On the grapevine
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... DRINKS FOR DISCERNING DADS
WHETHER it’s a famously crowdpleasing red, a bold new expression or a whiskey for cocktail hounds, why not bend an elbow with the old man this Father’s Day (June 16) and treat him to one of these delectable drinks.
■ MARTINI Fiero (Currently reduced to £9 from £15, 75cl, Ocado) A VIBRANT, red-orange vermouth with va-va-voom from the zesty bittersweet orange flavours.
Meaning ‘wild’ in Italian, Martini’s new Fiero is refreshingly easy to drink and serve. A blend of white wines and botanicals, serve equal parts Fiero and tonic in a large wine glass over ice and garnish with an orange slice. Bellissimo!
■ PENFOLDS Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia (£19.75, Sainsbury’s)
FAMOUS for producing Grange, Australia’s most prized red, Penfolds Max’s label is dedicated to its legendary winemaker and Grange creator, Max Schubert – and it’s one of the best cab sav deals around for a blockbuster red with excellent credentials. The wine spends 12 months in French and American oak and offers rich, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit galore.
■ BOMBAY Sapphire English Estate Gin (£22, 70cl, Ocado)
WE love the new-look Bombay inspired by the rolling hills, valleys and ancient woodland of Hampshire.
Its limited edition English Estate is the gateway to a more complex gin with three additional botanicals – pennyroyal mint, rosehip and hazelnut to ‘capture the essence of an English garden’.
■ NEPTUNE Rum (Currently reduced to £24 from £34.99, 70cl, 31dover.com)
A GOLDEN Barbadian rum named after the god of the sea, it honours the island’s rich rum history with pure sugar cane molasses at its core, aged in bourbon oak casks.
With a double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and British Rum of the Year
2018 among its silverware, it balances sweet tropical fruits with spicy notes and offers a smooth ride all the way.
■ CHAMPAGNE Bollinger Rose, France (currently £37.49 from £49.99, Waitrose)
THE daddy of all champagnes, you’ll be captivated by the vivacity and fruitiness of this rich and savoury rose, with hints of wild red berries, spice and toasty notes.
With a seductive, fruity complexity, fabulous freshness and length, it’s awesome on its own but also pairs well with a variety of dishes.