We should honour and respect those in our family or circle of friends who don’t drink. If you do imbibe, we should really try to keep them close at this time of year, when the police are at their most vigilant for intoxicated drivers. Most importantly, we should show designated drivers extra love in the hope they help save us sinners from harming or killing others on the road, not to mention ourselves.
Not everyone has that person around. So, if you don’t drink, why not offer taxi services to help those stuck for a lift a safe way home? Extra charges could include having a buddy drive the customer’s vehicle home for them.
Now, for you people who enjoy a drink or two, here’s my take on possible holiday spirits courtesy of the 2024 edition of La Grande Dégustation de Montréal.
First up was a five-year-old tequila called Chula Parranda. At $189.99, you can understand why this smooth-tasting tequila is like a patron on velvet steroids. Don’t look for it at SAQ outlets, as it’s only available for order on the SAQ website. Unfortunately, the postal strike means it won’t be a Xmas spirit for you now. But it’s definitely something to consider in the future.
Not everyone can afford those prices or handle a tequila hangover. So let’s consider some good, non-expensive wine.
Alegrete, a white wine from Portugal at only $10.70, was a pleasant surprise. It goes well with ptarmigan or any fish. Personally, I might try it when I do mussels in a white wine sauce. It’s a nice relaxing wine sure to please anyone’s tongue.
A sparkling white wine that was a pleasure to taste was Villa Conchi Gava. As a very nice Brut, it has a fresh fruit flavour that is affordable at $17.75. Perfect for those wanting to raise a cheer on New Year’s Eve without breaking the budget and still getting kudos from the guests.
A red wine with a lot of taste is Spain’s Moraza Rioja Alta 2021. Worth all its $20.30 price, this wine complements any wild food you have cooking. It’s a dry wine with some acidity so that’s why you need a nice meal or some almonds or cashews to enjoy it to its fullest.
For those who prefer organic products and are willing to pay for it, check out the Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Goudelettes. A pinot noir from the Bourgogne region in France, it’s priced at $72. It’s tasty and vegan friendly for those few Crees who prefer to keep their diet animal-free
Something from this side of the pond is the Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are willing to shell out $81, this is an incredibly smooth red wine that is difficult to limit to a single glass. But it is a pleasure to take your time with while you savour every drop.
An old standby is Mumm’s Napa at $37.75. This sparkling rosé remains a great addition to any celebration. I have never had a complaint when I popped open a bottle. Just make sure you don’t point it at anyone or something fragile when you do, as the pressure seems to be a bit higher than with other sparkling wines. I swear you can taste California at its best with your first sip.
Carmel Road Monterey Chardonnay from California at $26.55 is well worth the price. With distinctive overtures of a caramel, it was a wonderful experience that had me asking the vendor to top off my glass. Great on its own, I was told that it’s also good with pasta. Try it out.
Walking around the endless display booths brought me to New Zealand’s offerings. My old go-to Oyster Bay is a great white wine that I’ve frequently used in mussel sauces. By the way, mussels are very healthy, low in fat, help with reducing cholesterol and heart diseases. Plus, they are tasty! After using a cup of the Oyster Bay in the sauce, I would save the rest of the bottle to serve at the meal. For those interested, I used the Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio Hawkes Bay, usually costing $20.90, which I considered a steal. At the show they had sweet rosé sparkling wine, a true delight both for the nose and the tongue at only $26.30.
As for champagne, bypass what everyone knows and go to Palmers &Co Brut Réserve. For a modest price of $81.75, I understood the part of the Bible that reads “like a thief in the night” after rolling a taste of it around my mouth. I was surprised and not prepared for this delightful experience.
I like to chill my red wines and thought I was unusual for doing so, but now it’s trendy. The Austrian red wine Weszeli Mystique is known as a great chilling choice. Some say that it’s good with watermelon and cold cuts but less so with barbecued meats. While most would prefer it in the summer, it could be a good choice for a romantic soak in a winter hot tub or in front of the fireplace. It’s a light organic wine with a chill price of $21.25.
An unexpected discovery was the JP. Chenet. A sparkling white wine from France, the genuine 24-carat gold particles floating in it left me no choice but to try it. Was there a worry that I was drinking gold? No, as we already have different minerals and metals in our bodies. The non-poisonous gold is for added cachet during the holidays. Not that much gold, mind you, as a bottle of JP. Chenet sells for $24.75 while one gram of the precious metal costs about $115. The taste and bouquet are acceptable, but offering guests a wine with a bit of gold in it is priceless.
A scotch for naughty boys and girls is the Bad na h-Achlaise Highland single malt. While I’m not usually a fan of smoky scotch this one was a game changer. The smokiness was not overpowering and actually brought out the reason why it costs $111.75. It melts over your taste buds and then smothers your entire mouth in a true taste experience. The scent goes through your nose right to the pleasure centres of your brain. An all-around joy for scotch lovers.
A fine and affordable blended scotch at $56.76 is Monkey Shoulder, which is aimed at the party crowd. While good on its own, their website suggests using it in several mixed drinks. It has won tons of awards and was a favourite at the show.
Available in Ontario and hopefully soon in Quebec is Shanky’s Whip, a dark Irish whiskey that’s not for the timid. With something this great and challenging, drinking it should entitle us foreign afficionados to an Irish passport. Do yourself a favour if you’re in Ontario and pick up a bottle at $46.65 and see if you agree.
Something that I’ve enjoyed now and then but never kept on hand is gin. It can be great in cocktails but is rarely my first choice. The Willöe gin made here in Quebec made me question why. More and more, Quebec is starting to give the big boys in the spirits world a run for their money. Willöe gin is one of those in the race.
I’ve tasted great gins from England and even Holland but now the Quebec gin is right up there with them. I had no problem sipping the Willöe neat as it’s smooth with a taste to live for. At $52.50, it’s a keeper.
Also from Quebec is the Chic Choc black spiced rum at $39. It obviously had an experienced rum distiller teaching the staff how to create a great product. I would take it over Havana Club any day.
In the meantime, Happy Holidays and be safe. The Christmas spirits are there to enjoy, but so are your friends, family and community. Let’s make it something special for all of us.