Very, very tasty! Adam Rees sips and samples the newest food and drink in town
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1. Penrhos gins
2. Merlin Cheeses
Border gins attain borderline perfection Another artisan distillery doing great things to stand out in the gin market. Out of a small copper distillery on a family farm on the Marches, the award-winning Penrhos original and rhubarb gins both exude enough quality to justify their premium status while being smooth and sophisticated enough for newcomers to enjoy. The rhubarb variety isn’t as sweet as its competitors, opting instead for a clever infusion of home grown berries, fruit and a peppery aroma. Extremely easy on the pallet, it’s a pleasant complement to a summer fruit dessert. The core flavours of the original combine perfectly for one of the best gins we’ve ever tasted, a classic taste whether neat or with a top-shelf mixer. Hints of rose petal and a full wash of blueberry makes it a perfect all-rounder yet with plenty of its own character.
Fictional tales meet real flavours Originally founded using goats milk in Pontrhydygroes, Ceredigion, Gill Bateman’s familyrun producers have since expanded to both cow and buffalo milk products, with this Arthurian range made from the former. With 13 varieties based on characters from Britain’s most famous legends, each adorned with a different heraldic sigil already gets our food senses buzzing before we carve into the waxy wheel. However, the nutty, succulent cheddar is the real winner, oozing creamy taste across the board. Some of the most notable are the villainous Sir Mordred living up to its moniker with punchy mustard seed and Sir Galahad’s moreish combination of rosemary and sun-dried tomato. Sir Caradoc meanwhile is the Holy Grail, with its explosion of mint adding a revelatory addition to any cheese board or favourite snack.
Buy it at: penrhosspirits.co.uk Price: £34-£38.95
Buy it at: merlincheeses.wordpress.com/shop Price: £4 per cheese
3. From Our Farm Biltong
4. Wye Valley Mead
Beef connoisseurs turn curers with outstanding results After breeding cattle on a self-sufficient Pembrokeshire farm for four generations, Rachel and Michael George decided to have a go at making biltong just two years ago. After experimenting with a homemade dryer From Our Farm is now turning out exceptional, awardwinning products. Coming in Chilli and Original flavours, neither relies on the additional seasoning, with the original’s mix in particular barely discernible. Instead the flavour of the beef is left alone to be the headline act. Chunkier and juicier than much of the competition, they’re more akin to Sunday roast leftovers, and will have you scouring the bottom of the pouch for remaining morsels. With such impeccable results after just two dozen months, who knows what great things could be achieved in the future.
Intriguing melding of the traditional and modern tastes An alternative to craft lager or cider this summer, this Meadery from the Wye Valley is putting a refreshing twist on an ancient recipe. Using their own honey and crops for three distinct flavours of mead that up the levels of sweetness with each. The Pale colour and lightly sparkling Honey and Hops is more like a wine than a beer, with the hops giving a floral scent as well as grape, grapefruit and pear that linger. The Honey and Elderflower has a distinct aroma, with more sweetness and honey coming to the fore along with ripe mango. The golden Honey and Rhubarb meanwhile has a candy sensation and hint of citrus that’s ideal for a post-dinner summer chill. We really recommend pairing them with goat’s cheese, Manchego and nuts for a real complementary delicacy.
Buy it from: fromourfarm.co.uk Price: £5.50 for 2x 40g pouches
Buy it from: wyevalleymeadery.co.uk Price: 3 bottles for £10
www.taste-blas.co.uk
