Warmer days mean cooler drinks. Mary Dowey tries some fruity aperitifs
With the last day of fickle April almost out of the way, suddenly it's summer. Could it be time to mix your drinks? With the thermometer finally above freezing point, you may be beginning to crave cooler aperitifs with a bit of fruit, for a change.
The first thing to consider is the classic kir - a drink which seems to have slipped slightly out of fashion, perhaps because it often tastes way too sickly. True kir is a Burgundian creation based on two of the region's specialities, blackcurrant liqueur and Aligoté, the angular, high-acid white wine which has been largely overtaken by Chardonnay. Named after a war-time mayor of Dijon who offered a glass to his citizens as a gesture of goodwill, kir can be a terrific drink - but only if it is made with really high-quality crème de cassis and a very crisp, bone-dry white wine; otherwise it is just too sweet.
I've recently come across the crème de la crème of crème de cassis, from a family-owned liqueur business by the name of Joseph Cartron. Called Double Crème, it's brilliantly aromatic and concentrated - thanks, apparently, to an ancient recipe and the fact that the blackcurrants come from soil which is almost identical to that of Burgundy's grand cru vineyards. I was about to say you will need to use so little that the bottle will last for ages, but on second thoughts, Cartron kirs may prove such a hit that it will be empty in a jiffy. 24.50 from Le Caveau, Market Yard, Kilkenny and Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dawson Street - or sample the real thing at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Thorntons, The Four Seasons or The Clarence.
BERRY PRETTY
Another idea is to play around with Boozeberries, the liqueur shots flavoured with whole berries which are produced by Michelle Power in Tullow, Co Carlow.
Whether you choose the blackcurrant or the blueberry version, the plump berries look terrific at the bottom of the glass as well as imparting their fruity tang to bubbly, a dry white wine or a creative cocktail. (I like the sound of Purple Passion: 4oz Blueberry Boozeberries, 2oz grape juice, 2oz grapefruit juice.)
Look out for tall, elegant Boozeberries bottles in off-licences, including O'Briens, Molloys, Redmonds of Ranelagh, Donnybrook Fair, Cheers Take Home outlets nationwide and Galvins of Cork; €19.99 for 350ml. www.boozeberries.com