FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
The spirit(s) of Christmas
Relieving seasonal stress and finding that perfect gift
By Geoff LastWhen I think of warmth and joy at Christmas time, I think of booze. Sweet, nourishing, joyous booze. And lots of it.
Whether you're sitting around in your underwear listening to death rock and swilling cooking sherry, or savoring fine wine over a good meal with friends, Christmas is a time for imbibing. Christmas can also be a very stressful time of year and when that stress becomes too much to bear, I recommend turning to the bottle.
After several hours of the dreaded shopping mall experience, most of us are ready for a cocktail or two. Can't decide what to get for that favorite uncle? I'll bet there is something in a bottle that would fit the bill. Are you looking for something to do with that foul red wine purchased earlier in the year from Crazy Rick's Discount Liquor & Ammo Mart? Mulled wine will take care of that. How about that bottle of generic brandy that has been in the liquor cabinet since the '70s? Fruit cake, of course (keeping in mind that a lot of people make fruit-cake, but no one actually eats it).
The gift of alcohol says, "Here, have some fun, loosen up, enjoy life." Here then are some suggestions that will put a glow into the cheeks - and possibly the noses - of those deemed worthy this year.
· Single malt scotch: You can't really go wrong here. Single malts are still riding the wave of popularity and the variety offered in Alberta is excellent. In particular, the wood finished malts from Glenmorangie offer something a little unusual and delicious. These whiskys spend 12 years in bourbon casks and then complete their aging in either sherry, port or madiera casks. Finishing them in this method imparts subtle wine-like notes, making them excellent after-dinner whiskys. They can be hard to find, but they are available and sell for around $55 each.
· Bourbon: This month marks the arrival of the long-awaited bourbons from Van Winkle and A.H. Hirsch, two of the finest bourbons made. Van Winkle's 12-year-old sells for $60 and was the decided favorite at a bourbon tasting I conducted recently. For $85 you can get the 16-year-old Hirsch, or their 20-year-old for $115. These are amazingly complex, very special whiskys, ideal for late night sipping while you solve all the problems of the world. Blanton's Single Barrel was another favorite at the tasting, selling for around $55.
· Port: In many ways, the quintessential Christmas wine. Port is made in a number of different styles, from the light, fruity, ruby ports, to the thick, rich and expensive vintage ports. Vintage port makes a nice gift, but unless you can find older vintages, such as Graham's 1985 ($60), these are wines that should go into the cellar for long-term aging. Vintage ports also require decanting and should be consumed within several days after being opened, as they will oxidize. Tawny ports, on the other hand, require no further aging or decanting, and will keep for a long time after being opened. A good 20-year-old tawny, such as Offley's or Taylor Fladgate, will run you around $45 and offer rich, nutty flavors that make a perfect foil to some nice ripe cheese at the end of a meal.
Calgary is fortunate to have a number of very good specialty wine and spirit shops, with some very knowledgeable people working in them. They may charge a little more than some of the discount stores, but these are people dedicated to the love of wine and not the almighty dollar. So if you need a recommendation for a gift of the perfect bottle of wine for the Christmas bird, trust your local wine merchant, that's what they're there for.
So cheers - and may the spirit(s) of Christmas be with you.
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