It’s time to celebrate the remembered joys of the festive season so how about a Twelfth Night supper?
Perhaps a lightly spiced Asian meal (why not a takeaway after the feverish home cooking) followed by dessert, and perhaps a light blue cheese. What to drink though? Nothing better for Frost Magazine is the 56 Hundred 2017 Chenin Blanc which can keep you company from starter to the cheese.
Crisp, cool, with a scent of pineapple and peach – a hint of the summer to come. Excellent honest wine.
The Nederburg is an interesting South African winery which has created an initiative in partnership with the Qhubeka charity to raise money to build bikes to transform lives in South Africa.
#DoYourPart is encouraging people to ride your bike and raise money to get communities across Africa mobilised by making bikes to get them moving – whether it be to work, school or simply just to make it possible to get around.
Sign up or donate at www.nederburgbelieves.co.uk and you can start logging miles for bike parts or a whole bike. Fundraising cycle packs are sent out to inspire one and all to get on their bikes and raise money to build bikes on the Nederburg vineyard in South Africa at a special assembly facility which has been built to support this life changing initiative. The facility, which assembles a minimum of 5,000 purpose-built bicycles a year, will not only offer employment to the community, but also provide all employees with their own personal bicycle, enabling them to improve their lives as well.
If you’d like to know more about Nederburg’s partnership with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka to mobilise communities across Africa, visit http://www.nederburgbelieves.co.uk/or search #DoYourPart on social media.
So let’s step back into the sitting room, and bask in the glow of the fire, and let the talk drift to Christmas, the relatives, and how long the pine needles will lurk hidden in the carpet, and while doing that, why not sip a whiskey?
We suggest the twelve year old Johnnie Walker Black Label which brings together the flavours from the four corners of Scotland, to create a rather special flavour.
I wonder what John Walker would feel about the amazing empire he built up. He was a farm lad when his father died in 1819 but somehow he wasn’t cast down, but instead he powered onwards.
The farm was sold, and the money used to set John up in a grocer’s shop in Kilmarnock, which was far more John’s cup of tea, or should I say, shot of whiskey. Because it was in whiskey distilling where his real genius lay. He began to blend whiskey’s together to get some sort of reliability of taste.
In the 1850s John popped his clogs, and Alexander, his son, took over the business. It was the time of improved transportation: trains and ships and in 1867 Alexander launched Johnnie Walker’s first commercial blend and called it Old Highland Whisky. Before long, this unique blend was available around the globe.
What I didn’t realise was that it was then that the famous square bottle was introduced to reduce breakages, and the label, slanted at precisely 24 degrees. John’s son knew a thing or two about branding. The rest is history.
So here we are, sitting in front of the fire, drinking Johnnie Walker Black Label with its rich, complex and incredibly well balanced in flavour. Full of dark fruits, sweet vanilla and a signature smooth finish which is layered with rich smoke, pea and malt, it creates an impressive whisky to share on any occasion.
Of course, you can enjoy Johnnie Walker Black Label in any way you like – on its own, with a dash of water or alongside your favourite mixer.
But maybe for Twelfth Night you’d like to try a Johnnie Ginger – a spicy mix of Johnnie Walker Black Label and ginger ale, served over ice and garnished with a slice of orange or lime.
Either way, just lift your glass to 2018, and thank John Walker for his distilling skills.
Available from The Whiskey Exchange: https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/550/johnnie-walker-black-label-12-year-old
Milly Adams is the author of several bestselling novels. The latest of which is The Waterway Girls. pub Arrow. £5.99