Let’s get ready for Christmas! There is a lot to prepare, so many choices and lots of new drops on the block which we have personally smelt, sipped and tasted for you to enjoy our favourites for the festive season.
Sierra Antiguo Plata Tequila
Hola! Australia just can’t get enough of one of our favourite cocktails – the Margarita. In fact, we are a leading market for Tequila out of 90 countries worldwide! The Sierra stable have launched their premium offering – the first 100% pure Agave based tequila. This tequila has a fresh smell and a clean peppery, slightly smoky and nutty flavour. This tequila is a true labour of love – each Agave plant takes 10 years to grow in Mexico and is harvested by hand then steam cooked for 24 hours to produce a fine Tequila for you to enjoy either by itself over ice or shake shake shake it into a Margarita!
You’ll recognise it on the shelves at Dan Murphys by it’s familiar sombrero lid – this is the Silver one that retails for $81.99.
Fever Tree cocktail mixers
Famous for their premium tonics, Fever Tree has launched a new range of mixers to help you level up your home cocktail (or mocktail) game without the fuss. Love that for us! First up is the Mojito with all the fresh minty, lime goodness that makes the perfect Mojito. Load up a tall glass with stacks of ice, some white rum, a slice of fresh lime, mint leaves and a good pour of this baby and you are ready to roll! Or pair the Sierra Antiguo Plata Tequila (above) with Fever Tree’s Margarita mix, ice and a dash of salt on the rim and consider yourself the Queen (or King) of the pool party season.
These mixers perfectly with the myriad of non-alc spirits available as well. Each bottle comes with 5 serves and the label says you can keep them in the fridge for up to 10 days (but they wont last more than one!). Honestly, they are so good, we have bought them several times already! Buy these fuss-free party starters for your next get together from Dan Murphys for $19.50 each.
Tsarine – Champagne Cuvée Premium Brut
There are three Tsarine champagnes available in Australia. The Rose, Premium Brut and the Tsarine by Adriana Gold Bottle which looks so decadent! If you havne’t heard of it before, Tsarine is the drink of the Tsars and royalty. We love their classic brut. It is a lighter style of champagne with classic pinot noir/meunier/chardonnay blend and it’s exciting to see 33% pinot meunier rounding out a more masculine style. It has flavours of citrus fruit, grapefruit and even orange blend with peach and a soft and creamy bead. Definitely one for Christmas and friends RRP 62.99 Major retailers & Dan Murphys
Yellow tail – new sparkling cocktails
From its launch in 2001, (wow really?) Yellow tail has grown to be one of the world’s most recognisable wines. Today wines are made by the sixth generation winemaker of the Casella family at the family-owned winery in Yenda, Australia. Ready for the holiday season they have launched a new cocktail range – Bellini and Mimosa. We don’t want to be wine snobs, but they are both really, really good. They both have a windy plastic seal which is a bit hard to pull off then a red button pump release. The Bellini is full of peach flavour which tastes rich but not overtly sweet without the artificial flavours many RTD have. It is well balanced with sparkling wine. Far superior to many in the market. The Mimosa is my favourite, using blood orange its zesty and refreshing. From BWS and Dans RRP $16.99 each.
Glengoyne – 12 year old
This is a new release from the southernmost of the Highland distilleries. Glengoyne uses only unpeated malted barley (barley which is air dried rather than dried under a peat fire which is quite rare). It has just arrived in Australia. This style creates an elegant whisky. It has a lovely straw, golden hue, and on the nose we smell vanilla, apples, even cinnamon. It has an elegant flavour and the sherry casks give it attiutde and depth – pear and shortbread lead the way!. Available to purchase at Dan’s $99.99
Glen Moray Double Cask Shiraz Finish Whisky
Glen Moray has been around since 1897. Records show that the distillery’s founders aged their spirit in an array of casks which impart different flavours on the finish. With this bled its aged in bourbon barrels (think vanilla and citrus), then finished in Shiraz casks for almost two years, to gain floral, fruity flavours. It’s not an obvious drop- so this one is great to pull out for those whisky lovers. Challenge them to smell aromas of rose petals and red fruits, then onot a plate of strawberries, toffee, soft oak and spice. We really enjoyed it. Available to purchase from Dan Murphy’s for $59.99.
Rewild wines
Want something eco-conscious, that’s fresh, vibrant and easy to drink that is 100% vegan friendly, delicious and perfect for the summer across red and white. Rewild is also Australian.
Red Blend (NEW) – On the hunt for a lighter style red wine, perfect for the transition into warmer weather? Rewild’s Red Blend is bursting with fresh fruit flavours, including vibrant notes of blackcurrant, ribena and blueberry. A great choice for outdoor occasions, including picnics with friends and alfresco dining – this wine also pairs wonderfully well with deli meats and cheese, offering the perfect partner for your next charcuterie board.
Merlot – Meet Merlot, the ultimate crowd pleaser and the perfect pick for a date night drop. Medium-bodied with fresh, plentiful blackcurrant and plum fruit, alongside hints of chocolate and aniseed, Merlot is a versatile varietal that pairs particularly well with dishes that offer a touch of sweetness, think caramalised veggies and braised meats.
Shiraz – If dessert is your favourite course, …then perhaps Shiraz is the wine for you! With fresh blackberry and raspberry fruits as well as decadent hints of chocolate and vanilla, this medium-bodied Shiraz will delight your senses from the very first sip. Dry yet smooth, the Shiraz can be paired well with a variety of rich full-flavoured dishes – or more importantly, your go-to chocolatey dessert!
Cabernet Sauvignon – If you’re looking for a wine to take to a dinner party or enjoy at your next family affair, the Rewild Cabernet Sauvignon is a wonderful accompaniment. With light blackcurrant blueberry aromas and hints of black olive, dried herb and brambly notes, the mid-palette sweetness balances the acidity perfectly for a sensational mouthful every time. Deliciously paired with most red meat courses and featuring herby flavours – Cabernet Sauvignon makes for the ultimate wine to enjoy around the dinner table. All $9.99
Little Ripples Wine – Every bottle provides water for one person for one year
We came across these amazing peeps at the NSW export awards. What an awesome outfit. This Sydney startup is on a mission to eliminate the water crisis. For every bottle sold, they provide one year of clean water to one person in a developing community by building water wells to communities in need. Yes they are turning wine into water! So far they have provided the equivalent of 358,000 people with one year of safe drinking water. OK, we are hooked, but what does it taste like? Our box arrived and its a selection of wines from the best vineyards across renowned wine regions, including the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, and Coonawarra. I really like the sparkling from Adelaide Hills, its bottle fermented (the champagne way) it has soft nutty, nose with delicate creamy mouthfeel and dry finish. The SB is also a winner, its a more sophisticated version of those big NZ wines. Here it leads with light tropical flavours, limes, but it’s refined, structured and smart. Buy here and help them provide 5m people with clean drinking water in the next 10 years and check out their mission.
Cocktail lovers
For the coffee and cocktail lover, rejoice as this Spanish liqueur offers the best way to combine the two. Licor 43 is the perfect liqueur to accompany coffee. Its delightful taste and golden lustre are derived from an age-old recipe consisting of 43 natural ingredients including citrus and even some additional spice in coriander. Although perfect when enjoyed with or without ice, its flavours are so harmonious that it simply invites other ingredients, such as coffee, to be mixed with it and is unmatched in its versatility. Here are a couple of Licor 43 cocktails to whet your whistle.
Licor 43 – $54.95
| Espresso 43 Ingredients: 30ml Licor 43 Original 1 hot espresso coffee Ice cubes Method: Half fill your glass with ice cubes and pour Licor 43 over the top. Serve alongside the cup of hot espresso and, before drinking, pour the coffee over the liqueur and stir. This can also be a shaken cocktail prepared in a cocktail shaker. Espresso 433 (our take on an Espresso martini) Ingredients: 30ml Licor 43 Original 30ml vodka 40ml Espresso Method: Pour a hot espresso shot into a cocktail shaker, then add Licor 43 Original, Vodka and Ice cubes. Shake well, double strain and serve. |
Hendricks – Flora Adora Gin
Master Distiller Lesley Gracie’s fascination of watching nature at the Gin Palace garden at the rugged Ayrshire coast of Southwest Scotland inspired a new gin. Her fascination of how bees interacted with enticing flowers led her to create a gin which represented the ecosystem. It’s a beautiful bottle and the underlying signature combination of cucumber and rose is bolstered with interesting sweet floral characteristics, juniper and corriander along with 11 botanicals. It’s so refreshing just add ice. $92 RRP at major retailers now
Hard Seltzer RTDs from classic Vodka favourite Smirnoff
The maker of the world’s number one vodka brand, Smirnoff, is turning up the summer vibes with the launch of a new line in its ready-to-drink range — Smirnoff Sodas. Striking the ultimate balance between a seltzer and a classic ready-to-drink (RTD) and bursting with flavour.
The new range includes two distinct Soda options with fresh new flavours to try. This includes three delicious tasting Smirnoff Sodas infused with real fruit juice ideal for days of play and two bold Smirnoff Hard Sodas perfect for a night full of adventure.
The Smirnoff Sodas, available in three juicy flavours with a zesty twist –– Lime & Lemon, Pineapple & Lime, and Peach & Lime –– Smirnoff Sodas feature an effervescent combination of real fruit juice, expertly mixed with vodka and topped with refreshing soda water.
Perfect for those looking for a lower calorie RTD option during the long summer days spent under the sun with friends, each Soda boasts less than 100 calories per can, is low in sugar with up to just 2.2g per 100ml and has a 3.5% ABV.
Then when the sun goes down and the excitement for a big night out turns up, Smirnoff has also introduced two bold, energetic Hard Sodas inspired by the electric neon lights of Las Vegas. Blending smooth premium Smirnoff Vodka with a sharp kick of citrus, Smirnoff Hard Sodas pack a flavour punch and a 6% ABV, making them the perfect addition to an unforgettable evening. Bold tasting and full flavoured, featuring tangy, fragrant yuzu, and zesty pink grapefruit, the Yuzu Citrus Burst Hard Soda and Pink Grapefruit Crush Hard Soda are also only 140 calories per can and low in sugar (2g sugar / 100ml).. 4 pack – $23.99 – $25.99
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a blend of exclusive rum reserves aged for up to twelve years, carefully selected by our Master Blenders. Marrying a unique body with excellent balance has made this multi award-winning rum a reference for connoisseurs and fine spirits lovers throughout the world. Opening up with aromas of orange peel, toffee and licorice, it is smooth on the palate, and follows on with notes of toffee fudge that offers a seductive, long-lasting finish. $148.00
Mediterranean Gin – Gin Mare
Gin Mare is a premium Mediterranean Gin from Spain. The uniqueness of Gin Mare is the only Gin using using Arbequina Olives, Rosemary, Thyme and Basil as its main botanicals. The result is a delicate Gin with a savoury twist. Gin Mare is exceptionally versatile and makes a great G&T. $90.99
GlenDronach Whisky
The romance of the Whisky bring visuals of dark bars, sipping the dark broody drink over ice. But it’s also a perfect aperitif or digestif and refreshing over thrice chilled ice. This superb richly sherried single malt is matured for at least 12 years in a combination of the finest Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. Non-chill filtered, natural colour and bottled at 43%, The GlenDronach 12 Year Old original is a sweet, creamy dram. $117.99
