9 Boo-zy Cocktails for Halloween

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Halloween is very nearly upon us, and these drinks are perfect to feel the chill. Swamp juice or witch’s brews, which will you choose? Pick your poison below!

The Black Widow

Stare into the abyss with this striking Black Widow cocktail. As you put it to your lips you won’t know what to expect, but it’s actually surprisingly sweet and fruity. Scary at first but after tasting you’ll want to drink these deep into the witching hours!

Ingredients
30ml Crème de cassis
40ml vodka (black if you have it)
25ml ginger beer
0.5tsp activated charcoal (optional)
Black food colouring (optional)
Blackberries (garnish)

Method
Your aim is here to achieve that jet black colour and there are a few ways to do that. Black vodka rather than clear is obviously great if you have it. If not, black food colouring works perfectly and lastly, there’s activated charcoal which creates the deepest black. Other than that, you just need to shake everything except the ginger beer. Pour it over ice, top it up with ginger beer, and garnish with a blackberry. Simple!

Monster Milk

Freshly squeezed from the depths of hell is Monster Milk. A disgusting name sure, but a delicious drink. It’s a milky sweet base with spiced rum at the heart of it because this is no ordinary milk, it’s monster milk!

Ingredients
80ml milk
35ml spiced rum
Dash of bitters (preferably chocolate)
0.25tsp of vanilla extract
1 tbsp of syrup
15ml cream (optional)

Method
Frighteningly simple – shake everything with ice and pour!
Top Tip: If you want Hot Monster Milk, then you just need to heat up the milk before adding!

Death in the Afternoon

Created by Ernest Hemmingway himself in 1935, this bubbling cocktail contains only two ingredients. The luminescent green of the absinthe with champagne bubbling through it makes it look like something that’s come straight out of an evil laboratory… come to think of it, it would look even better if you got hold of some dry ice!

Ingredients
35ml green absinthe
100ml Champagne

Method
Add your absinthe and then add your ice-cold bubbly. That’s it! Voila!

Pumpkin Martini

It wouldn’t be a Halloween party without pumpkin present! The flavour can be a little love or hate, so it’s probably not best for a massive batch unless you’re partying with a Pumpkin Fan Club. It’s creamy, earthy, and delicately sweet with a tasty crunch to finish.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
15ml cream
10ml syrup
2tbsp pumpkin puree
¼ tsp of pumpkin pie spice (optional)
¼ tsp of vanilla extract
Crushed biscuit (garnish) 

Method
It’s spookily simple this one. Just shake all ingredients thoroughly with a large handful (werewolf sized) of ice. Strain the mix into your martini glass. Rub the rim with a light coating of maple syrup and add crushed biscuit around it.

Witch’s Brew

A colour changing cocktail to stun your guests! The key to this is the colour changing gin which you might think is difficult to find, but they have exploded in popularity recently and so are pretty easy to track down. A classic from any Witch’s recipe book.

Ingredients
60ml colour changing gin
25ml blue Curacao
Dash of lemon juice
Top up with flavoured tonic

Method
Fill your glass with crushed ice, blue Curacao, and a squeeze of lemon. Now the showstopper – gather your guests and slowly pour in the magical gin. Ta-da! Top up with your favourite tonic (raspberry works well), and repeat your trick for the inevitable queue that will have formed!

Swamp Juice

There’s nothing better than a glass of swamp juice on Halloween is there? Especially when the swamp is made from whisky and cider! Also lurking beneath the surface is lemon juice to shock you into life and an egg white for true sliminess. It’s the best tasting swamp around if you ask us!

Ingredients
45ml bourbon
45ml apple cider
Juice of 1 lemon
15ml syrup
1 tbsp egg white
0.5tsp of green food colouring (optional)

Method
There’s nothing fancy about a swamp so throw everything into a cocktail shaker with some ice. Strain into your glass over ice to finish. Bottoms up!

Bloody Pomegranate

With the rich darkness of the pomegranate, the froth of the wine, and the pomegranate seeds floating disturbingly, this is a gruesome sight indeed. The taste on the other hand is delicious!

Ingredients
60ml sparkling wine
25ml pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds

Method
If you wish, you can freeze the pomegranate juice in ice cubes beforehand or simply pour everything together and add ice. Crush some of the seeds so they’re misshapen and look like something that’s fallen off a zombie.
Top Tip: Continue the ‘blended body’ vibe by adding in a floating eyeball or fake finger if you have them. (Top Tip within a Top Tip – stuff lychees with grapes to create your own eyeballs!)

We’ve kept the above recipes super simple, but you can pretty easily add dry ice for more mystery or even LED ice cubes for extra luminescence. If you need help with the colour changing gin, we’ve written a full article on it here. Check out, ‘5 Easy Halloween Cocktails’ for more easy to make spooktacular cocktails too!

5 Negroni Variations you Need to Try!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Whether you love a Negroni but want to mix it up, or you’re wanting to give it another chance, you’ve come to the right place.

Loved for its simplicity, we know that there are drinkers out there who would condemn us for experimenting with this cocktail. To them, we say that experimentation and cocktails have always gone hand-in-hand, and if it tastes great then it tastes great. And these variations definitely do. So there ;)

The Classic

Let’s take you back in time to Florence, 1919 where it all began. When Count Camillio Negroni ordered his Americano (the cocktail, not the coffee) but fancied something stronger, his bartender swapped the soda for gin and in doing so, wrote his name into the history books (or the Count’s name at least). If you’re going to dive deeper into the world of Negroni, then it only makes sense to nail the classic first.

Ingredients
25ml gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
Orange slice (garnish)

Method
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until everything is thoroughly blended and chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Add more large ice cubes and garnish with a slice of orange.

White Negroni

Jumping over the border, the White Negroni is essentially the French adaptation. Campari and sweet vermouth were harder to find there back in the day, so two French aperitifs filled the vacancy instead. Surely it can’t compete with the classic though? Well, au contraire!

Ingredients
37.5ml gin
25ml Lillet Blanc
12.5ml of Suze Liqueur
Lemon slice (garnish)

Method
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Lemon is a perfect garnish.

Prosecco Negroni

Don’t even bother unpacking because we’re going back over the border again, this time swapping the gin for the lifeblood of hen parties, Prosecco. Italy’s bubbly is the perfect addition if you’re not overly keen on the bitterness of the gin, and it makes for a slightly sweeter and lighter drink.

Ingredients
25ml Prosecco
25ml Campari
12.5ml sweet vermouth
Orange slice (garnish)

Method
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill it with ice. Top up with your prosecco and give it a gentle stir. Orange slice to finish.

Rosé Negroni

If you didn’t know about Rosé vermouth then you do now. Combined with Aperol instead of Campari alongside the dash of strawberry liqueur, this is a sweeter, fruitier version of the original, perfect for those put off by the usual bitterness of a Negroni.

Ingredients
25ml Gin
25ml Rosé vermouth
12.5ml Aperol
12.5ml Strawberry Liqueur
Strawberry (garnish)

Method
Add everything into a rocks glass filled with ice and stir well. Sit a strawberry on top and enjoy!

Tequila Negroni

The ‘Tegroni’ is the Negroni’s Mexican cousin, swapping out the traditional gin for Tequila. Bringing a bitter earthiness to the cocktail, this is one of the more popular adaptations and well worth a try. Arriba, arriba!

Ingredients
25ml Tequila
25ml Sweet Vermouth
12.5ml Campari
Grapefruit twist (garnish)

Method
 Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir until thoroughly mixed and strain into a rocks glass. Add large ice cubes and garnish with a twist of grapefruit and some zest for added zing.

Whisky Negroni

There’s a chance you’ve heard this drink by another name before, and that’s Boulevardier. Well, Boulevardier is essentially a Whiskey Negroni - it’s a variation so popular that it’s got its own name (which translates to man-about-town). Some refer to it as Negroni’s edgier, darker, older brother, but with the Mexican cousin above, the whole family thing is getting a bit confusing so we’ll leave that there.

Ingredients
25ml Bourbon
25ml Sweet Vermouth
25ml Campari
Orange slice (garnish)

Method

For this one, chill a cocktail glass by placing it in the freezer. Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass and fill it two thirds of the way with ice. Stir for around 30 seconds to chill and then strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

Negronis and all their variations are pretty simple cocktails with only a handful of ingredients so making sure each one tastes great is essential.

If you want to pick out the perfect Bourbon for your Boulevardier, take a look here.

Or was it the Tegroni that took your fancy? If so, check these glorious Tequilas out.

And don’t forget you can let us know if you’ve got your own customised Negroni that you think competes with the original by getting in touch here!

The 10 Most Popular Cocktails in the World

A classic cocktail is a beautiful thing. Sweet, bitter, fruity, strong, there’s something for everyone. In a world where new cocktails are invented every day with ever increasingly odd names, there’s a reason each of these classics holds up.

Fentimans have narrowed down the world’s favourite cocktails to these 10, and we’re giving you a reminder on how to make each one. Shakers at the ready!

10. PINA COLADA

The definitive tropical cocktail. It’s part beverage, part smoothie (if you want it to sound healthier) and the perfect choice for you drinkers with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients:
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple Wedge

Method: The blender is coming out for this one. Combine 60ml of your favourite white rum, with the same amount of coconut cream. Add 120ml of pineapple juice or crushed pineapple, a handful of ice, and blend. A wedge of pineapple for the garnish and you’re there. Umbrella optional ;)

9. COSMOPOLITAN

Sweet, tangy, and packing a punch, we love the Cosmo for its fresh and clean feel. 

Ingredients:
45ml vodka
15ml Triple Sec
30ml cranberry juice
a dash of lime
Garnish: orange zest

Method: Dust off the cocktail shaker and combine the vodka (citrus flavoured works well), triple sec, cranberry juice, a cup of ice, and a dash of lime juice for added freshness. Get your shake on, and then pour the mix into a martini glass with orange zest for the quintessential Cosmo experience!

8. OLD FASHIONED

Over 200 years old and still going strong, there is a reason the Old Fashioned is the most popular cocktail in the US today. It’s simple, dark, and delicious.

Ingredients:
40ml bourbon
2 tsp sugar syrup/1 tsp sugar
2-3 dashes of bitters
Garnish: orange slice & Maraschino cherry

Method: Take your glass and add in the sugar syrup (or sugar), a tiny splash of water, and 2 or 3 dashes of bitters depending on your preference. Stir, layer with ice, pour in your favourite bourbon whiskey over the top and garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry for the complete cocktail. Some people like to add a little soda water too so make it how you like it best. There are no strict rules when it comes to cocktails!

7. APEROL SPRITZ

Created in Italy and now Germany’s favourite, Aperol Spritz is one of the most straightforward cocktails you can make. Just 3 ingredients give you a true taste of summer. 

Ingredients:
50ml Aperol
75ml prosecco
soda water

Method: Pop a few ice cubes in your glass and combine the Aperol and prosecco. Top up with soda, stir gently to keep the fizz and then garnish with a slice of orange! Voilà! Again, you can adjust the ratios for your tastes and mood.

6. SANGRIA

Synonymous with Spain and Portugal, a cold jug of sangria on a hot day is hard to beat which is why it’s the top wine-based cocktail in the world.

Ingredients (for a jug)
750ml good red wine
100ml brandy
200g berries
2 oranges
2 pears
2 lemons

Method: Chop two oranges, two pears and two lemons. Add them along with 200g of whatever red berries you like best, into a bowl and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over them. Fill a jug with ice, your fruit, brandy and red wine. Stir, taste, and add in a little triple sec if you want it stronger, or some sparkling water for the opposite. Enjoy!

5. MARTINI

The choice of 007, and apparently millions more as the simple Martini remains as popular as ever.

Ingredients:
60ml vodka/gin
20ml vermouth
Garnish: lemon/olive

Method: Shaken or stirred? Vodka or gin? Olive or lemon? We’ll leave it down to you, but you’ll need 60ml of vodka/gin, 20ml of dry vermouth, ice, and olives or lemon to finish. Top Tip: Make sure to pop your martini glass in the freezer/fill it with ice to chill it right down before you use it. Did you know you can put your vodka/gin in the freezer to cool it right down too?

4. CAIPIRINHA

Originally based on a remedy to cure Spanish flu (yep!), this national drink of Brazil has only 3 ingredients and highlights the distinct taste of cachaça, a spirit made from sugarcane. It’s totally refreshing and delicious.

Ingredients:
50ml cachaça
juice from 1/2 lime
1 tsp sugar

Method: Crush half a lime and mix with the sugar to dissolve it. Add the cachaça and ice and stir. That’s it – ridiculously straightforward!

3. PORNSTAR MARTINI

A modern-day classic, this sweet and sour cocktail has become the UK’s favourite. Its evocative name may have helped spread the word, but it’s the iconic taste that makes it one of the best.

Ingredients:
30ml vanilla vodka
15ml Passoa
2 tsp lime juice
seeds from 1 passion fruit
50ml prosecco

Method: There’s a tad more work to do for this cocktail but trust us, it’s worth it. Scoop the seeds from a passion fruit into your cocktail shaker and add the vanilla vodka (if you only have plain vodka, use a little vanilla syrup). Add a handful of ice, Passoa and the lime juice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and add a passion fruit slice on top. But we’re not done there. A 50ml Prosecco shot is often served in accompaniment, so you can have two drinks in one cocktail!

2. MOJITO

Narrowly missing out on the top spot, but loved most in France, Italy and Portugal is the iconic Mojito. It’s rum, mint, and lime – the ultimate refresher.

Ingredients:
50ml white rum
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar/ 15ml sugar syrup
a handful of mint leaves
soda water
Garnish: mint

Method: Crush a handful of mint leaves with the lime juice and sugar. Add ice and a white rum that you love. Top up with soda water to a level you enjoy, gently stir to combine, garnish with mint and sip away! Top Tip: When preparing a mojito always crush the mint leaves as opposed to dicing to unlock oils that will assist with enhancing the minty flavour.

1. MARGARITA

So, here it is. The world’s favourite cocktail at the moment– the Margarita. Easy to make, simple to adapt and perfect for any occasion. Salty, sweet, bitter, and sour, the Margarita triggers four of the five possible human tastes, so there’s actually some science behind its popularity too.

Ingredients:
50ml tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
20ml triple sec
a dash of syrup (optional)
Garnish: lime wheel, salt rim (optional)

Method: Shake the tequila, lime juice, triple sec and ice together until the shaker is cool to touch. You can add a dash of syrup also if you like it sweet. Strain the ingredients into a small glass and garnish with an appetising lime wheel and a salt rim if you fancy. Sit back and enjoy cocktail royalty. 

The methods above will guide you in the right direction but as with any cocktail, experiment. Add stuff in, take stuff out, change the ratios, shake it, stir it, do whatever you can think of (pretty much), and create your ultimate cocktail.

To learn more about the Margarita and all the variations you could make at home, take a look at our guide here: The Best Margarita Variations. And if you want to explore some lesser-known but still delightful cocktails, then why not have a flick through our, ‘One Drink, Three Ways’ feature? We take some of our favourite drinks and give you three great cocktail options for each. Who knows, maybe one will top this list one day.

One Drink, Three Ways: Franklin and sons Mandarin and Ginger Soda

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.

Franklin & Sons create tonic waters, soda, premixed cans and soft drinks. Founded in London in 1886 they are pioneers in the soft drinks space, seeking out only the best natural ingredients to create unique flavoured drinks. From Rosemary and Black olive tonic to Guava and Lime soda, there are tons of options to enjoy with your favourite mixers or to just sip neat. Today we are sharing with you three of our favourite mocktails/cocktails using Franklin & Sons Mandarin and Ginger soda.

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Helena’s Choice: The Lowball

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The Lowball

Ingredients

50ml Everleaf Forest

20ml Orange & Fennel Cordial

120ml Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda

We all love a cocktail but sometimes you want to drink something that’s tasty without the added alcohol and so I’m mixing things up a bit this time and going for a no-low option. This cocktail is zesty and refreshing with a beautiful warm spicy finish. The perfect drink for a warm summer night. 
Method: Pour all the ingredients (excluding the soda) into a highball glass and then add ice and top with the Mandarin & Ginger Soda. Gently stir to mix.

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Aidy’s Choice: The Northern Mule

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The Northern Mule

Ingredients

50ml Spirit of Manchester Gin

15ml Lime Juice

10ml Ginger Syrup

120ml Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda

Being from up North it would be wrong not to give this beauty a shout out! A twist on the classic Mule, this version uses gin instead of the traditional vodka making for a very light and refreshing Summer drink. 
Method: Pour all the ingredients (excluding the soda) into a mule mug, add ice, and top with the Mandarin & Ginger Soda. Gently stir to mix and garnish with a sprig of mint and crystallised ginger.

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Colin’s Choice: Old Fashioned Spritz

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Old Fashioned Spritz

Ingredients

50ml Woodford Reserve

15ml Demerara Syrup

3ml Angostura Bitters

150ml Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda

I love an Old Fashioned and would possibly go as far as to say it is one of the best whisky cocktails around. The addition of the Mandarin and Ginger soda in this spritz version transports this traditionally wintery drink into a cocktail that is a delight to sip on a balmy Summer evening. The bitterness of the cocktail works harmoniously with the soda giving it an edge of sweetness that will keep you coming back for more.
Method: Pour all the ingredients into a highball glass, stir and top with Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda. Garnish with orange peel and a cherry.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not check out One Drink, Three Ways: Wine Cocktails with Barefoot Wine, One Drink, Three Ways: The Macallan 12YO Double Cask or One Drink, Three Ways: Remy Martin VSOP Cognac?

One Drink, Three Ways: Wine Cocktails with Barefoot Wine

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.

Barefoot believes that wine should never be taken too seriously and that no one should ever be judged by the flavours they prefer. A truly inclusive wine brand, Barefoot prides itself on supporting good people and good causes, giving back to marginalised communities through charity events and creative partnerships. With their large choice of red, white, pink, bubbly and even canned wines, there is something in the range for everyone, so grab a glass, taste and experiment! Who says you can’t substitute spirits for wine?

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Helena’s Choice: The Pinot-Colada

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The Pinot-Colada

Ingredients

250ml Barefoot Pinot Grigio

40ml Coconut rum (or rum liqueur)

100ml Pineapple juice

Pineapple slices to garnish

Large wine glass

Nothing says summer more to me than a kiss of rum in a long drink and this Pinot-Colada recipe (see what we did there) brings together the refreshing, pear and baked apple notes of Pinot Grigio with tropical pineapple and rum vibes. It’s a fiesta in a glass! Method: Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all the liquid ingredients together for a long, wet shake. Next, pour everything into the glass, including the ice. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a stripey straw. Cheers! Cocktail umbrella optional.

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Aidy’s Choice: The Barefoot Paloma

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The Barefoot Paloma

Ingredients

90ml Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc

75ml Fresh grapefruit juice or Grapefruit soda

15ml Fresh lime juice

Sugar syrup to taste

Salt & lime wedge (optional)

Highball glass

You know how much I love a Paloma and this wine-based version has knocked my socks off. Traditionally made with Tequila, this version replaces that tang of Mexico’s iconic spirit with the grassy, citrus vibes of Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc with the grapefruit juice. Perfect for those less keen on spirits but searching for a long cocktail. Method: Cut a lime and rub the juice around the rim of the glass. Next, fill it to the top with ice, then pour in the Sauvignon Blanc, grapefruit juice, lime juice and sugar syrup. Stir well, then garnish with a lime wedge. Ta-da! A great alternative for Cinco de Mayo or any time of the year. 

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Colin’s Choice: Summer Sangria

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Summer Sangria

Ingredients

1 x 750ml Bottle of chilled Barefoot Jammy Red

225ml Pomegranate juice

60ml White Rum

50g Pomegranate seeds

1 x Sliced apple

1 x Sliced orange

2 x Cinnamon sticks

Jugs

There’s not much more fun than a jug of sangria on a hot day at a party and this version is sensational in the sunshine, combing real, fresh fruit and spices with one of Barefoot’s unashamedly bold and beautiful, soft and fruity reds. Simply double up the recipe to batch this sangria by the jug! Method: Ridiculously quick and simple, pour the whole bottle of chilled Barefoot Jammy Red wine into the jug along with the rum and pomegranate juice and stir. Next, throw in the sliced fruit and seeds before stirring again. Pour into a highball or wine glass and enjoy!

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not check out One Drink, Three Ways: Tanqueray Gin, One Drink, Three Ways: Glenturret Triple Wood or One Drink, Three Ways: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino?

10 Top Drinks Discoveries for the Summer with Bryan Rodriguez

Words by Bryan Rodriguez (Wine & Spirit Buyer at Harvey Nichols)

Bryan recently joined us for Episode 83 of our Bring a Bottle Podcast where he shared a number of fantastic products with us, so naturally, when asked if we would like to hear more we jumped at the chance to bring more drinky news your way. Here’s what he had to say…

As a Wine & Spirit Buyer, I am always discovering new and exciting beverages, as well as re-tasting and going back to old favourites that provide consistency and comfort. When asked, I always have a wine or spirit recommendation to offer, whether for a specific occasion or the appropriate vessel to drink from.

In this line up, I offer my suggestions based on topics discussed during my appearance on the Bring a Bottle Podcast with Aidy and Helena.

When recording the podcast, I brought a bottle of the wonderful Lambic Geuze beer with me, all the way from the brilliant Boon Brewery based in Lembeek near Brussels, Belgium. The beer really caught both Aidy and Helena’s attention. The beer is known as the Vat 31, it’s difficult to find commercially so below I recommend two of their more widely available styles. 

Rum was also discussed and for me, the Daiquiri is the ultimate rum cocktail. As an avid lover of rum, I am always testing out different rums in a daiquiri. Every bartender has their own recipe and version. This is my personal recipe I use at home…

Ingredients
60ml White or Gold Rum
25ml Velvet Falernum
25ml Fresh Lime juice
2 to 3 dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters
Method
Shake over ice and pour into a frozen glass 

Of course, depending on the rum used, measurements might need to be adjusted but the above should offer a good starting point.

I recommended a brilliant Harvey Nichols Own Label red wine from Napa Valley. Along with this, I offer my personal favourite white and sparkling from our Own Label range. A perfect dinner party trio that will match up against a wide variety of foods and will certainly be crowd pleasers.

Finally, as an extra addition, I offer what I describe as “essentials” – two of the products used in the Daiquiri recipe, as well as specific glassware that works with the drinks recommended, as well as a whole host of other cocktails and beverages. I always like to recommend different glassware according to the drink being consumed. I find it can elevate the drinking experience, especially for wine, with grape and region-specific glassware being released by the likes of Riedel. Plus, I always find that elegant glassware can enhance your online and social imagery of bottles, drinks, and cocktails in the same way a beautiful piece of jewellery can enhance a fashion shoot.

BEER

Boon Geuze Marriage Parfait

One of the finest beers in the world full stop. The Boon Geuze Marriage Parfait is an unfiltered Lambic sour beer made in Belgium at the Boon Brewery. The beer itself is a 3-year-old Lambic, aged in large oak barrels known as Foeders. Boon uses Foeders built between 1883 and 1914 so the beer you’re drinking may have been ageing in wood over 100 years old. The unique addition to the beer that gives it its sourness, character and complexity are the wild yeasts and bacteria from the brewery which descend on the beer during the wild fermentation. This includes microflora of previous generations of wild yeast remaining on the wood. This all results in a wine like beer. A beautiful gold colour with rich ginger, grapefruit and bergamot citrus aromas along with gentle vanilla, sweet cooking spices and oakiness reminding you of both light styles of Scotch whisky and buttery chardonnay. Enjoy chilled now and in decades to come as this beer can outage fine wine. Just have a look at the best before dates on the back label. It will only get better with time and ageing, preferably in a cool and dark place. Gives this a try with fish and chips. The acidity will cut through that batter leaving your palate ready and refreshed for the next bite. Serve in a wine glass or tulip shaped beer glass.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 8%
Find Here: UK £6.00

Boon Kriek Cherry Lambic

There are fruit beers and then there’s the Boon Kriek. It stands on its own, heads and shoulders above the rest. The beer is made using 250 grams of fresh cherries per litre fermented naturally with young lambic beer before being blended with older lambic beers for added complexity and left to mature in barrels. It is bottled unpasteurised for a fuller bodied mouthfeel and texture. This should definitely be on every beer or drink lover’s list of drinks to try. It has an aroma of wonderful, deep, marzipan like cherries, kirsch, vanilla oakiness and acidity that keeps your palate feeling fresh and vibrant. It’s perfect as an aperitivo but also works with dessert alongside a dark, rich chocolate mousse. The vintage date on the beer represents the year the cherries were picked. Serve in a wine glass or in a tulip shaped beer glass.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 4%
Find Here: UK £4.60

RUM 

Plantation 3 Stars White

The Plantation 3 Stars White is difficult to beat when it comes to value for money. This is a seriously good rum which is appreciated by both industry professionals as well as the home consumer. The rum is made using distillates of various ages from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad with distillation taking place in a mix of Column and Pot stills. After blending, the colour is then removed via filtration through carbon resulting in a slight yellow hue. A textbook white rum made for use in a daiquiri but try sipping it neat out of the freezer or give it a go in a mojito. The slightly fuller bodied nature of the rum will add to the weight and texture of the drink.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.2%
Find Here: UK £26.00

Equiano Light Rum

At Harvey Nichols, we declared the original Equiano release as “Probably the most important and critically acclaimed inaugural release from any rum company ever.” We still hold to that belief, and I feel the Light Rum is a perfect continuation of their journey. It is a blend of two distilleries. Firstly, it uses molasses based 3-year-old ex-Bourbon barrel matured distillates from the Legendary Foursquare Distillery which adds weight, power and robustness. Secondly, it uses unaged sugarcane juice-based distillates from the Gray’s Distillery in Mauritius which impart some grassy, vegetal, and citrus notes. Both distillates are blended at the Foursquare distillery by master blender Richard Seale and result in a beautiful, balanced, and delicious rum. The company is female led and has Global Rum Ambassador, Ian Burrell as a co-founder. The rum itself is named after Olaudah Equiano (Born c.1745, Died 1797), a Nigerian slave turned writer, public speaker, and anti-slavery activist. Donations from the rum go towards quality projects and ending modern day slavery around the world. All this said, the rum is beautiful to drink, elegant with a real mix of complex flavours that work perfectly sipped neat or in a Piña Colada using fresh pineapple.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: UK £44.00

Doorly’s XO

Have you ever tried a Daiquiri with dark, aged rum? If the answer is no, now is as good a time as ever. My first was at OXO Tower Bar in a cocktail named The Gayle Seale, a daiquiri recipe created by Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell in honour of Gayle Seale, the Foursquare Distillery Global Brand Ambassador and wife of Master Distiller/Blender Richard Seale. If you want the exact recipe, it is…

Ingredients
50ml Doorly’s XO
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
15ml Taylors Velvet Falernum
5ml Simple syrup
3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
Method
Shake over ice and pour into chilled glass.

Aged rum adds a complexity and flavour to a cocktail like the daiquiri that sends it in a different direction. It adds to its texture and gives it a certain morishness, especially the Doorly’s XO which sees maturation in Oloroso Sherry cask. Talking of the Doorly’s XO, I picked this rum as it’s a consistent, affordable, and outstanding rum made at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. It is bottled un-coloured and un-sweetened resulting in a rich, wonderful, moreish rum that sips beautifully neat or can be used in a Corn N’ Oil, Mai Tai or simply mixed with Ginger Beer for those days when you want a break from a Daiquiri.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: UK £43.50

OWN-LABEL WINES

Harvey Nichols Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Imagine finding a fully blown, full bodied, powerful Napa Cab made by a producer like Joseph Phelps that doesn’t cost the world? Well, here it is! A wine we are very proud of and one I always like to show off. The wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Some of the grapes used in the blend are de-classified from Insignia, Joseph Phelps flagship, 3 figure iconic wine. It sees 14 months of maturation in a mix of used American and French oak. Open and decant for a few hours to reveal a polished, decadent Cab Sav with wood polish, cedar wood, crème de cassis, graphite, and sweet cooking spices. Perfect alongside a fillet of beef, roasted lamb or with robust, earthy vegetable dishes. It comes with some bottle age on it but will age for another 10 years+ so a perfect wine to buy and put away.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find Here: UK £35.00

Harvey Nichols Aconcagua Chardonnay 2019

Probably my favourite of the Own Label white wines. This particular Chardonnay is produced by the excellent Chilean winery, Errazuriz Estate from vineyards in the cool climate Aconcagua region, roughly 100km north of Chile’s capital Santiago. Errazuriz makes South America’s best examples of Chardonnay, some of which could easily compete and beat the Burgundians best, but at much lower price points. This Chardonnay is made from hand picked grapes and matured for 10 months on its lees in French oak barrels. 20% of those barrels are brand new. The result is an elegant, creamy, citrus, and tropical fruit lead white with perfectly balanced, vibrant acidity and a whisper of smoke from the barrel. Big complexity levels but not so much that you can’t just simply enjoy a glass in front of the TV or outside in the sun. Perfect with grilled fish, white meats, steak tartare or on its own, chilled in a big round wine glass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find Here: UK £15.95

HN Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV

My personal favourite style of wine is Champagne, so I feel it is appropriate to add the Harvey Nichols NV Brut Champagne to the list. I absolutely love this wine. It shows the essences of what a good, solid non-vintage champagne should be like year after year. Consistency is key with own label products, and this is the perfect example of that. Made from a blend consisting mainly of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir from Premier Cru sites by Champagne Lombard & Medot who are based in Epernay. Made in the traditional style, this is a vegan friendly, comforting Brut style champagne that drinks perfectly on its own or will match any starter and light bite. It can also be used in a variety of cocktails such as the Classic Champagne cocktail. Imagine lightly toasted brioche, macadamia, yellow and stone fruits with refreshing acidity. Perfect!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find Here: UK £32.50

ESSENTIALS

Angostura Orange Bitters

Bitters can help to elevate a cocktail and add complexity to it. Most people will recognise the standard Angostura Bitters with its yellow cap and oversized label usually used in an Old Fashioned. I always tend to recommend the orange variant of this brand as it’s slightly softer, lower in ABV and has a pronounced bitter orange and sweet spice woody aroma. I use it in just about everything from Daiquiris to Gimlets, G&T’s and even Martinis. You can also use it in food too. Just a few drops can make a big difference!

Size: 100ml
ABV: 28%
Find Here: UK £10.00

John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

Falernum is tropical based syrup usually containing a mix of lime, ginger, almond and can also include clove, nutmeg, and other sweet spices. You can find it in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. The John D. Taylors Falernum is an 11% abv Falernum made in Barbados. The alcohol helps to preserve the syrup making it last longer while adding to the flavour and texture of the liquid. I enjoy using this as an alternative to sugar syrup as it can add interesting notes to a sweetened cocktail. Next time you try a Gimlet, try the Falernum instead of simple sugar syrup for a tropical take on the classic cocktail. I recommend keeping this in the fridge.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 11%
Find Here: UK £18.00

Riedel Nick & Nora Glasses

The right glass can heighten the experience of the drink you are enjoying. Brands such as Riedel make glassware specific to the grape, spirit and even cocktail being consumed. With varying price points, there is an option for everybody and every pocket. The Nick & Nora glass was made famous by the 1934 movie “The Thin Man”. The design is a curved lip on a small bowl. It directs the alcohol to the mid-palate, allowing the aromas to travel directly to the retronasal olfaction, (the back part of your nose that allows you to “taste” flavour). Short and elegant, these will fit nicely in a freezer ready for a Martini, Daiquiri, Gimlet, Manhattan, or any shaken or stirred cocktail.

Size: Set of 2 Glasses
Find Here: £29.00

Riedel Overture Beer Glasses

As I mentioned a few beers earlier on, I thought I would add a beer glass recommendation that works with any beer type including the Lambic beers. I love these tulip shaped glasses. When full of delicious, crisp lager or hoppy IPA, deep, dark Stout or Sour Geuze, there’s something immediately pleasurable from holding these up, taking a sip and enjoying that perfect beer. The shape helps to maintain aroma, temperature as well as the head of the beer.

Size: Set of 2 Glasses
Find Here: £28.00

Riedel Performance Tasting Set Wine Glasses

The Riedel Performance glass is a very attractive, elegant glass that I personally use daily. The glass has an optical effect on the inside of the lip which increases the inner surface allowing the wine to open even more. It also adds to its attractive appearance. This set comes with (from Left to Right), 1x Sauvignon Blanc Glass, 1x Chardonnay Glass, 1x Pinot Noir Glass, 1x Cabernet Sauvignon Glass. Each glass can be used for different styles making this set very versatile and keeping in mind the three Harvey Nichols Own Label Wines recommended earlier, this set goes perfectly with them. The Sauvignon Blanc glass can be used for sparkling wine and champagne. The Chardonnay glass could be used for oaked-Sauvignon Blanc or even Junmai Sake. I use this for Blanc de Blancs Champagne too. The Pinot Noir glass can be used for Nebbiolo, Gamay or softer and lighter red styles, I also use it for Blanc de Noirs Champagne. The Cabernet Sauvignon glass can be used for Merlots, Malbecs, Cab Francs or any big, hefty red wines. With a set like this, you are pretty much covered!

Size: Set of 4 Glasses
Find Here: UK 110.00

If you’d like to hear more from Bryan, make sure to listen to Episode 83 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast!

Great Wine and Spirits to Gift this Father's Day

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many choices of premium sparkling wine and Champagne on the market, I wanted to highlight two I’ve had recently. One traditional, and one non-alcoholic and from England. Both excellent. I have also found some amazing rum, cocktail pouches, a big, luscious, marvellous Malbec, and a couple of gins, one with sweet pineapple and ginger because dads like sweet things too!

Roger Daltray

I first tasted this on release before the pandemic. It was released for The Who on their 50th anniversary and having tasted it again a few days ago, I am pleased I thought so much of it in 2019, because I am still hugely impressed. Sometimes when a celebrity has a bottle made for them, it can go horribly wrong, and the juice in the bottle isn’t that good, but in this instance it is excellent. The design is also excellent giving the impression of a premium product yet not being overly showy. The design holds onto the brand identity of The Who well. The Champagne itself made by Charles Orban, has finesse and intensity. Made with 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, there is good complexity with lots of citrus notes and hints of vanilla and brioche. A percentage of the price of each bottle goes to Teen Cancer America too so should you find yourself with your hands on a bottle, you can sip knowing you are doing good.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £95

Wild Idol

A little while ago I tried and very much liked the Wild Idol Rosé, and the white takes off where that left off. There is the same elegance of fruit and balanced acidity giving a satisfying drink, not too acidic like a lot of sparkling wine and not too sweet. Lots of floral aromas and delicate fruit give elegance. This is the second time I’ve tried a non-alcoholic sparkling and thought it benefited from not having any alcohol and the first time was its pink sibling. Bravo Wild Idol!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0.0%
Find here: £35

 

Santiago de Cuba 11 Years Old Extra Añejo

11 years old is old for a tropically aged rum. So when one comes along from one of the best Cuban brands one expects it to be very good, and this is certainly that. It’s rich with lots of fruity esters and brown sugar flavours which perfectly balance each other, there is huge complexity with pineapple, and spices including cinnamon and cumin. A little banana and caramel and a touch of black cracked pepper on the finish. A decadent rum perfect for decadent dads.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.83

Luigi Bosca | Malbec Selección de Vistalba 2020

This is a stonking wine for the price. Wines from Argentina are always good value as they are subsidised for the UK market but this wine punches way above its price mark. It’s a big rich wine with lots of red fruit and floral aromas and dark fruit flavours. There is some spice and liquorice too. It is drinking now but will certainly age for at least 5 years and is a perfect wine to serve up with a big steak or a hearty bean casserole. You might want to pick up two bottles though because once dad gets a taste we’re not sure he’ll want to share!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £16.99

MYXD Dad Box

A box full of cocktails! What’s not to like? Well, not a lot really. Finally, cocktail pouches are delivering very good cocktails akin to one you would receive from a good bartender, and in a lot of cases even better. I’ve been served some pretty dodgy cocktails in my time, and with these pouches not only do you get a good cocktail, but you also get them consistently. Super for sharing and easy to put together. Literally, chill add soda to some and pour. What could be easier?!

In the box:

Long Island Iced Tea where they have combined Flor de Caña 4 year old white rum with vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, sugar syrup, organic citric acid, lemon bitters and cola reduction.

Smoked Banana Colada combining coconut rum, single cream, banana syrup, coconut syrup and smoky Scotch whisky.

Pinapple & Jalapeno Mai Tai where Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva Rum is the star of the show, accompanied by triple sec, jalapeno syrup, orgeat, organic citric acid and pineapple juice.

Popcorn Old Fashioned mixing Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, popcorn syrup and fragrant Angostura bitters.

Penicillin combining Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon with Smokehead peated single malt whisky, ginger and honey syrups, organic citric acid and lemon bitters.

If you wanted to you could add garnishes like orange for the Old Fashioned or Pineapple leaves for the Colada, they make them look pretty, but if you can’t be bothered, they are still going to taste great.

Size: 100ml - 150ml
ABV: 13.7% - 26.5%
Find here: £28.95

 

Bullards Pineapple, Ginger and Lime Gin

Pineapple is a flavour I would normally associate with rum rather than gin, but in this case, it works beautifully giving tropical sweetness to balance the lime and the ginger that comes through to give a little heat and spice. The gin is very smooth and makes a very good G&T, but where it shines for me is with ginger ale. Again, something I’d normally mix with rum or whisky, but with this gin, it makes a great spicy long drink and remains fresh which is perfect for this time of year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40

Lind and Lime Gin

A gin with a very nautical feel. This is the first spirit to come from the Port of Leith distillery in Edinburgh and is inspired by Dr James Lind who came from Edinburgh. He noticed that patients who had scurvy and were eating citrus fruits were showing good signs, which explains the lime in the gin, and how we know how to cure scurvy today. Not that I think there is enough lime in the gin to cure scurvy! But it certainly tastes good. The cap label says there are flavours of lime, pink peppercorn and juniper, and that’s the perfect tasting note for this gin. It literally “does what it says on the tin”, and with 44% abv, those flavours are delivered effortlessly. My gin of the moment, and a perfect dad day present for a gin loving dad.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £34.95

If you still don’t feel like you’ve found the perfect present, have a browse through our wine and spirits pages as they’re packed full of delicious drinks to try!

4 Simple and Delicious Bourbon Cocktails

Words by Aidy Smith

We love bourbon on its own, but this American spirit can also be a really interesting base spirit for a ton of exciting cocktails! The notes of vanilla and oak are great to mess around with and see what works with what. You can go sour, sweet, bitter - whatever takes your fancy!

If a bourbon cocktail sounds tasty but you’re not quite sure where to start, how about starting with one of our four favourites below!

Classic Old Fashioned

This list would not be complete without including the Old Fashioned, and for that reason we’ve put it slap bang at the top! We’re not sure if it’s magic or just good mixology, but there’s something about the simple mix of bourbon, sugar and Angostura bitters that gets our taste buds raring to go! Make one today with this simple recipe!

Ingredients

50ml bourbon
pinch of brown sugar
splash of water
2 drops of Angostura bitters
twist of orange to garnish

Method
Place the sugar, orange peel, water and bitters in a tumbler and muddle (crush gently with the back of a spoon). Fill the glass with ice and add a little whiskey bit by bit while stirring. Garnish with a twist of orange. 

Boulevardier

Do you like Negronis? We certainly do! If you are a Negroni fan, why not mix it up for a change and make a Boulevardier! It’s essentially a Negroni with the gin swapped out for bourbon so it’s super simple and still boasts that tasty, boozy bitterness...

Psst, if you really want to up your Negroni game - check out our article on the best Negroni recipes!

Ingredients

45ml of bourbon
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml of Campari
twist of orange to garnish 

Method
Chill a cocktail glass by placing it in the freezer. Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and fill two thirds of the way with ice. Stir for around 30 seconds to chill and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

Manhattan

For the majority of us, living in Manhattan (or at least the glamorous part of Manhattan) isn’t very realistic. New York City actually has the highest living cost of any city in the United States! However, what we can do is mix up a Manhattan - wherever we are in the world…

The Manhattan is normally made with rye whiskey, so try to find a bourbon with a high rye count in it to truly get an authentic Manhattan. Here’s our favourite recipe:

Ingredients

50ml bourbon
25ml sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash oranges bitters
brandied cherry for garnish 

Method
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a brandied cherry. 

Bourbon Sidecar

The Sidecar is a cocktail that often hides away on cocktail menus, sometimes not even being featured at all, the poor thing! We shan’t pity it too much however, as the Sidecar still packs quite a bit of a punch… It’s citrusy and boozy with a nice bit of sweetness coming from the sugared rim. Though normally made with cognac, today we’re swapping the cognac out for bourbon. The bourbon gives a really interesting vanilla element to this cocktail that deepens it delightfully!

Ingredients

50ml bourbon
25ml Cointreau
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
1tsp simple syrup
caster sugar
orange twist for garnish 

Method
Using a small amount of lemon juice and caster sugar, sugar the rim of the glass. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until ice cold. Strain into a glass and garnish with the orange twist - delicious!

Looking for more great cocktail ideas? How about checking out these great Old Fashioned Variations? Or, if a Martini is more up your street then we’ve got some great recipes to check out here too!