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Red
750ml
Bottle: $18.08
12 bottles: $17.72
COLOR: Wine of very elegant red color. BOUQUET: Intense aroma, with fruity hints of ripe plums, cherry jam and notes...
Sale
Rapid Ship
Spirits
1.0Ltr
Bottle: $12.11 $12.75
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
Instore only
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $10.99
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
White
750ml
Bottle: $18.34
12 bottles: $17.97
A crisp and fruity white with aromas of pears, chopped apples and waxed lemons. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and...
JS
90
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.94 $19.28
12 bottles: $14.69
Wise, Triumphant, Bright. She seeks her own truth and shares her perspective. A zesty, refreshing wine, our Verdejo...
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $27.74 $29.20
12 bottles: $26.60
TOP 100 SPIRITS 2019. This easy-drinking whiskey has a straw hue, mild vanilla aroma and feather-light feel on the...
WE
92
White
750ml
Bottle: $18.89
12 bottles: $18.51
The 2022 Verdejo Quinta Apolonia, originating from the DO Rueda, spent up to one year in French oak, 25% new. The...
VM
93
WA
91
White
750ml
Bottle: $45.94
Elegant toasty aromas with mineral notes and spicy fruit. Delicious mouth filling and toasty with mature and exotic...
12 FREE
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.75 $18.41
12 bottles: $12.73
A single variety white wine that captures the subtleties of the Rueda D.O with delicacy and precision.
White
750ml
Bottle: $15.83
12 bottles: $15.51
It has a golden hue with greenish reflections. The nose is intense and complex, with notes of tropical fruit and...
White
750ml
Bottle: $15.17
12 bottles: $13.18
Aromas of tropical fruits (pineapple) and citrus fruits first appear along with white fruits (apple) and herbs, such...
White
750ml
Bottle: $15.41
12 bottles: $15.10
Bright yellow straw color, with green hints that reflect its youth. The nose has a nice aromatic intensity, a bit...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.15
12 bottles: $15.83
Appearance: Luminous, deep ruby red, with purplish rim. Bouquet: Fruity aromas of dark cherry, wild cherry, red...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $23.94 $25.20
12 bottles: $22.80
A wine that is full expression of the potential of Apulian nature, the Rosso dei Vespa combines the traditional...
Instore only
Sale
Spirits
1.0Ltr
Bottle: $32.82 $34.55
Inviting aromas of roasted grains, wildflower honey, apple pastry, and lemon tart introduce this classic whiskey. In...
UBC
91
WE
90
Sale
Spirits
375ml
Bottle: $20.56 $21.64
Inviting aromas of roasted grains, wildflower honey, apple pastry, and lemon tart introduce this classic whiskey. In...
UBC
91
WE
90
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $60.87 $64.07
6 bottles: $49.91
Rich aromas of toasted marcona almonds, saltine crackers, and hay are earthy, savory and ethereal. Equally powerful...
12 FREE
WE
92
UBC
92
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $60.87 $64.07
6 bottles: $60.47
Pours an inviting amber color and shows complex aromas of preserved lemon, toasted grains, dried peach, and honey...
12 FREE
UBC
92
WKY
91
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $152.39
6 bottles: $143.99
Blanched nuts, clover honey, and hay are delicate and mellow aromas. The palate erupts with baking spice and tropical...
12 FREE
UBC
96
WE
95
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $286.13 $301.19
Red wine poached pear, dried tobacco, baking spice, and baked apricot on the nose. Much softer and honeyed on the...
12 FREE
UBC
96
WKY
96

Irish Whiskey Mencia Primitivo Verdejo

The Irish are hailed as being the original producers of whiskey in the British Isles, and their innovations and techniques were so successful, that neighbouring Scotland were quickly influenced by them in the 15th century. Centuries later, it was the Irish who brought whiskey to America, and their style of whiskey has since become popular all over the world.

However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Irish whiskey industry - from being a dominant force in the 19th century, whose produce was considered far superior to that of Scotland, political upheaval and war saw the Irish whiskey almost disappear forever in the early 20th century. Today, the Irish whiskey manufacturers are back on their feet, and they are once again proving that the original is often the best. With new distilleries opening every year, it is safe to say that Irish whiskey is very much back.

Irish whiskey differs from Scotch whisky in a number of ways, and not least the spelling - the extra ‘e’ was said to be added in the 19th century as a way of distancing the Irish drink from what they saw as an inferior Scottish product. Irish whiskey was traditionally made in enormous stills, as a way of ensuring consistency from bottle to bottle, and maintaining the quality and complexity their reputation was founded on. The typical tasting notes of fine Irish whiskey include apple and vanilla, alongside spicy and sweet touches of nutmeg and fresh hay, making this a highly pleasant and smooth drink, made for relaxation and stimulating conversation about times past.

As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.


Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.