Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
You probably don’t associate vodka being Italian, bu I bet you didn’t know that Altamura Vodka was made from ancient grain, making it 2,000 years old? The ancient durum wheat is grown in Altamura or neighbouring Puglia to produce vodka which can confidently say that it’s been around longer than most other spirits!
At 43% proof, this is one for cocktails, which Altamura is perfectly suited for thanks to its raw wheat taste which blends to a soft finish. There’s tones of lemon and grapefruit there too, not unlike the hills of the Altamura region in Italy.
For vodka lovers, Altamura is a great choice as something different yet classic. There are fewer ingredients which gives it a clearer taste and makes it excellent for making cocktails with. Versatile vodka is great for Father’s Day or as a birthday present, especially if Dad likes Italian spirits!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Take Father’s Day to a new level and give Dad some Sake Ono instead of a boring bar of chocolate! Sake Ono, made in Niigata, Japan, is 15% ABV so it’s a bit stronger than wine but not as strong as whisky or vodka. It can be drunk either in a glass or as a part of a cocktail, but I prefer to drink it on its own, along after a meal.
Sake Ono sits like a wine with a soft, crisp texture. Although made with water, rice, koji (to ferment the rice) and yeast, you can’t taste either the rice or the yeast. It’s less like beer and more like wine. It’s brewed then pressed, filtered and pasteurised in the Japanese Alps using the finest quality water.
Sake Ono is a great alternative to spirits with a lower ABV and works especially well with cheeses and charcuterie, or in a New School Negroni. It has a light, slightly citrus and a pinch of floral taste and a sweet after taste. Why not try it yourself before you gift a bottle to Dad?
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you don’t know what to get Dad for Father’s Day, have a look at https://edsstuff.co.uk for some fun ideas. There’s everything there from artwork and sculptures, aprons and tea towels to greetings cards and wrapping paper. We were sent one of their jolly tote bags and some wrapping paper to show what there is available.
The Sea Dog Tote bag (£15) is an original design on cotton fabric, measuring 40cm by 32cm with a gusset and both long and short handles. It’s remarkable how much you can carry with just one bag, and the gusset of 12cm makes it easier to load it with shopping, or even books as it has the strength to carry a lot more. If you buy more than one tote bag, there’s a £5 discount too!
The wacky wrapping paper comes in 9 different designs including these; Helmets and Fiat 500. They measure 500mm by 700mm and are sold on a per sheet basis but if you buy 3 sheets or more you get one sheet free!
Each of Ed’s items on the Ed’s Stuff online store is a unique design, and there’s often an explanation behind how each of the designs came about. The website also evolves with more stock coming on and special collections available, so if you like Ed’s slightly quirky style, keep watching!
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Marco Pierre White is known as being Britain’s premier Michelin Star winning chef from the 80s to today with number other awards under his belt, and well as making more hot dinners, well than you’ve had hot dinners! Did you know that he’s ventured into making gin though? Mr White’s London Dry Gin was created by Marco with Master Distillers to use to top of the range ingredients and the best distillery process to make this top tier, 40% gin.
The London Dry gin has been described as ‘redefining a London Dry’ due to the gin being juniper-forward. This is not a gin for a first-time taster, but more the pinnacle gin for those who have tried every gin out there and got bored. Wanting to try a more sophisticated flavour, connoisseurs will love the simplicity of this taste that incorporates the smooth texture of London Dry as well as the gin/juniper flavour.
The taste is not ostentatious. You can tell that it’s been cultivated in copper pot still because of the clean taste but it’s also powerful and hits like a gin from first sip to aftertaste. The 40% proof is evident, and I would suggest only drinking neat the first time then mixing afterwards, or creating a fabulous cocktail with it that exemplifies its pureness.
The bottle is gorgeous (white of course!) and signed by Mr White himself. The bottle is also huge, but only the average spirit size of 70cl. You’ll notice Marco Pierre White’s name at the top and ‘Established 1961; which refer to the chef himself, not the age of the spirit!
This is a brilliant Father’s Day gift for gin lovers, or anyone who appreciated a really good bottle being added to the collection. If you’re serving cocktails to that special man this Father’s Day, you might like to try this…
The MR. WHITE’S Classic Negroni Bianco
* 30ml MR. WHITE’S GIN
* 30ml White vermouth
* 30ml Suze.
Method
Add all ingredients into mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into a clear, heavy tumbler, with a single large ice cube or ice ball and garnish with grapefruit peel.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Well this was a real treat when it turned up! Chilli No 5 sent us a gift set of 12 gorgeous chilli samples as part of a gift box for Father’s Day.
The beautifully presented box has glass vials of 12 different chillies and sauces ranging from the mild Devilish Dijon to the 3/3 hot Forever Phall. The labels have indicators on them of how hot the sauces are on a 1-3 scale to give you a clue. There’s not just the conventional chillies though, the gift set also includes Chinese Hot & Sour, Jamaican Jerk, Wicked Wasabi and Ever So English. If you’re wondering what Ever So English tastes like, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the beetroot base sauce which is flavoured with horseradish so goes equally well with beef or any stronger meats.
The gift set isn’t called Passport Piccanté for nothing – the 25ml sauces from all over the world make up this beautiful set but are all freshly made in the UK and South of France. The range of sauces are created by the team at Chilli No 5 are inspired by the public’s searches on Google, ensuring that with the right superfoods, antioxidants and health supplements, the sauces are appealing to everyone.
The Passport Piccanté is a real treat for both food lovers and those who love hot spices. The smaller vials mean that if you don’t like one flavour, you don’t have to worry about the rest of the jar, and the one vial, one flavour gift box means there’s still enough there to make a dinner with that flavour. Each of them are delicious and you can taste the fresh food used in it. I still think my favourite is the Ever So English sauce. Nothing better than improving an already perfect roast with something that brings out the flavour even more, and makes Father’s Day Roast even more memorable for Dad.
Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Here’s a novelty Father’s Day Gift you Dad will love, without being the predictive socks, chocolate or whiskey! The Oro Bailen Arbequina Olive Oil Gift Bod is surprisingly more straightforward than its name. It’s a beautiful award winning 500ml bottle of olive oil, complete in a box that’s easy to gift.
I was taught that the best olive oils come in dark glass, to preserve it from the sunlight which destroys good olive oil. The Oro Bailen Arbequina Olive Oil is just that – high quality olive oil in the deepest of dark glass and presentation box! If you’re in any doubt about the quality or taste, just take a look at the side of the gift box where it’s earned 25 different awards from around the world. Top of the awards is the 2024 Great Taste Award (2 stars) which sits proudly on the bottle.
The Andalucian Spanish olive oil is cold pressed within 2 hours to give a 99 point score in the Flos Olei International Olive Oil Guide. The 2024/25 harvest from a single Spanish estate is a mild flavour, extra virgin green olive oil that has a multitude of uses. The slight aftertaste is not acidic at all, just a mild olive taste which is rich and smooth. I don’t like using extra virgin olive oils of this calibre to cook, but instead to use as a dressing or ingredient. I think this harvest, along with the 99 point scoring, makes the Oro Bailen an excellent gift for Dad, or anyone who enjoys really good food, especially high quality ingredients. The taste speaks for itself, and makes a unique, and usable gift.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Chocolate isn’t just for Easter, or Christmas but all year round the family can enjoy these Thorntons Chocolate Pearls – or would you give them to Dad for Father’s Day?
These new offerings from Thorntons are boxes of delicious individually wrapped chocolates (in the shape of a pearl) in two distinct flavours –Brownie Deluxe and Salted Caramel Sensation. Each box contains 167 grams of chocolates, which is about 18 chocolates per box. The chocolate is the same world-famous Thorntons chocolate you’re used to, with a rich smoothness to the milk chocolate but with new fillings to keep you happy!
Starting with the Salted Caramel Sensation Pearls, this flavour is relatively new given the history of chocolate but it’s everywhere now. More of a flavour for grown-ups, children will actually appreciate this variety because it’s not overpowering nor too different. The shell is made of milk chocolate with the salted caramel soft centre easy to enjoy. There’s only a hint of the salt in there, but mostly the pleasure comes from the caramel which is very rich, but not so rich that you couldn’t eat just one pearl at a time. Thorntons have really got the balance right between the size of the bite and the richness of the chocolate and filling.
The second flavour we were sent was Thorntons Brownie Deluxe. These are the same pearls with a milk chocolate shell then the filling is rich chocolate with tiny biscuit bits to make it a Brownie. The filling is not the same chocolate as the shell; it’s softer and more like a chocolate cake piece, as the name suggests. There’s not too much biscuit in it, which is something I hate in chocolates, it is more of a rich chocolate fondant and a tiny amount of small bits of biscuit. It add texture but without taking away from the chocolate indulgence!
These Thorntons Pearls could be shared by the whole family, but if Dad is a chocolate fiend, he’ll love these sophisticated chocolate flavours and will be able to drown in as much or as little of the lovely chocolatey tastes Thorntons is famous for.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Hot sauce challenges have been around for a while and bringing them home can be a great bit of family or party fun. The Sauce Shop’s Hot Sauce Challenge Set is a great way to have fun even for those who are new to heat! The 5 sauces are varied and tasty – with a few of them winning Great Taste awards in 2023.
Hot sauces can bring many flavour profiles to any meal, adding a great deal of depth and complexity to a variety of foods. From Sweet and fruity to Smoky and tangy – there is a hot sauce for everyone, even if you don’t call yourself a hot head!
This set is a fantastic gift for a group of spice adventurers (like the group we got together), spice lovers, or even those new to spicy food – but be warned that some of the bottles get HOT!
The presentation of this set is great as a gift – it is minimal but striking. It gives a clear view of all the bottles you get with a great symbol and colour scale showing you what you’re in for with the heat. There are great descriptions of each sauce on the back of the box with information about the sauce, its ingredients, and it gives you a recipe for “Ultimate Easy Wings” that you can use for the challenge!
For the Challenge itself, we gathered 4 relative spice adventurers, some fried chicken and chips, and the Sauce Shop Hot Sauce Challenge box! So, let’s talk about how we found each sauce:
Original Hot Sauce – Heat 1
A tangy and vinegary sauce that gave a slow and low lingering heat. This sauce is a jalapeno sauce which makes it a great starting point for the challenge.
Sriracha Chilli Sauce – Heat 2
A great balanced sauce with sweet notes, if you like sriracha normally this a great time and is a little more ketchupy in consistency – which we loved! This is also a jalapeno based sauce so non-spice heads can still take part.
Buffalo Hot Sauce – Heat 3
The classic “wing” sauce – it is sharp, tangy but a little creamy. This jalapeno based sauce is a great mid level sauce – a hit of spice with a nice low burn.
Habanero Hot Sauce – Heat 4
This was our groups favourite sauce – hot, sweet and tangy with a great burst of mid-heat that lingers in a great way. The mangos in this make it a fun and good entry into trying sweeter style hot sauces.
Habanero Ketchup – Heat 5
So you like ketchup? Well this is the same thing but replace tomatoes with habanero peppers! Rich and spicy! A good way to end the challenge and a real heat that will challenge those that dare try this!
We had a fantastic night with this challenge, discussing the sauces, giggling when one of us got hit a bit harder than they expected, and tasting these great sauces while doing it. I will add that the last two sauces can get hot for those not used to spice so, if that is you, challenge yourself to get the buffalo sauce and have a glass of milk nearby ready!
If you are looking for a good gift for those who like spice, a fun friend or family party night, or want to challenge that friend or family member that keeps saying they love spicy food – this is a perfect gift to grab! The sauces are tasty and there is plenty of it so you can keep using them after the challenge.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I had seen heated mug warmers on Instagram and wondered how good they were and whether the price (much more than a coffee mug!) was worth it so I was intrigued to find out when we were sent the Ikago Heat Coaster Pro. Perfect as a gift that you didn’t know you needed, this is brilliant for parents whose coffee always goes cold when there are small children around, or if you’re in a long meeting and want hot coffee throughout!
What is it? The Ikago Heat Coaster Pro is an electric heating pad which plugs into a normal electrical socket. The ceramic mug which is part of the set is placed on top of the coaster and is kept at a constant temperature using the infrared emitter. This means that as long as the coaster is plugged in and your mug is sitting on it, the temperature of your coffee (or other beverage!) is kept constant until you either drink it… or top it up!
To use, unpack all the equipment. As well as the heated coaster the ceramic mug is included, along with a lid and a spoon. The mug is actually quite attractive and 100% handmade and I was surprised it was a slightly bigger size than I expected. The lid is needed to keep the heat in so that the temperature can be kept constant and the spoon works with the infrared emitter.
Plug the coaster into the wall and the lights come on, but you need to press the power button at the side. The coaster will only heat up with the mug on the plate so make sure you have your coffee made and in the mug before you put it on. To change the temperature, use the display – and + signs to reach temperature sup to 65 Centigrade (150 Fahrenheit). You probably don’t know the exact temperature you like your coffee to be at, so this may take some trial and error before you get the right temperature! Don’t worry about remembering the exact number though, the Ikago Heat Coaster Pro will remember the last temperature and make sure your coffee is heated to that.
This is actually a really fun gift to receive because it’s not just a novelty item, it’s really useful and has longevity, it’s easy to use and the fun of getting it set up and discovering ‘your temperature’ and getting it right is all part of the process. It took me just 2 attempts to get the temperature right and actually allowed me to have a hot drink and not be distracted by filling up the mug when it got cold. I think it’s a brilliant idea for anyone working from home or who needs to concentrate as in time, I will get used to having the Ikago Smart Mug Warmer by my side and can rely on it.
It’s not ideal for warming a cup from cold, so it’s always best to have the drink hot first and either warm it slightly or keep it at the same temperature. NEVER use anything other than the ceramic mug as infrared and the radio waves can affect plastic, glass and quartz so best to stay away for safety reasons.
I think I’ll be using the Ikago Smart Mug and Heat Coaster Pro for a long time to come, and you can expect this gift from me in the future!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Atmospheric autumn nights turn into festive Christmas advent when 1 December comes around. As the children delight in their chocolate advent calendars, Yankee Candle have grown-up versions for adults which will spoil you just as much. The Yankee Candle Advent Wreath has 24 days’ worth of pretty candles to light up your evenings.
The wreath, which has fixtures on the back to be able to be mounted on a wall, contains 24 scented tealight candles of 8 different fragrances, and one glass tea light holder, which is in the window on 1 December. The scents are all Christmas themed and include Letter to Santa, Christmas Cookie, Twinkling Lights, Christmas Eve, Amber & Sandalwood, Silver, Sage & Pine, Soft Wool & Amber and Pink Cherry Vanilla. Each tealight weighs enough to give you over an evenings’ worth of burn so you can keep them going night after night or save up until you have several of the same scent and dot them around the room to give a luscious scent throughout the house. The addition of the glass tealight holder means that you still have an attractive candle vase long after Christmas and can purchase more Yankee Candle tealights in the New Year to use around the home.
This is a lovely indulgent gift for anyone who loves candles or Christmas, and doesn’t want chocolate or alcohol at Christmas time. Although the box is large and an awkward shape, it is still fairly easy to post because it’s not very heavy or thick. There’s a lovely array of different scents which will evoke Christmas and the festive spirit even more once you have the decorations up. I think this is lovely for teenagers who might just be getting into candles but don’t want childish chocolate or toys at this time of year.
The candles and scents are beautiful and are a fabulous alternative to sweets plus they can be enjoyed by the whole family!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Advent calendars aren’t just for children anymore. They mostly are, but now we have these bigger, more sophisticated marketing calendars that cater for all kinds of whims and fancies. Adults who love chocolate are spoiled for choice though. Cadbury have an extra special Dairy Milk Advent Calendar for Someone Special which contains squares of Dairy Milk chocolate chunks which are individually wrapped. There’s caramel, Dairy Milk or wholenut contained in random behind the 24 windows.
This advent calendar is aimed at chocolate lovers but not necessarily children, so it’s great for teenagers, adult children or even partners. There’s no gimmicky marketing with this calendar, just the 24 windows with little individual bars behind each of them. The packaging is largely recyclable, apart from the wrappers and the cocoa is 100% sustainably sourced.
If you love milk chocolate and especially for adults who love chocolate, this is a great gift! There’s a whopping 259 grams of chocolate in this calendar, which is more than 2 bars worth. The individual chunks of chocolate make it easy to share this calendar too, and if you don’t want to eat the pieces, you can save them for later. The individually wrapped chunks are the same Dairy Milk chocolate and quality you’d expect from Cadbury, and I, as a chocolate lover, especially love the fact that there is this variety of flavours to look forward to each day too. It also helps that the Dairy Milk Advent Calendar for Someone Special also has the proper 24 windows, not the new trendy 12 days of advent!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Advent calendars are getting more and more exciting these days. No longer do we have the calendars of youth with just an illustration behind a window, or a little snowman shaped chocolate. Instead, every major retailer and even department store has something on offer.
Just Spices have launched their 2023 Advent Calendar again, with the full 24 days to look forward to. If you’re not familiar with their products, Just Spices produce a range of seasonings, toppings and mixes to liven up any mealtime. It’s not just spices though, it’s a mix of spices and salts which add both flavour and nutrients to your dishes.
The Just Spices 2023 Advent Calendar is bursting with samples from their range. There’s pizza topping, curry seasoning, Texas BBQ mix to add to chicken or beef, and a whole host of other products which are for both sweet and savoury dishes. Each sachet is enough for one meal, which you can save for after Christmas. For door number 24, there’s a full sized spice mix which can be added to your store cupboard.
The Just Spices 2023 Advent Calendar differs from other manufacturers because they actually supply 24 days’ worth of gifts – most high end retailers opt for just 12 days now. The cardboard calendar is easy to post or transport and recycle too, and the sachets last for ages. You don’t have to use them on the day you receive them! The full size mix will last you for weeks too, but you’ll probably find it handy to use over the Christmas festivities anyway. I love the range of seasonings available, often for dishes which I would never normally think of adding extra flavour to, like avocado on toast, and the variety of sachets means I get to try the whole product line without having to buy them individually, which can end up pricy and take up a lot of room at home.
The Just Spices Advent Calendar would be great for older teenagers who are learning to cook or who are away at university and could benefit from some extra flavour to their meals, or for those who love cooking and perhaps don’t have the room for a full spice cupboard. Adults will love this calendar due to it not being completely reliant on chocolate, sugar or alcohol and actually something they can, and will, use throughout the rest of the year.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Disclaimer – The MoGo 2 Pro was sent as a review sample for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
What’s a great Father’s Day gift Dad isn’t expecting? Or what kind of gift could you get him that he doesn’t know he wants yet but when he tries it, will wonder why he hasn’t bought one for himself before!
The MoGo 2 Pro Portable Project from XGIMI has so many feature that I can hardly write them all, but for an overview of what it does, it’s a portable projector and speaker all in one!
With a 120 inch screen, the projector can be used for movies, online content (for example, You Tube) or gaming. It’s compatible with power banks too so you can even take it outside or use it whilst camping. I told you Dad didn’t know he needed it!
As for the technicals, the MoGo 2 Pro Portable Projector supports HDR 10 with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. With an auto focus of ISA 2.0 and an aspect of 1:2:1 it also has Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance.
The system contains 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM with a system of Android TV™ 11.0. There’s an impressive 3 different ports (USB type-C, USB type-A and HDMI 2.0) and an AU 3.5mm output port. Bluetooth 5.0 is also included and it works on a Wifi 5 Duel band of 2.4/5GHz.
The whole kit includes a power cable as well as a remote control. It only weighs 1.1kilograms (2.42lbs) which makes it even more portable and I liked the cube shape which also makes it easy to pack if you’re going away. The possibilities are endless with this projector so having never owned one before, I was excited to get it set up and see how it works!
There are instructions included with the projector, but as you take it out of the box you realise it’s actually pretty simple to set up and the screen takes you through it. Start by connecting the power with the power pack provided, then press the on button. The MoGo 2 Pro starts playing music as it asks you how you want to set up, starting with the wifi network and password, then going through the different type of screen adjustments. The pages take you through each option before you get to the Apps page. There’s even an explanation of how the screen adjustment works on the projector too.
The last page of set up already has a TEX app and you can download other Adroid (Google) apps. There’s no need to hook it up to a computer or network, it’s simply connected to the internet, you log into your Google account (which includes You Tube) and you can view any of your saved videos, or go and search for more.
The whole time I was setting up the projector, it was adjusting to the distance from the wall so that it stayed in focus, as well as the horizontal. It didn’t matter how far the projector was from the wall, it adjusted the size of the screen, knew when it was out of focus and kept adjusting so that it was completely clear. As I was thinking of all the movies and programmes I could now watch on the big screen thanks to this projector, it was really exciting to think how it could change how anyone watches TV, especially as I don’t have a projector already. It was like having my own personal cinema!
The picture remained sharp the whole time my movie played, as well as the audio being pitch perfect throughout. If you have a really good internet connection too it helps, and there was no buffering or loss of sound throughout. I also like how you can play it against any wall, curtain or makeshift movie screen no matter where you are, and the sound of the fan is very quiet so doesn’t detract from the soundtrack. The remote control is super easy to use as well and makes life much easier rather than trying to fiddle with buttons on the machine.
The MoGo 2 Pro Projector changes the way you watch TV and videos, especially if you’ve never had a projector before, and is much easier to use than a TV! Perfect picture, perfect sound and so, so easy to set up that anyone can use it and the whole family can enjoy it. Even Dad…
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
A great choice for Father’s Day is a gift box or hamper, especially one that contains beer! This £10 gift set from Great Newsome Brewery contains two bottles of beer, a beer glass and a natty pair of socks in a presentation box which can be posted.
Great Newsome Brewery was started in Yorkshire in 2007 for the sole purpose of producing good quality British Beer. With their trusty dog Jem nearby (and Jem’s descendants still wagging around today) the team sought to grow the best malting barley and homegrown hops. With special strains of yeast they developed traditional craft beers. No mean feat when you’re so far north in the country. Although the barley is ready in the summer, they product many different beers throughout the year, including a bitter called ‘Yule Do’, available for Christmas!
Although their British craft beers are available in pubs and some shops, their gifts such as the Great Newsome Father’s Day Gift Box is available online. The box contains;
1x Sleck Dust beer (500ml and their best selling blond beer)
1x Old Fergie (500ml classic brown ale)
1x Great Newsome Brewery Beer Glass
1x Great Newsome Brewery Men’s socks, size 7-11 UK
All the items are packaged up in a recyclable cardboard presentation box and can be bought on their website (link below).
As a gift, this is particularly good for posting due to the size (it arrived with us in the post with no damage and was well packaged!) but makes Father’s Day much easier because it’s a whole gift in one. The addition of the beer glass and the socks is particularly useful as it shows a bit more thought has gone into the present, and it’s not just beer on its own. The socks show a fetching portrait of the lovely Jem, the brewery dog mentioned before.
At £10 for the whole giftset I was shocked at what good value it is and how versatile it is as a present. The box doesn’t mention that it’s only for Father’s Day, so it could also be used as a birthday gift or house warming present. It’s a brilliant idea that saves anyone having to put together a gift box for themselves, as well as having some interesting items which Dad, or Grandad will enjoy!
And if Jem looks familiar, she’s the dog featured on the labels and bar tags for all Great Newsome products.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
No one misses out this Father’s Day with the Sinzero range of low and no alcohol wine. The range includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay, a Rosé and a Sparkling Brut white wine which have only recently been launched in the UK. Whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, each of the Chilean bottles tastes of summer and you won’t notice the difference having low alcohol makes compared to what you find on the supermarket shelves. Each variety has a maximum of 0.5% alcohol.
Starting with the Sinzero Chardonnay, which is both vegan and alcohol free, the unmistakeable sharpness of Chardonnay is still there, with a slightly fresher, fruiter scent and after taste. This makes a great accompaniment to food especially white meat and fish and doesn’t have the acidic flavour you’re used to with some Chardonnays, probably because it’s from Chile. I’m reliably informed it only has 20 calories per glass too!
The Sinzero Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon tastes of vanilla but has a fragrance of strawberries, redcurrants and summer berries. I loved this one on its own, not with food but it goes particularly well with lighter meals like Italian pasta, it is a lovely lunchtime wine. The Sinzero Chliean Cabernet Sauvignon is also award winning, with 96 points and a gold medal in the IWSC.
Sinzero Chilean Rosé is a great wine for BBQs and works swimmingly with pasta, cheese and lighter dishes. I can also be drunk on its own and is also vegan and less than 25 calories per glass. It’s crisp, floral and fruity, just like a rosé should be!
Finally, there’s the Sinzero Chilean Sparkling Brut. We saved this for a family birthday as everyone could drink it, regardless of age or what medication they were on! The sparkling, crisp wine goes with anything or can be drunk on its own as the celebratory drink it is meant to be. Like all the other Chilean wines, it is light and fruity plus has less than 0.5% alcohol. Perhaps a good sparkling for family celebrations, especially as it’s got a slightly sweeter taste?
I didn’t know non-alcohol and low alcohol wines could be so tasty, let alone light and refreshing like the Sinzero line. I’m looking forward to seeing what other varieties they bring out in the future!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Oxford Rye Whisky Easy Rider makes a fabulous Father’s Day gift. Whether Dad is a seasoned whisky drinker or just likes to keep a bottle for special occasions throughout the year, this is a great choice.
Oxford Rye pride themselves on making easy-to-drink spirits, with this batch of whisky being their 7th of Oxford Rye Easy Rider. Based in Oxford, as the name suggests, the distillery has worked hard over the last decade to create the best environment for growing crops which produce the best spirits. Easy Rider is blended from 9 different casks including American Oak to give it that authentic Southern State aroma. The result is a blend which is sweet, rich and not too smokey, leaving the 50% ABV to work its magic. The aroma is slightly fruity, with a sweet aftertaste and subtle finish. It would work perfectly as an after dinner drink, or mixed with soda for an afternoon drink in the sunshine.
Chill an Old Fashioned glass by filling it with crushed ice.
Add all the ingredients apart from the orange bitters to a mixing glass or tin, and stir for at least 30 seconds and then a little more.
Discard the ice and add a large ice cube to the glass.
Pour the cocktail into the glass and dash the orange bitters over the top.
Garnish with the orange twist
You don’t often find whisky distilled in the UK, and there isn’t much of a history to it apart from in the Highlands of Scotland, but Oxford Rye are blazing the way with creating a new type of whisky and traditions, based on heritage grains. In addition to heritage, they are building a sustainable way of creating the best possible whisky they can.
Dad will love this new twist on a traditional whisky with the bonus of it being distilled in the UK and not like any other brand out there.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Gin isn’t always associated with Dad for Father’s Day but there’s no reason why Mum has to have all the fun! The Guards London Dry Gin from Hawkridge Distillers was developed by an ex-Guard to be exceptionally smooth and let’s face it, it appeals to Dads, doesn’t it?
Made in Great Britain, it was inspired by a serving officer in the Guards between 2021 and 2022 and has the branding of the Household Division with the busby helmet but also the distinctive red tunic for a label. The Household Division is made up of five regiments of the Foot Guards and are some of the most decorated in the world. You might recall seeing them at the recent King’s Coronation and they’re a common sight around London.
The distinctive busby fur helmet of the guards adorns the top of The Guard’s gin bottle, complete with chin strap chain to make it look more authentic! Although a gimmick, it makes for an interesting centre piece or gift for someone who was in the guards.
The gin itself is exceptionally smooth. At 40 ABV it’s bound to be, and this is a gin for gin lovers after all. It’s won the London Spirits Competition Gold place in 2023 and I’m sure it will win more as the year goes on. It’s well bodied with a slightly sweet after taste, so goes well with any mixer.
It’s worth noting as an added bonus that some of the proceeds from each bottle sold will go to regiment charities, supporting veterans and their families.
The Guards London Dry Gin makes a beautiful gift for Father’s Day, especially for any vetrans or anyone interested in the military. Gin lovers will be more than happy with The Guards too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Father’s Day is Sunday 18 June, and everyone, without fail, struggles to find something that’s perfect for Dad! Every year he says there’s nothing he wants, knowing that he’ll get another supply of socks or beer like every year, but secretly, I’m sure all Dads would like something that’s more of a thoughtful treat for them.
The Letter Box Hamper company cater for all sorts of hamper treats throughout the year, and this year have sent us a lovely Father’s Day hamper. Keen followers will see that we also have one of these Father’s Day hampers as a competition prize too, so I’ll do my best to give you the low down!
At £32.95 this is a great price for a gift on Father’s Day. It’s not too expensive, but it shows that some thought has gone into this present and isn’t just picked off the shelves. In fact, you can only buy it online on the www.letterboxhamper.com website and have it delivered, so not everyone is going to have one. If you don’t fancy the Father’s Day Hamper then there are loads of other lovely ones for other occasions on their website too.
As the name suggests, the letter box hamper fits through the door. You don’t need to be home to be able to receive it and there’s nothing breakable inside to worry about as it hurtles through the air and onto your doormat. The box itself is lovely and resembles a hamper/suitcase of old and when you open it, there’s a personalised message in there for Dad too so he knows who it’s from! When the hamper arrives through the post, it is parcelled up with lovely wrapping paper and string and looks so special, so there’s no way Dad can miss it.
As for the box, it has loads in it;
5 Classic tea bags from Tregothnan (the tea grown in England)
A pack of 2 Scottish shortbread fingers from Shortbread House of Edinburgh
3 chocolate truffles from Charbonel et Walker
A traditional oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s
A bar of 61% dark chocolate from Coco
A bar of hazelnut and raisin dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao
If you do the simple maths, there’s five tea bags and 5 snacks in total so that’s tea and a snack for every day of the work week!
Starting with the tea if you’ve never had English grown tea before (thanks to global warming there are plants all over the UK now) then this medium/strong tea is a great delicacy and probably something you wouldn’t expect as a gift given how local it is. The chunky oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s is Yorkshire baked and delicious, particularly good for when you need a heart pick-me-up in the afternoon or if Dad has been working in the garden. I’m a big fan of shortbread anyway so the House of Edinburgh shortbread fingers are particularly nice and not too grainy!
The other snacks are all chocolates. If you’re familiar with ‘posh’ chocolates then you’ll recognise Charbonnel et Walker as being one of the premium brands sold in their custom shops and when you eat their truffles, you’ll understand why. Made with the finest chocolates and ingredients, they are to die for! Willie’s Cacao also feature with their Peruvian dark chocolate flavoured with hazelnut and raisin. The taste is so subtle and actually very grown up so I wouldn’t imagine children would enjoy this, leaving it for Dad. The final chocolate bar is the Coco Colombian dark 61% chocolate. Again, this is great for adults as it has the distinct dark chocolate taste that goes so well with strong tea or coffee.
The Letter Box hampers all have a variety of items in them so you feel like there’s more there than just a quick bite to eat or a cheap snack, and plenty of choice if there’s something in them that you don’t happen to like. This Father’s Day hamper is a hit with the whole house too with a lovely selection of different snacks and the personalised note makes it a special holiday treat.
Excuse me whilst I make another brew and tuck into some more chocolate… or another shortbread finger…
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Chocolate Lovers listen up… there’s a new chocolate in town (the Welsh town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire) where the team at Wickedly Welsh have created a fabulous chocolate hamper for Father’s Day, which you wont’ be able to resist!
You can be the biggest chocolate lover in the world and still find some joy in this hamper. The starring role goes to the varied chocolate flavours which is what Wickedly Welsh are famous for. Boasting three large slabs of chocolate, two whisky bite sized chocolates and two love spoons, there’s plenty here to keep Dad happy, and saves you putting together a gift hamper of your own!
Starting with the chocolate slabs, the three flavours are Moreish Milk Chocolate, Coffee & Biscuit and Welsh Sea Salt & Caramel, each of about 90grams in weight. If your Dad is Welsh, then he’ll love the Milk Chocolate slab with the Welsh Dragon design, but all of the slabs are one piece, not squares. We suspect this is so that Dad doesn’t have to share them with anyone else! We loved all flavours, but the Sea Salt & Caramel was a particular favourite. The sea salt is actually Halen Mon Sea Salt, a locally sourced ingredient to make it a Welsh taste sensation.
Also in the hamper are two Milk & Dark Love Spoons. Welsh Love Spoons are a symbol of love, and these 40 gram bars are no exception. If you don’t want to tuck into a large slab of chocolate, or want to take a snack with you, these Love Spoons are a brilliant choice.
Lastly, the pack also contains two of Wickedly Welsh’s most popular individual chocolates in a cute presentation box. If you’re new to Welsh chocolate or the way Wickedly Welsh present their wares, you’ll do worse than try these first. They’re stunning, and so moreish I bet you, or Dad, won’t be able to stop at just these two. They’re great tasters for the rest of the range that’s available online, and not just on Father’s Day.
The quality of the chocolate is superb with the ingredients sourced locally and all are 100% natural. Whether or yourself or as a gift for someone else, Wickedly Welsh chocolate is an excellent gift choice.
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