Delicious Dark Chocolate Gin Truffles

We know you will want to treat your fabulous Mum to her favourite gin at Hogarths this Mothers Day (This Sunday 31st March). Are you wondering what you can present to your Mum as a gift, one she’ll truly love? Well here at Hogarths we have come up with a scrumptious, gin truffles recipe to really make your mums mouth water. 

Our truffle recipe allows you to add your favourite gin to create Mums favourite things in life; chocolate and gin. What more could be perfect? These truffles are easy to make and gorgeous to taste.

What You Will Need

340ml whipping cream, whipped

50 ml of your favourite gin. For extra chocolate flavour use ELY Gin with Dark Chocolate

225g high quality dark chocolate

170g high quality dark chocolate, shaved or very finely chopped

How We Made Them

  1. Melt the dark chocolate 
  2. In the bowl of melted chocolate, slowly pour the whipped cream, and gently fold to incorporate the chocolate until the mixture is all combined.
  3. Add the 50 ml ELY Gin to the mixture
  4. Pour yourself a huge Gin and Tonic (you deserve it)
  5. Put the shaved chocolate in a shallow tray to get ready for dredging. (alternatively use cocoa powder.)
  6. Drop one tablespoon of the whipped cream-chocolate mixture into the shaved chocolate and coat in the chocolate shavings. 
  7. Once it is lightly coated, gently roll between your hands to shape the truffle into a ball. Set aside and repeat until all of the truffles have been rolled.
  8. Refrigerate the chocolate truffles for a minimum of four to six hours before serving. The truffles can also be stored and served direct from the freezer for a surprising and decadent treat.

We advise as the truffles are refrigerating to grab a bottle of your favourite gin, its perfect serve tonic and drink yourself merry whilst waiting for your wonderful truffles to cool. 

So no matter what plans you have this weekend, get yourself into the kitchen and create some of these delicious dark chocolate truffles and gift them to your Mum. Then head to your favourite gin palace and enjoy a well deserved Hogarths perfect serve (or 2)

Fabulous Flagingo

Days are getting brighter, temperatures are rising and with the help of the zealous minds of Zymurgorium there is now a drink that will definitely liven up those warm spring evenings and put you right in the heart of your favourite beach destination. 

Say ALOHA to their newest and most fabulous creation of 2019…FLAGINGO GIN.

Inspired by the gorgeous rose birds that carry its name, this exotic and funky gin will definitely be strutting its stuff across our gin palaces. Infused with the flavours of the Caribbean such as Mango, Pineapple and Passionfruit, this tutti frutti pink gin packs a pretty impressive punch at 38% ABV and we believe will be a hit for our drinks terraces and the perfect tipple for any afternoon you want to brighten.  

The History of the Brand

Zymurgorium have tantalised our taste buds since their appearance in 2013. Mastered by the genius mind of Aaron Darke. The ‘Big Cheese’ at this artisan distillery in the heart of Manchester began his journey by brewing for his university friends where he studied microbiology. He combined his love of botanics and science and embarked on his adventures with Darke Crafts in 2012 – set up in his mother’s shed. Soon business was booming and the before long the brand ‘Zymurgorium’ as we know it was born. 

But where does the name come from? 

With such vibrant and zany creations, it is no wonder that Darke had to come up with a name that epitomised everything that the brand stood for. Amalgamated from the words “Zymurgy” (the study of brewing) and “Emporium”being a store that sells a mass array of goods and trinkets thus the name was brand was born and has continued to wow ever since. 

Since 2013, Aaron and the brand have released hit after hit, with the likes of their Parma Violet gin creating a new gin loving phenomenon across Britain. And don’t forget, Hogarths created the Parma Violet Perfect Serve. It would be hard to find any gin loving individual or gin virgin that has not heard of any of the Zymurgorium creations. So with the ever rising popularity of fabulous gin based liqueurs, we have no doubt here at Hogarths that FLAGINGO will be flying off the shelves! 

Priced at £16.50 for a 50cl bottle from http://zymurgorium.com/product/flagingo-pink-gin/

At Hogarths our recommend perfect serve for this Caribbean inspired creation is:

Plenty of ice, Schweppes Tonic or Schweppes Lemonade (depending how much of a sweet tooth you have) and garnished with Pineapple and Blueberries. 

So if FLAGINGO gin takes your fancy – or if you’re new to gin and want to try something that has a little more flavour than your average G&T – come along to Hogarths and get FLAGINGOing this spring! 

It’s Flippin’ Pancake Day

For many of us, January seemed liked the longest month on record, February went in a flash and now spring is soon on our doorsteps. Supermarket aisles have filled with Easter eggs, bunnies and chicks are taking over shelves and the war over finding the glorified “white crème egg” has begun. But before we divulge into a weekend of scoffing our faces with more chocolate than we can handle, there is an important day in our calendar. 

It’s that time where the nation grabs their flour, eggs and frying pans and heads into the kitchen racking up a delicious heap of our favourite spring staple – The Pancake.

We have hunted down the best gin flavours to add to your pancakes:

Boozy Berries – Soak your favourite berries in your favourite gin for a good 24 hours and spread them across your pancake.


Gin Jam – Always one of our “go to’s” Gin Jam uses the left over raspberries which form Pinkster Gin and make a delicious jam, easy to spread over your pancake.

Marks & Spencer Lemon Gin & Tonic Sauce – New to the shelves this year M&S have brought out a classic partner for any pancake lover. “A tart and tangy sauce full of classic, punchy flavour and made with 4% gin”

We have also found a recipe to make your Pancake Day as perfect as possible, not only will it delight your tastebuds it will even keep your waistline at bay. As you know, we love sharing recipes based on the Slimming World lifestyle plan and our Pancake recipe is no different. Using up your Healthy Extra B, this recipe is fun, filling and absolutely flippin’ tasty. 

What you need:

40g Porridge Oats (blitzed or unblitzed)

50ml Skimmed Milk 

1 medium egg

(Makes approx 8 mini pancakes)

Method:

  1. If you would like a smooth set of pancakes, blitz your oats in a food processor until a powdery mixture is created. 
  2. Measure out 50 ml of milk and combine with your oats and skimmed milk – this should produce a thick mixture
  3. Heat up frylight in a frying pan and gently pour rounds of the mixture into your frying pan. 
  4. When the mixture looks to be moveable (this should be after 1.5 minutes), flip the pancakes and cook the other side. 
  5. Stack up and serve with berries, Greek yogurt or for an indulgent treat – Nutella/peanut butter. 

Have your frying pans at the ready because on the 5thMarch 2019 – we hope you have an absolutely flippin fantastic day. 

The Championship Continues

With epic scores, dramatic trys and heartfelt echoes of national anthems, this Six Nations Championship has already had a mind-blowing beginning. England’s incredible defeat of both Ireland and France put them at the top of the championship leader board with 10 points but with a fixture against the Welsh wonders this Sunday, England will have to do whatever they can to stop the dragons from taking their spot at the top.

Dominated by the British, with England, Wales and Scotland taking the top 3 spots in the table – the remaining nations will have to pull all their wits together if they wish to put a halt into any of the mighty trio from clenching the title this year. No matter what you are doing this weekend, get yourselves to Hogarth’s, grab your favourite G&T and sit back for what promises to be a hair-raising weekend of rugby.

The matches this weekend are as follows where you can come and view at any of our Hogarths Gin Palace’s across the UK

Scotland v France at The Stade de France, Paris at 14:15 (Sat 23)

Wales vs England at Principality Stadium, Cardiff at 16:45. (Sat 23)

Italy vs Ireland at Stadio Olimpico, Rome.  (Sun 24)

Facing Wales on their home soil promises to be challenging for the England squad. Surrounded by red shirts, painted dragon faces and roaring of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Owen Farrell and his team must pull all their strength and power together if they wish to keep a firm grip of top of the championship leader board. Only 2 points separates the two nations so this Sunday, put down everything, cancel your plans and head to Hogarths because if you are a rugby fan or not – this is a game you certainly do not want to miss.  

So with the Guinness flowing, G&Ts pouring and our flat screen TVs on full volume. Get yourselves to Hogarths for a Six Nation’s weekend to remember! 

Why Hogarths Makes The Perfect Date

As the 14thFebruary is fast approaching, couples everywhere are wondering where to spend the world’s most romantic day. Here at Hogarths, we want to take the stress out of planning the perfect date, and tell you that, if you want somewhere wonderful to spend with your “Galentines” to your “the one” then…..Hogarths is the place to be. 

With Victorian inspired interior, areas of intimate seating and magnificent vibes throughout – our Victorian Gin palace is a perfect amalgamation between a traditional town centre pub and a modern-day cocktail bar. So whether you celebrating single-hood with your friends, are out on your very first date, celebrating an anniversary or planning on popping that very important question – we have a selection of sensual, scrumptious gins to really put the va va voom into your Valentine’s day. 

Fall in love with our glorious Valentines selection

  1. 5thFire Red Fruits 

This sweet and almost silky sprit has been gently infused with a range of soft red fruits (including blackberry, blueberry, currant and strawberry). This is a fantastically experimental gin and we recommend that you perfectly pair this gin with Fever-Tree Tonic. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of Strawberry and piece of dark chocolate.

  • Whitley Neil Raspberry 

This seductively scrumptious gin is perfectly balanced with a delicate, fruity taste and a lasting citrus, raspberry flavour. Luscious Scottish fruits are combined with juniper notes resulting in a delicate sweetness which rounds this deliciously Raspberry Gin. This incredibly versatile Gin can be deliciously paired with tonic but we highly suggest Schweppes Lemonade and a handful of raspberry to create a perfect valentines tipple. 

  • Sharish Blue Magic 

From the Sharish range, this A bright blue Portuguese gin from extracts of a flower known as blue pea, and when you mix the gin with tonic, something magical happens! But we don’t want to give away the surprise so come in and find out for yourself. With botanicals including ginger, cinnamon, lemon peel and soft red fruits – this is a gin that promises to spice up your Valentines.

  • Puerto de Indias Strawberry 

This vibrant Valentines gin comes from the heart of Spain. It combines notes of juniper and strawberry, to create a fantastic fruit-forward Spanish gin – evidently made by accident after trying to create a strawberry liqueur. This is one mistake that we advise you make again and again as the finish is very light and sweet – perfect first date drink. 

  • Zymugorium Turkish Delight 

One of Britain’s favourite past times is the good old fashioned Turkish Delight. Sweet and fragrant it was the perfect choice for a special edition Gin based Liqueur. This Gin expertly blends the flavour of Damascus Rose and rich cocoa from Africa. The two tastes blend perfectly to create a unique gin that is daring for any Valentines date. 

So with our extensive range of amazing drinks, don’t just fall in love with your date this Valentines – fall in love with Gin and fall in love with Hogarths. 

Top 4 Winter Gins

It’s hard not to have heard that there is a cold snap on its way, some of us have already experienced snow. So with the need for thicker jumpers here at Hogarths we have everything to keep you warm as temperatures plummet and a range of gins that will really put a wow in your winter.

So, to help you mark the welcoming of the cold we have created a list of top 4 winter gins you definitely need to get your gloved hands on:

  1. Malfy Blood Orange Gin.

With the heart of Italy in its bottle, this glorious gin offers a smooth, crisp taste of the mediterranean – just what is needed when the nights are cold and dark. Combining the botanicals of juniper, orange and blood orange this fruity and tangy gin is one for all you orange lovers out there.

Hogarths Perfect Serve: Mediterranean Fever-Tree tonic and garnish of orange wheel.

2. Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle.

This citrus based gin is something Mr. Kipling himself would adore! Sipsmith’s Lemon Drizzle Gin takes the classic London Dry and revamps it to the extreme. With layers of sweet, sun-dried lemon peels, lemon verbena results in an aromatic sweetness that keeps you begging for more.

Hogarths Perfect Serve: Fever-Tree tonic water and garnish of lemon wedge.

3. Whitley Neill Quince Gin.

Quince is a classic ingredient of the Christmas pud, hence it screams winter flavours. Whitley Neill’s Quince based gin is the perfect winter warmer. The aromas of the stone fruit hits the palate from the onset, combining the distinctive flavour of quince and infused with sweetness of apricots and peaches, this blend of perfect Persian ingredients is what gives this gin its alluring taste.

Hogarths Perfect Serve: Fever-Tree tonic water and garnish of lemon wheel.

4. Marula Pomegranate.

Last but by all means, not least, Marula is known as “forbidden fruit of the Elephant Tree” Marula gin is inspired by the heart of Africa. Bursting with pomegranate and berries with a hint of citrus and lavender, this glorious gin leaves its drinker with a beautifully long and sweet finish of orange blossom. With a sultry, soft and beautiful pink appearance, this gin is a treat for the eyes – not just the tastebuds.

Hogarths Perfect Serve: Schweppes 1783 tonic water and garnish of raspberries.

So don your wooliest hat, scarf and glove set and head to Hogarths for warmth this coming week.