One constantly hears that we are becoming a nation of wine drinkers who are steadily abstaining from the spirit, but anyone who loves good grog should not overlook the glorious whiskeys made by Irish Distillers. Proof of their singularity has been proven twice recently: in the 1997 World Spirit Championships in Chicago, Jameson 1780 was awarded a gold medal, beating Johnnie Walker, Chiva Regal, Glenmorangie and other top-flight names.
Then in the UK Wine and spirit Challenge, Powers, the biggest seller in Ireland - and my own favourite tipple - won a gold medal, a considerable achievement for a whiskey regarded as fairly quotidian. The fruit of the grape is wonderful, but the spirit of the grin is equally fine.