Liquid assets: July 2024

Botivo x Maison François

0% ABV botanical aperitivo Botivo has collaborated with high-profile St James’s brasserie Maison François to launch its first-ever limited edition product. Inspired by pastis, the drink is described as harmoniously blending the aromatic and licorice notes of star anise and fennel pollen with the floral essence of chamomile, and the bitter undertones of artichoke and woody gentian root. “At Maison François we have long been huge supporters of Botivo, so to work with them on their first ever exclusive, limited edition launch is incredibly exciting,” says Francois O’Neill, co-founder of Maison François. “We both share a huge passion for craft, quality ingredients and good times so it’s a perfect fit. Given the Provençal theme of the drink and our French heritage we thought it ideal to combine the launch with our Bastille Day celebrations. Vive La Botivo!” With only 600 bottles available, Maison François x Botivo Botanical Aperitivo will be sold exclusively on the Botivo and Maison François websites, available only while stocks last (£36 per 500ml bottle). Additionally, it will be served in Maison François by the glass.

Bladnoch Wave whisky series

Bladnoch, Scotland’s southernmost whisky distillery, has launched The Wave, the second chapter within its Master Distiller’s Collection. The Wave is a five-part limited-edition series, with each annual release revealing one of the five whisky making pillars used by master distiller, Dr Nick Savage. Savage has selected five 1,500 litre Amontillado sherry tuns, each filled with whiskies from various combinations of cask types to marry together from the distillery’s 207-year-old bluestone warehouses. Each year the cask types will be revealed for another pillar of Bladnoch whisky making. The remaining whisky will be decanted into the following year’s tun, creating a common thread and a wave effect throughout the series, with the fifth and final release featuring components from the full collection. Wave I: Time & Maturation was filled with a combination of ex-bourbon casks from Bladnoch’s maturing stocks and married with the remaining whisky from Waterfall 05 2024 Edition of the first Master Distiller’s Collection. Bottled at 53.8% abv, non-chill filtered and natural in colour, the whisky has notes of sweet oak and toasted coconut on the palate, with a sweet, warm, refreshing finish. It is limited to 1,817 bottles in tribute to the year the distillery was founded and has a price tag of £150.

Black Lines Hugo Spritz

Pre-mixed cocktail specialist Black Lines has launched a summer spritz inspired by the turquoise lakes of Northern Italy. Made with Sapling Gin, sparkling wine, elderflower, mint, lemon and soda the Hugo Spritz is described as gently sparkling, refreshing to sip and ‘ever so easy on the palate’. The product is designed to be served in a wine glass with ice, a lemon wheel and a sprig of mint. Pronounced ‘ugo’, the Hugo Spritz is available direct from Black Lines and at Little Lines, Black Lines’ bar in the RIXO flagship store on the Kings Road, among other venues.

Pillars Brewery

The North East-London based Pillars Brewery has launched a New Zealand Pilsner. Brewed with New Zealand hops and malted oats and dry-hopped, New Zealand Pilsner 24 is described as being light, easy drinking and filled with tropical fruit flavours. “Our small batch exists to showcase the vast breadth of lager varieties in existence,” says Pillars co-founder and brewing director Eamonn Razaq. “There are so many possibilities within the category of ‘lager’, we’re passionate about exploring and experimenting with lager styles from around the globe. This is our third New Zealand Pilsner release, which harnesses New Zealand hops to create the perfect summer lager”. Established in 2016 as London’s first craft lager brewery, Pillars Brewery says it has ‘remained steadfast in its mission to redefine the landscape of lager brewing, one sip at a time’.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company 

After 10 years of focusing on limited editions and single casks, That Boutique-y Whisky Company have launched a core range of five ‘exceptional quality, great value whiskies’. Stand outs include the 18-year-old Peated Highland Single Malt aged in a marriage of ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks as well as entry level whiskies such as the Canadian Corn (£36.95) which is a bold expression matured in 100% Oloroso casks and 8 Year Old Single Malt (£41.95) which is aged in ex-sherry casks and based on spirit from Islay. “Crafted in small batches and bottled in 700ml, there’s a whisky within our core range to captivate every palate, mood and occasion,” a spokesperson says. “With Boutique-y, you can trust that our whiskies are never subjected to chill filtration or artificial colouring, ensuring quality in every sip whilst always offering incredible value for money.” The new whiskies are adorned with cultish graphic novel-style labels hand-illustrated by Emily Chappell and ‘inspired in some way by the liquid, the distillery or the people who make it happen’. 

Aluna Tropica rum

Spirits brand Aluna Rum is expanding its range with a new tropical flavoured expression. Aluna Tropica blends premium rums sourced from Sri Lanka and the Caribbean with the flavours of south Asia, including pineapple, lemongrass, pandan leaf, spiced pineapple, and galangal, with a smooth finish of honeyed spice. The rum is said to have less sugar than the traditional spirit and joins Aluna’s range that also includes a coconut rum and two lower-sugar rum-based liqueurs - Aluna Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and Aluna Peach & Pomelo Liqueur.

Lucky Buddha draught

Asian beer brand Lucky Buddha Beer is now available in draught format for the first time in what the company says is as a bid to elevate the drinking experiences within the UK’s fast growing Asian and Southeast Asian restaurants. Known for its green buddha embossed bottles, the brand has previously only been available in a 330ml format. Lucky Buddha is a 4.8% abv Asian-style lager made with malt, hops, rice flakes and water from the Thousand Island Lake in China and will be available on draught from later this month. “The last few years have seen an explosion of Asian tastes and flavours hitting British high streets. From bao buns to ramen, Asian delicacies are popping up on every corner,” says Lee Williams, beer and cider category manager at LWC – Lucky Buddha Beer’s exclusive UK distributor. “We know that not every beer drinker wants a bottled beer when dining out. Yet, the draught options available for beers that have been curated specifically to pair with Asian cuisine are still few and far between. Now feels like the perfect time to open the market up a bit and offer restaurants and consumers a bit more choice when it comes to what their drinking, when dining out.”

Turntable limited-edition whiskies

Turntable Spirits has released two limited-edition blended whiskies that build on its tradition of combining musical heritage with whisky craftsmanship. Launched to mark Turntable’s first anniversary, Track 4 and Track 5 are named after Blondie’s song One Way or Another and Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger respectively. Track 4 is a blend of 78% grain and 22% malt whisky drawn from a variety of casks including Strathclyde first fill bourbon barrels and Invergordon ex-red wine barrels (£69), while Track 5, which is a punchy 59.1% abv, features Tamdhu first fill Oloroso sherry butts and Dalmunach first fill bourbon barrels (£73.50).

House of Suntory Tsukuriwake Series

The House of Suntory has launched the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series of Japanese whisky that it says showcases the diversity of the spirit. Tsukuriwake (pronounced soo-koo-ree-wah-keh) means ‘artisanship through a diversity of making,’ and the series comprises Yamazaki Golden Promise, Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt, Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt, and Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara. In previous years, the Tsukuriwake Series has focused on the casks matured in the lands of Yamazaki. but the 2024 Series incorporates elements of whisky-making, such as ingredient selection, peat and cask. The previous selection was released in 2022.