FOOD & DRI N K
Festive tipple treats Ben Robson of Oakham’s specialist Italian wine importers, Bat and Bottle, divulges his top tipple tips for the festive season. Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2010, Kent and East Sussex Toast the season with England’s finest, Gusbourne goes head to head with Champagne; the same grapes and method of winemaking and even the same soils. Rich and pure, multiaward winning, find out what all the fuss is about. £28, Bat and Bottle.
Burleigh’s Distillers Cut Gin 47% Export strength, show gin crafted by master distiller Jamie Baxter. The botanicals are consistent, the balance is different, this has a floral lift and candied lemon fruit that is perfect for a Tom Collins. This Leicestershire distiller has an excellent ‘gin school’, now there’s a great Christmas prezzie! £33.95 (70cl) Burleigh’s | Bat and Bottle, Oakham | The Lord Nelson, Oakham
Agostino Vicentini, Soave Superiore ‘La Casale’ 2014, Italy
READER OFFER: Rutland and Market Harborough Living readers get 10% off these featured wines.
Soave is a beautiful hilltop village between Verona and Venice. Jancis Robinson loved ‘the fabulous intensity and length’ of this wine. No oak, almost crystalline qualities simply one of the best wines of the vintage. Perfect with fowl, cold cuts or flavourful salads. £17, Bat and Bottle.
Emilio Bulfon, Piculìt Neri 2014, Italy
Warner Edwards Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin 40% The original stock was from Queen Victoria’s garden, it made its way to Lincolnshire via Dublin and was finally discovered by maverick Harrington distillers, Tom and Sion, who found a way to make Rhubarb taste great! There is no better pink G&T, delicate spice and fruit, delicious. £33.00 (70cl) Bat and Bottle, Oakham | Oakham Wines, Oakham | Stamford Cheese Cellar, Stamford | Wistow Deli
Two Birds Absinthe 70% Market Harbour craft distillers unleash the legendary green fairy: this little bottle is probably enough for most – a great (grown-up) stocking-filler. £5.50 (5cl) Bat and Bottle, Oakham | The Wine Emporium, Oakham | The Offie, Leicester
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RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING DECEMBER 2016
Incredibly rare (the perfect gift for wine lovers). This wine is more silk than velvet, berry and bramble fruit will perfectly match turkey or goose, the Christmas wine for red wine drinkers. £15, Bat and Bottle STOCKISTS: Bat and Bottle, 18d Oakham Enterprise Park, Ashwell Road, Oakham LE15 7TU. Tel: 01572 759735 www.batwine.uk Oakham Wines, 1-3 High Street, Oakham, LE15 6AH, Tel: 01572 757124 www.oakhamwinesonline.co.uk Stamford Cheese Cellar, 17 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DG. Tel: 01780 489269 www.stamfordcheese.com Wistow Mediterranean Deli, Wistow Rural Centre, 12 Kibworth Road, Wistow, LE8 0QF. Tel: 0116 2593441 www.wistow.com The Wine Emporium, 10b Mill Street, Oakham, LE15 6EA. Tel: 07737 963827 The Offie, 142 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, LE2 3AE. Tel: 07955 402187 www.offie.hostei.com Burleigh’s London Dry Gin, tel: 0116 2627336 www.burleighsgin.com Two Birds Countryside Spirit, tel: 01858 414256 www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk The Lord Nelson, 11 Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT. Tel: 01572 868340 www.kneadpubs.co.uk