Coffee Liqueurs

Whether dining in or out, many people still like to finish off their meal with a coffee, often accompanied by a liqueur or snifter of postprandial brandy. 

I first came across the word ‘postprandial’, many years ago. Derived from Latin, it means the period after lunch or dinner, and I confess to since having an overwhelming urge to use it whenever I can; something along the lines of ‘Would anyone like a little postprandial liqueur?’

Hence this month’s column, on the subject of postprandial coffee liqueurs. In carrying out my research, what I found surprising is the wide range of base spirits used for the different blends, including whisky, tequila, rum, brandy and Sambuca; something to suit everyone.

Most of us will be familiar with high profile brands such as Tia Maria (26.5%abv. £13). Created in the 1930s, this rum based premium strength liqueur is flavoured with a blend of cane spirit, Jamaican coffee, vanilla and sugar. Its position as the most successful liqueur of its type is testament to its versatility. It is my personal favourite, especially when made used to make Calypso Coffee.

Kahlua (20% abv. £15), first created in 1936 in Veracruz, Mexico, is also very popular. The characteristic flavour here, in addition to coffee, comes from the addition of caramel, giving a smooth sweetness. Worth looking out for on your travels, as it is not yet available in the UK, is their Kahlua Especial, which packs more of a punch at 36%abv.

Bailey’s fans will be keen to discover that they have recently added a new flavour to their range, Bailey’s Espresso Crème (17%abv. £15.75), has a bold, dark roast coffee aroma, with the taste of fresh Colombian ground espresso beans on top of the classic traditional Irish Cream and chocolate finish.

Borghetti Caffè (25%abv. £20.18), made using the original recipe created by Ugo Borghetti in 1860. Its flavour is typically Italian, characterised by a special blend of top quality coffee beans from different regions of the world, prepared in huge espresso coffee pots.

Cazcabel Coffee liqueur (38%abv. £23.86), combines the earthy agave flavours of blanco tequila with the luxurious flavours of South American Coffee and chocolate. Smooth and rich, but not too sweet.

Galliano Ristretto (42.3%abv. £17.58 - 50cl.), combines Galliano suffused with the robust strength of ‘ristretto’made from Arabica and Robusta coffees. This is almost black in colour, concentrated and aromatic.

Gabriel Boudier – ‘Bartender’ Range Crème de Café (25%abv. £12.76 - 50cl.), maintains that this is the only coffee cream on the market that retains the real taste of espresso. The coffee beans used in this come from South America, which are roasted before the aromas are extracted through the vapour, then added to alcohol and sweetened.

Expre Espresso Liqueur, Bepi Tosolii (28%abv. £22), from the very highly-regarded Italian master distillers Tosolini comes this rather fabulous espresso coffee liqueur, made with traditionally-toasted Arabica coffee beans.

Fair Café Liqueur Fair Trade (22%abv. £12.05 - 35cl.), has the true taste of freshly roasted coffee, with full-bodied and rich flavours of almonds and hazelnuts, followed by the pleasant taste of caramel. It seems only 'fair' to buy this as at the time of writing it is Fairtrade fortnight!

Heering (35%abv. £15.60 - 50cl.), is made from a recipe developed as a line extension to the original Cherry Liqueur dating back to 1818. The base is Caribbean rum, coffee and cacao, and only natural ingredients are used, with no additives or artificial colouring.

Mr Black Cold Press Coffee Liqueur (25%abv. £30), the original cold press coffee liqueur, made in tiny batches of 300 at a small distillery in New South Wales, Australia. This is a bitter, intense spirit and coffee creation not intended for the faint hearted. Mr. Black is dark blend of pure Australian grain spirit and three specialty coffees, sourced from Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, and Brazil, chosen for their aroma and flavour. Chocolate and caramel is balanced by a citrus edge, with toffee and marmalade on the finish.

Patron XO Patron - XO Café (35%abv. £29) is produced and blended at a small family distillery known for producing high quality tequilas,in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. A unique blend of XO Fine tequila and pure natural coffee essence, it is "dry", not sweet as with most low proof coffee liqueurs.

Illyquore Espresso Liqueur (28%abv. £20.44) is the liqueur used for the Coffee Liqueur Ice Cream created by Nigella Lawson. The blend of 100% Arabica results in a bitter sweet symphony.

Molinari – Caffe (32%abv. £21.23) has the perfume of the Arabic coffee used as an infusion with Sambuca Molinari, the anise flavour gives an unmistakable aroma.

Santa Teresa – Araku (28%abv. £16.62 – 50cl.), takes its name from the original inhabitants of Aragua. Thisopaque brown liqueur is the result of combining Santa Teresa rums, aged for two years in white American oak barrels, with a refined yet powerful coffee infusion. Its medium body makes it quite viscous, with hints of mocha and roasted nuts, and a mild bitterness that adds a refreshing note.

Toussaint Coffee Liqueur (26.5%abv. £19.50) This rum based drink is created from selected natural tropical ingredients; in addition to coffee there are hints of cocoa, vanilla, and liquorice.

Sheridans Perfect Pour Liqueur (15.5%abv. £14.79 - 50cl.), first introduced in 1994, it is easily recognisable by its unique bottle, consisting of two separate sections fused together. One section is filled with a black liqueur, consisting of coffee and whiskey flavours, while the other is filled with a white liqueur of milk white chocolate.

Villa Zarri Brandy and Coffee Liqueur (40%abv. £29.50 - 50cl.), is made by infusing a top-quality coffee brand from India, an Arabic one and a very-low acidity one called “Plantation A” with brandy made from Trebbiano wine. It is aged for six years in French oak barrels, before water is added, to bring the alcoholic strength to 40°, and sugar to soften the bitterness of coffee. The infusion is filtered and allowed to rest for at least one year before bottling it.  

For those interested in making their own coffee liqueur, Dorset Homebrew have available Prestige Mia Theresa Coffee Liqueur Essence at just £1.75, enough for a bottle of your chosen spirit.

WINE TO GO WITH ASPARAGUS

I have always subscribed to the view that we should, where possible, eat foods that are in season, if for no other reason than that they are less expensive and have so much more flavour. At this bountiful time of year, with the asparagus season now in full swing, despite my innate dislike of ‘green foods’, I find that I cannot get enough.

The problem arises when it comes to selecting a suitable wine to go with my green bundle of joy. As delightful as asparagus is on its own, it can clash with wine. What of course comes into play is how the asparagus is cooked and served, and what other ingredients are served alongside these tender spears.

Asparagus, which is a member of the lily family, contains the sulphurous amino acid methionine. This compound, along with asparagus’s intense grassy flavour, can make wine taste dank and vegetal, or harsh and metallic.

In general, the perceived wisdom is that we should aim to stay well clear of tannic reds or big, bold, oaky whites, unless your asparagus is served with a rich, velvety, buttery sauce. Wines with any hint of sweetness are also not a particularly good march.

It would be hard to go wrong with unoaked, citrusy, white wines with herbal notes, such as a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé from the Loire region of France. These wines, made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety, can in themselves have a marked ‘asparagus’ character in their flavour.

Here then are some suggestions to take the angst out of choosing something special to go with your asparagus, so that you can make the most of this short season, before we revert to the tasteless, expensive imports we see on our supermarket shelves for the rest of the year.

Vinaigrette – this needs a wine that can cope with the sharpness of the vinaigrette. Try an earthy, dry, unoaked Italian white such as Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, 2015, 13%abv., from the Marche region of Italy. This classic Italian dry white is well-balanced with an inviting floral aroma, complemented by plenty of ripe fruit flavours. At £8.50 it is unlikely to break the bank.

Melted butter or mayonnaise – In this case, as the asparagus is offset by the richness of the accompanying sauce, an uncomplicated, unoaked, Chardonnay, such as the Christophe Camu Chablis, 2014, 12%abv., will do the job nicely, for £15.95. It is light and refreshing, with a touch of minerality to balance the fruit flavours. This wine will continue to develop for a year or two yet.

Hollandaise or poached eggs - Here the accompanying ingredients tend to dominate and I would go for a white Rioja, such as Rioja Blanco Muga, 2016, 13%abv., £10.99. Made from Malvasia and Viura grapes, planted at the Western end of Rioja Alta, the wine is barrel fermented in new oak, giving complex and toasted aromas with fresh, zesty lime, and fresh acidity.

Goat’s cheese – a classic match for the aforementioned Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire, or tryChapel Down Bacchus, Tenterden, Kent, England, 2016, £12.99, 12%abv. Fresh, crisp and grassy, with an excellent citrus fruit character.

Grilled Salmon – A match made in heaven when served with asparagus. The finesse and balance achieved by this elegant 2015, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc Blend from Margaret River, Australia, 12.5%abv., £11, is a hallmark of its quality and the distinct character of this wine making area. A delicious, zingy, sophisticated wine that will be sure to please.

Chargrilled – If you are a fan of red wines with everything, chargrilling your asparagus can help you out here. Serve it with a drizzle of olive oil and slivers of parmesan, and you can happily get away with something along the lines of a Cabernet Franc based red from the Loire, lightly chilled.Domaine de l’Oubliée, Merci la Vie, Bourgueil, Loire, France, 2014, 12.5%abv., £14.25 is a rising star in the region. This youthful wine is easy drinking with balanced acidity, and soft rounded fruit on the palate.

Anyone visiting the USA may like to take a detour and visit Fox Barn Market & Winery in Shelby, Michigan, where they have wine made from asparagus. Truly!

Anyone for Pimm's?

It hardly seems possible that we are almost half way through the year. The onset of summer will herald those typically British activities, Chelsea Flower Show, horse racing at Ascot, Henley Regatta. Glyndebourne, and of course Wimbledon, none of which would be complete without the cry of ‘Anyone for Pimm’s?’ ringing in our ears.

Pimm's is also the standard cocktail at polo matches as well as being a very popular choice for garden parties.

First produced in 1823 by James Pimm, a farmer’s son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London. To aid the digestion of his customers he began to offer a gin based tonic containing a secret mixture of herbs and liqueurs. It was served in a small tankardknown as a No. 1 Cup, hence its name.

Such was the demand that large scale production began in 1851 and the distillery began selling it commercially in 1859, at thirty shillings a bottle, with hawkers peddling it, literally, on bicycles.

Pimm eventually sold on the business, and the right use his name to Frederick Sawyer in 1880, with the future Lord Mayor of London, Horatio Davies, taking it over in 1887, and franchising the Oyster Houses.

Pimm’s has a dark brown colour with a reddish hue, and tastes both citrusy and spicy.

Traditionally served as a long summer drink, topped up with fizzy lemonade and a garnish of cucumber and borage added; although nowadays pubs often throw the whole fruit bowl into the mix, with a sprig of mint to top it off.

Ginger ale is commonly used a substitute for the lemonade.

Given my penchant for bubbly, I am rather partial to a ‘Pimm’s Royal Cup’. Personally, I think it would be sacrilegious to use Champagne; am inclined to use Prosecco or Cava instead.

1½ oz Pimm's No. 1
Sparkling wine

Lemon peel
Cucumber peel

Simply pour the Pimm's over ice in a tall glass. Top up with champagne, garnish with lemon and cucumber peel.

Pimm’s can also be used to make a lovely refreshing jelly for a posh summer dessert, and when frozen, alcoholic ice lollies.

Ideal for picnics, pre-mixed Pimm’s can be bought in 250ml. cans at 5.4%abv, for around £1.90, when compared with the original Pimm’s No. 1 strength of 25%abv., at £15 for a 1 litre bottle.

In addition to the ever popular No 1 cup, with its gin base, the range has been extended to include six others, based on a variety of alcoholic bases, most of which have since been withdrawn from sale.

Other attempts to retain its place in the drinks market include the introduction of Pimm's Winter Cup, based on No.3, with a brandy base, and which is generally mixed with warm apple juice, No. 6, which has a vodka base, and also a Blackberry & Elderflower Pimm’s.

I have sampled them all but still think the original takes a lot of beating.

In 2015 The American Bar at the Savoy hotel in London launched a vintage Pimm’s menu to coincide with the first day of Wimbledon, using rare 1940s bottles. A mere snip at £45 per cocktail.

I was interested while carrying out research on the history of Pimm’s, to find out a bit more about tankards.

Around the time that Pimm’s was invented metal tankards with glass bottoms were popular. One legend has it that it was developed as a way of refusing the King’s Shilling, conscription into the British army or navy. The glass bottom enabled the drinker to see whether or not a shilling had been placed in the tankard, and the drink could be refused, thereby avoiding conscription.

Another story is that a bar fight would be started when the first punch was thrown while the recipient had the tankard raised to his mouth; the glass bottom was implemented so that he could see the attack coming.

Finally, on April Fool’s Day in 2016 Pimm’s fooled us all, even managing to get BBC’s Peter Sissons on board, with their spoof announcement of their sponsorship of Big Ben’s restoration, including plans to update the dial of Elizabeth Tower.

Ilminster Lit Fest Touring Quiz Competition

TOWN TOURING FUN QUIZ

With the co-operation of Ilminster shops, this year's Literary Festival will include a fun touring quiz. Clues will be displayed in many of the town's shop windows for the duration of the Festival.

Entrants will notice there is a connection between the answer to the clue and the shop itself. For example:- in Bonner's, the Butchers, the clue is "Sweeney Todd, although a barber, made meat pies - not as delicious as Mr, Bonner's though - What was the main grisly ingredient?"
To answer this you just collect one of the free quiz forms from one of the following shops:-

•         Just Things
•         Airs and Graces
•         Remains to be Seen
•         The Bookshop

Boxes to collect the completed entries will also be in these shops. The closing date is June 10th.

The winner, and all the results, will be announced in the local press, and in the four shops mentioned above. 

Should there be a draw, then the winner will be the first one picked out of a hat to win a smashing hamper of local produce and a surprise book.

The whole family can join in together; young people will know many of the answers. Of course, some will be difficult, but you all have ways and means of finding out!

Enjoy the Festival, relish the quiz and appreciate your literary heritage!

Take care of our vulnerable children

For my sins, I have had to attend ‘training’ on dealing with children who for whatever reason find themselves in care. The need to attend the training is entirely my own fault. To put not too fine a point on it, as is my want, I got myself into hot water through being what those who know me well would describe as being ‘too Linda-ish’. Not to elaborate too much on the issue, it involved my tattoo, and misinterpretation of some things I said in relation to children in care. I can put forward all of the arguments I like as to what actually happened, but basically it all boils down to my own behaviour, and my inability to communicate this appropriately to others. Privately I may well think that their reactions were out of all proportion, but I have only myself to blame. 

Thankfully, I was not deemed to be a danger to children, but it was felt that perhaps I needed to attend some formal training.

The upshot is that I am now enrolled on a Route 1 Advocacy Independent Visitor training course, and to be honest, although it is early days yet, it is the best thing that could have happened.

My interest and involvement in the care of vulnerable children is long standing, and whilst much of what I have learnt has just reiterated what I already knew, the opportunity to reinforce this learning in a formal environment has been invaluable.

I know from being a Samaritan that there are an awful lot of screwed up kids out there, many of whom, in being unable to handle the stress of their situation, consider taking their own lives or harming themselves. In speaking to them it becomes clear that they do not actually want to end their life, they just cannot cope with how things are and feel helpless. What I also know is that in the vast majority of cases the adults in their young lives have been the main cause of them reaching the tipping point that takes them over the edge. Heightened levels of anxiety are the underlying cause of most mental health problems, resulting in a negative impact on a child’s ability to thrive and achieve their full potential.

In league tables of stress levels amongst children across the world, the UK sadly comes at the bottom of the pile. What a woeful testament to what is happening within our society.

What I gained from the training sessions is an overwhelming feeling that as elected members, and representatives of our local communities, it should be compulsory for those of us in positions of power and influence to attend such training to gain a wider understanding of the complex issues involved in a child’s development. It is in our own interests to ensure that the next generation become fully functioning adults that can play a constructive part in our society.

It is only by understanding what is happening to them, that we can have any hope of ensuring that these children do not become the ‘lost generation’, victims of substance abuse, ending up in prison, or worse. On a practical note, why would we as well-informed individuals, allow situations to develop that mean these children become a costly drain on our society.

What has astounded me though, is the realisation that our teachers are not required to undergo such training. Surely this should be obligatory if our hard-pressed educators are to have any hope of reversing this negative trend.          

Local elections

Elections can bring out the best and the worst in people. The low turnout in the local elections this week, by comparison with the Brexit vote, was disappointing, but unsurprising.

In my own division, Ilminster, it was a respectable 40%, but this does mean that over half of the local electorate felt sufficiently disinterested in the outcome to not bother to exercise their democratic right to play a part in selecting their representative. I believe that this is foolish in the extreme.

At county level, and particularly when we continue to see cuts in funding in almost every area of service provision, it is vital that we speak up.

In my experience, it is those that speak loudest who are most likely to be heard. It is just such a pity that it is so necessary.

In Somerset, in recent years we have seen significant reduction in education funding, health and social care and highways; it is now much more difficult for the ordinary citizen to make contact with those in office who make the decisions that affect their lives. If your circumstances don’t allow you to ‘tick the box’ on a list of pre-determined questions, then you will miss out. What we must never forget is that it is out tax payers’ money which pays for the services we expect to benefit from, and when times are hard influencing the decisions needing to be made when allocating available funds becomes even more important.    

I was blessed with a respectable increase in my majority, going from just 11 votes in 2013, to almost 800 this time around, and gaining 53% of the overall vote. I benefited greatly from a ‘personal’ vote from those who were willing to put aside their natural political leaning because they felt that of those offering to represent them I was their preferred candidate. This was a humbling experience, but one that I am familiar with. In the seven local elections I have fought, I have never knocked on a door, ‘campaigned’, or publicly criticised other candidates, much to the concern of my party. I refuse to do so, because, as has been evidenced by some of the results this time around, I believe that negative campaigning and the constant pushing of what amounts to propaganda is counter-productive, and door-knocking is intrusive and not the best use of my time.

With my marketing hat on I know that what people want to hear about is what I have done for them and what I am planning to do to support them and their communities in the future. This can only be done by ensuring proper engagement, each and every day, all year round, not just at election time. To achieve this I am constantly juggling the day job to fit in what I believe to be the commitment I have subscribed to, often working very long hours, with have ‘no life’ as they say; this is my choice though, no one made me do this.  

I am unashamedly Conservative in my politics, but this does not always mean that I will tow the party line, much to the frustration of my leaders. I do what I think is best for those who have placed their trust in me and am not afraid to criticise a decision I believe to be wrong.   

Now I have said my piece, I had better get on with the job I have been elected to do. At present the sale of County farms is at the top of my agenda.

Election victory celebration

Fresh from her election victory in the local elections, gaining an overall 53% share of the vote to retain her seat representing Ilminster at Somerset County Council, Linda Vijeh lost no time and hit the ground running to represent the Conservative South West Women's Organisation, of which she is currently Chair, at a fund raising dinner in Devon the following evening.

Shown here, glass of bubbly in hand, with colleague Denise Barlow from Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Linda said 'This was a great opportunity for me to meet up with Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance to talk about ways in which he and Neil Parish, who was MP for Tiverton and Honiton, can help to ensure that Somerset County Council's tenant farmers get a fair deal.'  

Ilminster Literary Festival - fun for all the family

I have always had a passion for learning, and a keen interest in exploring all that is out there in the big wide world, hence my involvement as a volunteer in far too many things. If only the day job did not get in the way! With my own huge library of books, gathered over more than 40 years, and mainly devoted to food, wine and travel, it is no surprise that I should want to take part in organising Ilminster’s Literary Festival, now in its second year, and providing 8 days of fun filled activities, during the first week in June. Whilst schools play a vital part in preparing our children for the wider world, giving them the literacy skills to enable them to do so, there is much that the rest of us can do to support this work.

It is heartening to see that the Literary Festival has been selected of one of the recipients of Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ community fund raising scheme and The Rotary Club of Ilminster has for some time provided volunteers at Greenfylde School to sit and listen to pupils while they practice their reading skills. Nay-sayers will argue that the child’s parents or carers should be doing this, but I know from my own work with families, as Children’s Champion and as the former Chair of Somerset’s Corporate Board, that it is not as simple as that; many of their parents may not have the skills themselves, or the time to fulfil this role.

This is one of the reasons that I believe that events like the Literary Festival can help to instil in us, both young and old, a passion for reading that can open-up a whole new horizon. In order to ensure that we help to overcome the innate feeling that reading is a dull activity, great effort goes into organising a wide range of activities to appeal to all sectors of our diverse community. 

Those with a creative mind can indulge their creative urge to write, whether it be prose or poetry. Those who like the limelight will have plenty of opportunity to perform to an eager audience, whilst those who prefer just to observe will be able to hear the pearls of wisdom directly from some of our most well-known authors, with some interesting tales to tell. My own reading habits swerve from chic lit. to the classics, with pretty much everything in between. Whatever our interests, be it gardening, history, illustration, cider making, book binding, there is something for everyone. For my part, I shall enjoy putting everyone through their paces at our Festival Quiz on Wednesday 7^th June, being sure that in doing so I do my best to dispel the myth that anything to do with Literature is too high-brow for the average person. As I have said, something for everyone, and much of it free. What’s not to love?

Attention all gardeners!

Calling all Gardeners!

I confess that although I do admire the efforts of others in tending their gardens, gardening has never held any appeal for me; at all.

However, I can appreciate that especially living in the South West there is a huge element of pride involved in putting on a ‘good display’ especially when it comes to the dozens of village flower shows and fêtes that seem to be held every week during the summer months.

With this in mind, and in full knowledge of the passions many local residents have for their gardens, the team behind this year’s Ilminster Literary Festival have made sure to capture their attention with the presence of Laura Carpenter who will be talking about ‘Hidden Remedies in Kitchen & Garden’. 

Those lucky enough to grab a ticket for the event will learn more about the hidden remedies in their kitchen cupboards and spice rack, from using nutmeg to aid sleep, thyme for coughs and sage for sore throats, including lots of handy hints and recipes to try at home. Laura is a medical herbalist, and has a keen interest in using British plants, as traditional remedies that can be harvested from the hedgerows.

Meanwhile, renowned local gardener and garden writer, Sally New, who lives in my home village of Combe St. Nicholas, will help us all to learn more about Heritage Vegetables. Sally is always keen to share her passion for growing her own food; here lucky family have been the recipients of her tasty efforts for over 20 years.

As a columnist for RHS magazine ‘The Garden’ and a regular writer for BBC ‘Gardeners’ World’ magazine, and ‘Grow Your Own’, Sally, amazingly has found time to publish her first book, ‘Growing Self-Sufficiency’ (all about everyday self-sufficiency you can fit in around the day job). She also teaches at the online gardening schoolwww.my-garden-school.com and leads garden tours for HF Holidays. With such a busy life, we are privileged that she can find the time to support the Literary Festival.

Be sure to come and meet both Laura and Sally at Whitelackington Village Hall on Monday 5^th June.

Tickets, which cost £5 each, can be obtained via the Ilminster Literary Festival website.www.ilminsterliteraryfestival.org

Stiff Upper Lip - not all it's cracked up to be

It is understandable that comments made by Princes William and Harry in the last few days should make news headlines. There are occasions when celebrity status can be used in a positive way to highlight issues of concern to all of us, no matter what our social status.

What worries me though, is that the plight of adult males struggling with mental health issues caused by bereavement and grief, along with other problems such as abuse and addiction, has been well documented over many years, yet little is still being done to provide the necessary support.

The anguish and mental torment such men experience can often lead to suicide. I know this only too well from personal experience. My own brother, an alcoholic suffering from manic depression, could not cope with the death of his son aged 21 in a car accident, subsequently ending his own life. The impact of this had a knock of effect in relation to his own family, including me.

Thankfully organisations such as Samaritans are well used to dealing with those in acute distress. As a listening volunteer, it seems to me that many people turn to Samaritans when they feel unable to pour their hearts out to family, friends or colleagues, primarily because of the need to maintain a ‘stiff upper lip’ in public. In many cases callers are well aware of the problems they are experiencing, but feel helpless, and hopeless, in dealing with them alone. Whilst Samaritans provides a confidential non-judgemental listening ear, what these men really need is professional help, which is just not available. This is the real problem.

Samaritans training is second to none. I find that I can listen to some of the most harrowing calls in an objective way, but I still find it difficult to remain detached when I hear a grown man sobbing on the phone. Compassion and empathy cost nothing, just time and effort in trying to understand how others are feeling.