A good drink is about so much more than just the contents of the glass. Here are eight ways to bring true love to the connoisseur in your life, writes John Wilson
1 PERSONALISED WHISKEY
For the whiskey-lover in your life, why not order a personalised bottle of Jameson 12 Year Old Distillery Reserve with the recipients name printed on both the bottle and canister label? The Distillery Reserve is a pot still whiskey, aged in Bourbon and Sherry casks. The service costs €52 and is available
through the Distillery shops in Dublin and Midleton (while you wait) or online from shop.jamesonwhiskey.com, where it takes three to five days.
2 RIEDEL GLASSES
If, like me, you are constantly breaking the glassware, a few new wine glasses makes for a very welcome gift. The Riedel Vinum Chianti Classico glass (pictured, €19 each) is the perfect all-purpose wine glass, suitable for all kinds of red and white wine. Alternatively, you could go for the Vinum Pinot Noir glass (€22) for the Burgundy drinker. Riedel glasses are available from: Mitchell Son Wine Merchants at the CHQ Building, IFSC, Dublin 1 Glasthule, Co Dublin; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Co Dublin; Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dawson Street, Dublin 2; Wicklow Wine Company; Daley’s, Boyle, Co Roscommon.
3 DECANTERS
Not only does a wine decanter improve the quality of your wine, it also looks great on the dinner table. There are plenty available, but a wine lover or music aficionado will certainly enjoy using the Riedel Amadeo Decanter (€250). On a less serious note, the Carol decanter (Terroirs, Donnybrook, Dublin terroirs.ie) at €49.50 will aerate your wine and provide amusement for your guests at the same time. The Amadeo (above) is available from Mitchell Son Wine Merchants at The CHQ Buidling, IFSC Dublin 1 and Glasthule, Co Dublin; O’Briens, The Beacon, Sandyford, Co Dublin.
4 HUGH JOHNSON’S POCKET WINE BOOK 2011
Small (fits into a handbag or pocket), inexpensive, but packed full of useful information, Hugh Johnson’s classic book will have plenty to interest both beginner and expert. Widely available in bookshops and some wine retailers for €11.95
5 WINE STAVES
Terroirs in Donnybrook, a source of some great wine and food gifts, have used barrel staves (from St Émilon, no less) that have been turned into very stylish vase and candle holders. They look quite spectacular. They also offer some very attractive hand-woven wine cloths and a range of accessories such as decanter stands and brushes. Wine cloths are €13.50 each. The wine staves are €50 with vases, €55 with candles. Terroir, Donnybrook. terroirs.ie
6 WINE COURSES BREAKS
Premier Wine Training, run by Maureen O’Hara, offers a range of wine courses, including the One Day Wonder wine appreciation course for €150 including lunch. There is also a three-hour Buy Better Wine course for €70. See premierwinetraining.com.
Alternatively, both Kelly’s Resort Hotel in Rosslare and Ballymaloe run wine weekends, which combine education with good wine and food. See kellys.ie and ballymaloe.ie.
7 IRISH MICRO-BREWS
Beer is highly fashionable at the moment, and Irish micro-breweries are springing up all over the country. Most good off-licences should have a selection, but specialists such as Redmond in Ranelagh; The Bottle Store, Stoneybatter; McHugh’s, Artane; World Wide Wines, Waterford; Dicey’s Reileys, Ballyshannon and others have a great range. Deveny’s in Dundrum offers a beer bag for €20 (five bottles and a snack, for collection only) or a beer box, for €50 (a dozen beers, delivered nationwide), which can be tailored to suit your demand.
8 HENNESSEY PARADIS IMPÉRIAL COGNAC
For the man or woman who has everything (and for gift-givers with plenty to spend), there is the recently released Hennessy Paradis Impérial Cognac, a blend of some of the oldest, finest Cognacs. Before you ask, I have tasted it, and it is a heavenly complex glass of brandy. €1,100 per bottle from O’Briens, Beacon Court, and the Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dawson Street.