Sometimes, I think I am lucky in my line of work. When Inverawe Smokehouse delivered their Cheese and Wine tray, my thoughts were confirmed.
Inverawe Smokehouse, Scotland’s specialist smokehouse and Royal Warrant holders produce smoked goodies like I have never tasted. Their smoked salmon is arguably the greatest ever (some statement, I know, but completely founded)
Each individual piece of fish or game (or some of my cheeses) are hand smoked in traditional brick kilns for up to 48 hours. This slow smoking process offers up a unique tasted and texture that gives Inverawe its reputation.
The Cheese and wine tray, complete with Wicker bread basket contains nothing short of heaven. A fine bottle of Montrose Cabernet Syrah, 200g Cropwell Bishop stilton, 110g Smoked Island cheddar, 190g Inverawe smoked Brie and 200g Mr Mackenzie oatcakes makes for a fine gift hamper.
The cheeses were all really good, The smoked Brie sublime. I am not too ashamed to admit that once I tasted this, I finished it in one sitting!
Inverawe are offering other gift hampers filled with sustenance and prepared with love for Valentines, such as Whiskey and smoked salmon box or the Port and Stilton box. Please check out their site for these and lot’s more devastatingly wonderful treats. All these gift hampers are available for under £40.00 each.
To mildly understate, I am a big fan.
Ok, recession is now officially over, but you still need to entertain your Better half this valentine’s day. You do not want to go mad, spend wise and that’s understandable, but you need something with a little sparkle.
I present to you Blanc de Blancs from Jacobs Creek. With an RRP of £9.99, this is sure to satisfy your budget and your partner’s good taste.
Deliciously refreshing, high quality and exceptionally packaged, this Sparkling wine tastes super fresh with zesty lemon and citrus flavours bursting over a creamy base.
I really loved this sparkler, but cannot understand why it is being marketed and sold at less than a tenner, for the quality on offer, it nearly seems unfair on Jacob’s Creek! It looks great and tastes great too. Value for money is tremendous, get yours at Sainsburys, Morrisons or online at Tesco wine club.
Camitz Sparkling Vodka is the ideal valentine gift!
It looks first class, with its clear bottle, minimalist print and shiny silver Champagne style cork. It tastes like it looks, stunning.
Distilled 5 times, Camitz and Lindberger have created an elegant, superior premium Vodka. Served at +4c on ice, this is the ultimate in high class drinks.
Served at the exclusive Roof Gardens in Kensington and the swanky Sugar hut in SW6, this 40% Vodka is setting the pace. Can you and your lover keep up?!
Camitz have put together this exclusive gift bag, complete with 200ml Camitz Sparkling Vodka, 2 shot glasses and champagne style stopper all for £19.95. Available at Firebox.com and the drinkshop.com and Selfridges, what are you waiting for? Go get some, Cassanova!
Wine sourcers and Importers Hix and Buck have really excelled with this Sparkling Chardonnay (£11.99). The blend of this delicious wine is 95% Chardonnay and 5% XO Cognac, which can easily deceive the drinker into thinking they are sampling a fine, vintage Champagne.
This is a different take on Valentines gifts, with the mix of Cognac giving J&L Charlemagne a sense of Uniqueness. It looks the business and tastes great, with a hint of spice and a more than welcome (love) bite. I really enjoyed this and strongly recommend as a gift for your loved one - The price does not match the quality of this superior drop.
Hix & Buck are very passionate about their wines and its source. Ideally, they try to work with small producers, often with a family history of viniculture going back centuries, and bringing that wine, with its authentic qualities and characteristics, over here.
One of their other exclusive sparkling wines, Brut Bosé Methode Traditionelle direct from the cellars of J & L Charlemagne in Angoulême, has been chosen to serve in series 5 of Channel 4’s F Word.
Now this I like! How about a wine that has huge health benefits? The range of pomegranate wines from Rimon are the only wines to be made from 100% Pomegranate juice.
Because of this, The wine retains its health giving properties; The Anti Oxidant levels are high, essential for blood circulation and a healthy heart. In fact, The Rimon Pomegranate wine contains 3 times more anti oxidants than red wine or green tea. Vitamins A, B and C, iron and calcium are also present as well as other essential minerals.
Most things that are this good for you do not have the quality of taste to compliment. As a rule, If it tastes good – it’s bad for you! Not so with these wines, They are right up there with a good quality bottle of red.
Rimon Dry Wine is full bodied and a little cherry like, with a hint of pepper to balance. I sampled this first and it immediately raised the bar in terms of taste. Very Impressed. (£21.99)
Rimon Port Style wine is a great addition to fruity puds or the cheese board, produced in similar traditions to Port, this has a slight spice to it. Excellent for ending the evening. (£27.99)
Rimon Dessert Wine is sweet with fruity flavours and a touch of chocolate. As a dessert wine, it is excellent with desserts and soft cheeses. (£19.99 available at Waitrose)
So I give you great tasting wine and plenty of reasons to feel good whilst drinking it. Healthy wine…what more do you need?!!
(Please enjoy Alcohol responsibly)
