Aqua Vitae, Honey & Ginger, 4.5%

Yet another Ready To Drink – RTD – from the Poitín Now event.

This Aqua Vitae is a ‘Designer Drink’ modelled on an original recipe from the early 1300’s.

Wasn’t sure what colour this one would pour – turns out to be a kind of light cloudy green!

There’s a healthy & welcoming ginger spice on the nose.

A fizzy mouthfeel augmented by a soft sweetness contrasts with an earthy ginger.

Very palatable,

Very refreshing &

Highly entertaining!

I’d have gladly had a few of these in the 14th Century!

Sláinte

For more information on Aqua Vitae see www.offthecuffe.info

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Clontarf Irish Whiskey With Ginger & Cola, 5%

Clontarf Ginger.

It’s brown.

It’s fizzy.

It smells like ginger beer – although I don’t believe it’s ever seen a real ginger in it’s short life as ‘ginger flavouring’ is used according to the  back label.

Clontarf & Ginger c/othewhiskeynut

It even looks like ginger beer.

And it goes down like a ginger beer – which is quite a pleasant & refreshing drink in the summer heat if I say so myself.

But I’m just missing the Clontarf Whiskey.

At 5% this is no soft drink – yet it could be mistaken for one. Only a hint of maltiness among the ginger spice gives the whiskey content away.

Clontarf & Cola c/othewhiskeynut

The Cola version is in a similar vein.

Not as fizzy – a bit like a flat cola that’s been left in the sun for too long – with that slight maltiness in the background.

If anything – I preferred the ginger. More  refreshing & more spice – but I wouldn’t be a cola drinker anyway.

Just who the market is for these kind of drinks is I don’t know.

As a whiskey fan – these taste like soft drinks.

Not being a soft drinks fan I don’t get the attraction.

I’m not sure if I want a sugary fizzy chemical concoction ruining my enjoyment of a largely natural product using only 3 base ingredients – barley, yeast & water.

But then it’s each according to their own.

Aldi stock them at only €1.49 if you’re interested.

Sláinte.