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International Woman's Day Approaches

International Woman's Day Approaches

Posted by Spirits Kiosk on 25 Feb 2021

International Women’s Day is almost upon us and as part of our month long celebration of female owned or distilled spirits, we’re showcasing a few more inspiring women and their liquid gold for you! 

Between them, they show the depth of experience, innovation and skills that makes them some of the best producers in the world. Moreover, there are so many of them who had very specific visions for what they wanted to do and its because of their confident individuality that we are lucky enough to enjoy their spectacular drinks. 

Avallen

Avallen Calvados has been a much-needed breath of fresh air for Calvados. It’s co-founder and industry veteran Stephanie Jordan’s passion project and a good example to demonstrate that being a force for good and having exceptionally tasty spirits are not mutually exclusive concepts. 50p from every sale goes towards bee conservation projects and her work is helping to inspire many to re-look at what else they can do to contribute positively.

Joy Spence & Appleton Rum

It’s rare when a producer’s most revered, most precious aged stock was actually laid down by the person blending the final recipe. Not for Appleton though, where Joy Spence not only oversees the finer points of the final formulation, she has also been a constant presence from when it was first distilled over 30 years ago. Joy is an icon of the spirits industry and the rum that she has created reflects that in each sip you take.

We think her skill is on full display with the Appleton Estate 21yr Old. With notes of Demerara sugar, oak, delicate citrus and spice - it's everything you would imagine from a top-end rum. You’ll also discover mellow orange peel, deep vanilla, rich nutmeg, warm coffee, and cocoa notes. One to savour neat or pick apart in a tasting glass.

One of the big success stories of the tonic and mixer world, Dutch twins Joyce and Raissa de Haas have been taking the world by storm since they launched Double Dutch in 2015. Not just entrepreneurial masterminds, as flavour makers they show that with a bit of curiosity and an open mind, the perfect combination is just a few experiments away and that the key is to be brave enough to seek it out.

One of our favourite experiments is taking their Pomegranate & Basil mixer, which has a herbaceous aroma with a sweet and tangy finish and pairing it with a smoky Mezcal and an orange wedge to garnish. It makes for an amazingly complex yet refreshing drink.

CalCaleño

Ellie Webb felt uninspired by the alcohol-free drinks on offer and decided it was time to bring some joy to ‘not drinking’. Her two Zero ABV drinks, Caleño, first came to life in Ellie’s kitchen and are inspired by her Latin roots. 

The vibrant colours, tropical flavours and Latin beats of her family’s homeland of Colombia are imbued into each bottle. For example, the Light & Zesty features pineapple and papaya tropical notes as well as the tang of the golden Inca berry, while their Dark & Spicy is a warming infusion of dark tropical pineapple notes, ginger and kola nut spices,

Mount Gat Eclipse & T. Branker

A prodigious talent of the Rum world, Trudiann Branker is a maker who we revere here. She is the Master Blender at Mount Gay having first joined the distillery team in 2014 as the Quality Assurance Manager and followed the same path as former legendary Master Blender Allen Smith within the distillery. 

Her ability to layer flavours and build a rum’s depth is second to none – something that’s clear across their range but in particular, Mount Gay's Eclipse Rum. It's the embodiment of the Mount Gay style, body and aroma with notes of vanilla and banana on the nose and underlying tones of caramel, summer fruit and spice. A versatile rum to have in the cabinet.

Brighton Gin Range

Kathy Caton is the best of us. Not only is her range super tasty, but there's a soul to Brighton Gin that’s unlike anything in the UK. They always seem to try and do things the right way, not the quick way. There's a sense of ethics and a moral compass at the core. 

It's a brand that stands for something and is built on community. All of this stems from her vision of how to be a modern, progressive distillery. Her two gins are worth seeking out but for those who love a Negroni, as a big, bold Navy strength, her Seaside Strength takes the cocktail to another level. Juniper looms large alongside a cascade of zesty citrus and a whisper of spice - perfect for pairing with Vermouth and Campari.

Fanny Fougerat range

The Fanny Fougerat Cognacs are some of the category's best hidden gems. They're the kind that really express their own distinctive terroir and character. Fanny comes from four generations of winemakers and distillers and that deep understanding for the spirit means that her work has developed a distinct individual style - namely hers are not blended Cognacs. 

From vineyard to distillation, and during maturation, she focusses on freshness, fineness and precision. The Petite Cigüe is a good example of this. It has such a distinct personality, filled with luscious notes of apricot, fresh grapes and perfumed orange.