After last month’s “Cocktails You Should Be Drinking This Summer!“, it’s time for a little globetrotting. I’ll be spotlighting bottles from around the world that every cocktail enthusiast needs in their home bar.
Let’s start our journey in old Blighty, the spiritual home of modern gin. Though it evolved from Dutch jenever, it was here that gin found its true identity, especially through the now-iconic London Dry style.
Versatile and vibrant, gin shines in everything from a classic G&T to a Bramble or Gimlet. My personal favourite? The Martini (as you’ll know if you caught the last blog – and if not, read it here). For me, Plymouth is the pinnacle made at Blackfriars Distillery in Plymouth since 1793 (five years before Nickolls & Perks!) and still crafted to the original recipe, if it’s good enough for Alessandro Palazzi at Dukes, it’s good enough for me!
Next, we’re hopping on a boat and heading across the Channel to catch up with our friends in France and explore Cognac. Much like Champagne, if this spirit isn’t produced in its namesake region, in this case, Cognac, France, it can’t be called Cognac. Instead, it would be classified as Brandy or even Armagnac, depending on the area. Want to learn more? Our Spirit Specialist Steve recently took a deep dive into the world of Cognac (read it here).
Once the spirit is produced, it’s filled into oak barrels to age for a minimum of two years. This makes it perfect for cocktails with depth and complexity, like the Sazerac or Vieux Carré. But it also shines in citrus-led classics, my favourite being the Sidecar. H by Hine is a fantastic option for this, or step it up with Hine Rare if you want a VSOP (aged for at least four years in oak barrels.)
Let’s cross through the Basque Country and head into Spain for the most niche spirit of the trip: Licor 43, crafted in Cartagena since 1946. Its name reflects its secret blend of 43 natural botanicals, including Mediterranean citrus, vanilla, herbs, and spices. Now Spain’s top-selling and fastest-growing premium liqueur, Licor 43 is incredibly versatile; use it in the Spanish classic Carajillo (chilled espresso, Licor 43, and ice), or add a layer of vanilla-spiced complexity to your espresso martinis.
Finally, we cross the Atlantic to the land of Mariachi – Mexico, more precisely, the mountainous region of Jalisco, to visit La Alteña distillery, home to El Tesoro, Tequila Ocho, and our focus today, Tapatío.
Tapatío is produced using traditional methods and 100% estate-grown Blue Weber agave, harvested after 6–8 years in high-altitude volcanic soils. These tequilas are perfect in cocktails, whether you’re making a Paloma, Margarita, or even a Tequila Espresso Martini (perhaps with a splash of Licor 43). Or keep it simple with the effortlessly refreshing Ranch Water (Tequila Soda), clean, crisp, and designed to let the spirit shine.
Shop Now
Plymouth English Gin – Buy now
Licor 43 Spanish Liqueur – Buy now
H by Hine VSOP – Buy now
Hine Rare The Original Cognac – Buy now
Tapatio Tequila – Buy now
References
Dukes Martini – https://www.maisonflaneur.com/blogs/flaneur-magazine/flan-club-alessandro-palazzi-s-martini-recipe-london-uk
Hine Cognac – https://hine.com/en/hine-epicurious-center
Licor 43 – https://www.bascofinefoods.com/licor-43/
Tapatio – https://www.foodandwine.com/la-altena-distillery-jenny-camarena-master-distiller-11718637