Our drinks list is developed by a team of real enthusiasts, and changes twice a year. Our team of drinkies (like foodies, but source great quality drinks instead!), not only look at trends in the market, but also at data around what our guests are drinking, to develop a list that’s exciting and meets demand.
Our recent list saw the arrival of three new gins, one fruity – Tanqueray Sevilla, one small batch – Forest and one classic – Chase Elegant 48.There’s no sign of the gin wave peaking, with Drinks Business predicting a 37% rise in gin sales this year. Most recently, we’ve seen a huge change in our guests’ tastes with a spike in guests moving across to flavoured gin, with Chase Pink Grapefruit and Brockmans taking a huge share of the category. Following their success, we introduced Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger last Autumn/Winter, much to our guests excitement.
This Spring/Summer, we extended our fruity range to four, adding Tanqueray Sevilla. Following Charles Tanqueray’s travels to the sun-soaked groves of Spain, he found inspiration for a unique gin liqueur using Seville oranges. Made with this bittersweet fruits, a gin with a fruitful and zesty taste, balanced with the 4 botanicals is produced. Unique and enjoyable, yet complex.
After a quick review of month one of the new list, these four fruity gins contributed to 46% of all grand gin sales in May alone. Whether you’re new to gin, or experimenting with different flavours, our particular favourite is still Chase Pink Grapefruit paired with Pink Grapefruit Tonic – the perfect combination!
Forest Gin (another newcomer to the list) won double Gold at San Francisco Spirits Awards in 2016, and this hand-crafted, small-batch gin is lovingly created by husband and wife team, Lindsay and Karl, at their home in the Macclesfield Forest. Their daughter, Harriet, leads all foraging missions, sourcing the best bilberries and raspberries for a truly outstanding gin. Presented in a beautiful ceramic bottle artworked by the talented papercut artist Suzy Taylor, this is a gin for gin enthusiasts, and taking a top spot on the list in May.
Our final most recent gin is Elegant 48. Made from scratch using rare varieties of apples from Chase Distillery – apple juice is distilled into naked apple vodka before being distilled with 11 carefully chosen botanicals. Full bodied and fruity, with complexity.
If gin’s not your thing, there’s new cocktails too. Adding strawberries to the classic Daiquiri make our newest classic to the list a real crowd pleaser. Then there’s Islands in the Stream – one for the Pina Colada fans; using only the best ingredients, Reyka Icelandic vodka meets Koko Kanu Jamaican coconut rum and pineapple juice.
Aperol Spritz is one popular drink that’s recently gained huge traction, with a 36% growth in our pubs vs last year. This Summer, you can enjoy the popular drink as a pitcher to share with friends (or maybe not).
The Espresso Martini still takes the number one spot on the list for May, followed by another other classic – The Mojito. Our Rhubarb Mule is proving popular entering in at number 5.
For something a little more unusual, try another one of our favourites – rich and sweet yet slightly tart, our Lemon & Mint Collins mixes Drambuie, mint and lemon into a short, easy drinking cocktail. Then there’s our other pitchers, Peach Gin-gria is a twist on a white sangria with gin and peach liqueur and the Elderflower Fizz mixes prosecco, elderflower and fresh strawberries.
If you’re driving, expecting or just not drinking, we have a great soft range too. Whether it’s a mocktail, grand soft or Green Cola (a healthy choice for cola lovers) – there’s lots of non-alcoholic choices too.
Pop down to your local Peach Pub and pick up a list. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed. And if there’s a cocktail you’d like to see on the next list, or if you have some feedback, drop Rebekha.wilkins@peachpubs.com an email. We’re always listening.