BS: What's your holiday cheer?

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 04:57 AM

I went to the Wrong Whiskey Shop and came out with a jar of pilchards.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 04:02 AM

Went to the Wright Whisky Shop yesterday. Unfortunately they did not have Elysian spirit. Luckily they had some rather good cherry vodka that both Mrs G and I can enjoy. Also got some orange bitters as recommended earlier for Martinis.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 02:35 AM

I shall let you know my tipple once I have gone through my shopping list.

Let's see now..

Potato peelings
Severn Trent's finest Aqua
Zinc bathtub
Heater
Condenser
A dozen bottles

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 10:49 PM

" Cider - Naw, room temp any day if you want to taste it properly!"...

.. providing that room is a stone cold pub cellar... 😜

take it from me, there are a good few local farm ciders you really don't want to taste properly...

PFR - west country born and bred.. cider guzzler since the age of 5 or 6..

unfortunately now retired for middle age health reasons...

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: kendall
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 08:03 PM

A DEAR FRIEND IN ENGLAND INTRODUCED ME TO GLEN MORANGE A FEW YEARS AGO, THEN MY PAL, GORDON BOK CAME BY WITH A JUG OF ABALOUR, AND I WAS HOOKED.PROBLEM WAS, IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND NOT EASY TO FIND HERE.

RECENTLY, HE CAME BY WITH A BOTTLE OF McLELLANDS SINGLE MALT, AND I FOUND THAT I CAN DRINK IT ON THE ROCKS, OR, EVEN NEAT. (DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I HAD ON THE ROCKS):-)
AND, IT IS WAY CHEAPER.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 06:36 AM

Hi Mike, glad the table was of use, and Season's Greetings heartily reciprocated to you and yours.

White fizz straight from the fridge certainly benefits from being allowed to warm up a bit as we found at a family gathering on Sunday!

This is the link to the Jancis Robinson article.

Very much agree with Tattie Bogle about over icing cider, though in summer I do like a nice bottle of Aspall's Premier Cru lightly chilled. Yum!

LFF

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 01:18 AM

Hi Firm Freddie

Many thanks for the chart it is both interesting and useful.
I've put the bottles in my cold store...not a fridge but an out-building where I keep my beers and wines coldish.

I saw an article in one of last week's newspapers from Laithwaites the Wine Sellers.

They are advising us not to serve sparkling whites - Champers. Prosecco etc etc too cold as it kills the aroma.

Many thanks

Seasons best to you and yours

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 09:16 PM

Does exactly the same for cider: where did all that ice rubbish come from? Glass oot the fridge, cider super-cooled, an avalanche of ice in the glass. Naw, room temp any day if you want to taste it properly!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 02:46 PM

Hi Firm Freddie

Many thanks for the chart it is both interesting and useful.
I've put the bottles in my cold store...not a fridge but an out-building where I keep my beers and wines coldish.

I saw an article in one of last week's newspapers from Laithwaites the Wine Sellers.

They are advising us not to serve sparkling whites - Champers. Prosecco etc etc too cold as it kills the aroma.

Many thanks

Seasons best to you and yours

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 11:18 AM

Hi MikeL2

Interesting point

I found this table on Jancis Robinson's site.

She suggests serving red sparklers lightly chilled, but not as chilled as most whites, 10-12 degrees celsius, 50-54 Fahrenheit (or just bung in the fridge for 1.5 hours!)

Wine style        Ideal serving temperature °C/F        Refrigerate for (hrs):
Light, sweet, whites        5-10 / 40-50        4+
Sparkling whites        6-10 / 42-50        4
Light (aromatic) dry whites        8-12 / 46-54        2
Sparkling reds        10-12 / 50-54        1.5
Medium bodied, dry whites        10-12 / 50-54        1.5
Full sweet whites        8-12 / 46-54        2
Light reds        10-12 / 50-54        1.5
Full dry whites        12-16 / 54-60        1
Medium reds        14-17 / 57-63        -
Full or tannic reds        15-18 / 59-65        -

LFF

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 10:32 AM

You'd have to stay up to do that. We are a point off the playoffs and looking better game after game.

Be nice to be back in the premiership. If we fail, we might still be playing Man Utd or even more realistically, Chelsea.

Now there's a thought....

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 10:29 AM

Hi

To get back more on thread this time...

A good friend has just sent me for Christmas a case of Sparkling Red wine called The Full Fifteen.

Now here's the thing, we usually drink our red wines at room temperature. But we usually drink sparking wines cold from the fridge.

Should I chill sparkling red....????

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 10:21 AM

Hi

I for my sins was at Old Trafford on Saturday. United played as if they didn't know each other. There's something wrong somewhere. We shouldn't lose to Norwich - sorry Delia. But fair do's they were by far the better team.

Trouble was I took my two youngest grandsons. They had never been to a Premier league match. They were obviously a bit upset.

Things will have to get better or we could be playing Sheffield Wednesday next year...lol

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 06:38 AM

My guess. Steve's irrational and in my opinion unethical attachment to Liverpool, especially considering the result this weekend may shine a little light on the subject.

Me? I was at Hillsborough watching a real team put four in the back of the net.

Up the Owls!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 04:18 AM

Avoid Anfield ? ................. what for ......d ?

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 03:30 AM

I notice Steve isn't getting any further west today. I'd avoid a zone around Anfield too if I were him.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 10:18 PM

Since there are so many lovers of the wee dram here...

homage to Bottle of the Best

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 08:44 PM

I'll be in Prestwich, Bury and Radcliffe at various times tomorrow if anyone is in the vicinity to shake my hand/ buy me a butty!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:19 PM

Ah Yes, Glen Garioch! Another guid yin! Frae Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire.
Maybe time to mention this: Leave us our Glens

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 07:21 AM

May pop in to our local Aldi for some of that, Raggy! We don't get our Morrisons staff discount on spirits so I if can get them from anywhere at a lower price - I will :-) Did you see Ted while you were there? I remember seeing him as Father Christmas on Eccles precinct a couple of times. Shame he can't do it any more - I reckon he would have been great at it.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:14 AM

I was in Manchester yesterday and called into the ALDI in Eccles (I was using their car-park) They had some Clontarf Single Malt Irish Whiskey at £19.99 a bottle (less than $30)

Bargain !! I bought two. I think I should have got a third. It would make a very nice present.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 05:08 PM

1) You're welcome, gillymor.
2) Have a great Christmas, gnu.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 04:20 PM

GUEST,#... "You have hurt me to the core. I am in Lowery Canada."

Sorry. A lot of Herring Chokers and Bluenosers and Spudders (I won't repeat what those from The Granite Planet call yee) consider Lowly Canada to be just as Uppity as The Centre of the Universe Province.

Anyway, I may relocate to LaBelle in the coming years for cheap beer, better health care... I could go on but I'll lump the rest in the category of common sense and decency.

OH! Kissmeass cheer?

HO HO HO!
NO NO NO!
Baaaaaah humbug!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 11:17 AM

I used to save my pennies for Macallan, as it was the first really good scotch I tried, and several times was gifted some for BDs or Xmas, but now there are SO many choices... and so few pennies... that I try something new as often as I can. I like Cragganmore for late night, Abourlour & Auchentoshan for general sipping and my latest find, Glen Garioch, is a perfectly decent malt.

Sigh... only 47 or so more that I want to sample from the shelves at the local booze-booth.

(the $200 & UP bottles behind the counter are but a pipe-dream)

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 07:49 AM

"bojolly",thanks,#.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 06:17 AM

You just reminded me, Musket. I think a few breweries are now distilling. I had a pint of York breweries 'Dark Ghost' ale a couple of weeks back and on offer alongside it was Elysian spirit, distilled from the same mash! The two together were £5 so I tried it - Very nice too :-)

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 06:15 AM

I'll have to give Highland Park another whirl. It used to be top dog with me, but I had the feeling a few years ago that it had dipped below its peak. I haven't had a bottle for a good few years now. Macallan 10-y-o was my other favourite but I'm all confused as to what's what in their range these days

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:45 AM

Le Bonne Merde?

Good shit.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 11:04 PM

Ah yes, Highland Park, very good. I have only recently learned to appreciate it. I enjoy it so much that it may overtake Laphroig as my favourite. All the beer is Belgian and the wine is out of a box but it is French and very red!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:23 PM

Perhaps I'll uncork a bottle of Le Bonne Merde. It's been sitting on the mantle now for several years. It's a bit dry; I understand that the last person who had a taste was sucked into himself.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:59 PM

Sounds like I need to go down and join Will Fly and Raggytash: try out some of that cider, and Will, I'll bring the Highland Park.
We have a wee family story about Highland Park: we once had to entertain some Japanese visitors, thanks to our daughter having been earlier involved in a Japanese youth exchange scheme. Took them back to our place, and my husband generously offered a few malts around: WEE LIIYKE HIGHLAND PAAAAAAK was the verdict! Next night was a ceilidh night at a rather expensive country club near us: himself, being sociable, offered the visitors a drink: they all ordered Highland Park: 20 years ago now, but still the most expensive round he's ever bought!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:50 PM

Or 2000 bottles of Glenfarclas...

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:49 PM

A bottle or a thousand of Laphroaig Quarter Cask will do me on the desert island. Failing that, Talisker. Or split the difference, so 750 of each. :-) Is it all right if have Kirsty Young too?

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 03:33 PM

"I think I know but I got to ask, what is bojolly?"

It was a term (and pronunciation) I picked up from the character Wojohowitz from the sit-com, Barney Miller. He had a hot date at his place and he was having a meal centered around escargot (which he called esCARgots) and he was accompanying that with a Beaujolais wine (which he called boJOLLy). That tickled my fancy and I've used the pronunciation for about 40 years now.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 02:18 PM

Hmmm just one bottle to take to a desert Island.............


Edradour? Caol Ila? Talisker? Highland Park?


Please Mister can I be abandoned at least 4 Times

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 11:51 AM

I stocked up the whisky and the whiskey today, as I had to be in Bakewell for a meeting.

That said, the fire water that has impressed me most recently is made in a fairly new distillery in Southwold. Yeah, Adnams make their own now and when we tried a taster on holiday last year, we had to buy a couple of bottles. Just over £40 a bottle so no gulping it down but ruddy good stuff. Their own gin is something else too.

I like a smoother taste normally and Bushmills is my poison but a peaty Islay of one type or other is a treat.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 11:06 AM

You're not alone out there, #. I have a fiddling buddy who claims to never having imbibed an adult beverage other than a jug wine made by the Gallo Bros. for over 3 decades. He says that he can honestly state that it's the finest wine he's tasted in over 30 years.

I think I know but I got to ask, what is bojolly?

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:48 AM

After reading this thread I admit I don't have the savvy to speak knowledgeably about various alcohols. I'm still at the stage of thinking 'wine in a box' is the way to go because it doesn't rattle in the grocery cart. I also like bojolly with pasta or sardines. Yes, my friends scoff and ridicule me for it, but since I think any wine that costs more than $8.50 a liter is a waste of money, what can one do. However, I no longer stoop so low as to drink Thunderbird or Ripple, not that I disparage those fruits of the vintner's art. After all, something has to be done with formaldehyde when you remove the biology specimens from it.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:18 AM

If I had to choose ONE whisky to be marooned with on a desert island, it would be Highland Park.

If I had to choose one to be my final sip before I leave this mortal realm, it might be Takisker. That is a harder choice, as I once had one small sip of a super-high gradeCachaça. Never tasted anything like it before or since.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:32 AM

I doubt you will be disappointed Mike, it really is a fine whisky.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:23 AM

Hi Raggy

Not much warm spirit around Stamford Bridge these days.....Oh you mean the Yorkshire one.

Thanks for the link, looks interesting to me. Must try Highland Park one day.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:07 AM

I love cider but I can't drink more than about a half pint because it really upsets my stomach. To cap that, the English Cider Centre is located about 20 minutes away from me by car at Middle Farm, near Firle in Sussex. I can look, I can have the odd taste - but I can't seriously buy!

The Centre is a large, converted farm barn with barrel after barrel and shelf after shelf of bottles to choose from - sweet, dry, rough, smooth, mild, strong - and all combinations.

No Norman cider, though. Crepes, galettes and Norman coder... mmm ...

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:01 AM

I leave the beer to my other half as I don't like the stuff: he prefers IPAs and Blondes! (I'm a red-head!)

Cider is my delight, almost anything in the Aspall range or Thatcher's Katy (not too much as it's STRONG!) Not keen on bottled Magner's or any of those Kopparbergs: all too sweet, and as for flavoured "fruit cider" - why ruin a good cider by putting blackcurrant or raspberry into it?? Some pubs in Edinburgh now doing Somersby on draught, which is better than Strongbow or Magner's Golden Draught. Sad that we cider drinkers get so little choice of draught ciders in pubs (none at all in some) while there may be rows and rows of draught ale pumps!

Wines: prefer white, French or S hemisphere, excluding oaky Australians. N Zealand Sauvignon or unoaked Chardonnay will do me fine. Partial to Viognier either as single grape or in various combinations.

Whisky: not keen on a lot of smoke/peat, so would avoid some versions of Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Talisker, etc. I do like Highland Park (Orkney), Glenkinchie, Glenmorangie, Bruichladdich, and for cask strength, A Bunadh (Aberlour, Speyside distillery).

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:42 AM

Boy, I'm drinking this all in (have coat in hand).
One of the best parts of the holidays is seeing what sorts of potables friends show up with.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:28 AM

I have little to offer. Some Headframe "Never Sweat" I picked up in Butte, some whiskey from Wyoming, a couple bottles of 16 year old Bushmills, some Maker's Mark, some Knob Creek, several decent Scotches, a closet of wine, a couple bottles of decent port, and beers.

Polygamy Porter, Bitch Creek, various IPAs, Moose Drool, Dead Guy, Troutslayer, Midnight Satin, Belligerent Ass, Grog, and others from breweries such as Big Sky, PVB, Snake River.

I can also get Five Wives Vodka if anyone would like to try it.

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:12 AM

My favorite Christmas cheer:

Christmas once
Christmas twice
Holy jumpin' Jesus Christ
Wham bam
Goddamn
Son of a bitch
Shit!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 07:56 AM

There is a stunning Whisky Shop in Stamford Bridge, just off the A64. I really recommend anyone who enjoys a dram to drop in. They have a superb collection. One of the things they specialise in is single cask samplers. Not cheap and in 20ml bottles but well worth it if you are feeling flush.

The Whisky Shop

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 06:53 AM

Hi Steve

Thanks for the info and recommendations. There is huge subjectivity in peoples' judgement here.

I go by one principle when judging wine & spirits.

If I like it - it is good.

Regards
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 06:52 AM

I think, as a Christmas treat, I may need to visit my local temple - The Wright Wine Comapny. Been here almost 3 years and have not yet entered the portal!

Subject: RE: BS: What's your holiday cheer?
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 06:46 AM

Hi Raggy

Thanks for your info on Teeling. I will be having a go at it shortly.

Regards

Mike