Samuel Willards Gold Star Wild Duck Bourbon

Still Spirits Top Shelf Candy Shots – Spirit Essence for Home Distillers

What Flavour Is This Essence?

Still Spirits Top Shelf Candy Shots delivers a sweet, confectionery-inspired flavour reminiscent of classic hard candy and lolly-shop favourites. It's bold, fun, and unmistakably sugary — designed to taste like a nostalgic candy treat in liquid form. Think bright, sweet top notes with a smooth, syrupy finish that goes down easily as a chilled shot or mixed into a cocktail.

Flavour Profile

• Top notes: Bright, sugary candy sweetness
• Mid palate: Smooth, syrupy body with confectionery depth
• Finish: Clean and sweet with a fun, lolly-like aftertaste
• Colour: Clear (colour can be added to suit the occasion)
• Best served: Ice cold, straight as a shooter or over ice

What Spirits Can It Make?

This essence is designed to make a candy-flavoured liqueur or shot spirit — ideal as a party shooter, dessert cocktail ingredient, or sweet after-dinner sipper. It sits firmly in the liqueur category, sitting alongside products like fruit schnapps and sweet cream shots.

What Alcohol Base Works Best?

For the best results, use a clean neutral spirit or high-quality vodka base with a minimum of 40% ABV. Still Spirits' own Top Shelf Base or a double-distilled neutral spirit will give you the smoothest, most flavour-true result. Avoid using a base with strong congeners or off-notes, as the candy flavour profile is delicate and can be overpowered by harsh spirit characters.

How to Use It

Using Still Spirits Top Shelf Candy Shots is simple:

1. Add the essence to 700 ml of neutral spirit or vodka at 40% ABV.
2. Stir or shake gently to combine.
3. Sweeten to taste if desired — a small amount of simple syrup or Still Spirits Liqueur Base enhances the mouthfeel.
4. Chill and serve as shots, or mix into cocktails.

No distilling required — just mix, chill, and enjoy. Each pack makes approximately one standard 700 ml bottle of ready-to-drink candy shot spirit.