Sweet Spot: Islands Chocolate Launches Decadent Gifts in Fortnum & Mason and Liberty in Time for Christmas

Priding itself as a family-run company, Islands Chocolate stands out as one of the few chocolate brands with its own cocoa farms, located in the Caribbean. 

Embracing the spirit of ethical gifting, the company's employees not only earn considerably higher than the national living wage in St Vincent but also very considerably surpass the equivalent Fairtrade standard in Africa, from where most cocoa comes from.

Their chocolate is used in the kitchens of renowned chefs like Tom Kerridge, Phil Howard and Heston Blumenthal. The carefully crafted chocolate is designed to elevate both the art of baking and the joy of savouring each delectable bite.

Discover the perfect Christmas gift for the master baker or chocolate lover in your life with these beautifully designed 200g tins of heavenly delights:

75% Dark Chocolate - 200G

The 75% is the most versatile chocolate of the range, balancing a high cocoa percentage with well-rounded flavours. Aromas of jammy dried fruit and caramelised honey carry are accompanied with bursts of fresh citrus and ripe banana, notes of dark caramel and sweet spices with a warming finish. These are priced at £8.95.

55% Milk Chocolate - 200G

The 55% Dark Milk couples the sweet, creamy nostalgia of a milk chocolate with intensely flavourful St Vincent cocoa to curate a mature, versatile coating when used in baking. Aromas of toffee and malt develop further in the flavour, leading to an explosion of buttery caramel and rich creaminess, perfectly balanced by a light acidity and fruity banana notes. These are priced at £8.95.

37% White Chocolate Giant Button

Caribbean cocoa butter offers complex, chocolatey flavours and well balanced sweetness, combined with creamy whole milk and a hint of salt for a uniquely sophisticated white chocolate flavour. These are priced at £8.95.

55% Dark Flakes Hot Chocolate

The 55% Dark Flakes create an indulgent luxurious hot chocolate like no other. Notes of rich caramel and zesty orange are expertly complemented by deep cocoa flavours. This tin is specially crafted for the ultimate hot chocolate experience, available at Bayley & Sage, Real Eating Co and online. Launching early December These are priced at £8.95.

By buying a gift from Islands Chocolate this holiday season, you can not only bake with chocolate used by some of the UK's top chefs, you can make a stand against unethical practices in the cocoa supply chain. And these embossed, vibrantly coloured tins will look fantastic on your kitchen shelf!

Founder Wilf Marriott said: "Cheap, poor-quality chocolate tainted by slavery, child labour and deforestation is just not acceptable - people and our planet deserve better, especially this festive season. Islands Chocolate proudly leads the charge with a deliciously ethical alternative, with every bite telling a story of ethical indulgence.”

For more general information visit www.islandschocolate.com

Mangrove Welcomes Two New Japanese Whiskies Into World-Class Portfolio

Two prominent Japanese whiskies have joined forces with Mangrove Global's stellar portfolio of world whiskies. Brought to European markets by Whiskies du Monde, the Akashi and Yamazakura whiskies will bring a fresh and exciting new offering to UK world whisky lovers – and be the first Japanese whiskies in the Mangrove portfolio. 

The two independent brands will make the most of Mangrove's category and industry knowledge, to extend their reach across both the on and off-trade, competing with the bigger players in the UK whisky market.

Akashi has an impressive back story, coming from the White Oak, Eigashima distillery, which was the first in Japan to receive a whisky licence back in 1919. Today the distillery is quite experimental, innovating with different cask finishes, ranging from sake to red wine. Akashi is a popular whisky in Japan and is representative of the typical style enjoyed by Japanese whisky drinkers.

The spirit is already available in the UK through Waitrose, Amazon and selected bars, but Mangrove's aim will be to not only raise awareness of the quality liquid, but also to broaden distribution into specialised retail and the best of the on-trade.

The second whisky, Yamazakura Single Malt, is completely new to the UK and is the super-premium variety in the range, a selection of whiskies created at the Asaka distillery. The Asaka Distillery is the only one of its kind in Japan's Tohoku region, and benefits from the area's rich natural resources, including fresh water from one of the country's largest lakes. The distillery only produces for 150 days of the year, with a small team of four people - which means there are only 10 barrels produced of the single malt, annually.

Using precise and historic methods of Japanese whisky production, Yamazakura Single Malt is refined, elegant, and truly different from the standard Scotch and Irish varieties. Now owned by one of Japan's longest-standing spirits producers, Sasanokawa Shuzo, there is 200 years of expertise poured into the design of this exceptional small-batch drink.

Vincent Faesch, Area Manager for Europe at Whiskies du Monde, said: “Japanese whisky is an incredible genre of spirit and there is such care and attention going into each bottle, especially when it comes to export. UK whisky fans are becoming increasingly aware of how rewarding world whisky is as a category, and why the freedoms that international producers have create liquids that can be quite different from Scotch.

“Both Akashi and Yamazakura offer a wonderful drinking experience – and are must-have bottles within any whisky collection.”

Japanese whisky has successfully challenged the traditional Scotch market for many years, thanks to the precision and care taken by Japanese distillers. The timing for these brands to enter the UK market is ideal. Japanese whisky has entered an exciting new period of transparency, with the introduction of new classification rules which safeguard the quality of the liquids in the bottle. As well as this, here in the UK, the popularity of World Whisky is increasing exponentially.

Nick Gillett, Managing Director at leading UK spirits distributor Mangrove Global said: “At Mangrove, we've been championing world whiskies for a long time now, and no world whisky portfolio is complete without some quality Japanese spirits.

" Akashi and Yamazakura are two very different spirits, but together they authentically represent how whisky is enjoyed in Japan. Each delicious in their own right, we'll bring these two category leaders to a wider reach of customers, all while introducing world whisky lovers to the wonders of Japanese distilling.”

Discover more about Mangrove's portfolio of quality independent brands, including world whiskies, at mangroveuk.com.

Christmas Trend Alert: Try English Pink Wine With Your Turkey and Cranberry Sauce

Pink & Co co-founder Clem Yates is the only female Master of Wine based in the UK specialising in English rosé and has 20 years experience making wine for big brands such as Waitrose, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Majestic Wine. She also has a degree in Chemistry and Oenology, which is the study and science of winemaking.

With her scientific background, Clem explains why their English Pink rosé is the perfect match for a traditional Christmas turkey with cranberry sauce: “Basically, you need to look at the pH scale measure of acidity which ranges from 1 to 14 - the lower the pH, the higher the acidity. Cranberry sauce is acidic with a pH around the 3.5 mark, and our English Pink wine matches up to that with a pH of 3.30.

“Acidic foods can be tricky to pair with wines because the acidity can actually make the wine taste bitter, sour or flat. However, if you choose a wine with a high acidity, like our English Pink rosé, it provides a counterbalance to foods like cranberry sauce. A high acid wine also cuts through rich, fatty foods, refreshing your palette - making this wine the perfect pairing for decadent Christmas fare.”

British rosé brand Pink & Co has created a luxurious dry rosé wine, English Pink - the perfect accompaniment to the ubiquitous cranberry sauce served alongside your traditional turkey.

The reason Pink & Co’s rosé has a high acidity is because of the cooler grape growing climate found in England. 

More information about English Pink:

Originating from vineyards in the South of England, English Pink is a vegan-friendly Provence-style rosé with a very pale pink colour and an alcohol volume of 12%. The tasting notes are; delicate strawberry fruit with a concentrated palate, lovely fresh acidity and great length.

Made in small batches from premium grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, the grapes are sourced according to the vintage conditions whilst maintaining a consistent colour and flavour profile every year.

Available on the Pink & Co website, English Pink rosé is priced at £22.95 per bottle, with a case of six available for £137.50.

To find out more, visit https://www.pinkandco.co.uk 

To us, this sounds like an excellent wine for Christmas feasting and drinking.

Celebrate a Luxurious But Alcohol-Free Christmas With Savyll

Elegant ready-to-serve brand Savyll welcomes everyone to celebrate a luxurious Christmas with its enticing array of non-alcoholic cocktails.

Perfect for a Christmas gift or as a festive party tipple, the four flavours are; an aromatic peach Bellini, a fresh and crisp Mojito, a zesty grapefruit Paloma and a fiery Moscow Mule.

Here's more about these delectable drinks:

Bellini: A sparkling Bellini flavoured cocktail crafted with a fusion of delicate floral white peach notes on the nose, and a pleasantly dry white wine finish. The Bellini has been given one-star by the Great Taste Awards.

Mojito: A sparkling Mojito flavoured cocktail with a balanced arrangement of citrus, sweet spearmint, rosemary and lime, combined with a spice aroma.

Paloma: A sparkling Paloma flavoured cocktail crafted with earthy agave and bittersweet grapefruit characteristics on the nose, crisp lime on the palate, and a pleasing acidic finish.

Moscow Mule: A sparkling Moscow Mule flavoured cocktail with a delicate balance of lime and ginger on the nose, with herbal notes on the palate, and a little heat on the finish. It was awarded Double Gold in the San Francisco Spirit Awards in 2023.

They are all vegan-friendly, gluten-free, crafted from natural ingredients, and contain less than 4g of sugar per 100ml. Each drink is available in a 250ml can and has an RRP of £2.40.

Savyll's created the perfect stocking filler gift this Christmas - their beautifully presented Collection Pack allows you to explore the full range of sophisticated flavours mentioned above.

Born in the melting-pot of London, Savyll was created by Avnish Babla. Avnish's vision was to create a range of premium non-alcoholic cocktails that drew inspiration from their traditional alcoholic counterparts. The brand has listings with the likes of Whole Foods, David Lloyd, Ocado and Warner Hotels.

Avnish said: "Mocktails have been around for quite some time, but they often come across as bright, loud, and full of sugar. We wanted to create a brand that conveyed classic sophistication, and appealed to a more discerning consumer.

“We have a significant number of customers who, due to health or cultural reasons, don't want to drink alcohol - but they want something more high-end and palatable than just a simple juice or soda. If you serve Savyll's range of cocktails to your AF guests this Christmas, they're sure to be wowed.”

The Savyll Collection Pack can be purchased on the website. It can either be bought as four 250ml cans for £10 or 12-can packs for £25. To find out more, visit www.savyll.com.

Death By Dandruff. Latest Sherlock Holmes novel ideal for Christmas gifting

EVA Books is proud to announce the release of Death by Dandruff, the sixteenth book in the Unexpurgated Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes series by writer and TV/film producer, NP Sercombe.

Priced at £9.99, Death by Dandruff is available to purchase directly via www.unexpurgatedsherlock.com, Amazon UK, and the prestigious Hatchards bookshop.

The dramatic adaptation of the well-known book series for TV has been underway for three years featuring top industry talent.

NP Sercombe’s Unexpurgated series explores the intimate relationships of the famous characters and delves into their inner humanity. The books provide full, uncensored, and humorous accounts of Sherlock Holmes cases in an accessible format, beautifully illustrated by Juliet Snape.

NP Sercombe commented: “I am excited Harry King Television is currently in discussion with broadcasters and streamers with the aim to produce features based on the Unexpurgated Sherlock series in 2024.  This is the first time the original Conan Doyle stories have been adapted for TV in forty years!”

About Death by Dandruff:

In Death by Dandruff, Watson’s house is up for sale. Miss Clytenmestra Fanning has made an appointment to view the property without realising she would be in competition with Professor Moriarity. She writes a cheque. But what was Moriarty doing there in the first place?

A puzzled Watson walks to Baker Street where Holmes has been engaged by Mr. Gemini Winters to investigate the mysterious job offer. They embark upon a train journey where they meet a man with the most dreadful dandruff. The man acts suspiciously, and it isn’t long before Holmes establishes his devious motivations. After a nasty medical mix-up, they return to London and are forced to intervene in a murderous hostage situation, the architect being James Moriarity.

About NP Sercombe

NP Sercombe is creative producer of television & film in the UK and USA, a screenwriter and creator of The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock. He is CEO of Harry King TV and Cheyne Walk in London and Dr Bink’s Films in Los Angeles.

This will make the perfect Christmas gift for the dedicated Sherlockian in your life. Or as an ideal example of self-gifting, perhaps? Go on! You know you deserve it!

 

Christmas and New Year Safety Tips for Pets: Navigating Festive Celebrations

The Christmas season is a time of joy and merriment, filled with festive decorations, delicious treats, and gatherings with loved ones. As we immerse ourselves in the Christmas spirit, it's vital to remember that our furry friends are also part of the celebration. 

Whilst the Christmas season bring warmth and happiness, it can also pose potential hazards to our pets. 

In this blog post, we'll explore some crucial holiday safety tips to ensure our pets have a safe and enjoyable season.

Mindful Decorations:

Decking the halls with festive decorations is a beloved tradition, but some can be harmful to curious pets. Tinsel, ornaments, and lights may catch their attention, posing a choking or electrical hazard. Opt for pet-friendly decorations, secure ornaments out of reach, and consider using pet-safe alternatives like felt or wooden ornaments. But do be mindful of using paints that aren't toxic to pets.

Safe Feasting:

The holiday season is synonymous with indulgent feasts, and it's tempting to share those delicious treats with our pets. However, many human foods can be toxic to animals, including chocolate, alcohol, onions, and certain nuts. Stick to pet-approved treats, and educate guests about the importance of not feeding table scraps to your furry or feathered friends. For example, birds should never be fed salted nuts.

Quiet Retreats:

The hustle and bustle of festive gatherings can be overwhelming for pets, leading to stress and anxiety. Create a quiet, comfortable retreat for them where they can escape the noise and the commotion. Provide a cozy bed, toys, and perhaps some calming background music to help them relax.

Secure the Tree:

Christmas trees are a focal point of holiday decorations, but they can be hazardous for pets. Ensure the tree is securely anchored to prevent it from toppling over if your pet decides to investigate. Consider using pet-friendly ornaments and avoid using substances like tree preservatives, which may be harmful.

Candle Caution:

Candles are a popular choice for creating a festive ambiance, but they pose a fire hazard if knocked over by a curious or frightened pet. Opt for flameless, electric candles or place traditional ones in secure holders on high surfaces out of reach. Always supervise pets around open flames.

Mindful Gift Wrapping:

Gift-wrapping materials, such as ribbons and bows, can be enticing to pets but can pose a choking risk if ingested. Clean up wrapping materials promptly, and keep gifts out of reach until it's time to exchange them.

Avoid Noisy Celebrations:

Fireworks, loud music, and boisterous celebrations can be distressing for pets. If you're hosting a festive event, provide a quiet space for your pets away from the noise. Consider using calming aids such as pheromone diffusers or calming collars to help alleviate anxiety.

As we celebrate the Christmas season, incorporating these safety tips into our festivities will ensure that our pets can join in the joy without compromising their well-being. By being mindful of potential hazards and creating a pet-friendly environment, we can make this season enjoyable for both our furry companions and our human loved ones. Here's to a happy and safe holiday season for everyone, two-legged, four-legged and feathered alike!

Vegan Smoked Salmon for Christmas? Don’t mind if I do!

New from our friends at Squeaky Bean is their Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices.

If you are hosting a Christmas or New Year party or want an interesting course added to your Christmas dinner table, then you should add Squeaky Bean Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices to your shopping order.

New Squeaky Bean Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices (80g) are available in Waitrose  and Sainsbury’s at a RRP £3.50.

Squeaky Bean Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices are just  as sophisticated as smoked salmon; it has the same silky-smooth texture and smokiness of flavour, yet it's made with 100% vegan ingredients.

For the ultimate Christmastime breakfast or brunch, try Smoked Salmon Style Slices and scrambled tofu or smashed avocado on toast.

Top rye, brush with olive oil and enjoy with pickles for a Scandi-style open sandwich or serve with leafy greens, potato salad or grilled corn. Make a beetroot terrine and garnish with watercress for an eye-catching meat free starter; whatever the occasion, make this new plant-based food discovery the main event. 

Made with plant-based ingredients including root vegetables and smoked in Beechwood just like salmon, Squeaky Bean Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices are also a good source of fibre, naturally low in saturated fat and only 68 kcals per 100g, perfect for meat eaters, meat reducers, flexitarians, vegans and vegetarians alike.

Rebecca Youseman, Brand Manager, Squeaky Bean, said: “20% of vegans and vegetarians revealed to us that they miss eating salmon, so we’ve been working on bringing vegan smoked salmon to the market. 

"It’s been a long time coming but it’s finally here; Squeaky Bean Smoked Salmon Style Slices are 100% plant based, smoked in beechwood for the same richness of flavour and naturally lower in fat, saturated fat and salt than smoked salmon.” 

Squeaky Bean’s Smoked Salmon Style Slices join an impressive line-up of products including the recently launched ready-to-eat Cooking Chorizo Style Sausage, Chargrilled Steak Style Strips, award-winning Applewood Smoked Ham Style Slices as well as Chicken Style Pieces, Chargrilled Mini Fillets and Sandwich Slices; NYC Deli Pastrami, Spanish Chorizo and Salami Style Slices. 

Squeaky Bean’s new incredibly authentic Smoked Salmon Style Slices are ready-to-eat and like the fish version, best enjoyed in a bagel or on toast, with a squeeze of lemon and sprig of fresh dill. This is a big-dill.