Gift your spirits:
SPIRITS, LIQUEURS, PORT AND SHERRY SPARKLING
Tom Doorley’s festive guide to wines and Champagne
Hennessy XO Cognac €155, Tesco, specialists
A remarkable spirit from a company with strong Irish connections. Pretty presentation too and a clear indication that you’ve been spending!
Boyle’s Old Tom Gin €29.99, Aldi
A rare and distinctive style of gin that has almost died out. Juniper-led and very slightly sweetened, it’s made in Co. Waterford and comes in a very attractive box.
Dingle Single Malt Whiskey Batch No. 4 €70, Celtic Whiskey Shop
Dingle bells! Some of the first whiskey distilled in Dingle – rare and getting rarer, but still great value for something so collectable. The bonus is that it tastes wonderful, complex and long.
Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur €30, O’Briens, Ardkeen Stores, SuperValu
I’m not a cream liqueur fan as a rule, but this one from West Cork (and literally five dairy farms) is absolutely scrumptuous. For someone with a sweetish tooth.
Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey €5.95/5cl miniature, Mitchell’s
The perfect stocking filler for the whiskey lover in your life. This iconic whiskey, long associated with Mitchell’s, the wine merchants, is sensationally good. You can get a full bottle for €65.
Maynard’s 40 Year Old Tawny Port €39.99, Aldi
Port is the ultimate wine for Christmas and this is, perhaps, the ultimate port. Fabulously complex, with unbelievable length, it’s one of the bargains of the year. Looks pretty cool too.
Marks & Spencer Palo Cortado €12.99/37.5cl, Marks & Spencer
Bone dry and rare, this is a mature sherry with layer upon layer of flavour. It’s for the sherry afficionado, not someone who prefers a thimbleful of the sweet, big-brand stuff.
Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny
Port €30, Le Caveau, Mitchell’s, Tesco
Port lovers will know the name, and this wood-aged port doesn’t need decanting. I can’t imagine anyone not appreciating this.
Chateau de Fargues Sauternes 2003 €90, Greenacres, Wexford
Tastes almost like the legendary Yquem (same owner) but at a fraction of the price. Greenacres has an incredible range of fine wines at decent prices. Worth a trip.
Champagne Pol Roger NV White Foil €54.95, O’Briens, Bradley’s, independents
One of my favourite grand marque Champagnes. Always elegant and utterly consistent, from a house that is still family-owned. Churchill lived on the stuff.
Champagne Beaumont des Crayères Grand Rèserve NV €29.95, O’Briens
Champagne doesn’t have to have a famous name to be great! This is rock solid stuff, as attested by multiple awards. For someone who isn’t a label drinker.
Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV €35, Tesco
Elegant yet big and broad in the mouth, this Champagne from only premier cru vineyards is greatly under-rated. This is an inside-track wine gift.
Champagne Veuve Monsigny 2010 €29.99, Aldi
Not just a single vintage Champagne rather than the usual NV blends, this is a blanc des blancs, i.e. 100% chardonnay. Elegant, poised, toasty, with citrus zest and ripe apple.
Champagne Comte de Senneval NV €19.99, Lidl
Light and lively, this a young style of Champagne. Refreshing, easy-drinking and fun.