As we shift from picnics to dinner parties and BBQ’s – Summer is here. Whilst we have been at home drinks makers have been busy dreaming up the next wave of fun creations. We have tried and tested them for you drinking pleasure!
Highland Park Viking Whisky New Release
Highland Park, knows whisky – well its being going for 223 years so it should do by now! Based on the Orkney Islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland, it has launched a new, 15 Year old single malt Scotch Whisky, Viking Heart which arrives in a stunning ceramic bottle in a collaboration with UK based Wade Ceramics. Created from casks hand-selected by Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, it has a high percentage of first-fill European oak sherry seasoned casks (thinks yummy warm, dry spicy notes) while first-fill American oak sherry seasoned casks give a soft vanilla flavour. It’s a rich and complex, just think freshly-baked sponge cake, warm from the oven, and you’ll find cinnamon again and lovely waves of peat smoke. You can buy for $185.00 a bottle at selected leading Independent retailers, a list of key stockists can be found here.
Melbourne Martini
Chill Me, Shake Me, Drink Me. We like simple instructions. Our Melbourne Martini cocktail packs arrived in a candy coloured box. Containing a party of cute little jam jars of premade cocktails. Simply dip your glass in some salt and hello martini!! Our pack included 2 of each, Espresso Martinis, Tommy Tequila Margaritas (Oh so yum!! with lime and argave), Yuzu Margarita, Pomegranate Margarita and Southside Mojito.
Melbourne Martini 10 Pack $69.99 Also find them at BWS and Dan Murphy’s
Mobius Distilling Co
Founded by Philip Crossley and Alex Hardie, this inner-west Marrickville outfit is one of Sydney’s most exciting and innovative new distilleries. The dynamic duo have just launched a seriously good gin called The Company You Keep (TCYK).
However, the showgirl in their range their Moreau Apple Pie Liqueur. Its developed a cult following with good reason. It’s made from apples sourced from the family-owned Bellevue Orchard in Victoria and
vanilla is sourced from Tonga. Each bottle contains pressed cold juice from twelve apples with a touch of spiciness from cinnamon. It really is like trying your grandma’s home-made apple pie in a glass! Kinda bonkers but brilliant! Globally recognised as one of the best liqueurs, receiving a gold medal at the London Spirits Competition. Yes, its seriously, that good. We took it for a spin by making Apple of My Rye Cockail.
Evian Water – Bottles made from Bottles
Australia is home to the world’s most amazing reefs and sea life, yet 130,000 tonnes of single use plastic finds its way into the oceans every year. Evian has just launched their new ‘bottles made from bottles’ – water bottles made from recycled PET. This allows them to reduce carbon emissions in the production process by as much as 50% compared with bottles made from virgin plastic. What better way to refresh, recharge and support our planet. For more intel on their pathway to B Corp read here. Bottles can be purchased from Woolworths, Coles and Amazon at $2.65 for a 750ml bottle and $3.80 for a 1.5L bottle.
Basic Babe – Cocktails in a Box
Why did no one think of this before? Pure Genius! Cocktails in a Box is the coolest idea ever from Basic Babe! We have all suffered from wine hangovers, or mystery cockail combos, but coming from a team famous for alcoholic sparkling waters, they know how to create fun and feel fab!
So you can sip away on their 99% sugar free, real fruit juice, 60 calories per serve. Its 100% recyclable packaging, meaning they aren’t just better for us but also better for the environment. With three in the range: Raspberry and Lime Margarita, Passionfruit Martini and Pink Gin Daiquiri we really loved the spin on the classic Daiquiri with notes of strawberry partnered with the freshness of lime and pink gin. Available to purchase at BWS for RRP $29.99 or two for $50. For more information, please visit: https://basicbabe.co
De Bortoli Wines – Advent Calendar
Swoon! This is one of our favourites. In fact, why don’t we have this every day of the year? Who wants to drink a bottle, when you can have degustation wines at your finger tips, just puch numbered window! In the first commercial print of its kind De Bortoli has utlised versioning capabilities in digital variable print technology, every box design is uniquely different with a range of colours, graphic elements and randomised placements. No single box design will be the same. Yes! We are special! We have been cracking into our calendar of red, white, sparkling and rosé wines. Our favourites so far are King Valley Prosecco and Rosé Rosé. Check out their sustainability work – 17 Trees was their first sustainability projects in 2008 – planting 17 trees for each company vehicle to offset the carbon effect. There are 24 piccolos with a mix of 12 different varieties which include Sparkling, Rosé, White and Red wines. Click here for the wine assortment.
BACARDÍ Mojito
Is there anything quite like a Mojito to make you feel like you’re a million miles away on a tropical island? We can’t go too far (yet) but we can take our taste buds on a bit of a summer adventure with this new ready-to-drink can. BACARDÍ, a little lime, a kick of mint and sparkling soda water and Caribbean holidays – here we come!
The new drink uses all-natural flavours, is gluten-free and sits in at 114 calories per 250ml serve. It’s a great grab and go thirst quencher for the picnic basket, that’s for sure. Available to purchase at select Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market and Independent retailers for $24.99 per pack of 4.
Craft Cartel – Xmas Tinnie Tree
Well, it’s nearly Christmas and an easy way to entertain friends is with a beer tree! You can choose from two different Craft Cartel Christmas Tinnie Trees – the ‘Crowd Favourite’ is $275 and includes 48 handpicked Australian craft beers (12 beers x 4 of each). One of our favourites was the Brick Lane Sidewinder Hazy Pale! Go a bit more ‘posh’ with the ‘Premium’ for $399, which includes 48 handpicked Australian craft beers (24 beers x 2 of each), several of which are limited releases, including Stockade The Mountie Maple, Akasha Korben Double IPA, and Moon Dog Splice of Heaven Mango Ice Cream IPA. Our tree-top is going to glisten with these delicious beers! Both trees come flat packed and ready to assemble (to use year on year), with free delivery and $100 worth of vouchers! Craft Cartel have included 5 x $20 vouchers with the Tinnie Tree. Alternatively, the Top 10 Tinnies and Craft Beer Subscriptions (3, 6 or 12 months) are perfect as stuffing fillers and gifts.
Mr Black Coffee Liqueur – Espresso Martini in a Can
Chill, Shake, Pour Slowly & Drink! This is about as little effort as its gets. It took three years, 156 different recipes, two production methods and three canning technologies to create a fun sized can of delicousness. Made using top-grade arabica coffee from Colombia and Ethiopia, Australian vodka, and a generous splash of Mr Black Coffee Liqueur.
So is it as good as the real thing? Well it’s almost there. The flavours are all popping the only thing we missed was a nice thick frothy head. However, giving the can a good shake we get instant expresso straight from the fridge. Definitely one for clever entertaining!! RRP – 4-pack of 200ml cans $34.99, Buy online
