Cheers to a jolly Jubilee!
From platinum Pimm’s to fizz fit for a queen, HELEN McGINN on how to say
Next month the nation marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with picnics, street parties and garden get-togethers.
But never mind the bunting, the real question is what bottles we should stock up on to mark such a special occasion?
One thing is for sure, this won’t be a dry old do. Drinks expert Helen McGinn rounds up the best-dressed Jubilee tipples . . .
MOET FOR HER MAJESTY
Moet & Chandon Rosé Impérial Platinum Jubilee Cuvée Brut NV, £44, Waitrose tHis limited-edition bottle, launching tomorrow, has been created by one of the world’s most famous champagne houses, and it’s suitably dressed. the champagne more than lives up to expectations. Made from mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with some Pinot Meunier, it has spent Moet’s usual 21 months ageing, much longer than required. the result is fresh and toasty with fruit flavours. expensive but worth it. 9/10
LA VIE EN ROSÉ Whispering Angel, £20, Sainsbury’s
PerHaPs we don’t yet make enough english rosé to go round, but it seems bonkers that the official rosé wine of the Pageant is French, from Provence’s Chateau d’esclans, and £20 a pop, while the official sparkling wine is champagne. Made from a veritable cocktail of classic Provence grapes including Grenache and Cinsault, this is light, crisp and refreshing. think citrus with a hint of redcurrant fruits. 8/10
ENGLISH ALTERNATIVE
Platinum Jubilee English Sparkling, £35.99, virginwines.co.uk iF tHere’s one style of wine we can compete with the French on it’s sparkling. this sparkler has been made exclusively for Virgin Wines by Henners, an english producer based in east sussex, from a blend of classic champagne grapes. the result is rich and toasty with a lick of lemon on a bed of bubbles. Perfect with smoked salmon sandwiches. Move fast as there are only 500 bottles. 7/10
A SOVEREIGN HOPS
M&S Platinum Jubilee Ale, £3, M&S tHis isn’t just any beer. this is M&s’s special Jubilee golden ale, brewed with appropriately named sovereign hops. it’s created by elgood’s, a traditional brewery in the Fens, which has a long history of commemorating royal milestones with celebration brews. it has pulled it out of the bag with this gorgeous ale with a whiff of caramel and spice and plenty of classic hoppy flavours. it looks fabulous too. the ideal match for picnic treats such as pork pies and sausage rolls. 9/10
COTSWOLDS CLASSIC
The Cotswolds Distillery Platinum Jubilee Gin, £35, Majestic tHis award-winning Cotswolds distillery loves playing around with flavour and for its Platinum Jubilee Gin, released this month with 6,000 bottles, it has given its classic London Dry gin a distinct summer twist, layering the spirit with strawberry, raspberry and pink pepper. it works a treat! as soon as you stick your nose in the glass you get a waft of summer pudding but still with that essential juniper kick. Mix with tonic over plenty of ice and drop in a halved strawberry to up the summer feeling. 9/10
GIN-IUS BOTTLE M&S British Strawberry Gin Liqueur, £16, M&S
iF tHere were a prize for best dressed, this bunting-strewn bottle would definitely be in the running. if you’re looking to knock up some Jubilee-themed cocktails, this gin liqueur is a great option. infused with British strawberries, it really does smell of them. For a simple cocktail just add a slug of this to a flute, top up with prosecco and drop a strawberry in. Dangerously drinkable! 7/10
STREET PARTY PIMM’S Pimm’s Jubilee Bottle, £16, Co-op
GarDeN parties just aren’t the same without some sort of ginbased summer Cup. You could of course make your own, but a far easier option is to make up big pitchers using a pre-mixed base like Pimm’s and simply top up with lemonade or ginger ale and as much chopped fruit as you can cram in. this one’s suitably dressed for a garden party — though the same recipe as regular Pimm’s — and delivers a reassuring hit of sweetness and booze. a quintessential english thirst-quencher. 7/10
HOMEGROWN HERO
Nyetimber’s Queen’s Jubilee Limited-Edition Classic Cuvee, £37.50, nyetimber.com PiONeeriNG sussex-based Nyetimber has given some of its bottles a makeover, covering them with an iridescent oystercoloured sleeve decorated with seven crowns, one for each decade of the Queen’s reign. What’s inside is suitably smart, a classic mixture of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. think crumbled lemon biscuits and a touch of nuttiness. a seriously stylish way to toast Her Majesty. 8/10