![]() Read on if you want to spice up your spooky season ... Halloween parties are back this year! To get you in the ‘spirit’, why not try the Aloha Vampire cocktail which is super simple ... . All you have to do:
Hang on a minute though, what exactly is Aloha 65? Well, it's not rum and it's not gin, it is a spirit though, versatile too, made with 100% natural ingredients and better still it's vegan friendly and gluten free. So what's in it then? Ah, well there's pineapple, lemon, ginger and ssssh! a load of secret herbs plus fiery scotch bonnet chillies. Good, huh? Back to the Vampire Cocktail recipe. Maybe you're determined to turn up the party vibes a bit more? Easy! Just swap the soda water with bubbly and rim the glass with red sugar. Then how about finishing off your creation with raspberry or pomegranate seeds or drop in some vampire teeth for a real surprise..... For a party with a punch try this : Autumn Punch Ingredients (Serves 10) 500ml Aloha 65, 500ml brandy, 1.5L apple juice, 100ml orange juice, two or three cinnamon sticks, an apple, sliced orange Combine the Aloha and brandy with the apple juice in a jug filled with ice, cinnamon sticks and a sliced apple and orange. About Spirit of Aloha 65
Conceived and created by a British barman at his beach bar in Florida, the Spirit of Aloha was designed as a versatile, refreshing and reviving tipple to lure in surfers looking to wind down after the waves. The once homemade gift to the après-sea crowd became a ritual; a unique sundowner that put a smile on everyone’s face. Aloha 65’s Sun on a Beach hot sauce is made from the same ingredients minus the alcohol, of course and their spicy pineapple ‘detonators’ use just two of Spirit of Aloha 65’s main ingredients, pineapple and chilli, and well… boom! The brand Spirit of Aloha 65 offers the consumer something different to look at and taste. With its coastal roots, Spirit of Aloha 65 is a relaxed sundowner for those who live life to the full. The ski winter bottles are a must for an après ski session or winter drinks gathering, virtual or otherwise. Aloha 65 has also created a sweet, tangy hot sauce and a spicy pineapple ‘detonator’ snack. disclaimer: I received two mini 50ml bottles of Aloha 65 for review purposes Aloha 65 - 70cl RRP: £22.50 Aloha 65 - 50ml 12 pack RRP £36 Hot Sauce RRP £3.99 Detonators RRP: £4.50 Available to buy at aloha65.com and Amazon images (c) Aloha65.com No doubt you've heard of Belvoir, the British family drinks company, but maybe you don't know that they organise a lovely event every year called the Elderflower Harvest. Around the end of May, they ask people from their local community and three bordering counties to pick flowers for the following year’s Elderflower Cordial production. And YES! pickers get paid for their efforts. This year the harvest is getting a helping hand from BBC presenter Gemma Hunt, who is raising awareness of the event by going behind the scenes at Belvoir Farm. ![]() Picking takes place at Belvoir’s 60 acres of organic plantations and surrounding hedgerows. Within 24 hours of harvesting the flower heads, they are poured into vats and stirred by hand so continuing the 40 year-old tradition of producing Elderflower Cordial. It's still made to the same family recipe. Belvoir Farm was the first company to produce elderflower cordial commercially, a business started by John Manners and his wife Mary, who created the original recipe. The farm was established in 1981 initially to grow ‘pick your own’ fruit because the Manners didn't like to see anything go to waste. It was when they were looking for a way to use unpicked and over-ripe fruit that the idea came to make pure fruit cordials. Great idea! The cordial has to be diluted so one bottle makes up to ten pints which I think is fabulous value. I love Elderflower Cordial's refreshing taste, it's lovely to drink on its own, or - and you can add it to recipes for cakes or desserts and - this is one I also like lots, you can add a splash to your white wine or cocktails! All Belvoir drinks are made from local spring water and natural ingredients. Belvoir kindly sent me a couple of bottles of Elderflower Cordial to see what I thought. ![]() And here are three things you might not know about elderflowers
More about the Belvoir 2021 Elderflower Harvest, how paid to pick works and how to get involved at www.belvoirfarm.co.uk. For more on Gemma Hunt and her work with Belvoir, see www.theoutdoorguide.co.uk. Images (c) Belvoir Inspired by G&T but without the alcohol, Sea Arch Drinks produce delicious ready to drink cocktails in cans. Crisp and oh-so refreshing, they are a sensible alternative for times when people want, or need, to be alcohol free. There are two flavours to choose from. One is Sea & T the other Rose Sea & T and both contain a double measure of Coastal Juniper spirit. Sea & T is topped up with lightly sparkling Indian tonic, while Rose Sea & T is topped up with a delicate rose and raspberry infused tonic. They are designed to be served chilled in a tall glass over ice, garnished with a slice of citrus or fresh raspberry. I tried them both and can say that they are indeed very tasty! ![]() Inspired by the sights and sounds of the glorious Devon coastline, home to founders Sarah and Geoff Yates, Sea Arch Coastal Juniper blend is a healthy, alcohol-free drink that doesn’t compromise on taste. Made from 11 different botanicals the resulting distilled spirit is clean, refreshing, crisp, dry and complex, providing a non-alcoholic alternative for gin lovers.
Case size for trade purchases is 12 cans per case Stockists include Ocado; Amazon; The Wise Bartender; Sea Arch online shop Sea Arch Drinks co-founder Sarah Yates says, “Bursting with seaside botanicals, our Sea & T has all the deliciousness of G&T with none of the alcohol. It’s a great addition to the Sea Arch range as the convenient format of a ‘ready to drink’ can means people can simply snap it open and serve, ideally over ice and a slice. This makes the Sea & T an easy and delicious option for occasions when you might be driving or working, or you simply don’t want to drink alcohol. As we like to say, it really is more beautiful without!” Sea Arch non-alcoholic distilled spirit is crafted using traditional distillation techniques and created with complex, natural botanicals including sea kelp, samphire, cardamom and blood orange with the alcohol gently removed. Sugar free Sea Arch can be enjoyed with a clear head, a clean conscience and – always – plenty of ice. It’s as uplifting as a walk on the beach… and just as good for you. ![]() Pataka Ginger Liqueur, produced using Fairtrade root ginger and 100% Fairtrade sugar, adds an exotic, fiery, spicy touch to a cocktail. It's a perfect warmer for these chilly winter evenings, but that's not really surprising, after all, Pataka means 'firecracker' in Punjabi. I received a bottle of the golden liqueur from the nice people at Mangrove UK to see what I thought. So, what's my verdict? It has a cockle- warming flavour which reminded me of old fashioned ginger sweets. It is fresh, fragrant, appealingly fiery and pleasantly smooth. Since it contains no extra flavouring or spices, there is no chemical aftertaste at all. Definitely a great addition to any drinks cabinet. And here are some recipes from Mangrove UK that you can try Mulled Ginger: for when mulled wine needs an extra kick Warm a glass of red wine in a pan, add 30ml Pataka, a slice of orange and a cinammon stick. Good to go! East Side: a short shaken glass of fiery goodness Add ice to a shaker with 40ml Pataka Ginger Liqueur, 10ml navy strength gin, 25ml fresh lime juice, 8 mint leaves and 10ml sugar syrup. Shake and strain into a glass. Fire Cracker : simple but full of flavour Pour 50ml Pataka over a tall glass filled with ice and top with ginger ale. Pataka ginger liqueur can be used in lots of cocktail recipes, so if you have any brilliant ideas that you'd like me to share, do let me know and I can add them here. ![]() Stockists: Master of Malt Whiskey Exchange The Drink Supermarket RRP £24 The brand is owned by French company Ethical Wine & Spirits and developed jointly with MANGROVE in the UK. EWS is dedicated to producing high-quality spirits sourced ethically and sustainably. Show Me The Honey is the brew inspired by Chicago Town’s new Sweet Honey BBQ Salami Takeaway pizza. To help create this pizza partner, Chicago Town teamed up with acclaimed craft brewery SEVEN BRO7HERS. The beer, appropriately called Show Me The Honey, was developed by the SEVEN BRO7HERS brewing team to replicate the new pizza flavours. A tomato sauce filled crust is topped with sweet honey BBQ sauce, a blend of mozzarella and red cheddar, salami and red onions. These sweet and savoury flavours have been matched by beer gurus in the Show Me The Honey ale, with the honey flavour coming through to champion the honey BBQ sauce in the pizza.
This is welcome news for pizza fans nationwide after a poll conducted by Chicago Town revealed that 75.5% of people who enjoy alcohol with their pizza choose beer as the perfect accompaniment. What then could be better than a beer inspired by the pizza you’re eating? SEVEN BRO7HERS Brewer Jack Dixon said: “Chicago Town’s new pizza is bursting with bold flavours, from its tomato stuffed crust to sweet honey BBQ sauce. We were keen to replicate the pizza’s aroma and taste in the flavour profile of Show Me The Honey. To capture the perfect pairing, the team sampled each of the toppings here in the brewery and mapped out the brew based on the flavour notes we needed to hit". “Chicago Town pizza dough is made fresh every day in its bakery so was easy to replicate with yeast, the base for any beer. Hops were added to give it a smoky salami bitterness, but not too late in the boil as we didn’t want it to overpower the honeycomb malt syrups. These syrups are added to replicate the sweet, yet tangy, honey BBQ sauce found on the pizza.” Customers can enjoy the harmonious flavours of the two products together as Chicago Town is offering the first 100 customers who buy the new Show Me The Honey beer a voucher to pick up a free Chicago Town Sweet Honey BBQ Salami pizza. Chicago Town spokesperson Rachel Bradshaw, said; “Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink to accompany a slice of pizza. So, how better to celebrate International Beer & Pizza Day than create a beer inspired by the flavours of our new Stuffed Crust Takeaway Sweet Honey BBQ Salami. Show Me The Honey beer is only around for a limited time, so pizza fans need to act fast to try this sweet combination together!” Stuffed Cust Takeaway Sweet Honey BBQ Salami pizza can be purchased in most major supermarkets including ASDA, Farmfoods, Iceland, Ocado, Tesco and Morrisons at the MRRP of £4.49. Fancy a slice of the action? See www.facebook.com/ChicagoTown or www.chicagotown.com for the latest news, promotions and giveaways. image was sent to me from Chicago Town PR (Promoted Post) SMASHED is the only British alcohol-free drinks brand which produces 0% beer, lager, ale and ciders DRYNKS, the British alcohol-free craft brewer which focuses 100% on producing the best 0% drinks, has launched the UK’s first full range of alcohol-free (0%) beers and ciders. The SMASHED brand of premium craft drinks is now five strong as it launches two delicious new drinks - SMASHED Pale ale and SMASHED Berry cider. The range has everything you need for a fun night out or in, with drinks to suit everyone. The Manchester-based business secured one of Dragons’ Den’s best ever deals in March 2020 with Peter Jones amazed at how close to an alcoholic drink the SMASHED beers and cider tasted. Richard Clark, founder of Drynks Unlimited said: “Our SMASHED range of 0% beers and ciders have to be tasted to be believed. They taste so good you wouldn’t even realise they don’t have any booze in them. Our drinks geniuses have carefully crafted the SMASHED range to allow people to have a great night. Whether you’re looking to reduce your alcohol intake as part of a healthier lifestyle or if you just want a great tasting alcohol-free drink you can ‘swap in’ we’ve got you covered.” DRYNKS is the only UK drinks brand who can produce the full remit of craft beers and cider because it owns the first and only state-of-the-art alcohol-free brewery which gently removes alcohol from premium craft beer and cider. This use of contemporary craftmanship creates a 0% drink that is truly sessionable.
All SMASHED drinks are vegan, gluten free (where possible), low in sugar and contain less than 100 calories per bottle/can. These two new drinks complement its recently launched Smashed Lager, Smashed Citrus beer and Smashed Cider that all taste just as good as their alcoholic equivalent. The SMASHED range uses fine British ingredients to create authentic tasting craft beers and ciders and then the alcohol is gently swept away in a low impact cool vacuumed environment. This clever process maintains the same bubbly, personality, character and flavour of the full alcohol version. DRYNKS recently had a successful appearance on Dragons’ Den where they blew away the dragons with the quality and taste of the SMASHED range. The business received an offer from Sara Davies. Peter Jones stated; “I was quite surprised because I didn’t think it’d taste even close (to an alcoholic drink) but I’m quite surprised how close that is.” Deborah Meaden said: “That tastes…really good!” Smashed drinks don’t compromise on ingredients, process or equipment to create vegan-friendly, gluten-free (where possible) drinks. All Smashed drinks are available in both 330ml bottles and 300ml cans, with a NEW 660ml Smashed Lager bottle which is great for sharing with friends. The 330ml Smashed bottles and cans have a RRP of £1.99 and are available in Booths supermarket as well as online at www.drynks.co.uk, Zeroholic.co.uk, Drydrinker.com (exclusive Smashed Lager 660ml) and a range of local independent retailers across the UK. Smashed Pale Ale NEW Smashed Pale Ale is light and refreshing, a fusion of the traditional and modern. Caramel and hints of toffee, finished with a modern American hop providing tropical and passionfruit notes. Smashed Berry Launching NEW A purple berry coloured sparkling fruit cider with a fruity, fresh, clean nose with hints of English cider. The taste is sharp and refreshing with a perfect balance of sweetness backed up with strong summer berry flavours followed by hints of English cider and a firm cider astringency to finish. Smashed Lager Smashed Lager is a refreshing pale gold lager beer with a clean taste which perfectly balances with hint of barley malt, complex aromatic floral notes and a mild hoppy bitterness. Available in 330ml can and bottle as well as a 660ml sharing bottle. Smashed Cider Golden, slightly opaque sparkling liquid with a fresh inviting aroma of English apples. The taste delivers pure refreshment with a perfect balance of sharpness, sweetness and bite. The initial refreshing upfront green apple taste is perfectly complimented with a great mouthfeel and a satisfying astringent mature English cider finish. Smashed Citrus A pale gold sparkling liquid with fresh, clean aroma expressing English malt, hints of hop and touch of citrus. The taste has been crafted for pure refreshment with pleasant malty base which has a perfect balance and sessionability. The product has great mouthfeel and a hint of sweetness pairs perfectly with the slightly sharp citrus notes in the aftertaste. Drynks kindly sent me samples of their SMASHED product to get my take on them. They get a thumbs up from me! Excellent! images (c) Drynks Luscombe Drinks launch new online shop Whether it's a picnic by the river, barbeque in the garden or a sunset supper on the beach, Luscombe’s award-winning innovative range of soft drinks and mixers are the perfect accompaniment, not only during the summer months but 365 days of the year. With the new online shop, Luscombe lovers can enjoy a little taste of Devon all year round. For a quintessential summer drink choose Luscombe Wild Elderflower Bubbly. It' s a versatile, typically English classic which accompanies dishes both sweet or savoury, especially party nibbles. Enjoy over ice or lavish with frozen berries and a twist of lemon for a refreshing summer punch. (box of 12 x 270ml bottles £20.28). If you have something to celebrate why not try Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly? This is an elegant, delicate drink with the heady aroma of Damascene rose petals, married with Muscat grapes and Sicilian lemon juice. Gently effervescent and fragranced, this bubbly is wonderful served on its own or you can pair it with canapes or seafood dishes such as scallops. (box of 12 x 270ml bottles £20.28). Bursting with sweet and succulent raspberries, Luscombe Raspberry Crush is the epitome of summer. Vibrant and fruity, this is the perfect substitute for rosé. Muddle with basil and plenty of crushed ice for a twist of fragrance. (box of 12 x 270ml bottles £20.28). For the ultimate beer alternative, choose Luscombe Hot Ginger Beer which is jam-packed with fresh ginger to provide a delectable spicy hit. It's glorious accompanied with a slice of lime and pairs well with barbecued chicken. (box of 12 x 270ml bottles £20.28). Intense and zesty Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade is flavoured with the finest Sicilian lemons rounded off with an indulgent splash of Madagascan vanilla. Best served alongside Mediterranean dishes such as pasta with roasted tomatoes and grilled garlic chicken. A sprig of an earthy herb will add the perfect savoury twist to this incredible still lemonade. (box of 12 x 270ml bottles £20.28). Crisp and refreshing Luscombe Devon Tonic Water is delicious served on its own over plenty of ice or as an accompaniment to your favourite craft gin. Rare Japanese yuzu pairs with pure Devon spring water and the distinctive taste of Indian quinine creates a truly delightful drinking experience. (box of 12 x 200ml bottles £14.28). All Images: Matt Austin
Click on Luscombe Drinks for more email [email protected] or call 01364 64 30 36. Follow Luscombe on Twitter: @luscombedrinks, Instagram: luscombedrinks or ‘Like’ on Facebook. Luscombe were kind enough to send me a sample box of their soft drinks and mixers .... they are so good, that I'll definitely be buying these from now on. ![]() After what feels like forever, most pubs have reopened and now that barbecues and picnics are in full flow, there's no better time for Salcombe Brewery to launch their vegan and gluten free pale ale, ‘Sun Drop’. Using a blend of American hops, ‘Sun Drop’ has a fruity, citrusy aroma of melon, orange and pink grapefruit, mmmm lovely! It's absolutely guaranteed to pack a punch and quench the thirst. Although proudly gluten free and vegan friendly, this dry-hopped ale is simply bursting with all the flavour you would expect from a regular ale. Of course it is tops when drunk on its own, but it is also delicious when served with food, including for example, a sweet potato curry or barbequed marinated vegetables. Ale lovers, you will be delighted, I promise. "BEER IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS US TO BE HAPPY" - Benjamin Franklin Owner of Salcombe Brewery, John Tiner says, “We’ve spent a considerable time creating the perfect gluten free and vegan friendly beer using the finest ingredients. We want as many people as possible to enjoy our beer and ‘Sun Drop’ has made this possible. It’s been a difficult few months for the brewery industry and its trade customers; we’re delighted that pubs and restaurants are getting back to normal. We are very grateful to our household customers who have been extremely supportive by purchasing our beer and Ocean Cider from our online shop for nationwide delivery or making use of our free local delivery.” Keep reading for more info on other delights available from Salcombe Brewery - look below the images.... A FINE BEER MAY BE JUDGED WITH ONLY ONE SIP, BUT IT'S BETTER TO BE THOROUGHLY SURE - Czech Proverb
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AuthorI'm Gilly, award winning journalist /author of 13 books. Credits incl: Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, CNN, BBC mags, The Scotsman, Daily Express, Country & Town House, Metro, Countryfile, Tatler, trade & consumer cruise titles etc. Lifestyle Categories
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