Blow-outsareexpectedfor18thbirthday
parties,soMikeBenniesaysfunbut
first-ratedrinksare inorderfora bigevent.@mikebennie101 @mikebennie101ONE FORTHE AGESFREEMANPROSECCO
2018,$23
Whata brilliantrendition
oftheoftenverysimple
winestyle.Hereyouget
thefreshnessandvivacity
you'dexpectfrom
prosecco,butjustthat
littlebitmoreinteresting
fruitcharacterand
generaldeliciousness.
Drink cold and in the sun.POORTOMS
IMBROGLIO
AUSTRALIANAMARO,
$4 0 WeloveCampari,
weloveCamparispritzes.
Here'sanAustraliantake
thatyou'llsplashliberally
intoprosecco,drinkover
icewithcitruszest,
orchillforwickedly
bitter-sweetshotstoget
intopartymode.
Brilliant drinking.JULESIGPD'OCROSE
2018,$19Fewthingssay
'Happybirthday!It'stime
tocelebrate!'likecold,
refreshing,pinkwines.
Thisis fromProvence,so
expectpalecolour,light,
prettyflavours,gooddry
finishanda kindof
watermelon-granitakind
of vibe. What fun!WELDER'SDOGPEA
BLOSSOMLEMONADE,
$6Lastsummerthiswas
mygo-tothirst-crusher
andhangoverremedyin
one.A boozy,easy-to-
drink'adultpinklemonade'
madewitha native
ingredient.Luridpurple
intheglass,thisis
essential for party time.CRAIGLEESHIRAZ2015,
$70Thisoneis forthe
cellarforthenext
significantbirthday.Sure,
asan18-year-oldyou
couldcrackit atage21,
butthiswinewillbebest
aged 30 – takethat10-plus
yearstomellowthewine
andenjoyitsdarkfruits,
pepperyqualitiesand
general lush feel.CONGRATULATIONSTODELICIOUS.
magazineonthismostauspiciousof
birthdays!Finally,you'vereachedthe
maturityrequisiteofconsumingwhat’s
containedwithinthiscolumn.Although
memoriesof18thbirthdaypartiesare
hazy,I’llattempttoframethepartyaptfor
thesignificantevent:Dadusuallydelivers
anembarrassingspeechwhilefriendsput
togetherequallyhumiliatingmontagesof
babypictures.Nervykidsshimmytomusic
dujour, foodis usuallysimplified,some
weirdrelativesrollupandaddcolour.
Ofcourse,thesepartiesareenshrinedin
thecoming-of-ageassociatedwithfinally
beinglegallyallowedtoconsumebooze.
Peoplemakeaneffortat theserite-of-
passageevents.Fancierbeersseemapt,
usuallyonesyoudon’twanttoaffordbut
comewitha senseofoccasion.Fizzy
wines,ofcourse,havea specialplace.
Champagnemaybeoutofreachforsome,
buta betterpedigreeofsparklingwine
usually,andshould,emerge.Wiseparents
contribute,too.A stashofbirth-yearwine,
cellared,mayberevealedwitha theatrical
blowingofdustfrombottles.
Spiritsplaya part.Howelsetoenhance
thepunch?Jellyshots,anyone?Howabout
atequilaslammer?Allgoodin the
frameworkofcelebration,perhaps.
Withhindsight,I’dapproachthings
differently.YestoChampagne.A splurge,
butonethatbringspizazztotheparty.
I’dmakelightercocktailslikespritz,too,
soa good-qualityproseccothatcanbe
jazzedup,orsippedonitsownis a must.
Beeris fine,buthowaboutsome
innovativeciders,gingerbeersor
fruit-enhancedbeers?I’mexcitedby
a bathtubfulloficeandbrewerdiversity.
Roséis festive,fun,easytodrink,goes
witheverything.There’dbegoodpink
winesjammedintomyfridgeorEsky.
Andforthegift?Well,I’ma
sentimentalist.Andtraditionandritual
gowellfor18thbirthdays.Thatstrong,
flavoursomered,dustandall,deserves
a place at the party table.delicious.com.au/drinks
ToperusemoreofMike’s
favourite drinks.EGLY-OURIETBRUT
TRADITIONCHAMPAGNE
GRANDCRUNV,$160
Celebrationsoftendictate
thatChampagneshould
beinvolved,sohowabout
choosingonefroma
producerwhofarms
organically?Here'sone
ofmyfavourites– it'severy
bitascomplex,detailed
andwonderfullyfancy.
Go in style. Go for quality.MIKE BENNIE IS ALSO CO-OWNER OF A SYDNEY-BASED WINE AND LIQUOR RETAIL BUSINESSDRINKS.
36 delicious.com.au