NEW SUMMER MENU
Some things just get better with age
The other night a good friend and I polished off a bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail . The bottle was a good two years old and the remains had sat in the cupboard for at least six months . Now this particular whisky is a peaty monster . You either love the smoky notes and pungent taste or you hate it . However , this particular dram tasted slightly different , definitely coarser and considerably harsher than I remembered . This leads us to the sobering question . Does whisky go bad after you have opened the bottle ?
I can see everybody looking in horror at the opened bottles on the sideboard and weighing up the cost of the declining spirit ! Before you consign the collection to the bin there are some key points to consider . As soon as the bottle is opened oxidation will begin , how much depends on the air / liquid ratio . So in my case where there was a lot of air and not much whisky things will happen . If the bottle is say , half full , then the effects will be less . It ’ s further complicated by the fact that the less whisky there is in a bottle the more seems to
To market to market ...
Don ’ t forget to make a trip down to Eccleshall ’ s monthly Farmer ’ s Market which makes a welcome return to the town on Saturday 24th August .
Held under the arches of the Royal Oak pub between 9am and 1pm there is lots of produce for sale from around the local area .
While nearby the next two Sugnall Farmers Markets will take place on Sunday 11th August and Sunday 15th September .
Held at Home farm , Sugnall , between 10am and 2pm there will be a mouth watering array of locally made food , together with a wide range of handcrafted products and gifts , not to be missed .
LAST ORDERS disappear through evaporation , either that or I have a resident population of very happy mice !
How long do we have to enjoy whiskies at their prime . The answer seems to be it all depends on the whisky . Younger whiskies may last longer than older whiskies that ’ s right the more expensive the whisky the less time to enjoy it – it all seems to be a bit unfair but then that ’ s physics for you ! In any case research seems to indicate an optimum time of 6 – 12 months from opening .
Looking at the sideboard I can see several old favourites that are considerably older than this recommendation . Am I going to throw them away on the basis that they may not be up to scratch . Definitely not , just be mindful that just like us they are getting older too !
Whisky expert Dave Pickard of Old School Wines , Tittensor . T . 01782 372888
The George & Dragon
at Meaford
NEW SUMMER MENU
2 for £ 10
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Monday-Friday 12noon-5pm
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Meaford Road , Stone , ST15 0PX Tel : 01785 748787 www . georgedragonmeaford . com
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August / September 2013 25