After a lot of stopping and starting it seems summer is finally in full swing. People are off on their summer hols (the ones that haven’t been cancelled at least), the smell of barbecues fills the air and with the long evenings most of us are keener than ever to indulge in a little adult beverage or two.
And to help you navigate the more packed than ever packed drinks market we’ve brought together a selection of some of the best summer booze going, so you can get your drink on in the finest possible style. We start with a double of top notch tequilas. Cheers everyone.
Mijenta Reposado Tequila | 70cl | 40% ABV | RRP £63.99
This tequila is marked as ‘super-premium’ for a reason. Carefully crafted in small batches, having been aged up to six months in a blend of oak and acacia casks, Mijenta is a bit special. In fact it’s one of the smoothest we’ve ever tried, and we’ve tried a lot! It’s named after the local communities that produce the spirit, Mijenta being inspired by the Spanish words ‘mi gente’, meaning ‘my people’. After trying this, they’re definitely our people.
The Lost Explorer Mezcal | 70cl |42% ABV| RRP Espadín, £62.50 Tobalá, £109.99 Salmiana, £140
Another high quality spirit here, this one being a handcrafted, sustainable artisanal mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico. Made from 100% agave, Lost Explorer Mezcal is sold in three unique expressions, Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana. Each has different qualities and indeed price tags, such as the 8-year aged Espadín which offers a distinct smokey finish. After sampling them all, we can assure you they’re all rather wonderful.
El Sueño Watermelon Liqueur | 70cl | 25% ABV | RRP £19
Continuing the tequila trend, this rather delightful little number is a naturally flavoured tequila liqueur that uses uses fresh watermelon and unrefined Mexican sugar to give it a delicate sweetness. El Sueño boasts a subtle balance of fruity and citrusy notes that complement the spirit’s agave flavour. For a refreshing hit of Watermelon Margarita you just need to add lime and Agave syrup.
Brockmans Gin 70cl | 40% ABV | £34
Another super-premium offering here in the shape of award-winning Brockmans gin. They’re a brand that likes to go against the grain by daring to blend traditional gin botanicals such as juniper berries from Tuscany with the non-traditional, like liquorice root, blueberries and blackberries. The result is a complex, yet delectably smooth gin that offers something deliciously different for your summer G+Ts.
CÎROC Summer Citrus Vodka | 70cl | 35% ABV | RRP £39.50
Having proven so popular, this once limited-edition flavour has now returned for good and we’re definitely not complaining. CÎROC Summer Citrus is here to make the sun shine a bit brighter and for the drinks to taste a lot better. It’s crafted with five times distilled vodka made from fine French grapes, and infused with natural flavours to create a zesty, tangy taste similar to a blood orange. And with its rather chic sunset-coloured bottle, you’ll make friends very quickly if you bring this to any summer soirée.
Suncamino Rum | 50cl | 40% ABV | RRP £28.95
The very definition of sunshine in a bottle. Suncamino is the world’s first floral rum, and is made to be that little bit extra special by being aged for up to 8 years in Barbados, and infused with Hibiscus, Honeybush and Orange Blossom. A delightful drop of summer booze from first to last.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman | 70cl | 45.4% ABV | RRP £60
We do love a good bourbon for sipping on a sun-tinged summer evening. And The Wiseman, this new expression from renowned bourbon whiskey maker Kentucky Owl is just that, in fact we’d go as far to say it’s great. This luxury, ultra-premium award-winning spirit is made by blending Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons, along with 5 ½-year and 8 ½-year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons. Like the staff here at The MALESTROM it’s smooth but complex and is undeniably a darn good drink.
Whiskey Me Subscription Box | RRP £47.70 (6 months)
If you’re a fan of a wee dram and like to sample whiskies from far and wide then this subscription service might be right up your rue. Whisky Me gift boxes come in 6 and 12 month subscriptions, with three different types to choose from. There’s ‘Traditional’ where they send you the best Scottish single malt whiskies in a durable pouch. ‘Discovery’ – which explores whiskies from around the world. Or ‘Adventure’, which is one of each. Each delivery comes with tasting notes, pairings and the chance to take part in live online tastings and they never send the same dram twice.
Beavertown Neck Oil Beer | 330ml | 4.3% ABV | RRP £2.15
If you’re looking for a great beer to accompany a tasty summer barbecue, you can’t go wrong with any ale from Beavertown’s exceptional core range. One of our absolute faves is their Neck Oil, an all too easy-drinking light beer with a deliciously crisp finish. These passionate producers continue to brew some of the finest session booze on the planet. And with iconic artwork on each can you might even be able to find your brewski when it goes dark.
Beer Bods Taster Pack | RRP £10
Another great subscription service here, this one for beer lovers. BeerBods is a brand that’s passionate about their ales and variety being the spice of life want to try as many different one as they can. The idea of their service is to taste one of the eight beers from the box per week over the course of two months. The story behind each separate beer is emailed over each week and every Thursday a live online tasting takes place at 9pm. Their starter pack includes the next 4 beers in their beer club and an exclusive branded glass all for a very reasonable tenner.
Sassy Brut Cider | 75cl | 5.2% ABV | RRP £4
We like to think we know a thing or two about cider here at The MALESTROM, having spent the last couple of decades quaffing the stuff. This medium-dry French cider from the clever lot at Maison Sassy is up there with the very best. It’s created from 22 varieties of hand-selected Normandy apples with the recipe a closely guarded secret. And with cider this good it’s not hard to understand why.
Vin Du Can | 187ml | 13.5% ABV | RRP £51 (24 cans)
Despite its convenience, canned wine has traditionally been a bit hit and miss. Thankfully this new offering from Vin du Can helps to dispel any previous reservations. Coming in three varietals, Pale Rosé, French Sauvignon Blanc and Argentinian Red Malbec, Vin du Can have brought quality to the canned market. We’re especially liking their Argentinian Malbec, a velvety number that goes down a treat and unlike bulky bottles can be easily brought to any type of gathering.
Wine Unpacked | RRP £39 (2 tailored wines a month)
This subscription service aims to provide vino perfection straight to the door of UK wine lovers. The initial delivery is the Tastefinder box, which provides 12 fun-sized bottles of whites and reds and a chart, guiding the user through a detailed tasting experience to highlight preferences. After the Tastefinder has been completed, the team of experts at Wine Unpacked then curate the perfect box of monthly wines to send out. Options include two, four and six bottles per month.
19 Crimes Wine | 75cl | 13.5% ABV | RRP £9
This Aussie wine company have a rather interesting USP. 19 Crimes is inspired by those who, beginning in 1788, were transported to Australia for a life of hard labour. Their wine honours the pioneers of history, celebrating the culture they built. Each bottle comes with a ‘living label’ which when you download the app brings the character to life through augmented reality to tell their story. Oh, and the wines taste pretty good too!
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