We are thirsty for tipples this August and while we’ve tried a fair few (and it’s only the 2nd of the month…!), here’s our pick of new drinks to try this month including an incredibly fancy offering from Havana Club our true rum heroes, and… did somebody say peanut butter and whiskey? All we can say is WOW.
Havana Club Tributo 2021
This is a luxurious Cuban rum if ever we tasted one! Golden amber in colour and beautifully crafted by Havana Club’s master rum maker Asbel Morales, the incredible tasting Havana Club Tributo 2021 is the sixth installment in the collection, using casks from Havana Club’s cellars’ most cherished rum reserves. With the rum then matured in special white port casks form the Douro Valley, rum bases were hand-picked by Morales, inspired by the very first Havana Club Tributo which was released in 2016. It’s heady with honey on the nose, along with notes of redcurrant and cherry, with a hint of dried fruit and floral. An intense and complex rum to taste, it trickles down the back of the throat smoothly, but with plenty of depth – dry fruit, nut, a smidge of tobacco and the slight sweetness of chocolate to balance, are followed by a long, powerful finish of coffee with smoky undertones, cinnamon and oak. Just gorgeous for sipping and presented in a stunning wooden box. Encapsulating the spirit of Cuba in every mouthful, a limited release of 2,500 bottles are available globally. Buy your Havana Club Tributo 2021 from their website, 40% ABV, 70cl
GIMBER
This non-alcoholic tipple packs some punch! We’ve just been introduced to GIMBER – an awesome bottle of sassy organic concentrate made with the very best ginger, lemon, herbs and spices which is sharp and sexy when mixed with sparkling water. Not only does it have you bubbling with excitement when you try it, but of course, no doubt you’re aware of the numerous benefits of ginger including its antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties and its ability to aid digestion. Try 30 mls of this cheeky little number with 200 ml fresh sparkling water for a spicy wake up call, or if you’re feeling hot, it’s 20 mls GIMBER and 200 mls of hot water. The man behind the brand is Dimitri Oosterlynck who couldn’t find a non alcoholic drink that had some real bite… so he thought he’d make his own! Being sober has never been so much fun! Buy your GIMBER from the shop on their website or in a selection of retailers including Daylesford, Selfridges Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, Dorchester Collection and Harvey Nichols. RRP £2.99, (20 ml), £14.95 (200 ml), £24.50 (500 ml), £27.90 (700 ml)
Dima’s Vodka
Have you ever tried Ukranian vodka? If you’re a fan of the clear stuff, then it’s about time you tried Dima’s authentic, premium spirit, and what you absolutely have to do, is sip it! The quality of Ukranian vodka is of the utmost importance, and due to the country’s unique climate and its fertile black supersoil, Dima’s key ingredients – barley, wheat and rye, the grains can flourish to produce a vodka of premium taste.
Because there aren’t many vodkas which have this particular three grain profile, Dima’s Vodka is somewhat of a stand out drink in a crowded market, and because the notes which accompany the bottle let us into a secret (like the Ukrainians do, you should pair with pickles for the ultimate in tasting experiences), that’s exactly what we do. Enjoyed either at room temperature or chilled, apparently the pickles will bring out the notes and flavour in a way we’re not used to and boom, we can say it does actually change the whole flavour profile and have you appreciating vodka in a whole new way. Nutty and biscuit notes on the nose open out on the palate along with notes of vanilla and spices – you really feel these notes coming through when paired with the pickles! There’s a beautiful rich smoothness to the finish, creamy and long for a vodka tasting which is just that little bit special. Don’t let your mixer get anywhere near this bottle – straight is the way to go! Buy a bottle of 70cl Dima’s Vodka from the website complete with a bag of pickled gherkins so you can do it properly.
Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey
Why have we never tried such a delight before?! This whiskey is just incredible. Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey has been causing quite the stir over in Auz and the US and it’s finally hit the UK where we are going crazy for the stuff. On the nose you’ve got all the sweet stuff – luscious vanilla, honey and caramel. To taste, the unmistakable taste of a darn good whiskey, but that gorgeous peanut butter flavour comes through with hints of coffee and oak to finish. We drank a tonne of this stuff neat and ice cold (oops), but it’s also tastes like a dream in a Sheep Dog Woof’spresso Martini made with 45mls whiskey and 60ml espresso shaken with ice and poured into a martini glass. Available from Tesco, Bookers and Amazon priced at £22.
