Add an Unforgettable, Finishing Touch to Your Wedding Day by Creating a Bespoke Spirit With Salcombe Distilling Co.

What better way could there be to celebrate your nuptials than with your very own bespoke spirits, created by you and the one you love ready for your wedding day?

Dedicated to craftsmanship and sustainability, the famous Salcombe Distilling Co. is absolutely thrilled to be able to announce the introduction of an exciting opportunity for couples to create their own bespoke spirits, adding a unique and personal touch to their wedding day. 

The award-winning Salcombe Gin School and newly launched Salcombe Rum School provides an immersive and interactive space for couples to craft their very own unique spirit with flavours that reflect their individual tastes and preferences. From seasonal flavours to clever naming conventions, your chosen drink is guaranteed to add a unique layer of personalisation to your big day. 

First, create your bespoke drink.

With expert guidance from the expert, knowledgeable team, you'll both embark on a hands-on journey, taking charge of a beautiful fully-working mini copper pot still to develop and distil your very own 70cl bottle of gin or rum at Salcombe Distilling Co.'s waterside distillery in Salcombe. 

During the experience, you'll be able to unleash your creativity, creating your very own special recipe by choosing from an extensive range of botanicals that are specially and carefully sourced for their quality and uniqueness, or get imaginative and experiment by bringing your own. 

During distillation, couples will be able to sample and refine their unique creation before naming and bottling their specially made and chosen drink. 

The finished product is then presented in a beautifully crafted presentation box, making it an exquisite memento to cherish and share on their wedding day. 

A Gin School lesson is three hours long and are typically available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons at 2pm and Saturday mornings at 10am. Salcombe Rum School runs every Thursday from 2pm-5pm. A Gin or Rum School lesson for two people sharing a still is £160. 

Now, let's get wedding ready.

Ready for your special day? Salcombe Distilling Co. offers a service to distil more of your bespoke gin or rum.  If you're a former guest of the schools, simply visit salcombegin.com and fill out the online form listing your chosen botanicals and quantities noted during your previous Salcombe School visit. 

Salcombe Distilling Co.'s team of expert distillers will then re-create two 70cl bottles of gin or rum (from £95). If you're looking to make your day really special, get in touch with their team to discuss larger quantities.

By choosing Salcombe Distilling Co, you are not only embarking on a truly unique and memorable experience, you can indulge in exceptional quality whilst also supporting their commitment to ocean conservation and a cleaner planet.

For more information about Salcombe Gin School and Salcombe Rum School experiences you can call 01548 288 180, email customerservice@salcombedistilling.com or visit www.salcombegin.com.  

Drink Seedlip this Summer!

Join Seedlip this summer and savour and enjoy the unparalleled taste, indulge in the alluring botanicals, and create some delicious alcohol-free cocktails.

These will be great for BBQs and summer parties, for people who don't want to consume, or over-consume, alcohol.

So, what does Seedlip have on offer? There's Seedlip Spice 94, Seedlip Garden 108, and Seedlip Grove 42, and enjoy sophisticated summery cocktails without the booze!

You can buy Seedlip alcohol-free spirits on Amazon. But if you'd like someone else to create Seedlip cocktails for you, visit The Ivy, Bacchanalia, Sexy Fish, Hakkasan, Yauatcha, Public, Gatsby, Cottonopolis or New Century Kitchen.

Seedlip Grove 42 (0% ABV)

If a burst of zest and vibrancy is what you desire, look no further than Seedlip Grove 42. Crafted with a tantalizing blend of sun-ripened oranges, mandarins, and lemons, this invigorating nectar awakens the senses and brings forth a radiant burst of citrusy joy. Seedlip Grove 42 will be your trusted ally in making the most of the sunny days, infusing your summer with a delicious taste.

RRP: 70cl, £22*, ABV: 0%, Available at Amazon

Seedlip Spice 94 (0% ABV)

Seedlip Spice 94 boasts an enchanting fusion of warm, aromatic spices, beckons adventurers and connoisseurs alike to embark on a sensory journey. This refined alcohol-free spirit tantalizes the taste buds with the aromatic harmony of allspice berries, cardamom, and pepper, perfectly balanced to deliver a distinctive, full-bodied experience. So create a delicious cocktail with Seedlip Spice 94 this summer, and stir up your spirit of wanderlust.

RRP: 70cl, £22*, ABV: 0%, Available at Amazon

Seedlip Garden 108 (0% ABV)

For those seeking the essence of tranquillity and serenity, Seedlip Garden 108 beckons with its vibrant, herbaceous blend. Immerse yourself in the refreshing notes of hand-picked peas, rosemary, and thyme, masterfully crafted to deliver a crisp and invigorating sensation. This revitalizing alcohol-free spirit is the ultimate companion for moments of relaxation, be it basking in the sun or enjoying a laid-back picnic.

RRP: 70cl, £22*, ABV: 0%, Available at Amazon Amazon

Please be aware, prices may vary, check with the relevant retailer.

https://www.seedlipdrinks.com

Incidentally, That's Food and Drink first became aware of Seedlip via this company https://wisebartender.co.uk, who also stock the range.

Reduce Your Bills By Up To £500 Per Year - Hard water and the little known trick to reducing your energy bills

With inflation high, many people are wondering what they can do to reduce their household bills. 

For 60% of the UK, there's a little known trick which can cut energy bills immediately and for the next 30+ years, and it comes down to solving one simple problem in the home: hard water. Hard water affects millions of homes in the UK and while you may not think it has any effect on your energy consumption, it really does.

For many, the limescale caused by hard water is simply an irritation and another minor issue in the home. Dealing with blocked shower heads, unsightly scale on your taps and in your kettle, and cleaning soap scum are relatively low on most people’s list of priorities, especially when many of us are dealing with escalating prices and inflation. However, the by-products of hard water are causing more harm than you could ever imagine, and costing you money in the process.

Treating hard water can save you money in your home by reducing energy consumption, increasing the lifespan of appliances, and minimising the need for aggressive cleaning products.

So, how does hard water increase energy bills?

Higher temperatures cause limescale to form more readily, meaning heating elements in expensive equipment such as your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine are especially susceptible to limescale build-up. For every 1mm of limescale on a heating element the amount of energy required to heat water increases by 7-10%. 

Just look inside your kettle to see how much limescale build-up there is – we’re willing to bet it’s more than 1mm if you live in a hard water area. And, if like many homes you have just 3mm of limescale built up on your heating elements, the cost of your energy to heat your hot water can be as much as 25% higher than they should be. For as long as your hard water remains untreated, limescale will continue to accumulate and bills will continue to increase.

Eventually this build up will also damage your appliances. In hard water areas you can expect to replace equipment such as your boiler twice as often as someone in a soft water area. So not only are your bills going up throughout the lifespan of this equipment, but you can expect to undertake expensive replacements and repairs more often as well.

How can you treat your hard water?

Your hard water treatment options can be put into three categories: Water Softeners, Water Conditioners and Scale Inhibitors. They all work in different ways and with varying results, so it’s important you do your research before making a decision.

In a nutshell, here are the differences:

Water Softeners – These large units use ion exchange and need power and regular salt top-ups to remain effective. Users often install a separate drinking water tap to avoid consuming the salt-softened water.

Cost - £299 to £1,800

Lifespan – 10 to 20 years

Water Conditioners – These in-line devices treat water as it enters the home and require no chemicals, salt or power. Water treated in this way is safe for consumption and for your pets and plants.

Cost - £450 to £999

Lifespan – 4 to 30+ years

Scale Inhibitors – Scale inhibitors protect one piece of equipment, for a short period of time and are typically fitted when boilers are installed.

Cost – up to £120

Lifespan – 1 to 10 years

Halcyan Water Conditioner’s CEO, Samantha Mant, sums up the effects of hard water on energy bills: “As energy prices continue to soar, households are running out of ways to save money on their bills. However one way to achieve a more energy-efficient home is to install a sustainable water conditioner which can save households hundreds of pounds per year. 

"The Halcyan is a small device which takes under an hour to install and requires no additional cupboard space. It not only prevents future limescale but also removes existing limescale in your system. For a £770 investment, customers receive a 30 year warranty and can expect to achieve a potential saving of up to £15,000, on energy bills at today’s prices, savings on appliance maintenance and replacement, and a reduction in detergents required, over the lifetime of the device.”

Incidentally, That's Food and Drink is based in a very hard water area so are interested in anything that can help reduced limescale in our kitchen and our home. 

halcyanwater.com

Introducing the New 'Sandridge Barton' Collection - First Wine to Be Released Wins Master Medal at the Global Sparkling Masters 2023

Top English wine producer, Sandridge Barton, is pleased and delighted to unveil its highly anticipated premium range, under the 'Sandridge Barton' label. Known for its commitment to producing exceptional English wines, Sandridge Barton, the home of Sharpham Wine, has introduced the first wines under the label of its new location near Stoke Gabriel, which is in South Devon. 

The first wine in the collection to be released, Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir', was recently recognised as one of the best Sparkling wines in the whole world at the Global Sparkling Masters 2023 after being awarded a Master Medal. 

An award which is only given to wines which are an outstanding example of its type, showing impeccable winemaking. It must demonstrate a wonderful texture, a perfect balance and a broad range of delicious, persistent flavours to the panel of expert judges, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers.

Duncan Schwab, CEO and Head Winemaker at Sandridge Barton, said: “This bottling run is part of our Sandridge Barton range, for wines we firmly believe are truly unique. 

"Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir' is the first to be released and is made with Pinot Noir fruit harvested in 2020 from our vineyards overlooking the river Dart in South Devon. It's a cracking wine and we are extremely proud to receive a Master Medal and are delighted to introduce it to our range of English wines, which has now grown to over 15 wines.”

At this competition, judges sought out the very best Sparkling wines that were on the market, judging them blind with no knowledge as to their origin. The contest was open to any sparkling or semi-sparkling wine made anywhere in the whole world. 

The judges tasted 230 entries from 14 different countries, with seven master medalists in total, including three from Champagne, two from Asti, one from California and one from Sandridge Barton in Devon.

Sandridge Barton 'Blanc de Noir' is priced at £45. Of a golden colour, inviting rich nose with good autolysis, clean fresh fruit with a lime, gooseberry and raspberry palate and ripe balanced finish. 

This is not the only success for Sandridge Barton this month, the WineGB Awards results were announced last week and the Devon-based winery was awarded seven medals, including a Gold medal for the Sandridge Barton Pinot Noir 2020, four silvers and two bronze medals, too.

Over the course of the summer, Sandridge Barton will add three more wines to its 'Sandridge Barton' label range. A Bacchus, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, all of which are still wines will join the 'Blanc de Noir'. Bottles will vary in price and will be available to buy from Sandridge Barton, from their cellar door and through their website. 

With over 40 years of producing award-winning English wines, previously under the Sharpham Wine brand, Sandridge Barton has continued to be at the forefront of crafting exceptional wines that embody the unique marriage of climate, soil and grape varieties in this region of England.

The Global Sparkling Masters took place in London on 10 May. It is one of the 27 Global Wine Masters competitions taking place in 2023, run by industry-leading publication the drinks business.

For more information please visit sandridgebarton.com or to stay up to date like/follow Sandridge Barton Wines on Facebook, Sandridge_Barton on Instagram and @SharphamWines on Twitter.

Double Dutch Secures £4m Funding to massively boost business growth

Double Dutch, the outstanding producers of award-winning premium mixers and tonics, has announced the completion of its latest funding round, securing a £4m investment. The news comes after the female-founded brand grew distribution by a stunning 63% in the last year alone. 

As the market player with the fastest volume growth in the category, the premium drinks brand has completed this latest round of funding to grow the brand in the UK, strengthen its sales team and drive growth in export, with a primary focus on its secondary home market, Benelux, the UAE, and planning entry to the APAC region.

As part of its mission to double the expectations of mixers, Double Dutch has now secured the backing of over 40 F&B and hospitality industry investors, including the likes of the Heineken - De Carvalho Family. 

The new funding is part of plans to ready the drinks brand for its next stage of growth, where Double Dutch will be using a proportion of the £4m funding secured towards strengthening the brand in its UK domestic market to further build brand awareness. 

Innovation continues to be a key focus of the brand, with new trending mixer flavours planned over the next two years to meet consumers' tastes. The brand also plans to expand the drinking occasions for Double Dutch consumers, expanding into new adult soft drink categories, and supported with a social-first strategy and integrated marketing campaigns to ensure the brand remains first-to-market with innovative new product development. 

The investment will be used to drive deeper distribution in the on and off-trade, including new markets, with the UAE pinpointed as a key target for its all-year-round no/low opportunity. 

The rapid growth has also led the inspiring drinks brand to expand the Double Dutch team across sales and HR, both in the UK and within in export markets. The appointment of an HR manager brings with it a new global recruitment strategy.   

To cement its position in the UAE region, Double Dutch has appointed Benita Bohsali as its Head of International Growth, who has previously supported businesses including MMI, Red Bull and Heineken. 

In her new role, Bohsali will be responsible for strategic and commercial planning, with a focus on the key cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to increase on and off-trade listings and drive overall growth for the brand. 

Raissa & Joyce de Haas, co-founders of Double Dutch, said: “We're really delighted with the continued support from our investor partners and we are really looking forward to them being a part of the next stage of our exciting journey. We're super proud to now be one of the fastest-growing mixer brands and can't wait to see our further growth in the UK, Benelux and beyond.” 

Ewan Venters, CEO at Hauser & Wirth and Investment Director at Double Dutch, added: “Watching Double Dutch grow into one of the most dynamic businesses in the drinks industry today has been a real pleasure. 

"Their stratospheric rise in the world of mixers has been through incredible hard work, a robust strategy and an unwavering vision to shake up the mixer market. As their Investor Director, it's been really exciting to help shape the next stage of business acceleration with the planned impact of this fundraise on their growth ambitions. This brand is one to watch.”

Double Dutch is now stocked in over 45 countries around the globe, including as the exclusive tonic for Soho House, worldwide.

The Double Dutch drinks take inspiration from the world of natural flavours, with unique, bold and sometimes unexpected flavour pairings, are always produced employing only high quality ingredients and have absolutely zero artificial flavouring, colours or preservatives whatsoever. 

All the products are naturally vegan and are also gluten free, and as part of the twin founders' mission to do business the right way, the brand is proudly Carbon Neutral and is pursuing B-corp status.  

The full range of Double Dutch flavours are available via the Double Dutch website or Amazon, with a select range of the brand's mixers available at Waitrose or Ocado and Tesco.

To stock Double Dutch, email sales@doubledutchdrinks.com  

www.doubledutchdrinks.com 

Aldi faces down council in ice cream wars

What’s even better, customers can secure a £5 voucher to purchase their own ice-cream, simply by emailing freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk. (T&C comply)

Aldi is offering free ice-cream outside its Brocklebank Road store on Friday 16th June, following the news that Greenwich Council will be banning ice-cream vans in the borough during the summer months.

Pictured: Aldi giveaway ice creams outside the store in Greenwich.  Leading budget supermarket Aldi has come to the rescue for people in a London Borough where ice cream vans have been banned, by simply handing out free frozen desserts.  

Greenwich Council shocked local residents when it published a list of streets across Greenwich and Woolwich town centres where ice cream vans could be prohibited from trading during the summer months.

But Aldi stepped in to counter this ban help and offered Londoners the cool treats as the warm weather continues, even going so far as offering shoppers the chance to win free ice cream.  

Visitors to the Greenwich store on Brocklebank Road could be lucky enough to scoop up to 23 ice creams with a £5 voucher.

Even better, UK Aldi shoppers will be in with a chance to bag some free ice-cream, simply by emailing freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk to secure a £5 voucher.

The decision to ban ice-cream vans, which was announced by Greenwich Council this week, was met with a frosty reception by Greenwich residents. Thankfully, Aldi has moved in to save the day with the offer of an abundance of ice cool treats for free from its Brocklebank Road store.

With Aldi prices starting from just 21p per ice-lolly, lucky winners will be able to scoop  up to 23 ice-creams with their free voucher. All customers need do is send an email to this to email address: freealdiicecream@clarioncomms.co.uk along with their name and address.

Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “We’d like to reassure ice-cream fans, not just in Greenwich, but across the nation, that they can still enjoy a delicious summertime treat as we head into another weekend of heatwave weather!”

Customers can use their voucher to try Aldi’s extensive range of delicious ice-creams, which includes shopper favourites such as the Gianni’s Caramelised Biscuit Chocsticks (£2.49, 3 pack), Gianni’s Strawberry & Vanilla Ice Blitz (£1.15, 6 pack) and Gianni’s Mini Whirlz (£1.99, 8 pack).

Aldi’s ice-cream range is available in store and via Click & Collect now.

www.facebook.com/AldiUK   

www.twitter.com/AldiUK   

www.instagram.com/AldiUk   

Full T&Cs apply, visit: https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-ice-creams

Aldi is switching to colourless, greener, milktops in all its 990 UK stores

Following last year's successful trial, Aldi, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, is introducing the easier to recycle caps on all its milk lines in a bid to further boost the recyclability of the bottles.

Partnering with several suppliers, the new milk caps have started to appear in stores this week onward.

The roll out will mean a further 200 tonnes of High-Density Polythene (rHDPE) in the bottle tops can be reused to create new milk bottles.  

Customers will still be able to distinguish the milk type via the labels, which will remain red, green or blue depending on the fat content of the milk it contains.

Luke Emery, Aldi's Plastics and Packaging Director said: “At Aldi we are constantly reviewing ways to become a more sustainable supermarket and cut down on single-use plastic. That means working closely with all our suppliers to find solutions that will make a real difference.

“Improving the recyclability of packaging on an everyday product like milk has been well received by our customers, who are increasingly aware of products being environmentally friendly.”

Aldi brings out a real Wimbledon Winner with the return of Baileys Extra Thick Strawberry Cream

Back by popular customer demand, the limited-edition Baileys Extra Thick Strawberry Cream (£2.19) has returned exclusively to Aldi stores ahead of the Wimbledon season. And Aldi shoppers can bag this treat now.

Following its great success last year, the supermarket predicts it will sell enough of the cream to fill around 10 swimming pools!

Made with 100% yummy British cream, it’s deliciously rich and indulgently thick which makes it a perfect doubles partner with Aldi’s Specially Selected Strawberries (£2.85, 400g). And with strawberries expected to be bigger and sweeter than previous years due to the cooler spring weather, Aldi's shoppers will be in for the ultimate treat when paired with this decedent summer topping.

For those who want something even sweeter, why not try pairing it with Aldi’s Dessert Menu Strawberry Cheesecake (£0.85, 400g) for an overload of creamy strawberry delight?

The launch comes as Aldi serves up its first ever Swing Ball Championships, which is open and free to book during 3rd – 7th July.

Baileys Extra Thick Strawberry Cream is available in Aldi stores now, while stocks last, of course!

Kings Cross Commuters to team up with Sainsbury and Comic Relief

Sainsbury’s ‘DINspiration’ pop-up launches 26 and 27 June in London Kings Cross, giving busy workers dinner inspiration by offering grab-and-go meal kits.

This pop-up follows research by Sainsbury’s revealing a massive 74% of commuters think about what they'll be having for dinner on their homeward commute.

For a mere 50p, commuters can purchase a complete meal kit inspired by Sainsbury’s Inspired to Cook range, with all the proceeds being donated to Comic Relief.

Sainsbury's is donating 50p to Comic Relief for every Inspired to Cook product sold until 11th July.

Research by Sainsbury’s has revealed that deciding what to cook for dinner is high on the agenda for commuters, with 74% saying they think about their evening mealtime on their journey home.

Mid-week dinners seem to be missing variety due to this on-the-go attitude, with 63% of Brits admitting they struggle to come up with healthy meal options for dinner, citing lack of inspiration as the key reason behind this issue (32%).

Over a quarter (27%) of us confirmed they we'd vary our meals more often if it was quick and easy to do, with an additional 25% saying we'd like to introduce healthy recipes and variety into mealtimes. Over 50% of Brits confirmed we cook between one and four dishes on repeat each month.

Sainsbury’s is serving up a dose of ‘DINspiration’ and helping to solve this commuter's dilemma with a new two-day pop-up in London’s Kings Cross, offering commuters a flavourful, healthful grab-and-go meal kit for two, containing ingredients from its Inspired to Cook range, alongside fresh ingredients and recipes needed to cook the meals at home.

Peckish commuters can pick up a meal kit for a mere 50p, with all proceeds donated directly to Comic Relief. The amount raised from these sales highlights a wider initiative by Sainsbury’s, in which the retailer will donate 50p for every product sold from its Inspired to Cook range in store and online from now until 11th July.

This forms part of Sainsbury's Nourish the Nation programme with Comic Relief which aims to tackle food poverty now and in the future. Overall, it's hoped this six-week drive, which launched on 31st May, will contribute at least £3million to the programme this summer.

The DINspiration pop-up will be available to commuters outside London Kings Cross station on 26 and 27 June from 5pm to 7pm. The kits will contain complete ingredients for recipes such as Teriyaki Stir Fry and Harissa Chicken Traybake, helping busy commuters find inspiration for their dinners in a convenient, nutritious, and time-effective way.

Ruth Cranston, who is Sainsbury’s Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability said: “With so many people lacking dinner inspiration, we hope our pop-up adds a bit of flavour to commuters' mealtimes. 

"Our Inspired to Cook range is designed to inspire our customers’ food choices, helping them to cook fresh, nutritional meals with ease. And now, with Sainsbury's donating 50p from every Inspired To Cook product sold until 11th July, this popular range not only tastes good, but does good too. All funds raised will go to our long-standing charity partner Comic Relief as part of our Nourish the Nation initiative, which seeks to prevent people falling into food poverty now and in the future."

Working in partnership with Comic Relief, Sainsbury’s Nourish the Nation programme supports organisations such as Feeding Britain and The Bread and Butter Thing in their work to help alleviate food poverty in communities across the country.

www.sainsbury.com.

Baking Yesteryear

Baking Yesteryear is a baking cookery book written by baking enthusiast and TikTok and YouTube star B. Dylan Hollis. 

It covers interesting baking recipes from throughout the 20th century

If you'd like to know what baking recipes that your grandparents and great-grandparents made and have a go at baking them for yourself, then this book is for you. 

In it B. Dylan Hollis highlights some of the most unique baking treats of yesteryear.

Take a trip back in time on a delicious jaunt through the 100 years of the 20th century as Dylan shows you how to bake vintage treats, many of them long-forgotten baking gems.

With Dylan's quirky humour and baking gusto, you'll find yourself baking savoury and sweet forgotten treats. 

Over the years Bermudian Dylan has baked hundreds of recipes from scores of antique cookbooks and recipe booklets and official government publications.

He has selected the top of these recipes for this bakebook, with top recipes from each decade.

However, there are some recipes included that might not have stood the test (or taste?) of time as they are said to be spectacularly dreadful! But why not give these a try, too? You can't say you weren't warned!

A few of Dylan's favourites are:

- 1900s Cornflake Macaroons

- 1910s ANZAC Biscuits

- 1930s Peanut Butter Bread

- 1940s Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake

- 1950s Tomato Soup Cake

- 1970s Potato Chip Cookies

It's available on pre-order from Amazon.co.uk in hardback at £17.60.