The Spirit Specialist

19/07/2024

'Alas, poor Dan Aykroyd...'

The new Bone Edition Crystal Vodka looks SO COOL.

17/07/2024

SPECIAL OFFER!

I managed to get my hands on the excellent FEW Straight Bourbon at a REALLY good price, as a result YOU can get your hands on a genuine bargain!

Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/few-straight-bourbon-whiskey-465-70cl

16/07/2024

SPECIAL OFFER!

EL Rayo Plata is a delicate, citrussy 100% Agave Tequila with just a hint of grassy smoke on the finish. It's excellent with tonic or in a Paloma and while stocks last you can save £10 on a bottle!

Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/el-rayo-plata-100-agave-tequila-40-70cl

12/07/2024

NEW ARRIVALS!
The superb 'core' Single Malt whisky release from the Isle of Raasay Distillery is made up of a 'six-cask recipe', featuring unpeated and peated spirit maturing seperately in 3 different cask types before marrying together to create the final product.
'Na Sia' - or 'The Six' - are single cask, cask strength bottlings of each constituent part, allowing drinkers to explore the individual elements that make a magnificent whole.
The peated bottlings will be released later this year, but here's a chance to enjoy 5 year old unpeated spirit from either Chinkapin Oak, Bordeaux Red Wine or Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey casks.
Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/shop/search?search=raasay

10/07/2024

Spaces still available for the Italian cocktail face-off event at Romeo’s Bar Italiano next Thursday evening!

Whilst enjoying 4 courses of delicious food made by the team at Florena’s Italian Howden, discover the difference (and if there is any!) between 'mainstream' and 'premium' cocktails and spirits:
Negroni vs Negroni
Spritz vs Spritz
Limoncello vs Limoncello
'Amaretto' vs Amaretto

Numbers are strictly limited, to secure your place pop in-store or visit http://www.spiritspecialist.com/events

04/07/2024

This Sunday I will be presenting 3 sessions of cocktail demonstrations during the Howden Show - why not come along and join me? There's loads of other activities and displays for all the family to enjoy too!

12pm - Retro-A-Go-Go - modern twists on some classic cocktails such as the Harvey Wallbanger and Tequila Sunrise

1pm - Martini Madness - Find out how you can make 8 Martinis in one glass, plus have some myths busted about Espresso and Pornstar Martinis...

2pm - Yorkshire Spirits In The Mix - amazing cocktails made with spirits made in God's Own Country!

04/07/2024

20% OFF selected American whiskies all week! Check out the attached list, head to https://www.spiritspecialist.com/whiskey/american-whiskey and use the promo code MURICA to score a bargain!

01/07/2024

NEW ARRIVAL!

I was lucky enough to be allocated a couple of Springbank and Kilkerran releases and to save customers fighting over themselves to get hold of them, I've decanted what I have into a sample selection with some other interesting Campbeltown releases to enable as many people as possible to enjoy the fantastic output the region produces.

I'm also in the process of putting together a 'drink-along' video, so at some point next week head to The Spirit Specialist YouTube channel and you'll be able to get some background info behind each sample and each distillery, almost as if it was your very own private tasting event!

Sample packs cost £30 for 6 x 30ml measures and are available to purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/the-campbeltown-collection-2024-springbank-kilkerran-glen-scotia-6-x-30ml

01/07/2024

SPECIAL OFFER - ONE WEEK ONLY!
To celebrate Independence Day this Thursday, I'm delighted to offer a whopping 20% off selected American whiskies, as listed below. Just enter the promo code MURICA between now and Sunday on the webstore to enjoy some chunky discounts! Yeeeeeeehaw!

Belmont Farm Kopper Kettle Apple Whiskey - normally £39.99, 20% off = £31.99!
Belmont Farm Kopper Kettle Butterscotch Whiskey - normally £39.99, 20% off = £31.99!
Belmont Farm Kopper Kettle Virginia Whiskey - normally £44.99, 20% off = £35.99!
Bondstone Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - normally £99.99, 20% off = £79.99!
Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey - normally £49.99, 20% off = £39.99!
Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey - normally £99.99, 20% off = £79.99!
Celebrity Bourbon Selection Box - normally £40, 20% off = £32!
First Call Break Maiden Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks - normally £89.99, 20% off = £71.99!
Hard Truth High Road Rye Straight Rye Whisky - normally £99.99, 20% off = £79.99!
K**b Creek Single Barrel Select 1st Ave Bourbon Crew Pick - normally £124.99, 20% off = £99.99!
Michter's US*1 American Whiskey - normally £59.99, 20% off = £47.99!
Michter's US*1 Sour Mash - normally £59.99, 20% off = £47.99!
Peerless Single Barrel Bourbon 5yo 1st Avenue Liquors Barrel Pick - normally £124.99, 20% off = £99.99!
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Rye Whiskey - normally £54.99, 20% off = £43.99!
Rabbit Hole Heigold Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey - normally £59.99, 20% off = £47.99!
RY3 Light Whiskey 16yo 1st Avenue Bourbon Crew Barrel Pick - normally £174.99, 20% off = £139.99!
Smoke Wagon Private Barrel 7yo Straight Bourbon Whiskey Florida Select - normally £174.99, 20% off = £139.99!
WhistlePig Smokestock Whiskey - normally £149.99, 20% off = £119.99!
Wolcott Rickhouse Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - normally £99.99, 20% off = £79.99!

29/06/2024

I was stunned to find a couple of bottles of Tullibardine 25yo available from one of my suppliers on a frankly ridiculous price last week - it was sadly discontinued last year to be replaced with an 18yo that was nowhere near as impressive, and a quick check online sees bottles going for AT LEAST £350. Wowzers. I don't think the supplier knew what had happened and so I snaffled the stock as quickly as I could before a) they put the price way up or b) someone else decided to take advantage of unsuspecting customer and stick a massive margin on it!

So get your hands on a genuine bargain before the two bottles I have get snapped up!

Purhcase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/tullibardine-25yo-70cl-single-malt-scotch-whisky

28/06/2024

NEW VIDEO REVIEW!

A recent arrival to UK shelves, Red Bank is a Canadian whisky co-founded by actor/musician Kiefer Sutherland.

'Celebrity brands' can be very hit and miss but as the video confirms this is very much a hit - and yet another release that proves the likes of Crown Royal, Ensign Red and Canadian Club are doing the Canadian whisky market a massive disservice!

And I also pay tribute to Kiefer's father, Donald Sutherland, who sadly passed away last week - a truly phenomenal actor who will be missed.

Buy a bottle of Red Bank Canadian Whisky here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/red-bank-canadian-whisky-40-70clSUBSCRIBE to The Spirit Specialist an...

25/06/2024

Join The Spirit Specialist in the beautiful surroundings of Romeo’s Bar Italiano in Howden on the evening of Thursday 18th July for 'Faccia a Faccia' - tranlasting to 'Face to Face' - an Italian cocktail face off!

Ccompare and contrast handmade Italian cocktails and speciality liqueurs to discover just how much of a difference using 'premium' brands instead of the everyday 'mainstream' can make. Or does it just make no difference at all?

While dining on some delicious food handmade by the skilled team at Florena's restaurant, you can enjoy a Negroni, Spritz, Limoncello and Amaretto made with either well-known, affordable name or small-batch premium producers. But to make things more interesting you won't know which drink is made with which ingredients, so it will be up to you to decide which one you prefer!

This will be a relaxed, informal event where hopefully we will all learn something about drinks production and branding - and possibly something about ourselves...!

Numbers are strictly limited to 25 people to ensure an intimate event, so don't miss out and secure your place!
Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/events/faccia-a-faccia-an-italian-cocktail-face-off

21/06/2024

NEW ARRIVALS!
One of the most sought-after releases of the Ardnamuchan portfolio - and arguably one of the most unusual flavour profiles too - I was extremely lucky to receive a tiny allocation of the Paul Launois 2024 edition. Unpeated spirit is initially matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels for 5 years before transferring to a number of wine barriques sourced from the highly regarded Champagne house. The end result is a bright, zingy, almost effervescent whisky which is unlike anything else I've tried before.

At the same time I also got my hands on the new 'The Midgie' - a limited run celebrating the abundant wildlife that surrounds the distillery - and most of Scotland, let's be honest. With maturation taking place in ex-Bourbon, ex-Oloroso, ex-Madeira AND ex-Sauternes barrels, this is an explosion of fruit, honey and smoke which is an absolute belter!

The Paul Launois bottles are available in a triple pack with a bottle of The Midgie and either a Cask Strength Release or the fantastic AD/Core. Shipping is available nationwide, to purchase online visit: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/shop/search?search=ardnamurchan

20/06/2024

Wait a minute... what is this shining light in the sky? It's... it's THE SUN!

Take advantage of this finally-good weather - because who knows how long it will last! - and enjoy a genuine, proper Dry Martini, handmade by The Spirit Specialist using probably the best Martini ingredients - No. 3 London Dry Gin and Noilly Prat Vermouth in a 2:1 ratio, with a touch of filtered water to dilute. Just keep the bottle in the freezer and pour directly into a super-chilled glass once the sun is out to experience the height of elegance!

As a bonus, bring the empty bottle back to the shop and you'll also get 50p off your next Pick Me Up purchase!

For those further afield, don't forget I can also ship nationwide around the UK - purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/cocktails

18/06/2024

NEW VIDEO REVIEW!

Indri Single Malt Whisky is a relatively young whisky brand from India already gaining a fantastic reputation in the UK market due to a distinctive flavour profile of intense tropical fruit - mango, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, all stemming from the new make spirit.

'Dru' is a superb Cask Strength release matured solely in ex-Bourbon barrels that highlights the unique flavour profile and is unlike anything else I've come across so far.

I really can't recommend this enough, to purchase a bottle visit here: https://bit.ly/indridru

https://youtu.be/hRfUCrbX8rU

Buy a bottle of Indri Dru here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/indri-dru-single-malt-indian-whisky-572-70clSUBSCRIBE to The Spirit Specialist and r...

15/06/2024

RESCHEDULED TASTING EVENT!
To celebrate the limited edtion Porter Cask from Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery - along with Yorkshire Day itself - The Spirit Specialist will be teaming up with The Hop Cavern on the evening of Thursday 1st August to explore the interplay between Filey Bay Single Malt Whiskies and The Wold Top Brewery beers while they both influence casks in turn.

You'll get to enjoy Filey Bay Flagship, IPA Finish and Porter Cask along with Wold Top Scarborough Fair IPA, Barrel Wave IPA, Marmalade Porter and Rip Curl Porter - with gourmet crisp butties being provided to soak up the booze!

Places cost £25 per person and numbers are strictly limited - pop in store to secure your place or purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/events/hops-barley-a-beer-whisky-tasting-event-with-spirit-of-yorkshire

14/06/2024

After missing from the UK shelves for a long while, the fantastic range of Indian Single Malt Whiskies from Indri Single Malt Whisky is now back in the country!

Trini - Sanskrit for 'three' - is a wonderfully fruity dram packed full of dark red fruit and soft spice flavours, thanks to maturation in ex-Bourbon, Pedro Ximenez and French red wine barrels.

Dru is a powerful Cask Strength release solely matured in ex-Bourbon casks, packed full of vanilla and salted toffee coupled with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Although a relatively new brand Indri has already garnered a phenomenal reputation and is not to be missed!

Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/whiskey/indian-whisky

13/06/2024

Launched on Monday, Lochlea Distillery Cask Strength Batch 2 sees a change from the previous batch by using PX and Oloroso Sherry casks alongside STR ex-red wine barrels to produce a deeper, richer flavour profile of summer fruits and warm cereal, with the complexity expanded thanks to older stock being used.

Batch #1 was probably my favourite release of the entire portfolio, and Batch 2 is just as good, with enough difference in style to make both bottlings the top of my list!

Purchase here: https://bit.ly/lochleacs2 - it'll make a great Father's Day present if you're quick!

12/06/2024

Looking for a last-minute Father's Day present that won't break the bank but still offer something exciting and unusual? Try a sample selection box featuring spirits hand-picked by The Spirit Specialist!

Gin, rum and a variety of whisky categories are available - each box also contains notes on each sample for more information - with prices starting from only £20. Nationwide shipping is available so order in the next day or two and it'll arrive in time for Sunday - or just pop in the shop and pick one up!

Purchase online here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/tasting-packs-events

11/06/2024

After a fantastic time with my family in Florida, I'm delighted to offer some amazing bottles I picked up while across the pond, including some phenomenal barrel picks of RY3, Peerless and K**b Creek by my good friend Marcia Wells at 1st Avenue Liquors in St. Petersburg.

Get your hands on Bondstone Double Oak Bourbon, First Call Port Finished Bourbon, Smoke Wagon Florida Exclusive Private Barrel, RY3 16yo Light Whiskey Barrel Pick, Walcott Rickhouse Reserve Bourbon, Peerless Single Barrel Pick, Hard Truth High Road Rye, K**b Creek Single Barrel Pick or WhistlePig SmokeStack!

These bottles aren't officially available in the UK and having tried all of them before purchasing them, I can guarantee you they are absolutely delicious!

Quantities are VERY limited, so don't miss out! Visit https://www.spiritspecialist.com/whiskey/american-whiskey

17/05/2024

Last chance to purchase your quality spirits for the upcoming Bank Holiday break before I close for 3 weeks to enjoy our own family holiday!

Try a handmade pre-mixed cocktail, share a sample selection box with friends, stock up on small-batch gin and vodka for long drinks in the sun (IF there is any...) or finish off an evening with a delicious dram!

Online orders can still be taken but please be aware that they won't be shipped out until my return!

15/05/2024

NEW ARRIVAL!
Here's a fantastic opportunity to sample the various delicious flavour profiles that rum can offer, in an exclusive sample selection box hand-picked and decanted by The Spirit Specialist!

Try at home or share with friends to discover:
White Rum
Twisted Roots Distillery LTD Golden Rum
Planteray Rum Original Dark Rum
Brass Hat Rum Diver's Spiced Rum
Wester Distillery Coconut Rum
Defiance Spirits Espresso Rum

Don't forget, nationwide UK shipping is available (although please bear in mind I'm closed for 3 weeks from Saturday!)

Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/rums-the-word-sample-selection-pack-may-2024-edition-6-x-30ml

14/05/2024

Unfortunately due to a clash of events, Lee at The Hop Cavern and I have had to make the decision to postpone our beer & whisky tasting event that was due to take place this Saturday.

Many apologies to those who were planning to attend, but we're working on a new date, so watch this space!

08/05/2024

The Spirit Specialist will be CLOSED from Sunday 19th May to Friday 7th June, reopening at 10am on Saturday 8th June.

Orders can still be placed via http://www.spiritspecialist.com while I'm away - but please be aware that as it's just me running the business, packages will not be shipped out until Tuesday 11th June at the earliest!

I'll be taking a valuable family holiday to the US - but I intend to return with some very interesting bottles too!

07/05/2024

Tickets are still available for an evening of beer and whisky at The Hop Cavern on Saturday 18th May!

Discover how beer can influence whisky and how whisky can influence beer with a look at the Flagship, IPA Finish and Porter Cask single malt whiskies from Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery along with the respective 'before' and 'after' ales by Wold Top Brewery. And there'll also be gourmet crisp butties at the halfway point to soak up the booze!

Tickets cost £25, are strictly limited in number and must be purchased in advance via The Spirit Specialist. The event starts at 6pm at The Hop Cavern and should be finishing around 8pm.

Secure your place here: http://www.spiritspecialist.com/events

04/05/2024

Looking for a Father's Day present? Why not give Dad the oppotunity to join The Spirit Specialist on the evening of Friday 21st June to discover Kinahan's, a young Irish whiskey brand doing amazing things with cask maturation!

Sample packs cost £20 and if you can't make the event live you'll be able to drink-along with a recording of the discussion uploaded to YouTube the following day!

Tickets are available to purchase in-store or online at www,http://spiritspecialist.com/events

03/05/2024

NEW ARRIVAL!
One of my most popular sample selection boxes, 'Guid Auld Scotch Drink' is a set of six samples of whiskies from Scotland - and I'm delighted to offer a 'full strength' edition which includes a number of cask strength or higher ABV releases.

The pack includes:
- Lochlea Distillery Cask Strength Batch #1
- Lindores Abbey Distillery Cask of Lindores II Oloroso Barrel Limited Edition
- DS Tayman Glen Elgin 12yo Syrah Edition
- DS Tayman Blair Athol 12yo Bordeaux Edition Cask Strength
- Ardnamurchan Distillery Cask Strength Release
- Ardbeg 8yo 'For Discussion'

Available to purchase in-store or online - nationwide shipping is available!
http://www.spiritspecialist.com

02/05/2024

I'm delighted to present The Spirit Specialist PICK-ME-UP - a selection of handmade ready-to-drink cocktails made in micro-batches and using only the very best ingredients. Just add ice and shake if required, and enjoy some cocktail history on the back of the bottle while you sip!

The range currently includes:
- Terry's Old Fashioned - a Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned with Bourbon Bourbon, Mozart Chocolate Spirits UK Dark Chocolate Liqueur and Ferrand Cognac Dry Curacao.

- Ankrah Martini - based on the original recipe by Douglas Ankrah, as opposed to the sickly sweet pineapple-heavy drinks you'll find in mainstream bars, this Passionfruit 'Martini' is made with Littlewater Toffee Vodka, DeKuyper Cocktails PassionFruit Liqueur, Funkin Cocktails PassionFruit Puree and Giffard Liqueurs and Syrups Vanilla Syrup

- Espresso Martini - made with Isle of Wight Distillery Mermaid Sea Salt Vodka, Deerness Distillery Orcadian Moon Coffee Liqueur, Solo Coffee Coffee Concentrate and a touch of sugar syrup, this is beautifully balanced and guarantees you a thick 'crema'!

- Bali-Hai Mai Tai - using a classic recipe from the San Diego hotel of the same name, this uses Skipper Rum Dark Rum, Planteray Rum Isle of Fiji Rum, Giffard Pacifico Triple Sec, Giffard Orgeat Syrup and Funkin Sweet & Sour Mix to evoke the Caribbean in all it's glory.

Available to purchase in-store or online - and if you return your empties, you'll also save 50p per bottle off your next Pick-Me-Up purchase!

https://www.spiritspecialist.com/

27/04/2024

Join The Spirit Specialist and The Hop Cavern on the evening of Saturday 18th May to discover how beer can influence whisky, and whisky can influence beer!

Highlighting the unique relationship between Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and The Wold Top Brewery, you'll enjoy Flagship Single Malt whisky as a baseline before discovering the effect of Scarborough Fair IPA on barrels that result in the Filey Bay IPA Finish and Barrel Wave IPA.

After a break for some delicious gourmet crisp butties, you'll then see the same influences taking place, but this time with Marmalade Porter and the brand new and limited edition Porter Cask whisky, alongside Rip Curl Porter!

Numbers are strictly limited due to space and tickets must be purchased in advance - tickets cost £25 per person and include samples of 3 whiskies and 4 beers plus food. The event starts at 6pm and is expected to finish by 8pm.

Secure your place in-store or online at http://www.spiritspecialist.com/events

24/04/2024

This is the third and FINAL year of the superb Seasonal Editions from Lochlea Distillery, opening with the Sowing Edition to evoke the weather getting brighter and warmer. Well, at least it's supposed to do that, doesn't really seem like it at the moment!

Purchase here: https://www.spiritspecialist.com/product/lochlea-sowing-edition-third-crop-46-70cl