In our second gift guide, designed to make choosing those precious Christmas gifts just a little bit easier, we have selected 5 of our favourites, all of which are priced at under £100:
Montanaro Grappa Barolo Cannubi £72.30 A unique grappa distilled from the grape marcs of Nebbiolo da Barolo from the famous Cannubi cru. One of Montanaro’s finest it has an unmistakable intensity on the nose and cleanliness and elegance in the mouth; soft, velvety, sweet and delicate flavours with notes of dried fruit and jam. Aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 4-5 years, it has a golden yellow colour typical of wood-aged distillates.
Hermitage 2010 Grande Champagne Cognac £76.14 Another wonderful vintage from the Chez Richon stills, this cognac is still in cask and maturing all the time. Traditional flavours of mocha and toffee are accompanied by butterscotch and sweet spices to delight your palate. As our award-winning 2005 vintage has run out, we are pleased to have found this 2010 as a worthy replacement.
Toutain Hors d’Age 15 Year Old Calvados £77.22 There are 35 apple varieties allowable for the production of calvados and Toutain grow all their own in their orchards near Beuzeville, Normandy. This Hors d’Age calvados has been aged in oak for 15 years to produce a complex and fine calvados suitable for drinking during or after a meal.
Mosgaard Organic Single Malt Palo Cortado Cask Whisky £84.12 Finished in casks built from American white oak, which had been medium toasted, and put into stock with Palo Cortado sherry for 1.5 years. (Palo Cortado is a sherry with the nose of Amontillado and the body from Oloroso). It has been bottled at a strength of 53% which balances the spicy malt and green citrus notes.
Delord 1992 Bas Armagnac £88.26 An armagnac with character from Delord. It was distilled in 1992 and aged in wooden barrels until its recent bottling. It is contact with the wood that has helped give its beautiful colour of old gold with copper highlights.