News and Events
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Chase Distillery: Making Us Proud To Be British!2010-04-19In these modern times it can be a struggle to remember how proud we are to be British. What with the global recession taking a firm grip of the country, the spiralling costs of food and fuel and now the political theatrics leading up to the General Election. In these modern times it can be a struggle to remember how proud we are to be British. What with the global recession taking a firm grip of the country, the spiralling costs of food and fuel and now the political theatrics leading up to the General Election. It takes something special to remind us of who we are, how proud we should be of this great country. A last-wicket win to snatch the Ashes back of the Aussies perhaps, a British Formula 1 World Champion or the impeccable performance of our Forces overseas. This little Island against the World! In 2006 Chase Distillery in Herefordshire set about creating something magical. Something built through love and devotion. Something great. It took two years to refine, but in 2008 they launched the first Chase Vodka, a true labour of love, using traditional methods to produce a truly artisan Vodka. The idea to produce a Vodka, came from looking at ways in which to use the cast off potatoes that were too small to produce crisps (for Tyrrells). The potatoes are grown locally on the farm, so there is a minimal impact on the environment in terms of transport and once the alcohol from the potatoes is stripped out, what's left is fed to the cattle herd! So not only do Chase produce great drinks, they are a shining light in terms of diversification for modern British farming. Chase are certainly not alone in creating a small batch Vodka in the UK, however what they have done is make a Vodka that can take on the World, most recently winning a double gold medal for 'Best Vodka' at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. When you consider how many different Vodka producers there are in the World, this is an amazing feat. However, Chase are not content with that. Since 2008 more products have been developed turning this little distillery into one of the biggest players in the UK, consistently releasing high quality drinks to exacting standards. The range of drinks produced by Chase Distillery now includes: Chase Vodka The original Vodka is a creamy smooth potato Vodka. Serve it cold over ice or with soda. Chase Smoked Vodka Chase Smoked Vodka is the super-premium option within the Chase range. Naked Chase Vodka Chase Naked Vodka is crafted in the same way as normal Chase Vodka, but made from apples instead. This gives a freshening taste on the palate. It is then gently infused with wild botanicals and naturally pure water to give a true taste of juniper, highlighted by the sweetness of apples, elderflower and hops. Williams Gin Williams Gin is produced from apples, also grown on the farm. It's not commonly known that Gin is made from Vodka. So Chase had to first produce a perfect Apple Vodka (Naked Chase) to turn into Williams Gin. Chase also produce a range of liqueurs: Emporium Drinks Limited |
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Sipsmith Vodka and Gin from Emporium Drinks!2010-04-10Emporium Drinks Limited are pleased to announce the arrival of two fine quality new drinks from Sipsmith, London's first new distillery for almost 200 years. Emporium Drinks Limited are pleased to announce the arrival of two fine quality new drinks from Sipsmith, London's first new distillery for almost 200 years. Sipsmith began producing Sipsmith Gin and Sipsmith Vodka in the spring of 2009. Sipsmith founders Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall had always dreamt of creating "a truly artisanal family of spirits of uncompromising quality". Having worked within the drinks industry for a number of years, they decided it was time to get on with things and realise their dreams. With the birth of "Prudence" - their handmade Bavarian copper pot still and a mix of botanicals, England’s only single pass gin was born. Most gins are a mix created from several different spirits, blended to give the required product. At Sipsmith, what comes out of Prudence goes straight into the bottle! Sipsmith Gin, a classic London Dry Gin and Sipsmith Vodka, a barley Vodka are the first spirits to reach the market from their small distillery based in a old garage in Hammersmith, London. Rapidly gaining in popularity, thanks to booming on-trade demand in London’s finest bars and clubs, Sipsmith is now available to buy online from Emporium Drinks at www.vodkaemporium.com and www.drinkemporium.com. Sipsmith Vodka has a subtle nose with hints of barley nuttiness and a hint of spice. Smooth of the palate, with a creamy butter texture, Sipsmith vodka gives a sweet-dry peppery finish of upmost satisfaction. Sipsmith Gin is a floral, summery spirit, offering a fresh zesty nose thanks to the ten premium botanicals used in the production. The taste is freshening as the citrusy flavours reach the palate before harmonising to leave a dry spicy sensation. Both spirits are blended with water from the Lydwell Spring – the source of the River Thames. Buy Sipsmith Vodka and Sipsmith London Dry Gin online now at www.vodkaemporium.com or www.drinkemporium.com Emporium Drinks Limited |
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New Vodkas for March 20102010-03-16It has been a quiet start to 2010 when it comes to new Vodka's being released for us to add to our extensive selection. Well it appears that the ball is well and truly rolling now with new Vodka's hitting our virtual shelves. It has been a quiet start to 2010 when it comes to new Vodka's being released for us to add to our extensive selection. Well it appears that the ball is well and truly rolling now with new Vodka's hitting our virtual shelves. Smoked Chase Vodka To get us started this month we have a Limited Edition from the English favourite, Chase Distilleries. Their latest offering is the intriguing Smoked Chase Vodka which has a run of only 500 bottles. Based on the classic Chase Vodka this variant has been smoked with English Oak that brings out a unique tasting Vodka that reminds you of a top end Reposado Tequila. As you would expect with Chase the Vodka is five times distilled and maintains the use of potatoes grown on the farm at the distillery. The only thing we would say is don't hang about if you want to try it! With such a limited run it really is not worth missing out on. Sit back and relish this rare offering. Smirnoff Blueberry Vodka The second of our new Vodka's this month is from the biggest Vodka producer in the world. Smirnoff have added a third flavour to the range after the hugely successful launch of Smirnoff Apple and Smirnoff Lime in 2009. There really is little to disappoint in this latest offering as by now the majority of Vodka drinkers know what to expect with Smirnoff, it really is a no nonsense decent drink. Smirnoff Blueberry makes a great little drink with a mix of lemonade and is surprisingly smooth, offering a nice twist to the standard offering. Babicka Wormwood Vodka This month we are going to finish on an offering that is completely different to the previous and in fact most Vodka's out there. The Vodka in question is the Czech vodka, Babicka. This is based on a 500 year old witches brew recipe! Babicka is distilled with the curative qualities of Wormwood and a further mix of herbs. The outcome is one that is a fairly smooth vodka that has a not unlikeable aftertaste. Just think of sweet aniseed and a hint of vanilla. Sounds a bit odd but is really quite pleasant. There is nothing similar in the price bracket of Babicka vodka and if you fancy something different but not a sweet flavour that overpowers, then Babicka is definitely worth a try. As ever we love to hear your feedback on any Vodka you have tried as well as your thoughts on any we've mentioned. Ends Emporium Drinks Limited |
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Start the year with our latest new Vodka2010-02-19Welcome to our first review of 2010, it's been a while since we have featured a Vodka review on our blog but now the festive season is over and most people have recovered it's time to get back down to business! Welcome to our first review of 2010, it's been a while since we have featured a Vodka review on our blog but now the festive season is over and most people have recovered it's time to get back down to business! Red Wolf is a fairly recent entrant to the ultra competitive vodka market and sits in the fierce £25-£35 category. I'm sure you all know that this is the territory of the world renowned Grey Goose brand as well as Belvedere. Then throw in Snow Leopard, Snow Queen as well as the British entrants from Wight and Chase and you start to realise that this part of the market isn't for the faint hearted or poorly produced products! I first heard about Redwolf almost twelve months ago and in that time they have certainly been busy building the brand and getting awareness out in the market place. First impressions of the bottle are nothing spectacular, thankfully not gimmicky and a nice change not to have a ridiculous back story to the product. This means that the product has to do the talking in its own right. So as the producers state, will it really go down as water should? Redwolf Vodka is made from natural grain and distilled four times at a private distillery in Russia. The result of this is a wonderfully smooth vodka that was truly a pleasant surprise. Maybe I was sceptical after a few dodgy vodkas we tried in the tail end of 2009! Having drunk this neat as well as with a splash of Cranberry, I can honestly say Redwolf Vodka really stands up to the competition. If you usually drink Grey Goose or Belvedere then this really is a viable alternative. We always like to try something new at The Emporium and thankfully it wasn't just talk, as the vodka really is smooth, you should really give this a go as Redwolf Vodka is a great drink!
Ends Emporium Drinks Limited |
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New Vodka's for 2010!2010-02-01Why not kick off the New Year with one of these great new vodka's. We hope you've all had a good New Year and are now fully recovered from all the parties that no doubt you all to! Why not kick off the New Year with one of these great new vodka's. We hope you've all had a good New Year and are now fully recovered from all the parties that no doubt you all to! Well, to get you back into the mood after a month of detox we have three great new vodka's for you to try. RedWolf Vodka Premium Redwolf Vodka is a relentless, dependable drink and a leader of the pack. This is an extraordinary premium Russian vodka made from grain and water from a virgin stream over 500 years old. The unique, delicious taste and aroma make it most likely the smoothest vodka around. It is so smooth the drink's slogan is "goes down like water should" Karlssons Vodka Karlsson's Gold Vodka was developed over three years by Master Blender Borje Karlsson, known as the father of ABSOLUT in a pursuit to transfer the ingredient properties of the Golden Potatoes of Cape Borje into a vodka. Karlsson's Gold Vodka is meticulously distilled to preserve, not purify, the character of vodka. Instead of bottle design and tasteless content, Karlsson's Gold Vodka has honored the heritage of vodka by going back to the original product story. Ed Hardy Vodka Ed Hardy Vodka, to put it simply is the cleanest, smoothest, best tasting Vodka the world has ever known. The Vodka is produced and bottled in France, in the Cognac region to get unrivalled quality and taste, distilled and filtered 5 times. It’s a masterpiece created by French Vodka artisans. No expense has been spared to deliver the finest product imaginable. From handmade crystal bottle to the images and colour of timeless artwork. The cleanest purest water, to the hand selected wheat. The result is the best Vodka humanly possible to make Ends Emporium Drinks Limited |
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DQ Vodka, bringing something slightly nuclear to Vodka2009-12-09Sweden's master distillers have for more than a century created the finest spirits in the World. These spirits have for the most part been blended with inferior spirits to create higher volumes of more affordable vodka. Nordic Spirit is the first Swedish company to release for export limited volumes of an undiluted vodka formula based solely on the purest fine spirits of central Sweden. Vodka of this quality can only be made a few bottles at a time. Producing in 'small batches' has to be more than just a smart advertising line; it has to be a fact! DQ Vodka can be made only 10,000 bottles at a time, and this volume is strictly allocated to only the finest shops and venues in the world. The resulting vodka is smoother, yet more complex than any other vodka. It drinks better at room temperature than most super-premium brands coming straight from the freezer. Emporium Drinks Limited |
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The Vodka Emporium's latest addition: Fair Vodka2009-12-04We bring you the latest addition to our burgeoning family of vodkas, Fair Vodka. Cultivated by the Incas since the 13th century in the Andes mountain range, quinoa became popular only recently in the western world. We are now rediscovering its exceptional nutritional values and its outstanding versatility. An excellent source of proteins, quinoa has been the staple diet of Andean people for centuries. Our quinoa is cultivated by over 1,200 small producers in the Bolivian Altiplano, gathered within the Anapqui cooperative, the main association of farming producers in the country. FAIR. Vodka is an outstanding vodka using grains of Quinoa in its formula. This unique spirit reveals all the natural qualities of this small cereal from the South American Andes and the know-how of expert distillers from France. The production process is the result of a two-years joint research by French distillers and Bolivian farmers. FAIR. Vodka is the first Quinoa-based Vodka but also the first fairtrade certified vodka in the world. FAIR. Vodka offers an extraordinary clear and pure flavor, with a well-balanced texture and light elegant finish. It was nominated Best tasting Vodka 2009 at the prestigious New York Spirits Award in June 2009. Available now at the Vodka Emporium Emporium Drinks Limited |
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Right Gin. Is it the right choice?2009-11-04Regular readers will know that recently we tried the ultra premium Oxley Gin and raved about it. Naturally you're thinking that's what you would expect for the price you're paying for a bottle. Well we're visiting a Gin that's much better suited to most people's wallets, Right Gin. First things first, unlike many Gins Right is made in Sweden and after sampling I have no complaints at that! Gin is commonly known as a depressant and when you try some of the regular lines you can see why as they have quite dark tastes. When you get to Right Gin the first thing that hits you, is that its a very light and refreshing taste. If you have it as a Martini you wouldn't necessarily notice, but as soon as you have a straight comparison with a tonic you can tell immediately the lighter qualities. I'm convinced if you drink Right Gin with sweeter cocktails then it will bring the drink up to a superior level. As with many Gins you can tell the distinct Juniper and herb undertones. You also have hints of Orange, rose as well as cardamon. It is incredibly smooth and considering I generally favour Vodka as my white spirit of choice I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a bottle of Right Gin to have a refreshing change. So all in all if you're a Gin drinker then you would certainly appreciate the subtle differences in this bottle and if you're a hardened Vodka drinker then you may well find that you will be positively surprised by giving Right Gin a try. The money you pay for a bottle certainly makes it good value and is head and shoulders above Gins that are a few pounds less, making the price difference absolutely a no brainer. Emporium Drinks Limted |
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ABSOLUT Rock is here!2009-10-11The Vodka Emporium now has the new Absolut vodka Limited Edition, Absolut Rock in stock! Absolut is one of the biggest and best known drinks brands in the world. Over the years there have been many different Absolut Vodka limited editions launched throughout the world and the latest incarnation is Absolut Rock. Absolut Rock is a tribute to the world of Rock music and the bottle comes with its very own studded leather jacket! The design of the leather and studs bottle jacket was the brainchild of designer Natalia Brilli. To celebrate the lauch of Absolut Rock, Pernod Ricard held a launch event in Berlin showing guitars and other Natalia Brilli designs. To coincide with the launch of the latest release US rock photographer and filmmaker Danny Clinch has shot a series of documentary photographs in LA. These bring an air of authenticity to the Absolut world of rock 'n' roll. There is also a great directors cut film showing Danny Clinch's vision of rock 'n' roll, this can be found at www.absolut.com/rockedition. The vodka itself is the standard Absolut original so a decent standard vodka should you wish to drink it rather than keep as a collectable! Absolut Rock is available immediately! Emporium Drinks Limited |
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Absolut No Label - Available Now!2009-10-06Absolut No Label is here at the Vodka Emporium! This is one of there rarer limited editions as there has only been 500 cases produced of this bottle. Absolut No Label Vodka is the company's initiative "to challenge labels and prejudice to make the world more diverse, vibrant, and respectful." The Absolut No Label bottles are all numbered and as you can see in the picture have no label or logo. The only familiarity is the classic Absolut bottle design. The only feature on the bottle itself is a removable campaign sticker with the website address, this is so anyone can find a little more on the product or even give feedback. The product will be available from the vodka emporium from October and you can place your order now. Emporium Drinks Limited |
