TalkRADIO: Brands that do good

With the world in a terrible state, it’s nice to know that having a lovely drink can also have a positive effect on our environment. Here are three delicious drinks that all have another positive purpose for the environment and you can follow their progress online. Cheers to that!

SEAS - Hidden Sea Chardonnay

Hidden Sea is an Australian company making easy drinking, juicy, accessible Aussie wines from the Limestone coast using classic grapes: Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and a GSM blend. This chardonnay is fruity and round with tropical fruit notes and zesty citrus. 

Green creds: Their mission is simple: for every bottle sold, they remove ten plastic bottles from the ocean. You can see their progress on their website too. The pledge to have removed 1 billion bottles by 2030. 

£9 from Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets.

TREES - Cloud Apple Cider by Cannabrew

The UK’s first CBD infused cider. Cannabrew was set up by an ex-rugby player who discovered how good CBD was for aches and pains. He also had a passion for craft beer, so decided to set up one of the UK’s first CBD Craft breweries. As well as a range of beers, the range now includes this crisp cider, made from British apples. All products are infused with a hefty15mg of CBD oil.

Green creds: plastic-free, recyclable packaging with two trees planted for every case sold in their company forest. They also support local British farmers. 

Buy 12 for £37.19 (£3.10 each)  cannabrew.co.uk

BEES - Avallen Calvados

Avallen is Climate Positive (carbon negative) Calvados. Made from nothing but apples, water and two years in oak barrels for, Calvados is a spirit made from apples in the appellation of Calvados in Normandy, France. 

Green creds: Avallen is Climate Positive (carbon negative) where each bottle removes 2.73kg of CO2 from the atmosphere without external offsetting. That’s the equivalent of driving 21 km in an average car. At the time of writing, they produced 15,421 bottles of Avallen, removing 41.8 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Each bottle only uses 1.2L of water to produce, which is 70-95% less than other spirit categories. They support charitable partners via 1% for the Planet membership and all the apples come from within 20km of the distillery. For the bees, their goal is to plant 10,000 flowering plants by 2022 thanks to their flower-powered Beeboms as well as restoring wild meadows at the distillery in Normandy.

£35 from www.avallenspirits.com

What is CBD and How Can it Help?

What is CBD

CBD has taken the world by storm over the past 2 years and continues to evolve. People have sworn by it for decades, but it’s now at a point where it has become more readily available to purchase than ever before. 

The science backs it up too, with countless studies showcasing that it genuinely does reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress when integrated as a part of one’s lifestyle. 

CBD versus THC

Despite all the hype, CBD is still a relatively new idea to many people, so it’s not surprising there’s quite a bit of confusion around it. The two things people have heard of are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol ) and CBD (cannabidiol). Both are molecules within the Cannabis plant, but do different things. 

They are both referred to as phytocannabinoids, but THC gives you psychoactive effects where as CBD does not. Many people assume because they both derive from the same plant they have the same affects, but this isn’t true. As they interact with different parts of the brain, they have vastly differing affects. 

THC gives you a sense of high by binding to cannabinoid receptors within our endocannabinoid system (a crucial part of our nervous system). While CBD doesn’t bind directly bind to cannabinoid receptors, it is said to boost levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids – which is why it has such a wide range of uses. It’s also proven to interact with our serotonin and opiod receptors, which is why it is so effective. 

AS CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system, it has an affect on a variety of functions:

•  Digestion

•  Metabolism

• Mood

• Memory

• Sleep

• Motor control

• Pain perception

• Immune function

Reduces Stress

On average, 18% of the population report feeling some form of anxiety. Remember that’s just the people who actually report it. You then take into account the global happenings over the latest year and begin to realize that a huge population of the world will likely be suffering some form of stress. Countless studies continue to showcase the positive effects CBD has on reducing the symptoms of anxiety, which is why in my mind it is more important to discover this now than ever before. 

Reduce Pain

Many of us have been sitting at the same desk, in the same chair for almost 12 months now. Shoddy posture leads to back pain which really isn’t a pleasant thing to have to go through on top of everything else. CBD has a track record of working with our brain to reduce the pain we experience. 

Aiding Sleep

CBD has been proven across a multitude of studies to inhibit calmness, which is perfect for people who are struggling to drift off. There’s so many different products on the market right now from pillow sprays to sleep drops and beyond. 

Skin Care

Many people suffer from skin conditions such as dermatitis and acne and as we find ourselves in stressful situations, these can flare up. CBD has showcased a strong correlation in helping to reduce these symptoms. With acne for example, it greatly reduces the amount of sebum created alongside calming inflammation (two massive triggers of acne). 

Increase Your Sex Life

Next up I’m going to talk about sex. And you know what, I’m not afraid to. Having great sex on a regular basis is proven to reduce stress and keep you happier. For those singletons amongst us, our sex lives haven’t been the most eventful over the past year. Even partners have struggled to find the time between home schooling, entertaining kids, working and finding that ‘special time together’ being stripped away given the stress or being together every waking minute. 

So if you have been finding your mojo has deflated or that you’re not as easily able to hit that big O (yes, I am referring to an orgasm), then CBD may be the answer. 

Using CBD infused lubricants increases the blood flow, making our nerve endings more sensitive, the result of which came be a much more sensual orgasm. 

How can you buy CBD?

There are so many ways you can purchase from capsules, oil and tongue sprays to sleep drops, wrist rolls, seltzers, bitters and more. We really are at the infancy of CBD discovery. Stay tuned as we put together a variety of ‘best product’ lists on this topic soon. 

In the meantime, check out some of these sites for CBD inspiration:

www.OTOcbd.com

www.hollandandbarrett.com

www.canabidol.com

The Best No-Low Alcohol To Drink and Gift for Christmas

With Lockdown 2 moving seamlessly into Christmas, the period of extended drinking just got a whole lot bigger! We find that having a stash of genuinely delicious, no and low alcohol drinks in the fridge make it much easier to take breaks and have nights off from the booze, while still feeling like you’re treating yourself. Here are the no and low drinks we’ve fallen in love with this year. 

Caleño Dark & Spicy

Fresh to the market is Caleño’s new baby: Dark & Spicy! We adored the original, with its infusions of inca berry and juniper - a perfect gin alternative perhaps, though very much of its own style. This new version does the same for lovers of dark rum. Think of riper, tropical notes of pineapple with a kick of ginger, vanilla pod and a twist of lime. They’ve nailed it!

Size: 50cl
Gifting: Various delicious gift bundles available
Find here: Bottle £18

Small Beer

The Small Beer Brew Co. are going strength to strength with their low alcohol beers that are good for you (being under 3% and isotonic) and good for the planet. Given what could end up being a marathon of drinking over the next two months, wouldn't it be good to have a stash of these lower alcohol beers in the fridge? 

ABV: Under 2.8%
Gifting: For a limited time from now until 20th Dec, they are also offering a 6-month gift subscription, complete with brilliant videos and a gift pouch for under the tree!
Find here

OTO CBD Drinks

Meaning 'sound' in Japanese, OTO feel they represent ‘the space between sound and silence’. These are subtly flavoured soft drinks that promote focus, relaxation and balance throughout the day and into the night. Each drink contains 25mg CBD, which is proven to promote balance within the body, which ultimately keeps our bodies functioning properly and helps us get more sleep. 

ABV: 0%
Gifting: Discovery 3 packs available along with lots of other gorgeous CBD products
Find here: Currently on offer at £8.25 for 3 (usually £11)

Saicho Tea

Saicho is a brand new sparkling cold-brewed tea brand that comes in a range of three sparkling teas; Jasmine, Darjeeling and Hojicha. Made sparkling with a hint of sweetness, this has more of a distinctive tea flavour than Fortnum’s sparkling tea below and is a great sparkling wine alternative for fine tea lovers. 

ABV: 0%
Gifting: Luxury gifting box and selection boxes available.
Find here: £7.99

Mooze low alcohol low calorie Gin - 12% ABV

A great concept from founder Mel Sims, this is a much lower alcohol (and therefore calorie) gin than the usual suspects of around 40% ABV. It does a great job at keeping the mouthfeel, crispness and botanical flavour of a full proof gin too and is a perfect way to be a little more mindful about your consumption. It’s also vegan, sugar and sweetener free so all in all, that’s 36 calories for a double Mooze & Tonic compared to 154 for a regular double G&T plus less of a hangover. Win-win.

Size: 70cl Mooze alt gin
ABV: 12%
Gift idea: Can be sent to your recipient without pricing.
Find here: £24

Fortnum’s Sparkling Tea

We talked about how much we loved Fornum’s sparkling rosé tea here and in our podcast, so it was great to get to try the white! Certified organic and a blend of eight teas, this version is subtle, fragrant and elegant with both tropical notes and more darjeeling-like tea flavours. Totally refreshing! It’s worth noting that this sparkling tea contains 150mg of caffeine per litre.

ABV: 0%
Size: 75cl
Find here: £16.95 

Gibsons Goodology CBD Drinks

Gibson’s Goodology is an exciting new entry in the wellness market with their palate-pleasing drink with superior CBD quality. Created by award-winning, London-based mixologist Oskar Kinberg and renowned tea expert Stefan Gieschke, these drinks are already making waves on the CBD scene with their original flavours: Shiso Tea and Blueberry, Green Tea and Passionfruit and Jasmine Tea and Rhubarb.

ABV: 0%
Gifting: Available in packs of 3 and packs of 6.
Find here: £14.99 for 3

Aecorn Aromatic

The three Aecorn drinks could be described as aperitifs and are made with wine grapes (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). They are more silky and full-bodied than wine and you can drink them neat, chilled or with a splash of sparkling water as a spritzer. The most wine-like (and my favourite) is the ‘aromatic’, which is warm, woody and smoky. They also have a ‘bitter’, which reminds us of Campari and a ‘dry’, which is more for Sauvignon Blanc or Gin lovers.

ABV: 0%
Size: 50cl
Find here: £19.99

Three Spirit

There is no category to put these in, but I love them. Three styles of plant-based alternatives to alcohol with a different attitude, that, as they say ‘celebrates what you put into a drink, rather than what you take out.’ Using plants traditionally used in potions and ceremonies around the world, these are non-alcoholic drinks 'with benefits’ such as the addition of ashwagandha to relax in Nightcap or guayusa, guava leaf and green tea in Livener. It’s alchemy, it’s different and it’s delicious. You’ll want to keep the bottles too as they’re so pretty!

ABV: 0%
Gifting: Triple bottle gift packs available.
Find here: £24.99

Lucky Saint Beer

This is a bubbly beer that actually tastes like a fully fledged, flavoursome full-alcohol beer. In a slow and meticulous process, Lucky Saint delicately extracts the fermentable sugars from the mash as temperatures increase and leave it unfiltered to keep all the flavour and complexity. The beer is then distilled in a vacuum, which avoids the burnt and oxidised flavours many other non alcoholic beers have. I tested it with a bunch of beer drinkers and we all thought it was the best ‘ non-alcoholic’ beer we’ve tried (0.5% is considered to be alcohol-free). Now available on draught too.

ABV: 0.5%
Gifting: Find it in boxes of 4 or 48. 
Find here: £25 for 12 x 300ml

Brancott Estate Flight - Low Alcohol Sauvignon Blanc

Sitting at an ABV of 9% as opposed to 13 - 13.5%, this wine is lighter on the alcohol and therefore lighter on the calories that other Sauvignon Blancs. Made with grapes that are harvested earlier than usual before all their sugars develop, it is crisp, lean and clean but still packs the flavour punch you would expect from Sauvignon. Try it with goats cheese, salads and smoked salmon.

ABV: 9%
Find at most supermarkets for £7. Here’s Sainsburys.

Bax Botanics - Alcohol-free spirits

New to the market, this sustainable, Yorkshire-based company distills plants along with other botanicals to create an aromatic, clear non-spirit with lots of flavour that can simply be served with ice and a slice. We love the herbaceous verbena and the quirky sea buckthorn which has a fresh rosemary and orange citrus vibe. Lovely packaging too and apparently, it’s made with waste sugar cane!

ABV: 0%
Size: 70cl
Find them here and here.

Looking for more Christmas wine and spirits inspiration? Then take a look at these guides: wine, gin, vodka.

5 CBD Drinks to Chill You Out This Autumn

CBD infused drinks seem to be all the rage right now with more and more popping up all the time. We’ve given a few a go and put together a list of some of our favourites for you to enjoy.

What are CBD drinks?

Panic not, we are not sitting here in ‘The Three Drinkers Towers’ getting high each day; we’re high enough on life as it is! CBD is short for cannabidiol which is a naturally occurring molecule produced by plants in the cannabis family and unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which gives you the “high” associated with marijuana, CBD does not. Recently, there has been a lot of research poured into its use and more and more information about its health benefits, including deep relaxation and stress relief, has come to light, hence the increase in the number of beverages now including it. So, enough of the chat, let’s get down to the good stuff.

Dead Man’s Fingers Hemp Rum

You can always count on Dead Man’s fingers to create an exciting drink with their large range of different flavoured rums but the product that has got tongues wagging this time is their creation of the world’s first CBD hemp rum! Expect herbal grassy notes, pine, coffee and a spicy finish. Enjoy it neat or mixed with some ginger ale - trust us, you’ll love it!

ABV: 40%
Find it here 

Silent Pool Distillers Colorado High CBD Gin

Unlike most CBD infused drinks which have 10mg CBD, this one is packed with a whopping 200mg of Coloradan CBD meaning you only need a small serve of it to feel the relaxing benefits of the CBD! Smooth with a refreshing grapefruit citrusy note, this gin is both effective and delicious. Serve it with Fever Tree tonic and a wedge of grapefruit for the ultimate drink.

ABV: 40%
CBD: 200mg
Find it here

Doña Sofia CBD Cocktails

Recently launched in the UK, this is a really lovely drink. We tried the Gin and Tonic version and found it to be really rather yummy! A lovely balance between the soft bitterness of the tonic and citrus along with the relaxing properties of the CBD make this a drink we will definitely be going back to. Their Rum & Cola and Vodka & Lime flavours should be launching later this month.

ABV: 5%
CBD: 10mg
Find them here

Weedka Vodka

An idea born in Amsterdam in 2018, what better a place we hear you say, this multiple award winning vodka is made from high-quality quintuple distilled grain vodka infused with cannabis terpenes giving it a very smooth and unique taste. Serve it neat or mix it with cola to make a very tasty cocktail.

ABV: 40%
Find it here

OTO CBD Bitters

An excellent addition to any drink, we are big fans of OTO CBD bitters. Whether it be a dash in your morning coffee, a drop in your lunchtime water or a splash in your evening cocktail, OTO’s non-alcoholic CBD bitters elevate any drink and really do feel like they calm anxiety and help you to relax.

CBD: 2500mg
Find it here

Have you tried any CBD beverages you’d recommend? If so, send us an email to sophie@thethreedrinkers.com

If you liked this, have a gander at Drinkers Discoveries: 5 New Products for your Next Socially Distanced Gathering and don’t forget to check out 12 Hilariously Unfortunate (and Downright Naughty) Drinks Names

Drinker Discoveries: CBD Bitters, New Spirits, Great Wine and Gadgets

At The Three Drinkers, we are lucky enough to receive various samples of new drinks and lifestyle products over time. In these Drinker Discovery guides, we pick our absolute favourites as well as entertaining drinks news snippets we’ll think you’ll appreciate. Here are some that I have particularly enjoyed recently.

OTO CBD bitters

Not just good for cocktails, I have this in my morning coffee. OTO’s non-alcoholic, CBD bitters adds a warming, spiced aromatic note and depth of flavour to many types of drinks and none of that acrid, hemp note. The CBD element is a huge added bonus that really does feel like it calms anxiety and assists sleep. I love this. Find it and other luxury CBD products including face creams and roll on oils here. RRP £79 for 100ml (2500mg CBD).

Instagram: @oto_cbd

Winesave Pro

We’re always interested in products that can prevent us wasting wine and recently, I’ve been using the Winesave Pro when I’ve already popped a cork (usually on that extra bottle I probably shouldn’t have opened). Simply stick the thin tube in the bottle and give it a couple of squirts so the Argon gas can replace the oxygen and keep your wine fresh for longer (make sure you replace the cork or screw cap straight away). I tested it on various styles of wine over three weeks and was really impressed. A great, budget wine saving product. Find it here for £29.99.

Instagram @Winesavepro

Aloha 65

This brand new, spirit-based drink blew my minds when I tasted it as it does not fit into any regular drinks box easily. With its vibrant packaging, it promises a taste experience that delivers too. The team infuse spirits at 27% abv with fresh pineapple with lemon, ginger and other herbs and spices as well as local chillies for a fabulous kick. It’s vegan too. Have it as chilled shots or in a plethora of cocktails. They make an epic hot sauce too. Summer barbecues, here we come! Find it here for £26 for 70cl.

Instagram @alohasixtyfive

White Wine: Mar de Frades Albarino 2019

White wine of the week for me is this citrussy, saline Albariño (that’s the grape) made by the winemaking legend that is Paula Fandiño in Rias Baixas in northwestern Spain. This is THE region for world class Albariño and this vintage from Mar de Frades also has peachy, tropical flavours underneath those Atlantic, wet rock and sea spray notes. It’s a must with fish and seafood even on a cloudy day. A little blue ship appears on the bottle when its chilled to perfection too. Lovely touch! Find it here for £18.95.

Instagram @mardefrades

Red Wine: DV Catena Malbec 2018

My red wine of the week punches so far above its price tag, I had to look twice at it. Rich and concentrated with notes of cocoa, coffee bean, grilled meat and violet, this is a serious red wine that will love a barbecue. While it is drinking very well now, you could actually leave this for a couple of years to mellow further. Truly excellent value. Find it here at Sainsbury’s for £10 (down from £12) on offer for July.

Instagram @catenawines

In The News: God Save The Clean!

This tickled me. I love how carpet stain remover company Dr Beckmann commissioned artist Fanny Gough to paint a portrait of the queen in red wine on a carpet to demonstrate how good it was. I’m stocking right up. It’s got my vote! Find it here for £11.26

Like this? Check out some of our other guides : Gift Ideas for Drinks Lovers, Best Gins for a Martini and Must-Know Premium Californian Wine Producers.