Mr Jeffares Blackcurrant Cordial
No beer this week, but a thoroughly Irish drink, made from fruit grown, harvested and processed in Co Wexford.
Des Jeffares is the third generation of his family to grow blackcurrants. Until recently he was the sole Irish supplier to Ribena; he even appeared in their TV ads. When Ribena ended that contract two years ago, Des decided to create his own very grown-up blackcurrant cordial.
It isn’t as sweet as Ribena, and tastes so much better. You can use it in cookery, but I prefer it as an adult soft drink, simply mixed with soda water. It makes a great addition to various cocktails; the Lady Irish cocktail from their website was very good, although I love to mix it with another local product, Dungarvan Black Rock Stout.
Mr Jeffares is currently in the running to have it's name emblazoned on the Leinster rugby team shirts. You can vote for them on mrjeffaresblackcurrants.ie
Porta 6 2012 Lisboa 13.5% €12.99 down to €9.99
The distinctive natty label features the historic tram that runs around the streets of Portugal’s capital city. António Mendes Lopes of Vidigal had bought the original picture, but had great trouble tracking down the artist to get permission to use it on a label – it turned out to be a slightly eccentric German artist by the name of Hauke Vagt, who sold his works to tourists during the summer months.
This has been one of O’Briens best-selling wines over the last year or so, and judging from consumer reaction at their wine fair last week, this seems set to continue. Apparently sales rocketed in the UK when celebrity chef James Martin said on TV programme Saturday Kitchen that it was “one of the nicest reds I’ve tasted in ten years on this show”.
Light smooth ripe plum and blackberry fruits in far greater concentration than you would expect in a wine at under €10. A very gluggable wine to drink with red and white meats.
Available from O’Briens.
