Smoky Wines and Spirits for the 5th of November

 

There’s something about Bonfire Night that makes a smoky drink taste even better. The crackle of fire, the smell of woodsmoke in the air, the warmth of a good whisky or a glass of red wine as the temperature drops, it’s one of the great pleasures of autumn.

At Butler’s, we love finding drinks that capture the character of the season, and this year we’ve put together a selection to channel the smoky atmosphere of November 5th. From a crisp white wine with a flinty, smoky edge to volcanic reds, mezcal and peated Scotch whisky, these bottles are made for evenings when the nights are cold and the fires are burning.

So, if you’re heading out to watch the fireworks, gathering around a fire pit or settling in for a cosy evening at home, here are six drinks to try this Bonfire Night.

 

 

Domaine Bruno Blondelet Pouilly-Fumé 2025

Pouilly-Fumé is one of the classic wine appellations of the Loire Valley, celebrated for Sauvignon Blanc with freshness and a distinctive mineral character. The word fumé means “smoky” in French, traditionally associated with the fine grey bloom that can appear on ripening Sauvignon Blanc grapes, as well as the flinty, smoky aromas often found in the wines.

Domaine Bruno Blondelet produces characterful Pouilly-Fumé that showcases the Sauvignon Blanc grape and the region’s distinctive soils. Expect a fresh, lively white wine with citrus and green fruit, alongside mineral notes that can evoke struck flint and a faint smoky edge.

This is the bottle for anyone who prefers their Bonfire Night drinks crisp and refreshing rather than rich and warming. Its acidity makes it a great match for smoked salmon, grilled prawns, goats’ cheese or salty snacks enjoyed while watching the fireworks.

 

 

Masseria Setteporte Etna Rosso Organic 2023

For a wine with a genuine connection to fire and brimstone, look no further than Sicily’s Mount Etna.

This Sicilian beauty comes from vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes. The vineyards benefit from the mountain’s altitude, cooler conditions and volcanic soils, producing wines that can combine fragrant red fruit with freshness, earthy complexity and a distinctive mineral character.

Made from Nerello Mascalese and other traditional local varieties, Etna Rosso often offers a more elegant, savoury style of red than you might expect from southern Italy. Expect red cherry, wild berries, herbs and earthy notes, with a subtle smoky or ash-like character that reflects its volcanic home.

This isn’t a heavy, jammy red. Its freshness and structure make it particularly versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with grilled vegetables, roast mushrooms, sausages, lamb or a smoky aubergine dish.

There’s something fitting about drinking a wine born on the slopes of a volcano while celebrating a night dedicated to fire.

 

 

Metzer Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

South Africa is home to some wonderfully expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Metzer name is associated with the warm, dry conditions of Stellenbosch, where ripe fruit and structured reds thrive.

Cabernet Sauvignon is naturally suited to the colder months, offering dark fruit flavours, firm tannins and savoury complexity. Depending on the vintage and winemaking, you can find notes of blackcurrant, plum, cedar, herbs and spice, with a smoky character that works particularly well alongside food cooked over flames.

The Metzer is a bottle to consider when the Bonfire Night menu is more substantial. Bring out the burgers, sausages, grilled steak or slow-cooked beef, and let the wine’s dark fruit and structure complement those charred, smoky flavours.

It’s also a good choice for anyone who enjoys a classic, full-bodied red when the evenings turn colder.

 

 

Derrumbes Oaxaca Joven Mezcal 70cl, 47.5% ABV

If smoke is what you’re after, mezcal deserves a place on the Bonfire Night drinks list.

Derrumbes comes from Oaxaca, Mexico, a region with a long tradition of agave cultivation and mezcal production. Unlike many spirits, whose ingredients are cooked using more conventional methods, traditional mezcal production often involves cooking agave hearts in underground, stone-lined pits. This process helps develop the distinctive smoky, earthy flavours that make mezcal so recognisable.

The Derrumbes range explores the diversity of Mexican mezcal, and this Oaxaca expression is a brilliant option for adventurous drinkers who want something with real character, full of agave-led flavours alongside smoke, earthy notes and a warming finish.

At 47.5% ABV, this is a spirit to approach thoughtfully. Try it neat in a small glass, allowing it to open up a little before sipping, or use it to add a smoky dimension to a cocktail. A mezcal Margarita is a great starting point, while a simple mix with fresh lime can let the spirit’s character shine.

For a drink that captures the atmosphere of a fire burning late into the evening, mezcal is hard to beat.

 

 

Torabhaig Whisky Legacy 2 Allt Gleann Single Malt, 46% ABV, 70cl

Few drinks evoke smoke quite like a peated Scotch whisky, and Torabhaig brings that character from the Isle of Skye.

Torabhaig is a relatively young distillery with a timeless sense of place, producing single malt whisky that draws on the island’s rugged landscape and maritime surroundings. Legacy 2 Allt Gleann is part of its early Legacy series, showcasing a peated style with a balance of smoke, malt and coastal character.

Peat has long been used in Scottish whisky production to dry malted barley, and the smoke from this process leaves compounds that contribute to the whisky’s distinctive aromas and flavours. In the glass, peated whisky can evoke woodsmoke, earthy notes, sea air and a gentle medicinal edge, balanced by sweetness from the malt and the influence of maturation.

At 46% ABV, Torabhaig Allt Gleann is a rewarding spirit to sip slowly as the evening cools. Enjoy it neat, or add a few drops of water to see how its aromas develop.

It’s an excellent choice for whisky drinkers who like their smoke layered with complexity rather than simply overpowering.

 

 

Wholly Smoke Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl

The name alone makes this a natural fit for Bonfire Night.

Wholly Smoke brings together malt whiskies to create a smoky, warming style that’s ideal for the colder months. Blended malt Scotch is made exclusively from malt whisky distilled at more than one distillery, rather than combining malt and grain whiskies as in a blended Scotch.

The appeal lies in the balance: smoke can sit alongside malt sweetness, spice and warming oak, making the whisky approachable while still offering plenty of character. It’s a good bottle to share after dinner, particularly if you’re gathered around a fire or watching the last of the fireworks from somewhere warm.

Serve it neat in a whisky glass and take your time with it. The smoky character makes it an especially fitting end to a Bonfire Night feast.

Light the Fire and Pour Something Smoky

Bonfire Night is a celebration of fire, warmth and those first properly chilly evenings of the year. And while not every drink needs to taste like a campfire, a little smoke can be a wonderful thing when the weather turns.

Explore the range at Butler’s Wine Cellar online or pop into the shop, and find a bottle to enjoy alongside your Bonfire Night celebrations.

Wrap up warm, stay safe around the fireworks, and raise a glass to the season.