Vintage Assessments Home Page

Recent Articles

Archive of National Post Articles

Wines, Spirits & Brews – November 27, 1999

 The Lowdown on Spirits for next 
Saturday's Release 

  By Michael Vaughan

Next week Saturday is the last Vintages release of the millennium. It consists of whopping 158 items. Within its ranks are some exceptional wine buys. The problem of revealing them today is that restaurateurs (who are able to order in advance next Friday) will strip the warehouse bear. So to put everyone on an equal footing, you will have to wait until next Saturday for the full scoop!

I am not shy, however, about divulging some truly excellent spirited buys. Sweet after-dinner breath-cleansers are high on my list.  These pick-me-ups go a long way and, unfortunately, often languish on the shelves because they are not well-know.  An exception is a Hungarian liqueur called St. Hubertus ($18.90) which features a stags head on its label.  Its herbal, sweet but not cloying, herbal, candied tangerine peel flavours are perfect before jumping into the sack!

Looking for something different? Italy produces a staggering variety of liqueurs based on a wide variety of herbs, spices and flowers. The newly listed Vecchio Amaro del Capo is pungent sweet "bitters" with refreshing herbal-coffee-chocolate flavours developed by Calbrian Giuseppe Caffo in 1915. Only 1,225 bottles are available at $21.95. If you like gingerbread, you will love the extremely spicy, sweet Wurzelpeter ($23.90) which is Germany's liquid answer to your cookie cravings.

Need a special Christmas gift? How about a special liqueur first released in 1927 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marnier-Lapostolle. This special edition is based on aged Cognacs with the essence of orange peel and other spices. Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire 1827 - 1927 isn't cheap at $124.80 but it does have wonderfully elegant, gently herbal, sweet candied tangerine peel flavours. The beverage of choice for the person who has everything!

Talking about indulgence, Vintages acquired 60 cases of Hine Cigar Reserve Cognac at $99.95. It's rounded, slightly spicy, plummy-prune flavours are not to be sneezed at! Perhaps even more beguiling is the 15 year old El Dorado Special Reserve Demerara Rum ($46.95) from Guyana. Its nose will sweep you off your feet - sweet cane sugar, molasses, butterscotch and rummy vanilla sticks - yum. With 43% alcohol you will want to nurse this sweetie slowly out of a large snifter.

And don't miss the hands down best buy grappa of the year - the delightful Grappa del Piemonte Antica Pergamena from Bava. At only $26.90 you will be wowed by its rounded, ripe, pear flavours with just a touch of fresh cut grass. Equally worthwhile is the suprisingly refined, rowanberry flavoured Polish vodka called Jarzebiak ($21.80). Its gently honeyed, fresh plum flavours and clean finish make it eligible for drink-neat Martini fans.

Best buy release sherry is Gonzalez-Byass Diamond Jubilee Cream at only $10.45 with its sweet, creamy, caramel flavours. If sweetness is you bag, you must not miss the figgy, viscous Keo Commanderia St. John which is the closest thing to liquid sweet raisin pie I know. A little of this special dessert wine from Cyprus (a 1999 Toronto Wine & Cheese Show Gold Medal winner) goes a long way. 

After all this richness I usually go for a beer chaser and what better than the reddish-amber coloured Liefmans Kriekbeer ($5.10 for 375 ml) with its sweet but refreshing, sour cherry flavours. And for those who can't wait, try the best  dry "strong brew" in the world, Bush 12. This delicious Belgium beauty was just released in Vintages at $2.90 (250 ml) and you will never know that it's 12% alcohol with its creamy, honeyed, malty flavours.