When it comes to talking to Scottish ex-pats, invariably the topic of ‘the water’ comes up. I’m not quite sure I realised that so many people have so many feelings about it, but it’s one of those things which always crops up as a ‘most missed’ whenever anyone talks about the benefits of home. Obviously Eteaket feel the same, and they’ve teamed up with Scottish Water for their new limited edition tea – Keep the Heid.

If you’re not from Scotland, to ‘keep your Heid’ basically means to stay calm, and considering that the tea was created during the depths of lockdown, the name feels apt. A limited edition blend of Assam & Darjeeling teas complete with a  sprinkle of heather and delicate meadowsweet, it’s become my morning tea of choice, and I absolutely love the fact that at least 50% of the meadowsweet in the blend comes from a stunning tea garden in Scotland called Windy Hollow near Auchterarder in Perthshire.

The tea itself was developed to encourage drinkers to be a catalyst for a conversation, and to re-ignite the energy of Scotland by bringing us all a little closer together. After all, everyone loves a good tea break! Eteaket are also donating £1 from every 100g tube sold to the charity ‘Health In Mind’ to help them to promote positive mental health & wellbeing – so you can drink good, as well as do good!

Like all of Eteakets offerings, the teas come packaged loose in their stunning cannisters – I love seeing all the little buds and flowers, as it makes the whole experience feel so special. To make the most of the blend, I add a teaspoon of the tea into one of Eteaket’s plastic-free tea bags, and then pop it in the teapot.

Thanks to the decently high caffeine content, Keep the Heid makes for the perfect morning brew. Eteaket recommends the tea to be enjoyed in the morning and early afternoon, and, if you’re missing your tea break buddy, why not take part in their Instagram campaign by using #cupofteawithme in your next instagram sho.  When you post a picture, tag a friend you’d like to have a cup of tea with either online or in person (when possible) and add the hashtag #cuppateawithme.  Re-connect with people and have a chat over ‘Keep The Heid’!

Keep The Heid is priced from £2.50 and is available here

When it comes to entertaining, I’m decent at the big stuff. I can pop a few crowd-pleasers in the oven, and I can pick a great crowd of people, but mixing cocktails always feels like a big deal. I’m terrible at remembering all the bits and bobs needed for a good mix of drinks, so it feels like a real lifesaver to have found World of Zing’s award-winning bottles cocktails. You can choose from a whole menu of drinks, but I opted for a Rhubarb Cosmopolitan as a bit of a summery update on a delicious classic.

Delivered straight to your door, Zing’s cocktails are beautifully bottled, and slot straight into the fridge in preparation for your gathering. Much better than mixing something up yourself, World of Zing’s award-winning bartenders mix up each cocktail by hand in small batches, and use bespoke bitters, liqueurs and ageing experiences. It’s the best way to enjoy an artisanal cocktail I can think of, and it’s such a lovely treat to enjoy at the end of a busy week.

Serving couldn’t be easier – just pout 100ml into a martini glass, or Tumblr with ice, and enjoy. If I’m after something a little lighter, I’ve been mixing mine with a little club soda for a sparkling take on a classic. The use of rhubarb is really delicious, and the cocktail also contains Shisho leaf – a Japanese mint-like herb, which brings a real freshness to the drink. I can’t think of a better accompaniment to a summer evening!

World of Zing Rhubarb Cosmopolitan is priced at £12 and is available here

Obviously, over the past few months, staying healthy has pretty much been my number one concern. I can’t tell you how many bottles of hand sanitiser, soap and the like I’ve powered through, trying to lessen the risk of catching anything. A seriously easy way to stay virus-free has been enjoying a cup of Tonic High Dose every morning. Packaged in individual sachets, each drink packs high impact vitamins, minerals, and natural plant extracts into a surprisingly tasty hot drink.

Each morning, I mix a sachet into hot water and enjoy it as I get down to emails. It’s doesn’t taste too different than a hot ribena, although it’s got many more benefits. Up to 50% stronger than comparable drinks, Tonic’s Elderberry & Blackcurrant Vitamin drink contains real fruit extracts alongside high doses of vitamin C, D and Zinc, which help to contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Perfect if you’re looking to build up some defences. Although airline travel feels far off, I’ll be slipping these into my carry-on, and they combat any bugs you pick up far too easily! A few weeks ago, I thought I was getting a bit of a sore throat, so I had two cups of Tonic, and treated myself to an early night. The next morning I was right as rain.

Tonic Elderberry & Blackcurrant Vitamin Drinks are priced at £6.50 for 10 here

I’m not sure about you, but I think I’ve had my fill of lockdown. The first few weeks were a great chance to get life in order; cupboards were cleared, the garage tidied, that junk drawer finally got sorted. The next few weeks were filled with getting routines in place – long beach walks, work files all put in order, and now? Well, it’s safe to say I’m missing all my regular haunts and routines.

One of those routines? Evenings with friends spent putting the world to right. Happily though, Edinburgh’s Tonic has made enjoying their signature drinks at home a breeze thanks to their new Tonic at Home service.

You simply head over to their website (here), make your selections, and you’re good to go! If you live in Edinburgh there’s a delivery service, or you can do what I did, and just pop by and pick them up at your allocated time (contactless).

The cocktails come pre-mixed in sealed bags, complete with instructions and garnishes – just follow the instructions, and you’ll have bar-worthy drinks in a few minutes. Genius! The pouches also keep well in the freezer, so it’s worth ordering. few extra and stashing them in there for effortless summer sipping.

I popped all of my cocktails straight into the freezer the day I picked them up, and it only took a couple of hours after moving them from the freezer to the fridge for the cocktails to defrost perfectly. I have a guilty love for frozen strawberry daiquiris, so I left that pack in until it was time to serve for a perfectly frosty drink, and the result was basically summer in a glass.

There are six signature cocktails to choose from – espresso martinis, pornstar martinis, starburst martinis, strawberry daiquiris, there’s no place like tonic, and the non-alcoholic bubblegum daiquiri.

No Place like Tonic is a sweet and fruity mix of Tanqueray Gin, Basil & Ginger Syrup and mango puree. Serve with a slice of dehydrated lemon, I have a feeling this would make a good frozen drink too!

The Starburst Martini mixes Ketel One Vodka, Briottet Creme de Cassis, Apple Juice, Raspberry Syrup, and Aquafaba or egg white. Shake over ice for a foamier finish, and Tonic even have a video on their website showing how you can replicate their signature swirls at home!

The Pornstar Martini is a real classic – and it’s perfect to enjoy if you have a little Prosecco which needs using up! Shake over ice for a foamy finish and enjoy the mix of Ketel One Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, Caramel Syrup, Aquafaba or egg white.

My final choice was a luxe espresso martini, which combines Vanilla Infused Ketel One Vodka, Kahlua, Espresso and Vanilla Syrup. It comes complete with coffee beans to garnish – and honestly, I was just thrilled I got the beans to float on top!

Tonic at Home cocktails are £5 each and are available to order here.

When it comes to no-fail Father’s Day gifts, is there anything better than a great bourbon? Whether your dad drinks it neat, or as part of a cocktail, it’s a drinks cabinet must-have! Wild Turkey sent over their 101 Bourbon – a perfect gift, which will guarantee your place as favourite for another year!

Made in Lawrenceville Kentucky, Wild Turkey 101 is an expert blend of 6, 7, and 8-year-old bourbons, which mix to create a strong blend of toffee and caramel notes. Sipped straight there are notes of spice and vanilla with additional layers of toasted oak and butterscotch. Truly the brand’s stand out offering, Wild Turkey’s 101 Bourbon is a must-have for any discerning bar cart!