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Summer loving – it’s all about the Whisky & Tonic – huh?!

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Summer loving – it’s all about the Whisky & Tonic – huh?!

April 21, 2023

Okay, so we’re barely into Spring, but it only takes the few recent days of glorious sunshine and the promise of warmth on our skin and BBQ’s a plenty to have us dashing to our drinks trolley to make sure we have all the necessary supplies; Tonic-yes, ice cubes- yes, whisky- yes, gin – afraid not, that’s so yester year, apparently!

Yes, the kids of Gen Z have done it again, they’ve strode in and taken a much-loved combo, slung it out the door and created a new one – typical! But hang on, we think they’re actually onto something here. Whilst W&T may not quite roll off the tongue as smoothly as G&T, it sure as heck goes down smoothly enough!

And we can blame (or thank) those super cool surfing dudes in Oz for this one. Young twenty something Aussies (who may or may not surf, we’re not actually sure) are the inspiration behind this new trend and it’s apparently kicked the much-loved G&T into touch. So, if you want to be down with kids or just love the excuse to have a dram at ‘whenever o’clock,’ let’s take a look at which whiskies might lend themselves to this, exciting combo.

Johnnie Walker Blonde

Now the folk at Johnnie Walker were ahead of the game when they introduced Johnnie Walker Blonde. They saw the changing demographic of whisky drinkers and set about producing a lighter, sweeter whisky, fantastic for mixing.

Tasting notes

Nose	Palate	Finish
Bright berries & toffee	Sweet vanilla & apple, drizzled with caramel	Smooth and light

Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie Original is a popular and classic whisky on its own, but one that also lends itself particularly well to cocktails due to its sweet and delicate flavours and so we would definitely recommend it for a W&T. However, just like Johnnie Walker, Glenmorangie have been reading the room and observed the changing habits of the younger drinking generation. As such, they have released Glenmorangie X. In their own words:

“In pursuit of new flavour combinations, we have crafted the perfect single malt whisky for mixing. paired with your favourite mixer, X by Glenmorangie creates effortlessly delicious drinks.”

Tasting notes

Nose	Palate	Finish
Pear, vanilla, honeysuckle and oranges	Orange sherbet, smooth and creamy brûlée with a smattering of chocolate fudge	Smooth, sweet and a long-lasting richness

Monkey Shoulder – The Original

Created specifically with cocktail making in mind, Monkey Shoulder – The Original blend is another perfect choice. Small batches of Speyside malt whiskies are blended together to create a smooth tasting dram, which is bold enough to hold its own when mixed, but balanced enough to harmonise with the tonic.

Tasting notes

Nose	Palate	Finish
zesty orange, vanilla, honey and spiced oak	mellow vanilla with spicy hints	smooth, malty and fruity

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Starward Left – Field

Okay, before all you Scotch aficionados raise an eyebrow, we thought it only fair to include an Australian whisky in here! And as this one is currently discounted until 9^th May at a rather well known, high-end supermarket, what’s there to lose?!

The secret to the distinct flavours of Starward whisky is the barrels used for maturation – wine barrels. Now we know there are plenty of whisky distillers who utilise the flavour compounds of wine barrels for either starting or finishing maturation, but Starward use them for the entire process. Using barrels from bold, full bodied red wines such as Cabernet or Shiraz means that the whisky soaks in much more of the flavour. Additionally, extreme fluctuation in temperature due to winds from both artic and desert origins rapidly increases the expansion and contraction rates of the barrel, creating far more scope for absorption.

Tasting notes

Nose	Palate	Finish
Soft aromatics of tropical fruits, red apple skin, fresh red berries and warming vanilla spice	Estery and bright tropical fruit character with a rich mouthfeel and lightly toasted oak	Delicate finish with a soft tannic structure

So, there you have it. The latest whisky craze, which is setting the trend in popular hotspots in both Australia and UK is now available for you to master at home and impress your guests, proving that whisky is hugely versatile and as popular as ever. As to which flavour tonic water to use, well, with a plethora to choose from, we’ll let you have fun with that!