Cheers to love! VIVA’s round up of Valentine’s Day drinks

Emma Chadwick | 11th February 2023

Nothing says I love you more than a bottle of your beau’s favourite tipple, so if you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day inspo, VIVA has you covered.

What’s more this liquid pleasure (remember to drink responsibly peeps btw) can be bought with just a couple of clicks if you’ve left your shopping to the last minute and even delivered to your lover’s door if you’re super late.

So put a smile on their face, whoever you love, and make their Valentine’s Day with these gorgeous drinks or treat yourself. Cheers!

Whisky - Cotswolds signature single malt whisky

Cotswolds signature single malt whisky

The award-winning Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky was launched in 2017 and is the first whisky ever distilled in the Cotswolds. Rich and fruity, Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is sippable with notes of honey, Seville orange marmalade and dark red fruits. Available in a beautiful gift box, it is the perfect gift for a whisky lover and is versatile.

RRP: £39 for 70cl. ABV: 46%. Available from: Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, Majestic, The Whisky Exchange, Amazon and Cotswolds Distillery

Whisky - Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt is a hand-crafted whisky matured in hand-selected American Bourbon barrels as well as European Oak Sherry casks chosen by Master Distiller, Anup Barik. Produced in India’s oldest distillery, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the combination of Rampur’s unique distilling and the double cask maturation process, sees this luxury single malt taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.

RRP: £60 for 70cl. ABV: 45%. Available from: Amazon, Master of Malt, Selfridges and The Whisky Exchange

Vodka - Mermaid Vodka

Mermaid Salt Vodka is shot through with a pinch of locally sourced sea salt, enhancing its smoothness and accentuating its subtle flavour. An essential ingredient for any home bar and it makes for a great cocktail mix where the salt can really bring flavours to life.

RRP: £38.00 for 70cl. ABV: 40%. Available from: John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, Fenwick, Amazon, and Isle of Wight Distillery.

Vodka - Artisan drinks gift set

Two British brands delivering a mix that lifts your standard Vodka and Cola to another level. Artisan Drinks have paired their Barrel Smoked Cola mixers with Masons of Yorkshire Classic Vodka to deliver a gift set that will wow the recipient.

Each Vodka and Cola Gift Set contains: 2 x The Artisan Drinks Barrel Smoked Cola 200ml bottles 2 x Masons of Yorkshire Classic Vodka 5cl RRP: £16. Available from: Artisan Drinks.

Axia Spirit - an alternative white spirit

A first of its kind, Axia is an extra-dry and refreshing mastiha spirit that is a new and unique addition to the premium white spirits category. Axia is expertly crafted and distilled from the aromatic resin of the Mastic Tree, native to the hillsides of the Greek island, Chios. With less calories per serve than Vodka, it is a versatile spirit with an authentic flavour profile with vibrant citrus and vegetal notes.

RRP:£31.95 ABV: 40%. Available from: The Whisky Exchange and Hedonism.

Gin - 57° Skye earth and sea Banyu’s Cask Finished Gin

57 ˚ Skye earth and sea spirits has launched two small batch gin expressions, 57˚ Skye earth and sea gin and 57˚ Skye earth and sea Banyuls Cask Finished Gin. These two beautifully crafted spirits are distilled on the Isle of Skye and are inspired by the natural unspoilt beauty and fertile waters surrounding the island. They are distilled at the new distillery in Broadford using the finest botanicals selected by distiller Seumas Gorman, a native of Skye.

Its earth and sea gin marries local botanicals from the earth such as heather, blossom, rowan berry and yarrow with coastal botanicals including smoked laminaria and laminaria digitata otherwise known as kelp seaweed. Balanced with other botanicals such as juniper, angelica and lemon peel the result is a gin with a peppery warmth which balances well with the earthiness of the coastal influences.

The Banyuls Cask Finished Gin has been distilled using the same botanicals as the London Dry Gin but is finished off in French oak casks which previously contained Banyuls liquor, a fortified aperitif. The 225 litre casks were finished off on the Isle of Skye and so combine the earth and sea. The gin has a golden-orange hue from the cask influence which also provides the spirit with a depth of flavour. A well balanced gin with fresh citrus notes combined with waxy vanilla, aromatic spice and sweet butter apple notes. RRP: £40.99.

Gin - Aviation Gin

Co-Owned by Hollywood actor, Ryan Reynolds, Aviation American Gin is distilled in small batches in Portland, Oregon in the USA.

Crafted with a blend of botanicals, with juniper in the background and citrus and floral notes in the front, Aviation delivers a smooth balanced profile, which makes the perfect base for a variety of cocktails and is great in a G&T.

RRP: £28 for 70cl. ABV: 42%. Available from: Tesco, Waitrose, Amazon, Master of Malt and Morrisons.

Gin - Jaisalmer Gold Indian Craft Gin

Jaisalmer Gin have recently launched their second gin in the range. Its produced in the foothills of the Himalayas and is infused with 18 handpicked botanicals, of which 14 have been sourced from India.

The liquid is then enhanced by Gold filtration to produce Jaisalmer Gold Indian Craft Gin. This unique production process occurs wherein the Gin slowly passes through a filter made of intertwined golden silk filament, enriching the Gin with gold ions and providing a clean and smooth tasting experience and balanced taste.

RRP: £39.99 for 500ml. ABV: 43%. Available from: Drink Supermarket.

Gin - Cotswolds No.1 Wildflower Gin

Cotswolds No.1 Wildflower Gin is a blend of cornflowers, lavender, orange and rhubarb root, layered over a classic London Dry gin.

Inspired by the wildflowers growing in the ‘Glorious Grasslands’ of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the No. 1 Wildflower Gin has been created by marrying premium botanical essences with the gin distilling and blending skills of the Cotswolds Distillery team.

RRP: £34.95 for 70cl. ABV: 41.7%. Available from: Cotswolds Distillery Amazon, Majestic, Ocado, and Master of Malt.

Rum - Duppy Share Xo Rum

Duppy Share XO Rum is a blend of five, eight and twelve year finely aged 100% column still rums from Barbados. Rich, indulgent flavour notes are balanced out with lighter, more chocolatey-sour notes as the younger and older rums react to each other.

On the nose, rich notes of velvet caramel and tamarind are balanced with light and floral tones of toasted coconut and violet. On the palate, indulgent flavours of butter fudge, caramel and condensed milk delicately marry with accents of apricot, vanilla and nutmeg. Designed to be super premium, this liquid truly re-defines the XO category.

RRP: £40.50 for 70cl. ABV: 40%. Available from: The Duppy Share Rum, Master of Malt, Amazon, The Whisky Exchange.

Mezcal - The Lost Explorer Espadín

The Lost Explorer Mezcal is a handcrafted, sustainable spirit made from 100% agave, cultivated in the sun-soaked Valles Centrales, Oaxaca in Mexico.

RRP: £62.50 for 70cl. ABV: 42%. Available from: thelostexplorermezcal.com, Amazon, Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and Casa Agave.

VIVA loves Mexico. VIVA loves Mescal just as much!

Tequila - Mijenta Blanco Tequila

Mijenta Tequila is the world’s first and only B Corp tequila. Mijenta Blanco Tequila is an artisanal small batch Tequila from the highlands of Jalisco, made with 100% agave and the best possible materials embracing traditional methods resulting in a complex tequila with a silky long finish.

Mijenta Tequila was completely carbon neutral in 2021, offsetting 706T of CO2 (equivalent to planting 60,000 trees) through the Forest Protection Project in Chiapas, Mexico. Mijenta Tequila also supports The Ocean Foundation – the only community foundation for the ocean, working to reverse the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. Best enjoyed in a Paloma or Margarita.

RRP: From £54.99 for 70cl. ABV: 40%. Available from: Selfridges, Master of Malt, Amazon and shopmijenta.co.uk

Liqueurs - Jumping Goat Coffee Vodka Liqueur

Jumping Goat’s Coffee Vodka Liqueur is produced in Tauranga, New Zealand. It is packed full of real organic coffee and spices, then infused with the best quality base spirits around, all the while having a vibrant and playful attitude that is unlike any other coffee liqueur in the market. Jumping Goat’s Coffee Liqueurs have won multiple international awards including Double Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Awards.

RRP:£31.95. ABV: 33% Available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange.

Adriatico Amarettos

Adriatico Amarettos are a range of Roasted and Bianco Amarettos, made from handpicked Italian almonds from Puglia. These premium Amarettos are also Gluten Free and Vegan Certified. Adriatico is the only Vegan amaretto in the world as the range is lactose free and it is one of the only 100% natural amarettos as it is made from real almonds. Best enjoyed on the rocks or chilled after dinner.

Adriatico Amaretto Roasted & Bianco available at RRP £28.99 for 70cl. ABV 28%.

Wine - Porta 6 Red Wine

Porta 6 Red is complex, with red and wild berries and hints of nuts. It has a soft mouthfeel with a medium finish, making it the perfect pairing for meat, roasts and pastas to name a few. Sales of Porta 6 Red Wine exploded after celebrity chef James Martin said it was one of the nicest reds he had tasted in ten years of BBC Saturday Kitchen. The subsequent scramble to buy it broke the Majestic website.

RRP: £7.50 – £8.99 for a 75cl bottle. ABV: 13.5% Available from: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Co-op.

Van Hunks Mcc Sparkling Wine

A range of South African sparkling wines, made using the Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) from the viticultural paradise of Stellenbosch. Produced using the traditional method identical to Méthode Champenoise, they are bottle fermented in small batches and matured in contact with the lees for approximately 30 months.

RRP: £20 for 75cl bottle. ABV: 12%. Available from: Van Hunks Drinks, Not on the High Street.

Domaine Du Météore Le Cratére Sparkling Rosé

Meteoric wine producer, Domaine du Météore has expanded its range with a new organic Sparkling Rosé Wine, Le Cratère. Le Cratère is an organic ‘methode champenoise’ sparkling rosé wine made in limited quantities (970 bottles) from Syrah grapes, which are all grown inside the 200-metre-wide meteorite crater from which Domaine du Météore takes its name.

Over ten thousand years ago a meteorite struck a hillside in Southern France and helped form, Le Cratère, a cosmic wine from another dimension. Domaine du Météore has partnered with Birding Languedoc who have given their advice on the design of the wooden gift cartons for Le Cratère, making sure they can be upcycled as bird boxes to encourage nesting. Domaine du Météore donates a proportion of the Le Cratère wine sales to this non-profit organisation.

RRP: £28. £33 a bottle with wooden bird box. £168 for case of 6. ABV:13%. UK delivery: £5.00. Available from: Domaine du Météore.com.

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