Whisky Focus - Seasonal Winter Warmers From Samuel Gelston's Irish Whiskey

Samuel Gelston’s is bringing some gilded glamour to the UK this season with a series of exciting collaborations that explore the golden roots of its Irish Whiskey.

Award-winning Belfast-based mixologist Emily Doherty and leading gold prospector Vince Thurkettle will be fronting the new Gelston’s Gold Rush campaign, which will unveil gold inspired cocktail recipes (a couple of which are below), a gold panning event in the home of the brand and an exploration into Ireland’s prospecting past. Wild gold expert and jewellery maker Mark Bell will also be on hand to add some seasonal sparkle by creating a show stopping gold bottle of Samuel Gelston’s whiskey, which will be revealed in a festive competition this December.

Established in Belfast in the 1830s, Samuel Gelston’s was purchased by daring young Irishman Harry Neill in 1869 who made his fortune in Australia’s spectacular 1851 Gold Rush. Upon returning to Belfast, Harry used his new found wealth to rebuild the Gelston’s business and export his ‘liquid gold’ for the world to enjoy.

Vince explains: "I love all the gold rush stories and have prospected out in Australia in the area where the 1850s gold rush took place, and Harry made his fortune. I have recovered gold and treasure from a tragic shipwreck from that time, the ‘Royal Charter’ which was bringing gold miners and their families home - and carried about 150 million Euros worth of gold. If Harry had been on that ship we wouldn’t now have these fabulous whiskeys.

"Whiskey and gold, two key ingredients to all the great gold rushes – I am so pleased that they are being brought together again, and absolutely delighted to be a part of this Gelston’s adventure.”

Mixologist Emily looked to the past to re-create a classic cocktail for today’s whiskey enthusiasts. She explains:

"My inspiration behind this drink was to take the classic ‘gold rush’ cocktail and put a modern twist on it. Hot honey is something that became very popular this year and there is a good reason, you get the sweetness and floral notes coming from the honey with the light spice and black pepper from the chilli. The other ingredients in this cocktail are the type of ingredients you see in a Margarita but they work incredibly well with whiskey, the orange juice opens up the sweet notes in the spirit and the salt rim balances out the sweetness.”

You will find Samuel Gelstons range of whiskies (Reviewed Here) and the delicious Samuel Gelstons Irish Cream Liqueur available from Tesco's in Northern Ireland and from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange, Amazon and Master of Malt
 

• 50ml Samuel Gelston’s Blended Irish whiskey
• 20ml Lime juice
• 30ml Fresh orange juice
• 10ml Hot honey *

Method:

• Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into an iced punch or rocks glass, with a salt rim, and a burnt orange slice as garnish.

*To make the hot honey, pick your favourite honey and add two hot chillies, or add in two teaspoons of dried chilli flakes, leave for two days then strain.
 

• 50ml Samuel Gelstons Irish Cream Liqueur
• 10ml Spiced brown sugar syrup *
• 60ml Americano coffee
• Double cream to top

Method:

• Pour all ingredients into a steamed Irish coffee glass and layer your thick cream on top with a spoon. Garnish with the star anise.

*To make your own spiced syrup mix one cup of brown sugar and one cup of hot water with your favourite spices, Emily’s are cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
 

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