Alcohol content: 13%
Price: $9.99
Description per label: Crisp green straw colour. White stone fruit and floral esters to tantalize your senses. Citrus on the front pallet followed by smooth peach and nectarine layers.
Review: While on a business trip to Sydney in 1997, I made the realization that the Aussie’s are among the world’s finest alcohol enthusiasts. During an outbound trip through the Outback I met an Aborigines medicine man, Mandu. He was wandering about with his two friends, Akama and Yuka. Traveling with wine as I always do, I introduced them to several varietals. Mandu then insisted I sample some of his Corkwood Tree liquor to “enrich my spirit”. It was musty and tart with notes of peat moss with a dry finish. It did however make me vomit convulsively and gave me some harsh visual hallucinations. In time, jubilation set in and lifelong friendships were struck.
Akama (left) and Yuka (right) emoting their first taste of pinot noir.
The four of us conversed nonstop for what seemed like days and euphorically sampled many wines and smoking herbs. At one point in the celebration, I taught the three aboriginal gents the game of duck,duck, goose. Akama burnt his feet in the fire and Yuka ended up in a eucalyptus tree squawking like a bird, but I digress…
Duck Duck Goose is an Australian “value” Chardonnay. It’s interesting to note this Aussie vintner has managed to remove the classic chardonnay presence of oak. In typical ‘down under’ fashion, the wine maker also applies the adroit use of the screw-off cap. The wine boasts a fruity bouquet with a light-bodied taste that encompasses flavors of citrus, with layers of melon and orange. A hint of Starfruit presents itself on the backside leaving an aftertaste that is lasting and acidic. All and all this Aussie production wine is no trip to Sydney. On the SMS Scale (1-10) I humbly rate this Chardonnay a 5.
Suggested pairings: Pan-Seared Barramundi with “Caruru”, shrimp on the barbie, and Corkwood Tree Tea.
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Now this is the way to start a weekend. Contrary to popular belief, absinthe is no longer illegal in the states and is actually available in most liquor stores. Personally, I think this is because they removed all of the more ‘fun’ properties the spirit had to offer. Green fairies ring a bell? The absinthe-and-champagne concoction is credited to Ernest Hemingway and named after his 1932 treatise on bullfighting, Death in the Afternoon. The book is ‘all about dichotomies: fear and courage, life and death. And the fiery anise taste of the absinthe—like hot licorice—pierced by the effervescence of chilled champagne is another testament to the allure of duality‘. Kind of deep for me. The only duality I’ll be experiencing is the before and after effects of this potent drink. Please note that I will be dropping the kids off at their grandparents before imbibing. Cheers!
Hemingway’s Cool Cocktail
RECIPE
Pour 1 ounce absinthe into a champagne flute.
Add 1 ounce chilled vermouth. (Either pre-chill, or shake the vermouth over ice and strain
into the glass. Try Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry for its lighter, crisper qualities.)
Top off the glass with chilled champagne. Garnish with a twist of lemon. And enjoy!
Source: gardenandgunmagazine.com
Written by Lea Barlow •
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There is a rule in my house that we never eat anything that stinks up the car. If it smells that bad in the car just imagine what havoc it’s wreaking on your body. I have my children trained so that whenever we drive past a McDonald’s or Burger King they scream in unison “that’s so unhealthy!” Now, I know McDonald’s is trying to offer healthier options but I compare that to taking a recovering alcoholic to a bar and expecting him to order water. Probably not going to happen. For my family, it’s best to avoid it all together.
I recently saw an online poll that asked mom’s to fess-up about how often they feed their kids McDonald’s. Overall, most of the moms said they seldom, if ever, go and some were even offended by the question all together. I was a little surprised at the hard stance several of the moms took against fast food. Not because I didn’t agree but because it directly contradicts what I see on a daily basis at our neighborhood Mickey-D’s. The minivan to work truck ratio is a shocking 3 to 1. So, what gives? Are moms secretly cruising the drive-thru? Weigh in. Do you ever go?
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Alcohol content: 13%
