Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.
Duvel Tripel Hop ale is brewed with three hop varieties. Each year the third hop is changed to provide its own unique taste and aroma. The third hop is chosen by ballot by drinks writers and the like at tastings across Europe with the hop receiving the most votes being the choice of third hop for production of the next year’s Duvel Tripel Hop.
Yep, I was at the London polling station: the Burlington Arms pub in Mayfair. Mosaic 2014, a rather fruity and pleasantly aromatic hop, turned out to be the winner. It was my top choice but one of my three favourites. Its selection should result in a very tasting beer indeed – that I am keen to taste!
Beronia and Finca Constancia Wine Tasting at Camino Bankside
I’m a big fan of Spanish restaurant group Camino and find its Bankside location an especially swish setting for tapas, drinks and the like. I’m not alone in my affection; the few times I’ve visited Camino Bankside it’s heaved with merrymakers. Last time was no exception – but it was an exceptional visit nonetheless. There for a wine pairing dinner hosted by winemakers Matias Calleja and Beatriz Paniagua from award winning Spanish wineries Beronia and Finca Constancia respectively.
Presented as a like-for-like tasting with wines made with three grape varietals by the two producers, the evening was an opportunity to taste eight wines in total paired with five course tasting menu put together by Camino Executive Chef, Nacho del Campo. It was fascinating how different two wines of the same variety and comparable levels of quality could be so different. Best dish? Definitely the suckling pig. Best wine? Doh. Tough choice! I liked them all. But, I must say the rich, red fruit and slightly spiced Beronia EE Tempranillo (£11.99 at Ocado) was delish particularly when matched with a serving of lamp rump with Pardina lentils, bacon and bay leaf juice.
Ohayo means “good morning” in Japanese, and that’s the aim of this “super hydration” drink “full of vitamins and electrolytes” from Japan – to help you start your day feeling refreshed even after a big night out. Packaged in 150ml bottles and mMeant to be drunk before going to bed, the vegan gluten/dairy free drinks has a tangy kick to it and replenishes the body with vitamins C and B to help reduce tiredness and fatigue, magnesium to contribute to the body’s electrolyte balance and potassium to help maintain a normal blood pressure. Based on my experience, it seems to be a smart sip for dealing with jet lag too. Look for it at Harvey Nichols and online with a recommend retail price of £3.75.
