Palm Hergist

"Its fine amber colour, its rich full-bodied taste, its exceptional flavour... Palm Hergist is a beer that totally deserves and does justice to its name. It is stronger and at the same time more refined, as a result of refermenting in the bottle. This process brings out the taste of Palm more than ever. Palm Hergist is a tribute to 250 years of the art of beer brewing to quality and good taste. An exquisite variation on the legendary Palm beer, it is presented in a hearty 75 cl bottle, allowing you to share plenty of the richness of Palm Hergist with your friends."

Good (but not great) Belgium beer.

5.4% ABV. Read more on Palm website.

Warsteiner Premium Verum

A very good german pilsner.

ABV 4.8%. Read more on Warsteiner Brauerei website,

Weihenstephaner Weissbier

This is a good Hefeweissenbier. Supposedly the oldest brewery in the world, established 1040 AD.

5.4% ABV. Read more on Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan website.

Grolsch

Nothing special about this beer. I don't like it though.

5% ABV. Read more about it on Grolsche Bierbrouwerij website.

1795 Original Czech Lager

"1795 is a czech quality lager from the famous city of České Budějovice `Budweis', where good beer has been brewed for more than 700 years. Our brewery was founded by the citizens of Budweis in 1795.
"We malt our own barley, we use Saaz hop flowers and draw pure soft water from 270 meters underground. Every stage of our brewing process is traditional, enabling us produce a lager of the highest standard, for which the EU has designated `Protected Geographic Indication'."

4.7% ABV. Read more on Budějovický Měšťanský Pivovar website.

Cairngorm Wildcat

"WILDCAT is a smooth deep amber coloured ale with a complex malt, fruit and hop flavour, strong and distinctive like the powerful sleek Scottish Wildcat it is named after. Only the finest malt, hops and pure highland water are used toi create this impressive beer."

5.1% ABV. See more on Cairngorm Brewery website.

Classic No.1 Triple Distilled London Dry Gin

"An Elegant, Dry Gin with a Harmonious Blend of Citrus and Spice. Triple Distilled with a Recipe made up of Eleven of the Finest Botanicals sourced from Around the World."

This gin is produced for Tesco. A relatively good gin, considering the price. Interestingly, it is 43% ABV, which is quite unusual for a low-priced gin.

I present a cocktail I made up some time ago:

• 2 parts gin
• 1 part Galiano liqueur (Galiano changed their recipe in 2009, I used a pre-2008 bottle)
• 3/4 part lemon juice

Combine and shake, then double strain. Garnish with a vanilla stick.

Fuller's Golden Pride

"Golden Pride is our award winning, exceptionally fine, strong ale of immense character and finesse. Brewed from pale ale and crystal malts, it is a rich amber colour. Its full bodied maltiness is balanced by complex hop notes, from the northdown, challenger and target hops in the brew, leading to an intense, lasting finish. Without doubt, this is the finest example of our brewers' art, truly connoisseur's choice."

I was not prepared for such a strong beer. A British beer with more than 8% alcohol is a very rare exception. Not a bad taste, but you can very much feel the amount of alcohol, as much as in a strong cheap beer as you can find in France. For this price, better bye a Bavaria 8.6.

8.5% ABV. Read more on Fuller Smith & Turner P.L.C. website.

Fuller's London Porter

"This historic and prize-winning beer derives its rich, dark and complex flavours from a unique blend of pale, crystal, brown and chocolate malts. These malts give the beer a wonderful chocolatey flavour, whilst the fuggles hops ensure that the beer has a smooth, satisfying finish, making London Porter a perfect accompaniment to a chocolate pudding or on its own as an after-dinner drink."

I couldn't bear the bitterness of this one at that moment.

5.4% ABV. Read more on Fuller Smith & Turner P.L.C. website.

Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole

"Ce rhum vieux Clément est issu de la distillation du seul jus de la canne à sucre. Elaborés à l'Habitation Clement, faisant alterner durant la période de vieillissement l'emploi de fûts neufs et d'autres plus anciens, les Rhums Vieux Clement s'apprécient en punch ou en digestif."

This rum is a fine "rhum vieux agricole" matured for at least 3 years is barrels. I made a nice drink as a variation of the Mai Tai.

1 part old Jamaican rum (I used Plantation Jamaica 8 yo 1998)
1 part rhum vieux agricole (I used Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole)
1 part lime juice
1/2 part orange liqueur (I used Cointreau)
1/2 part simple syrup (I used a bar spoon granulated sugar)
2 parts raspberry nectar (I used Alain Milliat's Nectar Framboise)
1 dash of orange flower water

Shake all ingredients on ice. Strain in a cocktail glass. Garnish with mint leaves (I used a fancy lime wedge instead because I had no mint). This is a miraculously perfect drink. The two persons with whom I drank this said it was their favourite cocktail ever! I think it is in the same category as Mai Tai, which I believe is one of the best drink that exists.

44% ABV

Fuller's 1845

"From the original Fuller's brewing books this exceptional beer was first brewed in 1995 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Fuller, Smith & Turner. It has since proven a modern classic, winning numerous awards including two gold medals at the Camra great British beer festival.
"Being bottle conditioned and matured for at least 100 days before being released for sale, helps bring out the delicious fruit cake aroma from the amber malt and goldings hops in the brew. This time allows wonderfully complex, yet smooth and mellow flavours to develop. 1845 is a perfect accompaniment to many rich foods including game. We recommend that 1845 is stored upright in a cool, dark room, and poured carefully when served."

4.5% ABV. Read more on Fuller Smith & Turner P.L.C. website.

Fuller's Discovery

"This superb premium blonde beer from Fuller's is the perfect combination of unbeatable flavour and refreshment. This brew has a unique blend of malted barley and wheat for a delicious malty taste bursting with rich, biscuity flavours. Liberty hops give a distinctive zesty character and fruity bite, whilst saaz hops add gentle bitterness for a clean, refreshing finish.
"Discovery tastes great served chilled, either on its own or as an accompaniment to many food."

4.5% ABV. Read more on Fuller Smith & Turner P.L.C. website.

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

"The art of making fine bourbon whiskey has taken place on the site of The Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, since 1812. We honor this heritage with a truly unique batch bourbon of unparalleled quality - Woodford Reserve."
"The barrels that are used for this exceptional hand-crafted bourbon have been specially selected by our Master Distiller."

This is a very fine bourbon. I made an incredibly tasteful cocktail with it:

1 part bourbon (Woodford Reserve)
1 part liqueur Bénédictine
1 part St Germain Elderflower liqueur
1 part lemon juice
Shake all ingredients on ice. Strain in a cocktail glass.

It's very easy to do since all ingredients are in same proportion.

43.2% ABV. Read more on Woodford Reserve website.

Erdinger Dunkel

A dark weissbier.

5.6% ABV. Read more on Erdinger Weissbräu website.

Erdinger Kristall

A clear weisbier. It tastes more like a Pilsner. I like the standard Erdinger better.

5.3% ABV. Read more on Erdinger Weissbräu website.

Wells' Waggle Dance

"The Waggle Dance is the ceremonialperformance a bee gives to alert the hive to a source of nectar. Celebrate the true magic of nature with this perfectly balanced, naturally delicious golden ale.
"Brewed using our own natural mineral water and real honey, this delicious golden ale has tantalising honeyed aromas tempered by a grassy, lemony nose - all leading to a finely balanced, fresh, delicate flavour of hops with a lingering dry finish."

Slightly bitter, very weak honey flavour. I much prefer the Belgian honey beers.

5.0% ABV. Read more on Wells & Young's Brewing Cie Ltd. website.

Samuel Asam's Boston Ale

"For a classic New England meal, try a bowl of New England clam chowder and pour a tall pint of Samuel Adams Boston Ale. The rich flavors of the cream and clams are complemented by the full-bodied sweetness of the brew."

4.8% ABV. Read more about it on Samuel Adams website.

Brugse Zot Dubbel

"Traditional top-fermentation beer that re-ferments in the bottle. Brewed by the unique family brewery De Halve Maan, which has been located in the historical heart of Bruges since 1856. To serve cool.
"The people of Gruges are known as `Brugse Zotten' (Bruges fools)."

7.5% ABV. Read more about it on De Have Maan website.