The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 81

Welcome back to another episode of our Bring a Bottle podcast! This week we chat whisky mixers, weird and wonderful tasting notes, pornstar martini spas and innovative water that tastes like more! Listen in via this player to hear all this and more!

What’s In Our Glass?

We love a dram of whisky but sometimes you just want to mix it up. So, that’s exactly what we’ve done this week using Franklin and Sons mixers and sodas. First up was their Mandarin with Ginger soda (for our US readers, soda in the UK is spring water with flavour) and it worked so well. The mandarin jumped out the glass, it was floral, fruity and then had caramel chiming in from the whisky. A perfect drink for a whisky lover that wants something a bit different or for someone wanting to get into whisky itself.

Next up we went down a more traditional route of ginger ale. Listen in to find out what we thought and the difference mixing drinks with ginger ale makes vrs ginger beer!

Drinks News

We have two crackers this week, Aidy brings some of the weirdest whisky tasting notes made by professionals to the table… toilet duck whisky anyone?! Whilst Helena lets us know about the first-ever pornstar martini spa, (that you can acutally bathe in)!

Drinks Doing Good

We love a drinks brand that does good and Aidy has found one that does just that. Introducing Sea Change wines which are an eco-friendly brand that help fund ocean conservation projects across the globe through the sale of every one of their bottles. Aidy tried their Negroamaro wine, which is produced on the southern edge of Italy and is almost like a blend of malbec and merlot in taste. It’s a big, bold wine with notes of cassis, blackcurrant, cherry, a kick of tobacco and dark chocolate and the great news is it’s only a tenner!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £10.49

Drinkers Discovery

Let’s talk water. We’re supposed to drink 6-8 cups a day but is it just us or does anyone else find this difficult?! Well, worry no more as Helena has found an innovative brand that has changed the way you will drink water forever, Air Up. Using aroma pods that sit at the top of your bottle, your mind is tricked into thinking that you are drinking flavoured water when in fact you are just drinking water. From apple to kola to iced coffee, there is an aroma to suit all

You can pick up a bottle and aroma pods set here from £30.
Extra Aroma pods are sold in sets of 3 from £6 

Third Drinker Tasha Iny

Third Drink Tasha Iny joins Aidy for a chat all about what’s Mijenta tequilas stunning bottles, where to find the best pisco sour around and female empowerment in the tequila industry. Tasha also shares one of her favourite cocktails to mix up with Mijenta Tequila Blanco which actually happens to be the predecessor of the margarita; The Toreador.

Ingredients
50ml blanco
25ml apricot brandy
25ml lime juice
5mls small squeeze agave
Method
Shake it up, pour it into a glass and enjoy!

Mailbag

It wouldn’t be a Bring a Bottle podcast without one of your fantastic Mailbag questions, this week you asked us all about white Malbec and whether it is actually a thing. Listen in to find out what we had to say…

To listen to all this and more, along with previous podcasts, click on this link!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 78

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

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

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

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

Drinks News

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

Bang for Buck

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

Drinks From Around The World

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

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

No/Lo

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

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

Mailbag

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

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

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 73

As we don on our Santa hats and get started on celebrating all things Christmas in this week’s podcast, we just want to say a big THANK YOU to you, our wonderful listeners, for all of your support each week. If you have any suggestions for our podcast, if there are any topics you would like us to cover or if you have found an amazing product you think is worth shouting out about then please do reach out to us at sophie@thethreedrinkers.com. Have an amazing Christmas everyone! Here’s what you can expect this week…

What’s in our glass?

This week we’re sipping on Deanston The Chronicles Series: Edition 1. This release expertly blends four malts from casks from four different decades a 1977 Whisky Refill, 1994 Madeira cask, 2004 Amontillado cask and a 2011 Bourbon cask. Think apricot, fresh flowers and butterscotch with notes of baking spice, gingerbread men and a herbaceous finish that freshens it up beautifully.

ABV: 46.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £85

Drinker’s Discovery

This week we’re giving a big shout out to a no-lo brand, Three Spirit, who have released a gorgeous sparkling number called ‘Sharp’. It has a lovely texture, slightly yeasty like champagne but it doesn’t take like wine and it is packed full of botanicals to chill you out but keep you sharp. Yum.

Size: 700ml
Find here: £18.99

Christmas Bang for Buck

This year we are loving Graffigna Organic Malbec from the Uco Valley, Argentina. It is rich and chocolatey with a ripe blueberry note and for its price point is an absolute steal!

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Mailbag

‘How did you get into the wine and drinks industry as a profession?’

Listen in as we chat about all this and boozy baubles, British Airways new wine related job, the new 2022 trend of ‘Switching’ and much, much more…

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 68

This week’s podcast is focusing on the Belvedere Organic Infusions range, but it’s not just that, we have some BIG news to share, lots of new exciting drinks discoveries and a great mailbag question! Listen in via this player to hear all this and more.

What’s In Our Glass?

Episode 68 is a one-off special podcast focusing on Belvedere Organic Infusions. Belvedere vodka is Polish vodka made with 100% organic ingredients and the infusions range, consisting of Lemon & Basil, Blackberry & Lemongrass and Pear & Ginger Vodka is created by using these quality organic ingredients with an added twist of flavour. Some flavoured vodkas can be very synthetic but these vodkas have multi-layered flavours making for very complex interesting drinks. Listen in to hear which cocktail Aidy has whipped up with them.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here:
Lemon & Basil UK £39.95 // US $43.19
Blackberry & Lemongrass UK £39.95 // US $43.19
Pear and Ginger UK £39.95 // $43.19

BIG News

You may have already seen on our website but our brand new TV series The Three Drinkers in Ireland is now in production! Listen in to hear a few more cheeky teasers about what you can expect to see from February 2022!

Secret Santa

It’s nearly that time of year again and it’s always a struggle to know what to buy! Helena has discovered a brilliant drink that she reckons would do really well as a secret santa gift. Introducing, Wild Arbor, a clear cream liqueur that is free from dairy, gluten, has no artificial flavours or preservatives and tastes like an indulgent Irish cream – it is definitely a drink for all.

ABV: 19.8%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £19.95 // US $29.99

Drinkers Discovery

This week it’s all about X by Glenmorangie, a brand new single malt whisky designed to be used in cocktails! A sweeter, more luscious and rich whisky than Glenmorangie’s usual style, Helena thinks it works really well in taller drinks and mixers like a highball with ginger ale.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £29.95 // US $31.99

Mailbag

This week’s burning question is: ‘Should you drink alcohol in a certain order or avoid mixing certain types?’

You can listen to all this and more by tuning in now!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 67

It’s that time again and boy have we got a fun filled podcast waiting for you! You can listen to the full podcast via the player below or via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify. Here is a sneak peek of what to expect this week:

What’s in our glass?

This week we’re sipping on a delicious dram of The Dalmore Sherry Cask Select 12YO. Listen in as Aidy and Helena attempt to describe its delicious taste without mentioning the words ‘Christmas’ and ‘Cake’! If you are a lover of Sherry cask whisky then you can pick up a bottle of The Dalmore Sherry Cask Select 12YO below.

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £71

Drinks news

Did you know that Gordon Ramsay has brought out his own Italian wines in the UK?! He has previously launched a massive collection of Californian wines in the USA but now those in the UK can enjoy some of his wines too. A mix of grapes blended from two different regions; Tuscany and Abruzzo, this wine has great structure and a delicious mixture of fruity notes. For roughly £10 each it is definitely worth trying a bottle!

Drinker’s Discovery

One of our favourite topics as there is always something new and exciting waiting to be discovered. This week Aidy tells us all about some brilliant Drinks Advent Calendars, Helena has found an alcohol alternative that has blown her away as it not only tastes great but it uses GABA technology to increase your sense of calm and quiet and to stop over stimulation that comes with drinking (read more about Hangiexty here) and we chat about which Bag in Box wines you should be trying!

Mailbag!

This week’s questions is…. ‘Why does everyone have a certain drink or type of alcohol that makes them act completely out of order?’ Listen in to find out which alcohol makes Aidy and Helena do crazy things!

You can listen to all this, more drinks news, a brand new word of the week and discover a delicious no alcohol beer by tuning in now!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 63

Happy New Podcast Day! We’ve got a brand new episode of The Three Drinkers podcast up NOW, and along with that comes your weekly run down! As always, we’ve got a ton of weird and wonderful things to chat about in the world of drink - and this week are featuring a very familiar face as our Third Drinker... 

Here’s our quick guide to some of the things we’re chatting about, but there’s so much more in the podcast - so give it a listen!

What’s In The Glass?

We’re already getting in the, dare we say it, Christmas spirit with this drink, as Aidy, Helena, and our Third Drinker taste a mouth-watering dram of Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition whisky. If you’re wondering what makes it taste Christmassy, the clue is very much in the name. As Christmas cake is made with sherry, the three different sherry casks that Tamnavulin Sherry Cask is finished in are reminiscent of that spicy, cakey taste.

Another bonus of Tamnavulin Sherry Cask is that it’s a great whisky for beginners! It has lots of flavour but is really smooth. The price isn’t astronomical either so it’s a great buy! Find it below:

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £32.95

Who Is The Third Drinker…?

You know him, you love him - it’s Colin! While he may no longer be presenting, he’s always a welcome face/voice on the podcast - especially when he brings great whisky with him...! Just back from a trip to Scotland, Colin is the reason the delicious Tamnavulin Sherry Cask is even on the table, and as a whisky expert, he definitely knows how to pick them.

Colin’s always getting involved with all things whisky and drink, so follow him on Instagram at @champdenwhite to see all the exciting things he’s getting up to!

Cardi B’s Boozy Whipped Cream?

It’s only been 3 years since Cardi B released her debut album (which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, was the top selling female rap album of the 2010s and bagged 5 Grammy nominations and a win for Best Rap Album), but Cardi B is everywhere. Whether she’s scoring number ones, dancing at awards shows or breaking world records, Cardi’s doing it loud and she’s doing it proud. It’s no surprise then, that she’s releasing a canned whipped cream infused with vodka.

Cardi is teaming up with brand consultancy Starco Brands to create ‘Whipshots’. The cream has an ABV of 10% and is said to be the product of four years of research. If you’re a vegan or lactose intolerant Cardi B fan, don’t worry - the cream is also dairy-free! You’ll be able to buy it in chocolate, vanilla or caramel flavour and it won’t need to be refrigerated. That sounds like a party to us!

The cream is expected to be available online and in stores in December, so be on the lookout!

Dine First, Wine First: Melt In The Middle Chocolate Pudding

On this week’s Dine First, Wine First segment we’re looking at pairings for the delicious melt in the middle chocolate pudding!

Aidy’s Pick:
Aidy’s picking an Italian dessert wine made from passito grapes. Passito grapes are grapes that are partially dried before squeezing and fermenting. Some of the best quality passito wines are produced in the Veneto region of Italy, and these are called the Amarone della Valpolicella wines. Unlike many raisinated wines that are usually white and sweet, Amarone (meaning ultra bitter) is red and dry. Amarone della Valpolicella wines always offer a full body with notes of fig, milk chocolate and coffee bean. Sounds like it would be a dream with a melt-in-the-middle chocolate pudding!

Colin’s Pick:
He does love his whisky, our Colin, so it’s no surprise that he’s picked the very whisky being drunk this week for his pairing, the Tamnavulin Sherry Cask! Colin wants his in the freezer to chill it right the way down, and then drunk just after a mouthful of that melting chocolate inside the pudding to bring out all the fruitiness in the whisky. Yum!

Mailbag SNEAK PREVIEW

Here’s a sneak preview of this week’s mailbag question - but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out the answer…

“Oktoberfest is one of my favourite times of the year. After the festivities were cancelled last year, I want to make the most of this year and I need your help! What beer should I stock for the event?!”

Tune in here to find out what our Three Drinkers reply with… Cheers!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 62

It’s that time again! Time for another episode of the Bring A Bottle Podcast! Today we’re chatting about a myriad of things, but here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know!

Make sure to listen to the full podcast so you catch up on all of this and more!

What’s In The Glass?

This week, Helena and Aidy are enjoying a dram of the delicious Fettercairn 12 Year Old Whisky! This whisky is full of tropical fruit flavours with a hint of ginger cake. The vanilla and caramel notes complement the fruit brilliantly and make for a whisky that is flavourful while being light and refreshing. 

Fettercairn uses a unique ‘cooling ring’ on their stills, drenching the stills in fresh, clear mountain water to capture only the finest vapours. This is a great, smooth Scotch that is a must-try this Autumn!

ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Find here: £38.95

Who Is The Third Drinker…?

This week we’ve got the wonderful Beth Brickenden with us, a long time friend who you might recognise from an episode she featured on a while back! Though she hasn’t brought Vanity Von Glow with her this time, she’s certainly brought her sommelier skills to help us with this week’s tasting challenge… 

To find out more about Beth and what she does, follow her on Instagram at @my.corkscrew.and.i 

What Wine Do Beavers Like?

Yep, beavers. Those little furry things that definitely don’t look like they’d be into fine wine. Well, as it turns out, beavers go MAD for wine grapes. 

Montes Wines, an experimental wine producer in Chile, like to plant their grapes in really crazy locations, and this can lead to some… unwanted visitors. Montes planted a variety of grapes on an untamed islet in Southern Chile, unaware that they would be meeting some furry friends all too soon. Of the Albarino, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes planted on the islet - only one wasn’t chomped through by an army of beavers. Can you guess which one?

If you guessed Sauvignon Blanc - you’d be right! In their accidental nature experiment, Montes Wines have found empirical evidence that Chilean beavers are fussy winos who won’t settle for a New World Sauv Blanc. This Sauvignon Blanc is set to be released soon, listen in to hear the name Helena thinks it should be given…

Chardonnay in a SODA STREAM?

Don’t jump out of your seat just yet, we promise this isn’t a practice we’d let anywhere near the Bring A Bottle Podcast. However, it did come up as a possible way to impress a date on a budget… 

What we want to know is, would it work and what would it taste like? According to the depths of the internet, it actually does work - but can get dangerous! If you’re not careful, you won’t just be committing a crime on the wine world, but could also explode your machine. Don’t try this on carpet, and NEVER try this with red wine.

As for the taste, well, it’ll only be as good as the wine you put in. A bargain cooking white is not going to magically transform into a premium champagne just because it’s been made bubbly!

Read All About It: Exclusive Winebird Sake Vinalogy!

You won’t get this anywhere else, but we’ve just heard that Winebird (aka Helena) has given us a BRAND NEW and EXCLUSIVE Vinalogy for Aldi’s new sake! What’s a Vinalogy I hear you cry? Well, it’s a beautiful, elegant way of understanding wine (or sake) through storytelling - rather than just facts and figures!

If you want to find out Helena’s exclusive verdict on traditional Japanese sake amongst much, much more, you’ll have to pop on Episode 62 of The Bring A Bottle Podcast!

Cheers!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 60

We move away from wine this week as we start a brand new series full of whisky, whisky, and well, a bit more whisky! You can listen to the full podcast via the player below or via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify. Here’s a little snippet of what we got up to:

What’s in our Glass

We start the new series off with a BANG as we sip on The Dalmore King Alexander III. Listen in as Aidy tells you more about The Dalmore’s logo origin, how much time and effort goes into making this beautiful dram and just what casks are used to create it.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: £190 // $279.99

Drinks News

It’s a bit of a jump from the ridiculous to the sublime in Drinks news as we go from a Russian Billionaire’s private champagne collection in the Hampton’s to why Vivino is the app to help you choose the perfect wine, but you’re not going to want to miss it!

Mixology

This week it’s all about the Espresso Martini. Listen in to hear all about its beginnings and why not try Aidy’s take on an Espresso Martini below. Helena sure can’t wait to!

Spiced Rum Espresso Martini

Ingredients:
25ml spiced rum (We love Havana Club Cuban Spiced)
25ml Kahlúa
25ml fresh, cold espresso

Method:
Bang everything in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake, strain into a martini glass, and garnish with coffee beans!

*The spiciness of rum works so well with the creaminess of the Kahlúa so make sure you give it a go!

One to Watch

Helena has discovered a brilliant book ‘The Infused Cocktail Handbook’ by Kurt Maitland which is essentially a brilliant guide to homemade blends and infusions. Aidy on the other hand has been watching a new cooking show on Netflix with, ahem, Paris Hilton… listen in to find out if it’s any good!

Dine First Wine First

Ever wondered what to pair with Rioja? Well, you need never wonder again as Helena has some mouth-wateringly good suggestions involving lamb waiting for you. Find out which styles of Rioja it is best paired with and just why lamb is her meat of choice via the player above!

Mailbag

This week’s mailbag is all about how to still enjoy your wine when camping. Aidy and Helena have some great tips on how to chill it and which white wine types fair best on a camping trip!

As with last week, there is so much more waiting to be discovered so if you enjoyed this then make sure to check out Episode 60 of The Bring a Bottle Podcast now!