Something mad has been happening in our household over the past few months: beer has taken a backseat, and spirits have stepped up to the oche. It started harmlessly enough, with a whisky tasting class here, and a tour of a gin distillery there, and now I hear that this week is National Cocktail Week...its appeal shows no signs of slowing down.
The main reason I've pumped the breaks on beer a little is due to it constantly leaving me feeling bloated. I still have maybe a couple of bottles a week, but lately I've turned into a Gin + Tonic or Mint Julep kinda character.
So when Shaken contacted me to see if I'd be keen to trial their monthly cocktail kit subscription I jumped at the chance to test out some new combinations.
We're all pretty familiar with the way monthly subscriptions work now, and Shaken's model uses the tried-and-tested formula: with premium ingredients and tailored recipes delivered straight to your door. I've come across monthly beer + food subscriptions but not specifically one for cocktails, so I was definitely intrigued.
The main reason I've pumped the breaks on beer a little is due to it constantly leaving me feeling bloated. I still have maybe a couple of bottles a week, but lately I've turned into a Gin + Tonic or Mint Julep kinda character.
So when Shaken contacted me to see if I'd be keen to trial their monthly cocktail kit subscription I jumped at the chance to test out some new combinations.
We're all pretty familiar with the way monthly subscriptions work now, and Shaken's model uses the tried-and-tested formula: with premium ingredients and tailored recipes delivered straight to your door. I've come across monthly beer + food subscriptions but not specifically one for cocktails, so I was definitely intrigued.
We picked Shaken's Gin-based box
A few days later a neatly packaged box arrived at our door, containing enough ingredients (all liquid-based, no fresh lemons, limes etc.) to make four cocktails, plus a neat recipe guide to fit our chosen spirit. We chose gin as our base, of course!
Without delay we started to prepare our first cocktail: The Aviation. With all the ingredients we needed within the box it made for a nicer experience than the usual dashing around the supermarket, then getting home to realise you'd forgotten something. We did need to pick up some fresh stuff in our weekly shop, but nothing we wouldn't usually buy.
The Aviation cocktail was a cross between a Parma Violets' explosion and something James Bond would have been sipping in From Russia With Love! Very swankytown.
Our kit included - Brooker's Gin, green chartreuse, creme de violette, absinthe and maraschino cherry liqueur
Our second offering was the curiously named The Last Word. It sure lived up to its name too - we'd say this one is to be savoured, rather than sunk. I loved the aniseed kick from the absinthe, which again, took me back to my childhood and those penny sweet shops. The Last Word comes in a solid first place for me, while Hollie was more of a creme de violette gal.
Overall the experience of receiving a hand-picked cocktail kit through the post, from Shaken, was an experience myself+ Hollie both really enjoyed, as I like the idea of trying something new (other than the standard recipes) each month. It got us thinking more about what flavours work together, and how paying a little more for quality ingredients runs beyond food - the mixers + garnish are a big deal too. At £24 per month (you can opt out at any time), it's comparable in price to other drinks subscriptions, if not slightly cheaper.
If you would like to hear more about how the Shaken subscription works then click here. But lastly, we'd love for you to share some cocktails with us, what's your favourite?
This post is
in partnership with Shaken. Thank you for taking the time
to support the projects + businesses that make this blog happen.
