Edinburgh Gin adds to Experimental Series

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New products: this week's round-up includes Timothy Taylor, Edinburgh Gin, Spirit of Yorkshire and Shepard Neame

This week's round up features new products from Timothy Taylor’s Brewery, Edinburgh Gin, Shepherd Neame, Shakespeare Distillery, Mahala and Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery.

Edinburgh Gin adds to Experimental Series 

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Edinburgh Gin has added two new gins to its small-batch Experimental Series, Marmalade Sandwich (42.6% ABV) and Scandi (44.4% ABV).

The brand’s Marmalade Sandwich serve has a sharp, zesty citrus focus with natural flavours including orange peel, ginger, malted barley and butter.

Scandi boasts notes of caraway seeds, dill and lingonberries with a rounded aniseed finish, best served with Mediterranean tonic and garnished with lemon peel for a twist on a glass G&T.

Designed to “push boundaries” in taste and flavour exploration, the series sees master distiller Dave Wilkinson use his botanical knowledge to marry a strong juniper base with abstract flavour combinations.

Wilkinson said: “The Experimental range has given me and the distillery team the opportunity to get creative and push the boundaries with what can be done with gin.

“We have hand bottled, labelled and waxed every gin in the series, and we are incredibly excited to share this side of our distillery with Edinburgh Gin fans.

“I believe we have some of the most exciting and intriguing flavour options on the market in our range.

“We set out to tell tales of wonder, told through taste every time we craft a new liquid. The use of natural flavours and ingredients mean we can continuingly bring interesting new flavours to the market.”

Both new serves are availble now direct from the Edinburgh Gin websop in 70cl bottle format at RRP £40.

Serving suggestion:

Marmalade Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Marmalade Sandwich Gin
  • Dash of saline
  • Dash of orange bitters
  • Dash of orange cream citrate
  • Dash of angostura bitters
  • 3 bar spoons of Demerara sugar syrup
  • Orange peel

Method:

  • Add the sugar, citrate, saline and bitters to a small tumbler
  • Mix until the sugar dissolves
  • Fill glass with ice and stir in the gin
  • Serve garnished with orange peel

Timothy Taylor’s releases first canned serve 

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West-Yorkshire based family-owned brewer Timothy Taylor’s has announced the release of Hopical Storm (4%) in 440ml can format, its first canned beer.

A tripled-hopped sessionable pale ale, Hopical Storm, which is also vegan, offers flavours of mandarin, mango and passionfruit, brewed with UK-grown hops and presented in distinctive orange cans.

The serve was originally released in the on-trade in cask format before being released as the brands first keg beer in 2020.

Timothy Taylor’s chief executive Tim Dewey said: “Having launched successfully in cask and keg, we recognised Hopical Storm cans would be a logical extension to our range as they would suit the style and flavour profile.

“Although Hopical Storm remains a popular craft keg ale across the on-trade, the decision to launch in can has been welcomed by operators who might not necessarily have the cellar space or throughput required for a draught beer, but see the potential for a refreshing triple-hopped pale ale that is more accessible than higher ABV beers in the category.”

The launch of Hopical Storm cans will be supported by a full calendar of marketing activity including print and digital advertising as well as sampling through subscription services and events.

Dewey added: “This is a new approach for a brewery that was established in 1858, but one thing that is never compromised, no matter how a Timothy Taylor’s beer is presented, is quality.

“Whilst Timothy Taylor’s core business remains in cask beer, Hopical Storm has become a core keg product but can also now be served in can in a wider range of pubs, restaurants, sports bars or boutique hotels.”

Timothy Taylor’s Hopical Storm is available now from the brands webshop in 12x440ml can packs at RRP £40.

Shakespeare Distillery launches coronation gin

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Warwickshire-based Shakespeare Distillery has announced the launch of a new dry gin to mark the Kings’ coronation next month.

The latest innovation from the independent artisan spirit producer combines flavours of orange and currants with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, rosemary, coriander and angelica alongside class juniper notes.

Shakespeare Distillery director Simon Picken said “We’re delighted to launch our special Coronation Gin in time for gin fans to enjoy a tipple whilst celebrating the King’s coronation.  

“It is well known that the late Queen and Queen Mother were both fans of Dubonnet and gin so I hope King Charles will approve of our new addition”.

Coronation Gin is available now instore at the brand’s Stratford-Upon-Avon site or online at the Shakespeare Distillery webshop in 50cl, 20cl, or 5cl bottle format at RRP £34, £17.50 and £6.50 respectively.

Shepherd Neame releases new Cask Club beer

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Shepherd Neame has released a sequel beer for its returning Cask Club initiative called Dragonfire (4.5% ABV).

The Kent brewer and pub operator’s new cask is an English ale, said to offer well-balanced fruitiness from Challenger and East Kent Goldings hops, with subtle herbal notes of spearmint and cedar courtesy of the Pioneer hops used during dry hopping.

Shepherd Neame technical brewer Danielle Whelan said: “We decided to use the Pioneer hop alongside the well-loved Challenger and East Kent Goldings hops in this brew to offer an innovative flavour and aroma profile, which we hope will entice real ale fans and new cask drinkers alike to try Dragonfire. 

“It’s been a rewarding experience creating this recipe, and we are excited for drinkers to enjoy a pint of this flavoursome beer throughout April.”

Read more here.

Mahala expands alcohol-free portfolio 

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Mahala has expanded its alcohol-free portfolio with the launch of Mahala Botanical Amber.

The new variant balances chillies, smoke and oak with sweet and floral honey notes in addition to 9-hand-sourced botanicals, including orange peel, angelica root and cardamom, foraged from master distiller Danielle Schoeman’s own farmland.

Created in Cape Town, South Africa, Mahala Botanical Amber is crafted using a triple-distillation process and is best served with a premium ginger beer or ginger ale.

Schoeman said: “Consumers shouldn’t have to compromise on taste or quality when choosing an alcohol-free drink, and we are fortunate to own and oversee our entire production process from farm to glass, ensuring the highest possible standard every step of the journey.

“Through our Mahala Botanical range, we have created two exciting propositions, each with their own unique and individual appeal.

“Our original Mahala Botanical is light and refreshing with a herbaceous and citrus finish, while our new addition is a warm and spicier offering, perhaps best appealing to those who prefer bolder, darker drinks.”

Mahala Botanical Amber will be availble after 21 April in 500ml and 750ml bottles at RRP £19 and £27 respectively from wholesalers including Master of Malt, Speciality Drinks, and Whisky Exchange.

Spirit of Yorkshire introduces second whisky in its Double Oak series 

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Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has released the latest addition in its Double Oak series, Filey Bay Double Oak #2 Special Release single malt whisky (46% ABV).

The whisky was matured in ex-bourbon casks before a secondary maturation in lightly-charred, custom-made and new oak casks.

Spirit of Yorkshire distillery colleague Amy Teasdale (pictured) added: "Because the casks had not previously held spirit, we were checking the casks weekly during the final months of maturation to ensure that they were disgorged and bottled at the optimum moment.

"It was a time-consuming process but absolutely worth it and I know this release will prove very popular at the tastings I host with retailers around the country."

The limited-edition whisky, of which just 2,000 bottles are available, is described as being soft and spicy with flavours of toasted oak, cream soda, fruit gums and hot cross buns and is made using barley and water sourced from boreholes on the distillery farm at Hunmanby Grange.

Spirit of Yorkshire Whisky Director Joe Clark said: "These special casks imbue our whisky with some really amazing and exciting flavours, pronounced fruity notes and soft, sweet, nutty, bread-like flavours.

“Double Oak #1 was exceptionally well received and I've no doubt that Double Oak #2 will be too.

"From a selection of over 100 ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2018, only a handful were selected for re-racking.

“I was looking for key characteristics that would work well with the virgin oak casks - light and fresh with elevated malty and creamy profiles and with fewer spicy notes.

“After assembling a beautiful batch of whisky, this was then reduced in strength to 50% ABV and racked into brand new virgin white oak casks from Kentucky."

Filey Bay Double Oak #2 Special Release, crafted at the brands Yorkshire site in Hunmanby, is available now direct from the brands webshop in special release tubes at RRP £75.

If you have any new products being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to ​​​​​​​​​Rebecca.weller@wrbm.com​​​​​​​​​​​​​ and for any upcoming King's Coronation on-trade launches, please send details and images to Gary.lloyd@wrbm.com​​​​​ by Friday 21 April.