I love Bridges...

...but the fact that this sign was leaning over was a bit worrying!

Liqueurs

I don't drink alcohol. At least, not as a rule. I think the last drink I had was in October 2009 - until a couple of weeks ago. It's not through aversion to the demon drink; it's just that it can trigger a migraine. But I was tempted by GB's range of liqueurs. I can't resist them.

I've had an Amaretto, a Cointreau and some Sheridan's and, for the first time, I had a drop of Strega.

It's gone quite quickly on to my favourite liqueurs list. Strega (or Liquore Strega), is an Italian herbal liqueur produced since 1860 in Benevento, Campania, Italy. Its yellow colour comes from the presence of saffron in its recipe. Liquore Strega is 80 proof (40%) and among its approximately 70 herbal ingredients are mint and fennel. Strega is considered a digestif, meant for drinking after meals.

"LA STREGA"
Pietro ANNIGONIStrega is Italian for to bewitch or a witch, hex, hag, harridan, sorceress.

Many years ago I compiled a list of my favourite liqueurs and it included:-

Amaretto Disaronno (Disaranno Originale – 28% abv - has an almond flavour but contains no almonds or nuts. Disaronno claims its "originale" amaretto's "secret formula" is unchanged from the year 1525,)

Lazzaroni Amaretto (24% abv), produced by Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli S.p.A., also presents itself as the first such liqueur. However, it is based on an infusion of Amaretti di Saronno (macaroons), a process which imparts a "delicate almond/apricot flavour". Lazzaroni claim the tale of the young couple blessed by the bishop as the origin of their generations-guarded family recipe, dating it to 1718; the amaretto has been in production since 1851.

Tia Maria (Sugar cane/coffee. The first liqueur I ever had and, apart from a medicinal brandy or two the first alcohol I had. A small Tia Maria with cream being given to me by my Uncle Jack, a pub landlord, when I was about thirteen.)

Limoncello (lemon)

Cherry Bounce (made by steeping cherries and sugar in brandy. The English hamlet of Frithsden claims to have originated the Cherry Bounce. A lane leading off the Old High Street in nearby Hemel Hempstead is named Cherry Bounce and is shown having this name in maps dating back to the early 19th century. My favourite for some years.)

Apricot Brandy

Midori (melon)

Drambuie (whisky/herbs/heather honey)

Advocaat (eggs.  Like Marmite - you either love it or hate it.)

Malibu (Coconut. Another one which reached the top of the list for a while in the 1980s)

Blue Curacao (orange peel)

Cherry Brandy

Grand Marnier (oranges/cognac)

Crerne de Grand Marnier

Cointreau (orange)

Chartreuse

At the time (it was about the late '80s), the only two I disliked were Pernod liqueur d'anise and Creme de Menthe whilst Cadbury's Cream liqueur was not rated highly.

Since then I've added Bailey's Irish Cream and Sheridan's Irish coffee cream liqueur to my list of favourites.

The number of flavourings in liqueurs is remarkable. Chartreuse has no less than a hundred and thirty herbs. All their flavours are enhanced by serving them chilled or with ice. To get the best of the bouquet they should be drunk from a balloon glass rather than the standard full-up liqueur glass and by people whose noses aren't blocked!

Next on my list to try are - Anisette; Benedictine; Creme de Cassis; Irish Mist; Orange Brandy; Vielle Cure and Stag's Breath (Speyside malts and fermented comb honey). At an average rate of one drink every ten months its going to take me a while, especially since our local 'Bargain Booze' and supermarkets don't sell anything except Malibu!

Happy Monday - I must go down to the sea again...

“I must go down to the sea again,
To the lonely sea and the sky…”
I left my vest and socks there,
I wonder if they’re dry?

Spike Milligan 

Thoughtful Sunday - An ABC for living.

Ask for help - recognise your limitations but Believe in your own abilities. Care about others and Care for yourself. Do your own thing. Eat wisely. Treat Friends as the precious creatures they are. Don’t be afraid to Grieve when occasion demands nor to be Happy when life is good. Learn that ‘I’ is one of the most important letters of the alphabet and that Justice is one of the most important words. Kill no creature except in self-defence. Accept Love wherever it is offered but give it wisely. Make hay while the sun shines but don’t expect the rain to stop just because you have a field to reap. Remember it is your right to say No (or Yes) and no one should be able to force you to their will. Seek Peace and harmony in your surroundings. Question the motives of both others and yourself but don’t allow cynicism to make assumptions about why you or they do things. Read. Speak wisely and if you must criticise do so positively. If you love someone Tell them. Upset no one without good cause. Value what you have but don’t feel guilty about Wishing for improvement. EXamine your conscience – it is your best guide and mentor. Keep Yourself safe and healthy. Apply yourself with Zeal to all that you do.

(I'm sure you could come up with some equally positive alphabet for yourself if you tried - why not do so and I'd be happy to receive it as a comment!)

Tintern Station

  On the way North from Exeter to Scotland in July, GB and I stopped at Tintern Station.  Much to my disappointement my previous stopping point at Tintern itself - the old antique shop and coffee stop with its pleasant host has closed down.  We'll probably give stopping in Tintern a miss in future though the old station was pretty enough.