You probably have a checklist already! Get costumes, carve pumpkins, buy sweets, put up cobwebs, compile a Halloween playlist for some scarily awful dancing....and one more thing....create great cocktails!
Here's some of our top picks for Halloween! The good news is these alpine cocktails are fiendishly tasty!
BLOODY MARTINI - A FRIGHTENINGLY GOOD TWIST ON THE CLASSIC MARTINI
Don't forget a gummy eyeball to float in the cocktail! 👁
50ml Altitude Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin
15ml Dry Vermouth
Ice
2 Drops of Homemade Fake Blood:
7g Caster Sugar
44g Red Liquid Food Colouring
Dissolve the caster sugar into the food colouring.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, gin and vermouth. Stir to dilute. Double strain into a chilled small coupe glass and garnish with 2 drops of fake blood.
BLOOD ORANGE NEGRONI - A HOT FAVOURITE IN SPOOK-TOBER
The Campari makes this classic even gorier at Halloween!
Ingredients
50ml Altitude Alpine Dry Gin
100ml Campari
50ml Sweet Vermouth
Blood Orange or Orange
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin, Campari and Vermouth. Shake well, then strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a slice of blood orange or with blood orange peel
DANCING DEVIL - GHOULISH, BUT HEAVENLY!
30ml Altitude Alpine Dry Gin
15ml Cointreau
15ml Sweet Vermouth
15ml Dry Vermouth
15ml Blood Orange Juice
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with a blood orange wheel and thyme.
SNOWSCAPE GREEN GOBLIN - ALPINE GHOULS REALLY DO EXIST
50ml Altitude Alpine Dry Gin
20ml Cointreau
15ml Blue Curacao
20ml Lime juice
15ml Blood Orange juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a sugar-frosted martini glass. Garnish with a lemon, mint, and cherry.
Have a spirited Halloween! 👻
]]>Altitude Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin has been featured by The Gin Guide, as one of the best Strawberry Gins ever produced.
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Altitude Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin has been featured by The Gin Guide, as one of the best Strawberry Gins ever produced.
Award-winning Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin introduces flavours of the summer-long harvest of alpine strawberries, which grow in the open meadows and forest clearings of the Alps. It’s a gin, bottled at 40%, that carefully balances the crisp, juniper taste of our original Alpine Dry Gin with the sweetness of alpine strawberries.
If you haven't yet tried our Pink newcomer, enjoy aromas of summer on the nose and a light delicate gin on the palette!
The Altitude Gin journey has been founded upon sustainability and conservation. The bottles are made from consumer recycled glass and, through our donation to CREA Mont-Blanc, each bottle purchased helps protect the mountains from the impact of climate change.
Read full article here.
]]>We are pleased to announce that Altitude Gin has been selected as a spirits launch partner of IAG’s The Wine Flyer, a new dedicated online retailer allowing members of British Airways' Executive Loyalty programme to collect Avios points towards their travels, when ordering premium wine, beers and spirits exclusively from the site.
Launching today, 4th October 2022, the mission of The Wine Flyer is to make the products you experience during your travels, whether onboard a British Airways flight, or at the destination, accessible to everyone, all the time.
Many of the selected products are served on, or exclusive to British Airways; some are selected to complement, and some are recognisable well-loved brands.
Jack Smith, CEO of The Wine Flyer commented, “I’m delighted to have Altitude Gin on board as the only French Gin to feature as part of the launch edit. Our customers will recognise the selection of Altitude Gin as not only award-winning products, but the apparent synergy it enjoys within travel, and specifically aviation”.
Avios is the easy-to-use reward currency of the British Airways Executive Club which turns your everyday spending into unmissable adventures or rewarding treats. The Wine Flyer allows you to collect Avios which you can use to pay for future purchases for your next British Airways flight.
The launch will introduce one of the most generous Avios earning platforms available, with members having the opportunity of collecting up to 10 Avios per £1 spent on more than 140 varieties of wine and a key selection of beers, and spirits.
A special introductory offer will be available until 31 December 2022, offering 10 Avios per £1 on one-off purchases, and 15 Avios per £1 on subscriptions.
Kirstine Newton, co-founder of Altitude Gin remarked, “We’re thrilled to harness a key relationship in the travel space with The Wine Flyer. By choosing to purchase Altitude via this new platform, customers can collect Avios at unparalleled rates, that speed up that next mountain getaway!"
Website: www.thewineflyer.co.uk
About the British Airways Executive Club
The British Airways Executive Club is a free-to-join reward programme for anyone who loves travel. Its currency is Avios, which can be collected by flying with BA or its partner airlines, taking a holiday, or through everyday spending with a wide range of partners, such as American Express.
Avios can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, allowing members to fly from as little as £1 and 18,500 Avios. British Airways guarantees a minimum of 14 Reward Seats on every flight to and from London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
]]>We're joining in the World Gin Day celebrations at Junipalooza, the UK’s largest gin festival in Tobacco Dock, London this weekend, 11-12 June 2022. We'll be joining dozens and dozens of gin makers in one room, sharing our love for gin and serving up samples and stories for all to enjoy! Come and say hello!
]]>On International Biodiversity Day, we raise awareness of mountain ecosystems and their sensitivity to the impacts of climate change which are being affected at a faster rate than other terrestrial habitats.
]]>On International Biodiversity Day, we raise awareness of mountain ecosystems and their sensitivity to the impacts of climate change which are being affected at a faster rate than other terrestrial habitats.
40% of the world’s population rely indirectly on mountain resources for drinking water, agriculture, biodiversity, and hydroelectricity, which could be lost as a result of global warming. Climate change is also likely to increase exposure to hazards, with extreme events such as avalanches and landslides becoming more common.
The mountains are home to lots of biodiversity, including many endemic species. Adaptation requires awareness, knowledge on which to base decisions, and for mountain regions, a better perception of how biodiversity and climate change are linked in terms of impacts and in terms of adaptation solutions.
The iconic Mont-Blanc has become a symbol of climate change, as the glaciers retreat and mountain environments change due to warming temperatures. Our environmental partner, CREA Mont-Blanc has been running an environmental monitoring program, Climate Change Impacts on Mountain Biodiversity (CLIMB), for the past 10 years, which has automated the monitoring of temperatures, snow patterns, and behaviours of the fauna and flora in the Mont-Blanc area.
Altitude Gin are delighted to be supporting CREA in their mountain projects.
]]>We couldn’t be more proud of our newcomer!
Full results can be found here. Judges feedback and our tasting notes will follow at the end of this month!
Cheers! #espritdesmontagnes
]]>We’re delighted that it’s been chosen as a Finalist in the prestigious Gin Guide Awards 2022, under the Flavoured Gin category.
The Gin Guide Awards are an independent and worldwide celebration of the historic, diverse and growing gin industry. Widely recognised and highly respected by the trade and consumers across the world, The Gin Guide Awards showcase and celebrate the exceptional products, distilleries and people within the gin industry.
Finalists and Winners of the The Gin Guide Awards are selected through a rigorous blind tasting and unique scoring process. We can’t wait for the final results in May!
The full list of finalists can be found here.
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If you’re looking for high-altitude, snowsure slopes and a lively resort there is no better choice than Tignes - one of our favourite resorts which shares the huge Espace Killy ski area with its neighbour Val d'Isère. Between the two there are 300km of pistes for all abilities, ranging from long gentle greens to seriously steep off piste. The powerful snowmaking system and the Grande Motte Glacier ensure that snow reliability is as good as it gets!
In partnership with ski experts Skiyodl, we caught up with local mountain lover Catissa, to give us the lowdown on Tignes.
📍 Loop Bar, Le Rosset, 73320 Tignes Le Lac, France
Best local experience you must try?
C: My ‘don’t miss’ when in Tignes is a 3km toboggan run down Palafour that was pretty much built for adults rather than the kids! We’ll take her word for it. Let us know if you try it.
🛷 Palafour, 73320 Tignes, France
📍 Tignes, France
Best restaurant in town?
C: La Queue de Cochon is bangin’!
Need we say more? It’s in Lavachet in Tignes with a revamp of the 60s bar and you’ll have to pop in there at least once when in town!
Whether that’s for fresh oysters at the bar, their famous hot dogs, succulent pulled pork baps in happy hour or for sublime cocktails and 'Sunday Rumday' – it just works.
📍 Les Haut de Toviere A, Rte de Lavachet, 73320 Tignes, France
Favourite coffee shop?
C: Every now and again you come across somewhere that just does it well. And that place is The Corner.
Well good pastries
Well good coffee
Well good prices
Well good location
Well good people
📍 The Corner Cafe, Les Neiges D'Ors, 73320 Tignes, France
📍 Immeuble le Palafour, Rue de la Poste, 73320 Tignes, France
]]>Make your Mum feel special and appreciated this Mother's Day. Delightful Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin balances the crisp, juniper taste of our original Alpine Dry Gin with the sweetness of alpine strawberries. Let her sit back, relax and dream of the Summer Alps! 🍓 ...Mum will love this classic!
L'ALTITUDE PINK AND TONIC
50ml Altitude Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin
150ml Fever Tree Premium Indian Tonic
Strawberry Slices & Mint Sprig With hints of wild alpine strawberries giving it a delicious sweetness and a blush of colour.Read more about Altitude Gin cocktails here.
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Where better to spend a weekend than exploring all that the French ski resort of Morzine has to offer! ALS Ski curate unforgettable experiences in the mountains and now share with us their perfect day!
The perfect party pad to pair with Altitude Gin and 14 of your most loved ones is Chalet Tataali. Complete with climbing wall, indoor swimming pool AND a slide into the games rooms, for the ultimate wake up in the morning. Perfectly located, we’ll be skiing straight out of the door onto the cross-country trail which leads straight to the Nyon lift for a day on the slopes!
Morzine has only got better this year with the brand new Bélvédère chair lift, which connects the beginners slope for those getting started, the more challenging Chamossière Pistes and the Eagle Park for a day in the snow park - something for everyone!
After a morning on the slopes, soak in a breathtaking 360° view from Lake Geneva to Mont Blanc on Le Pas de l’Aigle, again new for this season. Then drop into Chez Nannon on Piste des Raverette for one of the best lunches in the Portes Du Soleil. If you fancy a change from skiing for an afternoon, explore the slopes with snowshoeing along the Nyon Plateau or sledge down the slopes of Nyon, friendly competition is encouraged!
Well deserved after a day on the mountains, and the perfect way to get Aprés started is heading straight to the Tibetan Bar where the most refreshing Altitude Gin and Tonic will be waiting for you!
For dinner, we’ve headed back to Tataali where the private chef has prepared the perfect Alpine meal of Fondue with all the trimmings, and no better way to start than with a ‘Tour Du Mont Blanc’ Negroni!
25ml Altitude Alpine Dry Gin (French)
25ml Campari (Italian)
25ml Jsotta Vermouth Rosso (Swiss)
Orange Peel
This Alpine version unites the Alps. Named after the famous 170km trail that circles the Mont-Blanc massif, which passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France!
Sounds like a fantastic day to us! Find out more about ALS Ski and their wonderful Alpine experiences here!
Keen to go to Meribel? Read more!
]]>Born in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the Altitude Gin brand captures the experiences and sensations only found in the mountains. Altitude also helps to preserve and protect the mountains so that future generations can appreciate the stunning surroundings.
Emily Morgan, Marketing Manager of Ski Club of Great Britain remarked "Skiers and members love a tipple at après or in their favourite restaurants in resort; sharing a drink with friends after a hard day's skiing is almost as good as sharing the perfect off piste line and being surrounded by nature in the mountains. We're delighted to partner with Altitude Gin, who perfectly encapsulate the embrace of nature and sharing the spirit of the mountains'.
Read more about The Ski Club of Great Britain here
]]>Altitude represents our love of the mountains and the special friendships we make in the alpine wonderland.
Treat your adventurous loved one to a unique award-winning drop, where you’ll be protecting the mountains with every sip!
Click here to purchase.
* UK Only; Code cannot be combined with another offer.
PROMOTION HAS NOW ENDED
]]>The Great Taste Book 2021-22 is now published. The original Chamonix-born Altitude Alpine Dry Gin achieved the highest accolade - a 3-Star Rating and was labelled ‘exquisite’.
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The Great Taste Book 2021-22 is now published. The original Chamonix-born Altitude Alpine Dry Gin achieved the highest accolade - a 3-Star Rating and was labelled ‘exquisite’.
Great Taste is the largest and most trusted food & drink accreditation scheme. Since 1994, more than 150,000 products have been put through this robust judging process. Each one is fastidiously blind-tasted by selected chefs, cooks, buyers, retailers, restaurateurs, food & drink critics and writers.
The judges look for truly great taste, regardless of branding or packaging. They take into account texture, appearance and of course the quality of the ingredients; they will note a good aroma, a decent bite, or a particularly smooth or crunchy texture. But above all else the question remains – does the product taste truly great?
Thank you to the Guild of Fine Food ~ we’re honoured to have been awarded such an accolade. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read the full Great Taste Book 2021-22 here
]]>Garnishes can help make your perfect G&T, and your choice of garnish can make all the difference!
We're obsessed with alpine strawberries, the wild berries that grow in the open meadows and forest clearings of the Alps from June-October! The fruits of alpine strawberry plants are small, conical and known as fraises des bois in France (which translates to “berries of the woods”). They are celebrated and cherished throughout their harvest period, and a real treat when you find them whilst hiking in the Alps!
Alpine strawberries are also easy to grow and have a delicious, tropical flavour - a kind of mix of strawberry, raspberry, and pineapple! Whether you start from seed or buy plants you won’t be disappointed when you add them to your pink ginny cocktails!
The best way to start alpine strawberries from seed is to sow seeds indoors, in late winter. The seeds can take several weeks to germinate, but once they sprout, they grow quickly. Plan to divide plants every four or five years to keep production high and prevent the plants from becoming crowded!
We recommend freezing your fruits and popping them in your L'Altitude Pink & Tonic with a spring of mint! Delish!
]]>American by birth, French by adoption, Hillary Gerardi, 35 epitomises mountain culture. As a mountain explorer, competitive trail runner and development manager at CREA Mont-Blanc, Gerardi’s purpose and soul are at the heart of the Alps.
Hillary shares with us her team’s passion for wild places and how together with researchers, decision-makers and the general public, we're making a difference to observing biodiversity and climate change.
Q. You’re originally from the US, how did you land in Chamonix?
HG: It was a love for the mountains that initially drew me to the Alps, but CREA Mont-Blanc specifically drew me to Chamonix. Working at CREA allows us all to follow our passions – our team work part time and complement this with a second mountain activity. We have a Ski Instructor, International Mountain Leader and a High Mountain Guide amongst us. The dual roles give us all an authentic sense of purpose, and we can lead with experience and learn from each other. As a professional trail runner, I can combine my love of endurance and exploring mountains.
Q. What mountain projects are you working on at the moment?
HG: Chamonix is currently under a blanket of snow, so much of CREA’s main fieldwork is limited until the spring. The best way to get around the mountains is on skis, so while out skiing we follow tracks and collect scat to determine the distribution of different hare species in the region!
Meanwhile, our weather stations and camera traps are still hard at work, (as part of the Wild Mont-Blanc Project), recording temperatures and snow cover across the French Alps, and capturing photos of local fauna across the Mont-Blanc massif. Both at CREA Mont-Blanc and in my athletic pursuits, I enjoy the winter as a bit of a calmer time to prepare for a busier spring and summer.
Q. Are there any specific species of flora and fauna that are of concern?
HG: Right now, we have another ongoing project on Arctic-Alpine species, to understand how birds and animals interact with their habitat, and how they are being impacted by climate change. The species are especially adapted to live in cold environments and even change colour in colder months to be camouflaged in the snow.
For example, The Rock Ptarmigan is at risk of losing up to 90% of their ideal habitat by 2100, and the Mountain Hare is seeing the European Hare (from lower elevations) move up into their habitat. Both species are also impacted by human activity in the mountains. Check out this fun video about the project of The Rock Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare.
This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Écrins and Vanoise National Parks, and is made possible by the European Union’s POIA funding.
Q. How have the Alps changed in the last few years?
HG: Of key interest are “ecotones”, or the places where two ecosystems meet - rich in biodiversity and interactions between species. Two particular ecotones are the treeline (where the forest gives way to shrubland) and the limit between shrubland and grassland.
Our studies have shown that since the 1950s, the surface area of the forest has increased by 80% in the Mont-Blanc massif, as a result of both warming temperatures and a transition from grazing to a tourism economy.
Altitude Gin’s support helps fund our study of these alpine shrublands, where species like juniper and myrtille (its gin ingredients) grow. In 2022, we are developing new techniques to map shrub cover in complex habitat mosaics, and are also studying how changes in vegetation can affect habitat and food availability for herbivores
Q. You’re a competitive trail runner, what do you notice most on your runs?
HG: One of the truly remarkable things about the Mont-Blanc massif is the elevation and temperature gradients. In only 20km of distance, from the base of La Vallée de l'Arve to the summit of Mont-Blanc, you run from 500 metres to 4,810 metres altitude.
Because temperature varies with elevation, getting colder as you ascend, you run through incredible range of microclimates and ecosystems in a relatively small area. Starting from Swiss or Italian valleys and climbing to the top of Mont Blanc is a great climatic journey - similar to going from the Mediterranean all the way to Greenland! In one run you can travel from the valley floor, through the forest, into the shrublands, grasslands and then into rocky and snowy mountains.
Living and running in Chamonix for the last 5 years, I’ve noticed some changes to our trails and landscapes. My own observations are anecdotal, but confirm what the CREA analysis shows: the treeline is moving up and summer heat waves melt snow fast and often dry out alpine wetlands.
Above all though, every time I’m out running, I’m reminded that whilst our landscape is changing, the Mont-Blanc massif is still an absolutely awe-inspiring place filled with incredible species, specially adapted to live here.
Q. What does 2022 have in store for CREA?
HG: Any public events will be really dependent on local and national guidelines. We really hope that we’ll be able to have our monthly ‘Science Sandwich’ lunch conference schedule back up and running for 2022, as these are a great way to share the latest mountain-related science with the public, and provide an opportunity for citizens to engage and exchange with scientists right here in Chamonix.
The public are also able to contribute to our work through their participation in the Phénoclim Citizen Science programme in spring and summer, as well as Wild Mont-Blanc, our online platform where you can help us identify animals in photos taken by our camera traps.
If you’re in the Mont-Blanc massif this winter and see a banded Alpine chough, take a photo where the bands are visible and email us at CREA with the location. We’ll be able to tell you the bird’s biography!
On the research side, we’ll be continuing our study of Arctic-Alpine species, ecotones and also working with other researchers, land managers and decision-makers on a set of biodiversity indicators that will better help us understand and integrate ongoing change into policy.
Hillary lives in Chamonix, with her husband Brad and in 2018 became world champion of the 'Skyrunner Extra World Series' circuit. It's little surprise that the existential motto she has carved into her soul is “love what you do, do what you love”.
Learn more about CREA Mont-Blanc here.
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Whether you're belting out the classics from a tabletop, or lounging in a mountainside deckchair - nothing quite beats après after a fantastic day on the slopes. You'll never fail to be amazed by the après ski atmosphere in Chamonix, where many revel with an A&T in hand! You see, it's not just skiing that connects people to the mountains, it's the friendships we make and the fun we have. And, there’s no 'one way' to après!
Herewith our fave après-ski hangouts, hand-picked by the hedonistic Altitude team. Brace yourselves...!
1. Bar Elevation 1904
One of the hot spots in Chamonix, located opposite the train station where the famous Vallée Blanche off-piste ski run finishes! While the small venue doesn’t look like much from the outside, Elevation 1904 has become one of the most famous après ski bars in Chamonix - great food, live music, DJ's, and a very friendly 'local' atmosphere. Cold stone floors and rustic wood panelling gives a real mountain vibe inside, while randomly scattered chairs and tables outside make for a casual, thrown-together look on the al fresco terrace.
Open from 8am, Elevation 1904 is also a great spot for hearty breakfasts, a languid lunch, or an Aperol in the evening. Highly recommended is the Bacon and Avocado Burger, which will sate even the biggest of appetites. And if it’s hot chocolate you’re after, then the signature Hot Chocolate 1904 provides a heartwarming treat before you get back out on the slopes. Delish!
259 Av. Michel Croz, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
2. Bar'd Up
A Chamonix institution located along the famous Rue des Moulins, Bar'd Up is a dark, noisy and slightly rustic contrast to the swanky bars that line the party street in the centre of Chamonix. A favourite with the seasonnaires, Bar'd Up is often referred to as an 'Aussie bar' with surfboards on the wall, live music, open-mic nights, and DJs - nights often get messy!
Bar'd Up has several screens inside and during the summer they even put a big screen on the terrace so you can watch the Euros or World Cup games in the sun. When there isn't a sports match on you can play table football or have a game of darts. No food is served but you're welcome to bring takeaway in! It ticks all the boxes for a great and affordable night out. Bonza!
123 Rue des Moulins, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
3. Chambre Neuf
Located in the Langley Hotel Gustavia, the lively Chambre Neuf is a classic après-ski haunt with a fun, party atmosphere that would get even the most exhausted skier in the mood. If you like to let your hair down and dance on tables then this is the place for you! Great beer, happy hour cocktails, Live music or DJs creating a wild party atmosphere which encourages maximum revelry!
During the day, head here for tea, coffee and snacks. For lunch, there’s a great selection of burgers, salads and curries, and a large al fresco terrace with views of Mont-Blanc.
272 Av. Michel Croz, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
4. Brasserie de l'M
The legendary Brasserie de l'M, located in downtown Chamonix, is warm, welcoming and offers a varied menu, between contemporary dishes and regional specialities such as fondue, raclette, pela, pierrade and cured meats. There are also a number of fish and pasta dishes on the menu, as well as a tempting array of desserts. You'll find something to enjoy! The interior of the restaurant has the typical and traditional Savoyard charm of a mountain pasture chalet.
Outside, the large sunny terrace facing Mont-Blanc offers snacks, hot meals or simply a glass of mulled wine or freshly prepared waffles. The terrace is a popular place to meet friends in the evening. There's live music, flaming torches and it's the best place in town to view the Mont-Blanc chain and catch the sunset.
81 Rue Joseph Vallot, 74400, Chamonix, France Chamonix-Mont-Blanc France
5. L'Hydromel
Located on the old apiary of the family of Joseph Paccard, this brand new bar-restaurant offers a cosy raw state atmosphere, with regular live bands. Copper, plants, wood are the principal elements of decoration; exciting cocktails and beer are made from plants foraged from the mountains. Look out for the Altitude 'Honey Trap' cocktail made with local alpine honey syrup!
A stunning wooden terrace boasts views of Mont-Blanc, which provided the stunning backdrop to a 'ski movies festival' last autumn.
25 Av. Ravanel le Rouge, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
There's nothing contrived and touristy about a night out in Chamonix. There’s also an endless choice of different drinking establishments in which to top off yet another epic day on the slopes. If you do happen to order yet another round of Altitudes, do send through your photos to info@chxdistillers.com. We love to see our customers enjoying the good stuff!
]]>Turn your house into a place worthy of an après-ski party!
Create a cosy, alpine-style retreat where you’ll want to curl up and hibernate for the winter! There’s something magical about staying in a ski lodge in the mountains and returning to a cosy retreat after a day on the slopes. Being cocooned from the cold weather outside is one of life’s great pleasures! The heart of the alpine house is the hearth, and there's nothing quite like the cheerful glow of the fire burning, to capture the atmosphere of a cosy chalet in the Alps! Keep a pile of kindling ready to start a roaring fire. Aside from providing warmth, artful piles of logs complement natural accents and double as chic Instagram subjects.
Bring the outdoors in! The views of snow-capped mountains, just like you had on holiday will take you back! Why not bring a little piece of your trip home with a vintage poster or an Alpine-inspired mural or photograph? It’s an idea that could work well in a hallway, dining area or anywhere with a large expanse of wall. Our Chamonix photographer, Mario Colonel, our inspiration behind the new Altitude Gin bottle designs, has some stunning works of art.
Be inspired by nature! The warmth of wood cuts the chill… literally! A mellow honey-brown stain allows the unique beauty of the grain to show through. If you don’t have log walls or panelling, get the look with a rustic pine bench or flooring underfoot. Tree trunks make great side tables and will add to the natural, rustic log-cabin feel. They can be left natural, stained or whitewashed to ramp up the winter wonderland effect. Counterbalance with accessories made from twigs and branches elsewhere in the scheme, so your trunk table isn’t the only natural element in the room.
Prepare the après drinks! It's all about local mountain drinks, so imagine yourself sliding straight to a slope-side watering hole and ordering a round of L'Altitude Gin & Tonics for your friends! Recreate the moment in the comfort of your home! Bop along to your favourite beats and some tried-and-tested classics - dance on the table or sing along lustily! If you feel more adventurous, try making some of our favourite Altitude Alpine Gin cocktails!
Break out the fondue pot! Fondue is like Gin, there is no season not to taste it… So a Gin fondue, we say yes all year round! We love this wonderful Alpine Cheese Fondue, spiked with Altitude Alpine Dry Gin, instead of the traditional kirsch! We think it tastes much better this way and it certainly brings the mountains home!
Cosy Knits and faux fur It’s always 'sweater weather' in a ski chalet, so don’t forget to dress up the bed and sofa with textured blankets. Cosy, oversized knits can warm your toes or double as a throw. Fur is a winter staple, but it doesn’t need to be real to offer warmth — a cruelty-free alternative is our go-to!
and finally..
Finish your look with a Woodland Chandelier - Antlers (resin versions are readily available and realistic) are a classic accompaniment to wood walls.
]]>Alpine Cheese Fondue with ‘Altitude’ 🧀
INGREDIENTS Serves 6
1 large garlic clove, halved
430ml white wine
1.5 tsp lemon juice
340g Emmental cheese, grated
240g Gruyère cheese, grated
0.5 tbsp cornflour
50ml Altitude Alpine Dry Gin, 43% ABV
Fresh grated nutmeg
Fresh ground black pepper
Cubed sourdough, charcuterie and salad to serve
METHOD
1. Rub the cut surfaces of the garlic around the sides of a fondue pan or other heavy-based pan. Pop the garlic halves into the pan and add wine and lemon juice. Bring to the boil then turn down to a gentle simmer.
2. Add the grated cheese and stir over a low heat until melted. Slake the cornflour in a little water and add to the melted cheese, stirring constantly. This swill stabilise the fondue.
3. Add the Altitude Gin, a grind of black pepper and a good grating of nutmeg.
4. Serve immediately with cubes of bread, charcuterie and salad
Photo and recipe courtesy of Craft Gin Club.
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On December 13th 2021, Altitude Alpine Dry Gin was revealed behind door 13 of Craft Gin Club's The Very Merry Gin Advent Calendar, developed in collaboration with fellow gin-lover Phillip Schofield. Listen to our tasting video from Schofe! Merry Gin-Mas one and all!
]]>Mario Colonel, 60, is a professional mountain photographer, gallery owner, journalist and author of 26 mountain books. Colonel's famous panorama of the Mont Blanc massif is the inspiration behind Altitude Gin’s new bottle design. From personal tragedy to triumph, Mario speaks candidly about his life in the mountains and the epiphany that gave his life meaning.
Q. You grew up in the city of Grenoble, what was your earliest childhood memory?
MC: Despite growing up at the foot of the Vercors massif, which is a magnificent limestone massif, my family didn’t climb mountains. My first striking childhood memory is when I was 5 years old, in 1966 – when I first discovered the snow, the cold, the skiing, and the hot chocolate in Megève! I used to sleep with my skis!
Q. Mountaineering is a huge part of your life, how old were you when you climbed your first mountain?
MC: My friend Jérôme introduced me to the high mountains when we were 17. He wanted to be a guide and he was so enthusiastic that he literally infected me and opened the doors to an incredible world. We travelled to the heart of the Massif des Écrins, to climb the Pic Coolidge, a classic summit at 3,774m altitude. What I discovered up there was so dazzling (adventure, friendship, freedom) that I never turned back. Tragically, Jérôme died in a car accident, aged 23. He was a great friend and gave meaning to my entire life.
Since that first ascent, the mountains have structured my life. I lived through the hippie era, had long hair and felt like the world was open. I was barely a few years younger than those who revolutionised pop culture! However, wispy worlds were never for me. You had to stay in shape to climb the summits!
Q. You arrived in Chamonix in 1982 to be a guide and photographer, but opted to be a photographer for the last 40 years. The panoramic photograph that wraps around the new Altitude Gin Is a masterpiece, tell us why it's special to you.
MC: I've climbed Mont Blanc more than 25 times on six different routes, but like many others, I have a special attachment to this summit. I even took my son there when he was 15, after his cross-country skiing competition in Peru. The photo chosen for Altitude Gin, for its high contrast and deep shadows, was taken from a helicopter where you can discover new angles and can move quickly and safely, especially in bad weather.
Q. Who and what was your source of inspiration for photography?
MC: As a teenager I had a poster of one of Pierre Tairraz ‘s famous Mont Blanc massif photographs in my bedroom. Like Tairraz, I put mountaineers and skiers in the background in my work, just to give scale and to emphasise the majestic peaks and a sense of humility. This seems to be the reverse of Instagram clichés where you zoom in on yourself! What matters to me is to reach for the horizon. Get up to see what's on the other side, and find another ridge to climb even higher. My job as a photographer is to offer others the next horizon …
Q. You had the privilege to write a book with Pierre just before he passed away, tell us about it.
MC: Our book “Voyage au Cœur du Mont Blanc” published in 1995, was a best-seller, reprinted four times. It was a wonderful book, but above all it was a beautiful meeting between two men, from two generations. I had a deep admiration for Pierre and we had a very special relationship. He was a brilliant mentor and my spiritual father.
Q. What's the philosophy behind your gallery in the centre of Chamonix?
MC: I was a journalist for 25 years, travelling everywhere from the Himalayas to Patagonia and of course to write about and photograph every inch of the Alps! We opened the gallery 15 years ago and it's now full of stunning photographs, art prints and sculptures. I wanted it to be a place where the beauty of nature is expressed and where climbers, travellers, photographers and mountain enthusiasts meet.
Q. Your portrait of a Tibetan girl is particularly poignant...?
MC: Ah yes! I painted a portrait of a very successful little girl when travelling in Tibet. Three years later I went looking for her for a TV documentary. It actually took two years and two trips to find her and I’ve been financially supporting her and her family ever since! Her English is becoming brilliant! I have been to the Himalayas so many times that I now have ties there: this wonderful family, a Sherpa friend and monk in Khumbu.
Q. There’s also a space dedicated to the added a space in the gallery dedicated to the most beautiful animal photos....?
MC: I’ve recently welcomed Jérémie Villet to the gallery who won the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition (beating 50,000 photographers). I am blown away by his work and want to share it with the world ...
Q. Your passion for the mountains is endless, how have the mountains changed over the years?
MC: The mountains today are not the same as they used to be. Climate change is real - the glaciers are receding, the walls are collapsing: it's frightening. I decided to make a film of the Mont Blanc massif, telling the story of the 40 years in the mountains, to highlight these changes. What worries me the most is that man has disconnected from nature. He sees it simply as a space for leisure, no longer as the very matrix of life. I have no lessons to give, but I sincerely believe that if we want our children and grandchildren to have a life as magnificent as ours, we will have to adapt and reconnect mankind with the sources of nature.
Q. And your downtime...?
MC: Always in the mountains! Not so high nowadays, but I continue to climb and do lots of ski touring. At 60, I don't feel that the passion has died down, it’s just got better, better like a fine wine!"
Mario lives in Chamonix with his wife, Martine and has two grown up children.
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With cookie season upon us, these wild blueberry macarons are the perfect treat to make for yourself or your loved ones. Homemade macarons require precision, patience, and practice and have been perfected since the 16th Century introduction to France. You can do this!
Here are the basic steps to making your macarons:
From the middle station, hike the Grand Balcon Nord - a spectacular Chamonix trail. This hike takes in the high point of Forbes Signal for a truly high-mountain feel, with non-stop panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the Chamonix Aiguilles, the Aiguilles Rouges, Le Brevent, Italy's Grands Jorasses and the Chamonix Valley. The hike ends at Montenvers with stunning views of the high peaks towering over the Mer Glacier. This spectacular and panoramic Alpine hike is a must-do hike when in Chamonix - and our all time favourite!
If adventurous skiing is more your thing, a descent of the Vallée Blanche is often the highlight of a ski trip to Chamonix and will provide a truly memorable experience and some great photos! The Vallée Blanche is the most famous off-piste ski run in the world, its an 18km red run, with 2800m of vertical descent through the stunning glaciated alpine scenery. The descent starts at the top of the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car and finishes at either the Montenvers train station, or (snow conditions permitting) back down in Chamonix's town centre.
If you want to enjoy a smooth and safe descent of the Vallée Blanche, we recommend a guide and you should be capable of skiing pisted red runs with confidence and in complete control. You should also have experience of off-piste skiing and be able to turn accurately and stop in variable snow / off-piste conditions. Side slipping confidently is also an essential skill. In good conditions during busy periods large mogul fields can develop, so the ability to ski large bumps over long & sustained mogul fields is required. A good level of ski fitness is also required so that you are able to cope with around 25km of off piste skiing with nearly 3000m of vertical descent in variable snow conditions and starting at high altitude!
Esprit des Montagnes
]]>A gin advent calendar is a no-brainer for any gin lover, dont you think? This one offers a tasting journey across the world … 🌎….from Africa, Australia, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, England, France, South Africa, Spain, to Switzerland) and gin lovers can explore a variety of unique, craft London Dry and flavoured Gins!
ABV: 37.5% – 47%
Bottle Size: 24 x 3cl
On sale now. ginwarehouse.co.uk
Our new Pink Gin introduces a variety of flavours of the summer-long harvest of alpine strawberries, which grow in the open meadows and forest clearings of the Alps. It’s a gin that carefully balances the crisp, juniper taste of our original Alpine Dry Gin with the sweetness of alpine strawberries. We’ve lots of exciting cocktails too! 🍓
Enjoy aromas of summer on the nose and a light delicate gin on the palette. The perfect gift!
Now available to purchase online here
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Established in 2017, Altitude Alpine Dry Gin is the launch product from CHX Distillers, containing a unique combination of botanicals found in the foothills of the Alps, which has gone on to win multiple international taste awards, including Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition earlier this year. With the new brand refresh, a new variation, Altitude Alpine Strawberry Pink Gin will launch in time for Christmas!
As “ginaissance” takes over the world, the team have hired brand agency Future Kings to prepare for global appeal, dialling up Altitude’s French roots across its packaging and website: a sleek new logo, new slogan ‘esprit des montagnes’, recognisable Chamonix graphics and the use of a stunning visual of Mont-Blanc by prized local mountain photographer Mario Colonel, to seamlessly tile around each bottle. The packaging aims for consumers to feel more connected and is evocative of Altitude’s passion for the mountains.
Co-founder, Tim Welch commented: “The new brand positioning aims to feel more inclusive – so wherever you are in the world, Altitude Gin shares the spirit of the mountains”. The team also help protect the Alps from the ongoing threat of climate-change, through its long-standing partnership with Chamonix-based research centre, CREA Mont-Blanc.
Co-founder Kirstine Newton continued, “We showcase ‘esprit des montagnes’ through our key communication pillars, ‘aventure, amitié et liberté’. Our gin is an adventure in itself, crafted to connect people to the mountains, to each other and to enjoy the incredible sensations that the mountains bring!”
Altitude Gin has recently secured funding for its next stage of development, which will include opening a distillery in Chamonix during the 2022 ski season, to supply the growing French and European market and accelerating global expansion of the business.
Visit Altitude Gin's website to explore the brand, and shop.
]]>Craft Gin Club advent calendar curated by Phillip Schofield
Craft Gin Club are offering the perfect 'gin-mas' with a range of gifts and treats for gin lovers. For a taste of all the best gins the UK has to offer, they've picked their favourites and hidden one behind each door for December.
Hand picked
Stashed behind every door is one of a range of 50ml UK craft gins, hand-selected by Craft Gin Club and gin lover, Phillip Schofield. There's even a special, exclusive Craft Gin Club Christmas surprise hidden among them.
Order yours
These are fantastic for all gin lovers, wanting to discover something new and who want to enjoy some of their favourites. Order Here.
Altitude Alpine Dry Gin
Altitude Alpine Dry Gin was selected for its delicious and exquisite flavour of mountain botanicals. If you want a calendar but can't wait to taste Altitude Alpine Gin again, then it's always available on our website.
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