Drink for diversity: Aidy Smith
(Picture: Aidy Smith)Pride offers a moment to celebrate the future, while still paying tribute to the past. The parades showcase the progression and pride the LGBTQIA+ community has fought for, but we shouldn’t forget the tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done; it is a celebration, yes, but it is a protest too.
It’s gladdening that various drinks brands are joining in to help fight this mission — below are a small handful of them — but I want to note that while writing this piece, it became profoundly evident how little support there is within the wine industry for LGBTQIA+ in comparison to the beer and spirits trade. Having been in the wine industry and broader drinks world for a decade or so, this sadly doesn’t surprise me; there is a noticeable lack of diversity. It is an industry that could be doing so much good, more LGBTQIA+ representation is a must.
Absolut Rainbow
Asbolut vodka has supported LGBTQIA+ communities for more than 40 years — they were the first spirit to proudly don a rainbow flag on their bottle, and since the 1980s have raised more than $40 million for LGBTQIA-focused charities. There are companies who throw a one-off Pride event to tick the support box, but this Swedish gem is not one of them. They are one of, if not the largest drinks brand supporting our wonderful rainbow; I’ll drink to that.
£33.20, Spirits 24
Madame F x Queer Britain
Madame F’s labels come as part of the company’s pledge to support LGBTQIA+ talent. These bottles are the result of a creative collaboration with the UK’s first LGBTQ+ Museum, Queer Britain. It sees the pair launch Queer Britain Madame F Award, which will give away £30,000 to support creative talent across the UK’s LGBTQ+ community. Each year, the top award winner will see their art placed on all three bottles, which are all distinct and exciting blends; the fruity white, refreshing rosé and smooth dark bramble red are all sophisticated with a dash of sass; pop the cork and have some fun.
£36 for a three bottle pack, Amazon
Proud Beer
Here we have the original Queer Beer, crafted by a team of LGBTQ+ people who love a good brew. You won’t see a one-off campaign during June here; instead, Proud Beer donates 20p from every single bottle straight to their charity partners, ensuring every sale makes a difference, and have also launched a trans edition. The beer is packed full of golden pale ale delightfulness: think citrus and elderflower with a crisp freshness and orange rind finish. Or as they put it: “It’s the perfect antidote to anyone suffering from toxic masculinity”. Cheers to that.
£28 (12 x 330ml), Proud Beer
Crystal Head Pride edition
Crystal Head have been doing their part to help the LGBTQIA+ community for a while now, and have had partnerships with Stonewall Sports, the Test Positive Awareness Network, and the Lurie Children’s Hospital Transgender Youth Program. Each year, they also launch their rainbow-coloured decanter as part of a Pride push to raise funds for the Kaleidoscope Trust. The beautiful bottle is filled with their original blend, distilled four times from locally-sourced Canadian corn before being filtered through Herkimer diamonds and blended with pristine Newfoundland water. It’s sensuously smooth and makes one of the best Martinis you’ll ever sip.
£46.48, The Bottle Club
Barefoot Pinot Grigio
Barefoot is the wine world’s longest-standing champion of Pride, having pledged their support since the Eighties. Beyond this, they’ve been a key ally for the LGTBQIA+ community for as long as I can remember, donating to a variety of charities on an annual basis. Their latest partnership is with the LGBT Foundation, which helps those who are suffering isolation and loneliness, post-pandemic. Given the wine industry has such a long way to go in terms of diversity, it’s refreshing to see a brand that has been a queer advocate for so many decades. For this reason alone, they deserve a place on this list. If strawberries and peaches are your thing, then pick up this Pride pinot.
£5.75, barefootwine.com
Stonewall Gin
I’ve been following Stonewall Gin founder Joe Wilson for a while now. He started the brand as a one-man band last year and since has grown this beautiful gin from strength to strength, and is a keen spokesperson for LGBTQIA+ rights. Inspired to give a nod to the Stonewall Riots, which set in motion a more welcoming world for the community, his gins scream personality and make a mighty g n’t. Grab your rainbow flag bottles and sip with pride, knowing that £1 from every bottle goes straight back to Stonewall UK.
£38, Harvey Nichols
The Chambord Pride pack
To my mind, Chambord is one of the most underrated liqueurs on the planet, given it’s bursting with raspberry and blackcurrant flavours. The recipe is a blend of fresh meadow berries, XO cognac, Madagascan vanilla, honey and citrus peel. This berry-forward delight is the quintessential ingredient to so many drinks — the French martini may be what it is known for, but the Chambord berry spritz gives the Aperol version a run for its money. In celebration of their ongoing support of Pride, they’ve launched a limited edition Pride Pack, with 50p from each sale going straight to Stonewall.
£8, Tesco
