Tag Archives: festive

Something for The Weekend: Aldi Launches UK’s first Prosecco Rosé

Posted on by

Aldi aka Drinks Retailer of the Year* has done it again and we have to hand it to them, they continue to impress wine buffs and lovers alike. This time they have become the first UK supermarket to sell Prosecco Rosé DOC and this is just the tonic we need to toast away our lockdown woes. What we do know about Aldi is that they continue to be King in the drinks market because they not only have fantastic quality wines but their prices are pretty attractive too and we all know high quality, low cost is the customers perfect combo. 

So, what makes it different to other sparkling rosé we may already be acquainted with? Quite simply, to become Prosecco, similarly to Champagne, the liquid would have to be produced in the main Prosecco regions in Italy. It must be made with Glera grapes and must be made with at least 85% of these particular grapes to legally be labelled Prosecco. This ensures that the wine is of the utmost quality and is typically labelled with a DOC seal. In fact, Prosecco Rosé DOC was only approved for production in May of this year and now It is finally available for you to try. 

Aldi’s soft pink Prosecco is made with a stunning blend of Glera and Pinot noir grapes producing elegant and soft notes of summer fruits and peach with a gentle citrus twist. But there’s no need to wait until summer to enjoy this delicious treat, Aldi’s Prosecco Rosé is the perfect aperitif and a luxurious start to toast the festive season and toast away 2020… 

Yes it’s available to buy RIGHT NOW! In-store and online and comes in both a full size 75cl (£6.49) and miniature size 25cl (£2.29) with a case of 6 coming in at under £40!!!! 

Whatever you’re celebrating, end of 2020, Christmas, Election results… ahem, look no further than this delicious bubbly Pink Prosecco. Cin Cin!

https://www.aldi.co.uk/c/wines

*Awarded by Retail Industry Awards

Aldi stores continue to open 7 days a week and a currently operating a 30 minute priority window before opening for Elderly and Vulnerable customers Mon-Sat

With a  30 minute priority window for NHS and Social Care workers Mon-Sun.

Festive Cocktail Guide Vol. 2 ft Three Spirit Social Elixir

Posted on by

This year the market and demand for non-alcoholic spirits and beverages have boomed and more and more bars and restaurants are offering a much more exciting and varied non-alcoholic alternative menu. Accessing non-alcoholic bets has becoming so much more easier and it seems we can now treat ourselves with something other than the boring juice and ‘mocktail’ options that appear as an add-on to every drinks menu. 

This year we were treated to a host of tastings and samples of more and more innovative non alcoholic beverages and our favourite this far has to be;

Three Spirit

The World’s first non-alcoholic ’Social Elixir’. 

Created in a lab this came about as an experiment to create a plant-based alternative to alcohol…’for the bold the curious and for the good times with those who matter the most.’ The bold and curiously flavoured drink contains 11 plants, herbs and mushrooms which have been used for centuries in ceremonies and potions. Don’t be discouraged by the mushroom element… we are talking the strictly non magic kind, however Three Spirit does make you feel good made with an expert blend of plants and active compounds intended for the purpose of taste and effect. This goes without saying Three Spirit is Vegan-Friendly and Gluten Free!!!! 

Some of the ingredients included their Social Elixir blend are;

Lion’s Mane Mushroom which promotes cognitive function and mood, 

Tulsi which fights stress and introduces balance 

Damiana which is well…er an aphrodisiac 

Coconut Vinegar which promotes gut health

to name a few…

The serving suggestions for this drink are just stunning…

We recommend;

Herbal Stimulant;

50ml Three Spirit Social Elixir 

25ml Espresso 

10ml Maple Syrup or Agave 

Shake hard in an ice filled cocktail shaker

Strain into a chilled glass 

Garnish with Raw Cacao Beans.

Light & Stormy 

50ml Three Spirit Social Elixir 

100ml Ginger Ale

Pour ingredients over ice and garnish with a wheel of lime.

Three Spirit comes in three different variations and RRP £24.99 per 50cl Bottle 

https://threespiritdrinks.com

Christmas Gifts: Sweet Treats

Posted on by

Sweet treats are always great stocking fillers at Christmas as well as something naughty to have on the table at Christmas time. We’ve selected our favourite festive sweet treats that’s bound to bring joy to anyone this Winter.

Mr Stanley’s Confectionary.

We were most impressed with their traditional and elegant packaging. Mr Stanley’s confectionary pays homage to an old era of confectioners and we think that anyone with an appreciation for sweeties will love a gift from Mr Stanley’s. Great for stocking fillers or as a good selection for your Christmas table, our favourites from the Christmas collection were;
Mini Candy Canes – £3 I love to use these to decorate the tree or stick on the front of Christmas cards.
Festive Fudge Selection – £3.99 Rich and buttery, Mr Stanley’s covered all of the festive flavours with Christmas pudding fudge, Salted caramel fudge, Mincemeat butter fudge, Christmas spice with orange fudge to choose from.
White Chocolate Matches with Popping Candy – £6.99 We love this luxurious and delicious candy and the extra pop made it all the more fun. And if it’s milk or dark chocolate you prefer than Mr Stanley have got an assortment of chocolate matches to suit you.
These were just a selection of our favourites but be sure to check out their full range online which includes traditional sweets, liquorice and candy, sweet jars and biscuits.

mrstanleys.co.uk


Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate are proud of where their chocolate comes from. They are the only Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by cocoa farmers and this Christmas, they are launching a new range of chocolate gifts to send and share with loved ones. Spoil someone this year with their New Divine Luxury Collection RRP £8 which includes 16 dusted truffles encased in 70% dark chocolate. Or how about their new thins to add to their dark chocolate mint thins and dark chocolate ginger thins, this year they have Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Thins RRP £4. For something completely festive, why not try a bar to share in limited edition flavours Milk Chocolate with spiced cookies or Dark Chocolate with cranberries and hazelnuts both RRP at £2.40. By supporting Divine Chocolate and choosing their range of delicious gifts, the co-ownership with the farmers ensures that they receive a share of the profits and enables them to gain a greater insight of their industry. All of the products mentioned are available to buy in Waitrose and Oxfam but to check out more of their range visit

divinechocolate.com

Cutter and Squidge

Need something sweet for your Christmas afters this year, Cutter and Squidge the Soho based bakery have a lovely range of products including their famous Biskies and Dream Cakes to suit anyone with a sweet tooth. Their focus on natural premium ingredients will make sure anything you try is made with extra love and care and the Festive Collection is no different with it being free from preservatives and additives and handmade from scratch. All products apart from the cakes can be shipped nationwide with the exception of the Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake which is available to be shipped anywhere in the UK. We recommend you try a Festive Biskie Box which you can choose between Coconut Melted Snowman Biskie, Black Forest Biskie, Gingerbread Man Biskie and Christmas Wreath Biskie. The attention to detail and quality will just blow you away. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, why not try a bespoke hamper which are packed full of tempting and delicious goodies and range from £75-£250. Check out their huge and impressive range at

cutterandsquidge.com

Cocktail Ideas : Tanqueray Edition

Posted on by

Every weekend until Christmas we will be offering you up some lovely cocktail ideas which you can use to celebrate the occasion or to create your very own cocktail guide with to use all year round. This week we were sent some exciting Tanqueray cocktails created by presenter Miquita Oliver. We think you will love her daring twists on some Gin cocktail classics.

First up the Tanqueray Martini – This is probably my favourite cocktail ever. Simple, sophisticated and packs a punch. Miquita has created;

Tanqueray Martini with Ginger Chilli and Coriander.

45ml Tanqueray London Dry Gin
10ml Chilli infused Cocchi Americano
10ml Chilli infused Dolin Dry
5ml Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur
1 dash orange bitters
Atomised with coriander & ginger spray
Garnish: Coriander leaf

Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini or nick & nora glass
garnish with spray and float a coriander leaf in the drink

For the Chilli vermouth infusions
Take 2-3 dried whole chillies and break their skin and put straight into the bottle and allow to infuse for 1.5 hours – taste after this time to check that the chilli has infused – depending on the strength of the chilli it may need a little longer but this should add a gentle heat to the vermouths – after this time strain and rebottle

For the coriander & ginger spay
Infuse coriander and ginger for 1.5 hours. Strain. Transfer liquid to any plastic atomiser

The Green Tanqueray Tonic –

A refreshing and zesty green take on the G&T


For the Syrup:
500g Sugar
1.5 Litre Water
350g Cucumber
1.5 Granny smith apples (cored)
20ml Lime juice

Heat sugar & water up together and leave to cool to make sugar syrup
Blitz cucumber, apples and lime in a blender and strain. Add to the sugar syrup.

To serve:
40ml Cucumber and Apple syrup
25ml Tanqueray
topped with Fever tree tonic

Garnish:
Pleated cucumber peel (full length of cucumber) pierced by a cocktail stick and rested on top

The Red Tanqueray & Tonic

The Red Tanqueray Tonic – perfect for Christmas, we love the spicy notes and cranberry twist.

For the Syrup:
500ml water
150g Sugar
100g Cranberrys
10g Cinnamon
10g Black Cardamon

All except sugar in a pan and  bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins
Reduce to about half as much water and add the sugar. Simmer for another 4 mins on a low heat, remove the spice cinnamon & cardamon and blitz the rest. Strain.

Serve:
35ml red syrup
10ml Lemon juice
2 dash angostura bitters
top with fever tree tonic

Garnish:
3 cranberries on a cocktail stick

Tanqueray is available to buy from multiple major retailers. For more details visit www.tanqueray.com

Festive Cocktail Ideas : Amarula Edition

Posted on by
This week we welcomed in December and also snow in some parts of the UK so wherever you are, we wanted to offer you something super comforting, decadent and spicy to keep you warm from the inside out.
This week our cocktail has come from the delicious South African liqueur Amarula and has the inspiration of a hot toddy and a mulled wine all rolled into one quintessentially festive tipple.

Amarula Spiced Dram

Ingredients:
35ml Amarula Cream Liqueur

20ml Spice – infused whisky (clove, cinnamon, juniper, star anise & cardamom)
Method:
Stir ingredients in glass beaker with ice until chilled. Fine strain into a chilled champagne glass.

Amarula is available to purchase from multiple major retailers priced at £12.50 per 700ml Bottle

Festive Cocktail Ideas : Greenall’s Sloe Gin Edition

Posted on by

Take it Sloe Toddy

Every week until Christmas we have teamed up with some fabulous drinks brands to bring you some wonderful festive cocktail ideas. This year Greenall’s have launched a new Sloe Gin recipe combining the eight botanicals which make up the Original Greenall’s with rich sloe berries to create the perfect warming winter tipple.

Greenall’s Take it Sloe Toddy

Best enjoyed by a roaring fire

Ingredients:
50ml Greenell’s Sloe Gin

100ml Cloudy Apple Juice

50ml Orange Juice

Cinnamon Stick

2 Cloves

Method:
Pour Sloe Gin into a toddy glass. Warm juices gently with the cinnamon and cloves for 5/6 mins until infused. Pour the warm liquid into the Greenall’s Sloe Gin. Garnish with orange wheel and cinnamon stick.

Greenall’s 1761 Royale

Perfect for dazzling your party guests

Ingredients:
25ml Greenall’s Sloe Gin

50ml Prosecco

Blackberry to Garnish

Sprig of Rosemary

Method:
Pour Sparkling Wine over ice into a coupe glass. Lightly bruise rosemary then drop into glass. Slowly pour Greenall’s Sloe Gin so it sinks to the bottom.

Greenall’s Sloe Thyme

A refreshing tipple

Ingredients:
50ml Greenall’s Sloe Gin

150ml Cloudy lemonade

Sprig Thyme

Lemon Slice

Method:
Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in Greenall’s Sloe Gin. Slowly pour in cloudy lemonade or lemon tonic. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and a lemon slice.

Greenall’s Sloe Gin
New recipe Greenall’s Sloe Gin will be available to customers in the UK through Amazon from November
R.R.P £18

Christmas Cocktail Ideas

Posted on by

If you’re planning on staying in this weekend why not gather some friends round, take out your cocktail shaker and try our simple Christmas cocktail ideas inspired by cocktail classics.

Chocolat Luxe Gold

Made with: Baileys Chocolat Luxe
Inspired by: The White Russian
Perfect for: After Dinner.

We love this indulgent and silky dark chocolate version of Baileys

Ingredients:
30ml Baileys Chocolat Luxe


70ml Hazelnut milk

Gold edible colouring and edible gold leaf

0.5 units per serve

Method:
Shake in a cocktail shaker and fine strain into the glass.

Finish by garnishing a simple sheet of edible gold leaf.

If you’re feeling fancy, pre-dip a raspberry in edible gold colouring to add an extra touch of glam.

Gordon’s Pink Spritz

Made with: Gordon’s Pink Gin
Inspired by: Wine Spritzer
Perfect for: Cocktail Reception

The Gordon Pink Gin has a natural sweetness from infused strawberries and raspberries.

Ingredients:
50ml Gordon’s Pink Gin


50ml lemonade


25ml Prosecco


Garnish of cranberries and pomegranate

2.1 units per serve

Method:
Fill a prosecco glass with ice and add everything together

Garnish with pomegranate and cranberries.

Christmas Beauty Looks

Posted on by

Christmas Beauty Looks 2015

christmasbeautylooks

Christmas Beauty, don’t you love it? When else do you get to be so glam and over-the-top? As long as no-one mistakes you for a Christmas tree, it is all good. However, Christmas can feel like a marathon of endless parties and family get-togethers. Your hair and make up has to look good and last so here are our top tips and ideas from Frost.

emily_blunt_a_p_1

Christmas is tiring so work on your skin first. A good base is all you need to stay looking fresh. A primer will help your make up last all day and make sure your skin is looking it’s best. Before you apply your primer use a good cleanser and then exfoliate as it gets rid of dead skin cells and leaves skin smooth and fresh. Using a weekly face mask before a big event will also make sure your skin is in it’s best condition. Making sure you drink enough water and cutting down on caffeine will keep skin looking healthy. Keep a concealer handy to freshen up underneath eyes and cover up any other flaws. Powder is very underrated but not much else sets make up like it. It will stop you looking shiny and keep make up in place.

images

Now for some Christmas touches.

A glittery nail polish. Not only glam but also very hard-wearing. Should last a week at least.

A beautiful red lipstick or red nail polish. Endlessly glamorous with the added benefit of being a very Christmas colour.

A shimmering eyeshadow. Something that catches the light gives an extra pop of glamour.

For your hair, do an up-do like a fish tail plait or a loose bun. Add a glitzy clip or a hairband and you are good to go!