The Spirit of Christmas

[EdgeleyRob]

Got the booze in now.



Wouldn't bother with Christmas if it wasn't for the kids.

[BBMmk2]

L) Two cases of mixed Skinner's real ales, Sainsbury's mulled wine and other assorted Christmas Goodies!!! Ah! And whisky!!

[Alain Maréchal]

I shall be finding out if Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.
Oh, and I'll bring in a few CH'TI Blondes to warm me up. (Madame is broadminded).

[Petrushka]

A bottle of Port will, as usual, be opened on Christmas Eve. (Trying to find one on ER's picture and can't see one).

[Anna]

Ruby port and cream sherry tend to be instant headache inducing for me (but walnuts, sprinkled with salt and a glass of pale sherry is Heavenly)
What I want to purchase is some cheap and cheerful fizz for Christmas Day morning, something easily obtainable from a supermarket, anyone bought/got ideas for Prosecco/Cava?

[Barbirollians]

Ruby port and cream sherry tend to be instant headache inducing for me (but walnuts, sprinkled with salt and a glass of pale sherry is Heavenly)
What I want to purchase is some cheap and cheerful fizz for Christmas Day morning, something easily obtainable from a supermarket, anyone bought/got ideas for Prosecco/Cava?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8928498/Top-20-bottles-of-champagne-and-prosecco-for-Christmas.html

[eighthobstruction]

Ruby port and cream sherry tend to be instant headache inducing for me (but walnuts, sprinkled with salt and a glass of pale sherry is Heavenly)
What I want to purchase is some cheap and cheerful fizz for Christmas Day morning, something easily obtainable from a supermarket, anyone bought/got ideas for Prosecco/Cava?

....Fizz.... I particularly like Dandelion and Burdock pop....(cold as possible)....

....or Fresh squeezed orange juice + dash of lemonade + dash of vodka....<but then again i do not drink alcohol these days [and many of those days too]>

....Anybody breaking out the homemade wines??....t'was always a good occasion when our next door neighbour brought around the elderberry or elderflower to test....

[Mahler's3rd]

A Bottle Of Captain Morgan

[Sir Velo]

Ruby port and cream sherry tend to be instant headache inducing for me (but walnuts, sprinkled with salt and a glass of pale sherry is Heavenly)
What I want to purchase is some cheap and cheerful fizz for Christmas Day morning, something easily obtainable from a supermarket, anyone bought/got ideas for Prosecco/Cava?

Ruby port is just about the cheapest, nastiest port on the market. Vintage port, OTOH, is one of the great nectarean gifts to mankind.

[Anna]

Ruby port is just about the cheapest, nastiest port on the market. Vintage port, OTOH, is one of the great nectarean gifts to mankind.

I said Ruby to distinguish it from White. I guess the only dark Port I've had has been Taylor's which is heavily discounted in supermarkets at Christmas. I associate Port with elderly gents in their Club or 1940s grannies having a port and lemon in the Snug in old films and pretending it''s not alcoholic.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...Christmas.html

I was in Waitrose a couple of days ago and noticed all their Prosecco special offers were temporarily unavailable, but M&S had their 'Prestige' Cava, normally £9.75 at two for £12, but I've never had a Cava I liked very much. I do remember buying in France Blanquette de Limoux to bring home, wonder if I can get any of that? I expect it's horredously expensive though. As for homemade wines - Elderflower Champagne is absolutely lovely!
My Christmas treat, re wines, is a bottle of Beaumes de Venise. Liquid sunshine!

[BBMmk2]

Found in Waitrose, a rather good bottle of real ale, called St Peter's. As far as I know they brew a Ruby, a golden, and a stout, as well!

[Alain Maréchal]

walnuts, sprinkled with salt and a glass of pale sherry

Doesn't that make the walnuts soggy?

<<1940s grannies having a port and lemon in the Snug in old films and pretending it''s not alcoholic>>

I often wonder if that's the point of eggnog. Since its made of eggs, it must be nourishing; the alcohol is merely a preservative. Similarly with Advocaat (see "hearts of stone" reference elsewhere):
a Genever at 11am would be disreputable, a glass of Advocaat would be sensible mid-morning sustenance.

[amateur51]

Ruby port is just about the cheapest, nastiest port on the market. Vintage port, OTOH, is one of the great nectarean gifts to mankind.

...provided you can separate it adequately from the headache-inducing sludge at the bottom of the bottle

[Serial_Apologist]

a glass of Advocaat would be sensible mid-morning sustenance.

We used to call it alchies' custard.

[Barbirollians]

I said Ruby to distinguish it from White. I guess the only dark Port I've had has been Taylor's which is heavily discounted in supermarkets at Christmas. I associate Port with elderly gents in their Club or 1940s grannies having a port and lemon in the Snug in old films and pretending it''s not alcoholic.

I was in Waitrose a couple of days ago and noticed all their Prosecco special offers were temporarily unavailable, but M&S had their 'Prestige' Cava, normally £9.75 at two for £12, but I've never had a Cava I liked very much. I do remember buying in France Blanquette de Limoux to bring home, wonder if I can get any of that? I expect it's horredously expensive though. As for homemade wines - Elderflower Champagne is absolutely lovely!
My Christmas treat, re wines, is a bottle of Beaumes de Venise. Liquid sunshine!

Have a look at http://www.wine-searcher.com and search for blanquette or cremant de limoux. There is a Tesco Finest version at £9.99 .