Champagne Taittinger & Villa Maria To Celebrate The EE British Academy Film Awards in 2017

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competition, win, giveaway, champagne, wine, This year is the 70th anniversary of the EE British Academy Film Awards and to celebrate the occasion, we are offering readers

–          A BAFTA-labelled bottle of Taittinger Brut Réserve NV

–          Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2016

–          Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

The BAFTA Film Awards celebrate the best in film and the awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 12th February 2017 at the Royal Albert Hall.

As keen supporters of the arts, Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria wines from New Zealand are the proud official Champagne and Wine Partners to BAFTA. Taittinger and Villa Maria are delighted to offer you the chance to sip like a film star and win a special BAFTA-labelled bottle of Taittinger Brut Réserve NV, a bottle of Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2016 and Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 as served to the guests at the Awards.

Adding extra glitz to the awards for the 15th year running, Taittinger is the only leading Champagne house to remain owned and actively managed by the family named on the label. Taittinger is widely available. www.taittinger.com.

Villa Maria has been New Zealand’s most awarded winery for over 30 years and remains proudly family-owned. Villa Maria wines are widely available in all good retailers. Visit www.villamaria.co.nz

Terms & Conditions:  Entrants must be 18 or over and must provide a mainland UK address and telephone number for delivery. Visit www.bafta.org for more information.

 

To be in with the chance of winning this fantastic prize, follow @Frostmag on Twitter or Instagram, or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter. Or subscribe to Frost Magazine TV on YouTube here: http://t.co/9etf8j0kkz.Then comment below saying what you did. Competition finishes on 6th February and the winner should give their contact details as soon as possible for the wine to arrive on time. Thank you and good luck!

The Late Summer Sun is a Great Excuse for a Cocktail

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However, cocktails are a bit of a fiddle aren’t they? No, no,  not always it seems. Try these recipes which hit the spot and take no time at all. They are ideal for accompanying a September BBQ or, if autumn arrives, ask the gang over and have one, at least, before a roast dinner.

All Star Martini

This refreshing martini has been created by All Star Lanes, Brick Lane, East London, using J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka who have created a range of spirits inspired by the British countryside. The Rhubarb Vodka really is reminiscent of freshly picked rhubarb, is a delicate colour and ideal as a cocktail base. So here we go:

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Ingredients (single serve): 25ml J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka, 25ml J.J. Whitley London Dry Gin, dash of Fee Brothers Plum Bitters, 10ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml vanilla and passion fruit syrup, 10ml pressed apple juice, shot of Prosecco, a dried lemon wheel, dehydrated cornflower petals (or other edible dried flowers)

Method: Put all ingredients, except the prosecco into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupette. Garnish with the lemon and petals and serve with a chilled shot of prosecco.

And what about this:

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Botanical Martini

This gin lover’s dream has been created by popular Manchester cocktail bar, Tusk. The Botanical Martini is made using Whitley Neill, a premium gin inspired by Africa and carefully blended with nine botanicals, including the superfruit baobab which has six times more vitamin C than an orange.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Whitley Neill Gin, 10ml Noily Prat, dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Method: Stir the ingredients together and pour into a coupette glass- what could be more simple, especially if you have had a few of the others first!

Liverpool Gin G & T
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My parents spent quite a long time in India. In fact I was born there. They swore by a gin and tonic as the sun went over the yard arm, and trust me, this  is a very fine gin. Founded at the Bankhall distillery in Liverpool, Liverpool Gin is premium spirit handcrafted in a copper still. This small batch, aromatic gin recreates flavours of the past with the finest organic botanicals. Believe me,  you can almost see the ships masts in the port, the warehouses filled with spices, juniper, sugar cane. It really is one of the finest gins I have tasted.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Liverpool Gin, 100ml Fever Tree Tonic, wheel of orange and spring of mint

Method: Pour the gin and tonic over ice and garnish

Cheers everyone – enjoy.

You can buy J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka from Amazon for £27.24 for 70cl. @JJ_WhitleyUK   facebook.com/JJWhitleyUK

Whitley Neill is available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as Drinksupermarket.com for £23.29, 70cl. @WhitleyNeill  facebook.com/WhitleyNeill

Liverpool Gin is available from The Whisky Exchange for £44.95, 70cl. @LiverpoolGin  facebook.com/liverpoolgin

J.J. Whitley, Whitley Neill and Liverpool Gin are crafted and distributed by Halewood Wines & Spirits. (www.halewood-int.com)

 

 

 

The sun continues: So what about wine al fresco?

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Vina Real Barrel Fermented Blanco 2014

The sun continues- So what about wine al fresco?

Picnics are booming with this late summer sunshine, so why not take this Vina Real in the picnic box with you. I have a firm liking for oak aged wines. I discovered them in the Margaret River area of Western Australia years ago now. This Vina Real Blanco has, or should I say, had (it’s all gone) a hint of a toasty and biscuity flavour from the oak and the lees, with pure floral and citrus aromas. There’s such a smooth rich palate that it slips down rather too easily. Fantastic with poultry.

Made from 100% Viura this wine really should be tried. But much like the Monople (below) it must be served at a cool temperature.

RRP £11.10

Stockists: Grayshott Wines, D.Byrne and Co, Famous Wines, The Clifton Cellars, The Seriously Good Wine Company

Monopole Rioja Blanco 2015

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Another for the picnic, or for anytime actually. I enjoy Rioja, and this Monopole Blanco didn’t disappoint. The moment the cap came off the scent leapt out of the bottle. Rather a subdued bottle, I have to say, for a rather lovely wine.

It is fine and elegant and  is the perfect summer drink with its white flower and tropical fruit aromas. Mango and ripe citrus flavours dominate t and a balanced refreshing acidity makes this a great wine to enjoy in the sun. It must go into the fridge, and be taken on the picnic in a cool bag, please.Essential it is  served at the right temperature.

RRP £10.00

Stockists: Wine Rack, Vino Wines, The Whalley Wine Shop, Noble Green Wines, Hoults Wine Merchants, Hailsham Cellars, Partridges of Sloane Street, Islington Wine

 

 

 

La Maison Rémy Martin are the Hosts with The Most

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To celebrate the buildup of hotly anticipated private members’ club La Maison Rémy Martin, we were invited to The Rumpus Room at Mondrian London for “A Night of Olympic Talent”. The evening is one of many to be hosted by La Maison Rémy Martin where the element of surprise and exploration of craftsmanship is very much at the forefront, much like the mystère of the brand itself.

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We had the privilege of meeting Olympians Jade Johnson, Dalton Grant and Peter Wilson MBE to hear their unique and insightful stories on their Olympic journeys and current lives whilst enjoying a selection of specially curated Rémy Martin cocktails including Rémy Grand Tonic, 1738 Royal Side Car and XO Old Fashion. All cocktails were a Rémy take on old classics and were a welcome change to the old favourites. Created with the iconic Rémy Martin we were immersed in the brands allure of luxury and surprise. Whilst kicking back on the plush leather sofas of the Rumpus Room, it was a joy to hear the Olympians’ highs and lows as well as hearing Peter Wilson MBE answer our burning question of how much partying he did after winning, needless to say, he couldn’t recall much from the week after. The evening was a relaxed affair and incredibly inspirational to hear such wise words from these winning athletes. If this is how La Maison Rémy Martin do all their events this is certainly a club I would love to be a part of. We finished our evening perfectly with Rémy Martin neat providing a gold finish to an already winning evening.

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For more info and for upcoming events visit;

http://www.remymartin.com/uk/

New Zealand is a Place I Should Visit. Why? Wine

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Three very good reasons:

 

Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling 2015, 

New Zealand is a place I should visit. Why? Wine1

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Gris 2015, 

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Villa Maria Private Bin Lighter Sauvignon Blanc 2015

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These are three New Zealand wines created by Villa Maria.

 

Let me just give you more of a run down:

 

Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling. 

 

This is a bright perfumed wine, with a sense of lemon and lime. Perhaps even a hint of apricot. It is so light and crisp that it is perfect for summer, and perfect for fish, pizzas, salads, even picnics. I am off to Opera on the Green on 3rd  September, in Chesham. What could be better?

 

RRP: £10.55

Stockists: Waitress.com, Majestic.co.uk, Wine Rack, Booths, Ellies Cellar, The New Zealand House of Wine, Fountainhall Wines, The Strand Wine Company, Bin 21 Limited, The Devine Wine Company (Kent) Ltd, Hailsham Cellars, The Seriously Good Wine Company

 

 

Cellar Selection Sauvignon Gris, 2015.
The grapes are hand picked from the Fletcher Vineyard in the Wairau Valley and the wine has a sense of nectarine and pineapple which dominate. I think it works well with cheeses, as well as the usual suspects, fish, and salads.

 

RRP: £14.95

Stockists: The Co-op, Vino Wines, Partridges of Sloane Street, The Shenfield Wine Company, Brooksby Wines, Famous Wines, The Whalley Wine Shop.

 

 

The lighter Villa Maria Private Bin Lighter Sauvignon Blanc 2015.
This is again perfect with all the above foods, but has the advantage (for some) of being lighter in alcohol at (9% aby). It is full of fruit flavours and freshness

 

RRP: £11.30

Stockists: Vino Wines, Islington Wine, The Seriously Good Wine Company, Ellie’s Cellar, Famous Wines

 

All three wonderful reasons for visiting New Zealand, but failing that, buy these wines, and bring summer into your lives.