'Authentic
cocktails, anytime, anywhere' – it sounds like something that
dreams are made of! Yet, this is the tag-line underpinning Tails: a
company which has tapped into the illustrious market of on-the-go
refreshment; though with a decidedly sophisticated edge. Yes, rather
like you might enjoy a flask of tea on a frosty fishing trip, Tails
allows you to 'shake your own' cocktail wherever you are – each of
the four available concoctions served from its own recyclable shaker,
(because supermarket-ready G&Ts and canned cocktails seem soooo
dated nowadays don't you think?) Subsequently, upon being invited to
discover 'Tails' at its official Bristol launch party, I couldn't
help but question what would set this particular product aside from
its aforementioned counterparts and also, whether the cocktails
themselves would live up to the appeal of their packaging.
Date
and Time: Thursday 29th November 2012, 18:00-21:00
Name
of Establishment: Byzantium
Location:
2 Portwall Lane, Bristol
Reason
for Visit: An introduction to
Tails Cocktails – Official Bristol Launch Party
Advertised
as: Premium; whereby
cocktails are pungently (at 14-16% by volume) blended from good
quality spirits and liqueurs from around the globe, natural; given
that each cocktail is free from artificial colours and flavours and
bespoke; due to the innovative design of the packaging, Tails is a
refreshing take on the culture of the take-away tipple – here,
offering an assortment of classic cocktails that can be enjoyed
'on-the-go', within the comfort of one's home or out on the town;
minus the typical queuing that seems to go hand-in-hand with hardcore
cocktail creation! As the brainchild of father and son team Peter and
Nick Wall, Tails has been launched in a number of top-end outlets
including the likes of Selfridge’s, John Lewis and Harvey Nichols;
the 500ml shaker priced from £12.50 and the 150ml 'mini' shaker at
£4.50. For us Bristolians, it's also worth being aware that Tails
will be stocked in a handful of the city's watering holes; namely
Racks Bar and Kitchen, Luna, Byzantium and the Colston Hall.
Without
further ado, let me tell you a little about Tails' range which, in
true Sex and the City fashion, was sampled (rather shamelessly) in
its entirety amongst our female foursome...for the sake of the review
of course!
Elderflower
Collins
They
said: An invigorating cocktail of apple and lemon juice, made
with elderflower liqueur and London Dry Gin
We
thought..That this was a lovely addition to the line-up;
channelling the essence of alfresco Summer-time drinking with its
crisp, refreshing notes – the gin element adding the necessary
punch and complementing the zing of the apple and the tart of lemon
juice to perfection.
To
sum up...EW gave the
Elderflower Collins a rating of 8/10 and in three words described it
as an, 'English Country Garden'.
Espresso
Martini
They
said: An indulgent cocktail of rich coffee, vanilla and
chocolate, made with coffee liqueur and Premium French vodka
We
thought...That this was a deliciously decadent concoction with
bitter-sweet appeal and a rich, creamy finish; a suitable digestif or
wicked pick-me-up given its unmistakable caffeine content - the
latter evidenced with the positive correlation between the number of
espresso martinis consumed and the extent of one's sleepless night!
That said, this was a firm favourite and without doubt, my cocktail
of choice from the collection overall.
To
sum up...BR gave the
Espresso Martini a rating of 9/10 and in three words commented that
it had a 'smooth, balanced flavour'.
Mai
Tai
They
said: An exotic cocktail of pineapple, almond and lime made with
a blend of light and dark Caribbean rums.
We
thought...that this was
lethally drinkable! A sweet yet fresh-tasting cocktail reminiscent of
sunny days and holidays abroad! The ying-yang rum content was
arguably somewhat undetectable but facilitated an enjoyable drinking
experience nevertheless.
To
sum up...LC gave the Mai
Tai a rating of 7/10 and in three words described it as 'refreshing',
'zingy' but 'tame'.
Cosmopolitan
They
said: A sophisticated cocktail of citrus and berry fruits, made
with Italian Triple Sec and premium French vodka
We
thought...That this was an ample Cosmo and yet unanimously our
least favourite given that it sported a decidedly weak disposition;
proving somewhat pale in colour and lacking the kick that the other
four concoctions had in abundance.
To
sum up...SE gave the
Cosmopolitan a rating of 6/10 and in three words described it as, 'a
little disappointing'.
 |
| To note that each beverage was finished with an appropriate garnish which obviously, you'd have to provide yourself... |
A 'Mock Tai' was also available (though I'm told that this is not on the market at present) which, made with passionfruit and a touch
of sparkle, was really rather well-received; the designated driver of our party
enjoying that the non-alcoholic option was served with as much gusto
as its boozier equivalents.
As
for the venue, Byzantuim never fails to deliver in terms of its
intriguing ambiance, eye-catching Moroccan-themed décor and
colourful yet comfortable seating – I should also mention the
canapés (which did become rather essential given the number of
cocktails consumed on a 'school night' and in rather quick
succession! which were beautifully presented, tasty and varied –
the shredded duck and horseradish tartlet proving particularly
popular amongst our party.
In
conclusion, there are a number of plus points to this progressive
concept of 'shake and serve' – we considered it a welcome change to
be promptly served at the bar rather than to wait it out whilst one's
beverage is painstakingly concocted from scratch. However, you may
well argue that the theatre of mixology will become redundant;
falling behind in the ever-present tussle between art and
convenience. On a similar front, there are a number of cocktails
which simply could not be created in this way – the ever-popular
Mojito for instance which, despite its undeniable 'best-seller'
status, would lose its appeal if you were to take away the altogether
essential effects of fresh lime and crushed mint. Nevertheless, there
are many avenues which could be explored instead – perhaps
deviating from the classics and exploring alternative themes and
eras; reflecting perhaps the originality of the packaging with a
contemporary content. Predominantly though, the brief has been met as
Tails' cocktails have been well-executed, thoughtfully blended and
really do fare rather well as *the* upmarket takeaway-tipple (plus,
albeit more expensive, far classier than gin in a tin!) And so,
suitable for quality quaffing on-the-go, as an after-dinner treat or
as a quirky Christmas gift (well, 'tis the season after all), there
really is no reason not to experience Tails for yourself!
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