My favourite
In our monthly column outlining members’ favourite tipples, NOffLA members share their expertise on the brands that excite their palates. This month, Neil Kelly of Molloys Liquor Store, Village Green, Tallaght, Dublin 24, highlights his favourite picks
Print13 June 2018
It’s hard to beat dining and relaxing outside in the spring and summer nights; enjoying the balmy evenings waiting on the stars to come out, spending time with loved ones while sharing a tipple and some delicious food. It’s a fantastic way to unwind and I really look forward to those opportunities in the coming months; weather permitting. I decided to stray from the norm of what our customers would generally tend to trend towards like cooler lighter wines and icy cocktails for those evenings and go with two of my favourites that I feel are great for sharing and I think will go down a treat at dusk.
A red wine that I particularly favour and recommend to our customers is the Chateau Paul Mas Clos de Mûres. The wine is a blend of Shiraz Grenache and Mourvedre grape that is simply superb. Its high quality exceeds its retail price (€16.99 from our stores) and it’s an excellent alternative to the more pricey wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This has a lovely floral aroma on the nose and tastes of juicy plummy fruit flavours, spicy oak (from the nine months of barrel aging and three types of barrel) and smooth persistent tannins. It pairs beautifully with full-bodied cheeses like Dubliner or Parmaigiano Reggiano and even the lighter creamier styles like Port Salut. A lovely bottle to savour and share; you won’t be disappointed.
Anyone who has worked with me knows how much I champion Green Spot whiskey. It has so much to offer and is a fantastic introduction to whiskey. Green Spot is a pot still whiskey which is the traditional method for whiskey production in Ireland. It is aged in new bourbon, second fill bourbon, and sherry casks for 7-11 years. Green Spot is a pretty versatile drink and caters to many tastes. It is not overpowering and has a rich complexity and smoothness which won’t offend. It has notes of fresh green apple, freshly cut grass, some peppery notes, toffee and some minerality. Who knew spring could come in a whiskey bottle! This is just unbelievably smooth on the palate and is full of fruits like apples, pears with some honey, oak, vanilla and some spicy heat. In fact, you will discover new flavours with every drop. It has a long, smooth oily finish.
Great as an aperitif with some dark chocolate, share this with friends. There is no need for new whiskey drinkers to be intimidated. Green Spot has a fantastic history in Ireland going back over 100 years and I urge people to check it out. I hope you’ll give these a try. Green Spot is available for €57.
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