International Wine & Spirit Competition 2014

On 23rd July the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2014, took place at Vintners’ Hall.  Being a veteran of this exceptional event I arrived early and battled my way to the Gin & Tonic bar that was set in a back room.  Fortunately I had as a guide of this year’s winners from the newspaper so was able to the sample a delicious glass of Bodensee See-gin with Fever Tree tonic.  We then repaired to the main Hall where over 200 bottles were set out for tasting.  On a previous occasion I concentrated on the 21 year olds (whiskies).  This time I tried a more exotic route guided by the winners, which was very satisfactory.  The only disappointment was being ‘trapped’ near the Japanese Shochu section, not a favourite tipple, during one of the speeches, which probably slowed my intake and did me a lot of good as a result.  Taking the weight of my feet near the cheese table I found myself in the pleasant company of Bob Morrow, the Master Mason and Linda Smith, Master of the Framework Knitters.  Bob had started even earlier than I having attended a Rum Master Class.  Apparently there is a great deal of variety in the many types of rum available and in Bob’s opinion those from the French Caribbean were pretty insipid although judging by his condition I couldn’t wholly agree.