Strong Cocktails That Don’t Taste Like Syrup: 5 Better British Alternatives

Let’s be honest: some cocktails taste like the drinks cabinet lost a bet to the pick ’n’ mix aisle. Syrupy, fluorescent, and barely alcoholic — the kind of thing you drink for the photo, not the flavour.

If you prefer your drinks strong, stylish, and unapologetically grown-up, here are five British alternatives worth knowing. No glitter. No straws. No shame.

1. G&D – The Queen’s Favourite, Bottled with Mischief

A ready-to-drink cocktail made from gin and fortified wine, G&D is inspired by the Queen’s favourite tipple — but bottled for those who prefer scandal to ceremony. At 20% ABV, it’s closer to a proper cocktail than most things you’ll find in a can. Rich, herbal, and quietly dangerous, it drinks like a Negroni that’s been educated at Eton and expelled from two of them.

Serve it straight, spritz it with tonic, or just sip it slowly and see what unfolds.

2. The Black Velvet

Half stout, half Champagne. Yes, really. Invented at Brooks’s club in London in the 1860s to mourn the death of Prince Albert, it’s as bold as it sounds. Smooth, bitter, and oddly elegant — not for the faint-hearted.

3. A Proper Gin & It

Forget what you know about gin and vermouth. The classic “Gin & It” is one part gin, one part Italian vermouth, stirred down and served over ice. Sharp, herbal, and slightly medicinal — it’s the sort of drink you don’t ask too many questions about, and it doesn’t answer anyway.

4. The Whisky Mac

Equal parts whisky and green ginger wine. Once a favourite of officers in the British Raj, now unfairly overlooked. Strong, spicy, and ideal for cold weather, grouse days, or romantic failure.

5. The Bishop’s Misfortune (yes, we’re making this up — but you’ll want one)

Red wine, port, a splash of orange bitters, and an unspoken scandal. Invented somewhere between Oxford and regret, it’s not available in shops — but it might be whispered at the right kind of party.

In summary:

If you’re done pretending to enjoy saccharine spritzes and bubblegum martinis, Britain has better options. G&D leads the charge — a cocktail you can open, pour, and actually respect.

Join the rebellion.G&D’s Founder’s Batch is available now — pre-order or join the Inner Circle to know where it’s being served next.

👉 Reserve Your Bottle or Join the Inner Circler Circle and hear the mischief first.