Find out about our specially created Christmas taste sensation Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum from Jonathan Moore our Food & Trends SD

<p>When you’re tucking into your first <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">mince pie</a>, carving your <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/fresh-turkey-pre-order/asda-extra-special-medium-free-range-corn-fed-norfolk-bronze-turkey-typically-4-75-kg/1000091960597?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Christmas turkey</a>, or enjoying just one more <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/frozen-pigs-in-blankets-stuffing-sides/asda-extra-special-12-british-pigs-in-blankets/1000383113279?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">pig in its blanket</a>, Jonathan Moore, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Innovation and Trends, can rest assured that his handiwork is done. After months in the making, Jonathan and his team are extremely proud of the <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/event/christmas?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Christmas range</a> they’ve developed this year. Here, he shares what it takes to create a signature flavour that you’ll utterly adore…</p>
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<p><strong>What a fantastic job title, Jonathan… </strong></p>
<p>Yes, thank you! I’ve been in this role at Asda for months and, before that, I worked with other retailers here in the UK and in the Middle East. I also used to work as a sous chef in a Michelin star restaurant and owned a trend consultancy for six years, travelling around the world and meeting lots of interesting people.</p>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/231120-brown-butter-mince-pie__square_GL?scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
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<p><strong>So, tell us about this year’s signature flavour for Christmas… </strong></p>
<p>There’s been a lot of work to get to our Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum signature flavour for this season. We spent a great deal of time future-gazing and looking at trends, not just in the culinary world but across things like mixology. When you look at brown butter, it’s something that’s being used a lot in fine dining, so we wanted to explore it. It’s often used in classical French cookery, both in patisserie and savoury dishes such as pan-fried skate with capers. It really elevates a dish, balancing out the top notes and bringing a rich, nutty finish. It was when I was walking my dog one day that I had the idea of pairing it with a spirit. So, the team and I brainstormed and looked at what trends we were seeing in the mixology world and that’s when we had our lightbulb moment: Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum. The rum brings hints of lime, cinnamon, and pepper, which work well with the richness of some of our products.</p>
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<p><strong>When did you start working on the concept?</strong></p>
<p>In the role of innovation, we never really stop. It’s not ‘ok, it’s nine o’clock on a Monday and we’re going to talk about Christmas’ – it doesn’t work like that. I’m a great believer that when you’re not thinking, you might come up with your best idea. But to put it into perspective, in July we started conjuring up ideas for next Christmas!</p>
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<p><strong>So how are you using the signature flavour across some of the products this Christmas?</strong></p>
<p>Well, we sense checked how the flavours would marry up with a variety of products – everything from our turkey and pigs in blankets to mince pies and shortbread. We know that a lot of people are used to cooking for two or four guests but, at Christmas, 16 people can turn up so it’s important that we’re always thinking about what our customers want to cook and that our dishes remain traditional but have a funky twist. One of my favourites is our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/hot-cross-buns-teacakes/asda-extra-special-spiced-rum-brown-butter-flavour-stollen-wreath/1000383189436?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Stollen Wreath</a>. The fruit is macerated in the spiced rum, and it eats beautifully – I like to warm it in the oven for about five minutes before serving. I’ll definitely be buying some for Christmas.</p>
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<p><strong>What’s your favourite part of your role? </strong></p>
<p>Tasting all those products is really exciting as it’s a culmination of lots of work that people have done. We stay really close to the process; every Wednesday we have tastings where I meet with the product developers and give feedback, signing off products alongside the Senior Director of New Product Development. It might be that we need more rum in a product, or the fruit needs to be macerated for longer. We work really hard to make sure that the final product is the best it can be and that it ties back to our original idea.</p>
<p>To take something from a concept to a product stage reminds me of my cheffing days when everything comes together at the pass, and you feel that adrenaline rush. The only difference is in a restaurant you’re maybe doing 30 covers, but in store you’re reaching thousands of people. It’s a great feeling.</p>
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<p>If you want to learn about what goes into our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies</a>, read our <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/mince-pies-meet-the-tastemakers" target="_blank">Tastemakers article</a> that explains the detailed process from producer to plate.</p>

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<h2>Jonathan's top picks</h2>
<p>So many to choose from… Here are some special signature flavour treats.</p>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089224182_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/luxury-biscuits/asda-extra-special-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum-shortbread-150-g/1000383191141?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter & Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread</a></p></center>
<center><p>Made to an all-butter recipe with a dash of dark rum.</p></center>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089159538_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/christmas-baking/asda-extra-special-dark-rum-brown-butter-flavour-spiced-mincemeat-411-g/1000383182796?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Dark Rum & Brown Butter Flavour Spiced Mincemeat</a></p></center>
<center><p>With warming spices, sweet vine fruits and treacle.</p></center>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089158289_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/hot-cross-buns-teacakes/asda-extra-special-spiced-rum-brown-butter-flavour-stollen-wreath/1000383189436?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Spiced Rum & Brown Butter Flavour Stollen Wreath</a></p></center>
<center><p>Richly spiced with cardamom, cloves and nutmeg with candied citrus peels and a splash of Jamaican rum.</p></center>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089289341_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/toffee-fudge-liquorice/asda-extra-special-brown-butter-spiced-rum-fudge-150-g/1000383192217?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter & Spiced Rum Fudge</a></p></center>
<center><p>Buttery sweet fudge, blended with spiced rum. indulgently sweet, small batch fudge.</p></center>
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<p>Want to try our new signature flavoured Christmas products? Find all our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/dept/christmas/extra-special-christmas/1215684243334-1215686353196?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Christmas</a> treats online at <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda.com</a> or pop into <a href="https://storelocator.asda.com/" target="_blank">your local store</a>.</p>

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<span style="font-style:italic;"><p>*If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age. Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.</p></span>
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Signature Flavour: Brown Butter & Rum

By Asda Good Living,30th November 2023

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