Drinks

Midleton Very Rare Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2021

The latest edition to the vintage series has been crafted by new Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman and is a blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys. In order to maintain a luxurious, balanced aroma and taste profile, O’Gorman selected a mix of first and second still casks to enhance the wood contribution, while allowing the pot still component to express itself.

Showcasing a floral character, the higher selection of grain whiskeys extends to the spectrum of flavours and aromas, which includes baked orchard fruits, lime zest and kiwi, rounded off with mild pot still spices and waves of vanilla.

The texture gains additional wood spices with a delicate touch of clove oil and nutmeg adding a mild heat, giving balance to the sweetness, while the lingering finish with the pot still spices and soft fruits eventually fades, allowing the oak to have the final say. www.midletonveryrare.com

Bottega The 100 Prosecco Recipes

Leading Prosecco producer Sandro Bottega has released ‘The 100 Prosecco Recipes’, a collection of recipes, stories and curiosities.

The 192-page book, published by Mondadori, takes readers on a journey through the Prosecco hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Veneto Region of Italy, where tradition, research and authenticity come together in the name of taste. Bottega’s book is a celebration of the land’s food, wine, landscape and artistic heritage, and serves as a homage to the hard-working people who have created and preserved its culture.

A family-run business, Sandro Bottega manages the Bottega winery and distillery alongside his brother and sister. Founded in 1977 by his father under the name Distilleria Bottega, the company is based in Bibano di Godega, 50km north of Venice, where it produces grappas, wines and liqueurs.

Bottega’s range of wine includes Prosecco, namely the Bottega Gold, and other sparkling wines with great personality. Amarone, Ripasso, Brunello di Montalcino and other reds are produced in the two separate cellars in Valgatara (Valpolicella) and Montalcino.

Marketed under the Alexander and Bottega brands, its grappas include fine selections of single-variety grapes and distillates matured in barriques. Bottega’s offering is completed by the Creams & Liquors line, which features a vast selection of fruit and cream liqueurs, including Limoncino, Gianduia, Fiordilatte and Pistachio. www.bottegaspa.com

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1. Cognac Frapin Cognac Frapin Extra

Cognac Frapin Extra is a blend exclusively harvested, distilled over lees and aged at the estate into the heart of Grande Champagne. The cuvée ages in dry cellars for several decades in order to gain its finesse and elegance. Offering a mahogany colour with warm copper highlights, Extra features aromas of concentrated candied fruit, in addition to aged port mixed with the scent of wooden cigar boxes, typical of old Grande Champagne cognacs. On the palate, the cognac is supple, smooth, rich and luxurious, with a long finish in which all the flavours combine in a subtle and complex harmony that pairs well with a variety of desserts. www.cognac-frapin.com

2. Lillet Blanc, Rosé and Rouge

Crafted since 1872 at Maison Lillet in a small, picturesque village in the region of Bordeaux, Lillet still presents a unique character representative of its heritage. A dedicated team of fewer than ten people perpetuate the authentic production process, skilfully blending wines and a secret recipe of fruit infusions. The ingredients for Lillet’s recipe are chosen with great care: French wines are selected for their quality and organoleptic complexity, while the fruits, cinchona barks, and sweet and bitter orange peels display remarkable freshness and aromatic richness. Subtle and refreshing, Lillet is available in three unique varieties: Blanc, Rosé and Rouge. www.lillet.com

3. Champagne Gosset Celebris Rosé 2007

In 1532, French writer François Rabelais coined the term célèbre to define someone “who is widely praised”. The superlative of this fame – Celebrissime – inspired Champagne Gosset to name its most exceptional cuvée Celebris. First launched in 1988, Celebris fulfilled the vision of the House to create handcrafted Champagne. Celebris Rosé 2007 is one only three editions of this cuvée released over the past 30 years and showcases aromas of ripe red berries as well as the intense freshness of lily and violet flowers. It is fresh and broad on the palette, dominated by strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant, finishing on notes of grapefruit and lemon. www.champagne-gosset.com

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