During the first lockdown, many of us turned to ‘drink o’clock’ slightly earlier that normal and sometimes the odd drink or two more than normal. Now the second lock-down wave has hit and we find the pubs and restaurants closed again and online drink manufacturers are busy delivering to thirsty households. With less than a month to go before Christmas, here is a round up of the best drinks to get delivered online.
Binary Botanical by Good Living Brew is a trendy beer company offering zero, low, and moderate alcohol options. Some low alcohol beers taste somewhat manufactured or missing that certain something, however, Binary Botanical drinks are refreshingly different. Slightly fizzy time is taken to infuse their beer with organic hop leaves during the fermentation process to a sophisticated, tangy beverage reminiscent of prosecco. It’s known as a ‘beer to be drunk in a wine-like fashion.’
It’s best served in a wine glass or as a simple spritz with a slice of orange and fresh mint. For an added Christmas touch, a cinnamon stick. Binary Botanical also has a range of cocktail recipes, just perfect for the celebration season.
12 pack of 0.5% abv is £20.00.
As well as launching in Sainsbury’s stores throughout the UK from November, Binary Botanical is also available to buy online here: www.binarybotanical.com.
For the perfect lock down ‘outside’ drink try Garden Spritz Cocktail.
250ml Binary Botanical
5ml Sugar Syrup (optional)
Muddled Rosemary
Slice of Cucumber
Ice Cubes
Garnish with a sprig of rosemary
Method
Put the ice, cucumber and rosemary into a stemmed glass
Add the Binary Botanical 4% or 0.5% and stir
Tip: For added taste, infuse the sprig of rosemary in your bottle of Binary Botanical
Cranes Liqueur is handcrafted by twin brothers Ben and Dan Ritsema who have created a smooth cranberry and blood orange liqueur. What could be better for a Christmas tipple?
The cranberries come from Wisconsin, USA, which are combined with blood orange juice and orange rind made in Cambridgeshire.
At 17% and perfectly balanced, Cranes Liqueur is the ideal spirit for creating innovative cocktails. Perfect for pimping a glass of Prosecco, the Cranbellini, and creating tantalisingly refreshing cocktails such as the fun Cosmopolitan.
For a smooth and sophisticated Christmas drink try the Cranbellini Cocktail.
Method
1 part Cranes Liqueur
4 parts prosecco
Cranes Liqueur 20 cl £9.99 and 50 cl £19.99.
Visit www.drinkcranes.co.uk for their range of ciders, gin and the Cranes Liqueur.
Growing in popularity is a naturally fizzy alternative. It’s Agua de Madre Water Kefir, a low alcohol, 1.2% abv, fermented drink made from the tibicos mother culture discovered 2000 years ago on the pads of the Mexican opuntia cactus.
Agua de Madre is the company at the forefront of producing this natural bottled drink having fed the culture, making it a refreshing probiotic drink. The statistics are startling – 100ml delivers 250 billion live cultures and only 26 calories! It’s been described as ‘champagne for the gut’ so drinking this over Christmas will not only add a sparkle but will aid a healthy gut and pain free hangover! Flavours available include Pomegranate and Hibiscus, Elderflower and Apple, Passionfruit and Raspberry and Agua de Madre original.
Tip: Try the Remedio Naturale, the fermented Ginger and Lemon mixture. Add to hot water, porridge of granola for an added zing and boost for your immune system.
Take advantage of Agua de Madre lockdown offer. Buy 8 mixed 33cl (two of each flavour) and receive a free Remedio Naturale for £31.60.
Visit www.aguademadre.co.uk/shop
For a thoughtful gin lovers’ gift or a fun festive drink try the Snow Globe Gin by Gravity Drinks. The stunning full-sized spherical bottle was custom made in Italy and features a winter wonderland scene framed by snow-covered trees. It has been filled with the most exquisite gin liqueur – made with Seville oranges, cinnamon, cloves and warming gingerbread spices – and also a sprinkle of 23 carat edible gold leaf, which creates a shimmering snowfall when gently shaken.
And to really make those golden snowflakes shine, there’s a lamp at the base that will illuminate the bottle for around ten hours. Sip Snow Globe Gin neat with a mince pie or mix it into a Christmas cocktail, then invert the bottle and let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…
Christmas Mule Cocktail
50ml Snow Globe Gin
150ml Ginger Beer
Orange Garnish
Mint
Method
Fill a copper mug with ice.
Pour in the Snow Globe Gin and add a squeeze of orange.
Fill the mug with ginger beer and garnish with orange & mint.
Available to buy online from Harvey Nichols for £29.00.
Blackwell Rum has soul. Master blender Joy Spence has created a quality smooth superior ‘black gold’ rum. Taste the vanilla & caramel flavors, followed by toasted marshmallow and a natural spice finish neat or warm or in your favourite cocktail.
Get the party started with a Painkiller Cocktail.
Ingredients
2 Parts Blackwell Rum
4 Parts Pineapple Juice
1 Part Cream of Coconut
1 Part Orange Juice
Method
Shake all ingredients together with ice.
Strain over an ice-filled glass.
Add a pinch of nutmeg and a pineapple wedge.
Chris Blackwell – the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and owner of Ian Fleming’s former residence, GoldenEye – is launching a special 007 Limited Edition release of his Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum. The Fine Jamaican Rum is inspired by his family’s time-honored recipe. This aged, rich and fragrant dark gold rum is filled with the warmth and sensuality of Jamaica.
The Blackwell Rum limited edition 007, 7cl 40% abv will retail in supermarkets or online from November 2020 at £35.00.
Visit www.blackwellrum.co.uk
At 60 percent proof, 24 Carat Gin is not for the faint-hearted and that’s not just the strength of it, moreover the price tag of £1200. This luxury gin is distilled in a secret location within the UK and it takes more than 120 hours of work to refine this extraordinary tipple.
Skilfully handcrafted and suspended in a pure, neutral grain spirit for 18 hours, it is made with rich botanicals and blended with real 24 carat gold liquid gold. French lavender adds to the sweetness and compliments the type of honey used. The good news is, if you buy a new Rolls Royce Ghost, you get a free bottle thrown into the deal, making this drink seemingly, the Rolls Royce of gins.
Visit www.24caratgin.com.
