Online Oasis Lockdown or not, there’s still a huge variety of local Welsh businesses creating food and drink that’s not to be missed. Katie Hopkins guides you to what and where you can buy online. While Wales is still being rocked by Covid, the pressure on independent retailers has reached a tipping point, and it’s more important than ever to support small businesses to ensure the future of artisanal, local produce that not only offers quality, but carries Welsh culture, too.
Alcoholic drinks
Wye Valley Meadery
Felinfoel Brewery
www.wyevalleymeadery.co.uk
www.felinfoel.com Headed up by a 6th generation master brewer, this is the place behind the flagship Double Dragon ale. Our pick: Celtic Gold Craft Lager for a crisp taste with a unique blend of hops.
Purple Moose Brewery purplemoose.co.uk Award-winning beer from Porthmadog available in bottles and mini kegs brewed with Welsh mountain water. Our pick: the session bitter Madog’s Ale named after the creator of Porthmadog Harbour.
Untapped Brewery
Aber Falls Distillery www.aberfallsdistillery.com From the foot of the Aber Falls waterfall comes the copperdistilled selection of Welsh spirits. Their gins have cornered a market in Welsh flavoured spirits and make for an ideal addition to a cocktail. Our pick: Orange Marmalade gin is perfect for a sweet tooth.
Seadragon Rum www.seadragonrum.co.uk
www.untappedbrew.com Once a two-man ‘cuckoo’ brewery borrowing equipment to create their ales, Untapped has set-up shop in Monmouthshire. Our pick: Diolch – the organic pale ale with Citra hops that’s only available until the end of the year.
Gwynt y Ddraig cider and perry www.gwyntcidershop.com If cider is more your thing, these Gwynt y Ddraig Scrumpy, Gold and flavoured ciders are sold across the world. Our pick: the Black Dragon medium dry made exclusively by the chief cider maker.
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The brothers at Wye Valley Meadery have put a new spin on mead with flavours including hops and ginger alongside their traditional sparkling variation. Our pick: the honey and ginger mead for a spicy kick.
www.taste-blas.co.uk
Boasting the biggest craft distillery in Wales, Seadragon offers a range of rums you won’t find anywhere else. Our pick: the Gold rum combines hints of caramel and orange and is lovely for cocktails.
Dà Mhìle Distillery www.damhile.co.uk In 1992, a founder of Caws Teifi Cheese commissioned what would be the world’s first organic whisky. It marked the beginnings of Dà Mhìle (pronounced da-vee-lay), which became Wales’ first craft distillery, based on a family-run farm in Ceredigion. Our pick: Seaweed Gin is a ‘savoury gin’ ideal with seafood.
