Month: August 2023

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Simple Steps to Finding Inner Happiness

Sometimes life can feel a little bit difficult and overwhelming; it’s impossible to be happy all the time, nor would it be healthy to try to be. However, there are steps you can take in order to embrace all of life’s ups and downs to feel a deep sense of contentment and inner happiness. Today we’re talking about what we can do to improve our overall feelings of satisfaction in our daily life.
Here are some simple tips which won’t cost anything other than a little bit of your time each day, that will have a huge impact on your inner happiness:

Practice Gratitude Daily

Many teachings regarding inner happiness focus heavily on being present and being thankful. These two states of being are paramount to living a happier life; practicing them often and getting into a routine of doing so is a great place to start when developing your inner happiness. Making this ritual part of your day is a great way to view life from a different perspective. Throughout your day, express gratitude for that cup of tea you’re drinking, express gratitude for your loved ones after you see them, for your pet for keeping you company. At first it may seem silly, but expressing gratitude for even the little things is a great way to increase your natural mood and feel more at ease. We get so wrapped up in what’s coming next or what’s just happened that we rarely recognise the present, which is where the contentment lies.

Let Go of What is Weighing Heavy on Your Mind

In order to move through life with ease and resilience, it is so important to deal with things that are bothering us, making us anxious or getting us down. This could be by talking about what is bothering you with a loved one, or perhaps a counsellor or therapist if the subject matter requires it. It could also be as simple as keeping a mood journal in order to keep your feelings from spiralling out of control. Bottling things up is a direct route to overwhelm, so it’s important to have an outlet for those feelings, even if it means writing on a piece of paper and burning it afterwards as a way to ‘release’ those emotions. This builds emotional resilience and you will become more confident when dealing with feelings of stress, fear or anger when you practice releasing regularly.

Find Stillness in Busy Moments

Similar to practicing gratitude, it is important to recognise when life gets stressful and overwhelming. Remember that regardless of the situation, there is always time for a long breath. Take a second to find stillness by taking a big inhale and a long, extended exhale; you can do this while stuck in traffic, getting your morning coffee, or brushing your teeth. Finding stillness in little moments will increase your resilience to external circumstances in future. If you feel inclined, carving out time to meditate is a great way to improve your mental health, ease anxiety and as a way to deal with confusing emotions. You could use tarot or oracle cards to guide the meditation if this is something that resonates with you also.

Work on Your Authentic Self

Here at Welsh Witch HQ we are all about showing up as your authentic self. Working on showing up as someone you feel comfortable in being is so important in developing that inner happiness. Starting this journey might have a lot of uncomfortable changes and transitions, but this is all a part of finding that true version of yourself. It may come to light that you need to shed old friendships, relationships, or even ideals in order to grow as a person into your authentic being, so it doesn’t come without sacrifice. Set intentions each day as the sort of person you’d like to show up as in the world and then work towards those intentions. Some examples of intentions could be ‘acting with kindness in everything I do’ or ‘feeling sure of myself and knowing I am on the right path’. Coming up with a mantra for the day based on what you truly feel and aiming towards it is a good way to set into motion goals that align with your v

Remember: No Two Journeys Will Look The Same

Of course there are many things you can do and encourage into your life in order to find inner happiness. There is no one-size-fits-all guide; it is a personal journey which is individual to you, therefore it won’t look the same as someone else’s. That is part of the joy of finding your inner happiness and working towards it, the journey is as much a part of it as the destination is. Enjoy the ride and take simple steps each day to feel at home in your own body, whether that is daily gratitude, finding stillness, or setting daily mantras and intentions.

Just know that however your journey looks, it is worthy. You are valued and you are loved.

With love and light,

Welsh Witch HQ x

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Summer Foraging in the Welsh Countryside

This time of year is a beautiful chance to explore our abundant mother nature during these summer months. Getting outside and harvesting local foods is a great way to feel grounded and connected to nature. Not to mention, there is so much on offer during these delightful summer months that we’re going to give you some tips on foraging in the Welsh countryside (or anywhere else in the UK!). Now, let’s see what you might find on a wander through nature at this time of year.

Blackberries

What would August be without blackberries? During this time towards the middle-end of the month, hedgerows are abundant with juicy blackberries. Why not try grabbing some next time you head out on a walk? Blackberries are great for all sorts of recipes; make them into a syrup, icecream, blackberry cake, a delicious pie, pop some in a gin or enjoy them on their own as they are! Our Welsh Witch Imbolc Gin is filled with an abundance of blackberries for that delicious sweet, berry flavour; they are a fruit sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid, the inspiration behind this gin.

Elderflower and Elderberries

Another staple of the summer and sweet, fragrant florals come from the elderflower plant. This deliciously sweet flower is a perfect addition to any summer home kitchen. When these flowers are picked, you can stew some and make an elderflower cordial: add this to your G&T, with some lemonade or with ice cold water for a refreshing summer beverage. The flowers are in full bloom from spring to mid-summer, before the flowers bloom in to deliciously dark and juicy berries. A note on elderberries: they are mildly toxic to eat raw, so they will need to be prepared first by either drying, cooking or processing otherwise. There are so many fruity recipes to try out with elderberries, such as crumbles, pies or even elderberry syrup, which can be taken as a remedy for cold and flu season with autumn just around the corner!

If you love elderflowers as much as we do, we have an elderflower gin – Welsh Witch Litha Gin which delights the senses with that fragrant and floral deliciousness of the summer.

Strawberries

We can’t forget strawberries; a perfect summer staple just about anywhere in the UK. The supermarkets are filled with the red, fleshy berries but what’s better than picking your own? While wild strawberries can be foraged, they’re not as commonly found as elderflower or bramble bushes. So you might need to do a bit more investigation if looking for wild berries, and remember to pick only plants which you can confidently identify. If in doubt, lots of places offer ‘pick your own’ experiences, where you can spend a summer’s day picking deliciously ripe strawberries to use and enjoy at home; not to mention you’ll be supporting a local farm, too!

Damson berries

During July and August, you might notice some dark blue, almost purple, berries around hedgerows in the UK. Taking on an almost blueberry and grape-like shape and colour, damson berries are a great little berry packed full of flavour. Most foragers of damson berries enjoy making them into a delectable jam or preserve, to enjoy through the winter months. They can also be made into a cordial or syrup to add some tart fruitiness to summer drinks and tipples. Why not try adding a few spoonfuls of damson syrup to a Welsh Witch G&T?

Dandelions

What most see as just a common weed is actually a very diverse plant which can be made into many different recipes. Dandelion honey is a great alternative which is super inexpensive to make and tastes similar to the real deal. The flowers themselves are thought to reduce inflammation and is also a great antioxidant, making them medicinally useful too! Dandelion honey is so easy to make, just add several handfuls of washed dandelion heads and two slices of lemon into some hot water on the stove until boiling, then cover leave to steep overnight. The next day, strain the liquid through a strainer or muslin cloth, then weigh out the liquid and an equal amount of sugar. Place the infused water and equal sugar into a pan and boil for around 20 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and the honey gels when placed on a cold plate or back of a spoon.

 

Keep in the fridge when cooled and use in hot drinks, porridge, or drizzled over cakes; delicious!

Forage Responsibly This Summer

Remember when foraging: only take what you need and leave enough for others, don’t uproot any plants to preserve the plants for next year, and treat the environment with respect. Maybe pick up some litter if you’re there and see some on your walk too. Especially with dandelions, make sure you only pick them if there is an abundance of them in the area: they are great pollinators, bugs rely on them so it’s important to pick them responsibly so we keep our pollinating friends thriving. If you head out this August, show us your foraged haul by tagging us on Instagram @welshwitch_craftspirits (bonus points if you include any in a Welsh Witch drink!)

This time of year is a perfect time to get outdoors and cherish nature in all its glory; give thanks for your foraged goodies and celebrate with loved ones the abundance of delicious offerings the world gives. You can check out our full range of Welsh Witch craft spirits here, where we make tipples inspired by the Welsh countryside and locally inspired ingredients.

Love and light,
Welsh Witch HQ x

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5 Vodka Cocktails for summer and beyond

If you are planning that perfect summer BBQ, party or want to wow dinner party guests we think our new Lammas vodka will do the trick.

Our premium vodka stands proud as a crowd-pleasing spirit; an unfussy accompaniment to any mixer of your choice to create a luxurious taste journey.

The quintessential and classic flavour of our triple distilled vodka, paired with the unique knowledge of Welsh traditions and folklore, is an enchanting spirit and drinks shelf staple for any cocktail making enthusiast.

Vodka is one of the world’s most popular spirits because of its neutral flavour, crystal clear colour, and versatility in cocktail recipes.
Check out some delicious crowd-pleasing vodka cocktails to try out below:

Wrexham Mule

With our now famous town on the map thanks to the Hollywood fairy tale surrounding our football club we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to create a local twist on a classic vodka cocktail.

Wrexham is also famed for the quality of its underground water reserves, which gave rise to its previous dominance as a major brewing centre. Both Welsh Water and the first gain celebrated by Lammas are at the heart of our new Vodka.

Ingredients you’ll need:

To garnish

  • Lime
  • Splash of grenadine

Pour the vodka into a metal mug, julep tin or tumbler. Load up ¾ full of crushed ice, then fill to the top with the ginger ale and stir gently to combine. Add a few dashes of ginger bitters.

Serve with splash of grenadine to add the Wrexham fiery red colour and finish with a squeeze of lime and the wedges on top.

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Summer Breeze

On a beautiful summer day, you can’t beat a light, chilled, refreshing cocktail, and they don’t come more refreshing than a summer’s breeze.

Ingredients you’ll need:

To garnish

  • Garnish with a lime wedge

Take a chilled glass (coupe glass preferable). Shake and strain the ingredients with lots of ice cubes and then pour. Finish with orange zest shavings.

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Cosmopolitan

You can’t talk about vodka cocktails without including the very classic Cosmopolitan, with its famous sweet with just a touch of tang taste.

What’s more how else would you describe sipping cocktail at a summer get-together other than ‘how very Cosmopolitan!’

Ingredients you’ll need:

  • 45ml Welsh Witch Lammas Vodka
  • 20ml Cointreau
  • Splash of cranberry Juice
  • Squeeze of lime

To garnish

  • Garnish with a lemon twist

 

 

 

Combine all the liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini or nick & nora glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

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Welsh Vodka Fizz

This refreshing cocktail is a trifecta of sweet, minty, and tangy. This is a great cocktail to enjoy on a hot summer day by the pool.

Ingredients you’ll need:

To garnish

  • Garnish with a lemon slice

Pour vodka, lemon juice, and mint simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top up the glass with club soda. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

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Espresso Martini

And finally……we couldn’t leave out the Espresso Martini as one of the great vodka cocktails to come out of the 1980s. Invented by famed bartender Dick Bradsell, some say he first shook one up for super model Kate Moss.

Ingredients you’ll need:

To garnish

  • 3 Whole Coffee Beans

 

 

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add Welsh Witch Vodka Lammas Vodka, Kahlúa, and Espresso. Shake well to get the foam on top and strain it into a cocktail or martini glass. Garnish by placing three coffee beans on top.

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You can shop our whole range of Welsh Witch Craft Spirits here.

If you decide to try out any of these cocktails, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @welshwitch_craftspirits to give our whole team food envy! Happy cooking!

Love and light,
Welsh Witch HQ x

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How to Pair Welsh Witch Gin With Meals

Food is delicious, gin is delicious – but how do they fit together? Today we’re diving into pairing gins (and our other spirits) with foods and which ones work well together. Let’s take a look at some of our spirit flavour profiles and find out which ones compliment certain foods. This way you’ll be able to enjoy your tipples with dinner while enjoying all the delicious botanical flavours as you eat.

Why Should You Match Your Gin With Food?

Why not just wait until after dinner for your gin? Well, sometimes a good pairing of a G&T with your meal not only is enjoyable, but enhances the flavour palette of both your food and drink. If you’re a flavour enthusiast, doing this is a must – especially if you’re a gin lover and haven’t yet been enjoying the magic of flavour pairing! It’s like food and drink alchemy, and we implore you to try it.

Flavour Pairings to Try

If you’re new to pairing gins with meals, our Original Dry Gin is a good place to start, since it’s unassuming but high-quality flavour palette is a good all-rounder when it comes to pairing with food. The delicious aromatic botanicals will pair well with most things, from refreshing salads, to barbeques, to pasta and pizza!

Our Beltane Gin is a floral yet citrusy refreshing gin with a fiery kick of cinnamon to celebrate the fire rituals of Beltane. Pair this gin with something like an earthy goat’s cheese tart or a seafood such as salmon or seabass to compliment those light citrusy flavours. You could also pair our Beltane Gin with something richer, such as a casserole, a stew or a hearty soup, since those warming notes of cinnamon will bring bundles of comfort for those cosy winter evenings.

Try a G&T With Curry Night!

Bear with us on this one: why not try a lovely gin with your next curry? At first the combination may seem a little strange, but if you think about it – it works! Curries are packed full of aromatic flavours, such as cumin, garam masala and herbs; a perfectly botanical gin will complement these flavours well while offering a refreshing beverage to pair. Any curry will work well with our Welsh Witch Original Dry Gin due to the combination of gorse flower and coriander seed along with that aromatic juniper flavour to compliment all those delicious herbs and spices you’ll find in a curry.

Graze Away With Nibbles

Another great way to pair spirits with food but you’re perhaps not wanting to cook a full meal, is by creating a grazing board. Extremely easy to make and perfect for summer, a grazing board is a fun way to add some nibbles into your evening. Things like garlic and herb olives work well here, especially with our Beltane or Original Dry Gin. If you’re feeling fancy, add some charcuterie too, since the botanicals in our gins will compliment the herbs and spices in cured meats nicely too. Rich cheeses such as stilton and camembert will pair delightfully with aromatic gins such as our Welsh Witch Original Dry Gin as well, enhancing those deep, luscious, and cheesy flavours.

Don’t Forget Dessert!

And of course, dessert! This one makes the most sense to people and a G&T or alcoholic tipple while your meal wraps up with pudding is a common practice. A sweet, floral gin such as our violet Ostara Gin or our blackberry infused Imbolc Gin will work here with desserts such as pavlova, crème brulee, or cheesecake. The light and refreshing botanicals work well with light and creamy flavours for that extra bit of magic at the end of your meal.

For a heavier, richer dessert such as a chocolate torte or sticky toffee pudding, our Welsh Witch Spiced Rum will make a warming, sweet and spiced accompaniment if you fancy something a bit sweeter. If you fancy incorporating your tipples into your food, we posted a recipe last year for a Spiced Rum Butter Sauce to pour over your favourite desserts, yum!

Of course, cocktails too are like a dessert in themselves! We’ve got lots of gin and rum cocktail recommendations on our Witch’s Journal Blog for inspiration on your next dinner party cocktails to try out.

You can shop our whole range of Welsh Witch Craft Spirits here.

If you decide to try out any of these meal pairings with one of our gins, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @welshwitch_craftspirits to give our whole team food envy! Happy cooking!

Love and light,
Welsh Witch HQ x

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Our New Welsh Witch Vodka

Our new vodka

Happy summer witches! This is a very exciting time for the Wild Moon Distillery, as we are ready for a special launch which has been brewing away in preparation for our next Wheel of the Year addition.

If you didn’t know, our enchanting Wheel of the Year spirit range is ever expanding, and our repertoire already includes: Imbolc Gin, Ostara Gin, Beltane Gin and Litha Gin.

Those of you following our social media pages (@welshwitch_craftspirits) might already know; so make sure to follow us so you don’t miss any future releases!

Welcoming our Welsh Witch Premium Vodka

It is with delight and a handful of magic that we bring to you… our Welsh Witch Premium Vodka! Perfect for our Lammas Wheel of the Year sabbat. This has been an exciting feat in the making and we are so thrilled to share with you the potion you have all been waiting for.

Made with the best quality Welsh inspired ingredients, healing water from the Ffynnon Beuno Welsh mountains and reiki charged with aquamarine, amethyst, and moonstone crystals to create a perfectly balanced tipple ideal for luxe spirit enthusiasts. Brewed with care and triple distilled in North Wales, we’re looking to put Wales on the premium spirit map – you can read more about our hometown in our blog article ‘Welsh Witch on Wrexham’. A combination of love, expertise, and attention to detail come together to create this luxurious crowd-pleasing spirit that will surely become a staple in any collection.

How to Enjoy Our Magical New Potion

Our vodka is unassuming and an unfussy accompaniment for any of your mixer choices. Which, in essence means: pair it with what you love! There’s no discrimination here. That being said, we do recommend a high-quality premium mixer for the best flavour experience, such as a botanical cola (we love the Fever Tree cola for that delicious aromatic flavour!) or premium lemonade.

Our high-quality Welsh Witch Vodka is now available to purchase, as well as the rest of our Wheel of the Year spirits.

If you’d like to keep up to date with our new launches, as well as learning new cocktail recipes using our spirits, you can sign up to our newsletter here and if you enter before midnight on 6th August, you’ll be entered into our giveaway to win lots of goodies including our new vodka.