As our Summer Spirits Spotlight continues, we're venturing off the beaten path to explore the fascinating world of Obscure Spirits.

These often-overlooked bottles hold a treasure trove of unique flavours and intriguing histories, promising to surprise and delight your palate. From smoky complexities to vibrant, herbaceous notes, these spirits prove that sometimes, the best discoveries are found where you least expect them.

The Intriguing Trio: Three Unique Spirits to Explore

These spirits might not be on every home bar, but they offer distinct characteristics that can elevate your cocktail game and introduce you to exciting new taste experiences.

Tosolini Grappa di Moscato

• Why it's a gem: Grappa, an Italian brandy made from the leftover grape pomace of winemaking, is a true hidden gem. Tosolini's Grappa di Moscato is particularly special. Made from the aromatic Moscato grape, it delivers a clean, fiery spirit that is surprisingly fragrant and smooth, making it far more approachable than many may expect.
• Flavour Profile: Highly aromatic, floral, and fruity, with clear notes of grape, pear, and a subtle sweetness. It's a clean and vibrant spirit that is both warming and refreshing.
• Best for: A traditional digestif after a meal, a surprising addition to coffee, or as a vibrant, grape-forward component in cocktails.

Simple Cocktail: Grappa Sour

• 60ml Tosolini Grappa di Moscato
• 30ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 15ml Sugar Syrup
• 1 Egg White
• Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds to create a thick foam. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and serve.

Zuidam Jonge Genever

• Why it's a gem: As the precursor to modern gin, Genever is a historically rich and truly unique spirit. The Dutch "Zuidam Jonge Genever" is less piney than most gins. It's distilled from a blend of malt wine and grain spirit, giving it a distinctive malty, rounded flavour that is both complex and approachable.
• Flavour Profile: Malty and slightly grainy, with subtle notes of juniper, citrus, and a smooth, almost earthy sweetness. It's wonderfully different from its gin descendants.
• Best for: Classic spirit-forward cocktails where its unique flavour can shine, or simply served neat and chilled.

Simple Cockatil: Genever Collins

• 50ml Zuidam Jonge Genever
• 25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 15ml Sugar Syrup
• Soda water, to top
• Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the Genever, lemon juice, and sugar syrup. Stir to combine. Top with soda water and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Ouzo

• Why it's a gem: This iconic Greek anise-flavoured aperitif is unmistakable once you've tried it. While a staple in Greece and Cyprus, it remains a unique discovery for many others. It famously turns cloudy when mixed with water, a phenomenon known as the "ouzo effect."
• Flavour Profile: Strong, sweet, and distinctively liquorice-like due to the anise, often with hints of other botanicals like fennel, coriander, or mastic.
• Best for: As a traditional aperitif, diluted with water or ice, or in very specific cocktails where its strong anise flavour is desired.

Simple Cocktail: Ouzo & Soda with Lemon

• 50ml Ouzo
• 100-150ml Soda Water (or plain cold water, to taste)
• Garnish: A lemon wedge
• Method: Pour Ouzo into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda water (or plain water) which will cause it to turn cloudy. Squeeze in the lemon wedge and drop it into the glass. Stir gently.

The Truly Niche Gem: Pisco

For those looking to expand their cocktail repertoire with a truly unique, aromatic brandy, Pisco is a fascinating choice from South America.

• Why it's a gem: A colourless or amber brandy distilled from fermented grape juice, Pisco is the national spirit of Peru and Chile. Unlike most brandies, it's not aged in wood, which allows its pure, aromatic grape flavours to shine through without any influence from the barrel. It’s an essential part of South American cocktail culture and offers a fantastic alternative to gin or vodka.
• Flavour Profile: Highly aromatic and floral, often with notes of citrus, pear, and other ripe fruits, along with a distinct earthy spiciness. It's surprisingly smooth and complex.
• Best for: In classic cocktails where its unique flavour can be the star, or simply served chilled to appreciate its pure grape character.

Simple Cocktail: Pisco Sour

• 60ml Pisco
• 30ml Fresh Lime Juice
• 20ml Sugar Syrup
• 1 Egg White
• Dash of Angostura Bitters (for garnish)
• Method: Combine Pisco, lime juice, sugar syrup, and egg white in a shaker without ice. "Dry shake" vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with a few dashes of Angostura bitters on top of the foam.

This collection of obscure spirits offers a fascinating conclusion to our Summer Spirits Spotlight, proving that there's always something new and exciting to discover in the world of drinks!