The Golden Spiced Botanical is the most unusual of M&S's three distilled AF spirits. Where the others lean gin-adjacent, this one goes somewhere different — the inclusion of sarsaparilla, ashwagandha root and allspice gives it a character closer to a warming spice cordial or amaro-lite than a conventional botanical spirit. The golden colour comes from caramel colouring, and the nose backs that up: it's warm and sweet rather than cold and juniper-driven. Ginger extract adds heat; lime peel contributes brightness; chilli extract gives a back-palate kick that sneaks up slowly. The sugar content is just 0.1g per 100ml despite the sweetness impression, because glycerol is doing much of the structural work. At 30 kcal per 100ml in a 700ml bottle, it's a long-lasting option if you treat it like a spirit — measured pours over ice with soda or ginger beer. Vegan-friendly. Interesting enough to be worth trying if the spice-led category appeals.