With a double booking in my diary, Laura again steps in and this time does my drinking for me. I can’t help but wonder if I got the raw end of that deal…
On a night out, vodka is my usual tipple of choice. After various youthful misdemeanors with the kind of white cider that has seen more chemistry lab than apple, and whilst enjoying a good wine with dinner but unable to drink it all night without creating a holy show – I settled on vodka.
I can plan my night down to the drink – “Stop now and you can totter off with a modicum of dignity and grace. One more, you’ll be ballooning around the bar with your lipstick all over your face and your heels kicked under the table.”
In the spirit of true friendship (!), and ignoring “Dry-uary” I attended the Drinks Enthusiast Grey Goose tasting at 24 Bar & Grill on the 9th January.
I’m already a Grey Goose fan; having been introduced to it by a colleague and when feeling flush (or rash) occasionally treat myself to a bottle but must confess I knew very little about the actual product.
David from the Drinks Enthusiast has over 6 years experience in the bar and restaurant trade, is enthusiastic, passionate and a generally lovely guy. He only hosts tastings for brands that he likes, he feels other people would like and explains them in an accessible, fun way so that you can appreciate the product.
Grey Goose is an American owned brand, but a French vodka; made with the finest ingredients from a country famed for its spirits – Cognac anyone? Launched in 1997 and it aimed to not only rival, but better the super premium market leader, Belvedere.
It’s made from soft wheat grain and water (the image on the back of the bottle shows the mountain where the water comes from), fermented, then column steel distilled FIVE times which results in only a third of the original volume making it into the bottle.
Firstly, we tasted the original; a clean nose lead to a surprisingly soft, smooth palate with flavours of aniseed and liquorice and a long, lingering finish. It was warming but not harsh at all. A surpise.
Next, we tried the flavoured varieties. Unlike most other brands, grey goose vodkas are made totally naturally; no flavourings or additives. It is simply the original Grey Goose distilled with the fruit peel to allow the natural oils to permeate and flavour the vodka.
First was Le Citron; it had a very subtle, fresh scent of citrus which lead onto an intense, zesty burst of flavour on the palate with a long, mouth watering finish. A little too tart and acidic for me on its own but as a base for cocktails would be fantastic.
Next up was L’Orange. contrary to Le Citron this was heavier on the nose than the palate. A deep, rich aroma of juicy ripe orange which was smooth as it hit, with a burst of flavour and a long finish. Sweeter than Le Citron but with a more subtle taste this is more palatable on its own or to use in cocktails as long as the rest of the ingredients do not over power its subtlety.
Finally, La Poire. I suspected this would be my favourite – and it didn’t disappoint. An intense nose of rich, ripe pear leads onto a full flavoured, juicy – but not overly sweet or cloying palate. Delish.
Then, onto cocktails. I was lucky enough to be taught how to make two cocktails by David; a classic Cosmopolitan and a Carlyle Collins. I also got to have a go at making them myself and we then invited the barman to do a blind tasting to decide whose was best. Final score – 1-1! Result!
To sum up – a thoroughly enjoyable evening in a great venue, expertly taught and great value for money.
There are more tastings planned for the rest of the year including Tequila, Whiskey, Gin and more. Book now!