Good morning!
I'm really pleased at how things are going while I'm on holiday. Somehow, my usual holiday urge to binge on the most unhealthy things is under control - not sure how but I'm very glad of it.
I can't honestly say my hard work has paid off because it hasn't been hard work in any way, but when I went to the Kessingland SW group yesterday early evening, I found that despite being on holiday, being pretty 'naughty' Saturday evening, a much shorter time since last weigh in and it being evening not morning, I had lost half a pound. I was absolutely delighted!
Changing the subject, I was looking round the Adnams shop yesterday and saw this. It was pretty expensive for such a small bottle (200 mls) but, on reading the label, it is super high in botanicals/flavour, higher in alcohol but you use only half a tsp at a time and top it up with your mixer and ice, like a normal gin. They even provide a 2.5ml spoon as you can see.
Obviously, I had to buy a bottle and try it and you know what - it's really good. I mixed it with some of Morrisons elderflower presse which is free on Slimming World and some ice and it was absolutely delicious. Very gin, with a little alcohol kick but, given how little you use, definitely low alcohol, and the flavour is far from basic.
There are reviews online and here's one I found on the BBC Good Food site:
Southwold distillery Adnams’ new concept is a high-strength gin intended to create a low-alcohol serve without compromising on flavour. Don’t be fooled by the 50% alcohol volume – despite being stronger than most gins, Smidgin is specially crafted to be served in small 2.5ml measures with tonic water, yielding a full-bodied G&T with just a fraction of the alcohol. The 200ml bottle even comes with a copper spoon to allow precise measurement of each serving. We found each sip delivered a complex balance of botanicals, from fresh juniper to warming cardamom and floral hibiscus, culminating in a crisp, dry finish.
The only trouble is, it's not on the SW page and I can't find any mention of calories (which would give me the syns) anywhere on the internet, even in Nutracheck. It's a new product, only out this February, and this sort of info takes time to filter down, I suppose.
So I looked up calories on 40% gin and upped it a bit, then reduced it down to 2.5 ml and it came to around 5 calories for half a tsp, so one tsp (5g, two drinks) is half a syn.
Then I looked on SW for normal gin syns and reduced it down and yes, it's pretty much the same. Therefore, if I call one drink half a syn, I'm probably over synning a bit but better than under.
And, in that small amount, the alcohol content is not enough to trigger - at least, it wasn't last night.
If you happen to know the calories, please do let me know in the comments.
Really well done on the loss, you must be so pleased, Joy. That gin is a fabulous idea, well done Adnams. I love G&T but haven't drunk alcohol for a few years now (health issues), but I might consider getting a bottle. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to bits, Sooze, I really am. I know it's not much but in these circumstances, it is.
DeleteIt's really nice, that Smidgin and I do love the name - someone was clever there.
It says the calories on this site ... https://thelightdrinker.com/product/smidgin/
ReplyDeleteThank you . . . hold on, I'll go and look.
DeleteInteresting, converted to 2.5 mls, it seems to come out at one calorie. That sounds very low.
I've asked Adnams so we'll see if I get a reply. In the meanwhile I will count half a syn per drink to be on the safe side. :-) xx
Well done on the loss - and on the great find! Going to look out for that although having got completely rat*rse* on gin aged 14 it has never been my fave but I like it with elderflower tonic.
ReplyDeletelol - yes, I can see how that would put one off. Like me and smoking after trying smoking on of those old fashioned straws that we used to have for our milk. I was so sick . . .
DeleteJust on its own with tonic doesn't appeal but flavoured gin or a flavoured mixer really does.
xx