Other Spirits

Rum & Cachaca Rum is produced in a variety of styles. Light rums are commonly used in cocktails. In addition to cocktails, golden and dark rums are appropriate for drinking straight, or as a brandy for cooking. Premium rums are also available that are made to be consumed straight or with ice.

Tequila

Tequila is an agave-based spirit made primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state of Jalisco. The volcanic soil in the region surrounding Tequila is particularly well suited to the growing of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year. Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and limited regions in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas.

Liqueur & Speciality

A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavoured with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavours to marry.

Liqueurs date back centuries and are historical descendants of herbal medicines, often those prepared by monks, as Chartreuse or Bénédictine. Liqueurs were made in Italy as early as the 13th century and their consumption was later required at all treaty signings during the Middle Ages.

The word liqueur comes from the Latin liquifacere (‘to liquefy’).

Calvados

Calvados, brandy produced from apples or a blend of apples and pears from a strictly controlled area of Normandy, distilled and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two years.

The Calvados region has three AOC’s – Calvados, Calvados Pays D’Auge and Calvados Domfrontais, the Pays D’Auge AOC stipulates that the cider must be distilled twice, enhancing its quality.

Calvados may be labelled with age designations – Fine/3 star - minimum age of 2 years, Reserve – minimum age 3 years, Vieille Reserve/VSOP – minimum age 4 years, Hors D’Age – minimum age 6 years, Extra/XO/Napoleon- minimum 6 years.

Eau de Vie & Grappa

Literally ‘water of life’. This French term signifies brandy , either grape brandy or some other kind, such as a fruit brandy.

Eau de Vie, Marc and Grappa are produced from distilling fermented grape pomace (skins, pulp and pips leftover from pressing grapes for wine production)