With 23° weather predicted in the South West for this weekend, I’m pretty sure that this means summer is finally here! While most people are thinking about and planning the food for their barbeques, I’m thinking about the drinks!
I like to think of myself as a bit of an amateur mixologist (or cocktail maker, if you’d prefer), so I was really excited when we started stocking some of our very own Jamaica Inn-branded liqueurs in our online gift store. They’re available in four varieties, and can be used in so many ways.
My particular favourite is Smuggler’s Joy; a blackcurrant-flavoured rum liqueur. After all, you can’t get more summery than rum! It’s great simply mixed with lemonade (And a dash of vodka if you like your drinks a little stronger) or poured over ice. If you don’t like your drinks too sweet, mix it with soda water and a dash of lime juice. You can even use it in cooking desserts like a black forest gateau, or poured over a fruit cocktail.
Our next liqueur is the Smuggler’s Spirit, which mixes a black cherry wine with vodka. Like the rum, it’s great with lemonade (And some extra rum!) or poured over ice. However, like most vodkas, it can be added to such a wide variety of mixers. Energy drink or orange juice are the easiest two, but I think it would be great fun to experiment with!
Moving on, we come to Smuggler’s Surprise, which contains mead wine and fine Scottish whiskey. It’s perfect for when the sun starts to set and the evening starts to get a little cooler. Yet again, orange juice or lemonade are the simple mixers and Peach Schnapps or run give it a little more of a kick. You could even try it with pineapple or apple juice too.
Finally; one for the winter as Smuggler’s Delight is a mix of ginger and Scottish whiskey, making it the perfect ingredient in a Hot Toddy! Honey and lemon have always been touted as a great cure for those sniffles and sore throats caused by cold weather, so mix them in some hot water with a dash of Smuggler’s Delight for the perfect winter warmer!
Whatever your particular tipple is, I’m sure that one of our Jamaica Inn Smuggler’s liqueurs would be their perfect partner. At 18%, they’re just strong enough to enjoy with a mixer, but could still be mixed with other spirits without taking your head off! As mentioned, they could also be ideal for cooking with. Each liqueur comes packaged in a fantastic Jamaica Inn-branded bottle, which also makes them wonderful gifts, and they’re available now from our online gift shop.
If our liqueurs have got your creative juices flowing, why not share some of your own cocktail recipes? Simply include one of our Smuggler’s liqueurs, post them on our Facebook timeline and we’ll share the best ones in a future blog!