Mason Pearson's first product launch in nearly three decades

Mason Pearson is launching a new hairbrush cleaner to improve hygiene and brushing.

Mason Pearson, the London producer of highest quality hairbrushes has launched an innovative new Hairbrush Cleaner that kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria, so offering you cleaner hairbrushes, healthier living and better brushing performance for fabulous looking hair. 

The secret to shiny, lustrous hair is regular brushing with a good quality, clean hairbrush to stimulate blood flow to the scalp and encourage healthy hair growth.

The pandemic demonstrated that hygiene and health go hand-in-hand so it’s time to stop the spread of germs and this includes our hairbrushes and combs. We clean our hands, so why not our brushes too?  Over time, dust and grime builds up on the hairbrush, which can leave hair dull and weighed down.

Now with Mason Pearson’s innovative British Standard certified Hairbrush Cleaner 99.9% of bacteria and germs are killed for better hygiene and a cleaner brush which may aid brush longevity, too.

Master Brush Maker Michael Pearson said: “Our Customer Care team was constantly being asked how people could clean their hairbrushes, so we wanted to create the best practical solution. We’ve incorporated the lessons of the last two years to develop a cleanser that kills germs and viruses.  

"As a business, we have never been interested in introducing new products for each passing fad or bringing out limited editions. We are committed to a small range of products that really work. We are so proud of the efficacy of the Hairbrush Cleaner and we are confident it will further increase the longevity of our hairbrushes.”

Mason Pearson has been synonymous with luxury hairbrushes for over130 years. Its core product has barely changed since the early 1900s, with many of the original hairbrush model names still being used today. The Hairbrush Cleaner is the first addition to the brand’s portfolio since the launch of hand-made combs in the 1990s and has been created based on customer demand.

Hairbrushes should be dry cleaned every one to two weeks and thoroughly cleaned monthly, but until now there were limited options to thoroughly sanitise the hairbrush without the risk of damage to the renowned orange pad. The Mason Pearson Hairbrush Cleaner can be used on any make or model of hairbrush and on combs.

To thoroughly cleanse your hairbrush, remove loose hairs with a comb, before spraying with the Cleaner, then scrub using a Mason Pearson Cleaning Brush or good quality toothbrush and leave to dry.

The Mason Pearson Hairbrush Cleaner is attractively bottled in the brand’s vintage-inspired packaging. Individual bottles can be purchased for £4.95 while display boxes, containing 24 units, are available for retailers.  

The Mason Pearson Hairbrush Cleaner is available as of now. UK customers can purchase online at www.masonpearson.com or from authorised retailers. Consumers outside the UK should contact their country distributor to find their nearest retailer.

 

Seggiano Organic Oil and Vinegar

Seggiano Organic Oil and Vinegar and Seggiano organic gluten free Artisan Pasta are being looked at during The That's Food and Drink Organic September festival.

My wife and I are very keen on organic foods and my wife, who is a diagnosed coeliac, also has to avoid gluten.

Seggiano has been sourcing the highest quality traditional regional Italian specialities, from the highest quality top artisan family producers for in excess of two decades.

Seggiano has an uncompromising commitment to highest ethical standards to only providing the highest quality, tasty organic foods, that are produced from totally traceable GMO free ingredients.

They also ensure that the foods they retail have no industrial additives and also use only a minimal amount of heat processing.

They guarantee to use only the highest quality of cold extracted oils and to make certain that all of the recipes are free of palm oil.

Incidentally their gluten free fettuccine artisan pasta is specially bronze drawn and slow dried, and made using buckwheat and corn.

What's it taste like? My wife and I love it, as it is firm with a good consistency and absolutely delicious!

It works well with the Seggiano organic oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

Check them out for their other delicious products.

To learn more visit www.seggiano.com.

Introducing delicious Cove Passion Liqueur

Building on the stunning success of their award-winning Cove Vodka, Cove Damson Liqueur and Cove Coffee Liqueur, Devon Cove is delighted to introduce Cove Passion Liqueur. 

This exceptional and very special handcrafted liqueur is made by combining fresh passion fruits with their luxuriously smooth Devon potato vodka and the result is an enchanting, exotic and absolutely delicious drink.

Try Cove Passion Liqueur over ice with a twist of grapefruit, with cloudy lemonade or in the crowd-pleasing Pornstar Martini cocktail. Presented in a stylish bottle with a nice, traditional wooden cork so you can easily reseal the bottle after use, although it tastes so good you might not need to!

Commenting on the launch, founder of Cove, Leanne Carr said: “We are really thrilled to bring this product to the market. By using fresh passion fruits we've created a uniquely delicate liqueur which will not only excite those who like to make quality cocktails at home but also those who prefer something sweeter than whisky as a digestif, since it works so really well on its own.”

Cove Passion Liqueur is available to buy from www.devoncove.co.uk 5cl (£5.95) and 50cl (£33.00) 25% ABV.

Devon Cove creates an exceptionally high quality vodka using only King Edward potatoes lovingly grown by the sea on founder Leanne Carr's family farm which overlooks Hope Cove in South Devon. 

It's low-carb and totally gluten free, Cove Vodka is as pure and clean as the sea air around it and has a  uniquely smooth to taste.

Since their launch in 2019 Devon Cove have gone from strength-to-strength bagging a handful of high-profile taste awards, the most recent of which was a Gold award in the Ultra-Premium category at the Vodka Masters 2022. 

Devon Cove have also expanded their range of liqueurs and launched a cocktail club subscription service so you need never be without a good cocktail at home. Leanne has become somewhat of a master mixologist and looks forward to featuring Cove Passion Liqueur in new cocktail kits to be released soon.

Cove Vodka, Cove Cocktail Kits, Cove Coffee Liqueur, Cove Damson Liqueur, Cove Rum and Cove Passion Liqueur are all available to purchase from online shop hHp://www.devoncove.co.uk/ with nationwide delivery.

To keep up to date with all of Devon Cove's news and for cocktail recipes and inspiration 'like' @Devon Cove Vodka on Facebook, 'follow' devoncovevodka on Instagram or @devoncovevodka on Twitter or visit www.devoncove.co.uk #coverum

 

A Little Bit Food Launch New Trio of Vegan Friendly Dips

These are a welcome addition to their ever growing range of tasty products. 

Complementing their existing sauces, dressings and mayos, the dips encapsulate the brand's aim to create great, homemade-tasting products that are easily accessible and made using fresh herbs and the finest quality ingredients.

Perfect for sharing, dipping or spreading, the trio consists of a Peamole, a Spicy Salsa and Onion and Chive dip. 

The Peamole offers an alternative to the eminent Guacamole; the key ingredient peas used as a replacement for avocados. I, personally, am not that keen on avocados, so I am keen to try this new product. 

This decision reflects A Little Bit's passion for sustainability, and a conscious effort to monitor their environmental footprint. 

The Spicy Tomato Salsa continues to encompass the brands efforts to champion quality ingredients, with the addition of fresh parsley and coriander; it has a rich tomato taste, great texture and a subtle spice. Completing the trio is the Onion and Chive dip, made using fresh chives.

To learn more about the A Little Bit range, please visit them at https://alittlebit.co.uk.

Salcombe Brewery Co. Partners with Too Good To Go and Donates Funds to The Seahorse Trust

The Salcombe Brewery Co. is delighted to reveal it's partnering with Too Good to Go to help reduce its waste and just donated over £1,000 to The Seahorse Trust, which has been raised through a five pence donation for every bottle sold of its Seahorse beer. 

These announcements have been made as Salcombe Brewery Co embarks on its journey to B Corp status.

Jordan Mace, the MD of Salcombe Brewery Co. explained: “Constantly improving our sustainability credentials has always been a core objective for us so, when we discovered Too Good To Go, we jumped at the chance to reduce our waste. 

"This clever app allows us to sell our cosmetically damaged products and any short dated stock to a wide range of customers, at a reduced price, rather than throwing it away. It is a new partnership that came about as part of a review of our processes as we work towards B Corp status.”

Jordan went on to say: “The surrounding coastal environment has always been hugely important to Salcombe Brewery Co. The Salcombe Estuary is one of the few places in the UK where you can find the rarer of the two species of seahorse and we partnered with The Seahorse Trust four years ago to raise funds to support these endangered creatures. 

"We give a regular donation to The Seahorse Trust and are pleased to be handing over another £1,198.25 this month. This money has been raised by making a donation of 5p from every bottle of Seahorse sold.”

Salcombe Brewery is in the process of working towards B Corp status. Certified B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Becoming a Certified B Corporation is a rigorous, comprehensive process that involves reviewing a company's processes, procedures and ethos.

The Seahorse Trust was founded in 1999 by Neil Garrick-Maidment to preserve and conserve the natural world, especially the marine environment, with the seahorse as its flagship species. The Trust makes a difference through education, conservation and campaigning for protected areas.

Salcombe Brewery's range of beers is available nationwide in pubs and hospitality venues as well as retail outlets and online from www.salcombebrewery.com. It is available to the trade directly and through a number of key wholesalers. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

Shown is Image of (left to right) Jordan Mace, Salcombe Brewery Co. and Neil Garrick-Maidment, The Seahorse Trust. 

Visit the brewery here https://www.salcombebrewery.com.

Incidentally, I was enjoying Salcombe Bay's Shingle Bay bitter, recently. At least until we lovers of good beers drunk it all! 

Sober October with New London Light

You need sacrifice nothing this Sober October with New London Light, a bold collection of contemporary non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs from the multi award-winning distillers at Salcombe Distilling Co. 

Thanks to innovative flavour combinations and a pioneering production method, New London Light (NLL) is setting the global standard in taste for the fast-growing alcohol-free spirits category, ensuring that alcohol-free no longer means second best.

Available in three expressions 'First Light', 'Aegean Sky' and 'Midnight Sun', New London Light can be enjoyed straight up, with tonic, or as part of a cocktail. New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is now also available to buy in selected Waitrose & Partners stores (RRP £27.50, 70cl, 0% ABV).

Serving the alcohol-free community as well as the growing market of drinkers wanting to reduce their alcohol intake somewhat, NLL provides options that will make it easy to create new habits. With all natural ingredients and no artificial flavours or added sugar, consumers can rest assured they are drinking something pure. They can also be sure they are doing some good, since every bottle purchased in the UK helps protect and regenerate Seagrass, with 1% of sales donated to the Marine Conservation Society.

New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

As unique as the rugged Nordic coast from where it takes its inspira7on, New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is a layered and elegant non-alcoholic aperi7f combining wild coastal berries, fresh kelp and pine. On the nose there is a delicate combination of floral elderflower and fresh pine with a hint of berry sweetness and herbaceous dill. Sweet yet complex berry flavours are found on the palate with a touch of salinity from kelp and samphire. Floral notes of elderflower and resinous pine provide a full spectrum of flavour. The finish is long and lingering with natural sweetness making way for elderberry tartness, dryness from sage and pine and lasting sense of the sea from the subtle flavours of kelp.

'Midnight Sun & Tonic'

New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is best served in a 'Midnight Sun & Tonic' to give a new perspective on complex flavour combinations.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

150ml Premium light tonic water

1 Raspberry

1 Mint leaf

Method:

Fill a highball glass with ice

Add a large measure of New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

Add 150ml of Premium light tonic water

Garnish with 1 raspberry and a mint leaf

Gently stir and serve

'Oslo Highball'

This crisp, fragrant, and ultimately thirst-quenching serve is like taking in a deep breath of fresh Nordic air in the glowing Midnight sun.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

15ml lime juice

15ml honey water*

Raspberry dash water

Blueberries

Dill

Method:

Muddle 3 blueberries in a cocktail shaker, before adding the New London Light 'Midnight Sun', lime juice and honey water

Fill with ice and shake for 15 seconds

Double strain into a chilled highball over ice

Top with dash water with wonky raspberries

Garnish with a sprig of dill and 2 blueberries

*To make the honey water, add 100ml of honey to 100ml of boiling water in a jug and stir until the honey has dissolved. Place in the fridge to cool before using.

'Alpenglow'

Named after an optical phenomenon when red light appears on high mountains, this sour style serve takes all of the berry and pine flavours from the land of the Midnight Sun and showcases them effortlessly.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

15ml Lime juice

15ml Honey water*

25ml Cranberry juice

3 x Fresh raspberries

20ml Aquafaba

Freeze-dried raspberries to garnish

Method:

Add New London Light 'Midnight Sun', lime juice, honey water, cranberry juice, fresh raspberries, and aquafaba to a cocktail shaker and dry shake without ice for 15 seconds

Add ice to the shaker and shake hard again for a further 15 seconds

Double strain into a chilled tumbler over ice

Garnish with freeze-dried raspberries

*To make the honey water, add 100ml of honey to 100ml of boiling water in a jug and s7r un7l the honey has dissolved. Place in the fridge to cool before using.

New London Light 'First Light', 'Aegean Sky' and 'Midnight Sun' are all available from salcombegin.com, RRP £27.50 for a 70CL boQle, 0% ABV.

For further information about Salcombe Distilling Co. and New London Light visit salcombedistilling.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook at newlondonlight.

Didsbury Gin is a real hit and a real winner

Didsbury Gin is a real hit and a real winner.

My wife and I and her cousin Dorothy were invited to try Didsbury Gin's Strawberry and Sicilian Lemon Gin.

My wife was intrigued by the taste, but was feeling a little bit left out as she doesn't particularly like the taste of strawberry.

However, Dorothy and myself really loved this particular gin type. There's a delicious marriage of the real Sicilian lemons and natural strawberry flavouring, which we found work together very well.

In fact Dorothy, who is a real gin aficionado, declared it absolutely delicious, a sentiment that I found it easy to agree with.

We made some old style cocktails using ginger ale, soda water and Indian tonic water. And each one worked remarkably well.

What other Didsbury Gin types are available? Original, Blood Orange and Ginger, Raspberry and Elderflower. To make a delicious pink gin.

They use natural fruits and ingredients, are vegan friendly and are one of the nicest gins we have been honoured to try. And all produced in Didsbury, in Manchester.

Incidentally they also produce pre-mixed cocktail cans, mixers and special gifts. 

We would like to thank the kind folks at Didsbury Gin. To learn more about the gin and to learn some really nifty cocktail recipes (remember to use them this Christmas!) please visit them at www.didsburygin.com.

Elephant Gin Brings "Ready-to-Drink" Cocktail Classic Negroni to the Home Bar!

Africa meets Italy. Just in time for Negroni Week (12th -18th September) Elephant Gin launches its newest product, a ready-to-drink version of the popular Red Negroni (28% ABV). Bitter-sweet and finely balanced, the classic drink hits the taste buds for all those who love the combination of complex sweetness, straightforward bitterness and want bar quality cocktail experiences at home.

The Negroni, a cocktail classic and great-grandfather of the Aperitivo family, consists of three components: Bitters, sweet vermouth and gin. This September, Elephant Gin brings the classic aperitif to the home as a "ready-to-drink version". The flavour profile of Elephant Gin Negroni convinces with a sophisticated balance of bitter and sweet flavours consisting of equal parts Elephant Aged Gin, vermouth and bitters all providing plenty of depth and personality which are then rounded out by six months of ageing in oak barrels.

The oak ageing enriches the drink adding depth and texture as well as creating a slightly smoky aroma. Despite ageing, a wonderful balance of bitter-sweet wormwood and Elephant Aged Gin flavours is maintained. A German Riesling from winemaker Stefan Winter was used to create a well-balanced sweet vermouth. All ingredients are produced by Elephant Gin and contain no artificial additives.

"The ready to drink trend is here to stay. Consumers like it simple, but at the same time insist on high quality. With our new Negroni we serve these demands and can offer existing and new customers a high quality ready-to-drink cocktail experience using the best possible ingredients without any artificial additives ``, says Tessa Gerlach, Co-founder of Elephant Gin. 

Highly sophisticated and finely nuanced, Elephant Gin Negroni brings not only cocktail history, but a classic and elegant cocktail to the home. Enjoy over ice and garnish with an orange zest.

True to the brand's core, each bottle (700 ml) is adorned with traditional Maasai beads, handmade by three women from a Kenyan Maasai tribe. In addition, 15% of bottle profits will go to the recently established Elephant Gin Foundation, which supports important projects to protect the African elephant.

Better Gin. Safer Elephants.

Drinking Recommendation:

Fill the tumbler with a large ice cube, pour 100 ml Elephant Gin Negroni, garnish with an orange zest. Served at sunset or before dinner but best with good company.

Serves 7 cocktails

Available through the Elephant Gin Shop (www.elephant-gin.com/shop).

From December 2022 also via Amazon

RRP £35.90/700ml

What's it all about?

About Elephant Gin

In 2013, Elephant Gin Founders, Tessa and Robin Gerlach, were inspired to create their range of premium handcrafted gins following their adventures in Africa. The award-winning Elephant London Dry Gin (45%) was first to the portfolio. The range was complemented by the aromatic Elephant Sloe Gin (35%), the full-bodied Elephant Strength Gin (57%) and the fresh Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin (40%).  

Inspired by the African sundowner experience, Elephant Gin combines rare African botanicals with fresh apples. Each of Elephant Gin's unique bottles is individually crafted with handwritten labels, excerpts of African maps and an embossed crest of the Maasai. Elephant Gin is highly lauded by the leading spirits adjudicators, as depicted below, the latest grand prize is The Spirits Business' Gin Masters Awards 2021, where Elephant Gin was labelled the world's best gin by a panel of independent judges, who described the gin as simply “stunning”.

Safer Elephants.

Elephant Gin gives back to what has inspired the brand in the first place: 15% of bottle profits are donated to the endangered African elephant. So far, over €1,000,000 has been raised through sales and fundraising events. From September 2022, donations will go directly to the Elephant Gin Foundation, a grant-making foundation that invests in African elephant conservation and educational projects.

Key Stockists (Range Various Between Outlets)

Ocado, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, The Whiskey Exchange, and the Elephant Gin Online Shop at www.elephant-gin.com.

Bar Stockists (A Selection)

Oriole, The Gibson, The Coral Room, Davies & Brooks, Dukes, The Dorchester, Mr Fogg's, Amazonico, 5 Hertford Street, Hotel Café Royal, Quo Vadis, 45 Jermyn Street, Eve Bar.

Make Christmas About Kindness This Year: Shop Local and Win a Hamper for You and a Friend

Make Christmas About Kindness This Year: Shop Local and Win a Hamper for You and a Friend

What could be better than spreading kindness while doing your Christmas shopping this year?

Produced in Kent, the membership organisation supporting the county's independent artisan producers, is launching a Christmas Kindness competition, it's an effortless way to support local and spread happiness.

Join in the festive fun and support your local shops, crafters, or producers to be in with a chance to WIN two Christmas hampers (worth over £250 each) filled with festive Kentish goodies – one for yourself and another for someone you think deserves some Christmas Kindness.

How to Enter

Pop into participating shops (see below) or visit their online stores.

Purchase a lovely local gift.

Scan the Produced in Kent QR code at the till or follow the link on your e-receipt.

Enter your details for the chance to win a hamper for yourself and a friend.

Feel good about supporting local business.

Entry Tips

For a bonus entry - share a selfie on Instagram or Facebook (a post, not story) of yourself with your shopping and tag @ProducedinKent #ChristmasKindness

Get the kids involved by spotting the Produced in Kent QR codes in stores.

Purchase from as many participating businesses as you like, the more entries, the greater your chance of winning.

Think about who your chosen co-winner might be, who deserves a treat this Christmas?

Participating Shops

A wide range of producers and retailers catering for every festive need are taking part, as well as donating prizes to the hampers – including the Produced in Kent shop at Bluewater. For exceptional wines visit participating vineyards Balfour Winery and Simpsons Wine Estate, for beer gift inspiration visit Musket Brewery and the Old Dairy Brewery for natural beauty products & more visit Fox & Bloom and Romney Marsh Wools, and for local spirits visit The Maidstone Distillery. For the full list of participating businesses and prizes visit www.producedinkent.co.uk/christmas-kindness.

From wrist warmers to wine; beer to bedding; art to artisan foods, Kent producers will have something for everyone this Christmas. Friends and family will be delighted with a gift from Kent, while your purchase will support the regional economy and the local community. It's a win for everyone!

The campaign is being backed by Kent industry, including the generosity of sponsors Café Nucleus and FoodE by Oak Creative. The competition will run from 1st October to 16th December 2022. A winner will be selected at random on 19th December and the hamper will be sent out to them and their nominated person in time for Christmas. For the full terms and conditions of the competition visit www.producedinkent.co.uk/christmas-kindness.

 

Presca Coffee

Presca Coffee's Signature Edition coffee is a genuinely delicious single-origin ethically sourced coffee.

The coffee beans are a 100% Arabica speciality coffee. 

It's grown at an altitude of 1,800 to 1,900 metres and is carefully washed.

The varietals are caturra and catuai.

They are carefully and lovingly roasted at the Presca coffee bean roastery which is in Bristol.

What does it taste like? It has a low level of acidity, is described as having a creamy body and has a cherry finish, with hints of orange peel. 

It's also delightfully sweet, too, without needing any added sweetness. Sorry, organic honey! You are sitting this one out!

I have to agree. There's a certain fruitiness to it and I could certainly detect a very present orangey taste to it.

I like this coffee, but my wife absolutely adores it!

And what's more it ticks all sorts of boxes as it is produced by the Tarrazu Co-Operative from the San Luis Lot. They are consistently winning awards and prizes as the best coffee foundation in the whole of Costa Rica.

Learn about this coffee here https://www.prescasportswear.com/products/presca-coffee-signature-edition

And whilst you are there check out all the other good stuff that Presca offers.