Not Your Regular Half and half…
In Scotland, a half and a half (or ‘hauf and a hauf’) is a dram of whisky and a half pint of beer as a chaser. This longstanding tradition has been given a not-so-traditional twist, combining the bold, honey-like sweetness of The Hive by Wemyss Malts with the sharp citrus flavours of our Cloudy Lemonade Session Sour. We’ve taken a closer look at the history of this pub pairing, highlighting the harmony of flavour found between the right dram and a sour beer.
Half-History
The Scottish tradition of a half and a half (or a ‘hauf and a hauf’ if you’re local) is a cherished ritual among whisky enthusiasts. It's a harmonious blend of two iconic elements of Scottish culture: a hearty dram of whisky followed by a half-pint of beer, which we Scots typically refer to as a chaser. This tradition is all about balance and savouring the best of both worlds. The whisky, often chosen for its unique character, sweet/smoky notes, or rich flavours, is savoured slowly, allowing its complexity to unfold. Then, as the whisky warms the palate, the half-pint of beer, typically a refreshing lager or ale, provides a crisp and effervescent contrast. It's a ritual that encapsulates the essence of Scotland, and that’s exactly why we wanted to give it a modern twist…
The Hive
The Hive is a small batch, hand-crafted Scotch whisky from our friends at Wemyss Malts that captures the sweetness of Speyside in a smooth, honey-like expression. This exquisite blend was crafted from hand selected single malts, boasting a bouquet of florals and sticky blossom honey on the nose, with zesty orange on the palate followed by a tingle of ginger on the tongue. Imagine the golden glow of a warm summer’s day held delicately in your hand.
Now, the team at Vault City have studied this elegant dram extensively (it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it…). So, we can confidently confirm that The Hive can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, served long in a High-Ball or as the basis for an Old Fashioned or Whisky Sour. It can also be served as a twist on the classic 'hauf and a hauf' with Cloudy Lemonade, which is where we saw these flavours start to sing in harmony with our tart, refreshing sour beer.
Cloudy Lemonade
If you’re new here, our beer is a modern take on a very traditional style that creates tropical, tart flavours from our unique house-mixed culture. We then condition our beer on literally tonnes of real fruit, imparting bold colours and flavours.
Cloudy Lemonade is part of our core range and has been a staple of the brewery in some shape or form since the early days. It’s tart, refreshing, and bursting with citrus flavours from fresh lemon juice and zest. Paired with the zingy character of our mixed fermentation base beer, and with a generous dry hop thrown in, it’s light and crushable session sour rounded off with lingering sweetness.
A Perfect Pairing
There are a number of signature serves for this captivating expression, and we were drawn immediately to the Hive-Ball – a long drink with cloudy lemonade and a zingy lemon garnish. This bold combination of flavours showed how well the zesty orange and ginger notes paired with tart citrus and became the inspiration for our own, modern twist on a pub classic. This harmonious pairing is certainly not your regular half and a half.
Our exclusive bundle is available now with The Hive 5cl miniature and 330ml Cloudy Lemonade to create this unique take on a Scottish tradition from the comfort of your home.