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Friday Favourites - Summer Alcohol

Are you ready to try a new summer tipple? Then read on as at The Amazing Blog we’d like to give you a global tour of some very special alcohol brands stretching all the way from Japan to Switzerland, Iceland and then returning back to the UK. We guarantee it’ll liven up the tastebuds and add something extra to your regular sun-downer drinking. It’s always fun to experiment with new and different alcohols and today we’re happy to move on from our ubiquitous G & T.  While gin in known as the archetypal British go-to drink; whisky and vodka keep a steady visibility and are currently climbing in popularity. We hope these featured whiskies and vodkas will encourage you to explore new textures, experiences and flavours.

So, let our journey begin. First stop is Japan, specifically in the temples of Nara, which is considered to be ancient land and one of the epicentres of spiritual belief, with temples that date back to the 8th century, and was once the capital of the country. Omiwa Shrine lies at the bottom of the Mount Miwa in Nara and is the centre of the Japanese alcohol producers, giving life to this Kamiki Whisky.  This whisky is one of the alcohols often served as a blessing at the Shinto temples. Kamiki Whisky is a remembrance of Japanese culture and tradition as well as nature and artisanship, and its name derives from the mount; ‘Kami’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘Iki’ meaning ‘Breath’.

Kamiki Whisky combines the west and eastern cultures. Using the purest spring water from Japan and the Yoshino Sugi – aka Japanese cedar – the whisky’s aroma and smooth texture that introduces us to mindfulness, giving peace to both mind and body. Kamiki is the world’s first whisky to finish its maturation with Japanese cedar cask. Kamiki whisky is also blended with the finest malt whiskies from around the globe, making it a unique and flavourful drink. Kamiki is mainly composed by heather honey, sweet caramel, Japanese plum, oak, peat and toffee with a touch of sandalwood and green tea. All these ingredients are carefully selected and blended incorporating the perfect percentage to achieve the finest flavour. This whisky is non chill-filtered at 48% volume in order to maintain balance and maximum taste. It also ensures that the oils do not become viscous at colder ambient temperatures or become cloudy in the bottle. You can purchase the 50cl of Kamiki Whisky at the Masters of Malt for £59.99.

Next stop is Switzerland for a taste of the three Gold Winner of the Wizards of World Whisky Awards, for their Classic Langatun Whisky. Originating from a family owned brewery in 1860 created by Jakob Baumberger, which progressed into a distillery in 1907 by son Hans Baumberger the 1st. Handed down through the next generation and in 2007 they continued their grandfathers vision creating this hand-crafted Swiss Whisky "Langatun“ single malt. So, what is so special about Langatun? Let’s talk about its timing and barrel composition: Malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, cut, maturation and bottling. The fermentation is much longer compared to other whiskies and during the first distillation, the alcohol is given a cut at 26% and in the second distillation that it is upped to over 80% where it really packs a punch. The whole production process is carefully monitored to ensure optimum results.

We tried the Langatun Old Bear Cask Proof Smoky Whisky which is from the range of their five Classic whiskies . This single malt is matured in oak barrels using Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks and bottled at cask strength. It a peated malt that is laborious and painstaking made by a double distillation process with roasted malted barley added, hence the epithet ‘smoky’. The peating process goes through a smoking process similar to that for meat or fish. The distillation date on the bottle is October 2012, the bottling is March 2017 and it even has a lot number on the bottle! Master whisky drinkers say that it has a smoky fresh nose with a hint of red fruits and orange while the flavour is said to be of juicy grapes, toffee and wood smoke, leaving a long dark chocolaty finish. The distillery is open to the public for in-house events, such as brunch, a tour or whisky and dinner gatherings.

We have had a taste (of course, who could resist!) and found it remarkable toasty and smooth with a deliciously rich aromatic flavour. This is a perfect for rounding off the evening as a night cap. Get your Langatun Old Bear Cask Proof Smoky Whisky 50cl (62.4%) at the Gauntleys of Nottingham  for £64.78 or at Master of Malt, Nickolls and Perks, Shop4Whisky or The Whisky Exchange.

Next, we travel all the way to Iceland where we meet the Icelandic Mountain Spirit. Based in Reykjavik in 2016, the founders created a range of four alcoholic formulations; Eagle Spirit, made with Gin; Mountain Spirit, based on Vodka; Dragon Spirit, made for shots; and Taurus Spirit, made with Rum. FUN FACT ALERT! The Mountain Spirit might be familiar to you if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, if not let us explain: ‘The Mountain’ is Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, (actor in Game of Thrones) he is also The World’s Strongest Man and one of the founders of this Icelandic Mountain Spirit.

What makes this vodka stand out (besides the Game of Thrones fact) is that is it made with Icelandic water, known as the purest water in the world. This vodka, gluten-free and is distilled seven times which makes it incredibly smooth, soft, and quaffable! They recommend drinking it on its own but for those who are not so keen on shots, combining it with a simple tonic seemed the way to go for us. Each Mountain Vodka bottle is printed with ‘The Mountain’ on the reverse of the bottle, making it an ideal gift for all those GoT fans. It is 40% ABV and more importantly, was a Gold Medal Award Winner at Tastings.com; proving its quality, sourcing of ingredients and time spent perfecting this vodka. Based on the Tastings jury review: “…Creamy, with confected aromas and flavours of spumoni, peach jam, and pistachio paste and a lychee and mint cream finish” this clearly makes it a winner. We love the heritage (as G of T fans) and because of its smooth and creamy qualities we also enjoyed it in a chilled Kamikaze cocktail: 1 part vodka, 1 part triple sec, 1 part fresh lime juice; which is a bit of twist on the popular Margarita.

To get your very own star-studded vodka, go to Icelandic Mountain Spirits website here for £25 including delivery (any mainland UK address). Although the spirits are distilled in Iceland, they are shipped directly to Northumberland for distribution.

Last stop, we’re coming home. UK based vodka RK Vodka is considered to be an ultra-premium brand and is only available in selected stores. Featured in GQ and Tatler, RK Vodka aims to combine old with new, past with future, traditional with modern. RK Vodka combines the high-quality, authentic, hereditary vodka with forward-thinking and modern techniques.

RK Vodka is different, it is bold. Distilled only once and being non-filtered, the drink is full of character. Making it enjoyable on its own as well as mixed (we suggest a zesty mixer). RK Vodka contains English sugar beet which adds a sweetness, replicating the flavour of vanilla. Going back to the production process, traditionally it is suggested that multiple filtering makes for a higher quality and smoother vodka. However, RK Vodka defies that. The founders say that the more you filter it; the more the natural flavours and power of the drink will disappear. This is why RK Vodka is not filtered to preserve its characteristics and minerals, rather than just water and alcohol. This vodka is only distilled once which all takes place in a copper pot to reduce the tannin (what makes vodka poor and rough) and also gives it the smooth finish, whilst being both gluten and sulphate free. Apart from its stylish and elegant black and white bottle, these alternative production methods are what make RK Vodka stand out. They have managed to create a high-quality and a dedicated drink for a modern and cosmopolitan market. We added only lemon zest to the very chilled RK Vodka and loved it! Get your RK Vodka here for £38.00 (70cl, 40%).

Essence of Harris – Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles

One of our favourite things about the summertime at The Amazing Blog is being able to chill out under an umbrella at the coast. We love hearing the waves crash against the shore and feeling the sand between our toes. It can all feel so cosy and vibrant at the same time. Unfortunately, jetting off to our dessert island paradise for now will have to remain a bit of a dream; but, we can make our homes smell like one as Essence of Harris ’s candles offers us the perfect evocative aroma.

Essence of Harris was co-founded in 2015 by Deenie MacLeod, who was born and raised on the Isle of Harris located in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. The rugged landscape, golden beaches, and clear blue waters inspired MacLeod to partner with Jamie McGowan, a Glasgow native, to design candles and home fragrances. Their mission with Essence of Harris is so ‘everyone who visits the island can take away a small piece to cherish’.

We tried two of the five candles from the company’s Classic Collection inspired by the Isle’s beaches. The first was the Huisinis Glass Candle, which has a very evident sweet and citrusy scent. It’s bubbly, taking after notes of champagne, and has grapefruit, Brazilian orange, and pink pomelo. It also has hints of rhubarb adding to its tartness and watermelon packing freshness. We found this candle was perfect to light during the late morning and afternoon for an uplifting smell. The second one we tested was the Losgaintir Glass Candle. It has an exotic mix of fresh bergamot (green citrus fruit), orange, and amber, which give the candle tangy top notes that jump out at you. However, the scent has warmth due to its coconut, vanilla, and almond base notes. We recommend using this one in the late afternoon or during sunset to create a snug atmosphere before eating dinner.

The candles are hand poured on the island and made of 100 per cent ethically sourced soy wax and natural ingredients. While MacLeod’s hometown has enormously helped and influenced her, Essence of Harris is committed to supporting a sustainable community on the Isle. The brand is ‘consciously considering the environment, investing in the local community, and creating a prosperous local economy’. Each candle comes in a simple and sturdy yet elegant glass jar and should burn for approximately 30 hours.

When we typically think of island getaways, Scottish beaches are not at the top of our lists, but after smelling these candles, we’re ready to book a ticket on the next flight. You can bring the aroma to your own home by purchasing the Huisinis and Losgaintir Glass Candles (20cl) here, each for £12.95.

Inlight for Men - Face Oil

There is always a plethora of women’s moisturising products available which makes it easy to forget that our chaps need to moisturise too. At The Amazing Blog, we understand that men get dry skin as well, and since men have facial hair, their skin often needs extra help in the moisturising department. We've been trying out Inlight for Men, Face Oil. This hydrating Face Oil won the Best Men’s Serum/Face Oil in The Beauty Shortlist Award in 2018  and is definitely a winner in our books too. We have previously tried out and loved the women's  Inlight’s Line Softener, so we are delighted to share another incredible Inlight product with you now.

When applied to the skin, Inlight for Men Face Oil has a citrus and musky scent thanks to the aromatic infusion of patchouli and orange. The Oil also has apricot kernel, borage oil, rose extract, and calendula extract which work to both smooth and moisturise skin. Each bottle of Face Oil comes with a glass dropper, so using ­­this product is simple. All you have to do is massage 2-5 drops of the oil onto your face in the morning and you will notice that it helps your skin to be significantly hydrated and softer than before.  

All Inlight products are developed by Doctor Mariano Spiezia, who has been working for over 30 years using science to create the most effective organic products. Each Inlight product contains a ‘Bio Lipophilic Matrix’. This Matrix has been the result of years of Dr Spiezia’s research. The Matrix combines science and alchemy using pure organic/cold pressed plant oils for impressive results. Along with all of Inlight’s products, this Face Oil is 100% natural. This product is also suitable for vegans. You can purchase a 30ml bottle of Inlight Beauty’s Face Oil for Men here for £36.  

 

The Chicken Shed Chocolate

We all deserve to indulge from time to time and let's be honest, the only way to really treat ourselves is with some delectable choccies; however, we don’t mean ANY old chocolate!  At  The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for something a little bit more luxurious and lucky us The Chicken Shed were kind enough to send us some of their unique handcrafted raw chocolates just in time to satisfy our sweet tooth (NB: Made with organic honey, not refined sugar!) This family company launched in October 2013 and has continuously developed new flavours that we couldn't wait to sink our teeth into. We also mentioned them in our Christmas Wish List a few years back and have been craving to try their latest offerings ever since.


This time they sent us their No. 6 Orange Chocolate and their No. 9 Ginger Chocolate bars. The No. 9 gave a warmth of the ginger blended perfectly with the creaminess of the Criollo chocolate which simply melted in our mouths. The ginger subtly tingles your taste buds in a way that is quite addictive.

Of course, we all know chocolate and orange make the perfect pair, but No. 6 takes on this dynamic duo leaving you craving more. It has double the dose of orange to pack a punch, but the scattering of orange peel across the top made it look like we were biting into a piece of art and a delicious one at that. 

Each chocolate comes sweetly wrapped up in a rustic white, minimalist package. It gives it that lovingly artisan feel that perfectly matches what's on the inside. We would like to quickly mention that just because we like to indulge, doesn’t mean we don’t care what goes into our treats. Sweetened with organic wild forest honey from Zambia, each handcrafted bar only uses the purest organic ingredients without refined sugars, dairy or gluten, so these raw bars will satisfy your cravings without any of the guilt. So go ahead, get yourself have a bar or (like us) two!
The Chicken Shed Chocolate bars are available in 9 mouth-watering flavours, our favourite being ginger of course. You can find them here for £4.50 each. There is a special 10% off until the 30th of April 2018 if you shop on their website using the discount code: AMAZINGPR.

 

Dream and Glow Bedtime Bath Salts by Kiss The Moon

January is the time of the year when we're all looking for a way to block out the cold and to warm up and relax. At The Amazing Blog, our little secret to survival during these chilly days is to have long steaming baths when we finally got home. There is nothing we love more than to soak in a deliciously fragranced bath, which is why we were thrilled to receive both Glow Bedtime Bath Salts and Dream Bedtime Bath Salts from Kiss the Moon. Kiss the Moon is an award-winning natural skincare and wellness brand that has created a range of 100% natural products specifically to help you to sleep beautifully and wake up feeling refreshed. 

The Glow Bedtime Bath Salts are enriched with orange and geranium oils; the bath salts help you relax before bedtime by easing muscles and get your beauty sleep. The Glow salts are packed with relaxing essential oils including orange, geranium, myrrh, litsea, coconut oil and white tea oil. Rich minerals such as magnesium and Dead Sea salt are also added to this blend. Magnesium and floral essential oils install a sense of well-being in the body and help chase away anxiety. The unique combination of oils and minerals in the Glow Bath Salts work for a more beautiful skin  and a peaceful sleep.

Made with a blend of detoxifying rich minerals and aromatherapy essential oils the Dream Bedtime Bath Salts are also designed to help you sleep beautifully too. Lavender, the star ingredient of this product is the perfect night time beauty oil as it not only relaxes the mind but balances oil production and boost cells renewal during the sleep. Like Glow, these bath salts are also infused with magnesium, Dead Sea salt; however, these contain coconut oil, white tea oil, lavender oil, bergamot oil, chamomile oil and cedarwood oil. To add a little touch of freshness, the brand also added Bergamot to the formula which helps brighten the mind and relax you even more.

These bedtime bath salts are a perfect way to end your day and prepare for sleep. Just add one or two tablespoons of these salts in a warm bath and let their relaxing, soothing and easing effect work on your body and mind. You can Purchase the Glow bath salts here for £20 and the Dream bath salts here for £20.