As the weather gets warmer, Simon Wittenberg takes a look at some tasty tipples, all available from Master of Malt which should help to bring the vibe of the great outdoors indoors.
With the days getting longer, and the mercury gradually rising, there’s always the temptation to reach for something that can be enjoyed in moderation. I have therefore picked five bottles, all available from Master of Malt to lift your spirits in the comfort of your own home.
Bathtub Gin (£31 per bottle / 43.3%)
The first tipple that I tried from Master of Malt was Bathtub Gin. It may have a strange-sounding name, but this should not put you off. Wrapped in brown paper, bound with thick string and wax sealed (which means it’s not that easy to open), this award-winning gin from Ableforth’s is juniper-rich, and the earthier botanicals certainly make themselves known on the palate.
The juniper then subsides and gives way to cardamom and cinnamon, with a late resurgence from orange peel. Combined with tonic water and a couple of ice cubes, it is deliciously refreshing and flavoursome, and can also be mixed with some Elderflower Presse to create a Bathtub Spritz, or some syrup, lemonade and brewed and chilled strawberry raspberry tea to make a Pink Lemonade Punch.
Teeling Whiskey Small Batch (£34.95 per bottle / 46%)
The second beverage that I sampled was the Teeling Whiskey Small Batch. This Irish blended whiskey has a very high malt content, and is finished in rum casks. Being predominantly a fan of Speyside varieties, this was a new experience for me, and I must say that I quite enjoyed it thanks to its smooth flavour, the hints of vanilla, apple pie and blackberries, and its floral and herbal finish. With plenty of interesting characteristics and a relatively light hue, it was actually a nice dram to accompany virtual chats with friends on a Saturday night. Reasonably priced too.
Darkness 8 Year Old (£49.95 per bottle / 47.8%)
Darkness is a single malt Scotch whisky originally aged in bourbon casks and crafted with singular distillation processes. It has then been placed in specially coopered sherry casks, and left to draw in the unique expression of the sherry influence. On the palate, there’s Amaretti biscuits, raisins and prunes, whilst the finish is slightly oily with a hint of smoke. To make an Old Fashioned cocktail, the Darkness 8 Year Old simply needs to be combined with sugar syrup, angostura bitters and orange zest.
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old (£44.95 / 46%)
This is a peaty Islay single malt hailing from the Character of Islay Whisky Company. The liquid has been aged for 10 years in a mixture of bourbon barrels and Spanish oak sherry quarter casks. Also, just for a ‘fun fact’, Aerolite Lyndsay is in fact an anagram of the words ‘ten year old Islay’. Full marks for whoever come up with that one! An Aerolite Ardball can be made with the aforementioned whisky, soda water and a spot of orange peel garnish.
Rumbullion (£34.90 / 42.6%)
Last but not least, there’s also a Caribbean rum which is worth a go when in good company. This one goes by the name of ‘Rumbullion’, and it’s another one from Ableforth’s. This means that the design of the bottle is very similar to that of Bathtub Gin i.e. it is wrapped in brown paper and is also wax sealed. Thanks to its rich and decadent complex, it mixes perfectly with Coca-Cola.
How to purchase these tasty tipples
To order and have any of the bottles listed delivered to your door, please visit www.masterofmalt.com.
Master of Malt is putting £1 from every order placed via their website into a fund to help people in the hospitality industry left in dire financial need because of the impact of COVID-19. They have partnered with hospitalityaction.org.uk to administer the funds.
See a picture of the bottles sampled on the Luxurious Magazine Instagram page.
Credit: All photography featured has been provided by the individual brands highlighted in this article.
Disclaimer: Please drink responsibly and remember to follow the government’s guidelines to help stem the spread of the Coronavirus.
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