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3 For a fun take on your next home-made concoction, Van Gogh Vodka, acclaimed for its unique flavoured spirit collection, has created a Peanut Butter & Jelly Vodka. Known as PB & J, Van Gogh has laced pure vodka from its historic Royal Dirkzwager distillery in Holland, with smooth peanut butter and raspberry jam flavours to create a playful spirit that’ s ideal for home experimentation. The fragrance of PB & J vodka is predominantly of peanuts, and is complemented by the fresh fruit aroma of the raspberry. On the tongue, the roles are reversed and the raspberry flavor is more of the focal point, giving it a velvety texture with a hint of vanilla on the side. www. vangoghvodka. com
From aged whisky and tequila to boutique vodkas and imaginative liqueurs, here are the innovative drops we’ re sipping and savouring with this spring.
6 Continuing its surge into the Asian luxury spirits scene, award-winning tequila DeLeón, the purist tequila on record according to the Tequila Regulatory Council, has launched the highly-anticipated Reserva – Leóna. The new crown in the collection, the Reserva is made from 100 percent pure blue weber agave and utilizes the purest water in Mexico, drawing from DeLeón’ s three natural spring wells. The tequila is distilled in the white glove facility of the DeLeón fabrica, then aged 34 months in legendary Sauternes barrels. Presented in a limited edition black box with a python flask, Leóna is the epitome of DeLeón’ s signature‘ luxury with an edge’ appeal and makes for a perfect gift. DeLeón Tequila is certifiably the purest tequila on record. It is produced at the highest point of any tequila in Purísima del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. From US $ 1,100; www. deleontequila. com
4 For something truly unique to add to spring cocktails, look out for the spectacular range of natural, organic liqueurs from Chicago’ s first boutique producer, Koval Distillery, including Rose Hip( pictured) and Chrysanthemum Honey. Bottled by hand, the Rose Hip liqueur is an elegant and balanced spirit, with the hips or fruit of the rose tree lending a stronger, heavier citrus note to the liqueur than the petals would. Try with a chilled glass of champagne to make a spring twist on the Bellini, or with gin cocktails to bring out the botancials. Alternatively the Chrysanthemum Honey liqueur is warm and sweet, with herbal hints that make it ideal for hot toddies or even as a twist for Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. www. koval-distillery. com
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5 Also from Chicago’ s Koval Distillery, Lion’ s Pride whiskies are the perfect gift for whiskey lovers looking for something different. Five variations have been made from five popular grains – rye, wheat, millet, spelt and dark oat – with the resulting spirits aged in new American oak barrels to create rich and complex flavour profiles and throughly- American whiskeys. The rye version features tangerine and coconut hints with a white pepper finish, while the dark oat blend features pineapple and banana hints with a soft, creamy finish. The millet variation boasts tart notes with dark fruits on the palate, while whiskey lovers will find ripe apricots and peaches in the spelt whiskey. A true connoisseur’ s drop, Lion’ s Pride has already won gold at the International Whiskey Competition, while a series aged in heavy char barrels is also available. www. koval-distillery. com
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