Sheppy’s Oak Matured Vintage Cider Review

Sheppy’s Oak Matured Vintage Cider review

 

Sheppy’s Oak Matured Vintage Cider 

Sheppy’s vintage cider is matured in oak vats for up to 12 months and this dedication to flavour truly comes across in the cider. It is not as sweet as a lot of cider, it has an interesting balance of acidity and sweetness. It is fine and full flavoured. The oak really comes across and there is a strong, mature bitterness that balances well with the sweetness of the cider. It is interesting, tasty and strong. We liked it and think it will even suit people who don’t like cider because it is too sweet.

An interesting, strong, mature cider, the oak really comes out. Good and interesting.

 

 

Whiskey Cocktail Recipes | Cocktail Ideas

With cocktail season fast-approaching, thirsty folk on the search for the perfect summer sundowner need look no further than The Wild Geese whiskey cocktails.

The super premium Irish whiskey makers have teamed up with renowned bartender Marian Beke of critically acclaimed, Nightjar, voted one of the world’s best cocktail bars, to create a range of exclusive cocktails perfect for those long sunny days. Multi award winning The Wild Geese, enlisted the expertise of Marian, to hand-craft an array of bespoke and soulful cocktails bursting with intense flavour and dressed with delicate garnishes.

The first in the line-up, The Irish Apple, will invigorate and refresh at the end of a hot, balmy summer’s evening. The Wild Geese Classic Blend is fused with dry apple cider and tart rhubarb juice to create a cocktail to enjoy whilst soaking up the last of the rays. Sweet caramel is drizzled over the top of the long drink to add a touch of sweetness to this artisanal cocktail.

The Sarsfield Swizzle is a twist on the classic swizzle cocktail with a hint of spice. The Wild Geese Classic Blend is firstly mixed with crisp, botanical gin syrup and a dash of green tea bitters. Tangy lemon balm is added to the drink to bring out the citrus notes in The Wild Geese Classic Blend, and finally topped up with lemongrass and chilli beer for a zingy finish. Named after Patrick Sarsfield, the Irish hero who led the original Wild Geese in 1691, this cocktail mixes innovation and tradition perfectly.

For the third recipe, Beke marries The Wild Geese Rare Irish with the exotic juices of the Ugly Fruit, to achieve the ultimate bittersweet serve. The Freedom Sour is an innovative take on the ever-popular Whiskey Sour, freshened up with maple syrup and a layer of Matcha tea foam.

The three times voted ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ collection is made with superb quality aged Irish Whiskey stock and uses a special Extended Double Distillation process, creating a unique smoothness and richness unlike any other whiskey. The subtle and complex flavours are created using a pioneering distillation process, providing an unusual balance between robust and spicy malt, and light smooth grain.

Irish Applecocktailrecipe

Irish Apple

2 parts The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish Whiskey

1 part apple and rhubarb juice

3 parts dry cider

1/2 part Kamms & Sons

Mix the Classic Blend, dry cider and apple & rhubarb juice by ‘rolling’ them in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a highball glass and float a large ice ball on top. Add the Kamms & Sons to create a bittersweet taste and garnish with a crab apple and apple blossom. Drizzle fresh caramel over the garnish for the final touch.

Sarsfield Swizzlecocktailrecipe

Sarsfield Swizzle

2 part The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish Whiskey

1 part gin botanical syrup or 1/2 part gin & 1/2 sugar syrup

Dash of green tea bitters

Lemon balm

Top up with homemade lemongrass and chili beer

Pour a full measure of The Wild Geese Classic Blend directly into the serving glass. Add gin syrup as a sweetener and a dash of green tea bitter. Add lemon balm leaves to compliment the citrus notes in the Classic Blend. Top up with lemongrass & chilli beer and ‘swizzle’ the ingredients to mix them. Serve with pinewood and sweet spice.

freedomsourcocktailrecipe

Freedom Sour

2 part The Wild Geese Rare Irish Whiskey

1/2 part maple/ honey syrup

2 parts fresh squeezed ugly fruit juice

Few dashes of bitter

Matcha tea foam

Shake and serve in martini glass, top it off with matcha tea foam.

One last one for the World Cup.

Gold Cup

goldcupworldcupcocktail

Ingredients
2 parts The Wild Geese Classic Blend Whiskey
1/2 part of lime juice
1/2 part coconut cream
1/2 part sugar syrup

Garnish
1/2 part of blue curaçao
lemon
passion fruit shell

Method
Blend a small handful of basil leaves, coconut cream and lime juice together until you have a liquid form. Pour into a cocktail shaker with sugar syrup and The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish whiskey then shake hard with ice.

Serve in a rocks glass over crushed ice and add a passion fruit shell. Fill the shell with blue curaçao and garnish with the zest of a lemon. Add your nation’s flag to celebrate your team for the final, champion touch.

The combination of the triple citrus notes (orange, lime and lemon) with the coolness of the basil leaves make this a super refreshing cocktail with a mild and creamy, sweet finish.

Which one will you make?

Sainsbury’s Blanc de Blancs Brut NV Champagne Review

We have been reviewing a lot of champagne here at Frost Magazine. It is a pretty awesome job made even better when you get a bottle of really good stuff to review. Enter Sainsbury’s Blanc de Blancs Brut NV Champagne. A crisp, dry, delicious, delicate and floral champagne made solely from the chardonnay grape. It comes from family producer Duval-Leroy. It is an excellent champagne, with good breadth, freshness and a dry finish. It is also very well balanced. 

 

 Sainsbury's Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV review

 

This bottle may be Sainsbury’s own brand but it is just as good as the expensive brands. Really stunning.

 

All champagne comes from the champagne region in France because it creates the best sparkling wines in the world. It is blessed with a unique combinations of conditions. If it comes from somewhere else, it isn’t champagne. Prosecco comes from Italy, Cava from Spain. You probably already knew that, but worth noting.

 

£22.50 from Sainsbury’s.

 

Fattoria La Vialla Casa Conforto Chianti Superiore 2011 Wine Review

For someone who never thought they were a fan of red wine, I sure have been enjoying a lot recently. And right at the top of the list is this stunning Chianti from Fattoria La Vialla, the first-class Tuscan farm that Frost is such a fan of. Their Casa Conforto Chianti Superiore 2011 is a ruby-red Chianti with purple flashes and a delicious scent of fresh cherries and irises, combined with woodland and oak. It is fresh with a sweet and persistently fruity aftertaste. The best Chianti I have ever tasted. It is also possibly the best Chianti on the market and only ‘possibly’ because I have not tried them all. It is certainly one of the best red wines in the world. no exaggeration.

Fattoria La Vialla Casa Conforto Chianti Superiore 2011 Wine ReviewIn fact, this wine was reviewed at a dinner party I had in my home. My fiancee and I rarely drink red wine, preferring rosé or white, our guests loved red wine and drank it all the time: we all agreed on the absolute brilliance of the Fattoria Chianti. As if to prove our good taste it won the Gold Medal at the 2014 Mundus Vini Biofach.

fattorialaviallawine win award

This is what Fattoria La Vialla said about their win:

“Bandino, Gianni, an extremely enthusiastic Michela, Annamaria and Antonio’s thrilled smiles are “caught on the fly” in this photo, while Mrs Ulrike Hoefken (state environment and agricultural policy minister of the Rheinland-Pfalz region) approaches to give them the awards. She brings the prizes herself, a long pile of them!

Tied first for number of medals received with only one German company, among more than 600 wines….
….to you, dear friends, and from all the Viallini, from the field to the cellar… a toast, cheers!”

Here is to many more awards as their wine is absolutely superb.

Enjoy with: Fried meats, stews, roasted meals and vegetables, steak, sausage and anything barbequed.

 

Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha Wine Review

We have been reviewing a lot of red wine recently. The standard has been high and is not let down by Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha. The distinctive yellow label of Campo Viejo has been brightening up people’s homes for 55 years and it’s first Garnacha is featured in a retro 1960s inspired bottle.

Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha Wine Review

This is light-bodied and easy-to-drink. The wine is ruby-red in colour with flashes of purple and aged in French oak barrels for four months. It has a fruity nose of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and blackberry. It also has subtle, sweet spices and floral notes that enhance the wine further. It is soft yet intense and fresh. This is a very special wine with a truly wonderful taste. It has a lasting fresh, fruity finish.

This is made from 100% Garnacha grape and is another delicious wine from Campo Viejo, the UK’s most popular Spanish wine.

Enjoy with: lighter food, pasta dishes.

Available from Ocado, Sainsbury’s and ASDA. RRP £8.69.

Alcohol volume: 14%
Vintage: 2012

http://campviejo.com

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 Wine Review

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 is a medium-bodied and intense ruby-red wine. Imperial is one of the big names of Spain. It is a true classic in Rioja and was first produced in the twenties. Its name comes from a special bottling for the English market, in a measure called ‘Pinta Imperial’ or ‘Imperial Pint’ which is approximately half a litre. It has always been characterised by its very high and constant quality in every vintage.

It is rich with black and red berry fruit, along with liquorice notes. It is wonderfully generous in its fruitiness. Along with toasty oak and savoury balsamic. As well as plums and damsons. It has a long finish.

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 Wine Review

It reminds me of autumn berry fruits and has tastes of coffee, caramel and cinnamon. A well structured palate adds to this brilliant wine. It is pricey, but worth it at £26.99. The price may make it one for a special occasion, just make sure the occasion happens.

Gran reserva is the top wine classification of the Rioja region. For the classification it has to have been aged for five years.

Enjoy with roast lamb, game, cheese and stew.

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wine Review

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, vibrant and high-quality wine. It is right in the middle between light and full. This blended wine of merlot and cabernet sauvignon has flavours of plum, red fruits and dried herbs. It has a delicious finish and soft tannins. Has aromas of black cherry and chocolate. It has a long and smooth finish. This is a wonderful wine that can be drunk at any time.

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon

Drink now or enjoy for up to five years.

Enjoy with grilled and roasted red meats, grilled and roasted white meats, pizza, pasta, mature strong cheese, duck and pasta with lemon sauce.

Available from Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s

 

Cune Reserva 2009 Wine Review

Cune Reserva 2009 is very tasty with great depth and fruitiness. It is a soft, luxurious wine. It also has hints of warm spice and balsamic. It is an intense ruby red, bright and deep in colour.  It has nuances of caramel and coffee. It is a very complex but well balanced and has a lingering finish. It is smooth, medium bodied and easy to drink. This is a popular wine and it is easy to see why. It is rich with deep aromas of bramble and red Autumn fruit.

CUNE Reserva 2009 wine review

The first wine of this winery was named after its initials. At the beginning a red ‘clarete’ wine was made up as a fine wine in the style of the Bordeaux “Claret” produced by the great chateaux’s of the Medoc. The success of the Cune Crianza motivated the creation of Cune Reserva. And we are glad they did. This is a very good red wine.

 

Available from Ocado and Tesco.