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4 reviews for Demijohn
All Reviews
I stumbled upon Demijohn by mistake and then entered the establishment with the express intention of not buying anything at all. What. A. Fail.
Demijohn is a so-called 'liquid deli' on Victoria Street, right off the Grassmarket, which is, in my most humble opinion, the place for quirky shopping. It's also the area that will have your money flying out your pockets before you've had the chance to figure out what's going on.
So, my flatmate and I stumbled into the shop, dazzled by the large curvaceous bottles on display in the shop window. These are the kind of bottles that look like they belong in an apothecary or in a giant's chemistry lab. All we wanted to do, in that very naive way of ours, was to have a few tasters of the delicious, decadent looking alcohol. The woman who worked there was very kind and patient, and not at all put off by our excited yelps at all the different delicious liqueurs and spirits that swam in the bottles, which were many times the size of our heads.
Me, I'm a fan of port. I know some people find it sickening, but I'll choose port over dessert (almost) any day. I also love elderberries. Demijohn, would you believe, has elderberry port! We were sold.
Apart from deliciously fruity liqueurs, whisky and sloe gin, Demijohn also has an array of olive oils and vinegars that look to die for.
The deal with this place is that you have to buy a bottle. The apothecary kind. The prices range from 10 pounds up, depending on the size of the bottle. Then, you try the different delectable boozes, point excitedly at the one you crave, and get your bottle filled. Not only do you get tasty liquids from this process, but a pretty snazzy vessel for it too. You can come back and refill your bottle at any time so that you don't have to spend money on another.
Demijohn is just plain awesome. I highly recommend stopping by to have a look. At your own risk, that is.
Demijohn is the kind of place you would come if you wanted to get a gift for someone with a difference.
They sell oils, vinegars and spirits syphoned from huge glass orbs and collected in really pretty bottles which would look gorgeous on the shelves of your pantry!
Everything is so unique and wonderful that it's kind of hard to choose what to buy, but I usually go for an unusual spirit which always goes down well as a gift. Being a gin fan, the Seville Orange flavoured gin is usually top of my list, at £3.80 per 100ml.
It can get expensive, but for something a wee bit different it is definitely worth it.
It looks a bit like what I imagined a potion's master cabinet would look like: stacked high with large strange looking vases containing various liquids in different colours.
This place boasts a wide selection of virgin olive oils of different presses, as well as vinegars,spirits and liquors all elegantly presented and most available for tasting. Of course being a deli things are a bit on the pricey side, but they make perfect individual gifts, especially to those who appreciate good quality oils etc.
I am absolutely thrilled to be able to give the first review of Demijohn! This is probably one of my favorite places to shop for edible things in all the world. The fact that I live in San Francisco, and yet I have at least a dozen Demijohn bottles on my liquor and vinegar shelves at this very moment, should illustrate my deep love. Some were hand carried home by me from my few visits, and others were given as wedding presents from UK-based friends who know us quite well.
They call themselves a "liquid deli," which is quite accurate. Spirits, liqueurs, vinegars, and olive oils are all on offer here in gigantic glass vats - most from Scotland, a few from further afield. Samples of everything are cheerfully given, and when you finally are able to make a decision, you pick out a lovely glass bottle and have it filled and labeled while you wait.
If I ever find another vinegar as delicious as their elderflower, I shall be shocked, and I think I might shed a tear when our bottle of Nelson's Spiced Rum Liqueur is empty. Truly this is a place worth going out of your way for.
