“O Autumn, laden with fruit and stained with blood of the grape….” “The spirits of the air live on the smells of fruits; and joy….”
‘To Autumn – William Blake –
Never mind Autumn being the season of vibrance and colour, choosing what to drink during those transitional months will require a bit of thought. The August heat is still lingering around, but it is hard to avoid the chills once the sun is not to be seen. When you choose a spirit, it’s best to go for the more warm and more comforting type. Here, I have listed 5 Warm, comforting spirits that are full of seasonal flavours. Fruits such as apples and pears and baking spices make up the flavours associated with the season.
01. Chairman’s Reverse Spiced Rum
This award-winning rum comes from Saint Lucia and is aged in ex-bourbon barrels, local fruits and spices were added in the six months of finishing spent in oak vats.
Crafted out of two blends of rum: Coffey and pot still and flavoured with vanilla, bitter orange and nutmeg gave a wonderful aroma to spice the rum up.
Size:700ml
ABV: 40%
02. Apple Brandy
The brandy is created each autumn from quality surplus apples from fruit growers in the Weald of Kent and Sussex. Having aged in bourbon casks for two years gives the apple character by also adding softness and contributing flavour to the spirits, it initially gives the sweetness and warmth of caramel spiciness and vanilla and finishes off leaving the memory of a warm apple crumble.
Size:500ml
ABV: 42%
03. Uncle Nearest 1856
Produced in Tennessee using a combination of corn and rye, this whiskey is put through the Lincoln country process before being aged in new American oak barrels. The whiskey gives the smell of buttery vanilla and brown sugar mixed with cinnamon giving it the taste of caramelized nuts, oat cookies, and sandalwood with a hint of cut grass giving it a final touch of spicy oak.
Size:700ml
ABV: 50%
04. Pumpkin Spice Gin
Trick or treat, the ideal spirit to celebrate Halloween this autumn bring out that one mystic night come alive is a pumpkin spice gin. Pumpkin spice is one signature taste during autumn, this gin is followed by allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon finishing off with the awesome taste of pumpkin to finned.
Size:700ml
ABV: 43%
05. SPEY Trutina Cask Strength
100% matured in a bourbon cask, Trutina in Latin means “balance”. Initially, this whiskey gives a vanilla flavour followed by bold fruit flavours and ends with the taste of white pepper and maltiness.
Size:700ml
ABV:59.1%
06. Roe & Co Japanese Sugi
An award-winning Irish whiskey that is full of flavour. This gives you a unique flavour that resembles a combination of matcha tea, and toasted sandalwood along with the sweetness of lychee and treacle toffee. Layered notes of spiced orchid fruits, vanilla and toffee make up the backbone of this whiskey.
Size:500ml
ABV: 46%
These are some of the best spirits to sip on this autumn. All of these have flavours and notes that are associated with the season giving you not only the taste but also the feeling of autumn in every sip you take.