One Drink, Three Ways: Belvedere Organic Infusions

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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At 3D Towers, we are huge fans of Belvedere Premium Vodka so were delighted to taste their brand new range: Belvedere Organic Infusions. Welcome to three, super premium, 100% organic-certified vodkas, flavoured with complex, natural combinations of fruit and botanical infusions. With these vodkas, Belvedere continues to adhere to the strict Polska Vodka regulations, where an eclectic mix of flavourings include no artificial additives or synthetic ingredients. More distinct in flavour and layered than their previous Macerations, you can sip these alone or enjoy them in a range of serves. Choose from three stunning combinations: Fresh & Bright - Lemon & Basil with a Touch of Elderflower, Crisp & Zesty - Pear & Ginger with a drop of Linden Honey and Rich & Vibrant - Blackberry & Lemongrass with a hint of Sage. Below are our favourite takes on each Infusion. 

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Helena’s Choice: Belvedere Lemon & Basil Spritz

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I love this spritz for its crisp and refreshing nature. It’s the perfect pick-you-up for a special brunch and the lemon and basil simply scream summer at any time of year. It works as an aperitif, a palate cleanser or even as a great drink for a green salad. Fill a large wine glass with ice and pour all ingredients into it. Stir gently and garnish with basil leaves and a slice of lemon.

Belvedere Lemon & Basil Spritz

Recipe

30ml (1oz) Belvedere Lemon & Basil Vodka

15ml (0.5 oz) Pressed Apple Juice

45ml (1.5 oz) Sparkling Water

30ml (1 oz) Dry, Sparkling White Wine

1 tsp Honey Water ( 1:1)

Lemon and basil to garnish

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Aidy’s Choice: Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass Sour

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I challenge anyone to find a cocktail that’s as easy on the eye as this! Tangy, creamy and zingy, this Blackberry & Lemongrass Sour combines rich fruit flavours with savoury, citrusy notes for a charming, complex, creation. Add all ingredients bar the garnish into a shaker without ice and give it all you’ve got for a minute. Next up, add cubed ice and do the same again before straining into a Nick & Nora or coupette glass. Garnish with the blackberries and mint spring. Cheers!

Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass Sour

Recipe

45ml (1.5 oz) Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass Vodka

25ml (.75 oz) Dry Vermouth

25ml (.75 oz) Egg White

25ml (.75 oz) Honey Water (1:1)

2 Fresh Blackberries & Mint spring to garnish

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Colin’s Choice: Belvedere Pear & Ginger Collins

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I’d quite like to rename this Colin’s Belvedere Pear & Ginger, but there you go! What I love about this fruity, refreshing number is how it combines ripe fruit notes with a kick of ginger and cooling cucumber. It’s quirky but utterly delicious. Pour the vodka, honey water, lemon juice and bitters into a highball glass over ice, then top up slowly with sparkling water and stir very gently to keep the bubbles. Add a cucumber ribbon and a straw and you’re all set. Cin cin!

Belvedere Pear & Ginger Collins

Recipe

40ml (1.25 oz) Belvedere Pear & Ginger Vodka

90ml (3 oz) Sparkling Water

15ml (.5 oz) Honey Water (1:1)

15ml (.5 oz) Fresh Lemon Juice

1 dash orange bitters

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Noilly Prat Vermouth, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

Perfect Drinks for Date Night

Words by Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin

The biggest date night of the year is upon us, so be it still wine, bubbles, vodka or gin that you like to drink the most, here is Helena and Aidy’s selection of top picks to make your night the best yet, whether it’s a romantic date for two or a pamper date for one...

Cupid’s Perfect Sparkle

Taittinger Prestige Rosé Champagne

A deeply coloured, exceptionally vibrant rosé champagne produced using top class Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Les Riceys and a fair whack of Chardonnay that rounds everything out beautifully. Youthful in appeal, it’s a wine packed with bright red berry fruit with an elegant, smooth body and creamy mousse. This is no wallflower champagne. It demands attention! HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: UK £38

Rathfinny Sparkling Rosé 2017

Rathfinny Estate is located on a prime, south-facing slope in East Sussex, where world class sparkling wines are produced largely from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Their sparkling rosé 2017 is a blend of 63% Pinot Noir, 19% Chardonnay, 18% Pinot Meunier. It has an elegant, cherry blossom pink hue with notes of crunchy red berries and a subtle, spicy finish. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: UK £36 (includes a complimentary gift box for Valentine’s Day.)

Hattingley Valley Sparkling Rosé 2017

Internationally renowned for its delicious English sparkling wines, Hattingley Valley has created its first-ever limited edition label just in time for Valentine’s day. A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir Précoce this award-winning 2017 sparkling rosé has delicious notes of strawberry coulis, a creamy texture and perfectly balanced acidity. Pair this with clam chowder - trust us, you won’t regret it. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £41

White & Rosé Wonders

Gran Moraine Chardonnay 2017

There’s nothing quite like a good Chardonnay to sip as you wind down in the evening and right now this beauty from Oregon is piquing our intrigue. Deriving from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this rich, fruity and balanced Chard is bursting with flavour and the most important thing for me in a wine like this – texture. Some people love oak, others don’t, but this has the perfect balance, making it incredibly well rounded and sumptuous. Rich, but not overpowering you can expect to taste apricot, buttery lemon, kiwis and clementines. For those who love Chardonnay, this is for you. For those who don’t, I’d dare say it will convert you. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: £43

Kylie Minogue, Rosé 2019

Super easy-drinking, fruity and soft, Kylie’s first wine project is still an absolute smash hit. Made from Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon from the South of France, Kylie has manage to create a beautifully packed, pretty, pink drop that knocks it out of the park for value.

Size 75cl

ABV: 12.5%

Find here: £9

Marques de Murrieta Primer Rose 2017 

Imagine the most beautiful rosé you’ve had from Provence, something along the lines of Domaine Ott? Well, say hello to the Spanish equivalent. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this. Strawberries, cream and raspberries erupt from the glass and with it so much texture. You’ll often hear me harp on about that word – but for whites and rosés, texture is key for me! This is the wine to be popping the cork on when the sun shines outside (and when I want it to shine inside, too). AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £29.35

Changyu Moser XV Blanc de Noir 2016

Allow us to introduce you to the first white Cabernet Sauvignon from China – and my god is it beautiful. Firstly, the vines are around 15 years old – which is pretty unheard of when it comes to rosé. The vines themselves are located in the Ningxia province with Lenz M. Moser continuing to establish his name as a pioneering force of nature for Chinese wines. Estate bottled for that final seal of quality, you can expect grapefruit peel, exotic fruits and an array of crushed raspberries and apple. Zippy and refreshing with texture – and as you know, texture is everything. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £18.99

Romantic Red Wines

Saint Amour, Domaine Des Côtes de la Roche, Beaujolais, 2018

No date night is complete without a bottle of Saint-Amour. This vibrant, perfumed and fruity wine made with the Gamay grape hails from one of the lesser known and smallest of the ten Beaujolais ‘Crus’. It’s refreshing and lively with notes of concentrated blackcurrant and dark cherry with a whiff of wild strawberry and a slick of slate. Very easy, very pretty wine. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £11.50

Maruxa Mencia, Virgen del Galir, 2019,

Mencia is a grape that we will see exploding onto the wine scene soon as more and more people look towards lighter, crunchier, more refreshing red wines styles. Hailing most famously from Northwestern Spain, Mencia has similar strawberry and cherry-like qualities and high acidity, like Pinot Noir and Gamay, but add to the mix a touch of licorice and plum spice and a cool minerality with this one, which is made in tiny quantities by the same people responsible for the fabulous Contino Rioja. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14%
Find here: UK £12.99 per bottle (£10.99 mix six).

Bolney Estate Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir has garnered a reputation as the heartbreak grape as it needs contact care and attention to flourish, but when it does, it certainly gives the love back. This Pinot from Bolney Estate is light, elegant and silky, with understated notes of cherry and red plum with just the slightest hint of spice. Perfect if you’re after wine with a lighter touch and it goes perfectly with cold cuts, smoked salmon and hard, mature cheese. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: UK £19.99

The McGuigan Reserve Shiraz

If a more easy-going, rich and juicy wine is what you’re after, then an Australian Shiraz will be your vinous comfort blanket. The Mcguigan Reserve Shiraz is our go-to, easy drinker thanks to its chocolatey texture and notes of blackcurrant, mint and damson conserve. Concentrated and spice, it’s a warm hug in a glass - one of the very few dry wine styles that can take chocolate and pairs perfectly with a snuggle on the sofa. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £7.

English Wine Gifting: Hampers, Tastings, Tours & More

Gusbourne X Cartografie Chocolate

The ultimate, elegant, English pairing featuring one of the most exciting wine producers in the UK and an emerging, boutique chocolatier, hand crafting beautiful, single origin, single bean chocolates. This duo features the stunning, 2016 rosé from Gusbourne in Appledore, Kent with its notes of crips apple, cherry and strawberry and a Cartografie box containing 4 hand-crafted, ganache filled chocolates. HN & AS

Find here: here

Rathfinny Estate: Hampers, Accommodation mid vines, Tasting packs.

Rathfinny are also offering Valentine’s day hampers packed full of fresh, local produce and a Valentine’s wine case with their Cradle Valley 2018 Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc and their 2018 Seven Sisters Gin. Experience-wise, you can also get vouchers for overnight packages for couples to stay at their beautifully restored Flint Barns in the heart of the vines, tours of the estate and three-course lunches at their Michelin Plate Tasting Room restaurant. HN

See more here

Bolney Estate: Private Virtual Wine Tasting with Bespoke Bottle engraving

Bolney Estate are offering private, virtual tastings of their Cuvée Rosé, Eighteen Acre Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Cuvée Pinot Noir, you can also request a bespoke package to include any of their wines or even a wine and food pairing tasting packages with cheese and chocolate selections. Bolney is also offering gift boxes containing sparkling wines or gins with chocolates. HN

See all their options here

Candles

Parks Candles

There’s just something about the way Parks create their candles that makes you feel so wholesome and comforted. Whether to create a romantic ambience during dinner or more of a relaxing one in the bath – they’ve got it all. Some of our personal favourites are Feu de Bois, Amber, Tobacco & Leather and of course Bourbon & Maple – but we’re sure you’ll fall in love with something that resonates with you too. AS

Find here: Prices start from £10

MoJo White Truffle & Cognac Candle

We’ve tested a lot of candles over the last few months and MoJo have been knocking out of the park for alluring aromas, long lasting length and fantastic value. We adore the White Truffle and Cognac candle which scents your room with a cosy, creamy, white chocolate scent with a hint of orange peel and spice. Original and gorgeous. We also love their Fig & Rose and Sumi & Paper Ink. Find them while you can! HN

Find here: £19

Get in the Spirit

Rosé Sainte Marie Pink Gin, Salcombe Distilling

Salcombe Gin’s beautiful, double award-winning pink gin is inspired by the sensory wonders of the South of France. Named after the lighthouse in Marseille’s Old Port where the fruit used to come in, it has a delicate fragrance of citrus fruit, white peach and melon. Pour over ice, top up with tonic and garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit, peach or even strawberry and breath in the atoms of a warm evening in Provence, even if it’s still snowing outside. Available in 70cl, 5cl and a range of gifts. HN

Size: 70cl
ABV: 41.4%
Find here: UK £40

Mirabeau Provence Rosé Gin

When it comes to rosé my top choice for quality and value is always Mirabeau, which made me pretty god damn excited when they announced they were making a gin. While the base botanicals consist of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander it’s the Provençal twist containing a variety of herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really makes this gin stand out from the crowd. The result is a fruity and textured gin with lemon, coriander and citrus bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. The story ends on a final note as those herbs add an extra kick of character to the blend. AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £45

Belvedere Single Estate - Smogóry Forest

Our next treat takes us to a tiny village in the far west stretches of Poland where Belvedere’s Smogóry Forest estate calls home. Mild winters and long summers result in bakers-grade Diamond Dańkowskie rye – the perfect base product for this award-winning vodka. Purposely left unfiltered to allow the flavour to continue to elevate over time, this is a vodka for those who like true craft. The single-estate gem oozes with salted caramel, cereal and a touch of honey evolve to reveal toasted bread and a hint of white pepper. AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £39.90 // US $49.99

Gran Patron Platinum

I love a good tequila, it seems to be one of the spirits I’ve really found an appreciation for over the last few years. If I was to name one house that consistently delivers quality across its whole portfolio, my mind takes me straight to Patrón. It seems there’s a little something for everyone and while I’ll happily get my hands on a Reposado for my margarita needs (quick tip, avoid the salt rim, it ruins the drink), I love nothing more than to sip on something of premium quality. That brings me to Gran Patrón Platinum, arguably the world’s first ultra-premium tequila. With each bottle taking around 30 people to create, quality is of the utmost level. Agave is individually sourced for its rich sugar content before being harvested, triple distilled and left for 30 days in oak tanks to create pure elegance. The result is a smooth and seductive nectar of agave, orange, vanilla, lime and white peppercorns. Pure bliss if you ask me and don’t even get me started on a Mexican Martini (google it, you won’t be disappointed). AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £193.95  // US $199.99

Highclere Castle Gin

The perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, this stunning gin is created using botanicals from Highclere Estate, also known for its appearance in the internationally renowned Downton Abbey series. The multi-award winning gin is distilled at England’s oldest distillery, Langley, in one of the oldest working copper gin stills dating back to the 1800’s. The result is an incredibly smooth gin, perfect for sipping over ice but also equally good in cocktail. Check out their ‘British 75’ cocktail, simple and yet stunning, it is a perfect celebration cocktail that will add the wow to your Valentine’s Day.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 43.5%
Find here: UK £42.30 // $39.99 

Enjoyed this? Then, make sure you check out Cheap Champagne that Tastes Great and Top Pink Proseccos £10 and Under

7 Vodkas to Embrace Lockdown 2.0

Ah, Lockdown 2.0. It seems the inevitable is upon us. Alas, all we can do is try and keep our spirits high, drink less but better and crack on with it. One thing I’ve been delving into a lot more recently is vodka! It seems working from home has allowed my mixology skills to flare and having just judged around 200 of these wonders a few months ago, I’ve been inspired to jump back into my vodka discovery days.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of 7 extremely versatile vodkas that work perfectly for creating everything from Martinis and Bloody Mary’s to simply drinking them neat. How should you drink your vodka? However you bladdy want to!

Ramsbury Vodka

Tucked away in the fertile lands of Wiltshire, Rambsury vodka is produced from the estates very own Horatio wheat and chalk filtered water – both of which are taken from their own land. Horatio wheat is typically used to bake biscuits, giving it an incredibly smooth profile and complex character. Dried fruits, cocoa and caramel are found on the palate with a creamy texture on the mouthfeel. It’s all a bit oo-la-la if you ask me, in a good way. This in a Bloody Mary… woah! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Buy for £35

Belvedere Heritage 176

A brand we’ve known for a long time and for all of the right reasons, this Polish gem is the newest expression to grace our spirit shelves from Belvedere. Polska Rye and purified water are what go into the bottle; nothing more, nothing less. What’s most intriguing is how they’ve decided to revisit a malting process that is centuries-old to perfect the taste. Allow me to geek out for a second – this is essentially done by steeping the barley, drying it in a kiln so it then becomes malted and thus allowing it to be fermented as the starches are broken down into fermentable sugars. I told you I was going to go a little geeky… The end result? A fabulous malted rye spirit. Full-bodied with so much texture, there are pure notes of honey, almonds, walnuts and distinct baking spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Buy Now £42

The Reid Single Malt

In 2011 a talented craftswoman by the name of Desiree Whitaker thought to herself, ‘you know what? I want to own a distillery”. So, doing what any ambitious spirit-lover would do, she went about building. Fast-forward 9 years and she’s got a portfolio of stunning drinks, all of which call New Zealand their home and have travelled internationally to grace our glasses. The subject of today’s conversation, their Reid Single Malt vodka is produced from 100% malted barley, giving a pure, smooth flavour profile. You can expect to find hints if pear drops, biscuits, toffee and a huggingly sensational mouthfeel as the texture wraps itself around your tongue. Not gonna lie, I’m kind of in love with the bottle too. Simple, yet elegant.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Buy Now £54

Absolut Elyx

 This bounty is distilled from a single estate in southern Sweden and produced from soft winter wheat that gives the unique and distinct profile on taste. Forget burn, this is smooth as smooth can be, with baked bread, dry spice and an incredible nuttiness showcasing macadamia nuts, walnuts and hazelnuts upon taking a sip. Vibrant, sophisticated and quite frankly, sexy. Drink neat or knock up a martini for a little tipple treat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.3%
Buy Now £35

Crystal Head

Deemed by many as the worlds ‘purest’ vodka, Crystal Head sources it’s water from a natural aquifer hidden on a remote island named St John Newfoundland (basically the most Eastern point in North America). Peaches and cream corn are distilled four times before being filtered seven times and finally triple-filtered through a cone of Herkimer Diamonds. Sounds kind of classy, tastes kind of beautiful.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Buy Now £40

Grey Goose

Arguably one of the most famous vodkas in the world and for good reason. Grey Goose couldn’t be any ‘Frenchier’ (not quite sure if that’s a word but hey, we’re going with it).

Firstly, they use soft winter wheat grown on the doorstep of their distillery. This is then distilled in Picardy before being sent to Cognac for filtration. But wait, there’s more. The water they use to make this beauty is filtered through limestone from the Champagne region, you know, just if you had any final doubts of its authenticity.  

A chap called François Thibault is the cellar master, and given he’s been doing this for as long as he has, you can trust you’re in safe hands. De-mineralisation of the water, 5 column stills for distillation and a bunch of other purification and rectification methods are all part of the process. To top things off, the inside of every bottle is washed once with Grey Goose alongside every cork being macerated in the vodka too.

The result? Delicate floral aromas on the nose with a sweet, creamy toffee and brioche flavour. Throughout my journey, I have never been let down by this vodka. Long may that continue! 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Buy Now £35

Chase Vodka

Here’s a vodka from England and it’s the only one to be produced from 100 per cent estate-grown potatoes. Celebrating their 10-year anniversary this year, they’ve perfected the vodka craft. Forget mashed, roasted or baked – this is the kind of potato creation you want to be sipping on. Creamy black pepper, macadamia nuts with a light earthy potato from start to finish, this vodka works perfectly with a little elderflower liqueur

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Buy Now £32

Enjoyed this? Check out our favourite vodka’s for under £30!

White Russian

Whether it be summer and you don’t fancy a dessert but still want something sweet, or winter when you want to curl up in front of the fire with a good drink, this cocktail really is a hug in a glass that suites all occasions. Use a decaf coffee liqueur and it won’t keep you up all night too!

Ingredients

60ml Vodka (we recommend Belvedere / The Oxford Artisan Distillery)
30 ml Coffee liqueur (or Kahlúa). Conker Cold Brew is an excellent decaf version
15ml Cream

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together.

2. Put some ice cubes in a small tumbler and pour the cocktail over the top.

3. Garnish with some coffee beans or sprinkle over some chocolate powder if you’re feeling fancy!

 N.B. If you want to make a decaf version of this cocktail you can mix decaf coffee and sugar syrup together to taste and add instead of the coffee liqueur