RAISE A GLASS

Easter is here. It’s one of my favourite times of year and to mark it I’m going to kick off with a couple of moreish spirits.

First, is the new, aptlynamed seasonal spirit from Aldi: Infusionist Hot Cross Bun Gin Liqueur (£8.99).

Aldi tells me it can be sipped neat, over ice or mixed with ginger ale and a slice of fresh orange. Or even create a Hot Cross Bun espresso martini.

I went for the first option, and tried it on its own with a crackling glass of ice.

I expected it to be gloopy and cloying, but it’s not. There’s the familiar aroma of the sweet, spicy, vanilla topping of a hot cross bun; and the flavour is on the right, not sickly, side of caramel, raisins, tangerine and spice.

A wonderful spirit I want to share with you is Honey Rum from the Salford Rum Company.

I first tasted their Salford Spiced Rum (RRP £38, online at salfordrum.com, Amazon, and Master of Malt) a couple of years ago, and was won over by its flavours of vanilla, spiced fruits and ginger.

Now its sister – Honey Rum (£30) – has become part of the company’s core range, after launching last year as a limited edition. It continually sold out in minutes online every time a batch was launched.

The honey rum oozes aromas of honeycomb, butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla. It is smooth and warming (perfect if you’re shaking off a cold, like me).

I love the producer’s bottles; illustrated with detailed industrial maps of the Salford docks in its early 1900s heyday. Those bottles are keepers.

And so, to a couple of Easter wine ideas.

A refreshing and delicious Italian white can be found in Ascheri Gavi Di Gavi DOCG (£13, Tesco). Gavi di Gavi wines are made from the cortese grape which grows on hillsides in Piemont. It has crisp notes of citrus – lemon and grapefruit – and flavours that linger in this quality style.

Try it with seafood, pork or chicken.

Now a red, in the guise of Extra Special Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône Villages (£6, down from £8, at Asda until April 17). It’s a great price for a grenache-led blend with its plum and cherry notes and a breeze of herbs as if growing on the French hillsides. Pour with lamb and enjoy.

Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.