Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, the Queen’s official residence in Northern Ireland, is releasing a limited-edition gin flavored with rose petals gathered from the castle’s grounds.

The release comes on the heels of the London Gin released last year by Buckingham Palace that was made with botanicals from the palace gardens.

This new release from Hillsborough Castle has been made in collaboration with local distillery Rademon Estate, using “hand-picked” rose petals from the castle’s Granville Rose Garden. The garden was named after its creator, Lady Rose Bowes-Lyon, an elder sister of the Queen Mother and the Queen’s aunt.

Made with Rose petals blended with apples and pears from the castle’s newly-restored Walled Garden, only 400 bottles of the expression are set to be released.

Laura McCorry, Head of Hillsborough Castle, said in a statement. “Like the Castle itself, gin is something of a Georgian success story, so it seems particularly fitting that both seem to be enjoying a renaissance in the twenty-first century!”

For more information on the Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Shortcross Gin, go to historicroyalpalaces.com shop

Tennessee-based spirits company, Ole Smoky Distillery, has announced the launch of their small-batch premium whiskey brand.

James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey, commemorates the remarkable history and spirit of James Ownby – the 5th generation great-grandfather of Ole Smoky Distillery’s Founder, Joe Baker, handing down a family tradition.

The 94-proof whiskey is a rich, warm, deep caramel, easy-sipping spirit with a distinctly southern soul. It is aged in American virgin charred oak barrels and filtered utilizing the Lincoln County Process, passing through sugar maple charcoal before ageing.

“James Ownby lived a life so epic we still tell his tale,” said Baker. “A son of the revolution, a soldier – he was dedicated to his country. He enlisted at 17 and served six tours of duty throughout his esteemed military career.

“His most notable service came as a member of the renowned ‘Overmountain Men’ regiment under the command of Colonel John Sevier in the Battle of Kings Mountain – the battle which Thomas Jefferson fittingly deemed ‘The turn of the tide of success,’ in the Revolutionary War.”

In the late 1800s, James set down roots in East Tennessee, just a stone’s throw from where Ole Smoky operates the distillery today on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Ownby family became known as one of the original families who settled in the area and brought their knowledge of distilling.

“James Ownby Reserve pays tribute to my family’s heritage and legacy,” Baker continued. “This new brand embodies our creativity and commitment to creating small-batch whiskey and the team at Ole Smoky is proud to bring the product to market.”

The James Ownby Reserve bottle and label design celebrates Tennessee with the state’s three stars found on the Tennessee State Flag, each representing the areas of Tennessee, middle, east, and west. It includes a personal message and signature of Joe Baker as he carries the legend forward through the whiskey created to honour his ancestor’s remarkable life.

For more information, go to jamesownbyreserve.com

Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White has moved into spirits with the launch of his own London Dry gin, Mr White’s.

The famed restaurateur created the limited-edition gin with master distiller Dai Wakely, from the Cygnet Distillery in Wales.

“Marco has always loved gin,” says the brand. “He has perfected cooking simple things well and wanted to learn something new to reignite his passion for creating recipes from his days spent working in London.

Bottled at 40% ABV, the expression is said to be juniper-forward and counts hand-peeled orange, lemon verbena and fresh lavender among its botanicals.

“I distinctly remember the captivating smell of the juniper berries being distilled at Booth’s Gin distillery on Wandsworth Bridge, as I made my way to and from Harveys on Wandsworth Common, London,” said White.

“The smell takes me back to memorable moments from my days spent back in the capital all those years ago. And at a time when more than ever people are interested in the provenance and authenticity of what they are drinking, [it] is precisely what this new gin is all about.”

For more information, go to mpwrestaurants.co.uk

US zero-proof brand Ritual has expanded its product line with a rim alternative, just in time for a post-COVID summer.

With the tagline that that ‘It’s the rum punch that doesn’t knock you out, the Hurricane without the hangover’, the expression boasts all the warm vanilla, toasted spice and velvety decadence of dark rum, minus the alcohol or calories.

“Ritual is the true liquor replacement. It is to spirits what the Impossible burger is to meat; what Oatly is to milk,” said Marcus Sakey, founding partner of Ritual Zero Proof. “Most people who buy those products aren’t vegetarian – they just want a little balance, without sacrificing flavor. Ritual has cracked that code – and consumers have noticed.”

The brand has also taken the opportunity to tweak and improve the recipes for their beloved Gin, Whiskey and Tequila Alternatives, incorporating expert and consumer feedback to make them taste even more like their alcoholic counterparts.

“The Beverage Testing Institute, gold-standard for the industry, named Ritual the best non-alcoholic spirit in the world,” said Sakey. “But the latest iteration of our products are better than ever, and the new Rum Alternative is just delicious.”

For more information, go to ritualzeroproof.com or connect with the brand via Instagram or Facebook

On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner in the north of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask to be enjoyed by future generations.

Last year, 80 years later, the decision was taken to finally bottle the content of Cask 340, into a total of 250 decanters. The decision not only aligned with George Urquhart belief that each whisky should be left to mature until the cask and spirit had combined to create the desired quality, but it has also made history.

“That this whisky – the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled – remains so full of vibrant flavour with a strength of 44.9% ABV, is testimony to knowledge handed down over successive generations of my family,” explains Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

Setting a standard of exceptional quality has been the benchmark for Gordon & MacPhail over its 125-year history and it is the brand’s unique depth and breadth of experience that enables them to combine oak, spirit and time to create iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

“Maturing a single malt Scotch over eight decades is an art,” said Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, “similar in many ways to architecture where you are creating something that needs to stand the test of time. Neither can be rushed. Both Sir David and Gordon & MacPhail share a commitment to invest in the future. We both see the significance of creating something exceptional; leaving a legacy for future generations.”

The whisky bottler partnered with Sir David Adjaye OBE to design a decanter and oak case to present the whisky. The price of the whisky will be unveiled in September, along with Adjaye’s decanter and case.

Sotheby’s will auction decanter number one in early October, with all proceeds, minus costs, to be donated to award-winning Scottish charity Trees for Life, which works to rewild the Caledonian Forest.

For more information, go to gordonandmacphail.com

Expanding its JJ Whitley range, Halewood Artisanal Spirits has unveiled a limited-edition vodka filtered through a gold silk thread.

Distilled in St Petersburg, Russia, the wheat-based Vodka expression has been passed through a filter of gold silk thread, which the brand says provides a clean and exceptionally smooth tasting experience.

The expression has then been bottled in ‘dazzling gold’ that features the “distinctive” embossed detail at 38% ABV.

“For those looking to treat themselves or find something special to mark a celebration, or even as a great gift option, we’re confident our limited edition vodka will present a strong sales opportunity for retailers this summer,” said James Stocker, marketing director, Halewood Artisanal Spirits.

“We have been investing heavily in our JJ Whitley vodka portfolio and our new distillery in St Petersburg, which enables us to provide our customers with a quality, authentic Russian vodka at [a] great price point.”

For more information, go to jj-whitley.com