Yay! It's the busiest time of year for the booze companies which means new products, new flavours and new packaging for some. For others it's the same ol', same ol'; switching things up with revamped cocktail concoctions and tying it all up with a fancy red bow.
Luckily, my loyal readers, you've got me. I've sifted through the bottles piling up on my desk. I've poured and tasted. Twisted and mixed. Spit. Swallowed. And of course savoured, to come up with my picks for the best booze bets this Christmas.
First up: Bombay Sapphire Cranberry Collins.
I may be the spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire, so ya, I'm a little biased but damn this is a fine cocktail.
First, fill a Collins glass with ice. Add about 1 1/2 oz. Bombay Sapphire, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, 1 oz. cranberry juice (white or red) a glug of simple syrup (equal parts sugar dissolved in water), then top with soda.
Sure, the ingredient list is a little long but the outcome is worth it. To save time, mix up a pitcher of these and store in the refrigerator. Oh, and those Turkey Sliders with Lemon and Rosemary Aioli? You can find the recipe at: www.bombaysapphire.com. Look under "Inspired Entertaining for Winter".
Next up is Absolut Vodka. No new flavour and no spokesperson contract, just a shiny new bottle. And who doesn't love a little sparkle under the tree, or on the bar for that matter? This year's limited edition bottle cover is a magnificent blue disco ball. Hang the empty cover from the middle of the dance floor or set in the middle of the table. Who needs a pine-bough centre piece when there's pretty vodka to decorate your party?
Okay, enough of the hard stuff. If liqueurs are more your speed (breakfast cocktails, anyone?!) then the new Mocha flavour from Kahlua might just find its way to your Boxing Day coffee cup. This dark chocolate edition to the Kahlua line is the best of the lot thus far. Both French Vanilla and Hazelnut flavours were launched a year or two ago and added very little to the Kahlua brand. Fad flavours with little staying power. Mocha on the other hand is just what my doctor ordered and this one could stick around for many Boxing Days to come.
Try the Kahlua Mayan Raspberry: shake 2 oz. of Kahlua with 6 raspberries and some ice in a cocktail shaker to crush the raspberries. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass, top with soda and garnish with a raspberry or two. Or tip the bottle into your Starbucks' latte. Makes shopping, baking, caroling and wrapping all the more enjoyable.
And finally, if boozy gift-giving is on your to-do list, a bottle of premium Scotch is sure to be a welcomed edition to any adult's stocking. A single malt from The Macallan family is ideal for both seasoned whisky drinkers and juniors alike. Its line of sophisticated whiskies offer something for everyone and in every price range. Scotch aficionados enjoy the complex flavour notes and richness of The Macallan family, while the entire line is peat free (most Scotches are made with barley that is dried over burning peat). This creates a whisky without that signature earthy smokiness, that can overpower a novice palate and makes for a more accessible whisky.
Here's a pic of me and my boys (David and Gordon) at The Macallan tasting in October. Our choice was the ultra premium 18 Year Old. Our palates are very refined. What can I say?
Bottom line: get thee to your local booze emporium! Wander the aisles and find something new. Drink it yourself. Give it away. Or share it with friends. Tis the season.
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