Candy Shot Violet Essence 20 ml

Candy Shot Violet Essence 20 ml

The violet pastille is the most elegant resident of the sweet counter. That little purple tablet with its floral, powdery flavour has something refined and old-fashioned about it – rather like a perfume bottle on a dressing table. Candy Shot Violet translates that flavour into a glass, and the result is the most sophisticated shot in the entire range.

Candy shots are spirit with the flavour of sweets, and violet is a good example of why an essence is the right way to go. Pastilles dissolved in spirit give a cloudy drink and a chalky sediment. With an essence you get higher quality than dissolved sweets: a clear drink, a clean floral flavour and the same result every time. A flavour for adults who like something a little different.

Colour & Appearance

The finished drink is clear, with a lightly viscous texture from the sugar. Your thoughts still turn to purple – serve it in a glass with an edible flower or a twist of lemon zest to heighten the feeling.

Nose

The nose is distinctly floral: violet, a touch of rose and something powdery that recalls orris root. There is also a clean sugary sweetness and a faint note of vanilla, which makes the nose soft rather than soapy.

Palate

The palate is sweet and floral from the very first moment. The violet is unmistakable – that gently perfumed, powdery note that you either love at once or learn to love. The sweetness is clean and tablet-like, with a small berry fruitiness in the background, as of blackcurrants or blackberries. The mouthfeel is silky and cool, and the spirit lies discreetly beneath the bed of flowers. It is a shot that tastes more of the drawing room than the nightclub.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and powdery. The violet note stays like a scent on the roof of the mouth, with a light sweetness and a clean, almost cool close.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit and sugar. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished drink. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• A chilled shot in small, pretty glasses.
• A splash in the bottom of a glass of sparkling wine.
• With gin, lemon juice and ice in a floral sour.
• With tonic and a slice of lemon as a light long drink.
• Drizzled over vanilla ice cream with fresh blackberries.

About the Essence

Violet is the odd one out in the range – less party animal, more aperitif. It suits weddings, hen parties, spring gatherings and any occasion where you want to surprise adult guests with something they have not tasted before. A small glass is plenty; the flavour is so distinctive that it shows best in small amounts.

Violet is also a classic ingredient in the cocktail world, and the essence gives you a violet shot of your own that doubles as a cocktail ingredient. Try swapping it for the flower liqueur in your favourite recipes, or use a few drops in icing, meringues and macarons.