at’s the Spirit

The Spirit of Wales

Whilst Gin has been king for several years, the Welsh public’s gaze is turning to new types of tipple. Llinos Rowlands sheds light on some of the latest alternative autumn-friendly Welsh libations...

From our bar in Dolgellau we find customers are keen to sample something different, and provenance is of increasing interest. There’s a huge thirst for change, a variety of options and a desire for local Welsh produce. There’s also much speculation about what the next ‘in-drink’ will be…

Celtic Wines Blackberry Liqueur

If you’re looking for alternatives to Crème de Cassis then Celtic Country Wines in Henllan, Llandysul has come up trumps. Made with brandy and blackberries, this liqueur is rich and sweet; a delicious addition to an autumn fruit salad. If you like your Kir Royale, it could well be a good celebration drink in the colder months that jazzes up a cheaper fizz nicely.This would be a nice seasonal twist for an autumn wedding – and best of all, it’s Welsh! Tasting Notes: Sweet dark fruit on the nose and a rich blackberry flavour. Savour with: Chilled white wine, or sparkling wine for Kir, or Kir Royale.

www.celticwines.co.uk

Barti Spiced Rum

Sometimes described as liquid Christmas cake, Barti Spiced from Pembroke Dock is packed with warm spices and flavours, and is therefore often drunk neat, as well as with the traditional addition of mixers. A quirky addition to its making is the handpicked laver seaweed from the Pembrokeshire coast, which adds savoury notes to this exceptional liquor. This is a drink for cosy autumn evenings, especially savoured by pirates of Pembrokeshire! Tasting Notes: Vanilla and cinnamon aromas with cloves, dried fruits and orange on the palate. Savour with: Ice and a slice of orange or with Llanllyr Source Ginger Ale and a twist of lime.

www.bartirum.wales

Aerona Liqueur

The Jones family started growing Aronia berries on their farm in Chwilog near Pwllheli as part of an experimental project to grow new crops and plants. This unique drink contains other botanicals grown on the farm, all of which are natural ingredients with no artificial colouring or preservatives. Sometimes called the black chokeberry, it’s rich in antioxidants which may make you feel better about having a snifter! If you’re a Campari lover, then you may well enjoy Aerona, with the same mixers of soda or fresh orange juice on ice. The warmed cranberry and orange juice version is a nice alternative to mulled wine for Halloween or other autumn/winter festivals. Tasting Notes: Juicy berry flavours with a sour touch on the palate. Savour with: Cranberry juice and orange juice gently warmed with added slices of citrus fruit garnish

The Spirit of Wales

Penderyn FIVE Vodka

The remote village of Penderyn was once known for sheep sales, now the distillery has shot this tiny hamlet onto the world stage with its spirits being exported all over the globe. Established in the late 1990s the company claims to have revived the ‘lost art’ of distilling in Wales and in all fairness, it is a valid statement with a growing tide of companies producing a growing range of spirits in its wake. It’s often thought that vodka tastes of, well, nothing, but FIVE, in its aloof and beautiful black bottle contradicts this, and was the winner of the 2018 World Vodka Awards - UK Pure Neutral. It is a popular choice in bars as a cool and contemporary spirit. Make this your autumn party drink. Tasting Notes: Herb aromas and almost creamy in flavour with hints of roasted nuts. Savour with: Poured over ice and a couple of raspberries.

Aber Falls Coffee and Dark Chocolate Liqueur

www.penderyn.wales

DàMhìle Welsh Single Grain Whisky 2018

Right up on the north coast you can’t miss the Aber Falls distillery in Abergwyngregyn just off the A55 before Llanfairfechan. The sea mist and icy blasts of the wind from the north must have spurred them on to produce this smooth dark, quite heady drink. Inspired by the famous Espresso Martini, it’s one of the few drinks that pairs well with chocolate. Winner of a bronze medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition it is one of Aber Falls’ many successful creations. Curl up with a good book, a liqueur coffee made with a generous shot of this and a bar of your favourite dark chocolate for a touch of luxury on a stormy night. Tasting Notes: Aroma of roasting coffee and rich smooth cocoa on the palate. Savour with: Ice, milk and a shot of coffee for an alternative iced coffee.

www.aberfallsdistillery.com

This organic family farm in Ceredigion, West Wales is known for its excellent Teifi farmhouse cheese and produces a range of spirits and liqueurs. In 1992 they commissioned the world’s first organic whisky which was distilled at the Springbank Distillery, Scotland, hence the Gaelic name, meaning 2000, to celebrate the millennium. Aged in a Sherry cask for four years, this whisky is soft and has well rounded flavours without the peatiness that some people prefer not to have in whisky. Pop some in a hip flask for a late afternoon dram on an autumn walk. Also look out for the new Welsh Single Malt whisky that DàMhìle is launching soon. Tasting Notes: Warming and smooth with flavours of vanilla, toast and liquorice. Savour with: A splash of water.

Celtic Spirit Danzy Jones Whisky Liqueur

Based in Anglesey, Celtic Spirit claims to be the oldest spirit company in Wales. A traditional recipe, Danzy Jones’ whisky liqueur is a combination of Malt whisky, herbs and rosehips to make a mellow whisky liqueur. According to the legend, Danzy himself was a journeying stonemason, and his descendants still honour his formula to this day. Th is is a jolly good toddy for Welsh autumn days. As we say in Wales, ‘iechyd da!’ Tasting Notes: Rich and full fl avoured with herb notes on the palate. Savour with: Ginger ale or lemonade on ice.

celticspirit.co.uk

Coles BreweryWhite Rum

Deep in rural Carmarthenshire in the village of Llanddarog, you’ll fi nd a pretty unique and varied business. As well as running the White Hart Inn this family business creates a vast array of drinks in dedicated sheds behind the ancient thatched pub. Unlike most distillers who buy in the base spirit to re-distill, brothers Cain and Marcus are proud to claim they make their own, so everything is made on site from scratch. Th eir white rum was the fi rst to be produced in Wales and in 2018 was awarded the Silver Medal in the White Rum category at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC). Tasting Notes: Subtle notes of vanilla and caramel. Savour with: Ice, a slice of lime and a dash of coke.

www.coles.wales

Condessa Sloe Gin

Sloe gin (or ‘jin eirin tagu’) has been a traditional drink in Wales for generations; it’s enjoyable drunk neat, or served with a traditional tonic, and even better aft er a long country walk. You can easily pick sloes from hedgerows over autumn, where they grow on the blackthorn bush. Add gin for an easy-peasy DIY treat, then wait a few months for the fl avour to deepen. However, if you’d rather not wait then go for Condessa Sloe Gin; it’s made in Llanfaethlu on the Isle of Anglesey. It’s full of seasonal fruit to create a warming drink to savour by a crackling log fi re. Tasting Notes: Dark-red fruit fl avours and mellowed sweetness. Savour with: Add tonic or soda water over ice.

condessa.co.uk

‘1581’ White Castle Welsh Fortified Wine Vintage 2014

Robb and Nicola Merchant are expert hands in the wine world and have now realised a dream of producing a Welsh fortifi ed wine at their vineyard in Monmouthshire. Th e result of four years of planning ‘1581’ is White Castle’s fi rst release limited edition Welsh fortifi ed wine, made with the Regent grape, fortifi ed with spirit and aged in the same way as Port. It takes its name from the grade II* listed Tudor barn at the foot of the vineyard. A warming drink by the fi re or a special treat with your cheese aft er dinner. Tasting Notes: Bramble fruit on the nose, smooth with rich and fruity fl avours. Savour with: Perl Las cheese or even alongside berryfruit puddings such as crumble or pie.