These remarkably fantastic tequila, liqueur, whiskey, and scotch brands run the taste spectrum, so there’s something here for every cocktail preference and palate to savor on Valentine’s Day and well beyond:
Stambecco Italy Liqueur
Stambecco is an Amaro liqueur crafted in Italy and infused with maraschino cherries and 30 traditional botanicals. This bittersweet Amaro Liqueur Stambecco is perfectly balanced, and the smooth, fruity spirit can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways: as a shot, over ice, or in cocktails like a Hot Toddy. Stambecco is 100% natural and the addition of maraschino cherries renders it unique. This herbal liqueur contains herbs and spices such as sweet & bitter oranges, coriander seeds, marjoram, oregano, wormwood (also known as artemisia blend), cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Stambecco takes its name from the Italian word for the Ibex, the long-horned mountain goat which roams the Alps near the distillery.
Price: $26.99 for 750ml.
Available: Stambecco
Shanky’s Irish Whip – Whiskey
This smooth, black whiskey liqueur is based on a combination of Irish spirits and aged-pot still whiskey, blended with the natural flavors of vanilla and infused caramel. The resulting spirit is black and smooth with a rich, whippy flavor dominated by spicy Irish Whiskey. It’s truly delicious served on its own, or mixed with cola or Guinness or in cocktails – such as a Cold Brew, Espresso Martini or the real deal Irish Coffee. Shanky’s Whip comes in a bespoke glass bottle with “Ireland” embossed around the top. The label, inspired by vintage Irish matchbox artwork, features the fantastical Irish jockey Shanky, a wild boy of racing. Always one to buck the trend, when thrown from his horse, he returned to the race track with an ostrich, cart, and whip.
Shanky’s Whip Coffee
30 ml Shanky’s Whip
1/2 – 1 tsp brown sugar
60 ml filter coffee
30 ml double cream
Prepare the cream by lightly warming and whipping or shaking. Pour Shanky’s Whip, sugar and hot coffee into a warmed glass and stir. Float the heated and aerated cream over the back of a warmed spoon.
Price: $24.99
Available: Shankyswhip.com or maxliquor.com
The Gladstone Axe – Malt Scotch Whiskey
Named after four-times Prime Minister William Gladstone, this whisky offers a thoroughly modern twist on classic Scotch. There are two expressions in the range: The Gladstone Axe American Oak and The Gladstone Black Axe. The Gladstone Axe are high quality, 100% malt, easy drinking whiskies for new whisky enthusiasts; they can be drunk neat, on the rocks, or mixed with a splash of soda or gingerale and garnished with a slice of orange. The Gladstone Axe American Oak Whiskey is rich and smooth with spice and vanilla. The Gladstone Axe The Black Axe Whiskey is more laden with fruit flavor and combined with a creamy vanilla and notes of cloves, with a long finish – ideal for the adventurous spirits drinker looking for an introduction to a smoky whiskey.
These whiskies have been carefully selected from the Highlands and Islay to create two easy-drinking smooth blends comprised of 14 single malts. The Gladstone Axe American Oak is aged and finished in American Oak bourbon barrels and blended from whiskies from 14 different Highland and Islay single malt distilleries. The Black Axe has a higher proportion of Islay malts to add just a touch of smoke notes.
Price: $34.99 for 750ml.
Available: The Gladstone Axe
The Butterfly Cannon – 100% Agave Tequila
The Butterfly Cannon Tequila adopts a fresh new approach: this ultra-premium tequila is crafted with 100% agave and produced in Mexico’s most awarded distillery, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila. The Butterfly Cannon Tequila derives its name from the migration of butterflies from the US to Mexico, and comes in three expressions that will make you rethink tequila: Silver Cristalino, Rosa, and Blue. The tequila is created with 7-8 Year old agave, harvested by hand and baked in traditional steam ovens before being mashed, fermented and distilled.
The Butterfly Cannon Silver Cristalino is a fresh, crisp silver Cristalino; the agave distillate is aged in barrels for up to 30 days before being charcoal-filtrated to produce a perfectly clear tequila.
The Butterfly Cannon Rosa Tequila Rosa is infused with Mexican pink grapefruit peel soaked in silver tequila, combined with pink grapefruit and grapefruit distillate, and combined with the tequila before filtration and bottling.
The Butterfly Cannon Tequila Blue is infused with prickly pear and clementine and has an astonishing natural blue color. Clementine peel, prickly pear, and natural color extracted from beets are added to the silver tequila before filtration and bottling. Its unique natural blue color changes when a mixer such as tonic or lime is added, so have fun color experimenting!
Price: $34.99 for a 500ml bottle
Available: The Butterfly Cannon Tequila
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