Stock up on these locally-made gins, brandies, rums, whiskies and liqueurs
The nights are drawing in, the wind is getting colder and the leaves are turning to gold. A lovely woolly jumper will keep you snug on the outside - but how about a nice tot of something to warm you up on the inside? Norfolk has many delicious offerings to tempt you - so here is a small selection to tickle the taste buds...
Spice up your life
Norfolk Farmhouse is a small distillery at Lyng Easthaugh. Its Spiced Gin sounds like the ideal winter warmer, infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and a pinch of chilli. It says it goes well with ginger ale or tonic, but we like the recommendation to try it warmed with apple juice and a touch of honey... £30 for 500ml, walnuttreedistillery.co.uk
Caramel cracker
If you like the sweeter side of life then maybe Nelson’s Gold, from Beachamwell’s Wild Knight Vodka distillery, is the one for you. A blend of premium English vodka and handmade caramel, the makers say the caramel gives the liqueur a ‘delectable, mellow sweetness with some beautiful darker notes and a hint of cinder toffee or honeycomb.’ £30 for 500ml, wildknightdistillery.co.uk
From hedge to hip
The hedgerows have been heavy with blackberries this autumn and The English Whisky Company at Roudham has been busy putting the harvest to good use, blending the gorgeous berry flavours with its malt whisky to create The Norfolk Bramble. Put a nip in your hip flask, it suggests; who are we to argue? £20 for 500ml, englishwhisky.co.uk
Classic rhubarb
Archangel Gin has made a delightful rhubarb liqueur, with vodka-steeped fruit blended with its classic gin. A nice touch is that it is made ‘to taste’, not to formula, because of the varying amounts of juice in the rhubarb, so each batch has a slightly different ABV. £37.85 for 500ml, archangel-distilleries.co.uk
Damson good
The team at Black Shuck knows a thing or two about great fruity liqueurs; its Damson Port Liqueur is made using Norfolk damsons and port with a touch of brandy to create a deep, warm drink delicious on its own or mixed with a good quality lemonade for a longer refresher. £32 for 700ml, blackshuckltd.co.uk
That’s a rum’un!
Norfolk Rum’s Chocolate and Cherry Liqueur is a winter wonder, it says. ‘A smooth, silky liqueur with a balance of aromas, firstly cherries, followed by the warming taste of chocolate that’ll remind you of Christmas...’ You don’t have to wait for Santa to enjoy it though! £28 for 500ml, norfolkspiritco.co.uk
Winter sun
Sunfire Spirits’ says that its Blackberry Gin is made with fresh handpicked fruit which is ‘squashed and blended with our bespoke premium dry gin distilled with a selection of the finest botanicals.’ A full-strength tipple, it sounds delicious and works on its own or with a classic tonic. £37.50 for 700ml norfolkspiritco.co.uk
Peachey perfect
Peachey’s distils its own gin in the Waveney Valley and makes a great range of seasonal flavoured spirits. The Sloe Gin is a traditional tempter at this time of the year but the brandy liqueur infused with locally-grown quinces sounds different and heavenly. £27 for 500ml, peacheyspirits.com
Hot ticket
Hethersett’s Home Farm Gin isn’t afraid of bold flavours and its special edition Cranberry and Cinnamon Gin sounds just the ticket for chillier days, promising an aromatic blend of warming cinnamon with fresh cranberries. ‘Enjoy neat over ice, or top with hot water to make a gin hot toddy. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.’ £36 for 700ml, homefarmgin.co.uk
