Here in the Bin End Shop we are all fully immersed in the festive spirit. The Christmas lights are on, the decorations are up and there’s a smattering of frost on the ground. So what better way to celebrate the season of good will than with a Dickensian style Spirit of Christmas Saturday, which we held on 1st December.

As well as an extra flourish of bin end bargains, we also laid on a couple of Master Classes. These fun, educational events have grown in such popularity over the past year that this time we moved the venue from the back of the Bin End Shop to our state-of-the-art tasting room in our brand new building next door. This impressive facility also provides additional space for our fast-growing Customers’ Private Reserves.

On hand for these Master Class sessions were our very own Bin End experts Adrian Lancer, known to colleagues and customers as ‘Rocky’, and sharp, witty Glaswegian Alex Ross, who talked everyone through the delights of fortified wines and sweet wines.

Rocky, freshly returned from an ‘educational’ jaunt round Scottish distilleries, was keen to put his finely tuned knowledge into practice. He enlightened us with his best tips for Christmas tipples – his contagious passion for spirits soon had our customers excited about the new food matches he’s discovered: yes, cheese, chocolate and the fine liver pâtés go really well with spirits, which offers a nice alternative to wine. Some surprising matches for customers included the rich Hakushu 12 Japanese Whisky with Brie de Meaux and sliced pear; and Hayman’s Old Tom Gin with Chabichou goat’s cheese.  

It was packed to the rafters for Alex’s fortified and sweet wine tasting. Relaxed and at ease with his friendly banter, the room opened up and chatted about the warm hospitality always available in Jerez and the chance to taste some incredibly old PX Sherries. The nose on the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise brought back wonderful memories for one lady: it reminded her, she said, of being with her French grandmother.

It was great to see so many new faces amongst our regular customers. The information we all share is one of the really exciting things about these events.

All the wines and spirits on show were specially reduced for the day and flew out the door, including the ever popular William Pickering 20-Year-Old Tawny Port – ideal for Christmas pudding, mince pies and mature cheeses – and the deliciously sweet Rutherglen Muscat, so perfect with vanilla ice cream.

Stocks are now fully replenished and available so if you’re in the area, pop in to our Bin End Shop and stock up on these some fantastic festive wines to share with friends and family this Christmas.

 

Leon Reilly, Berry Bros. & Rudd Bin End Shop

 

 

 

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