Tayer RTD Xmas Essentials Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Emily B
The Tayer and Elementary seasonal selection of classic ready to drink cocktails is a gift and treat for anyone deserving of opulence and luxury this Christmas. Delivered in a plain but sophisticated presentation box the kit starts as it means to go on, for every element of this set is polished; there are no gimmicks here. While there are numerous options for ready to drink blended drinks and cocktails on the market and high street, it’s clear from tasting these that they are from the heart and not for the sales. Balanced and well blended, these festive cocktails taste like they’re served fresh by the bartender, not from a can on a supermarket shelf. If you’re looking for a gift for an over-18 with a penchant for cocktails then read on.
As a negroni disciple the mince pie negroni was my first choice. We regularly make these at home and enjoy fine-tuning our recipes using different vermouths and gins. This variation did not disappoint. It’s unmistakably a negroni; Tayer and Elementary have reduced the bitterness of the typical negroni without adding too much sweetness. The festive spices emerge smoothly on the aftertaste with a delicious aroma of pastry. As per the serving recommendation I served over ice but I found that this resulted in a thinner flavour and sensation on the tongue and preferred to drink this without ice but from the fridge.
The second three-ingredient classic cocktail is the Christmas pudding sour. Unsurprisingly we’re also a fan of a sour in our house although have yet to perfect it at home. Most will have heard of or tried a whisky or Amaretto sour but this is built on Havana Club 7 rum. It smells just like a sour but with a careful sweetness and spiced syrup taste. My husband guessed that it was Christmas pudding immediately although we agreed that the punchy sour overwhelms the spice in the middle. The perfection is in each opening taste.
Finally, the gingerbread old fashioned was the one I was least sure about. My husband’s drink of choice has long been whisky (never with ice), and often an old fashioned at a cocktail bar, but I’ve never got along with neat whisky and subsequently avoid it in cocktails. I was really intrigued having tasted the previous two to see whether Tayer and Elementary could change this. Although it’s designed as gingerbread and contains gingerbread liqueur, this smells deliciously of banana and citrus fruit. It’s sweet without being at all sickly which offsets the smoke of the bourbon. I’m thrilled to report that I can quite happily sit and sip this on a cold winter’s evening.
Tayer and Elementary, little did I realise before I received this, is an independent cocktail bar on Old Street in London and exactly the type of venue that we would have loved to frequent back in the days of cocktails in the Old Street and Shoreditch area. With 5+ stars on Difford’s Guide the bar has created a selection of their creations to be enjoyed at home which can be purchased from their online shop. I may just need to purchase the palo santo gimlet at the very least. This festive selection is priced at £35 for 3 100ml bottles. This equates to 6 servings and therefore only £5.89 per cocktail.
Tayer and Elementary have bottled going ‘Out out’ on Old Street from the comfort of your sofa for those who can’t be there in person.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £35
For more information or to purchase direct, visit tayer-elementary.com