The perfect Christmas dram?
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a well-stocked drinks cabinet and as much as I love whisky, it’s nice to diversify a little from time to time. Each year I like to buy a liqueur to review in the run up to the festive season and I’ve had my eye on one in particular for a number of months.
Back in June I attended a whisky tasting at The Piper Bar in Glasgow, hosted by Andrew Ferguson of Loch Fyne Whiskies. One of the drams on offer that evening was a delicious Chocolate Orange Liqueur that has remained in my thoughts ever since. When I then heard that Loch Fyne had a stall in the city’s Christmas market this year I seized my opportunity and paid them a visit.
Loch Fyne Whiskies was founded in 1993 by Richard Joynson in a small retail unit on the edge of Inveraray. The store has been operating for 25 years, with a personal approach to customer service as its main focus. Such was its early success, the store was able to move to a more central location on the town’s main street and was soon attracting the attention of The Whisky Shop, Scotland’s biggest whisky retailer. The business was purchased in 2013 and has since expanded with the addition of a second premises in Cockburn Street in Edinburgh, just off the famous Royal Mile.
The Loch Fyne liqueur is made with blended Scotch that has been infused with additional flavourings. Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume, it retails at £29 and comes in a 50cl bottle.
The dram..
Smell: Like someone has liquidised a Terry’s Chocolate Orange with some added Fudge, Honey and Cinnamon.
Taste: Orange cream, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Peppery Oak… great silky mouthfeel.
Thoughts: A great quality liqueur that works just as well neat as it does with a dollop of soda water. Also comes at a very reasonable price. There’s a ton of flavour, a glorious mouthfeel and a delicate touch of warming spice that makes the Loch Fyne liqueur a great choice for any Christmas drinks list. Fantastic stuff.
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For more on Loch Fyne Whiskies…
