Lockdown series two…the sequel Have your Aloha 65 “Locktails” at the ready!
Preparing for lockdown series two? Series one wasn’t easy for any of us, but in true Alohan style, Aloha 65 is approaching this one with grit and determination, and that means a determination to have fun too! Aloha 65 recently launched a new winter/ski edition bottle to keep our spirits up and to put a smile on our face this winter.
We’ve all had our fair share of Quarantini’s, but now it’s all about the ‘Locktails’. And that means getting our mixology hats on to get us through the next month. So, if you’re looking for some new inspiration on the cocktail front, why not try Aloha 65.
You may have already seen Lola surfing down Spirit of Aloha 65’s iconic blue bottle over the summer, but it turns out Lola also skis (wooden skis of course)! The stunning new winter edition bottle itself will give you plenty of photo opps to keep your friends guessing as to what this new spirit is.
With its delicious and warming botanicals of pineapple, ginger and chilli at its heart, Spirit of Aloha 65 is the perfect autumn or winter tipple and hits the spot on a cosy evening in front of the fire served just on its own over ice or instead of a gin and tonic as a long drink mixed with ginger ale or a seasonal tonic like Fever Tree’s Clementine tonic water. The Aloha Mac, a modern twist on the classic, Aloha 65 and Stone’s ginger wine also works a treat, but for the more adventurous who want to go a bit off piste, why not try making an Aloha Old Fashioned with Aloha 65 instead of half of the Bourbon or something really Christmassy, like the Aloha Velvet with Aloha 65, brandy, orange and lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg yolk! Yum!! Finally, if you’re up for some mulling, surprise your friends and family by whacking some Aloha 65 in either red wine, cider or cloudy apple juice together with some cinnamon, star anise and cloves – job done.
Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, when it comes to your seasonal entertaining, Spirit of Aloha 65 has also got your canapes and cheese board covered. Their legendary “Detonators”, scotch bonnet infused pineapple chunks, whilst controversial on pizza, offer the opportunity for mouth and eye-watering canape creations or just a spicy twist to that classic retro combo – pineapple and cheddar chunks on a cocktail stick. Plus, their sweet and spicy “Sun on a Beach” hot sauce – not quite chutney, not quite hot sauce – is a brilliant new dipping addition to your cheeseboard, spicy accompaniment to the family fondue, or something to cheer up those leftovers!
The back-story
Conceived and created by British expat barman, Stephen Thorp, at his beach bar in Florida some thirty years ago, the first homemade version of Spirit of Aloha was designed to lure well-known and not so well-known surfers into his beach bar. Everyone was welcome and everyone knew he was on to something special. Stephen’s homemade gift to the après-sea crowd became a ritual, a unique sundowner that put a smile on everyone’s face at the end of a long-day in the surf or soaking up the rays on the beach. Thirty years or so later, and after many attempts (65 in fact), the first few bottles that met Stephen’s exacting standards were produced and Spirit of Aloha 65 came of age. Now available in winter/ski edition.
The blend
Beautifully and naturally crafted, Aloha 65 ticks a lot of boxes: vegan, gluten free, and at under 47kcal per 25ml serve has less calories than an equivalent measure of gin or vodka (50kcal per 25ml serve). It’s made from only fresh ingredients with no added colourants.
So what sort of spirit is it? Well it’s not gin and it’s not vodka, but like them Aloha 65 starts with a neutral grain spirit base. However, unlike gin or vodka that an take just a few hours to make through a fire-based distillation process, Aloha 65 takes weeks to make and is made by separately and naturally infusing neutral grain spirit with just six very special raw ingredients including fresh pineapple, lemon, ginger and scotch bonnet chilli. These ingredients macerate slowly in the neutral grain spirit for up to a month naturally steeping the alcohol with their individual flavours. The separate infusions are then carefully blended together et Aloha! Sunshine in a Bottle.
Its versatility means that it can be enjoyed as a delicious chilled shot, on ice, or a refreshing long-drink, or as the unique heart of a great cocktail. It is proudly all-natural, vegan and has a lower ABV (27%). One sip and you’ll know what all the fuss I about. If you’ve never heard of, or believed in, ‘Sunshine at First Sip’, you have now. Many people seem genuinely surprised that it is still possible to create something quite new and different in the spirits category but Stephen’s years of dreams and hard graft have certainly been worth it. Trust us – you’re in for a treat.
A brand with a difference:
Spirit of Aloha 65 offers the consumer something very different both to look at and to taste. With its coastal roots, Spirit of Aloha 65, is undeniably born of the surf, sun, sand and sea but is equally at home in the mountains and on the slopes. The vintage and retro branding has universal appeal and the branding screams: ‘Life is for living’ and ‘Have fun!’. ‘Lola’, our iconic surf girl and ‘Al’ her buddy, don’t just surf, they ski! Of course, they do. The ski/surf winter bottles are a must this winter to create that lock-down après ski vibe. Oh, and how many spirit brands do you know that also have a hot sauce?
Integrity
‘Aloha’ isn’t just a friendly greeting, it’s a way of life. It puts a smile on your face. Alohans, as we like to call them, live each moment to the full and always bring their A-Game, but with respect for others and their environment. Aloha 65 is proud to be partnering with Plastic Oceans, donating 5% of its profits to the charity to help preserve the planet and its natural diversity for generations to come. Aloha 65 is also supporting the promotion of “The Last Glaciers”, a new film about climate change, glaciers and the fate of our planet. Aloha 65 is vegan and made with only natural ingredients.
• Aloha 65 RRP £22.50
• Aloha Hot Sauce RRP £4.50
• Aloha Detonators RRP £4.50