And the alcohol for tonight is.....

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm partial to a glass or two of whisky or whiskey - visited Bushmills Distillery earlier this summer when touring Ireland, and because Mrs Yokel hates the stuff I enjoyed quite a decent range of the samples on offer, having her allotment as well as my own.

I can't say I can recognise Bell's or Teacher's or Johnnie Walker or whatever, unless I see the bottle, but I think I can distinguish single malt from blended although I'd struggle to recognise the various single malts individually.

I'm also partial to brandy. In fact, I'll drink most spiris if offered although the one I'm not so keen on is gin.

My favourite Reds are Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling leading the Yokel's Whites stable. I tend to avoid Rose these days as I have a habit of drinking it like lemonade - in huge gulps.

Probably most F4A members were not around in the 1960s - at least not as adults - when the habit of 'ordinary people' going out for meals in restaurants began in earnest. One of the early leaders of this trend was Berni Inns that happened to be based where I live (Bristol). In those days a typical gastronomic night out for fledgeling diners at a Berni Inn would be prawn cocktail, rump steak and Black Forest gateau, washed down by the contents of what we thought were oddly-shaped bottles of Mateus Rose. Those were the days when many of us plebs had begun to buy a house (we could then and were largely the first generation of universal house buyers) and going out to dine at restaurants, even if they were often little more than pub/restaurants, made us think we were really going up in the world.

Because I'm a bit paranoid about trying to keep fit and not putting on too much weight I don't often embark on what would be my favourite type of meal, almost Churchillian in scope although few could match his capacity for drink. I'm not too bothered about the food so long as it was well prepared, expertly cooked and ample (my food tastes are quite catholic - I'm not a fussy eater), and with my very occasional gargantuan meal I'd drink a few glasses of wine, have port with the cheese course and finish with a brandy or two. I'd have to fast for a fortnight after all that.

 

[paully]

After finishing the South African Chenin Blanc I happen to have come across a bottle of Three Barrels brandy in the cupboard which I didn't even realise was there.

Not a bad drop

Three Barrels takes me back a few years to my first arrival at Gibraltar Airport. Then it was the old one that looked like a colonial flying club complete with ceiling fans in departures. Anyway in the baggage area there was a duty free shop which was a hole in the wall, and looked a bit like a school tuck shop..I bought a litre of Three Barrels for £6..bet its not far off that price now..

Ray, you were right about your father in law..if he`s a true proud Yorkshireman he WILL be tight..We all are

Chenin Blanc is excellent as are most South African wines. To be sure you are getting an estate bottled, look for the SA wine and spirits board label on the neck. Thats the proper stuff..Most supermarket wine is imported in large plastic bladders and bottled by Continental wines in Bristol, Thats why a lot of tastes vary.

 

[thunderchild]

A chap I know drinks Bacardi and coke. It must be Coca Cola. He won't drink Pepsi or any other brand of cola with his Bacardi. If someone gave me unmarked glasses of Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola to sip I would not have a clue which was which - that phiistine temperament again.

I’d be able to tell, I rarely drink fizzy drinks and the only time I drink Coke - the original Coca Cola is with Bacardi. If someone gave me one with Pepsi, Diet Coke or Rola Cola I’d definatley know. The only exception was the Coke Life they launched a few years back - I think it was made with natural sugars or something - either way it was supposed to be healthier so I tried it and genuinely couldn’t tell the difference. Unfortunately it was a marketing disaster as it was sold in green bottles and they don’t make it anymore.

As for wines, I have had far nicer and certainly much cheaper from the likes of Lidl and Aldi than from places like Majestic. If we are pushing the boat out we might pick up one from Waitrose!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Had our first take away in months last night and they gave me a free bottle of Bangla Beer.

It'll be a nice starter before cracking open the red

 

[Aviador]

We're having homemade pizza with a bottle of "Cuando" - a Merlot from Argentina.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

We're having homemade pizza with a bottle of "Cuando" - a Merlot from Argentina.

Although in general I prefer white wine - not all by any means - I am partial to red at times and Merlot, along with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are my favourite reds.

Enjoy the "Cuando". It sounds an ideal accompaniment to pizza. Who is the chef? Mr or Mrs Aviador?

 

[Aviador]

Although in general I prefer white wine - not all by any means - I am partial to red at times and Merlot, along with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are my favourite reds.

Enjoy the "Cuando". It sounds an ideal accompaniment to pizza. Who is the chef? Mr or Mrs Aviador?

Mr Aviador this evening. Slightly soggy base this time having been rushed by Mrs Aviador but I'm sure the Cuando will wash it down nicely.

I will drink anything to be honest. I don't mind white wine at all although it started to give me heart burn a few years back. I've since discovered cutting gluten out of my diet completely has eradicated that problem along with constant trips to the toilet coupled with the bloating to go with it. Celiac disease it would seem as now just the slightest bit of gluten makes me unwell. Maybe I'll have to give white a bash again now that problem is sorted. I quite like Prosecco actually although it's a has been drink now as everybody is drinking Gin nowadays, until the next fad at least.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Mr Aviador this evening. Slightly soggy base this time having been rushed by Mrs Aviador but I'm sure the Cuando will wash it down nicely.

I will drink anything to be honest. I don't mind white wine at all although it started to give me heart burn a few years back. I've since discovered cutting gluten out of my diet completely has eradicated that problem along with constant trips to the toilet coupled with the bloating to go with it. Celiac disease it would seem as now just the slightest bit of gluten makes me unwell. Maybe I'll have to give white a bash again now that problem is sorted. I quite like Prosecco actually although it's a has been drink now as everybody is drinking Gin nowadays, until the next fad at least.

I prefer Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling when it come to whites. I'm not so keen on sparkling wines or champagne. That's not to say I won't drink it if offered. In fact, there isn't much alcohol I ignore when it's pushed my way - gin I might politely decline because I'm not a fan - although I'm not a big drinker these days. I used to drink quite a lot more than I do now.

On a very cold winter's day I will sometimes opt for a red with a meal as psychologically (to me anyway) it seems that bit heavier and thus more warming.

I only usually drink with or after a meal and if the meal is at home we don't normally drink alcohol if we are on our own. We went to our son and his partner last night with some of their children (adults) as it was Mrs Yokels' birthday (we are the same age but because she was born 13 days after me she reckons that I'm a year older than she is for nearly a fortnight every year). I had just a small glass of Pinot Grigio with the meal as I was driving. Prior to that the last alcohol I consumed was the previous week when we had a bottle of white - can't remember what it was now - with a meal in a pub restaurant.

We can go a couple of weeks or so without touching a drop then we might go out for meals or have people in several times in a fortnight and drink quite a lot.

I'm sorry to hear about your gluten situation. At least recognising it enables you to deal with it.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I prefer Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling when it come to whites.

The last time we were in Australia (quite some years ago now) Mrs F and I had the best white wine either of us had ever tasted. It was a Goundrey Unoaked Chardonnay and I've never had a white that comes anywhere near since.

We first had it in a restaurant in Freemantle and for the rest of the trip we ordered it whenever it was on offer. I believe the wine comes from the Margaret River region in Western Australia, about three hours drive south of Perth. Whether it can be found the other side of the country in the Melbourne area I do not know but if you see it offered next time you are there I'd definitely recommend it.


I can't remember the brand but whilst away last week we had a bottle of organic white wine which was extremely nice. It was at one of the higher end restaurants and the bottle wasn't cheap but having never tried it we thought we'd give it a bash and ended up very pleasantly susprised.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

We're off to Oz again in November to stay with our daughter and family on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. We always have a few days away to see other parts of Oz when there and have done Far North Queensland, Sydney and the Blue Mountains, South Australia as well as thoroughly exploring much of Victoria. We invariably do at least one escorted wine trip when in Oz and have visited the Hunter Valley in NSW, the Barossa Valley in South Australia and the Yarra Valley, Grampians, Bellarine and Mornington wine regions in Victoria.

This time we are visiting Western Australia and rather than fly back there from Melbourne in the middle of our stay, as we've done with other regions of the country, we are calling in at Perth en route from London. We've already booked trips for the Swan River and Margaret River regions which of course will include wine tasting, so will look out for the wine you mention, although Mrs Yokel isn't keen on Chardonnay per se - she says it's too sweet for her taste - but I'm sure would not pass up the opportunity to taste it if offered.

Incidentally, our internal flight from Perth to Melbourne will be on a Qantas B 787-9, the aircraft that flies into Perth non-stop from Heathrow before continuing to Melbourne.

 

[thunderchild]

When it comes to white wine I can only drink New Zealand; anything else gives me throbbing headache after only a glass - even though I could quite easily polish off a whole bottle red over an evening without any side effects the next morning.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sydney and the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is one of the most stunning beautiful places that I have ever visited. Some of the views are spectacular beyond belief.

We stopped off for a bite to eat in Katoomba and ended up purchasing a couple of bottles of Katoomba wines. I can't remember how good they were but Mrs F says that they were decent enough.

the Hunter Valley in NSW

I really enjoyed the Hunter Valley although any memories after the first couple of hours are slightly fuzzy

If you ever do make the journey from Sydney to the Hunter Valley again I'd recommend stopping of in Wollombi and visiting the Wollombi Tavern for a sample of Dr Jurds Jungle Juice. It really is a fabulous pub, very friendly and the grog isn't bad either

http://www.wollombitavern.com.au/dr-jurds-jungle-juice/

 

[Ray Finkle]

No work tomorrow so I'm treating myself to a glass of Shiraz whilst watching Return of the Jedi

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm currently half way through a bottle of South African Pinotage.

Tesco had it on offer today and I must say that it's a very decent drop

 

[Aviador]

It's the potting shed for me tonight guys. Really busy.

 

[jason1-11]

Blue Moon (with the obligatory orange), followed by a Brooklyn Lager and then a bottle of Kingfisher to wash down the curry. A cheeky pint of Estrella with lunch also.

I am on holiday just in case anyone has concerns BTW

 

[Aviador]

Blue Moon (with the obligatory orange), followed by a Brooklyn Lager and then a bottle of Kingfisher to wash down the curry. A cheeky pint of Estrella with lunch also.

I am on holiday just in case anyone has concerns BTW

No concerns, sounds perfectly normal

 

[paully]

It's the potting shed for me tonight guys. Really busy.

Is that your doghouse then?

 

[Aviador]

Is that your doghouse then?

 

[paully]

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