Off Topic Pre Christmas Friday Night Quaffing Thread

Haven't done one of these for ages but as it's nearing Christmas and after the results on Wednesday at Brum and Bojo last night no doubt there will be a certain amount of quaffing being done either in celebration or drowning sorrows...……..

Me? I'm on an Artisanal Yorkshire Gin flavoured with Blackcurrant and Liquorice and mixed with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic.....

Here's to a belting result at Barnsley tomorrow....

Cheers

Up The R's

 

something to debate: Should you chill red wine in the fridge or serve at room temp. Personally I like red chilled...and have a bottle in the fridge. IS not an expensive red, a cheap one however I guess with a more expensive bottle I would probably refrain but how do ya like yours?

 

How do you define room temperature? Some rooms could be 23 degrees which would make red wine heavy going. I'm all for chilling red wine but not too cold as say for a white wine. Some grapes benefit from chilling, Pinot Noir, Grenache etc as they can be drunk like a rose' whereas the robust grapes like Shiraz/Syrah are probably better without chilling but at around the 18 degree mark...…..

But as with all things wine it's down to personal taste.....

 

It’s fine in the summer in Seville tinto verano but not necessary here

 

Something else to consider/discuss...….wine on tap?

We were in Dublin a few weeks ago and ate in a restaurant that had some wines on tap and have to say they were rather good as they had kept their freshness and hadn't gone stale as they might have done in a bottle that had been open for a while...…..bit of an eye opener....

 

Room temp for me is between 17 and 19...….unless others feel cold and turn the thermostat up.

 

Single malt whisky with a dash of water to celebrate brexit FINALLY getting done.

 

I've just opened a rather pleasant Farinelli Vino Bianco courtesy of Laithwaite's Wines. I say 'courtesy of' because I haven't paid for it. They had a special offer in the summer that entailed signing up for their wine club. I received the special offer case and then cancelled the club subscription, but they later sent me another case anyway. We duly consumed this case and they chased me for payment later, at which point I explained that I would pay for this one but please don't send me any more. They've since sent two more cases which I'm yet to be asked to pay for. If I do wind up paying, it will be at a large discount.

 

Don’t know how much use my quaffing will be to those in the north(ern hemisphere). Mainly focus on Aussie wines and have struggled to find them in the UK.

last night’s tipple was a 2016 Yangarra Shiraz from McLaren Vale in South Australia. Still young but very drinkable now and great with a steak. At 15 quid equivalent, great value and taste.

I aways store red at around 18 degrees and have only ever chilled (lightly) a Pinot. Chilled reds not for me. If I want a cold wine, it’ll be Chardonnay but not as cold as a Sauvignon Blanc.

for gin lovers, there is a really good one from the Yarra Valley that you can get - Four Pillars. They Rare Gin is excellent - particularly with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic. The Bloody Shiraz Gin over ice is a favourite too.

its 9.30am here and getting thirsty thinking of it. Will try to wait...

 

I'm pretty sure we don't have anything like the choices available in Australia but Mrs Maple and I tend to concentrate on Aussie wine, and especially Shiraz, here, too

 

I have spent years trying different reds and have finally found one I like
Barossa ink shiraz
Have stopped looking for a better one as this one's great

 

Not sure I have seen that one around here but I'll keep an eye out for it - sounds like something we should try. Thanks

 

It’s hard to go past any of the Shiraz that come out of the Barossa - if you like them big and bold that is...

 

Jeez, I didn't know we had so many Whinos on here...

Me? I've been on various Pink Gins recently but I'll likely revert to my longtime favourite Southern Comfort with American Dry Ginger, ice and lemon...

 

Cloven Hoof rum. Delicious. I bought some when I saw the makers trying to raise cash on Dragons Den. It really is lovely, especially with tonic water as the manufacturer bloke recommended on telly.

 

Have you downloaded ginventory
Great app for the gin drinker

 

Not sure how easy it would be for you to get, but this is delicious.....

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It's £9.99 from Naked Wines.

 

Last Friday? Two pints of Guinness in the Centurion Bar, Newcastle station, as meeting place, 12.00 noon. It’s actually rather good for a station bar, the old waiting room converted. Then a couple of pints of Maltsmiths IPA in Lane 7, a kind of hipster games centre which saw 5 50 something blokes swearing loudly while ten pin bowling. I lost half a thumbnail in the process, but only noticed later. They bring the beer to your lane. Then a pint in the Bridge Hotel, a proper old Victorian boozer. Sadly the pint, a local ‘citrus’ brew was so lemony as to give the impression of being off. I drank it anyway. By this time we were peckish so had pizza and some pseudo Italian lager in a restaurant called Sambuca. Dire but the company was good. Then detail begins to fade, but might have included time in The Hustler pool hall, and some other watering holes.

Toon is a great city. I had a day off the booze yesterday.

 

Good to see you back - you've been missed.

 

Sorry missed this, as I was quaffing
A rather nice TOAD gin and slimline tonic with loads and loads of ice
At home because I stayed up all the previous night

TOAD: The Oxford Artisan Distillery...jolly nice don't you know