Campari Negroni Week

This Week Franks Gentlemens Essentials and Campari have teamed up to give […]

This Week Franks Gentlemens Essentials and Campari have teamed up to give you a super deal in relation to the iconic Negroni cocktail. When you purchase your campari, Cinzano vermouth and Bulldog gin you will be given 2 glasses and 1  tote bag on the house.

The noble beginnings of a iconic cocktail

The most widely reported version of this drink’s origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919. 

Legend tells that Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend, bartender Forsco Scarselli, to strengthen his favourite cocktail – the Americano – by replacing the soda water with gin. Scarselli added an orange garnish, rather than the lemon you’d usually get with an Americano, and the drink took off. Before long, everyone was coming into the bar for a ‘Negroni.’

Camillo Negroni himself was an interesting figure. He travelled around America while in his twenties and lived the life of a cowboy for a period. He also lived in London, which, we like to think with its prevalent gin scene, led to him (perhaps inadvertently) creating one of the most iconic cocktails of all time.

So hurry up and buy your ingredients to raise a glass to Franks Negroni week! pop by our shop in Franks The Plaza, Sliema  or visit our website and buy online. We also offer free delivery all over Malta & Gozo with purchases over 50 Euros.

Launch of Ron Esclavo Rum

Rum Malta A simple search of buy rum Malta on google will […]

Rum Malta

A simple search of buy rum Malta on google will send you to our online shop and of course there is a reason! This month, Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials launched a premium brand of Rum named Ron Esclavo. Ron Escalvo is a boutique brand distilled in the Dominican Republic and found in exclusive boutiques in Malta.

About Ron Esclavo and it’s fantastic Rums

During the 16th to 19th century the slave trade was a flourishing business that made a lot European entrepreneurs very wealthy. It had all started when European traders would sell weapons to 1 African king to use against his enemy and sell off his conquered people. Eventually the Europeans ended up conquering most of Africa and shipping hundreds of thousand to plantations across the other side of the ocean.

The Caribbean provide to be fertile ground for sugar to grow on, of course with cheap labour it soon became the leading producer of sugar cane in the world.

The Rum brands name pays homage to the slaves that were imported from Africa to work on these plantations to grow sugar cane that would supply the West is ever growing sweet tooth. Within the Ron Esclavo series you’ll discover a rum for every occasion. Whether you’re looking for a pleasant drink for beginners or cask strength for the experienced rum connoisseur, you’ll find it here.

Our experience of these Rums.

When we received these fine spirits in Malta the Franks GE team set out to try them as objectively as possible, after all choosing the right product for our shop is not a issue we take lightly.

We started off with the Gran reserva which had a sweet aroma of brown sugar and fruit. After that we progressed onto the 12 year old versions, these evidently were in a different league. What left a lasting impression is the 12 year old rum aged in Islay whisky barrels. This was a unique rum as it had the sweetness of the distillate with notes of smoke and iodine.

The last beauty we tried was the XO and what a beauty she was. Complex, fruity with a long length, no wonder people go mad when they try them.

A history of rum and the navy.

During the 18th century travelling from one country to next next would take a while, let alone crossing an entire ocean. In fact when sailors would cross the Atlantic they would spend months on end waiting till they arrive on shore. Of course this would lead to a sickness called Scurvy which is when the body doesn’t get enough vitamin c.

It turns out that rums are ideal as they contain a lot of sugar that helps prevent the loss of your teeth and so most sailor were given portions of this sea fairing drink to help alleviate the possible effects.

The decor of the box and labels.

When speaking to one of the directors of these rum we found out that the idea behind the label was for it to appear more appealing to women , in fact its clean design and floral labels are a definite eye catcher. So remember, if you are looking for the perfect gift for this summer a Ron Esclavo rum will not be wasted.

Where to find these Rums?

Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials is proud to add this boutique producer to its ever growing list of fine wines & spirits. Pop by our shop in level 2 , the Plaza shopping centre, Sliema, Malta to try them before you buy or purchase them via our online shop. Free delivery applies for purchases over 50 euro all over Malta & Gozo.

New Kilchoman limited Single Malt Whisky launched!

Franks Launches new Single Malt to add to its collection Kilchoman, Islay’s […]

Franks Launches new Single Malt to add to its collection

Kilchoman, Islay’s smallest and only family owned single malt whisky distillery has just launched a new limited edition Single malt. This years limited release whisky is aged in the finest Pedro Ximenez casks, giving it a very complex aroma of flavours.

Of course being a whisky from Islay, smoky peat is part of its DNA, and this further complimented by the sweet influence of the barrel it is aged in.

A word from Anthony Wills- founder of Kilchoman distillery.

“Pedro Ximénez casks aren’t always the easiest to work with. That was why we decided on a combination of full maturation and finishing, to balance the distinct PX influence with that of our spirit. I’m delighted with the result; big and bold but with a delightful poise and balance of flavour,”

What makes this Whisky so special?

Perhaps it is the limited amount of stock we received, or its simply the great taste it has to offer. PX aged whiskies are beautiful as they create a tug of war within your palate. On one hand they create a dance of sweet dried fruit reminiscent of mince pies and other hand they pull in the other direction with there intense smoky aroma.

By its very nature of being a boutique distillery, Kilchoman single malt whisky is naturally placed to focus on quality as opposed to quantity.

About the Distillery and the Single Malt Whisky.

Founded in 2005 kilchoman was the first distillery to set up shop in Islay for over a 100 years. Life wast easy in the beginning, but as they say where there is a Will they is a way. Anthony Wills (no pun intended), his wife and his family of 3 boys set to work in creating the Single Malt Whisky that would rule them all.

Since then they have launched a number of expressions in a variety of barrels ranging from bourbon barrels to Sauternes casks. In our opinion there most interesting Single Malt Whisky is what they call there 100% Islay.

The 100% Islay is a range of whiskies whose barley is all grown locally giving the whisky a sense of terroir, which is very rare in a world dominated by large multinational corporations who source barley depending on the price as opposed to the provenance.

A single malt whisky with a local touch…

Perhaps what was most memorable for us at Franks was when our own Andrew Abela, (5th generation director of Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials) actually spent a week working in the distillery and came up with the idea of creating a single malt whisky aged in a local wine barrel.

This went on to win “worlds best single malt whisky” in its category by Jim Murray’s whisky bible as well as being sent all around the world from America to Singapore.

Today Franks is proud to stock a large selection of these fine drams , ranging from the entry level whiskies such as the Machir bay to the rarest single malts the brand has to offer.

So remember if you are looking to buy an exclusive whisky in Malta you can pop by our shop in Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials, Level 2, the Plaza shopping centre, Sliema or buy it online via our website. Remember if you spend 50 euro your delivery is free.

Kilchoman is a renowned single malt scotch known for its moderate smoky taste and innovative approach to whisky production. Since Franks is the islands leading wine, spirits and cigar shop we are proud to stock such an important brand.

The relatively small size of their operation ensures that they pay the utmost attention to each and every cask within their warehouses. This specific bottle has notes of raisins, pudding complemented with a touch of peat smoke and a final layer of citrus. Being extremely rare we only managed to source 12 bottles for all of Malta & Gozo so buy them whilst the last!

How to learn of new single malt whisky launches in Malta & Gozo…

Like us on facebook to keep in touch with all our new launches as we have a lot more coming our way in the coming months ranging from mouthwatering Japanese single malts to some fine Irish whiskeys.

Looking to Buy Gin? Franks launches Wessex Gins

This month Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials launched a premium brand of 8 English […]

This month Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials launched a premium brand of 8 English gins called Wessex Gins. These are top rated spirits that have won numerous gold medals in the prestigious San Francisco Spirits awards 2020. The vast range of flavours is ideal for the novice to experiment with new styles .

About the distillery

Wessex gins is a family owned distillery in the heart of Wessex that produce a variety of different flavours and style of spirits, these range from Wessex spiced gin made with cardamon and coriander, Rhubarb & Ginger with a dash of cinnamon,  sloe berry ideal to mix with local soft drinks like Kinnie, Sicilian lemon & ginger, Gooseberry & elder-flower as well as their own original recipes such as Wessex Alfred the great ( ideal for a negroni) , Wessex Wyvern & the Wessex Saxon gin made with rose petals, hibiscus and lavender.

Each of these mouth-watering and refreshing spirits comes in a beautiful coloured glass bottle and is ideal for gifting due to their great flavour and also because they are only found in exclusive outlets in Malta & Gozo. Buying has never been so easy, just type in “buy gin Malta” in google and our link will instantly pop up.

How we decide which brands to stock.

When sampling these spirits the team at Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials was instantly flabbergasted by the elegance and depth of each of the samples. The first bottle we opened released a aroma of strong juniper, tangy citrus and spicy cardamon.

In fact we found it very hard to choose which one we preferred as the range is so vast and each one was so well crafted. After 2 rounds of voting we arrived no closer to choosing a winner, it was clear from the outset that these where going to be instant local favourites.

After having tried them by themselves we decided to add some tonic water, in this case we used Artisan tonics which are a small producer of tonic water. We felt that the Artisan Classic tonic worked best with the Alfred the Great , the Elder-flower & Gooseberry & the Wyvern varieties.

However, the fiery ginger beer was a natural partner for the Sloe Gin and the Rhubarb & Ginger. Last but not least the Artisan Pink citrus was well balanced with the Wessex Saxon, Wessex lemon & ginger and the Spiced elixir. We always suggest pairing a good tonic if you buy distillate that is of a certain quality.

Choosing which products to stock in our outlets is a very seriously matter as it will directly impact what we can offer our clients. Being a 5th generation company that was founded in 1893 we are very aware of the service and responsibility that our customers expect from us. In fact our reputation extends beyond our shores and this is the reason why Wessex distillery contacted us. We also take pride in offering our clients free gift wrapping as we believe that presentation is key.

With over a 100 different bottles in our online and brick and mortar shops you will definitely not be disappointed when you choose to buy locally. From commercial brands like Gordons to boutique brands like Wessex, we try to give you the option to taste a small portfolio of our gins at any time of the day. We believe that it will help put your mind at rest to choose the right gin for the right occasion.

So the next time your taste buds fancy a tipple and you decide to buy it from your local wine & spirits shop, remember to pop by our shop in Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials, Level 2, The Plaza shopping centre Sliema or log in google and benefit from free delivery when spending 50 euro from our online shop.

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FRANKS Gentlemen’s Essentials Christmas Hampers

The FRANKS Gentlemen’s Essentials Christmas Hamper Collection 2019 is the definite guide […]

The FRANKS Gentlemen’s Essentials Christmas Hamper Collection 2019 is the definite guide for the person looking for a collection of luxury hampers. Our items have been specifically hand picked to match and compliment each other, after all the Art of Gifting is what makes a FRANKS gift so special. So should you be thinking about thanking a specific person for a service rendered, or returning a simple gesture to a person that might have helped you along your way, rest assured that in gifting a hamper from Franks Gentlemen’s Essentials you will be giving a curated and personalized token of gratitude, embodying the spirit of this time of the year.

christmas hamper

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

FRANKS Gentlemen's Essentials Christmas Hampers

Franks Gentlemens Essentials Coffee House

Synonymous with the finer things in life, FRANKS has just opened a […]

Synonymous with the finer things in life, FRANKS has just opened a new coffee house . The idea of the coffee house is to give our clients the chance to experience a variety of coffee from around the world and revel in the complex and varied taste of the world favorite bean 🙂 pop by to taste our handcrafted espressos …

Malta’s first Gin Fair

On July the 13th 2018, FRANKS hosted Malta’s first Gin Fair in the […]

Malta’s first Gin Fair

On July the 13th 2018, FRANKS hosted Malta’s first Gin Fair in the stunning gardens of the Phoenicia hotel in Valletta.  The event was proud to host over 50 gins from all of Malta’s leading gin suppliers along with over 650 clients who graced our Gin fair. However that wasn’t all, thanks to our suppliers we also managed to give our clients the chance to take part in tailor made master classes by “ By the Dutch Genever” , “ Gin Mare” & local gin guru William Rizzo. There was a tangible hype in the air as the music was provided by one of Malta’s leading swing jazz bands, this of course was complemented by the 5 star food & service provided by the Phoenicia hotel. All of us are looking forward to next year’s Gin Fair 🙂

Malta’s first Gin Fair