Myers Jamaica Rum, 70cl

Not out of place in a James Bond movie, Cocchi Americano is an aperitif with style, substance and more than a little spice. The boldness of its orange flavour is matched note for note by the quinine bitterness that makes it a popular and distinctive aperitif. Cloves and cinnamon can be tasted through the orange and a strong woody end note leaves an enjoyable aftertaste, leaving a satisfying bitterness in the mouth.

Bringing out the big guns with a true classic of the cocktail cabinet, Monin’s Grenadine syrup barely needs an introduction. It’s brilliant red hues and subtly acidic flavour offers up both notes of warm vanilla and tart red berries in a way which can’t be replicated by any other product. Of course known for the Tequila Sunrise, Grenadine syrup is the perfect partner to your tequilas but also white rum, vodka and even the occasional gin.

Your ancestors may even have heard of this one, Mount Gay is one of the world’s oldest rums, dating back to the 18th century. Pure Barbadian spring water and sugar cane are blended to create the trademark flavour, the recipe still the same as when first created. Notes of apricot and banana burst from the bottle and there’s a subtle smokiness that comes from the Kentucky bourbon barrels the rum is aged in.

Canada’s most famous whisky, Canadian Club has a flavour which fans will know all too well and newcomers will certainly learn to love. Its aroma is sweet with warm notes of barley sugar and biting aniseed, alongside vegetal freshness. When you take the first sip it’s surprisingly gentle, a mellow flavour with dark sugar, essence of rum and winter spice coming through. It’s a generally medium-bodied whisky with many pleasing flavour notes to enjoy.

Sazerac Straight Rye Whisky takes its name from the New Orleans coffee house which was known as the home of the Sazerac cocktail. Without this exceptional whisky, the cocktail would be nowhere near as great. Aromas of vanilla, anise, pepper and clove are released but the flavour is subtler, with candied spice and sweet citrus taking over.

A single store right up in Aberdeen is where Chivas Regal is created. The art of blending has been honed to perfection, allowing the creation of a range of stunning Chival Regal whiskies enjoyed around the world. Chivas Regal 12 year is recognisable because it’s lighter than your average dram, has a distinct sweet aroma and a smoky character, distinguishable on the palate which releases elements of all the different flavours behind its blend.

One of the Czech Republic’s many alcoholic herbal tonics, Becherovka Herbal is rich with vibrant herbs and spices, creating a surprisingly fresh flavour which is wonderful before or after dinner. A natural herbal liqueur with only a little colour is not like classic medicinal tonic and is in fact known for its gingery cinnamon inspired taste. Both ginger and cinnamon are included on the ingredients list as well as anise, cloves and other traditional herbs. Serve with tonic water to enjoy a traditional Beton.

Duppy Share named the evil spirits that take their share of the rum, straight from the barrel. This blend of Jamaican and Barbados rum is great for drinking on its own or in a cheeky ginger beer and lime cocktail.

Bumbu Rum is based on a recipe dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, used by pirates and merchants as a better-tasting alternative to the grog the Royal Navy served its men. This modern interpretation takes sugarcane from eight Caribbean countries before distilling at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados. The rum is matured in former bourbon casks for up to fifteen years and blended with all natural native Caribbean spices and pure Bajan water filtered through the coral limestone rocks of the island. No artificial flavours or colours are added. On the nose, aromas of banana are prominent, with cinnamon and vanilla sweetness. To taste, the mature rum and natural spices bring a rich complexity. Sweet and smooth, a big hit of vanilla is followed by orange peel, banana and mango. Subtle fresh herbal notes and a touch of dry tobacco come through with the spices making this an excellent spiced sipper.

The delicious Doorly's rum range is produced in at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, and each one features parrots on the label, which is wonderful. While this expression may be a white rum, it was actually aged for three years! After maturation, it spirit was filtered, removing the colour from the liquid, but not the flavour profile. This makes it an excellent tool for bartenders, as it will impart the rich flavours of aged rum without impacting a drink's hue. Handy.