Not going out: Nation embraces hosting at home as millions make the most of staying in

As a nation we are dusting off its hosting skills as millions are staying in instead of going out in a bid to save money, according to new research from Tesco - with the supermarket also encouraging customers to try a ‘Use Up Night In’ to make the most of the ingredients wet already have in our kitchen.

This is an effective way to cut food waste and spending, as according to Tesco, implementing a Use Up Day each week could save households an average of £260 per year.

Data shows that over the last year, 68% of UK adults have reduced spending less on going out, with many preferring to play host to friends or family instead.

Almost half (47%) of those who said they're spending less on eating and drinking out or going out to socialise are recreating a night out in the comfort of their homes, using ingredients from supermarkets.

Return of ‘potluck’ dinners

As the country switches nights out for nights in, the research indicates 48% UK adults who are spending more time at home instead of going out, are having friends and family over for meals. And while bringing a bottle is still deemed a helpful contribution by some hosts (48%), one in ten (11%) hosts prefer a contribution to the meal in the form of a dish or ingredient – with 37% of those saying they would like to receive a dessert and 18% appreciating a contribution of snacks and nibbles.

BYO takes on a new meaning for under-35s

Tesco analysis found 1 in 4 under-35s (26%) are likely to ask dinner party guests to come bearing a dish or ingredient, compared with only 13% of 55+.

A Use Up Night In to help your pocket and our planet

To support our nation’s hosting habits and help reduce the amount of food wasted in homes, Tesco has created a ‘Use Up Night In’ guide containing recipes, smart ways to use up leftovers and even how to host a potluck party where each guest is encouraged to bring their own ingredients.

It forms the next phase of Tesco’s Use Up Day campaign, which encourages people to cook a meal once a week using food they already have at home, helping customers to spend less and stop good food from going to waste.

Jamie Oliver, renowned chef and Tesco Good Food ambassador, said: “Having a dedicated night of the week to use up the food you already have is such a brilliant idea. Not only does it mean less food going in the bin, which can only be a good thing for the planet, it also means you’re not spending as much. This is where flexible recipes, the ones where you can easily swap ingredients in and out, are your best friends. I love Tesco’s ‘Use Up Night In’ campaign for encouraging everyone to have a go at doing this, because it really can make a difference.”

Tony McElroy, Head of Campaigns at Tesco, said: “Since creating Use Up Day in 2021, Tesco has helped thousands of customers make the most of their food shop and reduce waste. Cutting the amount of food that’s thrown away in homes is win-win, saving money and limiting harmful emissions."

“Adapting Use Up Day to cater at home for friends or family is a great way of making food go further; whether that’s reinventing your own leftovers or combining the contents of your kitchens.”

Tesco works with the local sharing app Olio to further reduce waste. Tessa Clarke, co-founder of Olio, said: "Food waste is hard to stomach at the best of times — but even more so in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Tesco’s new guide couldn’t be more timely, full of brilliant ideas that make it easy to turn spare food into delicious meals. And, of course, any ingredients that you don’t use can be easily passed on to local people using Olio, meaning not a single piece of good food need go to waste."

Bee Better for the Environment on World Bee Day With Avallen's Buzzing Bar Campaign!

On this next World Bee Day (20th May) Avallen, the calvados brand which is on a mission to be the world's most planet positive spirit, is launching a campaign in bars and venues across the country in order to raise awareness of the plight of these perfect pollinators, or very own bees.

A fresh approach to traditional calvados, Avallen is unusual in that it's climate positive, this is due to the spirit being made with nothing but apples, water, and time. Each bottle of Avallen removes 2.82kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

Given that bees are a key part of the pollination process required to grow the juicy apples Avallen is made from, there's no better time for Avallen to launch an awareness campaign than World Bee Day.

The activation will highlight just how vital these fuzzy little winged warriors are; without bees, there would be no cocktails, no pizza, the coffee industry would collapse, and beyond that life would be very difficult indeed. 

So to do this, Avallen is engaging bars and hospitality venues up and down the country to serve a special cocktail for World Bee Day. For every cocktail sold, £1 will be donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by Avallen, to champion the protection of the mighty bumblebee, help restore their habitats, and ban harmful neonicotinoids.

Avallen will also provide one bottle of stock, menu design and printing support, and sustainability training for bar teams, as well as promotion across their own channels.

It's an overlooked fact the humble bumblebee is vital to the pollination of many plants which only release pollen to the exact vibration of a bumblebee. If bumblebees die out due to agricultural intensification, then many spirits would also disappear.  There would be no potatoes for vodka, grapes for brandy or botanicals for gin. And that's before we even mention the demise of the fruit mixers.

Avallen have suggested a number of cocktails set to tantalise customers, featuring twists on classic drinks like the Forbidden Fruit Martini which is a riff on the popular Pornstar Martini and the Avallen Espresso. There's even a spritz option to serve in sunny, alfresco spaces. Bar teams are also being encouraged to get creative themselves and design their own Avallen calvados based cocktails.

On top of raising awareness on behalf of the bees, the campaign will introduce consumers to a more conscious way of drinking. By choosing to drink Avallen, consumers aren't just saving the bees, they're also improving the planet's biodiversity and battling climate change. Quite an achievement for merely sipping a cocktail.

Tim Etherington Judge said of the campaign: “World Bee Day is an exceptional opportunity for us to raise awareness of why wild bees are so important and how spirits that support biodiversity need to be the future of drinks. 

"What better way to do that than to let people taste Avallen and understand that great tasting products can still be planet positive and do a bit of good. Every person can help increase wild bee populations by simply dead heading flowers to encourage more blooms or getting involved in No Mow May. Small steps like this can make a huge difference- as well of course as drinking sustainable, bee friendly spirits.”

To find out how to get involved get in touch with tim@avallenspirits.com or keep your eyes peeled for the activations taking place in venues nationwide from Saturday 20th May.

What venues are already booked to participate?

Participating venues to date (more being added every day):

Filthy XIII Bristol, Amolfini Bristol, Tom Thumb Newquay, Scarlett's Hotel Newquay, STERLING Bar Manchester, Ugly Butterfly St.Ives, Cornwall, Eve Bar London, The Longstore Truro, Cornwall, The Library, Bristol, Hoot the Redeemer Edinburgh, Hey Palu Edinburgh, Gleneagles Townhouse Edinburgh, Common's Club, Virgin Hotel Edinburgh, The Walcot Bath, Henrock Windermere, Bartender's Lounge Aberdeen, Lab 22 Cardiff. 

Avallen Spirits is a Climate Positive company with the environment at its core. Made from nothing but apples, water and time, Avallen calvados is completely natural with no additives or added sugar. Avallen's liquid is fresh, fruity, and proudly apple forward in its flavour profile which is aged in French oak barrels for 2 years. Avallen is now also available in a paper bottle – one of the first spirits to take this bold, sustainable move.  Far more robust than glass and six times lighter, weighing in at just 82 grams, this bottle significantly reduces the brand's carbon footprint, with each bottle being no less than six times lower in its carbon footprint than the average glass alternative.

www.avallenspirits.com

Kaytea Leads the Charge When It Comes to Tasty, Headturning Coldbrew Teas

For tea enthusiasts with inquisitive taste buds your immersion into coldbrew tea is long overdue as this is a buoyant healthier living category that is forecast to be worth £285m in 2024. 

Iced tea has had to wait its turn behind an Iced Coffee pace setter that appeals to a younger audience looking for a more flavoursome caffeine hit than any sugar saturated energy drink can offer. And also those of us older foodies who are always on the lookout for a new taste sensation.

Coldbrew teas are as the name indicates a flavoursome brews where a top-quality white, green or black tea having been deliberately steeped in cold water and refrigerated is then used as the perfect foundation block for all manner of intriguing flavour marriages to prosper.

Kaytea took the time and trouble to make visits to in excess of 250 or the world's top tea estates to track down the perfect foundation block ingredients!

Kaytea for anyone not already in the know, is a rapidly growing and emerging iced tea hero that is slowly building an impressive head of steam (Abel & Cole, Partridges, M&S, Sainsbury's, Zapp, Dean & Deluca, WeWork, Deliveroo, Spinneys, to name only several.)

Once again, we're talking about a slow brewing idea that made its move during Lockdown when City high flyer, Kevin Tang decided that now was the perfect moment to nudge a deep-rooted love of tea in all its guises into a stylish soft drink alternative. 

Says Kevin, "Whilst I fully appreciate the move that feel-good kombuchas made into discerning chiller fixtures, I just couldn't help feeling a trick was still being missed with regards an all-natural soft drink that positioned itself somewhere between the bland mass market sugary pop that continues to overpower our taste buds and a new generation of overtly attention-seeking functional drinks.  

"Yes, we could have quite easily mixed in some lab created vitamins and minerals to claim some arbitrary health declarations but that seemed counter-intuitive to our commitment to organic, all-natural and ultimately free-trade ingredients."

"We felt that it was important to us to create iced teas that effortlessly paired with one's food as opposed to any cloying, sugary brews that hijack one's taste buds. This is the reason we're listed in both Sainsbury's and M&S stores where sushi is on offer!"

Kaytea, with its distinctive koala in sunglasses brand icon, is all sublime flavour marriages, mixing everyday fruit & botanical heroes (peach, mint, grapefruit and lemons) with some more exotic bedfellas (yazu, pink guava and jasmine)

"Contrary to urban myths there are no Australian ties to our brands, the koala is merely an internal gag around quality sounds like koala tea." 

He went on to say: "The moment for credible, health-conscious alternatives to lazy everyday offerings which is why we wanted to provide head-turning refreshment in conjunction with all-natural, low calorie recipes with only the lightest smidgeon of sweetness.

"Spring 2023 is the moment the last of Kaytea's lines make the inevitable transition from glass to slim aluminium cans, building upon learnings from 'wise owl' buyers and Department of Trade export initiatives (Gulfood) which suggested this range of ambitious British brewed soft drinks was missing out on countless foodservice, vending, hotel & hospitality, festival and airline opportunities, too.

"This means a striking new livery for Kaytea's meticulously balanced Sparking Rosay that was inspired by the unique flavour profile of a well-balanced Rosay, using a fragrant rose tea foundation in tandem with pink guava juice with natural cherry, apple, sweet potato and radish concentrates.  We know it sounds a little left field but quite honestly tasting is believing!"

Kaytea.co.uk

OHSO Good Chocolate. That's really oh so good for you

OHSO Good Chocolate is very, very good for you.

Not only does it taste very good it's also very good for you. It's made with top quality Belgian chocolate but it's suitable for vegans as it doesn't contain any milk. (Although they do point out that it may contain milk due to cross contamination.)

There are no added sugars which as a Type 2 Diabetic, I find very helpful. It contains maltitol instead of sugar.

But the main point that caught my attention is that Ohso good chocolate comes to you complete with some live cultures. These are in the form of probiotic cultures.

OHSO has over a billion live cultures (commonly known as probiotics), Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in each bar.

These live cultures are micro-encapsulated within the chocolate, using a specially patented process.

As a result, this delivers live cultures to the gut three times more effectively than probiotic yoghurts, which I find interesting and very helpful, too.

The chocolate also contain dietary fibres, too.

But what's the taste like? 

The 70% Dark Chocolate is utterly delicious! It tastes like the finest milk chocolate you might have previously tried, but without the dairy produce, so it's a perfectly good for the vegans and dairy allergic people in your life.

The 60% Dark Orange Chocolate is every bit as good as as the 70% Dark Chocolate but with a deliciously citrussy tang of genuine Brazilian orange oil, too.

To learn more about OHSO Chocolates please visit https://ohso.com. 

Check out their special gift boxes (with personalisation options) too.

Gliding to Glory: Highlights from Head of the Dart 2023, with sponsorship from Salcombe Gin

On Saturday 29th April, the Head of The Dart event returned to the waters in Dartmouth with 240 stand up paddle boarders taking part, bringing excitement and energy to the town. 

The largest paddle board event in the UK, participants started in Dartmouth and paddled 12 km to the finish in Totnes, with over half the fleet taking part for the first time. 

Participant ages ranged from 18 to early 70's. The event featured races for all skill levels, from novice to elite, and showcased the beauty and athleticism of SUP boarding.

For the first time in seven years, the annual event was able to run the full course (previous events were altered due to inclement weather) and with the sun out, it made for a fantastic day.  The event saw people travelling from all around the country to take part, with paddlers coming from as far as Cumbria, Northumberland and Jersey.

Participant, Alasdair Conn commented: “It's the first time I've paddled that part of the Dart and I'm looking forward to going back and taking my time to explore, it is a beautiful estuary and river.”

This year saw Starboard SUP UK team rider Hector Jessel, 19 years old, win the '14' Men's race fleet' improving on his third place from last year, with local Will Keetley coming in second.  

Ginnie Betts, who has raced across Europe, took home first place in the '14' Women's race' having not taken part since 2019.  

The Head of the Dart event is not only a great day out for participants and spectators, but also provides a boost to the local economy, with over 60 per cent of participants coming from outside Devon.

Howard Davies, Co-Founder and Director of sponsor, Salcombe Gin said: "It is brilliant to sponsor such a fantastic event year on year, we are always blown away by the amazing support that is shown by those taking part and those coming to watch. The Head of the Dart is a fantastic event that brings people together from all over the country to enjoy the beauty of the River Dart and the excitement of competitive paddle boarding."

John Hibbard, CEO of sponsor, Red Paddle Co added: “It was fantastic to see so many seasoned paddlers and new SUPers out in force for this year's Head of the Dart event.

“It was a perfect day with a vast number of people having the absolute best day out, with the sun shining and an incredibly positive atmosphere. It's great to be able to welcome so many paddle boarders to Red's home turf and experience South Devon in its prime. The Head of the Dart is a very special event with paddlers from all walks of life and experience levels all coming together, encouraging each other to complete the challenge."

For more information visit the event's website at headofthedart.wordpress.com.

How to Throw the Perfect Eurovision Party With Flävar

The BEST excuse to throw a party with friends, drink to toast your favourite performers and enjoy the bants of Graham Norton. Don those sequins, grab your dancing queens, and get that ABBA jumpsuit down from the loft….all you need now is the perfect shots for your drinking games to accompany a night of fun. 

Read on for how to make sure there are a lorra lorra laughs at your Eurosoiree with delicious and indulgent shots from a brand new Swedish vodka schnapps, mixed up by one of Manchester's most experienced and talented mixologists.

Flävar breaks the ice and brings the party: need something unique and delicious for your guests? No more dragging out that old bottle of schnapps at the back of the cupboard when there's a lull in festivities- it is time to make schnapps the star of the show. Revellers all over the UK are loving the retro refresh of this glamorous liquid.

Made with some of the freshest water in the world, expertly crafted on the shores of beautiful Lake Boren in Southern Sweden, this is a seriously smooth and stylish liquid encased in vivid designs and with a bottleneck proudly emblazoned with the Swedish flag. The secret to the great taste is award-winning vodka mixed with deliciously indulgent flavours: this is a clear, crisp mouth-watering schnapps -  made for good times, for those with good taste, and lovers of delicious desserts too. 

Flävar Blueberry & Lemon (25% abv)  is the newest addition to the range, which has been shaking up the shot market all over the country in pubs and bars, a shot to be savoured and enjoyed, inspired by popular Swedish desserts and sweet treats. The combination of citrus and sweet is a delectable combination which works equally well as a post-dinner drink too. 

Flävar Strawberry & Lime (25% abv) Did you know that Sweden has some of the most succulent strawberries in the world? Candy-sweet and full of flavour, mixing the berries with zesty lime takes this liquid to a whole new level of Flävar.

Flävar Salted Caramel (25% abv)

The beloved classic: the smooth, moreish, sweet and salty sensation that shouldn't work, but it really does! Perfect for Winter gatherings, this mouth-watering favourite is a treat, and the ultimate cocktail ingredient in Christmas Martinis**. It even tastes delicious poured into a hot chocolate - yum!

Flavar has worked with tip top Mancunian Mixologist Cameron Fielding aka Smartblend, a cocktail connoisseur that's worked with amazing bars such as Sushi Samba on some epic cocktail shots.*

Founder Rolf Munding says, “Anyone brought up in Scandinavia and Germany will know Schnapps as it was a huge part of our drinking culture. I have very fond memories of the Schnapps drinking songs we used to sing back in the early '70s! The unique flavour of Schnapps makes me think of some great times,  as I am sure it does for many other people too, and Flävar is inspired by this retro drinking experience mixed with the UK's thirst for dessert-style flavours.”

Originality, individuality and a little bit of indulgence is at the heart of every bottle: this is a schnapps to show off. So long Granny's Cocktail Cabinet, it's time for Schnapps to shine!  Skål! (Swedish for cheers)

***Consumers can buy directly  from https://flavarspirit.com. RRP £19.99 for 70cl, 25% ABV***

Get involved in the Schnappschat and follow for exciting news on new Flävars coming in 2023: https://www.instagram.com/flavarspirit/ 

Founded by industry stalwart Rolf Munding, Owner of the workshop in Borensberg Sweden that launched award-winning Swedish vodka and Gin: Truth and JÜST. Rolf has over 20 years of owning and running successful hospitality venues, including Market Taverns pub group in London.

What about the flavours?

Flävar Blueberry & Lemon (25% abv)  is the newest addition to the range, which has been shaking up the shot market all over the country in pubs and bars, a shot to be savoured and enjoyed, inspired by popular Swedish desserts and sweet treats. The combination of citrus and sweet is a delectable combination which works equally well as a post-dinner drink too. 

Flävar Strawberry & Lime (25% abv) Did you know that Sweden has some of the most succulent strawberries in the world? Candy-sweet and full of flavour, mixing the berries with zesty lime takes this liquid to a whole new level of Flävar.

Flävar Salted Caramel (25% abv)

The beloved classic: the smooth, moreish, sweet and salty sensation that shouldn't work, but it really does! Perfect for Winter gatherings, this mouth-watering favourite is a treat, and the ultimate cocktail ingredient in Christmas Martinis**. It even tastes delicious poured into a hot chocolate - yum!

Flävar Raspberry & Liquorice (25% abv)

Liquorice is Sweden's favourite warming treat. Mixed with sweet, juicy raspberry and you've got yourself a taste explosion. 

*SHOT RECIPES

SWEDEN FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision or you're throwing an ABBA party. The Swedish flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like an actual blueberry muffin!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Blueberry and Lemon

5ml Lemon Juice

20ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the Blue Curacao into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and lemon juice then layer on top slowly over the back of a spoon

Below are a few recommended products that'll really help your layering. The bar spoon I've recommended comes with a flat head on it. Use that side to layer the liquid.

The speed pourers will help you control the flow of the pour and the deep shot glasses are perfect for layering.

ITALY FLAG SHOT

Whether it is to celebrate Eurovision, You have an Italian party planned, or you just want to have a little fun. This Italian flag shot is perfect. The colours are stunning and it tastes like salted caramel, chocolate, and mint!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Salted Caramel

5ml Creme de Cacao

10ml Grenadine

10ml Creme de menthe

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the grenadine into a shooter glass.

In a separate glass mix the Flävar and Creme de Cacao then layer on top. (if you pour a little bit of milk in, it'll make the colour more white)

 Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the crème de menthe

FRANCE FLAG SHOT

Whether it is to celebrate Eurovision or any French-themed gathering, the French Flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like Raspberries, Liquorice, Orange AND chocolate.

Ingredients

5ml Flävar Raspberry and Liquorice

5ml Creme de Cacao

10ml Grenadine

10ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the grenadine into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and Creme de Cacao then layer on top. (if you pour a little bit of milk in, it'll make the colour more white)

 Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the Blue Curacao

FINLAND FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision or any party. The Finland flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like an actual slice of Lemon Pie!

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Lemon Pie

5ml Cream

20ml Blue Curacao

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the Blue Curacao into a shooter glass.

 In a separate glass mix the flavar and cream then layer on top slowly over the back of a spoon

IRELAND FLAG SHOT

Whether its to celebrate Eurovision, St. Patricks day, an Irish themed party or event. The Irish flag shot is a great way to have a little bit of fun and it tastes like strawberries, lime, mint, and cream.

INGREDIENTS

5ml Flävar Strawberry and Lime

5ml Orange Juice

10ml Irish cream

10ml Creme de menthe

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour the crème de menthe into a shooter glass.

Then use the back of a spoon to layer over the Irish cream liqueur.

In a separate glass mix the flavar and Orange juice then layer on top.

This all looks like a whole heap of fun!

Celebrate the Royal Coronation with a real Cornish Cream Tea

As the nation gears up to celebrate the King's Coronation, there's really no better way to mark the occasion than with the quintessential British tradition of cream teas with authentic Cornish clotted cream. Accept no imitations - always look for PDO status on the label (protected designation of origin) as the only way to ensure every part of producing the cream happened in Cornwall.

Cornish clotted cream was granted PDO in 1998 to ensure each pot is of the highest quality, produced by traditional methods in Cornwall using exceptionally delicious Cornish milk, has a unique taste and is made according to strict guidelines. 

Trewithen Dairy uses only milk from Cornish herds to make their award-winning crusted clotted cream. It is gently heated and left to cool slowly, allowing the cream to rise to the surface to form the famous thick golden crust. 

The long weekend of celebrating is the perfect time to share little luxuries and indulgent treats with friends and family. A dozen scones, whether homemade or shop-bought, adorned with jam and cream complete the British spread - with its red and white colours reminiscent of St George's flag.

“There are countless ways to enjoy a cream tea and while we love reimagining the toppings, there's something satisfying and quintessentially British about a freshly baked scone with lashings of jam followed by Cornish clotted cream,” says Francis Clarke, director at Trewithen Dairy. 

“As we celebrate the King's Coronation, we encourage everyone to experience a true taste of the Cornwall with scones and a pot of traditional Cornish clotted cream. It's the ideal treat to share at street parties, garden gatherings and to enjoy while watching this significant event.”

The tradition of afternoon tea has barely evolved since the 11th century when the Duchess of Bedford purportedly requested a delicate afternoon snack to keep her going until dinner. It quickly became the perfect opportunity to impress through dainty sandwiches, miniature cakes, pretty china and scones. The West Country developed their own take on afternoon tea, splitting freshly baked scones before adding jam and rich clotted cream.

Whether you decide to mark the occasion with a traditional cream tea, or perhaps add your own modern twist with an array of different delicious toppings – one thing we can all agree on is that it's got to have Cornish clotted cream!

For our range of authentic Cornish cream tea hampers, order from www.trewithendairy.co.uk or look for Cornish clotted cream from your local supermarket.

Trewithen Dairy's coronation recipes are available https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk/recipes

Lemon meringue clotted cream cake

Coronation spinach, broad bean and clotted cream quiche

Summer fruit clotted cream tart

Coronation chicken skewers with mango dipping sauce

Celebrate World Gin Day With Top three Gin Cocktails from Salcombe Gin

Join in the celebrations and raise a glass with a Salcombe Gin cocktail

I either didn't know or had forgotten that World Gin Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in June every year, meaning that this year's festivities take place on the 10th June. 

Ever since 2009, it's been the perfect opportunity to experience and discover the amazing distillers around the globe who are producing world-class gin. 

Salcombe Distilling Co. expertly crafts exceptional gins at its stunning waterside distillery in South Devon, one of the world's only distilleries directly accessible by boat. Every drop of their gin in its multi-award winning range is distilled with unrivalled passion, care and attention. For every 50cl and 70cl bottle of Salcombe Gin sold in the UK, SDCo. donates 1% of the revenue to the Marine Conservation Society's ocean recovery projects. 

There's a way for everyone to enjoy World Gin Day with Salcombe Distilling Co., whether you want to enrol in Salcombe Gin School for the day, find out more about the multi-award winning Salcombe Gin range of spirits, or simply want to celebrate the best day of the year with a Salcombe Gin cocktail.  

Here's Salcombe Gin's top three World Gin Day cocktails.

THE ST CLAIR

Named after one of the famous Salcombe Fruit Schooners, the 'St Clair' is the perfect aperitif for a celebratory moment using  Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

INGREDIENTS

25ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' 

25ml St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur 

20ml Freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice 

70ml Chilled soda water 

Red grapefruit peel for decorative garnish 

METHOD

Fill a Boston shaker with ice

Add the red grapefruit juice, St. Germain and Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

Shake vigorously

Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a flute glass

Add the chilled soda water

Slice a thin piece of grapefruit peel and add to the rim of the glass for a decorative garnish

ROSÉ NEGRONI

A balancing act of three parts. This fruity, nutty and sweet cocktail, showcases Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie'

INGREDIENTS

25ml Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie'

25ml Londinio Rosé Vermouth 

25ml Londinio Aperitivo

Lemon peel

METHOD

Combine the gin, Vermouth and Aperitivo in a mixing glass with plenty of ice and stir gently

Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass

Garnish with a twist of lemon peel on the side of the glass

LADY ALICE

Lady Alice is an award-winning cocktail featuring Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'. Named after a Salcombe Fruit Schooner which sank off the coast at Start Point in Devon, this is a modern take on a perfect style Martini. 

INGREDIENTS

50ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' 

10ml Fino sherry

10ml Knightor Rosé Vermouth

5ml Red grapefruit and gorse flower oleo-sacharrum* (easier to make than it might sound!)

'Seamist' liquid garnish for 'Start Point'

Red grapefruit peel

METHOD

To recreate at home, simply stir all the ingredients together in a mixing glass

Strain the liquid into a chilled Nick & Nora glass

Finish with 2-3 sprays of 'Seamist' and garnish with a twist of red grapefruit peel

*To make the red grapefruit and gorse flower oleo-sacharrum, just muddle the peel of 3 red grapefruits and 50g of gorse flowers. Add 300g of sugar combined with the juice of 1 ½ red grapefruits and stir. Leave in the fridge overnight. Strain before use.

For further information on Salcombe Distilling Co., visit www.salcombedistilling.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook, and SalcombeDCo on Twitter.

Re-Energised Bolle Returns to the London Wine Fair With an Improved Low/no Wine Offer

Buoyed up by positive initial expert and consumer reactions NEW, improved Bolle will be hitting the alcohol free wine marketplace this Spring.  

Roberto Vanin, who is the founder of Bolle is again shifting the goalposts when it comes to revolutionising best-in-class, alcohol-free wines.  

After extensive trialling, (including buyer reviews, event tastings and awards panels) the Bolle team are convinced this new, improved offering will meet and even exceed the demanding taste aspirations of an increasingly influential low/no movement.

 For the most part, the UK's leading alcohol-free wines are produced via de-alcoholisation, a somewhat heavy-handed process which unwittingly and unfortunately removes not only the alcohol but also all of the volatile components that shape a wine's unique personality.   The result is a one-dimensional proposition devoid of depth and engaging taste, because incumbent low/no wine providers fill the resulting 'flavour void' with lazy juices, sugar and flavourings. 

Bolle's unique pathway opts instead to leverage game-changing Zero GradiTM technology to re-ferment the de-alcoholised wine, revitalising complex flavour and aroma profiles without alcohol.   

Bolle is a stylish sparkling wine with none of the taste compromises historically associated with the UK's low/no wine movement.  Bolle is committed to taking low/no wine in a new pure pleasure direction and was recently shortlisted at The World Innovation Awards.

To learn more visit Visit bolledrinks.com.

 

Srsly Low Carb Launches the Last Word in Light-to-Bite, Heavily Seeded Artisan Loaves

An indulgent, artisanal seeded loaf is the latest, possibly proudest, NEW arrival to SRSLY Low Carb's burgeoning portfolio of magnificently tasty bready goods that already includes: a low carb sliced white loaf, plump low carb rolls, a fruit loaf, seeded rolls, ready-to-eat pizza bases, not cross buns and fantastically foldy wraps.

SRSLY Low Carb was born when keto enthusiast Andy Welch discovered he was not able to square his commitment to a non-bloaty low carb diet with his deep-rooted appreciation of amazing, tasty bread. 

After giving the matter careful consideration, Andy became convinced the lack of a credible low carb bread offer was central to oodles of enthusiastic keto disciples falling off their low carb wagons. 

Having spent the last two years establishing SRSLY as Amazon's leading retailer of high protein/low carb bread, Hemel's pioneering keto-centric bread provider is raising funds to take the major mults and foodservice by storm.

SRSLY's NEW ARTISANAL SEEDED LOAF

Unable to find anything to curb those niggling cravings for buttery toasted doorsteps, the ultimate soup sponge and the best ham & cheese toastie, SRSLY set about creating the last word in low carb artisanal loaves.

Each prodigiously plump (320g) seeded loaf offers only a miserly fraction of the carbs generated by everyday breads (45/55g of carbs per 100g). SRSLY's new seeded loaf has a glowing Sugarwise endorsement and delivers just 5.9g of net carbs per 100g which means a new dawn of guilt-free bready joy.

Srslylowcarb.com

You should expect to pay an RSP of £3.89 a loaf.