Easter Drinking Made Easy - Bank Holiday Incoming

With the long Easter weekend approaching, many of us will be lucky enough to forget the strains and stresses of work for a well deserved break. That begs the question of what to drink during this period of relaxation? This guide to Easter drinking will make some suggestions pertaining to that very conundrum. Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend with a drink in your hand and a smile on your face. The classic choice for Easter drinking would be a lovely gin and tonic. If this is your predilection then we've got you covered with plenty of juniper recommendations to suit pockets both short and deep. The other tried and tested tipple is of course a nice bottle of rose to usher in the Spring and hopefully the sunshine! That's not for everyone though and we will also be taking a look at the perfect rum and whisky as well.

Easter Drinking Gin Recommendations

Gin is a traditional Spring drink. There's something about a G&T that lends itself to the season of new beginnings and vitality. Maybe it's the abundance of natural botanicals or the fruity garnishes that make it such an appealing beverage when we are desperately hoping to see a glimpse of good weather. More than likely we are a nation that just can't get enough gin, no excuse needed! Here's four gin recommendations that will take your Easter drinking to nirvana.

Old Raj Spiced Gin - 46% ABV

Despite its designation as a spiced gin, this new offering from Cadenheads expands on the ever popular Old Raj range with a gin more delicate than its name suggests. Just so it's clear, this is referencing the 46% ABV version, not the stronger 55% ABV version which has more of a kick. We especially like the addition of smoked paprika which underpins the other botanicals nicely. The other botanicals are the customary juniper, coriander and citrus plus the slightly more esoteric cumin, peppercorn, cubeb, almond and rowanberry. Grab a decent quality tonic and pour the perfect G&T to let the subtle flavours shine through. A quality gin that won't break the bank.  

Malfy Con Arancia Sicilian Blood Orange Gin - 41% ABV

A new and already popular gin from Italy that uses the freshest Sicilian Blood Oranges. Any one who says different will be sleeping with the fishes! This is a fresh and vibrant gin that's best served with a Fever Tree tonic and garnish of orange. The bottle looks great and the orange liquid inside screams sunshine drinking. The Sicilian Orange enjoys a protected geographical status and has raspberry like qualities in addition to a fresh citrus burst. The distillery is over one hundred years old and is run by the Vergnano family who have been producing spirits for generations. They claim that gin was invented by Italian monks in the tenth century; whether this is true or not they certainly know how to make great gin in the year 2018! An essential gin for Easter drinking and beyond into the Summer months, especially considering the very reasonable price tag.

Two Birds Rhubarb Gin - 42% ABV

You can't turn your head these days without seeing yet another rhubarb gin popping up. It certainly seems to be the flavour of the month as it were. So why try this one? Two Birds Countryside Spirits have been producing all manner of flavoured delights since 2003 and they are always on point taste wise. There's no artificial ingredients used and you don't get any cheap aftertaste with any of their drinks. More importantly their gin and vodka concoctions taste great. These guys know how to do flavours well. Take their Christmas Spiced Vodka for example. It tastes exactly like a liquid mice pie. The same is true of their Cherry Almond vodka that you'd swear was a Bakewell Tart in drinkable form. Their rhubarb gin is made using only English rhubarbs and the taste is fresh and enticing. It's got just the right balance between tart and sweet to make it stand out from the crowd and grab a place on our Easter drinking recommendations list. It's avoided going the same route as most other rhubarb gins and hasn't been overly sweetened. Well done Two Birds!

Liverpool Rose Petal Gin - 43% ABV

This top end premium gin was first released for Valentine's Day back in 2016. It was released again for the same occasion this year, much to the delight of gin fans in the UK. The gin itself is light and floral with hints of rose and hibiscus. There's some citrus in there also and some licorice sweetness. The suggested serve is with a Lamb & Watt Hibiscus tonic water. We've tried it and it sure tastes good to us although getting hold of edible rose petals for garnish is probably a bit above and beyond enjoying a relaxing G&T in the garden for most. This is a great gin for Spring and it's definitely worth grabbing a bottle before they decide to stop making it for another two years!  

Easter Drinking Rose Wine Recommendations

Rose wine is a another stereotypical Spring drink and it certainly seems to taste better when the sun is shining. It generally goes well with fish dishes which, if you're a traditionalist, is eaten extensively on Good Friday. For most of us though it will be enjoyed with friends and family, maybe even in a spritz if you're indulging in some lunch time drinking.

Torres Vina Esmerelda Rosado 2017 - 12.5% ABV

This young Spanish rose is an absolute delight and a perfect entry level wine to compliment the Easter break. It's fresh and vibrant with light fruity notes. The red fruit element is elegant and the finish has a citrus twist. Garnacha grapes from Catalunya are used to make this wine a staple tipple for the Spring time. This should be enjoyed on its own or paired with fish and Asian cuisine. Great Easter drinking at an affordable price.  

Pasquiers Grenache Cinsault 2017 - 13% ABV

This is a popular rose wine and it's easy to see why. This cheeky French number is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Cinsault grapes. The rich fruit flavours are given a slightly spicy uplift by the inclusion of the Cinsault, a nice point of difference that makes this wine more robust than the Torres Esmerelda Rosado. It's for this reason that it compliments richer dishes, an observation supported by the number of cases that we deliver to restaurants. Grab a few bottles of this versatile rose and kick back and relax.

Chateau Gairoid Cotes de Provence Rose Organic 2016 - 12.5% ABV

If you're looking for an organic wine to enjoy then this should fit the bill. A classic Provence rose from a vineyard owned by the Count of Pierrefeu, the 45 hectare estate has the classic chalky terroir typical of the region. No chemicals or pesticides are used, this is old school wine growing at its finest with the focus on producing quality over quantity. Ripe red berries, redcurrants and raspberries dominate the palate with a fresh and uplifting finish. It's worth noting that this wine is vegetarian and vegan friendly. Pairs great with tuna, crab and salmon. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  

Easter Drinking Rum Recommendations

Now rum may not be a traditional choice for an Easter knees up but we believe in horses for courses here; in other words, if you like it, drink it! There's a couple of new rums that have come to our attention recently that would be perfect for a spot of sunshine sipping.

Jamaica Cove Black Pineapple Rum - 40% ABV

Pineapple is the hot flavour on the bar scene at the moment and this tasty rum has embraced this wholeheartedly. This is the second release under the Jamaica Cove label, the first being the equally tempted Black Ginger rum. The brand takes it's cues from the once rampant smuggling that was conducted along the Cornish coast. This would make for an excellent base in a Pina Colada if such a cocktail takes your fancy. The rum itself is a blend of Jamaican rums infused with pineapple and aged for three years. The result is an easy drinking tot that's bursting with tropical fruit flavours. We recommend that you undertake some experimentation with this; try mixing it with ginger beer for a fruity twist on a Dark and Stormy cocktail for example. Alternatively, serve on the rocks and sip, allowing the full appreciation of the complex fruit notes. At this price point you can afford to be adventurous with this rum.

Plantation Jamaica Rum 2002 - 42% ABV

This premium rum is thirteen years old and the method in which it has been aged is unusual, especially for a rum. The liquid is all Jamaican rum, matured for ten years in ex-bourbon barrels. This happens in the humid, tropical climes of Jamaica. Then, and this is where it gets interesting, the casks are whisked over to France where they are emptied into Pierre Ferrand cognac barrels. They spend another three years aging in there before being ready to drink. The resultant rum is truly amazing with some pretty complex flavours. There's some mango and peach, a little bit of honey and citrus in there. Nutmeg and pepper also make an appearance. This is a serious rum that is pretty cutting edge in terms of maturation. This will make perfect Easter drinking, hell, it would make great drinking anytime of the year! If you are a proper rum nut then you' be mad to pass this one buy.

Easter Drinking Whisky Recommendations

As we come to the closing part of our Easter drinking guide, it's time to to whisky. This is going to be a little different to what's come before. Let's just lay down my criteria for selecting this. The first thing is this need to be light and easy drinking to match the season. That's the theme throughout these recommendations so no changing it now. Now for the recommended whiskey and a bit of a shock.

Jameson Irish Whiskey - 40% ABV

Yes, you heard me right. Just a standard bottle of Jameson's whiskey. The combination of pot still and grain whiskies make it easy drinking with touches of vanilla from the bourbon barrels and sherry richness. Whilst it's perfectly permissible to enjoy this on its own or with a mixer, the reason I have chosen it is because of a simple cocktail i imbibed last month. It's fruity and lightweight, the perfect self indulgence on a bank holiday weekend. Here's the super simple recipe.
Tropical Whiskey Cooler
Add 50ml of Jameson Irish Whiskey  to a tall glass half filled with ice and half a fresh pomegranate. Top up the glass with lemonade or soda water. Stir with a bar spoon and enjoy.

Easter Drinking Conclusion

So that's the end of our little guide to what you could be enjoying during the long Easter weekend. Of course there are a near infinite number of drinks you could choose from and these are just our recommendations. Feel free to ignore us completely if you would rather stick with your tried and tested tipples! On the other hand, variety is the spice of life so take off the arm bands and dive right in with something new."