When it comes to the world of whisky, there’s a lot of pompous hooha that surrounds the topic – is it single malt or a blend? Where was it distilled? What cask was it matured in? What’s the history behind the brand? While we can appreciate the intricacies of analysing a golden drop, it doesn’t always have to be this way. The reality is, there are no rules of how to enjoy whisky.
If you’ve got a free-spirited attitude to whisky, Naked Malt should be on your must-buy list the next time you hit the liquor store. Radically different to other whisky brands that push a more hoity toity message, Naked Malt urges you to “drop the act” and just enjoy the darn whisky however you please – something that we can all get behind.
Made with a unique blend of the world’s finest single malts, Naked malt is matured in ‘naked’ Oloroso sherry casks, meaning the casks have never held whisky before. This is what gives the drop the abundance of rich and fruity flavours.
To be fair, it’s hard not to fall in love with a sherried whisky once you try them. But what’s notable is how much this amber fluid will set you back – and it’s not very far. Sitting at the very affordable price point of $40-60 per 700ml bottle, Naked Malt is an absolute no-brainer of a choice. Comparatively, well-known sherry-matured whisky such as the very exquisite Macallan is around the $200 mark. You probably wouldn’t go around mixing something like this…
If you love a good whisky cocktail but happen to be quite the fusspot, Naked Malt will quite easily become the poison you pick. For a meticulous blend at this price point, you can play around and swing from a sour to an old fashioned or even take a spin on the dark and stormy. If you love a good pickle, why not go for a pickle back? You don’t need to ask me twice when it comes to those. It allows for creativity and that’s what they’re all about.
In the spirit of creativity, we come to you with a spin on a classic – the strawberry whisky sour. Created by NZ’s very own resident French bartender Julien Maddalon of Lemon Lime and Butter, you can hire the tanned Frenchman for your next soiree. His drinks are just as sweet as he is eye candy.
Made with Naked Whisky, lemon juice, aqa faba (chickpea water), strawberry syrup, and a dash of vanilla liqueur, this recipe is at the top of its class. It’s the perfect cocktail to impress your guests by playing the hostess with the mostest.
Strawberry Whisky Sour Recipe
Ingredients
- 45ml Naked Whisky
- 30ml lemon juice
- 15ml Aqa faba
- 20ml strawberry syrup
- Big block of ice and dash of vanilla liqueur
Instructions
- Add the whisky, lemon juice, aqa faba and syrup into a shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Double strain into a rock glass with a block of ice inside the glass.
- Finish with a dash of vanilla liqueur or your choice of bitters.
Once you have your first taste of this cocktail, you’ll have your Eureka moment and understand why it’s an award-winning drop.
