If you’re not sure what to buy the person that has everything, you might consider choosing one of Shakespeare Distillery’s new range of spirits.
Equally, for those managing or running bars, pubs or restaurants, you need to get this trio in stock in time for the Christmas party season, because these unique new spirits offer opportunities for a wide range of festive cocktails and stylish alternatives to vodka and tonic or rum and coke.
The three new spirits have been developed by this award-winning distillery, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, which include Rum Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Marmalade Vodka and Aged Coffee Rum.
Jester Chocolate Cream Liqueur is a new collaboration with 1683 Chocolate Place, a Warwickshire-based award-winning chocolatier, which has a long-standing relationship with the distillery for the production of their artisan gin and rum chocolates.
The Rum Chocolate Cream Liqueur is a blend of the distillery’s Cask Aged Jester Rum, luxury Belgian chocolate and fresh cream from Cotteswold Dairy.
The rich flavours of cocoa and rum balance perfectly with hints of vanilla and butterscotch.
A second rum-based spirit, Aged Coffee Rum, was developed with Monsoon Estates Coffee, a family-owned roastery based near Stratford-upon-Avon.
The distillers used cold-brewed Ethiopian Rocko Mountain Coffee, blended with their three-year-old bourbon cask aged Jester Rum.
The result is a very smooth drink, which balances the light, malty and citrusy flavours of the coffee, with the rum’s sweet butterscotch and tropical fruit notes.
You wouldn’t usual put the words ‘marmalade’ and ‘vodka’ together, but the third new spirit is Marmalade Vodka, which is made with traditional marmalade from Springfield Kitchen and fresh oranges.
Following distillation, the vodka is aged for three months in a Madeira cask to add an even greater depth of flavour.
Here at Hand Crafted Drinks Magazine, we have yet to taste all three spirits, but we were sent a sample bottle of Marmalade Vodka and we were impressed.
The tartness of the marmalade is well balanced with the sweetness of the oranges, which are infused into their silky smooth vodka, which we sampled neat and over ice.
On the nose, the inviting aroma of the oranges come to the fore; the mouthfeel reinforces the quality of the premium vodka and then you get the satisfying marmalade flavour; the finish is a warming combination of the marmalade and oranges.
It really doesn’t need a mixer, but if we had to choose an accompaniment for this premium vodka, which deserves to be in good company, we would opt for Champagne or Prosecco rather than a tonic, to produce a pared-down French 76, with the orange providing the citrus element.
Commenting on the three new creations, Peter Monks, a director at Shakespeare Distillery said: “We are thrilled to have a great range of exciting new offerings for the festive season.
“Perfect to enjoy with friends and family, or as Christmas gifts to keep the spirits high well into the new year!”
Shakespeare Distillery, which was founded in 2015 by Simon Picken and Peter Monks, is Stratford-upon-Avon’s only working distillery and produces a series of fine sprits, including their signature Stratford Dry Gin and Jester Rums, along with various distillery specials.
Having sampled the Marmalade Vodka, we would agree with Peter that these drinks have been timed perfectly for the festive season.
For more information visit shakespearedistillery.com