Which alcohol is not a shame to give as a gift - 13 sommelier tips

Presenting alcohol as a gift is the norm nowadays. If you look into history, wine appeared at the dawn of civilization and has accompanied man since time immemorial. There are still debates about assigning the palm between the various countries that attribute wine laurels to themselves. First of all, these are Egypt and Greece; Italy and Georgia are also defending their interests in this matter. But be that as it may, moderate alcohol consumption is considered the norm almost throughout the world. It cheers the mind and warms the soul. No holiday feast is complete without a glass of wine or other alcoholic drink. That is why giving alcohol as a gift is always relevant.

However, in order to choose the right option for such a gift, it is necessary to take into account many aspects and nuances. It is absolutely not necessary to have special education in this area. It is enough to take into account the advice of a qualified sommelier, who will certainly not give bad advice.

Tip 1. Deliberate decision

When going to the store to buy alcohol as a gift, you need to correctly assess the situation and characterize the person to whom the gift will be intended. Each person is individual, so the same gift can be regarded differently by different people. It is necessary to take into account the person’s age, gender and preferences. It would be completely inappropriate to give a young girl very “old” cognac and, on the contrary, to give a respectable man a bottle of sparkling young wine. To prevent this from happening, start studying the sommelier’s advice on choosing alcoholic drinks as a gift. A gourmet or a layman is another main criterion from which to start. Their tastes and preferences vary. This should be taken into account when choosing alcohol as a gift.

The classics of the genre are undoubtedly cognac and champagne. These drinks are most often given as gifts. Accordingly, cognac is for men, and champagne for women. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance.

How does the format of the event influence the choice of alcohol?

If a buffet is expected, it is worth focusing on light aperitifs - sparkling, vermouth, white wines, light refreshing cocktails.

A festive banquet with a rich feast requires a full range of alcoholic beverages with sparkling and still wines, strong and dessert alcohol.

When choosing a corporate event format, young teams are more likely to go for a buffet table, while older people prefer a banquet.

Tip 2. Which cognac is best as a gift?

The word cognac on the label does not guarantee the internal content of the drink itself. Not many people know that the name cognac takes its roots in the French province of the same name. It is there that a real, divine drink called cognac is produced.

Everything else is essentially nothing more than brandy. Of course, there are wonderful specimens among them. Many self-respecting factories in the Russian Federation produce elite brandy (cognac) with an excellent blend and solid aging. Such a gift is suitable for a person with a patriotic nature, who appreciates the gifts of his fatherland and prefers Russian products.

When choosing Russian cognac as a gift, look at the label, look for the letters KVVK or, better yet, KS. They talk about aging the drink. Such cognacs are called vintage and collection.

If you want to choose imported cognac products as a gift, then you should head to the shelf where samples of French cognac production are presented.

“Born under the generous French sun, shrouded in centuries-old mystery, hand-picked, selected grapes go a long way until they become known as cognac. Getting into the copper alambiks, he leaves only his noble body, and his head and tail are cut off. Maturing in oak barrels, it gives its share to the angels, thanking them for its existence.”

We can note the undoubted sales leader - the well-known Hennessy cognac. Nearby there are famous and great cognac houses Martel, Otard, Courvoisier, Remy Martin. All this can be safely bought and given to the hero of the occasion. These brands are world famous, but if you wish, you can choose rarer examples, such as Biscuit cognac or Camus cognac.

Any cognac, regardless of the country of origin, is necessarily marked with asterisks or letters. It is they who will tell the average person the whole truth about the true taste of the drink.

One cognac star is equal to 10 months of aging. The letters VS, VSOP, XO can most often be found on the labels of French drinks. If we draw an analogy with the cognacs of Russia or Armenia, then VS can be read as three stars, and VSOP is most often called a five-year-old cognac, the next XO is the best specimens, old and very old cognacs with oak aging for more than 6 years. It can reach 30 years. Due to this, the price of drinks may vary greatly.

Ordinary, ordinary cognacs are good “to go with the cutlet”; they in no way can serve as a gift due to their weak content.

Tip 3. Champagne and its analogues

As in the case of cognac, France is undoubtedly the trendsetter in the field of champagne. It is there, on chalky and clay soils, which have no analogues anywhere in the world, that the best grapes grow for the production of excellent sparkling wine.

Remember that champagne is not a general term that refers to all sparkling, pearl and sparkling wines. This term is protected by French law as the name of sparkling wine produced in a clearly defined territory from grapes grown only there. Everything else has the right to be called sparkling wine.

To our great joy, there are also good gift options among them. Many countries produce proper sparkling wines made using classical technology similar to that of the Champagne region. This method is called " secondary fermentation in a bottle . " Only this method of producing sparkling wines guarantees a good result.

On store shelves you can look for sparkling Spanish wines (Cava), Italian (Prosecco and Asti). Sparkling wines of excellent quality are produced in Germany. Sparkling wines from Chile, Argentina and even South Africa have good taste.

For those who love sweet wines, sparkling Martini and Cinzano (made in Italy) are suitable. However, only the brut and dry categories can be considered true classics. This is why semi-sweet and sweet wines are not produced in the Champagne region. French champagne on the world market is represented by the best examples of the Veuve Clicquot, Moët and Chandon, Dom Perignon, Piper-Heidsieck, Mumm, Krug and some others.

The price for 0.7 liters varies from 2,000 rubles per bottle to plus infinity. It mainly depends on the cuvée, millesime and vintage. The presentation of such a prestigious gift will undoubtedly emphasize the status of a person and leave an indelible mark on the donor.

Russia, unfortunately, is not among the top ten brands of sparkling wines, but we also have something to enjoy. Novy Svet, Abrau Durso, Tsimlyanskoye - these sparkling wines are of course inferior in quality to true champagne, but their characteristics are not so bad. And it’s not that Russian winemakers lack skill – it’s all about the soils and you can’t argue with that.

Vodka Absolut

Premium brand from Sweden. Absolut is made from the highest purity alcohols and water from artesian wells using a unique secret technology. Costs about 1200 rubles.

The taste of vodka is unusually soft. Available in both classic versions and with additives that affect the aftertaste.

Suitable for making cocktails. For example, I use Absolut Citron with lemon and lime when making Cosmopolitan.

Tip 4. Price and quality

We all remember from childhood the words from the fable “wouldn’t you, priest, chase after cheap things.” This phrase will come in handy here. Good, proper drinks made using classical technologies cannot be cheap, because they are true liquid gold.

Their high price is due to the complexity of the production processes. Attach a Mercedes sign to a Lada and try to drive with the same comfort as in a Mercedes - it’s unlikely that anyone will succeed in such a trick. The same is true with the choice of alcohol - for a good gift you will need to shell out a tidy sum. It can vary from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles, but this is certainly not the ultimate dream. There are copies that cost more than 10 and even 30 thousand rubles, but not every person can afford such expensive brands.

If you do not have the opportunity to buy high-quality alcohol, then it is better not to buy it at all. Wasting money and headaches never brought anyone any benefit.

How to calculate alcohol for a wedding?

• The most popular type of alcohol is wine . If you don’t know what color of wine to choose, consider the season, the dishes on the table and the wishes of the guests. In summer it is better to put white wines on the table, and in winter – red ones.
• If there are a lot of fish or chicken dishes on the table, give preference to white wine. Meat goes well with red wines. If you don’t want to buy different types of wine, you can use a universal type - pink . Serve drinks chilled. If you are celebrating a holiday in a restaurant, then bring alcohol 5-6 hours before the start of the celebration. This time will be enough for the drinks to cool down.

Calculate the dose of alcohol

• If you find it difficult to make a choice, you can order equal amounts of white and red wine, and add pink in reserve. Try to buy semi-sweet and semi-dry varieties of wine.
• Dessert types do not go well with the heavy food that is often placed on the table for such events. Dry varieties are characterized by a specific taste, so they may not be to everyone’s liking.
• You can check with your guests in advance how they feel about cocktails based on vermouth and fruit juice. They will be an excellent alternative to wine. According to statistics, at least 750 ml of wine are bought per person.

Choose the right wine

• As for strong alcohol, men drink 0.5 liters, and women no more than 300 ml.

How to calculate how much alcohol you need for a wedding:

1. Sparkling drinks – 40 bottles.
2. Wine drinks – 56 bottles.
3. Strong alcohol (whiskey, vodka, cognac) – 30 bottles.

Approximate miscalculations of alcohol

Tip 5. What to give to men?

It is known that there are no mates according to taste, but almost all men like it stronger. There is no doubt that cognac is the leader in this category, and such a gift will please any member of the stronger sex. If you want to turn to other “heavy artillery,” then you can look at Cuban rum, Scotch whiskey or Mexican tequila. Not everyone has such types of alcohol in their home bar, and such a gift can please any man.

When choosing among the variety of strong alcoholic drinks, avoid buying cheap and dubious brands. Only drinks aged in oak barrels are suitable for gifts: single malt whiskey, aged tequila and old rum.

It would be appropriate to use a gift here. For example, a fragrant cigar would be an excellent addition to cognac, and lime and a set of shot glasses (so-called “horses” with a thick bottom) would be suitable for tequila. For a whiskey lover, you can give a mold or ice tongs.

Men can and should be given good aged wines, preferably red ones.
After all, a man is a hunter, and red wine will be an excellent accompaniment to meat. Wines for men should be tannic, bright and strong in taste. Does your man appreciate the best? We have selected 13 best varieties of tea for it.

What to consider when planning a banquet

No one can name the exact number of alcoholic and soft drinks needed for your holiday.

The following factors influence:

1. Number of invited guests.
2. Percentage of men, women, children. It is believed that the male half prefers strong alcohol, ladies choose wine, children need more juices and mineral water.
3. If non-drinking guests will be present at the party, increase their share of non-alcoholic drinks.
4. Time of year, weather. In winter, strong alcohol is preferable, and in summer - wines and liqueurs.
5. Duration and type of banquet. The longest and most expensive are weddings, anniversaries, and corporate events. Buffets, presentations, and business meetings require a different format and different consumption of alcohol.

If possible, analyze the list of guests, estimate in advance which guest will choose which drink and how much they will be able to drink.

Tip 6. What to give to women?

You need to be quite careful in this matter. You should take into account the age category and preferences of the lovely lady. As a rule, women like light and light drinks. For girls and women of any age, sparkling wine (including champagne) will be a wonderful gift. In addition, you can safely choose vermouth (Martini or Cinzano). The fair half of humanity will definitely like them. Among them there are both red and white, dry and sweet.

Even if a lady drinks strong drinks, you should not give them to her, so as not to emphasize her deliberate masculinity.
Many women like to start their day with a cup of aromatic coffee. For beautiful ladies, we have selected 13 exquisite varieties of coffee for every taste

Aperol Spritz

This cocktail contains:

• Aperol orange liqueur – 50 ml;
• sparkling wine Prosecco – 100 ml;
• sparkling water – 30 ml;
• ice, several slices of orange or tangerine.

Fill a wine glass with ice, pour out the liqueur, add sparkling wine and soda, and garnish with citrus slices.

5 most popular cocktails for corporate parties according to the Fragrant World - Aperol Spritz, Margarita, whiskey sour, Old Fashioned, Kir Royal

Tip 7. Which wine is better to choose as a gift?

The wine assortment on store shelves amazes with its diversity, in which it is so easy for an ignorant person to get lost. The first thing you should pay attention to is the price. The cost of good wine cannot be less than 1,500 rubles. Of course, if we are talking about a gift option, and not about an ordinary feast.

For young ladies, light and fruity wines are always suitable, for example, a floral Petit Chablis (Burgundy) or a light and bright New Zealand Sauvignon. A fashionable trend is rosé wines from the Provence region.

A real find will be a wine with the rare name Gewürztraminer. The French say that the way to a woman’s heart lies through this grape variety. If you try hard, you can find completely unique masterpieces of winemaking. These include ice and raisin wines, as well as the great and incomparable Sauternes, made from grapes affected by noble mold.

Due to their high cost, they are not widely available in retail chains. You can purchase them in specialized wine boutiques at a price of 3,000 per 0.35 liter.

Berry compote

Ingredients:

• frozen berries – 200 g (fresh can be used);
• tangerine – 2-3 pcs.;
• sugar – 1/2-1 cup;
• water – 2 l.

Place the berries, peeled tangerine slices and sugar in a deep saucepan. Fill all ingredients with water. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the stove and let the compote cool.

Very simple and very tasty!

Tip 8. Extraordinary alcoholic gifts

What kind of alcoholic drinks do not exist in the world and what are they used to produce them. All this can certainly be given away!

Such gifts include little-known types of alcohol. Among them:

• Grappa (Italy). This strong, tasty and aristocratic drink is a distillation product created by distilling grape wine. Its aftertaste captures the subtle aroma of ripe grapes. The price for 0.5 liters will be from 17,500 rubles (depending on the manufacturer).
• Pisco. This ancient strong drink is made from grapes collected from Peruvian vineyards. It is unique in its design in the form of a “moai” statue from Easter Island. Price for 0.7 liters – from 2,500 rubles.
• Armagnac. A drink worthy of real men. Tough and straightforward. No hint of vanilla scent. In France they say that they gave cognac to the world, but kept Armagnac for themselves. You can buy Armagnac dating from the birthday of the hero of the occasion. This drink is called millesimny and is quite expensive. It is impossible to buy it on a regular shelf, but it can be ordered. The price for 0.7 liters can range from 4,000 to 10,000 rubles.
• Calvados is another representative of little-known drinks among the Russian population. It is produced in Normandy (France) by distilling apple juice. Strong in taste with a pronounced apple aftertaste and oak aroma. This gift is suitable for a brutal man. The price of good Calvados starts from 3,500 rubles per 0.7 liter.
• Absinthe. Not every person is ready to try such a drink due to its pronounced aroma of pectus and wormwood. The drink is shrouded in secrets and legends. It comes in green, red and black. You can give absinthe to a young and energetic guy as a positive gift. Prices for such a drink range from 1,500 rubles per 0.5 liter and depend on the manufacturer and popularity.
• Just for fun, you can look on store shelves for Chinese infusions with lizards, snakes, frogs and even mice. This exclusive item will appeal only to a select few, but it looks impressive. For such an exotic contraption you will have to pay at least 4,500 rubles.

Selection of drinks and determination of their quantity

During the main part of the event, two types of drinks are usually drunk: wine and vodka. It wouldn’t hurt to offer an alternative to wine in the form of champagne. Those guests who do not drink vodka will obviously not be against cognac or whiskey. You don't need a lot of these drinks.

You should follow this scheme for an event that lasts about 5-6 hours:

• 1 bottle of vodka for two guests;
• 1 bottle of champagne for 2-3 guests (depending on the audience);
• 1 bottle of wine per 1 guest.

This is a universal scheme, which usually leaves a small amount of alcoholic beverages. If you're hosting an event at a restaurant where you can order extra alcohol, you can reduce the average alcohol limit a little.

For a more accurate calculation, you need to take into account individual characteristics:

• 300-500 grams of vodka, 500 grams of wine, 200 grams of champagne - for 1 man;
• 100-150 grams of vodka, 400-500 grams of wine, 200 grams of champagne - for 1 woman.

If the company is planned to be fun, then the norm should be increased slightly. This calculation also works if there are non-drinkers in the company. Of course, children should be excluded from the list.

Remember that all types of calculations should be changed individually for each company. If guests drink little, the above norms can be safely divided in half. If adult men meet in a large group, these numbers will have to be multiplied by 2.

Tip 9. Dry or semi-sweet?

We are, of course, talking about wine. Any sommelier will advise you to give only dry wine. Semi-sweet wine is a sign of bad taste. Such wines are produced for the economy segment; they do not represent any uniqueness. Suspended fermentation indicates that such wine material was not able to survive further on its own. When choosing dry wine, you need to start from the top shelves, since the cheapest wines are on the bottom shelves, and popular wines are presented on the middle shelves, which a person can probably buy for himself.

Worthy dry wines primarily include wines from Bordeaux (France), Rioja (Spain) and Tuscany (Italy) - these are all dry red wines.

When choosing white wines, pay attention to German and Austrian wines - these countries are represented on the alcohol market with premium light wines, and the bottle has a Rhine shape. Undoubtedly, a classic Chablis can be an excellent gift. New Zealand and Australia offer excellent options.

How to calculate alcohol for a company outdoors?

• If a birthday, banquet or corporate celebration is celebrated in a forest or park, you can buy beer . This drink is considered an ideal alternative to conventional drinks. Craft beer , which is prepared according to an unusual recipe, will complement any holiday very well
• Place the container in which the beer will be stored separately. Each person will be able to pour himself as much as he needs. Place a table nearby where beer snacks will be placed. Ask specialized companies to deliver chilled beer in kegs to the designated location. On average, each person drinks at least 1 liter of beer outdoors.
• So, now you know how to calculate the amount of alcohol for any type of celebration. When making calculations, pay attention to the duration of the celebration, the number of people, the time of year and the wishes of the guests.

Finally, we would like to emphasize that you should not drive while intoxicated. It's better to use a taxi or ask friends who haven't been drinking to take you home. We also provide you with useful information on how to calculate the weathering of alcohol.

Calculate alcohol withdrawal time

Useful articles about alcohol:

• What happens if antidepressants and alcohol interfere?
• Why do men, women and teenagers drink alcohol?
• Why is coding dangerous for alcoholism?
• A quick way out of alcohol binge

Tip 10. Liqueurs as a gift

Liqueur - this sweet drink is not to everyone’s taste, and drinking it in its pure form is, as a rule, not accepted. Bright, sweet, colorful, fruity and berry, creamy and herbaceous liqueurs serve as the basis for creating a cocktail. Most often they are given to young people or teenage girls who love cocktail drinks and know how to prepare them themselves.

Baileys or Sheridans - these liqueurs are ideal as a gift, and you can buy them in almost any store, but you can set a goal and look for something like that. A good option would be Blackcurrant Creme de Cassis liqueur or bright Limoncello. The main rule is to know the taste of the recipient.

Tip 11. What else can you give?

There are many unique alcoholic drinks that embody the traditions of the producing countries, and the recipes for their preparation are kept strictly secret and passed down from generation to generation.

Among them:

• Riga Balsam will be a good gift for a woman of Balzac age. It can be consumed in its pure form or added to tea or coffee.
• An excellent herbal-infused Czech Becherovka or German Jägermeister would be a useful gift for both women and men.
• Sherry is suitable for mature men who know a lot about this drink, or, on the contrary, for those who like to try something new.
• Madera and Porto will undoubtedly delight all those who prefer lower strength drinks and want to enjoy a glass of strong wine.
• Cahors as a gift is always appropriate for a person of deep faith. The best option would be Kagor from Massandra, for example, Yuzhnoberezhny.

Brandy (Cognac) Chatelle “Napoleon”

The most affordable high-quality French cognac, aged in special barrels made of rare wood. During Tsarist Russia it was served at the table of Emperor Nicholas II. Costs about 1500 rubles.

I liked the combination of light amber color with a balanced aroma of dried fruits, spices and oak. The taste is fruity, long-lasting, and leaves a pleasant aftertaste of nuts, honey and citrus zest.

It is usually sold in branded dark burgundy packaging.

Tip 12. Basic mistakes when choosing alcohol as a gift

The quality of the product is the key to good mood and digestion.

A few words about what mistakes can occur when choosing alcohol as a gift:

• You should not give cheap and dubious drinks. Wines with bright labels and flashy bottles tend to be low in content. For excellent quality - high price.
• You need to learn how to check the quality of the product. For example, liqueurs (especially cream liqueurs) have a limited shelf life, and wine can have acceptable and unacceptable sediment. For high-quality red wine, a small sediment is the norm, but for white wine it is unacceptable. To determine the presence of sediment, turn the bottle upside down and make sure that there is no turbidity, flakes or foreign matter in the bottle.
• A lot of information is contained on the back label. Don't be lazy to read it. It is unlikely that anyone will like a gift that contains taste and smell enhancers, as well as sulfur dioxide, dangerous preservatives and food additives.
• Alcohol, especially expensive and super-quality wines, must be stored in a special way - in a horizontal position in special wine cabinets that maintain their storage temperature. Do not buy goods that are exposed to direct sunlight - this is a clear sign of violation of storage conditions.

Dried fruits compote

Ingredients:

• dried apples – 300 g;
• dried apricots – 50 g;
• lemon – 1 piece;
• frozen strawberries – 100 g;
• water – 2 l;
• honey – 3 tbsp. l.

Cut dried fruits and lemon into slices. Add all ingredients to boiling water. Reduce heat and stir. Keep on low heat for another 5 minutes and remove the compote from the stove. Let the drink cool and then add honey (do not add honey to too hot water, otherwise it will lose its beneficial qualities). Before use, the compote must be strained to separate pieces of dried fruit.