Drinks abound in Cheshire

This is theft... from myself! On my personal blog, I've written about the nice drinking John and I did last week, where I was in Engladn My Story - by Kim M.: Drinks abound in Cheshire.

A New Calvados on My Shelf

Yesterday I bought a bottle of Calvados – good stuff too. Or at least that’s what the clerk told me. It has aged for 18 years on oak cask and is of the genuine kind – straight out of Pay d’Auge.

You guessed right. I am just being a bit pretentious now. I still haven’t tasted the stuff, so what am I trying to say here. Well, just that I love Calvados and that I promise you a thorough description of its qualities once I have tasted it. As a matter of fact I believe I love Calvados the second best of all eliksirs, right after a good single malt whisky.

Now, I just thought of something: “I wonder if it is a single estate Calva, or if it is some cooperative stuff?” Normally you get much more character out of the single estate one – they are much more interesting. That goes for brandy and whisky too, so I’ll definitely look closely into that.

Well, pleasing me was everything I thought of when buying this eliksir (of course the envisaged pleasure I would experience did account for 95% or so), I also had my French colleague in mind when buying it. I’d like him to appreciate it as well, since I enjoy sharing my passion for eliksirs with others.

Got to get off the train now. I’ll catch you later!

Slim Selection of Whisky in Struer - and Tea

Yesterday I was out hunting for a nice dram (read bottle) of whisky. Those of you who have had a look at "My Story"-blog will know that I recently moved to Struer, but alas this wee town hasn't got much to offer in whiskies.

Since I moved here, I have felt an increased want for a light salty seaside malt. The ones I'd categorize as such would be "Old Pultney", "Oban", "Arran" and "Asyla". The two latter ones I had no expectations about finding here, but I had hope that such widely known ones as Pultney and Oban would be found even here in Struer. But my search was fruitless. I came home empty handed - except for two bottles of "Vestfyn - Real Ale", which turned out to be a fairly good brown ale (Style Newcastle Brown), but with a bit too much fizz.

I imagine that I will be buying more whisky online, given the relative remoteness of my new home and my spoiled tastebuds. Earlier today I actually spent some time looking for good online shops with tea, because the thea selection i also slim in Struer, and to my delight I found a number of interesting ones - all in Denmark.

Chaplon Tea Quality costs!
Mosehusets Teshop Cute and affordable
Billigte.dk Translates into "Cheap tea"
A. C. Perchs Thehandel Disappointingly expensive

My brother ones bought some "Christmas Tea" home from A. C. Perchs Tea shop, and it was a big disappointment. The taste was very bland, which suggested that the blend had been made from old leftovers. You would expect more from the most exclusive tea shop in the whole of Copenhagen.

Anyway, bach to the whiskies! Do you have any suggestions that you think would suit my taste?

Elderflower Eliksir: Done!

It's dark, it's strange and it tastes funny - when not diluted!

My elderflower extract is turning darker and darker as time goes by. I've tried drinking it on it's own, but it must only be considered an essence and should be mixed with other essences and then diluted with more Aqua Vitae (e.g. vodka or a lite Schnapps).

I am planning on making an extract on "Melissa officinalis" (Lemon Balm), which I expect will counter the flavour of my sweeter eliksirs well.

Else, I feel I am running low on whisky. I feel I am missing some ligth salty ones (e.g. Pultney or Oban) now that I am living "on the coast", and more of the heavy sweet ones (e.g. Mortlach & a'bunadh). Of course these are ones I've tried before, so I should also find new ones - those yet unknown!

Any suggestions?

Time Out

Sorry, I have to call a time out!

I am spending all my time getting installed in my new flat, where I am not even online yet. I'll catch up with you soon!

Eliksirs Aging

As promised: here you have a photo of the result of my efforts so far.

"Why are the bootles almost empty?", you might ask. Well, these are essences that can be mixed with others essences. Or you dilute it until you reach a taste intensity that tickles your fancy.

Elderflower brew & Eliksir Essentials

Well, it is not really a brew. I just like the word "BREW". It is an extract on vodka of elderflowers. The mix stood for three days before I removed the flowers, and now I am letting it stand for another 3 weeks - still nine days to go. I just had a sniff of it, and it smells surprisingly nice. I had feared that it would have a thick and overly sweet aroma, but "No" it actually smells rather pleasant.

That's more than what I can say for my "Banana Basil Eliksir". The Basil is hardly detectable, whereas the banana is quite pungent even - especially in the first "whiff" you get, when opening the bottle. Tastewise it is peculiar, and I feel I must mix it with something. I just don't know what that something should be.

The other three finished extracts I have that are ready now are from the flowers and also the leaves of "Menyanthaceae Trifoliata", plus flowers together with top-leaves from "Asperula Odorata". "Menyanthaceae Trifoliata" is very very bitter - especially the extract from the leaves. The one from the flowers is more delicate. The essence from the "Asperula Odorata" is rather nice, but I should like to find out, if it mixes well with something else?

I shall post picture of my wee bottles one of the coming days.