IF your drinks cabinet still contains the dregs of last year’s sherry or unopened bottles covered with a thick layer of dust, it might be time for some fresh inspiration.
Here we round up some of the best new tipples being made by distilleries and craft producers around Scotland.
Nadar Vodka (70cl, £43)
Angus distillery Arbikie recently launched its greenest spirit in every sense of the phrase – a vodka made from peas. Nadar (Gaelic for nature) is part of its climate positive spirit range.
Arbikie – run by brothers Iain, John, David and Sandy Stirling – say that the use of peas avoids the need for synthetic fertiliser and the reliance on imported protein for animal feed. It promises a carbon saving of more than 1.53kg COe per bottle.
The vodka, which has a vibrant and spicy taste with a contrasting floral nose, uses the same pea-based spirit originally developed for Arbikie's world-first Nadar Gin. They also make Tattie Bogle Vodka using Maris Piper, King Edward and Cultra potatoes grown on the family farm.
Visit arbikie.com
Pink Lady Gin (50cl, £30)
This gorgeous pink gin was inspired by two young women. The first is Elle McCann, daughter of Stirling Distillery founders Cameron and June McCann, who loves all things pink.
The second is an unnamed noble woman who, having died of a broken heart after her betrothed was killed in battle, is said to haunt Stirling Castle and the Kirk Tower, roaming between the two in her distinctive pink robes.
Pink Lady Gin is a refreshing tipple with 12 botanicals, including rose petals, pink peppercorn and pink grapefruit. It is delicately fragranced, using juniper, spices, floral and pepper. Serve over ice, with a slice of pink grapefruit and tonic, or add a sliver of fresh chilli.
Visit stirlinggin.co.uk
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Glasgow 1770 Peated Rich & Smoky Single Malt Whisky (50cl, £49)
A rich, bold and smoky expression that is part of the Glasgow 1770 Signature Range. The craft behind this whisky reads like poetry: malted barley is smoked with the heather-rich peat of the Highlands and mixed with pure water from Loch Katrine.
Matured in virgin oak and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, the single malt invokes notes of vanilla, rich dark toffee, dried tobacco, salted caramel, liquorice and lingering spice.
The Glasgow Distillery was co-founded by Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall in 2012. Other expressions in the range are Glasgow 1770 The Original, Glasgow 1770 Peated Release No.1 and Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled Release No.1.
Visit glasgowdistillery.com
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Old Mother Hunt Rum (70cl, £35.95)
One of the newest craft producers on the Scottish scene, Old Mother Hunt was founded earlier this year by husband-and-wife team Becky and Matt Hunt. The Strathaven-based couple coined the idea after Matt, a former captain with Flybe, lost his job when the airline went into administration.
They make two golden rums: Smoky Oak and Winter Spiced. The former is drier and naturally sweetened by infusing virgin American oak. It can be sipped neat with ice, served with cola and a lime wedge, or used to rustle up an Old Fashioned-style cocktail.
Winter Spiced is packed with festive flavours – orange, cinnamon and spices – and sweetened with homemade caramel. Becky recommends using it to make a delicious and unusual-tasting mojito.
Visit oldmotherhunt.co.uk
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Thistly Cross Cider Liqueurs (50cl, £28.75)
Dunbar-based Thistly Cross Cider is the brainchild of former artist and glassblower Peter Stuart. Among the most recent additions to its growing range are two cider liqueurs, the first of their kind in Scotland.
The Traditional Cider Liqueur proffers a richly warming, golden apple taste, while Scottish Fruits Cider Liqueur contains a mixture of elderflowers, blackcurrants and strawberries. They are made from real fruit, slowly fermented to extract a full apple flavour.
Both can be sipped on their own or lengthened with Thistly Cross ginger cider or elderflower cider respectively (or a non-alcoholic equivalent, such as ginger ale or elderflower presse).
Visit thistlycrosscider.co.uk
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