DEVON’S FINEST

From spirits and soft drinks crafted on Devon’s shores to cheese cakes stacked with locally made favourites, delight your guests with the county’s finest produce on W-day

words Rebecca Matthews

WINES

Crowd-pleasing wines are a must at a wedding. Raise a glass with these Devon-made delights.

Sharpham Summer Sparkling

Gently fizzing with summer flavour, Sharpham Summer Sparkling is a fun and fruity option for a sundrenched celebration. Made in the traditional method blending characters of delicate red berry, crunchy red apple and pink grapefruit, it’s a light, refreshing and easy-drinking delight for the drinks reception or toast. sandridgebarton.com

Huxbear Classic Sparkling 2018

This exceptional Devon sparkling wine is sure to be talking point at your wedding. Grown and bottled on the Huxbear Estate – a small, fully sustainable vineyard in Devon’s Teign Valley – Huxbear Classic Sparkling is produced using the traditional method – and its fresh nose of green apples, hints of pineapple and fine bubbles make for a wow-worthy fizz. wickhamwine.co.uk

Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2020

Crafted from some of the finest fruit available in the UK and aged in 30% new oak, this Pinot Noir is a top-notch choice for a wedding. From the intense aromas of vanilla oak and mild tobacco to the fruity palate of cherry and plum blended with blackcurrant, strawberry and toasty oak, this elegant, award-scooping wine is bursting with mouthwatering flavour. wickhamwine.co.uk

Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve 2018

Perfect for drinking alone or with food, this crisp, clean, easy-drinking white is rounded off with sweet apricot and a subtle spice on the finish. Just delicious. wickhamwine.co.uk

Some seriously special alcohol-free drinks are made in Devon, offering a fabulous choice for non-drinking guests.

Luscombe Strawberry Bubbly

Crafted in small batches on their Devon farm, Luscombe’s multi award-winning organic drinks blend the finest quality whole fruits and wild ingredients with soft Dartmoor spring water. Bursting with fresh strawberries with a twist of Sicilian lemon and Madagascan vanilla, each lightly sparkling sip of their new Strawberry Bubbly captures the flavour of the English summertime. Serve over ice or paired with a premium spirit for a fabulously fruity wedding tipple. luscombe.co.uk

Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly

An elegant, delicate and deliciously refreshing alternative to champagne, Luscombe’s Damascene Rose Bubbly blends Damascene Rose, Muscat grape juice and Sicilian lemons with sparkling Dartmoor spring water. Garnish with a strawberry and pair with canapés or light seafood dishes for sophisticated summer sipping. luscombe.co.uk

Devonia Still and Sparkling Water

Bottled at source from an ancient spring near Beeson in the South Hams, Devonia provides top-notch still and sparkling natural Devon spring water to ensure a delicious, local touch for your tabletops. What’s more, thanks to the company’s impressive sustainability credentials, the bottles will be collected to be washed and reused time and time again. devoniawater.co.uk

New London Light First Light

Showcasing innovative flavour combinations crafted from the finest botanicals, the New London Light collection of non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs from Salcombe Distilling Co. prove that alcoholfree doesn’t mean compromising on taste. Their award-winning First Light is a bold, refreshing blend of juniper, ginger, habanero, orange and sage. Serve with tonic water, an orange slice and sage leaf for a palate-pleasing alternative to a gin and tonic or head to the website for more delectable ideas.

New London Light Aegean Sky

A vibrant blend from the New London Light collection, Aegean Sky is inspired by the Mediterranean coast: think sun-soaked bitter citrus, ripe olive and subtle floral notes. Pair with tonic for an exotic addition to your drinks menu.

New London Light Midnight Sun

Drawing on the wild Nordic regions for flavoursome inspiration, Midnight Sun is another stellar creation from the New London Light collection, combining hand-picked seaberries and elderberries together with kelp, elderflower and pine to create a delicate and complex tipple. salcombegin.com

Some of the UK’s finest spirits are made in Devon. Here are some musthaves for your drinks menu.

Salcombe Gin Start Point

If you’re seeking an exceptional gin with a generous serving of Devon character and flavour, you can’t beat the multi awardwinning flagship gin, Start Point, from Salcombe Distilling Co. Inspired by the voyages of the Salcombe Fruit Schooners – ships built in Salcombe and Kingsbridge in the 19th century to carry fresh fruits and spices from around the world to English shores – this London Dry blends Dartmoor water with the finest botanicals to create a smooth, elegant and truly memorable G&T.

Salcombe Gin Rosé Sainte Marie

The perfect gin for a summer wedding, Rosé Sainte Marie from Salcombe Distilling Co. is inspired by the aromas and flavours of the Mediterranean coast. Notes of fresh citrus peels of lemon and orange meet rose petals, lemon verbena, orange blossom and pink peppercorns to create an exquisite gin. Pair with tonic water and a slice of strawberry or a twist of fresh lemon peel to delight your guests. salcombegin.com

Hattiers Egremont Premium Reserve Rum

From the shores of the Caribbean to the coast of south Devon, Hattiers Rum blends hand-picked rums from across the globe with soft Dartmoor water to create an exceptional collection of spirits – and they’re just as delicious on the rocks as they are in your favourite rum cocktail. Fragrant and medium-bodied, Egremont is a premium sipping rum, delicious served neat, over ice or in cocktails – we love it in a Dark and Stormy or paired with a Westcountry cider for a warming winter punch.

Hattiers Resolute Navy Strength Rum

Made using rums from Barbados, Australia, Guyana and Jamaica, this rum blends a toasted brown sugar and charred oak aroma with a fruity palate of pineapple, apple, banana and mango and a buttery pastry taste with notes of liquorice. Serve it neat or in a cocktail for a warming tipple.

Hattiers Eminence Blended Aged White Rum

This stunningly smooth, light-medium bodied white rum combines an aroma of creamy fudge, vanilla pod and ripe pineapple with soft fruit notes. It makes an exceptional daiquiri or mojito and tastes delicious served neat or over ice. hattiers.com

Devon Cove – Cove Vodka

Grown in the rich soil and sea air of a family farm overlooking Hope Cove in south Devon, King Edwards potatoes are the key ingredient of Cove Vodka. Combined with Devon spring water to create the pure, clean and exceptionally smooth vodka, it’s divine served on its own, paired with your favourite mixer or in a cocktail. Pour it over ice with chilled soda water and a squeeze of fresh lime for a winning combo.

Devon Cove – Cove Damson Liqueur

Add ripe Westcountry damsons to Cove Vodka and the result? This ruby coloured, divinely fruity liqueur. Serve chilled alone or in champagne for a Devon take on a Kir royal.

Devon Cove – Cove Coffee Liqueur

A blend of Salcombe Brew dark roast coffee beans and Cove Vodka, this rich and velvety coffee liqueur is a decadent delight for the tastebuds, whether you serve it over ice, in espresso martinis or the after-dinner coffees. devoncove.co.uk

Matt Austin

CIDER & BEER

Choose these Devon-made drinks for some delectable liquid refreshment.

Sandford Orchards Katja

Based in the oldest working cider mill in the UK, the family-owned Sandford Orchards in the heart of Devon has the perfect micro-climate to grow cider apples. Home to a range of ciders, Katja – a light, crisp, sparkling prosecco-style cider crafted from the dessert apple Katja – will make a deliciously refreshing welcome drink or toast. sandfordorchards.co.uk

Salcombe Brewery Co.’s Atlas

A session IPA created from a winning combination of British, US and Australian hop varieties, this fruity ale blends flavours of peach, blueberry and papaya with a hoppy citrus finish and balanced bitterness. salcombebrewery.com

Willie’s Cacao

Crafted from ‘bean to bar’ from the finest single estate cacaos and 100% natural ingredients, Willie’s Cacao artisan chocolate is all about pure, beautiful flavours. From luscious truffles in flavours such as praline, raspberry and Marc de Champagne to salted caramel pearls in heavenly milk chocolate, dark chocolate and strawberry chocolate shells, Willie’s Devon-made creations make for decadent wedding favours. williescacao.com

Flapjackery

Since launching from a Devon kitchen in 2015, Flapjackery has taken the Southwest by storm with their deliciously buttery and crumbly takes on the humble flapjack paired with a range of toppings. As well as classic flapjacks, pick from the scrumptious likes of caramel latte, salted caramel brownie, clotted cream fudge and summer fruits crumble flavours. Handmade with wholesome, locally sourced ingredients, gift the award-winning treats as favours, add a personalised giant flapjack to your dessert table or arrange a selection box to be delivered for your bridal party to fuel the morning preparations! flapjackery.co.uk

Quicke’s

CHEESE CAKES

Forgo the sweet stuff in favour of a showstopping cheese celebration cake.

Sharpham Cheese Celebration Cakes

From the heart of the Sharpham Estate on the banks of the River Dart, the headturning cheese cakes from Sharpham Cheese are individually crafted, shaped and aged from scratch: choose from a simple three-tier creation to an extravagant six-tier tower crowned with a heart-shaped cheese at the top. Tailored entirely to your tastes, you’ll be guided on choosing a balance of flavours from the award-winning cheeses, ranging from the velvety semi-hard Rustic to the silky Brie and the complex Washbourne sheep’s cheese. sharphamcheese.co.uk

Quicke’s Cheese Celebration Cakes

Crafted using traditional recipes and time-honoured techniques in an idyllic corner of the Devon countryside, Quicke’s clothbound cheeses are slow-matured to perfection - and their cheese cakes taste as delectable as they look. Choose from Quicke’s award-winning cheddars - favourites include the intensely flavoursome Vintage Cheddar and rich and buttery Mature Cheddar - paired with a delightful mixture of cheeses, from hard to sort, wrapped to blue. quickes.co.uk