Tag: Buck & Birch

Edinburgh-based drinks innovators now available in prestigious local establishments

Latest prestigious listings for drinks innovators Buck & Birch

Gleneagles Town House and Johnnie Walker Experience among Edinburgh establishments impressed by wilderness foragers

Discerning drinkers at some of Edinburgh’s most prestigious establishments now have the chance to savour Buck & Birch’s uniquely curated spirits and liqueurs.

The wilderness foragers and flavour alchemists specialise in capturing the essences of the Scottish countryside, conjuring them into innovative, award-winning drinks.

Now their distinctive brand, famed for its ingredients sourced from the forests and hedgerows around their East Lothian distillery, is available in Edinburgh’s Gleneagles Town House, Virgin Hotel and the Johnnie Walker Experience amongst others.

They are the latest establishments to stock the East Lothian-based innovators’ drinks which include: Ana Birch Syrup Caramel Liqueur, a warm buttery caramel with undertones of birch syrup and toasted nuts;  Birch Wild Botanical Spirit, pure spirit married with raw sap and seasoned with wild birch flavours harvested throughout the seasons; Aelder Wild Elderberry Elixir with the flavour of dark stone fruits and hints of bitter chocolate and spice; and Amarosa Rosehip Rum Liqueur, ripe with the taste of green apples, honey and herbs, spiced vanilla and molasses.

Buck & Birch Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm says he’s delighted such prominent establishments are recognising their unique take on the countryside’s natural bounty:

“We go to enormous lengths to do justice to the ingredients we use, layering the flavours to achieve the depth and texture and balance we’re looking for, but it’s a real labour of love.

“We’re so lucky, our job is an absolute joy, and to know that more and more people are sharing our enthusiasm for Scotland’s wild harvest and our products, through these latest stockists, makes what we do even more fulfilling.”

Head Bartender at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Miran Chauhan has said: “At Johnnie Walker Princes Street, our aim is to pair our liquids with those who also share our storytelling, environmentally conscious and flavour focused ethos.

“The Buck and Birch liqueurs fit in perfectly and help drive our creativity and innovation within cocktails.”

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:

 www.buckandbirch.com

Sun, Sea and Spritz – Enjoy the Taste of a Scottish Summer with Buck & Birch

Flavour Alchemists Guide to Making the Perfect Summer Tipple

Get summer ready with Buck & Birch’s deliciously fresh, thirst-quenching drink, The Amarosa Spritz, perfect for those looking to spice up their favourite summer classic cocktails.

Sourcing ingredients just a stone’s throw from their East Lothian distillery, the alchemists have put a Scottish twist on the likes of the Italians Aperol and English Pimms, giving you the very best taste of the wilds of Scotland.

With flavour notes of juicy green apples, honey and herbs with spiced vanilla and molasses to finish, simply add 50ml of Amarosa, 25ml fresh apple juice, topped with chilled champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine and garnish with fresh summer fruits for the perfect taste of a Scottish Summer.

The Amarosa Spritz is perfect for sipping at a garden party or barbeque in the summer sun, and to really get your tastebuds tingling, enjoy alongside grilled halloumi or a mezze platter.

Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm on why this is the perfect summer tipple: “This is the first lockdown free summer we have had in three years and whilst we all want to be outside the Scottish summer weather doesn’t always allow us to get out.

“But with The Amarosa Spritz, we’ve got the taste of summer with an unmistakable Scottish twist. So, whilst we may not get outside with the unreliable Scottish weather, we have got the next best thing: having a drink from the beautiful landscape that is right on our doorstep.”

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:

www.buckandbirch.com

Conjuring Wild Spirits: Flavour alchemists release their Wild Botanical Spirit

Buck & Birch launch their second batch of BIRCH

After a successful debut in 2021, flavour innovators, Buck & Birch relaunch the highly anticipated second batch of their inaugural spirit and namesake, BIRCH – a distinctive, pioneering botanical spirit offering a wild alternative to your favourite gin or vodka.

Sourcing ingredients just a stone’s throw from their East Lothian distillery, the alchemists marry pure spirit with raw birch sap and season with wild birch flavours to create a smooth yet complex botanical spirit. Delicate notes of cucumber, rosemary and eucalyptus dance lightly on the palate whilst the sap adds a beautiful softness and mouthfeel to the finish.

Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisolm on why this is one for the ages: “10 years in the making, there has always been lively discussion at Buck & Birch about producing a spirit strength drink, but we were never in any rush – finding the right one was the most important thing.

The birch tree has always been integral to our business (it’s even in our name), so we knew we wanted to create something in its honour, and harnessing all its character was key. After the success of the first batch, we know it was truly worth the wait and we are excited to bring the new seasonal batch of BIRCH to our followers and fans’

BIRCH can be chilled in the freezer and served neat, or poured over lots of ice and topped with light tonic or soda, garnished with rosemary or a slice of citrus to accentuate the herbal notes. For cocktail enthusiasts BIRCH is great mixed in a classic martini with vermouth and either a twist of lemon or an olive, depending on belief in tradition.

For wildcrafted alchemy, make it with BIRCH.

BIRCH is anticipated to restock in May 2022

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit www.buckandbirch.com

Elixirs of love for Valentine’s Day bottled by Buck & Birch

Fall under the spell of the Scots botanists’ alluring spirits imbued with the romance of the wilds 

Resistance is futile when it comes to the romance of the wilds and foragers but Buck & Birch have it bottled. 

For lovers looking for a potion to impress an amour this Valentine’s Day, the way to their heart could be any one of the award-winning liqueurs and spirits from the alchemists who put flavour first and season with spirit and turn the glorious fruits of our land and hedgerows into nectar. 

Buck & Birch distil the very nature of the wild to produce a range of seductive tipples to drink neat, long or mixed – Aelder Elixir anyone? A gently warming wild elderberry liqueur best experienced reclining by a roaring fire. 

Kick off the evening with a refreshing signature aperitif- The Wild Rose Spritz. Just pour 50ml Amarosa over ice and top with pink champagne or fizz for the most sparkling start to any date night. 

Or a ready-mixed Thornstar Martini cocktail combining Amarosa rosehip rum liqueur, woodruff vodka, hawthorn syrup and sea buckthorn. 

Then finish off the perfect romantic dinner with Ana, a birch syrup caramel liqueur for lovers of all things sweet. 

If you just want to cut to the chase, combining food and drink in the perfect pairing, look no further than Rum & Cake, a wild spiced sipping rum infused with hogseed parkin and laced with molasses and Scottish spice, guaranteed to warm the cockles of any heart on a cold February night. 

If dinner and drinks feel too predictable, give them a date to remember with a Distillery Tasting Session, meet the makers of Buck and Birch’s enticing range of spirits and liqueurs, sample the range with delicious wild snacks and learn all about the company, methods and ingredients because smart is sexy, right?  

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, so they say – if meeting up in person is a challenge this year share the love with a gift and embrace your wild side with an Adventurer Cocktail Pack, a Wild Liqueur Taster Pack or a Wild Distillery Tasting Session voucher. 

Buck & Birch Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm says: “There’s no better time to enjoy a taste of the romance of the Scottish countryside than Valentine’s Day.

“These are some of the most intriguing flavours, distilled with real passion. What better way to celebrate this feast day than with a message of love in a bottle?” 

To view a full selection of drinks and gifts available or to book a distillery tour in The Tasting Room, visit www.buckandbirch.com  

Burns Night delight: Buck & Birch present The Forager’s Haggis

With Burns Night fast approaching wild flavour innovators Buck & Birch felt it was a great time to share possibly the most indulgent and decadent Burn’s supper recipes going – The Forager’s Haggis! 

A Burn’s Supper would traditionally consist of Haggis, neeps and tatties but head chef, master forager and flavour expert at Buck & Birch, Rupert Waites has elevated the dish with foraged ingredients, wild game and a mound of sweet, sticky, braised red cabbage made with a generous glug of Buck & Birch’s award-winning elderberry liqueur, Aleder Elixir. 

This recipe may seem a little daunting to make from scratch, but a butcher bought haggis will work just fine but don’t forget the Aleder Elixir braised cabbage – it makes all the difference!  

FOR THE HAGGIS 

  • Beef bung for stuffing 
  • 500g toasted pinhead oatmeal 
  • 200g of well cared for, organic, minced pork fat or belly. 
  • 1.4kg wild game pluck (heart, lungs liver), ½ diced, ½ minced 
  • 500g of mixed wild game trimmings 
  • 100g finely diced onion 
  • 3 cloves of  garlic chopped fine 
  • 1.5 litres game stock  

    SEASONING 
  • 6g juniper berries 
  • 6g dried coriander seed 
  • 2g ground mace 
  • 6g cracked black pepper 
  • 6g fresh thyme 
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon 
  • Salt to taste 

    METHOD 

    Toast the oatmeal and set aside. In a large pan fry the onion, garlic and dried spices until onions are translucent before adding the meat and browning for 5 minutes (some prefer to cook the meat first but this method keeps the finished haggis more juicy).  

    Add the oatmeal and ½ the stock and keep stirring, adding the remainder of the stock gradually until the oatmeal is al dente. Once done, season with lemon juice, fresh thyme and salt to taste. 

    Let the haggis cool before spooning the  mixture into the soaked, rinsed ox bung. Be aware the filling swells as it cooks, so pack quite loosely, and keep a little bung at each end. When the haggis is the size required, expel any extra air, pinch, tie with string and cut with scissors. 

    Tie the new end of the bung, and continue stuffing. Freeze any spare haggises. 

    To cook the final haggis poach gently at about 83 deg c for half an hour to 45 minutes.  

    FOR THE AELDER BRAISED CABBAGE 
  • 1 small red cabbage  
  • 1 sliced red onion 
  • 70g soft light brown sugar 
  • 70ml cider vinegar 
  • 100 ml Aelder elixir  
  • One large knob of butter 
  • Sprigs of thyme 

METHOD

Quarter the red cabbage and remove the core, then finely shred. Tip into a large pan with the red onion, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Aelder Elixir, thyme and butter and season well.

Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid, lower the heat and cook for 1 1/ 2 hrs, stirring every so often.

Remove the lid and continue cooking for 30 mins until tender and the liquid is reduced and glossy . 

Rum & Cake – Scottish botanists launch NEW wild sipping rum

Combining flavours of the wild with some of our seasonal favourites, Scottish alchemists, Buck & Birch, have launched an innovative and indulgent spirit just in time for Christmas. A wild sipping rum, Rum & Cake, will warm the cockles and tease the tastebuds, as it quickly becomes your go-to drink for the cold winter nights.

The finest dark rum is infused with the incredible Buck & Birch Hogseed Parkin, then cold-filtered to ensure a sumptuous sipping sensation, laced with molasses and Scottish spice. And what is hogseed we hear you say? A lesser known but fantastic spice that grows abundantly in Scotland and enlivens this rum with the heady scent of orange peel and warming spice on the palate.

Offering a fresh, but heady scent of orange peel with a spicier kick on the palate, the Hogseed Parkin adds a snappy taste note to make this luxurious liquor unmistakeable.

Big, bold and well-rounded, Rum & Cake is rich, buttery and full bodied in your mouth. With notes of warming ginger and clove, orange zest and a touch of  caramelised fennel, this is a spirit to sip  

Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm on the creation of this new taste sensation: “Rum in cake works a treat, but cake in rum – even better! No tricks or fancy science. We don’t rely on over complicated techniques  or any other chemical wizardry to capture this unforgettable flavour. Instead, we rely on good old-fashioned methods of infusion and patience.

“Newly baked parkin is added to rum and left to macerate, slowly imparting all of those beautiful flavours into the liquid. The finished spirit is then cold filtered for clarity whilst the all-important flavonoids are kept intact. Basically, it’s what Santa will want you to leave out for him with the mince pies this year.”

Decadently seasonal when served with ginger ale or apple juice, it is just as much at home neat and over ice with a twist of orange. Salivating yet?

Rum & Cake – go on, name a better duo …we’ll wait!

RRP: £32.99. 700ML. 39.6% ABV.

To view a full selection of drinks and gifts available or to book a distillery tour in The Tasting Room, visit www.buckandbirch.com

Wild spirits pioneers Buck & Birch celebrate lockdown sales surge

Multi award winning spirits producers and wild flavour alchemists Buck & Birch are toasting a 350% increase in online sales over the last year.

The East Lothian-based brand, which curates foraged flavours of the wild and conjures them into unique spirits, liqueurs and ready to drink cocktails has launched nine new products in the past 12 months, picked up a gold and bronze award at the IWSC  for their Amarosa rosehip rum  liqueur and Aelder elderberry liqueur respectively and seen online sales soar.

Success has also seen Buck & Birch partnering with  premium national distributor Sip & Savour which will see their products introduced to the very best on and off trade venues across the country.

Creative director and co founder Tom Chisholm says: “As a small company in the competitive world of drinks and spirits it has been vital for us to partner with a distributor who has the connections, industry knowledge and passion to help us grow our brand.

“Working with Sip & Savour is hugely exciting and we cannot wait to see where it leads us”

Jamie Walker, Managing Director of Sip & Savour said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Buck and Birch in driving their distribution in the UK. Their philosophy of working in harmony with their environment to create exceptional liquids is inspirational.

“Tom and Rupert have been challenging the status quo of drinks production for five years and we are honoured to have the opportunity to expand their footprint and spread their philosophy.”

The founders have also developed their beautiful new tasting room at the distillery, in preparation for visitors to come and discover and sample the expanded range along with wild nibbles from their pop up restaurant beginnings.

This will also double as the R & D facility for their new consultancy arm of the business which has already seen success over the last 18 months working with various large, international drinks brands.

“It’s such an exciting time for us,” said director Rupert Waites. “It has been a very difficult year for many in business and we too have had our challenges, but we’ve been very fortunate and have seen our online sales really take off and the new consultancy arm of the company proving really popular which has kept us going.

“At the Buck & Birch we are fanatical about flavour. Our mission is to create accessible and versatile drinks that are expressions of our landscape and what has been so rewarding over the past year is we have been able to share this with so many people despite the restrictions.

“If searching for a silver lining as a result of the pandemic I would say it is that people have a new found love for the outdoors and our brand is more relevant to consumers and other businesses as a consequence.”

In the interest of sustainability, the innovative duo has also used the national lock down as an opportunity to refurbish their facility based in Macmerry, using a loan from the Energy Saving Trust to make considerable alterations. This has enabled them to improve their production methods as well as insulating the factory space and installing a new heating system – all to minimise energy usage.

Buck & Birch have also recently secured SALSA accreditation for food safety and production, and have confirmed a premium national distributor, Sip & Savour. The team are now working on a range of new domestic and international projects due to be released later this year to further enhance the business.

With hospitality in lockdown, Tom and co-founder Rupert Waites launched a range of six ready-to-drink wild bottled cocktails last spring, including the Dandy Lion and the Thornstar Martini.

They’ve since followed that with an exclusive wild cocktail collaboration with The Botanist gin, their Gibson Martreeni (a birch and wild garlic twist on the classic Gibson) with Miran Chauhan; long term collaborator and now bar manager at the new Johnny Walker experience in Edinburgh, and a collection of three wildflower cocktails with Foraged by Fern, the Sussex-based foraging guide and cook.

2020 was the year that also saw Buck & Birch awarded with the Most Innovative Brand title in the Mid and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Food & Drink Awards and Best Artisan Spirit 1st runner up in the Scottish Rural Awards for Amarosa which is further testament to the hard work of the entire team.

With big plans for the future the team at Buck & Birch are gearing up for a crowdfunding round later this year, which will enable them to continue to develop their business.

For more information visit www.buckandbirch.com

Unstopper your Bank Holiday with Buck & Birch’s bottled cocktails

Delicious hand-crafted cocktails, inspired by nature, delivered direct to your door 

Wild foragers, Buck & Birch, are bringing you the epitome in thirst-quenching treats this Bank Holiday weekend. 

With the pubs back in full-swing and the sun guaranteed to (well, fingers crossed!) make an appearance, you can be sure of one thing – no free seats to be had at your local. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you remove the queues, the lukewarm pints and the sticky tables and instead enjoy one of Buck & Birch’s bottled cocktails, delivered straight to your door.

Each hand-crafted drink is individually bottled and can be ordered online, giving customers a true taste of the wilderness from the comfort (and peace) of their back gardens.

Purchased individually for £8, with 2 servings per bottle, or bought as part of signature gift pack combining all three flavours for £24, there is surely a tempting tipple to tickle your tastebuds. For those ready to completely let go of the last year, there is also the option to purchase an ‘Adventurer Pack’ containing all five cocktails (£40).

All available to buy from their website www.aelderelixir.com  

To start us off, is the incredibly popular Thornstar Martini– a new wild twist on the classic Pornstar martini. The combination of Amarosa, woodruff vodka, hawthorn syrup and sea buckthorn results in a tasty tropical treat. The ingredients may all be from Scotland, but this little number will transport you straight to a Caribbean paradise.

Next up is the The Aelder Sour, known for its rich, dark and fruity flavours. The cocktail combines their award-winning elderberry liqueur and Aelder elixir, with whisky and citrus. Smooth as silk, casually complex and with a gentle whisky glow.

Then we have The Amarosa Old Fashioned which blends aromatic rose-hip rum liqueur with dark rum and wild bitters, creating a delicious twist on this classic cocktail. With hints of juicy green apple, honey, herbs and a spiced vanilla and molasses finish, this is the perfect end of evening drink.

And who could forget the almighty Espresso Martana? This cocktail packs a powerful punch. Sweet, smooth and indulgent, Ana liqueur is combined with the finest birch vodka and coffee resulting in a delightfully sweet espresso martini laced with notes of butter caramel and toasted nuts. 

Then there’s The Atkinson, which has been cleverly crafted from all things rowan. Bitter sweet notes of almond and vanilla combine beautifully with a touch of red currant sharpness for a cocktail perfect as a dessert substitute. Great served with an afternoon tea – the drinkable equivalent to a lovely slice of Battenberg.

Last but certainly not least, we have The Dandy Lion. Perhaps the most fitting for Bank Holiday with its beautifully light and refreshing taste. Dandelion wine, birch caramel vodka, and sweet dandelion jam are combined with apple juice and a touch of citrus for the perfect summer sipper – a drop of golden sunshine in a glass.

To view and purchase the full selection of their bottled cocktails, visit www.aelderelixir.com

Buck & Birch teams up with East Lothian Flower Farm to offer pretty as a petal Mother’s Day picks

Mother’s Day 2021 will be like our new bottled cocktails … limited edition: I.E. – hopefully the last one where we can’t give our mum a big hug, a kiss on the cheek and then take her out for a fancy afternoon tea that sees too much champagne and never enough sandwiches!

But just because we are unable do that this year, doesn’t mean we can’t find other ways to shower her with the love she has always shown us. 

Capturing the quintessential powder posy smell that reminds us of the warmth of home, Buck & Birch has teamed up with local floral front-runners East Lothian Flower Farm, to create the must-have Mother’s Day bundle for those in Edinburgh*. 

The Say it With Flowers kit (£20, plus £4.95 local delivery) will include a choice of one of mum’s favourite Buck & Birch wildflower inspired cocktails, including Aelder Sour, Dandy Lion, Amarosa Old Fashioned, Thornstar Martini, Espresso Martana or the Atkinson, alongside a mixed pot of flowers bursting with Ranunculus (Amandine) and Anemone.

Each gift set will have pre-sprouted flowers growing in a pot and a leaflet with details on how to care for them. 

Debbie Scott from East Lothian Flower Farm explains why this is the perfect natural choice to spoil mum with: “Ranunculus and Anemone are spring flowering and both absolutely gorgeous!

“They are corm grown and if looked after, will flower again the following year; they may look really delicate but are one of the best cut flowers. We will ensure that each pot has 3 or 4 plants, allowing mum to have a beautiful mix of colours for spring and summer garden blooms.”

For those a little further out, or unable to collect, Buck & Birch is also offering a collaborative trio of Limited-Edition Floral Cocktails (£29, plus £4.95 nationwide delivery) that will be the perfect accompaniment to any home-made afternoon tea.

Created in conjunction with @foragedbyfern, the set consists of The Flowering Currant Cosmo, The Blossom Sour and a Burdock Coffee Martini – all light and refreshing with a lingering floral flavour. 

So, however you say, ‘I love you, Mum’, make sure you say it with Buck & Birch! 

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:

www.aelderelixir.com

Random Acts of Nature: Buck & Birch donates hundreds of bottles of Elderberry Elixir to those in need this week

Recipients include care homes and Scottish charity, FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland 

Supporting the vulnerable, endorsing natural ingredients and championing the Scottish community, Buck & Birch launched the Wild Elderberry Elixir to boost immunity amidst the global pandemic.  

Now, to mark Random Acts of Kindness Week (14th – 20th February), Buck & Birch will be teaming up with FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland and also working with local care homes, charities and more, to donate hundreds of bottles of the Elixir, ensuring it reaches those who will benefit most from its sustainably harvested herbs and spices. 

FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland, which is run by the charity Move On, will receive 500 bottles of the Elixir, worth £7,500, to aid in supplying members of the community who are particularly susceptible at this time.  

On top of that, Buck & Birch will continue its permanent initiative to offer a little health help to those in need, with each bottle of Wild Elderberry Elixir sold from any Buck & Birch retailer, seeing an additional one donated to frontline workers; following on from those already provided to care homes and charities for the elderly, last year.  

Tom Chisholm, director of Buck & Birch, explains they are just a Scottish business who want to give something back: “For millennia elderberries have been used to minimise the risk of catching cold and flu as well as alleviating the symptoms.

“So, in response to the COVID outbreak we teamed up with Monica Wilde of Napiers the Herbalists to make our Elderberry Elixir, suitable for the whole family and the perfect, tasty way of getting your daily dose of this beneficial fruit. 

“The whole point of us launching the Elixir was to help boost physical health and wellbeing, so surely the point is that it reaches those that are in need of it most?” 

Jim Burns, Director of Operations of Move On explains why donations such as these are so important: “Here at FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland we take surplus product from across the food and drink industry and redistribute it to organisations that support the most vulnerable, including children, the homeless, refugees and elderly people.

“When we receive donations from the likes of Buck & Birch, it means we can provide more varied deliveries to our charity partners, who can then in turn offer a wider range of food and drink to the people they support.

“This is exceptionally important when we are in the midst of a global lockdown, when life for many, is already harder than before.” 

Buck & Birch Wild Elderberry Elixir is also available to purchase (£14.99): https://www.aelderelixir.com/aelder-shop/elderberry-elixir

Wild Elderberry Elixir – family food supplement — Aelder ElixirA concentrated elderberry, bramble and rosehip syrup providing a good source of Vitamin C, enhanced with sustainably harvested herbs and spices. Each 5 ml serving contains 100mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Family food supplement www.aelderelixir.com