The Best Tequila cocktails

Words by Ana Patterson

Everyone knows someone who ‘hates tequila’ and the chances are that a past experience with one too many tequila shots is to blame! There are some stunning tequilas and some equally stunning tequila-based cocktails out there that are well worth a try though. So, take that lime wedge out of your hand and pop it in the base of a cocktail shaker, you’re about to look at tequila in a whole new light.

Spicy Tommy’s Margarita

Once you’ve had this cocktail, you’ll never go back. You’ll also transcend reality. You might even run down the street barefoot shouting with joy because THIS. COCKTAIL. IS. AMAZING… have we convinced you to try it yet?! Top Tip: the spiciness of this cocktail depends on the chilli, so make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start shaking ;)

Ingredients
1 slice of deseeded and chopped chilli
60ml reposado tequila
15ml agave syrup
30ml lime juice
top of a chilli pepper for the garnish (deseeded) 

Method
Muddle the sliced chilli in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and fine strain into an ice filled rocks glass.

Añejo Old Fashioned

Massive whisky afficiando at the tequila party? There’s often one… However much they might insist that nothing will beat their whisky, you must insist harder that this Añejo Old Fashioned is very much worth their time. The aged Añejo tequila provides oaky notes, spice and flavours of roasted agave which is bound to put a smile on even their face.

Ingredients
60ml añejo tequila
7.5ml agave syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
orange peel

Method
Add the tequila, agave syrup and bitters to a tumbler with a big ice cube and stir well for around 30 seconds to combine. Garnish with the orange peel.

Tequila Mockingbird

Like the pun?! If not, off to the library with you it is! If you’re going for the classy, progressive Atticus Finch look - you’re going to need one of these in your hand. We’re not sure how the watermelon fits in with the novel, but it sure fits into the cocktail well!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
15ml lime juice
15ml agave syrup
3 watermelon cubes
1 slice jalapeño 

Method
Muddle the watermelon cubes and jalapeño in the bottom of the cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled and fine strain into a glass over ice.

Frozen Margarita

It may not quite be summer, but we’re certainly not far off now. That calls for the summer drink of all summer drinks - the Frozen Margarita! This is basically a margarita slushie and the recipe is the same as a normal margarita - just with added ice and a blender. Blend it baby!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml Cointreau
25ml lime juice
15ml sugar syrup
large handful of ice
wedge of lime to garnish 

Method
Place all the ingredients in a blender, excluding the lime wedge, and blend until smooth. Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!

Tequila Sunrise

It may be called a sunRISE, but we recommend you drink these at sunset instead… The name actually comes from what the drink looks like when it’s in the glass. For this reason, don’t stir in the grenadine when you pour it in or it will ruin the beautiful ombre effect that the different colours give! Don’t look at it for too long, however, because it’s really all about the flavours! Refreshing and fruity, this long tequila drink is one to note down.

Ingredients
100ml orange juice
50ml blanco tequila
30ml grenadine
maraschino cherry and orange wheel for garnish

Method
Fill a large glass with ice and pour in orange juice and tequila. Pour over the grenadine and do not stir. Garnish with the cherry and orange wheel. Enjoy!

Paloma

According to legend, the Paloma is named after a popular Mexican folk song written in the 1860s! Now isn’t that a fun fact! The grapefruit juice and grapefruit soda in this cocktail gives it a wonderful tang that tastes great with the blanco tequila. It’s super easy to make, and has a really pretty pink tinge to it that looks perfect with a grapefruit wheel garnish!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
25ml grapefruit juice
12.5ml lime juice
7.5ml agave syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
wheel of grapefruit for garnish 

Method
Shake the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass and top up with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a wheel of grapefruit.

Bloody Maria

Had enough of Bloody Marys? Ready to move onto something a little different? Try a Bloody Maria! While the name might not be totally inventive (with Maria being Spanish for Mary), the swap of vodka for tequila really elevates this classic cocktail and gives it an extra hit of flavour not achieved by the vodka. Let us know if you have a go!

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
100ml tomato juice
12.5ml lemon juice
1tsp horseradish
3 dashes tabasco
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch black pepper
lime wedge for garnish
lemon wedge for garnish
celery stick for garnish 

Method
Add all ingredients except for garnishes to an ice filled shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a glass over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge, lime wedge and celery stick. Extra chilli optional!

Mexican Mule

We love super simple cocktails, and so today we’re travelling to the other side of the world to mix up a Mexican Mule! Tequila and lime are always a perfect match, but putting them with ginger beer really takes things up a notch and creates a delicious cocktail that is easy to make and very easy to drink!

Ingredients
60ml reposado tequila
15ml lime juice
10ml agave syrup/sugar syrup
good quality ginger beer
lime wedge for garnish

Method
Add the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup/sugar syrup to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake until ice cold. Strain into an ice filled glass and top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a wedge of lime and enjoy!

If you want to read more tequila recommendations, have a look at The Best Tequilas for Margaritas or The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas!

5 Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings

By Helena Nicklin

Whisky and chocolate is a match you might not immediately think of but once you try it, you will never go back! The warming alcohol cleanses the palate perfectly while the individual notes of each whisky, be it dried fruit, tar, seaweed or citrus, perfectly complement many types of chocolate, especially the really good, hand-made stuff. Here are some basic whisky and chocolate pairings that have been tried and tested, then tried and tested all over again - just for you, of course.

How to taste whisky with chocolate

The best way to get the most out of your whisky and chocolate pairing is to take a sip of whisky first and let the flavour expand in your mouth. Swallow and then take a small bit of chocolate, allowing it to melt slowly on your tongue, its flavours gradually mingling with those of the whisky. Follow up with another small sip and enjoy. Tip: Use high-quality chocolate where you can to make the most of the flavour matches. 

Five Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings 

MILK CHOCOLATE WITH FRUIT & NUT

Whisky style: Light, floral and fruity.

Fruity whiskies, especially lighter, aromatic ones with notes of orchard fruit, love nuts, be they hazelnut, almond or pecan. Neither the milk chocolate nor the whisky will overpower each other and the fruit and nut flavours combine to make an irresistible, elegant pairing. 

Try: Aberfeldy 12 year old
ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £42.50 // US $44.99

SALTED CARAMEL

Whisky style: Saline, maritime and complex.

Salted caramel everything has taken the world by storm these past few years and a complex, saline whisky with a subtle umami note will send your tastebuds bonkers with the juxtaposition of sweet caramel and salty flavours.

Try: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
ABV: 57.1%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £74.75 // US $139.99

DARK CHOCOLATE WITH DRIED FRUIT

Whisky style: Dark, rich and fruit-cakey.

If you’re into darker versions of fruit and nut, maybe even with the odd dried cherry, try an age statement whisky that’s seen a few different barrels including sherry casks. These whiskies are often described as tasting of ‘Christmas cake’. They’re a match made in heaven with so many flavours to play with. 

Try: The Dalmore 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £60.50 // US $76.99

ORANGE CHOCOLATE

Whisky style: Smooth, toffee and orange citrusy.

High quality orange chocolate begs for an equally smooth partner with bold notes of orange citrus fruit, honey and vanilla spice to elevate its flavours. Find a Bourbon with a splash of rye in the mash bill for pure indulgence and a spicy kick that will have you coming back for more.

Try: Woodford Reserve, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 43.2%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £27 // US $31.98

DARK MINT CHOCOLATE

Whisky style: Peated, medicinal and smoky.

Medicinal, peaty whiskies, such as those found on Islay can knock you for six with their power. Pairing them with a peppermint flavoured dark chocolate, however, creates a refreshing kind of menthol alchemy. It’s the perfect way to end a meal and will leave a memorable impression.

Try: Lagavulin 16 Year Old
ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £79.50 // US $119.99

Still looking for some chocolate-y goodness? Why not check out these Delicious Chocolate-themed Alcoholic Drinks?

*Prices last updated in March 2024.

Two Stunning Pink Drinks

Words by Colin Hampden-White

It’s the beginning of April, the sun is in the sky longer for us in the northern hemisphere, and whilst the temperatures aren’t quite pushing the mercury very high I am starting to think of summer and those long lazy days with a glass of something cool to hand. Recently I have discovered two drinks which I think will become firm favourites in the months to come. One very much an alcoholic drink, although the way it can be drunk can bring the abv down considerably, and another which is alcohol free.

Kyrö Pink Gin

Firstly I want to introduce you to Kyrö Pink Gin. This gin was born from the team in Finland trying to make a pink gin which would please everyone. Now the saying goes that “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time” but this time I think the poet John Lydgate might have got it wrong. This gin has well balanced flavours of strawberry and creamy vanilla with a tang of raspberry in the background. The juniper is very present but not intrusive and there is a little coriander and pepper on the finish too. This is a rye-based gin giving those peppery notes, and all the red fruits come from infused strawberries, lingonberries and rhubarb, which are all foraged. It makes a wonderful gin and tonic and is complex enough for high balls. All in all a great summer drink.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38.2%
Price: £25.95

Wild Idol

My second pink of choice would be Wild Idol. I have tried many low or no alcohol wines, and none of them really work, so I was sceptical about this as I popped the cork, on what is a gorgeous bottle. It looks exactly like a bottle of premium sparkling wine and is priced as such as well. Firstly, as it pours into the glass, it looks like sparkling rosé, with the requisite mousse and fine bubbles and a bright pink which is not too vibrant to look synthetic, and that’s because it isn’t. Made from several grape varieties and made without the need for removing alcohol the process is pure and gives a lively drink with lots of red fruit flavours balanced with a racy acidity, much like a sparkling wine. It is vegan and gluten-free. Thankfully this is where everything changes from a sparkling wine. I realised that the drink in itself is good and satisfying, giving no need for alcohol or the feeling that I’d like alcohol in it. If I wanted alcohol, I would have poured an alcoholic sparkling wine. This a something which looks and feels special, and anyone not drinking alcohol and served this at any event where others were, would feel no less special.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0%
Price: £35

J.G. Thomson, the new team in town

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There are plenty of spirits companies out there not only producing whisky but gins and vodkas as well. They usually make these white spirits to keep the company afloat until the whisky is ready. There are also very large companies that produce both white and dark spirits by the nature of the size of their business, and they are very good. However, it is not often a company comes along whose business model is to make a range of spirits by blending and creating rather than purely distilling.

The spirits I am talking about are created in Edinburgh by J.G Thomson, they are made in batches and include gin, rum, and whisky. As a whisky lover, naturally, I wanted to try the whiskies and was delighted to find that they have made whiskies that are easy to understand. Before regionality is talked about at all, it is the flavour that headlines the label.

I had bottles of Sweet, Rich, and Smoky. They were all blended malts with the smoky all coming from Islay. They all tasted as the label described, but there was more to them than that simple label. One could tell these had been created with care and attention. The flavours were complex and incredibly well balanced, which has already borne them fruit with several accolades, including a Masters Medal at the spirits awards for Rich, and several gold medals.

To gain medals these days, whiskies need to stand out from the crowd, as well as being balanced and complex, they need something extra, and these whiskies have that extra pizzazz. My favourite was the Rich, which when visiting good friend Charles McLean recently, I got to try again at leisure with more than a small sample, and it reaffirmed my first thoughts, and Charles too was suitably impressed. But don’t just take our word for it. Try them for yourselves and find out which flavour you enjoy most.

J.G. Thomson Sweet  

Using whiskies matured in new toasted and heavily toasted casks, and a mix of medium and heavy chars, with even more toasting on the cask heads, gives lots of sweet flavours of toffee and custard and maple syrup balanced with orchard fruits and a little spice. There is a little marzipan and spice on the finish too. If it’s a sweet whisky you are after, then this should hit the mark.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

J.G. Thomson Rich

This expression used ex bourbon casks as well as Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks all in varying sizes from quarter casks up to sherry butts. The flavours are certainly rich with lots of dried fruits including figs and apricot with a little citrus zest and spice. The spices are complex with ginger and nutmeg and a little chilli heat on the finish. A touch of honey comes through right at the end. A real fireside sipper.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

J.G. Thomson Smoky

This final whisky of the trilogy I tried was made with casks all from Islay and matured in ex-bourbon casks as well as Pedro Ximénez casks. There is certainly a good amount of smoke in the flavour of this whisky, but it isn’t a smoke bomb. There are lots of sweet flavours from the PX casks giving balance making this very approachable. It has a little bit of everything with sweet, rich smoky flavours and some spice too. If you like a decent dollop of smoke, then this will set you alight.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

The Best Cocktail Terraces in London

The sun is (finally) coming out and summer cocktail terraces are starting to bloom. Whether you like your alfresco drinks skyscraping and swish, or garden-fringed and intimate, grab your sunnies, gather your mates and book off the afternoon. We’re heading out for cocktails at these must-visit London terraces.  

Bingham Riverhouse

*Technically* this is in Surrey – elegant Richmond, to be exact – but this terrace is definitely worth the extra few minutes on the District Line. An extension of Bingham’s chic (and utterly delicious) restaurant from MasterChef-winning chef Steven Edwards, the intimate strip looks out to lawns and the River Thames, so you can watch boats slink past as you sip. Order a Jalapeno’s Negroni – the perfect smoky-spicy blend of mezcal, Cocchi red vermouth and jalapeño-infused Campari – then follow up with a Laurent Perrier-topped Blackberry Royal, made with the Bingham garden’s rosemary. There’s no need to wobble home after; Bingham’s elegant hotel rooms, with copper baths and sustainable La-Eva toiletries, are dreamy crash pads. Rise for morning bellinis and hangover-busting aromatherapy massages at Bhuti spa.

Book Here 

Native at Brown’s

If you’re seeking a full-on garden terrace vibe, you could do far worse than this central London restaurant. Coddled by rows of lush ferns, and towering trees, if feels the perfect spot to sip a cocktail bursting with foraged flavours – exactly what Native majors in. In a spin on a classic Amaretto Sour, the Meadowsweet Sour uses foraged meadowsweet flowers. The Seasonal Spritz, meanwhile, comes with a dash of zingy sea buckthorn. Cocktails are shaken up with sustainability in mind, too. The espresso martini is made with waste coffee grounds, as well as locally sourced East London Liquor Co vodka.

Book Here 

Fortnum & Mason Royal Exchange, Bank

As we’ve all been pushed outdoors by pandemic dining, some amazing drinking spaces have popped up as a result, including this previously underused patch of pavement outside the Royal Exchange. Sandwiched spectacularly between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street, the terrace at Fortnum & Mason Royal Exchange lets you take in the epic, chiselled panoramas of Bank – a quintessential London scene – over a dry martini or, if you prefer something lighter, a glass of pink Fortnum’s own fizz. Visit in late afternoon, when it’s washed in sunshine, and you won’t want to budge until closing time at 11pm.

Book Here

Hicce

Set on the vast open space by Coal Drop’s Yard, just off Regent’s Canal, Hicce is the pick for when you want a big buzzy terrace vibe, but top-quality drinks too. Book in with a bunch of friends, grab a seat in the sun, and work through the innovative list: Matchagras (shiso leaf-infused Tanqueray, matcha, lemongrass and aquafaba); Hibilep (pandan leaf-infused Bulleit bourbon with hibiscus and pomegranate); Beetarita (mezcal, cherry liqueur, lime, beetroot juice). There’s a brilliant wine selection for your crowd to tackle too, with a raft of skin-contact whites and low-intervention reds.

Book Here

Nest, Treehouse London

If you’re anything like us, after braving the throngs of Oxford Street you’ll be in serious need of a drink. Enter Nest: a skyscraping bar just a few minutes’ walk away, perched at the top of Treehouse hotel, with views sweeping across the capital. Drop your shopping bags and order a Botanical Sour – gin, elderflower, coriander, vermouth and citrus – or a Bee Sting (Calvados, Beesou, honey, banana and citrus). Some time slots incur a minimum spend, so be sure to choose an hour that suits you budget. And, when booking, ask for a comfy sofa seat on the west side – the sun floods it in the afternoons.

Book Here

If you’re feeling more in the mood for a picnic then check out our delicious canned wines and no and low drinks recommendations!

The Best Gins to Gift this Mother’s Day

Words by Leigh Andrews

If you want to earn serious brownie points this Mother’s day for that mother figure who loves everything gin, then step away from the toiletries, save the flowers for a garnish and check out these fabulous juniper creations! These ginstastic tipples will get her taste buds tingling and she’ll be bragging to her friends that she got the best Mother’s Day Gift ever!

For the Romantic Gin loving Mum

Eden Mill Love Gin

The bottle screams love - it’s even written on it! Distilled in picturesque St Andrews in Scotland, this is a lightly floral gin with beautifully creamy vanilla sweetness, bursting berries and a slight hint of citrus. Perfect with loads of ice, light tonic and raspberries or neat over ice. Pretty and delicious.
ABV: 42%
Size: 500ml
Find Here: £26.95

Atlas Love Cake Gin

A well-deserved ultimate winner of The People’s Choice Drinks Awards last month, this gin is bound to bring smiles to faces. Influenced by the romantic legend behind Persian Love Cakes, this is a beautiful, lightly sweet gin with deliciously warming spices that linger on the palate. Add hints of icing-sugar dipped Turkish delight and a perfect, light citrusy finish and your mum will soon be asking for a refill.  

ABV: 43% 
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £48

For the Herbaceous Gin loving Mum:

Gin Mare

With Mediterranean vibes sending you to sun, sea, and olive groves this gin is savoury and magnificent! If your Mum loves to be transported to sunnier climates and loves her herby gins, then this one is an absolute winner. It’s fabulous served with loads of ice, some lightly crushed basil, a popped sweet cherry tomato and mediterranean tonic. Sunshine in a glass! 

ABV: 42.7%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find Here: UK £33.95 // US $62.99

Badvo Pitlochry Gin

Imagine walking through the wilds of a Scottish glen with all of the wonderful aromas of the natural botanicals around you. That is this gin! From the very first sip, there is no mistaking this herbaceous gin for a wallflower! Made using only 100% hand foraged botanicals, there’s gorse, heather, a field of cut grass, wild apples, and a subtle finish of mint. GLORIOUS! Serve neat over ice or with tonic and a slice of green apple.

ABV: 45%
Size: 200ml/700ml
Find Here: 200ml £15.95 // 700ml £39.95 

For the Pink Gin loving Mum

Mermaid Pink Gin

Apart from having one of the most ethereal looking gin bottles that anyone in possession of fairy lights will want to fill, this gin is an absolutely outstanding variation of the Isle of Wight distillery’s original Mermaid gin. A light, strawberry sweetness cuts through the savoury saltiness of rock samphire and enhances the citrus finish. Perfect served with your choice of tonic and cut strawberries.

ABV: 38%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £35.79

Tarsier Oriental Pink Gin

Inspired by the sights and sounds of Southeast Asia, this gin is jam packed full of fabulous exotic flavours such as lychee and red dragon fruits nestling beside peppery juniper and lifted by wonderfully tart raspberries, calamansi lime and a subtly warm, spiced finish. It’s fantastic with tonic, a handful of raspberries and torn mint, and even better when you see the massive smile on your Mum’s face when she takes her first sip!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £34.95

For the Flavoured Gin loving Mum

Whitley Neill Blood Orange

This one is definitely not a liqueur; it’s a gin that has serious oomph! Full strength and packed with sweet orange citrus, it’s a big and bold flavoured gin that doesn’t forget its gin essence. You still get that punch of juniper but that gorgeous blood orange is unmistakable. Your Mum will love the fact that you didn’t think that all she would want was some delicate little flower of a gin. This is for Mums with zest!

ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find Here: UK £27.95 // US $34.99

Anno B3rry Pink Gin

Apart from looking like fun in a bottle, this glorious gin from Anno distillery in Kent contains all the things to make a pink gin sing… and maybe your Mum too! It’s packed full of strawberries from Kent, cocoa (who doesn't love chocolate strawberries?), elderberries and rosehip. It tastes like the best strawberry candy on the palate, with a fresh, bitter chocolate balance and a soft, smooth finish when mixed with tonic. Fabulous!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £33.99

For the Navy Strength Gin loving Mum

Locksley Distilling Co VSOT

VSOT means Very Special Old Tom! As far as we know, this is the only Navy Strength Old Tom in existence and it is OUTSTANDING! So smooth with all the incredible depth of velvety sweetness that an Old Tom is known for, the gin is lifted by gentle grapefruit notes and wonderful warming spice on the long finish. It’s one of those Navy Strengths that is easily able to be taken neat, but likewise, makes a killer cocktail like a Gibson or Negroni, or a gorgeous G&T with a wheel of grapefruit.

ABV: 57.5%
Size: 200ml/700ml
Find here: £20/£50

Whittakers Gin Navy Strength

A SUPERBLY smooth gin from the Yorkshire Dales which, despite the hefty ABV ,still lets the flavour shine bright! The fantastic fruitiness of hawthorn berries and bilberries comes right through after the initial hit of that punchy ABV, followed by luscious hints of lemon and a light herbaceous finish. This one will be just the ticket for your Mum to put her feet up and chill out with! It’s perfect in a Martini, neat over ice or with tonic water and a sprig of thyme or lemon.

ABV: 57%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £37.85

For more gin-spirational (see what we did there?!) articles, have a look at What is London Dry Gin and Which Should I Try?, The Most Popular Gin Cocktails or The Best Gin for a G&T!

talk RADIO: Irish Drinks for St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick’s Day! And what an important one it is for us at 3DHQ as we launch our second global TV series on Amazon Prime: The Three Drinkers in Ireland! Whoop Whoop!

To celebrate the launch, Aidy and I are raising a few glasses with Mike Graham at talkRADIO taking in some fabulous Irish tipples:

The Irish Mule

This super simple highball cocktail is a take on the famous version made with vodka and features just three ingredients. Simply fill a highball glass with ice, pour over the whisky and lime, then stir. Top up with ginger beer and garnish with mint.

50ml Irish Whiskey (We’re tasting Slane triple Casked Irish Whiskey)
25ml Fresh lime juice
Ginger beer to taste
A sprig of mint to garnish.

Find Slane Irish Whiskey at Master of Malt for £20.95 in a flash sale, or Waitrose, Amazon, Ocado and more for circa £30

Irish Gin & Tonic

Where there is whiskey produced, you will often also find gin or vodka and there are some stunning gins coming out of Ireland these days. Try this unique Donegal gin, aged in Spanish red wine cakes, which give it a red berry burst of flavour and a pink tint.

25ml Irish Gin (We’re tasting An Dúlamán, Santa Ana, Navy strength gin from Slaibh League Distillers)
Indian Tonic to taste.
Garnish with freeze dried red berries.

Find Santa Ana Gin at Amazon, Master of Malt for circa £45

Chocolate Baileys

This Irish Cream needs no introduction and their chocolate version is even more indulgent than the original! If you’re a fan of double chocolate magnums, think of that melted in a glass - with booze. 

Find it at Tesco for £18

Poìtin

This is literally ’the mother of all whiskeys’ a spirit that used to be distilled from just about anything - sugar beet, potato.. Made illicitly all over Ireland and akin to an Irish Moonshine. It was lethal! Since 1997, production has been regulated and here’s one that is actually rather lovely. It’s made by Killowen Distillery in Northern Ireland and is peachy and aromatic with spicy notes.

Find it at Killowendistillery.com for £34.50

To watch The Three Drinkers in Ireland head over to Amazon Prime Video in your country now!

The Best Irish Whiskey

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Not only did Ireland beat the English at the weekend, but my Celtic cousins have one of their most important national days this week. St Patrick’s Day is not only important in Ireland, but also celebrated across the globe, and not only by the Irish. It gives us all a great excuse (not that we really need one), to find our favourite bottles of Irish whiskey, pop those corks, twist those caps and pour some of the delicious whiskey and celebrate with them.

Irish whiskey is now certainly out of the doldrums. It wasn’t very long ago that there were only two distilleries in Ireland, Bushmills and Midleton, until in 1987 when Cooley come along, and now the storey is entirely different. There are now over 35 distilleries up and running with more in the pipeline. When in the past, I wouldn’t have had to look long at my bottle shelf to find that favourite bottle of Irish whiskey, this St Patrick’s Day, it’s going to take a lot longer. And there’s likely to be more than one or two bottles sampled!

I’ve put together my most enjoyable bottles. Some are old favourites, some are very new, all I know is that they are all delicious, and would make St Patrick proud.

Redbreast 12

I have no idea how many times I’ve written about this whiskey. It is an all-time great and having just spoken to Billy Leighton, their master blender, it’s not going anywhere soon. With a perfect balance of ex Bourbon and ex Sherry cask matured whiskey, this is my ultimate pot still Irish whiskey.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £43.50 // US $68.99

Midleton very rare 2021

I have tried many of the Very Rare series from Midleton and haven’t had a weak vintage release yet. First started in 1984, as the years roll on the whiskey placed in the bottle gets older and older and this 21 year old release has whiskies well over 30 years old inside. I tried this last year and was blown away. A real treat.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £338.99 // US $349.99

Bushmills 10 year old

Another classic on the Irish whiskey scene. Bushmills 10 is a fruit forward, vanilla hugging, spicey dram of loveliness. Easy to drink and can be paired with so many different foods, this is a whiskey I shall always have on my shelf. If you want a typical Irish triple distilled whiskey, then this is one for you.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £31.80 // US $85.99

Waterford The Cuvée

Waterford are known for having terroir driven whiskies. Using old grain varieties distilled from single farms giving unique flavours from each farm. However, they also created a blend of single malt whisky. I know that is a bit of an oxymoron, but they took the whisky distilled from different farms and blended them together. Of course, each whisky in the blend was distilled at Waterford, and therefore still a single malt. The result is a beautifully balanced Irish whisky at a powerful 50% abv which is now a firm favourite of mine.

ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.95

Jameson

The all time best selling Irish whiskey in the world. And for a very good reason. It is simply brilliant. Smooth and fruity with a price tag that won’t break the bank. It is as happy in a glass with ice, mixed with coke or in a cocktail as well as simply by itself enjoyed by a warming fire. This is not just a safe bet if you can’t think of anything else this St. Patrick’s day. It’s a sure bet.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $32.99

Roe & Co

I have to admit to being bias about Roe and Coe. It’s distilled by one of my best friends, which gives me all the more reason to love it. Lora Hemy has done a magnificent job creating one of Ireland’s newest whiskies, and this isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. With innovation at the fore, Roe & Coe is going to be an exciting dram to have now and on future St Patrick days.

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £29.83 // US $32.99

Kilbeggan

One of the oldest sites of known distillation in Ireland, this reborn distillery is lovely and honied and malty. However unusually for an Irish whiskey, it has a little smoke in the background, which is well balanced and gives depth. Something a little different, but one I like very much and I’m sure you will too especially if you don’t like it too smoky.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.64 // US $36.99

Slane Special Edition

In homage to the music festival at Slane Castle, Slane Whiskey has created this special edition. The festival was started in 1981 with the first headline band being Thin Lizzie, an Irish band known for their song “Whiskey in the jar”. This whiskey has been created with increased use of virgin oak and a mix of both ex bourbon and ex sherry casks. With a higher-than-normal abv of 45%, this turns the flavour volume up to 11!

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka

I know this isn’t a whiskey, but I do know there is the odd person out there who doesn’t enjoy whiskey but would nevertheless want to enjoy a spirit on St Patrick’s day and this vodka is a cracker. Flavoursome by itself and brilliant in a cocktail, and no self respecting whiskey drinker would shy away from having a crack and chinking a glass with you on Thursday and exclaiming, “Slainte”!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

I hope that whets your appetites for Thursday, which for this year will definitely be the new Friday for me, and I hope to be raising a glass to you all this St Patrick’s Day.

Did you know the new The Three Drinkers in Ireland series will be live on Amazon Prime from 17th March? You can find the trailer and more information here.