THAT!
Susy Atkins recommends classic and
more left-field matches for festive foods.
Plus: this year’s top fizz, a bubbly cocktail
and three beers worth cheering aboutBest-buy bubbly
Three great-value sparklers and a sophisticated champagne to
keep the fizz flowing through to New Year’s Eve celebrations...and a sparkling^
cocktail to make with it
A fizz-basedcocktailhasit all:it’sjoyful,brightand
vivacious,andunlessyouaddbrandyoranotherspirit
(I tendnotto)it’snottoostrong.Usea drycavaor
crémantliketheonesonthispagetomakeit –
proseccowouldbetoosweetandchampagne
needlesslyexpensive.If youwanta non-al
version,leaveouttheliqueurandusethe
grapey,freshBelle&CoSparkling0%(£3.5
Morrisons,Asda,Iceland)asthebaseinstead.Orange & ginger champagne cockta
MAKES ONE DRINK BUT CAN EASILY BE SCALED UP- 20ml triple sec or orange liqueur such as Cointreau
or Grand Marnier - 10ml syrup from a jar of stem ginger
- 90ml cold, dry sparkling wine
- Dash orange bitters or Angostura bitters
- Long thin strip orange zest to garnish
Chill a tall champagne flute. Pour the orange liqueur
into the bottom of the flute, add the ginger syrup
using a small spoon and stir together. Top right up
with the cold sparkling wine, adding a dash or two
of bitters to taste. Dangle the orange zest over the
rim and serve immediately.Seep28forRickStein’sfestivesparklingcocktail,
andfindSusy’snon-alcoholicmulledwinerecipeat
deliciousmagazine.co.uk/non-alcoholic-mulled-wineBird in Hand Sparkling Pinot
Noir 2020, Adelaide Hills,
Australia 12.5% (£15.99,
down to £10, 2-15
December, Waitrose)
A pretty, pale pink
sparkler with the
distinct flavour
and aroma of
strawberries and
cream, but dry on the
finish.Livelybubbles
makea cheerful
celebrationfizz.Champagne Bruno Paillard
Premiere Cuvée MV Extra
Brut, France 12% (£39.99,
Majestic; £40.95, The
Whisky Exchange)
Sublime champagne
that dances on the
tongue with masses
of tiny bubbles
followed by light
toasty, yeasty layers
andfinecitrus.Long,
lively,dryfinish.
A serioustreat!The Society’s Cava
Reserva Brut NV,
Spain 12% (£8.95,
thewinesociety.com*)
This keenly priced,
high quality dry cava
with freshly chopped
green apple and pear
is relatively soft
on the finish.
A mouthwatering
aperitif – or match
with seafood.SalcombeBrewery
ChristmasTide,Devon,
England4.9%(£7.20for
3 x 500mlbottles,£18.25
for8,salcombe
brewery.com)
Thisamber-brown,
satisfyinglyrobust
festivealehasplenty
ofspicy,chocolatey
notesanda hintof
brown-breadtoast
too.Enjoyit very
lightlychilledwith
roastchestnuts.HiverTheHoney
Ale,London,
England4.5%
(£2/330mlbottle,
Sainsbury’s)
London’sHiver
breweryusesboth
ruralandurban
honeysinitsbeers;
thisbrownale
suitstheseason
perfectlywithits
nutty,maltyflavour
andjusta hintof
hoppybitterness.Liefmans Kriek Brut 2015,
Belgium 6% (£2.99,
beersofeurope.co.uk;
£54 for 24 x 330ml bottles,
localwine
company.co.uk)
Aged with cherries
for a deep pink
colour and a tangy,
pippy blast, this ends
on a refreshing,
sour note – jolly
good with cold
leftover turkey and
cranberry sauce.THREE
CHEERS FOR
CHRISTMAS
BEERS
At this time of year I prefer
richer, darker, more
complex brews or tangy
fruit beers. Here are three
interesting bottles – a
toasty, spicy ale, a nutty
brown ale made with
honey and a lip-smacking
*REQUIRES Belgian cherry beer£40
MEMBERSHIP FEE WITH
£20 CREDIT. ALL PRICES CORRECT
AT TIME OF GOING TO
PRESS; PLEASE CHECK WITH STOCKISTS FO
R ANY LAST-MINUTE OFFERS OR PRICE CHANGES
sorted.
M&S Classics No. 12 Crémant
de Bourgogne Brut NV,
France 12% (£10,
Marks & Spencer)
A fizz from Burgundy
made in the same way
as champagne and
tasting similar, with
refined orange and
lemon, dabbed with
light cream. Perfect
with savoury pastry
canapés.