Today I’m excited to share with you a new Scottish-made spirit, from Tayport Distillery – Never.25 eau de vie which uses the best of Scottish produce to create a delicious fruit-infused spirit.
Eau de vie is a clear spirit, but unlike gin, does not contain juniper. Never.25 contains only the base spirit made from grain, and fresh fruit infusions. If you are interested in the process of making eau de vie, and how it differs from the gin or whisky making processes, see this helpful explanation!
There’s no additional sweeteners or flavourings, which means that you can enjoy with a good tonic for a refreshing drink, or include it in a cocktail – of which Never.25 have many ideas to help you along the way!
I have to confess, my first taste of Never.25 was at the last North Hop festival in Aberdeen earlier on this year. I chatted to distiller Kecia, who has a great story about how Never.25 came about!
In Kecia’s own words:
In 1989, I left my home in the U.S. to be with my now husband, Duncan. At the time, I was not sure if Duncan and I would marry and leaving meant I would have to quit my job, sell my few possessions, and take a gamble. A bit scary at 24 years old! A few things happened and then I just thought, “Why not? You only live once!”. I bought a plane ticket, said goodbye to friends and family but somehow knew I probably would not be coming back.
After saying goodbye to everyone in the airport, I was very upset on the plane and an African American lady sat down next to me and was so kind. She listened to me on the flight from Columbus to Newark. She asked me where I was going, what were my plans and what my address was going to be in U.K., “I’m going to send you something”. I thought it was kind but probably nothing would happen. Anyway about 3 weeks after I arrived, a package was delivered to Duncan’s home in Wales with a note “Wishing you happiness”, a small glass bluebird ornament was enclosed. I have kept that ornament on my kitchen window ledge for 28 years. I still don’t know that lady’s name or where she was from but I think about her often.
The Bluebird has special significance to the Never.25 story and was the name I wanted for the business but I was advised not to use Bluebird due to trademark and legal considerations. I was very upset by this, so much so, I completely forgot my 25th wedding anniversary trying to think of a new name. When I realised this, I could not believe Duncan and I had been married 25 years . . . It’s Never 25. . . how time has flown.
Never.25 Eau de vie has three varieties, apple, raspberry and strawberry, although I was lucky enough to recieve a limited edition blueberry variety along with the raspberry and blueberry – a perfect balance of berries for summer cocktails, although my tasters so far have been with different tonics (Cushiedoos and Lamb & Watt)
I also received a sample of the Raspberry variety for my friend Ruth who makes the delicious Caithness Chocolate.
She absolutely knocked it out of the park with a batch of these white chocolates, flavoured with the raspberry sample. They are so tasty, having a subtle raspberry aftertaste which goes beautifully with white chocolate.
With pretty flecks of with colours of red and blue, these chocolates are works of art and almost too good to eat!
You can find Never.25 on their website, facebook and instagram, as well as various events around Scotland. Give them a try this summer!
Thanks to Tayport Distillery for supplying both Caithness Chocolate and I with samples of Never.25 for the purposes of this post.
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