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A different kind of Gin-cident.

A different kind of Gin-cident.

Tis the season to be Jolly!…

And I have to admit, the Masters of Malt really knew how to make Little Chick Jolly!

So how exactly did they do that?

Turning back the clock on this story, I have used Masters of Malt a couple of times as they have a massive range of alcohol, with some of the most unusual brands and options that you can get anywhere.

I had recently bought a fantastic bottle of Rum as a gift and whilst searching for it, had come across the Masters of Malt website. I was pretty stunned to find that not only can you search by brand but can also look by the Country of origin and even narrow it down to whether you require white, dark, spiced or more.

I knew I wanted Jamaican Rum and eventually settled on a bottle of Blackwells Black Gold Rum; created by Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records and brewed and distilled at my favourite makers, Wray and Nephew.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Blackwells Jamaican Rum

I have to admit though, the variety of choice made the purchase really difficult. With 25 rums on each page and over 90 pages this means there are over 2000 rums alone. Obviously some are sold out, after all it is Christmas. However I was still left with a massive choice.

The package arrived really quickly, was well packed and secure and I know the gift went down an absolute treat.

So, it was about ten days before Christmas when I decided to have a look at the Gin offerings as another present for Little Chick. Now, there were even more pages of Gin (105) than there were Rum.

So where did I start?

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Hot Sauce Gin

I crossed off the ones I knew she had tried before and looked for something a bit festive. That was when I came across That Boutique-y Gin Company

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Chocolate Orange Gin

Not only did they have some amazing flavours such as chocolate orange gin, spit-roasted pineapple gin and cherry gin, they also had some really ‘out there’ gins including hot sauce gin, fresh rain gin and cucamelon gin.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin

To be honest, I wanted to try them all!

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Cherry Gin

Eventually thought, I was sold on two bottles with a Festive feel – ‘Gin-gle all the Way’ and ‘Yuletide Gin’ which had gold leaf inside the liquid.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Gingle all the way Gin

Perfect for Little Chick to try.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Yuletide Gin

Because I had bought two bottles of gin, I was gifted with a 3cl Tobermory gin tester for free. Another little gift to wrap up for her!

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Tobermory Gin

One of the things I really loved about the company was that you can purchase the little ‘Drinks by the Dram’ before committing to large bottles. They actually have over 2,500 samples including vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum and more.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Fresh Rain Gin

The prices of them vary on the rarity and start at £3.10.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

That Boutique-y Gin Company Cucamelon Gin

I was gobsmacked to see that the most expensive 3cl dram was a 46 year old Balvenie single malt scotch. The cost of one 3cl sample was a cool £1,588.23!

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Balvenie Single Malt

Thankfully Little Chick doesn’t like Whiskey so I didn’t have to put that one in the basket. However, I did add a cold brew coffee gin sample for her to try.

Now all I needed to do was wait for the package to be delivered and wrap them all up.

A couple of days before Christmas the parcel arrived. As there were so many things going on with work, home and the family, I was remiss in not actually opening the box and checking on the contents until Christmas Eve.

This was where I came unstuck.

Opening the parcel I was impressed to see that the bottles were encased in strong inflated pouches to protect the bottles. Sadly this time it hadn’t worked and I had one intact bottle and one with a snapped neck. The contents of the bottle were swishing about in the bottom of the pouch.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Swimming in Gin

Looking at the item, I could see that it was the Yuletide Gin that had smashed, whilst the Gin-gle all the Way was absolutely perfect. The two drams were also tip-top.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Don’t think it should be that angle?

Now, this left me with a dilemma.

It was after 6pm on Christmas Eve. Did I wrap the perfect bottle and drams and give them to Little Chick on Christmas Day, or would the Masters of Malt want both bottles back as the two bottles were in the same pouch.

I took pictures in case they were needed and sat to contemplate what to do. Looking on the website, I thought I would see if there was any information as to what happens if a bottle arrives damaged.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Ooops!

Before I had a chance to look, I saw that the site advertised a 24 hour, 365 day telephone helpline.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Would it be open at nearly 7pm on Christmas Eve?

Well, there was no harm in giving it a ring and seeing. I was thoroughly surprised to have the phone answered within 3 rings!

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

All that Glitters….

A very helpful gentleman asked how he could help and I told him of my dilemma. Of course, it was now far too late to get anything sent out, but that wasn’t really a massive problem as I could explain to Little Chick what had happened.

All I really wanted to know was if I could wrap up the one bottle. The response of the staff member was not one I expected at all.

The gin had been bought during a flash sale and had cost £17.95. The whole order came to just over £41.00 but I was more than happy with a replacement and to re-pay the postage costs if needed.

Sadly, the Yuletide Gin was now out of stock and so this was not an option. They did not want anything sending back, so I was free to wrap the bottle and drams there were intact.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Don’t think that is quite right…

This is when I was blown away by their final response.

Due to the issue he advised that they were more than happy to issue some gift vouchers to cover the purchase. He offered to credit me with £40 in vouchers for the problem.

Being the kind of person I am, I tried to refuse the full amount as I didn’t think it very fair that due to one faulty bottle, they were giving me vouchers for virtually the whole order.

My protestations fell on deaf ears however.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

What a Waste!

He was very insistent that they didn’t want anyone to miss out at Christmas and sent through four £10 vouchers within five minutes.

This meant Little Chick could order one or more bottles or a dozen drams to try.

Of course, she still had the other bottle and samples to open on Christmas Day.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Should have been perfectly safe….

I cannot praise their service enough. Not only is the site fantastic, showing bottles of alcohol that I have never seen before in my life, when something goes wrong they really go out of their way to rectify things even at the final hour.

Oh, and the vouchers didn’t last very long; Little Chick ordered a Sticky Toffee Gin and a Marshmallow Gin Liqueur within hours of opening her gifts.

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Sticky Toffee Gin

Happy girls all round!

Masters of Malt, Alcohol Specialists, Blackwell Jamaican Rum, That Boutique-y Gin Company, Chocolate Orange Gin, Cherry Gin, Yuletide Gin, Gin-gle all the Way, Cucamelon Gin, Fresh Rain Gin, Hot Sauce Gin, Spit-roasted Pineapple Gin, Tobermory Gin, Cold Brew Coffee Gin, Unicorn Dreams Marshmallow gin liquer, Sticky toffee pudding gin, Balvenie Whiskey, Specialist gin, Flavoured Gins, Juniper, Gin, Gin Lover, Gin Aficionado, Jamaican Rum, Island Records, Wray and Nephew

Marshmallow Gin Liqueur

I honestly cannot recommend The Masters of Malt any higher than I have here. They really are masters at what they do and I know it won’t be long until I am ordering more bottles from them.

Till next time,

SPSG xxx

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