May is looking pretty sweet thanks to our three Bank Holiday weekends (cheers Charlie) so what better excuse to get the chums round and crack open a bottle of something delicious. We’ve taken one for the team here and done the hard work researching what to pour so you don’t have to. You’re so welcome.
We don't need to think twice about stocking up on Hattingley Valley's new Still Rosé. The perfect summer tipple, while you may associate this Hampshire vineyard with English Sparkling, this rosé has been one of their best sellers in previous vintages. The delightful pale salmon-pink colour, with aromas of grapefruit, pomegranate, fresh strawberries and blossom on the nose, is fresh, crusp, low in alcohol and medium-bodied, with a refreshing and balanced acidity and a long dry finish. Gorgeous with summer salads and seafood, it's £19 a bottle from www.hattingleyvalley.com.
The rather tasty Archipelago Gin (£40 from Masters of Malt) is an essential for any cocktail cabinet. Handcrafted from 28 botanicals -22 of which are sourced and foraged across the Philippines - the citrus-forward flavour profile is informed by fresh pomelo, dalandan, calamansi and dayap, anchored on a base of juniper, and rounded with fresh mango and fragrant sampaguita, ylang-ylang and kamia bowers. This is a gin made for summer drinking.
B Corp certified Hattiers Rum specialises in sourcing and blending fine aged rums from over 25 distilleries across the world which theymarry with pure Dartmoor water at their Devon blending house and distillery. If Bank Holiday Mojitos are on your radar, the Eminence Blended Aged White Rum is the one for you. Vanilla, creamy fudge and pineapple make this smooth, fruity rum a new favourite. £37.50 from www.hattiersrum.com.
Rosé season is here at last! There’s hot competition for a favourite, but the Minuty Prestige (£23.95 from www.secretbottleshop.co.uk) bursts with summer flavours of zesty lemon and grapefruit. It’s the one for pairing with seafood, preferably by the sea but the garden will just about do.
If you’re after a special Scotch to toast the new King (hell, or just for toasting yourself) Fettercairn has just released the fifth and final instalment of its limited edition ‘Warehouse Collection’ of whisky, a series dedicated to limited and rare small-batch whiskies from the 14 traditional dunnage-style warehouses on the distillery site. Released in early 2023, this expression was distilled in 2016 and aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and local beer barrels in Warehouse 14, resulting in a whisky with notes of warm toasty maltiness, cacao, crème caramel and soft wood spices. £64.95 from www.thewhiskyexchange.com
Pop a cork and celebrate with a bottle of Champagne from French house PIAFF. Their Brut NV is simply delicious, ombining Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, to create an elegant expression, full of creamy brioche and crisp fruit. £41.60 Available from Amathus.
We all know Patrón is the one when it comes to tequila, but we’re loving the thought of their spring serves. Try the Patrón Reposado (£50 from Waitrose) in a Perfect Parloma, with fresh grapefruit juice, agave syrup, fresh squeezed lime, sparkling water and a pinch of salt. A fresh take on an old favourite. Find this and more at www.patrontequila.com
Jura whisky has just brought its Jura Pale Ale Cask Edition to the shelves (£36 from Tesco), the result of a dedicated and ongoing collaborative seasoning programme led by Jura’s whisky makers. During lockdown they collaborated with local craft brewers to source beer casks, each full of flavour and well suited to maturing Jura’s signature flavour profile. This whisky is packed with aromas of honeyed cereal, vanilla spice and hints of pineapples, a bright and fruity finish.
Nao Spirits’s Hapusa is a Himalayan gin produced in India using local juniper, turmeric, mango, ginger, cardamom, coriander seeds, gondhoraj limes and almonds, resulting in a warming flavour profile with a distinct tang. We’ll be pairing it with ginger beer for a summer cocktail. £38.95 from www.masterofmalt.com
Another fabulous fizz comes in the form of La Giosa's La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV Brut Prosecco, available from Waitrose for just £10.49. From one of Italy's leading producers, there's a reason it's consistently won awards across the globe. It ticks the cheap and cheerful box without actually tasting cheap - always a risk - it's a perfect pre-dinner tipple, taking its name from an ancient local saying, ‘marca gioiosa et amorosa’, meaning ‘march with joy and love’. Perfect for a celebratory weekend.
For a crisp white, the Weinhaus Sauvignon Blanc Kalkstein 2021 might just be a new favourite (£9.99 at Booths). You wouldn't necessarily pinpoint a Germany for a great Sauvignon Blanc, but the deep and nutrient-rich limestone soil offers ideal growing conditions, resulting in an exotic and aromatic wine with notes of mango, passionfruit and citrus fruit, perfect for summer dining (or, you know, just drinking in the garden...).
