HAY DISTILLERY
We met Natalie Evans who introduced us to the delights of Hay Distillery. First off we tried the uniquely branded Dr Beaky London Dry Gin – this is imaginatively made using botanicals said to be found in the 17th Century plague Doctor’s masks. We loved the herby citrus notes from their homegrown lemon balm and mint, floral notes from rose, carnation petals and lavender and the warm kick from cloves, peppers and juniper – definitely a modern day pick up. We also tried their Wild Knapp Gin which uses quince, apple, pear, homegrown thyme, bay, rose, rosemary and foraged elderberry. A brilliant London Dry Gin, handcrafted and juniper led with a complex finish of fresh tasting botanicals.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
www.haydistillery.com
THE COSY CHOCOLATE COMPANY
Quite a discovery, a Chocolate Company making drinking chocolate which is lower in sugar, higher in cocoa and vegan friendly – all crafted in house from scratch to ensure quality. We tried the Original Plain – which delivers a rich, smooth and deeply chocolatey flavour, and the best selling Orange Chocolate which adds a zesty, tangy orange flavour to rich, dark chocolate -Yummy. The company also make lovely taster gift sets and single origin bars – a great combination present for Christmas.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
www.cosychocolate.co.uk
BLACK MOUNTAINBOTANICALS
Developed in the shadows of the Black Mountains, Herefordshire based Black Mountains Botanicals not only produce award winning gins and rums but they also produce small batch coffee including a Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur. We met the team and tried their Hazelnut rum and Spiced rum – the Hazelnut rum, which combines toasted hazelnut with notes of oak, brown sugar and vanilla, is tremendous – and similarly the Spiced Rum has an exotic punch, smooth and warming with a soft sweetness.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
www.blackmountainbotanicals.co.uk
FLAPJACKERY
Flapjackery take great pride in bringing scrumptious gluten-free flapjacks to the door of their customers. They produce luxurious flapjacks are handmade in Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor, using only British oats, locally sourced West Country ingredients, Fairtrade brown sugar and real butter. We tried their Caramel Latte Flapjack which lives up to its claim of being the ultimate delicious treat; made with an organic expresso ground coffee incorporated into the buttery flapjack and then topped with creamy fudge and a chocolate layer this is truly an indulgent delight.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
www.flapjackery.co.uk
