TalkTV: Ireland vs Wales

This week on TalkTV with Mike Graham, Helena redeems herself for a poor show of Welsh drinks for St David’s Day while showcasing some of Ireland’s finest for St Patrick’s Day. It’s an Irish-Welsh mash up!

Killowen Pangur Irish Poitin

Poitin is the classic, Irish spirit that has a reputation for being utterly lethal. There certainly was truth in this as it wasn’t until 1997 that Poitin production became legal and regulated. Before that, it was essentially home made moonshine. This premium spirit from Killowen Distillery in the Mournes, County Down, was inspired by the famous white cat in the 9th century poem 'Pangur Bán' and is a 50-50 marriage of two Poitin’s, one from tiny Killowen and one, a much bigger distillery across the way. Try it neat or in cocktails.

Find it for £41.77 at KWM Wine and at the Killowen Distillery

Killowen Gloria Coffee Liqueur

Micro distillery Killowen have aced it with this gorgeous coffee liqueur, made with cask aged Poitín vatted together with rich, natural ground coffee before being left to rest for six months in an ex-bourbon cask. The result is a smooth, complex drinking liqueur. Lovely on its own with ice or as part of a cream liqueur-based cocktail.

Find it for £35.50 from Irish Malts

Killowen Distillery features in Episode one of The Three Drinkers in Ireland, streaming live on Amazon Prime! If you have not watched it yet, let us know what you think! Watch Now!

Ancre Hills Blanc de Noirs

Fine wine from Wales, claxon! This serious sparkler hails from 12 hectares of organic and biodynamic vineyards close to the border town of Monmouth and the Wye Valley in Monmouthshire. 100% Pinot Noir, barrel fermented and aged on the lees for 2-3 years, this classy sparkler is creamy and brioche-scented with tonnes of red fruit notes.

Find it for £39.99 from Grape Britannia

Merlyn Welsh Cream Liqueur

I never thought I’d say this, but Merlyn gives Baileys a proper run for its money. Wow. So rich and creamy, not confected, a bit of chocolate and spice… it has it ALL! I could bath in this. Wonderful Welsh cream. Buy it.

Find it for £17.35 from The Whiskey Exchange

TalkTV: Scottish Drinks for Burns Night

What better way to start your whisky journey is there than to taste a dram or seven this Burns Night! In celebration of the great Scottish Poet Robbie (Rabbie) Burns, we won't; quite be addressing the haggis, but we will be looking at some classic Scottish drinks, from Single Malt Scotch to Scotland’s other national drink: Irn Bru!

Rob Roy Cocktail

A classic, easy-to-make, delicious small cocktails for Scotch newbies and aficionados alike. 

It is said to have got its name when a bar in New York tweaked the classic Manhattan cocktail recipe to use Scotch whisky instead of Bourbon in homage to a new operetta called Rob Roy, that was playing in a theatre nearby. The protagonist of this story was a  Scottish folk hero named Rob Roy MacGregor. Simply pour the Scotch whisky, vermouth and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass or couple and garnish with the cocktail cherry. 

Whisky used: Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt Whisky (£17.49 from Aldi.)

Vermouth used: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino (£23.95 from The Whisky Exchange)

Cocktail Maraschino cherries by Hotel Starlino (£9.99 from The Bottle Club)

Ingredients:

50ml Scotch Whisky

25ml Sweet Red Vermouth

2 Dashes Angostura Bitters

1 Speared cocktail cherry

Ne-bru-ni

Joy of joys, here’s a Negroni with a Scottish twist, swapping out the vermouth for the Irn Bru. At least it’s not as strong, so less bad for you, right? Don’t forget to use a classic, Scottish gin for the full Burns Night effect. Add the gin and the aperitif into a shaker with ice and shake hard for a full 30 seconds. Pour over a large cube of ice into a tumbler and top up with Irn Bru. Stir gently and garnish with an orange wheel if you’re feeling fancy. 

Gin used: Hendrick’s Gin (Find at Ocado for £27)

Aperitif used: Campari 

Irn Bru 1901 in a bottle - the original.  (Find at Ocado for £2.55)

Ingredients:

25ml Gin

25ml Bitter Aperitif

25ml Irn Bru

Oban 14 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finally, we can’t toast Burns NIght without a single dram pof fine Scotch whisky and I;ve gone for an Oban 14. One of my favourite Highland Malt Scotches and a classic example of whisky from the Western Highlands, this tiny distillery uses pot still for small batches and more character. The 14 year old is full-bodied and has aromas and flavours of candied orange peel, heather, honey, a whiff of peat smoke and a slick of sea salt in the finish.

Find it at Ocado for £77.50

Don’t forget to watch The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, streaming 24/7 on Amazon Prime! 

See more on Scotch whisky in these articles: 12 Top Whiskies to sip this Burns Night

TalkTV: Sweet Treats

Coole Swan Superior Cream Liqueur

Made with single malt Irish whiskey, Belgian white chocolate and fresh cream.

£25 from John Lewis, The Whisky Exchange

Sainsbury's Spiced Ginger Biscuit Irish Cream Liqueur

Irish cream with spiced biscuit flavours - a bit like Speculoos!

£9 on offer from Sainsbury's

M&S Vegan Chocolate & Coconut Cream Liqueur

Not a bad version for vegans! Made with coconut oil.

£10 in store from M&S

Bellucci Velvet Amaretto

Aldi's dupe of Disaronno's Velvet Liqueur, but does it hit the mark?

£5.49 from Aldi

TalkTV: German Wines for Winter

German wines are creeping their way back into our hearts as we eschew heavy, tannic, alcoholic wines for more softly spoken, elegant and supremely drinkable options. If you think you wouldn’t recognise German wines, think again as many of the world's best-loved wine grapes thrive here - they are just often under different names and we can get scared off by the language and slightly confusing sugar levels. It’s worth noting however that German is home to home to nearly 135 different grape varieties, from the well-known and loved Riesling and Pinot Noir, to lesser known grapes like Albalonga and Zweigeltrebe. 66.9% of production is dedicated to producing knock-out white wine, with 11.5% dedciated to Pinot Noir, which is known here as Spätburgunder. Here are some quintessentially German, cool, calm and collected wines that are perfect for all year round - including your festive feasts!

Pinot Gris, ‘Urmeer’, Weinhaus, Germany, 2021

This Pinot Gris (that’s the grape) is a rich, ripe and round wine with notes of oatmeal and orchard fruit but balanced by elegant minerality and bright raciness. Try this as a foil for foods with a bit of spice. Hailing from Rheinhessen, this is a fresher and fruitier version of Pinot Grigio.

Find it for £8.99 at Waitrose

Definition Mosel Riesling, Loosen, Germany, 2020

Riesling is the supermodel grape of Germany and Mosel is arguably it’s most famous home within Germany. This is a classic style from here: zesty, like freshly squeezed lime with a hint of rubber minerality. on the nose. On the palate there’s a bit of sweetness, but it’s brilliantly balanced with razor-like acidity. Not cloying at all. Made by the famous Ernst and Thomas Loosen and will be awesome with hard cheeses and anything with a hint of spice.

Find it for £9.99 mix 6 price at Majestic

The Society’s Saar Riesling, Germany 2019

A riper, richer version of a classic Riesling with an intense, lime and slate nose and rather tropical palate. A fuller body than the previous wine and hailing from a specific part of the Mosel. This Riesling would be great with salty hard cheese and spiced Asian dishes or Mexican tacos. 

Find it for £11.50 at The Wine Society

Wine map of Germany

Also try…

Joaquim Flick, Nonnberg, Riesling trocken, Germany 

This is a great example of a dry Riesling, with its quintessentially racy acidity and notes of green apple, lemon citrus and rubber. Juicy and powerful on the palate, it’s a great one for goats cheese or even poultry. 

Find it for £11.46 at Vinello

Pinot Noir, Josten & Klein Vom Schiefer, Germany

Did you know that Germany is the world’s third largest producer of Pinot Noir?This country really does to fantastic, elegant, smooth and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Think silky cherry and milk chocolate but light on its feet, ballerina-style. This one has a real depth and cpm[lexity too. perfect for Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. bear in mind that the German name for Pinot Noir is Spätburgunder.

Find it for £23.50 at the good wine shop

TalkTV: Pinotage Wines for Pinotage Day

South Africa’s flagship red grape Pinotage is an interesting one. It’s actually a crossing of two French grapes, Pinot Noir and Cinsault, the latter of which used to be known as Hermitage in South Africa. This is where the name came from - Pinot-age! Geddit? Pinotage is famously rich, meaty and smoky like a good South African braai. In the past, it was a grape that made wines that could be a little rough around the edges but these days, you can find some very beautiful, silky ones with plenty of plush plum fruit flavours. Here are three wines showing Pinotage three ways to celebrate both Pinotage day this Saturday, October 8th and the recent South African heritage day.

Van Hunks Sparkling South African Rosé

Van Hunks is a sparkling wine that is hand crafted in South Africa using the traditional method, just like in Champagne. All the wines are bottle fermented in small batches and matured in contact with the lees for approximately 30 months, which gives them a creamy texture and weight. This rosé is made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a splash of Pinotage to add flavour, colour and richness.

Find it at Amazon for £20.25

Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé

Kanonkop spend a lot of time working with the Pinotage grape and this wine comes from the Perdeberg, which is the largest single block of Pinotage in the world. It’s quite unusual to make rosé from this robust, full-flavoured grape, but Kanonkop have pressed on and created somethign delicious. Aromatic and vibrant, it has notes of rose, summer berries and refreshing red apple.

Find it at Majestic for £9.99 mix six price

Tesco Finest* Stellenbosch Pinotage

Here we have a fantastic, accessible, modern version of a red Pinotage without the burnt rubber, bonfire stink. It’s light on its feet, velvety and fruity with lots of juicy, bramble fruit. Incredibly drinkable, this is a brilliant mid week red for your spag bol or lasagne. Hailing from South Africa’s most famous wine region, Stellenbosh and created for Tesco by renowned producer Stellenrust.

Find it at Tesco for £7.50

Want to know what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV? See here!

TalkTV: Autumnal Wines for Organic September

Organic wine has been increasing in popularity these past few years and consumers are becoming more discerning about what they put in their bodies. Majestic Wine announced an increase of 27.4% in organic wine sales this past year, which is a huge jump. For a while, with wine, it’s fair to say that it felt like a bit of a gimmick at first but now, a new generation of winemakers are very much supporting the idea that if you look after the earth, you will get better produce. I’ve tasted the result myself. Wines seem brighter, more vibrant and alive.

What does organic wine mean?

Very simply, organic wine means that it has been made with organically grown grapes. This does not mean that nothing else has been added to it, however. With organic wine, you can still use yeasts and fining agents, some of which are derived from cheese or eggs, so organic does not always equal vegan either. 

As organic September draws to a close, we take a look at some delicious wines worth tasting that won’t break the bank. 

White 

Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay 2021 on offer at Ocado for £8

An easy drinking, ripe Chardonnay with a touch of spice from oak and lovely fresh melon character. A perfect white for the mild Autumn chill. Their Pinot Noir is also worth a try (see below).

Veramonte Reserva Organic Chardonnay 2021 from Ocado for £11.50

A bold Chardonnay with a touch of smoke and savoury minerality with a caramel pudding note on the finish. A great gastronomic wine that would love a bit of roast chicken.

Pink

TalkTV Pick: Organic Etna Rosato, 2021 at Aldi for £8.79

Wines from around the Sicilian volcano, Etna have a unique, texture mouthfeel and character thanks to the volcanic soils there and the local grape varieties used. This one has a great balance of red fruit and chalkiness all with a lovely round body. A fab, Autumnal pink. 

Sumarroca Cava Rosado NV from Talking Wines for £14.99

As Cavas go, this one is exceptionally elegant and bright. Packed full of raspberry fruit and a touch of brioche, it’s a serious wine with a playful streak. 

Red

TalkTV: Tilimuqui Organic Malbec, 2021 on offer at Waitrose for £7.99

Tilimuqui, up in Argentina’s Famatina Valley, make wines that are light on their feet, aromatic and bright thanks to a very dry climate, high altitude and lots of sunshine. This is a blueberry and raspberry scented Malbec that is lighter and more elegant than some. 

Côtes du Rhône, Gabriel Meffre Organic, 2020 on offer at Waitrose for £7.99

When in doubt with red, pick a Côtes du Rhône, especially in the Autumn. This mid way style wine is a classic example of type with its notes of grilled meat, damson, rosemary and thyme. It’s on offer at the moment too, so grab it while you can!

Cono Sur Organic Pinot Noir, 2020 from Sainsbury’s for £9

This is a comforting, juicy Pinot with warm plum and vanilla spice character. Easy drinking and not too heavy, it’s one for a stew or a mid week shepherd's pie.

Veramonte Reserva Organic Carmenere, 2020 from Ocado for £11.50

Carmenere is Chile’s flagship red grape and is loved for its bold blackcurrant and leafy notes. This one is relatively restrained with a flinty kick on the finish. 

Want to know what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV? See here!

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talkTV: Beautiful Boxed Wine!

Boxed wine has come of age. Long gone are the days when the only thing you could find in a box was rocket fuel, thanks largely to advancements in technology, keeping wine fresher for longer. You can read more about why we should all be drinking boxed wine here and in the meantime, here are three bag in box wines that look as good as they taste to celebrate International Box Wine Day!

Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner, BIB Wine Company

The BIB Wine Company were the first, in my eyes to make PROPER wine in boxes ‘a thing’. Through them, I first saw proof that producers were putting their faith in the technology and allowing better and better wines to be boxed. BIB Wine have also nailed the packaging with their sleek, matte grey boxes that fit beautifully in the fridge (and look great on the counter top), they have impressive sustainable credentials and most importantly, offer top class wine that would be much more expensive if it were in glass bottles.

This Gruner Veltliner, which is Austria’s flagship white wine grape, is crisp and fresh with a fine minerality and kick of spice on the finish. A great alternative to wines like Gavi, Chablis or Picpoul.

Find it here for £40.90 for 2.25L box (£13.63 per 75cl bottle)

Lot #9 Luberon Rosé, Laylo Wine

Laylo believe that you drink with your eyes and they are right. Their beautiful boxes would not be out of place as the centrepiece at your dinner party. Entrepreneurial duo Laura and Laura (love that) set up their company after being convinced of all the positive reasons to drink wine from boxes, but annoyed that all the ones they could find were ugly and unwieldy. They work with small, independent wineries to hand pick a small selection of delicious, easy drinking wines in various styles.

This Luberon rosé hails form the most Provençal or Provençal areas. think blue shutter, pétanque and chocolate box houses. This pink is vibrant, fruity and easy drinking with that quintessentially Provence mineral core. Delicious.

Find it here for £34.99 for 2.25L (£11.66 per 75cl bottle)

Rosso Puglia Organic Wine, Terre di Faiano

It’s a box in tube form! Looking as good as a well packaged Easter egg, this boxed red wine has been a Waitrose favourite for quite a while now. If you’re a fan of bold, chocolatey wine, this one is for you. Made with a blend of red grapes with the figgy and cherry scented Primitivo leading the way, this wine is organic and vegan to boot! A great red wine as the weather turns and a winner with meats, burgers, stews and grilled veg. Even better, it’s on offer right now for Organic September - 20% off!

Find it here for £20.79 for 2.25L (£6.93 per 75cl bottle)

Tune in at 12.45pm GMT every Thursday for The Thursday Club with Mke Graham

talkTV: Cabernet Blends for Cabernet Day!

Lebanon (Bekaa Valley)

Petit Paradis de Qanafar, Chateau Qanafar, 2018

The Bekaa Valley in Eastern Lebanon is the country’s most important farming region and where 90% of all Lebanese wine is made. With dry summers and cool winters, the climate is Mediterranean where any extreme heat is mitigated by the vines planted at altitude on mountain slopes and the rain shadow those mountains bring. The region produces deeply coloured and flavoured wines from predominantly French grapes.

The Bekaa Valley is also one of the oldest wine regions in the world, with Israelite prophets mentioning the wines of Lebanon during the biblical era as well as the Ancient Phoenicians. Production dwindled during the Ottoman empire but flourished again after the world wars.

Chateau Qanafar is a family run winery that use only grapes they own ans farm right next to their winery. The Petit Paradis is what they call a ‘vin de plaisir’, rather than a simple table wine as it aims to be simple yet structured with lots of vibrant, ripe fruit.  Think  juicy blackberry and redcurrant with toast and vanilla. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (20%), Tempranillo (20%).

Find it for £14.99 from Naked Wines

South Africa (Stellenbosch)

Reyneke, Cornerstone Organic, 2018

Reyneke is an organic and biodynamic wine estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa run by visionary winemaker Johan Reyneke. Their ethos is all about reusing, recycling, and re-purposing and they do not use any kind or type of pesticide or anything-cide. This properly holistic approach has produced wines of a whole new level of vibrancy showing that methods that are better for the earth are also  better for the wine.

Culturally too, Reyeke has a similar approach. Their Cornerstone project is founded on the fact that you cannot make good grapes without good people who want to do a good job. They employ local workers, empowering them to become financially independent and educated through this scheme with retirement annuities and funeral policies added to the pay structure of all permanent employees.

This classic Bordeaux-style blend is all about ripe blackcurrant spice and tobacco leaf flavours. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Cabernet Franc (36%) Merlot (1%)

Find it for £16.99 on offer at WaitroseCellar

Chile (Maipo Valley)

Santa Rita, Triple C, 2018

Santa Rita was founded in 1880 in Chile’s Maipo Valley when founder Don Domingo Fernández Concha brought over grape varieties from Bordeaux, installed state-of-the-art equipment and employed a team of fantastic winemakers. With that, Chilean wine making was changed forever! Today, Santa Rita still pioneers, using the most advanced technology and producing world class wines.  The Triple C is a nod to the traditional French blends at the heart of the winery's history, which are aged in French oak. Concentrated but fresh, think black cherries, cedar and tobacco with awesome structure.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Cabernet Franc (40%) Carménère (15%)

Find it for £19.99 mix 6 price at Majestic

See what else Helena has tasted on talkTV with Mike Graham here!/