MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 1

The Essential Drinks Cabinet

at

Contents Pages

Irish Whiskey 2-5 Scotch 5-7 American Whiskey 7-10 Other Whisk(e)y 10 10-12 Armagnac 13 13-14 Calvados 14 Grappa/Jenever 15 16-17 Rum/Cachaca 18-23 23-24 25-27 Other Spirits 28 Vermouth, Aperitif & Digestif 28-29 Port and Sherry 29 Liqueurs 30-31 Beer 32 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 2

IRISH WHISKEY at The Merchant

Bushmills 10yrs 40% Single Malt £3.95 Each drop of Bushmills Malt is carefully distilled three times and is made from 100% malted barley. The single malt Whiskey is matured for at least 10 years in specially selected American bourbon stored in the warehouses adjoining the distillery.

Bushmills 16yrs 40% Single Malt £6.50 With “Three Wood” maturation and finishing, a malt of distinction emerges, with a fullness of depth and flavour rarely found. This exceptional whiskey is matured for 16 years or more in a combination of American bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso sherry butts.

Bushmills 21yrs 40% Single Malt £17.75 Only a very limited number of bottles are available each year. It is matured for a minimum of 21 years in three different types of casks. The whiskey is first aged in American bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks for 21 years and upward. The malt whiskey is then vatted and married for months in Madeira drums.

Bushmills 1975 Millenium 56.5% Single Malt £21.50 In 1975 Bushmills decided to commemorate the millennium with a strictly limited edition of “private cask” 25 Year Old Single Malt whiskey. This unique Malt has come straight from the cask, pure and unfiltered, following the ancient tradition that is whiskey making in Ireland.

Connemara Cask Strength 60% Single Malt £4.95 Natural and undiluted, not chill-filtered or coloured in any way, Connemara Cask Strength reflects the rugged nature of the famous region in the West of Ireland. As extraordinary as the landscape, this whiskey is exceptional because it is so natural and undiluted.

Connemara 40% Single Malt £3.45 Managing Director of , David Hynes and chairman John Teeling resurrected the traditional Irish custom of drying the malted barley over peat fires with this peated single malt. The smoke rising through the malted barley during this drying process confers the whiskey with a distinct peaty flavour and aroma.

Connemara 12yrs 40% Single Malt £7.50 A Gold Medal winner at the World Spirit Competition in San Francisco. This magnificent 12 Year Old revives the age-old tradition and heritage of drying malted barley over peat fires. To the smooth, balanced malt and peat flavours of Connemara Peated Single Malt is added the lingering wood aftertaste to produce a whiskey of great complexity and sophistication.

Knappogue Castle 1994 40% Single Malt £5.95 This latest vintage in this award-winning series of Irish single malts was distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2004, the oldest vintage to date. Unlike , no peat is used in the drying of the malt. Knappogue is lightly chill filtered and, unlike many whiskeys, no artificial coloring is added. And, like fine , this whiskey is marked with the year of its creation.

Tyrconnel 40% Single Malt £5.25 The Watts distillery dates back to 1762 and had a proud tradition of producing good . was their flagship brand, which was a best seller in the United States before Prohibition and is named after a very successful racehorse owned by the Watt family.

02 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 3

IRISH WHISKEY at The Merchant

Jameson Gold 40% Pure Pot Still £7.75 A deluxe Irish whiskey of exceptional harmony. It takes its unique character from the small selection of traditional pot still whiskeys matured in virgin oak used in the blend. This is the only whiskey in which virgin oak is used for maturation. This unique marriage with whiskeys matured in traditional seasoned oak makes for a superb whiskey at once creamy, spicy and crisp.

Old Comber 30yrs 40% Pure Pot Still £75.00 An Irish whiskey distilled in Comber, County Down. Comber Distilleries was established in 1825. At the time of its closure it was the last pot still in Northern Ireland. The whiskey was last distilled in 1956. However some reserves were discovered and bottled in the 1980s as “Old Comber”.

Redbreast 12yrs 40% Pure Pot Still £3.75 Launched in 1939 as the brand name given to the pot still whiskey supplied by Jameson to whiskey bonders before bottling at the distillery became the norm in 1968. Stocks of whiskey in bonders’ stores petered out, and thus all but disappeared until its re-launch by the distillery in the 1990s as a .

Green Spot 40% Pure Pot Still £4.50 The pride and joy of Mitchell and Son Merchants. It plays both a major part in the history and tradition of this family business, and in the history of Irish Whiskey. It is one of the only remaining bonded whiskeys left in Ireland, and is now one of the most sought after whiskeys in the world.

Bushmills Original 40% Blend £3.25 A blend of single malt Irish whiskey and Irish grain whiskey. Grain whiskey reserved for Bushmills Original is slowly matured in American oak casks that are specially selected to bring out the golden hue and light, yet distinctive, characteristics of the whiskey.

Black Bush 40% Blend £3.50 A rich, dark blend from Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in County Antrim. It is comprised almost entirely of single malt whiskey. The malt whiskey used to create Black Bush is aged in carefully selected Spanish Oloroso sherry-seasoned oak casks before being blended with a small portion of delicate sweet single grain whiskey.

Bushmills 1608 Reserve 40% Blend £5.25 In 1608, the first license to distil whiskey was granted by King James I for the region, which is now County Antrim. The Irish spirit soon became a favourite among the revellers of British King James’s court. In 1784, the Bushmills distillery became an officially registered company.

Inishowen 40% Blend £3.25 This is a unique blend as it is very lightly peated. It contains a number of different types of whiskey, which include peated malt, malt, and grain whiskey. The use of peated malt is a distinct characteristic, which ensures that Inishowen is the only peated Irish blend whiskey in the world.

Jameson 12yrs 1780 40% Blend £4.25 Jameson 12 year old stays true to the Jameson style in that its defining characteristics are pot still whiskey with overtones of sherry cask maturation. With complex flavours of toasted wood, spice and sherry, Jameson 12 year old is superbly mellowed by age.

Jameson 40% Blend £3.35 Blended from a combination of pure pot still and grain whiskeys. Triple distillation and many years of maturation result in an exceptionally smooth whiskey, with hints of spice, sherry and wood. A versatile and accessible whiskey. 03 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 4

IRISH WHISKEY at The Merchant

Jameson 40% Blend £3.45 Crested Ten is one of the most distinguished whiskeys from John Jameson & Son. A blend of older whiskeys it boasts a rich Irish Pot Still character, a soft sherry taste, balanced with some warm spicy tones and a hint of sweetness.

Jameson 18yrs 40% Blend £9.95 A supreme example of the Jameson tradition of maturing whiskey in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. Rich, complex and truly rare, only limited stocks of this exceptional Jameson 18 year old are available.

Kilbeggan 40% Blend £3.25 First appearing as a John Locke’s brand over 100 years ago and was sold successfully until Locke’s distillery ceased production in the 1950’s. Locke’s distillery is the oldest continuously licensed whiskey distillery in the world dating back to 1757. Kilbeggan is Gaelic for “little church”.

Cooley 1992 – Acorn’s 40% Blend £9.65 A proof of the huge popularity that whiskey has had in Japan, this whiskey was made at the Cooley distillery in Ireland and then aged in Scotland which makes for this unusual blend. This whiskey has been brought back from Japan in small quantities.

Lockes 8 40% Blend £3.45 Made from marrying malt and grain whiskey together. Double distilled and uses only the finest malted barley, maize and the purest Irish spring water. Maturation takes place in the 200 year old warehouses in Kilbeggan. A blend of malt and grain whiskey that has been gently mature in oak casks is used to create the distinct flavour and character that is unique to Locke’s Irish Whiskey.

Midleton Very Rare 40% Blend £11.25 This is one of the most exclusive Irish Whiskey in existence. Each year Master Distiller, Barry Crockett, hand picks no more than one hundred casks of the finest distillates to create this magnificent rare old Irish Whiskey.

Midelton 1973 30yrs 40% Blend £125.00 In l973 the Master Distiller, set aside a number of casks as his personal selection. This was kept in the Distiller’s private cellar at and was carefully nurtured over the last thirty years until 2003 when Barry Crockett, decided to release a limited number of bottles to the general public.

Paddy 40% Blend £3.35 Named after a gregarious sales representative for Cork Distilleries Company called Paddy Flaherty. His legacy lives on in the whiskey which was named after him in 1912. is distilled three times from the finest quality barley and water.

Powers Gold Label 40% Blend £3.35 was the first whiskey distiller to practice the art of bottling their own whiskey. This was to ensure consistent quality up to that time whiskey was sold in cask to Whiskey Bonders. The distillery bottled brand was called Power’s Gold Label.

Powers Gold Label 1970’s 40% Blend £20.50 James Power founded his distillery in 1791 at John’s Lane in Dublin. His son, Sir John Power, expanded the business greatly in the 1800’s and alongside John Jameson, established the worldwide reputation of Dublin whiskey. This is a rare bottle in great condition form the 1970’s.

04 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 5

IRISH WHISKEY at The Merchant

Greenore 8yrs 40% Grain £3.25 A unique and exceptional Single Grain Irish Whiskey, Greenore’s silky smooth taste and robust character are a truly delightful experience for the discerning drinker. Single Grain whiskies are very rare as most grain whiskey finds itself into Blended whiskies.

SCOTCH WHISKY at The Merchant

Chivas Regal 12yrs 40% Blend £3.95 From a single store in Aberdeen, Scotland, the brothers James and John Chivas built a reputation as consummate blenders of fine Scotch . Distinguished by its light, lingering aroma, full, smooth palate and balanced flavour with a hint of smoke, a Scotch of subtle and complex character.

Johnnie Walker Black Label 40% Blend £3.50 As many as 40 whiskies, each aged 12 years or more, make up this satisfyingly complex blend. Experts consistently appreciate its understated, classic qualities. A deep and complex flavour, this is a luxury blend and a luxury brand, with a completely individual personality.

Johnnie Walker Red Label 40% Blend £3.25 The world’s best selling whisky is still going strong. Red Label is a powerful combination of spicy, smoky malts, such as Talisker, and lingering, lighter grains. The global success of Red Label is just one reason why it is now considered to be the classic taste of blended .

Johnnie Walker Gold 18yrs 40% Blend £8.95 A skilful fusion of rare aged whiskies inspired by the notes originally kept by Sir Alexander Walker, and crafted from only a small number of Scotland’s most renowned distilleries each matured for a minimum of 18 years.

Monkey Shoulder 40% Vatted Malt £4.25 Inspired by and named in honour of the malt men who are among the few still to turn the malting barley by hand using a wooden shovel. Monkey Shoulder was a nickname given to a temporary injury some malt men occasionally suffered many years ago as a result of repeatedly bending over whilst turning the malt.

Glenkinchie 10yrs 43% Lowland £4.50 This is rolling farm country, perfect for growing barley and described by Robert Burns as “the most glorious corn country I have ever seen”. Because of its closeness to Scotland’s capital city, it is commonly known as ‘The Edinburgh Malt’.

Rosebank 1992 ‘Coopers’ 46% Lowland £5.50 Sadly now closed since 1993 due to unforeseen major changes in transport options in the area from canals to roads which made transportation to the distillery very difficult. Regarded by many as one of the finest examples of a Lowland malt to be produced. An independent bottling by ‘Coopers Choice’.

Auchentoshan 1991 ‘Coopers ‘46% Lowland £ Auchentoshan meaning ‘corner of the field’ is pronounced ‘och-n-tosh-n’. Run by the Japanese firm Suntory it is thought that the distillery was in operation since 1800 but there is no proof until there was an official foundation in 1825. This is an independent bottling by ‘Coopers Choice’.

05 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 6

SCOTCH WHISKY at The Merchant

Glengoyne 10yrs 43% S. Highlands £4.55 Unlike most other malts Glengoyne has been preserving the essence of its flavour for decades by using air- dried barley rather than barley dried using peat smoke. The result is a more subtle, complex whisky in which all of the delicate flavours are freely allowed to express themselves.

Oban 14yrs 43% W. Highlands £5.75 Oban is made using only the finest barley, malted to the distillery’s own particular specification. Partly germinated barley is gently dried in a kiln where a light peat smoke gives the malt a distinctive character and taste. The result is a smoky, malty, dryness in the flavour and finish.

Dalwhinnie 15yrs 43% N. Highlands £5.25 Dalwhinnie has a little bit of everything, peat, honey and backbone. Some of Dalwhinnie’s complexity is from the water, sourced from Allt an t’Sluie Burn and the traditional two stills. The young spirit is aged in Ex-Bourbon casks for 15 years before bottling.

Cragganmore 12yrs 43% Speyside £4.75 Original Cragganmore owner ‘Big’ John Smith felt that it would be the perfect place for the perfect distillery. And who could argue with his genius? Successive managers of Cragganmore have strived to continue his vision to deliver the sweetest, most complex malt whiskies: fruity, honeyed notes are often found. And many a taster has talked lyrically of fruitcake and toffee flavours.

Glenfarclas 105 60% Speyside £ This is the story of one Scottish family, the Grants, who since 1865 have been united by a single vision – the creation of the perfect , the ultimate taste of Scotland. A deep peaty-gold, spirity yet amazingly smooth and dry. Finish rich and long lasting.

Macallan 1990 ‘Adelphi’ 54% Speyside £ The name Macallan derives from the Macallan Church, which is now a ruin on the Easter Elchies Estate. Macallan is also used for the blend ‘Famous Grouse. This is an independent bottling of Macallan by ‘Adelphi’ and is bottled at cask strength and non filtered.

Aberlour 10yrs 40% Speyside £3.45 The is at the heart of Speyside where no fewer than half of Scotland’s malt distilleries are located in the region. Pure spring water for making the whisky is drawn from the Lour, and the maturing spirit in the warehouse beneficially inhales the moist Speyside air.

Talisker 10yrs 45.8% Islands £4.95 Talisker’s soft, peaty process water is drawn from twenty-one underground springs that rise from Hawk Hill beside the distillery. These same springs have fed Talisker from the beginning. Today, 20,000 gallons an hour of cooling water from the fast running Carbost Burn fill a traditional Talisker feature - five wooden “worm tubs”, located outside the still house.

Tobermory 10yrs 40% Islands £4.25 This famous, very small old distillery, the only one on the island of Mull reopened in 1990 after a decade’s ‘silence’. The distillery was founded in 1798 and the present buildings were erected during its first period of operation which continued until 1826.

06 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 7

SCOTCH WHISKY at The Merchant

Bowmore 15yrs 40% £4.95 The water rises from peat and flows via the river Laggan for eight miles to the distillery. The company has its own maltings and uses a gentle technique of peating. The maturation warehouses are doused with four or five feet of water at high tide.

Caol Ila 1991 ‘Coopers’ 46% Islay £ The name Caol Ila, means ‘’ and is pronounced ‘cull-eela’. The Gaelic word ‘caol’ is better known as ‘kyle’. Caol Ila is now owned by who own several distilleries throughout Scotland. This is an independent bottling from ‘Coopers Choice’.

Lagavulin 16yrs 43% Islay £6.50 The barley used to distil is malted at nearby and has a strong peat “reek” - it has perhaps twenty times as much exposure to peat smoke as a typical Speyside. Following the original practice, Lagavulin receives the slowest distillation of any Islay malt - around five hours for the first distillation and more than nine hours for the second is the norm.

Springbank 10yrs 46% Campbelton £5.25 Whilst bourbon casks are mainly used for maturation, allowing the distillery character to shine through, a number of sherry casks are also used for added body. Complexity is the key word here yet it remains perfectly balanced from first sip to the full, rich finish.

AMERICAN WHISK(E)Y at The Merchant

BOURBON

Fighting Cock 6yrs 43% Kentucky Straight £3.95 The brand name reflects the proud, passionate, independent spirit that the Fighting Cock bird embodies. Indeed, during World War II, a fighter squadron adorned the cowls of their planes with this proud but fierce emblem. Bottled after a full 6 years in charred white oak barrels at 103 proof.

Eagle Rare 10yrs 45% Kentucky Straight £4.25 Originally a 101-proof ten-year old Kentucky Straight introduced in 1975. This is among the last new bourbon brands introduced prior to current era of ‘small-batch bourbons’. Eagle Rare has been distilled, bottled and/or marketed by a number of companies but is now owned by the Buffalo Trace distillery.

Wild Turkey 101 8yrs 50.5% Kentucky Straight £3.75 Smooth and richly colored, Wild Turkey Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is a genuine super-premium bourbon carefully crafted in the heart of Kentucky. Wild Turkey 101° offers a lesson in traditional American values, most notably, the refusal to compromise on standards of excellence.

Wild Turkey Russells Res 50.5% Kentucky Straight £6.75 Master Distiller Jimmy Russell follows his father and grandfather before him. His son, Eddie is a veritable newcomer, with just 20 years under his belt. Passing down the secrets of the distilling tradition from generation to generation is one of the things that has kept Wild Turkey true to the strictest standards in an era when so many others are willing to cut corners.

07 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 8

AMERICAN WHISK(E)Y at The Merchant

Makers Mark 45% Kentucky Straight £3.25 Maker’s Mark is the only bourbon distillery to use pure, iron-free limestone spring water exclusively, not city, well or river water. The source is a 10-acre limestone spring-fed lake at the distillery.

Old Timbrook 1937 50% Kentucky Straight £115.00 Little is actually known about the history of this very rare liquid. The year of this bourbon coincides with a major historical time in the country which was known as America’s Great Economic Depression. The liquid itself has actually been bottled in 1943 but still has an intense nose with complex flavours.

Blantons Special Reserve 40% Single £5.75 Blanton’s Special Reserve is a part of their award winning family of fine Kentucky bourbons. It is bottled at 40% , therefore more appealing to beginning whiskey consumers. Blanton’s Special Reserve is a natural selection for a relaxed bourbon.

Elijah Craig 18yrs 45% Single Barrel £6.25 The oldest Single Barrel Bourbon in the world at 18 years, Elijah Craig Single Barrel is a rare marvel of whiskey-making. The barrels are hand selected by Parker and Craig Beam, and after 18 years of Kentucky seasons nearly 2/3 of the contents of the barrel have evaporated into “Angel’s Share”!

Evan Williams 23yrs 53.5% Single Barrel £13.95 Evan Williams, born a Welshman, settled in Virginia and moved to what would become Kentucky in about 1780. Evan Williams, the second largest selling brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the U.S., is named for Kentucky’s first distiller of 1783.

Elijah Craig 12yrs 47% Small Batch £3.75 At 12 years old and 94 proof, Elijah Craig is bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less, all drawn from the middle to upper floors of the traditional metal clad rickhouses. It is the original Small Batch Bourbon, having been made available even before the term was invented.

Jeffersons 8yrs 44% Small Batch £6.25 This very small batch hand-crafted bourbon delivers what bourbon enthusiasts have been asking for; “A deliciously smooth, stylish bourbon.” Jefferson’s is aged in new oak barrels with only a slight char, allowing the bourbon to take in the flavorful characteristics of the wood.

L&G Woodford Reserve 45.2% Small Batch £3.75 Woodford Reserve is a super-premium small batch bourbon with roots at the Labrot & Graham Distillery (circa 1812), a National Historic Landmark in the bluegrass region of central Kentucky. Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2001 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London.

TENNESSEE

Jack Daniels Old No. 7 40% Tennessee £3.35 A Tennessee whiskey distillery and brand known for its rectangular bottles and black label. The company is based in Lynchburg, Tennessee and It is believed that the founder Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel was born in September 1850, although seemingly no one knows the exact date.

08 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 9

AMERICAN WHISK(E)Y at The Merchant

Jack Daniels Single Barrel 45% Tennessee £5.25 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey - an all new product from the master craftsmen at Jack Daniel’s. A distinctively robust and mature Tennessee Whiskey bottled from a single barrel at a time. Each barrel is hand-selected for its unique character.

Jack Daniels Monogram 47% Tennessee £30.00 Folks who knew Mr. Jack Daniel best also knew his name was really Jasper “Jack” Daniel. This was the name raised in warmth over a formal dinner toast. Engraved on invitations to his home for a special celebration. Monogrammed on fine glass decanters of whiskey reserved for his own use and the personal enjoyment of his closest friends.

George Dickel No.12 45% Tennessee £5.75 In 1870, George A. Dickel distilled his first bottle of Tennessee Whisky in Cascade Hollow and used many unique techniques when producing his premium whisky. Today, George Dickel Tennessee Whisky is still handcrafted with the same quality and attention to detail that ensures that each drop of George Dickel is as remarkable now as it was when the first batch was made.

RYE/CORN WHISKEY

Pikesville 40% Rye/Corn £3.35 Pikesville Supreme offers the sharp, fruity nose and spicy, full-bodied palate so treasured by connoisseurs of American Rye Whiskey. A rare bottling, it is now winning over converts in international markets as well, where rye is considered a seldom seen treasure.

Jim Beam Rye 40% Rye/Corn £4.25 Very rarely seen outside of the US this ‘Yellow Label’ Jim Beam is Gold with a light amber cast. Moderately light-bodied. Reminiscent of toasted oats, hazelnuts, lemon. Delicate, soft texture. Brisk and slightly tart on the palate. Quite pungent in the finish, showing a little heat.

Sazerac 18yrs 45% Rye/Corn £9.25 Sazerac 18 year old straight rye whiskey demonstrates a sophistication and style that is second to none. A hearty whiskey with a strong body, a mellow spice and a dry sweetness that dances on the tongue. It is the only 18 year old whiskey worthy of the Sazerac name.

Georgia Moon 40% Rye/Corn £3.65 Bottled in a Mason jar, this liquid is supposed to be reminiscent of moonshine. Claiming to be “less than 30 days old” on the label this is a very straightforward whiskey that almost verges on vodka due to its lack of age. A must try if even just for the novelty.

Rittenhouse Straight 40% Rye/Corn £3.25 Rittenhouse is a much acclaimed rye now enjoying a renaissance. Rittenhouse is a tribute to the classic rye whiskies that were once the preeminent American whiskey style, kept alive through the many lean years by Heaven Hill and two other Kentucky distilleries.

Rittenhouse 21yrs 50% Rye/Corn £20.50 The team at Heaven Hill enters the premium rye market with this single barrel 21 year old whiskey. The finish has notes of cherries and the spiciness of rye that you will come to know and love. There has been a production of only 3000 bottles released to the world and each is marked with the barrel that it came from. 09 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 10

AMERICAN WHISK(E)Y at The Merchant

Van Winkle 13yr 47.8% Rye/Corn £5.95 The original aged rye whiskey. The maturity it has received while aging is quite obvious when you take the first sip. Flavours include cocoa, vanilla, spice and white pepper. Rye whiskey lovers who try this bottling will never again look back at the younger versions.

WHISK(E)Y OTHERS at The Merchant

CANADA

Canadian Club 6yrs 40% Canada £3.35 The original light and versatile blended whisky, Canadian Club is the only blended before aging in white oak barrels. This allows the flavours of the rye, rye malt, barley malt and corn to merry, giving CC its unique, smooth taste.

Canadian Club Classic 40% Canada £6.75 Blended then aged for 12 years in oak barrels, the Master Distiller has created a full yet smooth character with hints of spice and vanilla. Canadian Club Classic’s quality is exemplified in the winning of a double- gold medal at the prestigious 2003 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Canadian Club Sherry Cask 41.3% Canada £5.50 Made in very small quantities from the finest whiskies. These whiskies are aged for at least 8 years in white oak barrels and then double matured in sherry casks imported from Jerez, Spain. An exquisite blend that delivers a smooth whisky with distinct undertones of Spanish Sherry.

Crown Royal 40% Canada £3.75 Crown Royal consists of whiskies over 10 years old. The blend is then allowed to marry for some time before being bottled. The first bottle of this brand was presented as a gift to King George VI during his visit to Canada in 1939. The design of the bottle is inspired by his crown.

JAPAN

Suntory Hibiki 40% Japan £10.75 Suntory Whisky Hibiki 30 Years captured the Trophy, the highest award, at the International Spirits Challenge. Made famous in the UK by its high visibility of its product in the film ‘Lost in Translation’.

COGNAC at The Merchant

Courvoisier Exclusif VSOP 40% Blended £6.25 Exclusif has a younger, more contemporary feel. Designed to be mixed, Exclusif brings a modern twist to cognac and an extravagant streak to cocktail drinking. It is also one of the oldest VSOPs so when it is drunk straight it delivers the most sophisticated smoothness and richness available.

10 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 11

COGNAC at The Merchant

Hennessy Paradis 40% Blended £17.50 Hennessy Paradis Extra, revered by cognac amateurs all over the world, is one of Hennessy’s best kept secrets. The aromas and flavours of this blend are the ultimate delight for the senses.

Hennessy VS 40% Blended £3.50 A blend of the finest , aged to full maturity in oak barrels in the town of Cognac, where Richard Hennessy established his company in 1765. Still operated by the Hennessy family, this cognac is aged for at least 2-5 years.

Hennessy VSOP 40% Blended £5.50 Hennessy V.S.O.P ‘Very Superior Old Pale’ was blended for a prince and it is still beautifully rounded today. It has a complex aromatic balance with suppleness, depth and persistence.

Hennessy XO 40% Blended £9.95 The first ‘eXtra Old’ cognac, is powerful, masculine and generous - a genuine pleasure. It releases woody, spicy aromas. Now an established symbol of luxury, its rich character is enhanced by a distinctive decanter designed in 1947.

‘H’ by HINE 40% Blended £3.45 This is a blend of more than 15 Petite Champagne cognacs, the youngest is aged 4 years. It is HINE’s most floral cognac. Jasmine, iris, hint of vanilla, carnation a very vivacious nose and a delicate velvety palate.

HINE Antique XO 40% Blended £12.75 A blend of more than 40 cognacs drawn from both the Grande and Petite Champagne districts and aged for more than one generation. It is light and delicate on the nose, with spicy and intense vanilla aromas. It is complex, balanced, velvety, supple and voluptuous on the palate.

Martell L’Or 40% Blended £195.00 L’Or is the result of the alchemy between gold cognac. A blend of ‘eaux-de-vie’ mainly from the Grande Champagne area, this cognac has a rare intensity. Some of the ‘eaux de vie’ are drawn from “Le Paradis” cellar, and have been aged in oak barrels for more than 60 years.

Remy Louis XIII 40% Blended £125.00 Using only grapes from the Grande Champagne region which guarantees its unique, exclusive quality.It is blended from eaux de vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in ‘tiercons’, barrels that are several hundred years old, in a cellar set apart for it alone.

Remy Martin Extra 40% Blended £27.50 Rémy Martin Extra is a rare and refined cognac. This is a blend of more than 700 eaux-de-vie’s from the two most prestigious regions in Cognac with a miniumum age of 20 years and a maximum of 50 years. The average being 35 years.

Richard Hennessy 40% Blended £250.00 Blended in homage to the founder this is well-rounded but with infinite possibilities, mature and at the same time ever-youthful, this perfectly balanced aromatic cognac is the quintessential Hennessy.

Edgar Leyrat VSOP 40% Single Estate £5.25 Cognac Leyrat quality is unanimously acknowledged as a great after dinner by some of the worlds greatest gastronomes. Their 54 hectare estate in the Fin Bois district is completely organic and been cultivated by four generations of the family. 11 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 12

COGNAC at The Merchant

AE Dor Hors d’Age 40% Single Estate £ “A little bit leather and wild”. Especially recommended for connoisseurs. An ardent, masculine nose. A powerful attach in the mouth which can be surprising, ripening on the palate to a delicate fullness with persistent aromas.

Maxime Trijol VSOP 40% Single Estate £4.25 The carefully structured body encapsulates the richness of Grande Champagne in a virile, yet subtle cognac. Mellow and rich on the palate, but also fruity. Its length is all but perfect, leaving lingering bliss on the palate.

Maxime Trijol XO Decanter 40% Single Estate £12.00 A full-bodied and yet delicate cognac, powerful and fine. Behind the topaz colour with its flashes of gold, it offers a remarkable aromatic richness with hints of liquorice and touches of vanilla, lingering with an extraordinary length on the palate to a very smooth, soft finish.

Ragnaud Sabourin Floriege 46% Single Estate £17.50 This Cognac, elegantly matured in barrels, is naturally 46% proof. Its long ageing in red casks lends the Cognac all the typical features of the Grande Champagne, with its marked charente rancio.

Georges Roullet 1937 40% Single Estate £47.50 A true rarity this Cognac is aged for a full 55 years in old oak casks, then gradually reduced with distilled water to 40% before bottling. This is an unusual and very interesting fine rare cognac from one of the finest producers.

La Fine Goule 1967 43.7% Single Estate £45.00 Francoise and Jean-Bernard of Larquier have been producing fantastic Cognac for many years and even make a limited number of Pineau and a range of liqueurs. This rare bottling of 1967 is sure to be a treat and great heat along with elegance.

Raymond Ragnaud 1906 45% Single Estate £165.00 Dating from the beginning of the century (1906). Natural, perfectly clear. The initial smell lends delicate while intense aromas, thanks to what is known as the ‘rancio Charentais’. This eau-de-vie is the quintessence Grande Champagne’s best characteristics: refinement and body. It reaches perfection in its balance, complexity and persistence.

Ragnaud Sabourin XO 40% Single Estate £11.95 This latest addition to the Ragnaud-Sabourin Cognac family will arouse the curiosity of connoisseurs who will appreciate its richness and smoothness on the palate. On the palate it is full and smooth and is made using the Ugni blanc grape variety.

12 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 13

ARMAGNAC at The Merchant

Baron de Sigognac VSOP 40% Blend £3.75 Spending six months in new oak followed by a seven-year period in old oak, it gives noble flavours and is very pleasant on the palate. Medal winner at the 2004 International Spirit Challenge in London.

Domaine Boingneres 1984 49% Single Estate £ Amber with gold highlights. High-pitched aromatics with a touch of almond and vanilla. Plenty of vanilla and spice on the palate, yet with a lightly honeyed texture. Encapsulating all the top aromatic qualities of the 1985 Folle Blanche, yet slightly softer.

Domaine du Miquer 1982 45% Single Estate £10.95 The Lasserre family owns this small Armagnac House and much of their estate are planted with Folle Blanche. A floral and spicy spirit from a fantastic year.

Baron de Lustrac 1969 42% Single Estate £12.00 Baron de Lustrac Bas Armagnac 1969 Domaine Tucot is a deep and brilliant amber colour. On the nose it has aromas of roasted cacao, vanilla, rancio and prunes. On the palate there are flavours of rancio, cinnamon and liquorice.

Marquis de Puysegur 1961 40% Single Estate £ Marquis de Puysegur is one of the largest estates in Argmanac, where Armagnac has been made at Chateau de Puysegur as early as the 1500s. Marquis de Puysegur offers high quality and terrific value Armagnac.

Baron de Sigognac 1978 40% Single Estate £7.25 Baron de Sigognac Bas Armagnac 1978 is a beautiful golden colour with reflections of mahogany. It is fine and delicate on the nose with grape of Corinth, cinnamon and vanilla notes. It is round in the mouth, with some exotic fruit savours. The finish is rich and full of prunes with a touch of rancio and some subtle wooding.

BRANDY at The Merchant

Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real 45% Spain £8.95 “Cardenal Mendoza” Carta Real has been created with the purpose of satisfying the most exigent brandy consumers. In 1981, with its eyes set on the new millennium, Sanchez Romate Hnos. set aside a reserve of “Cardenal Mendoza”. This brandy has remained under the constant attention of its foremen since then.

Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra 45% Spain £38.00 In commemoration of their second centenary Sanchez Romate Hnos. set aside 40 butts of “Cardenal Mendoza” to celebrate. This brandy came to light in 1981. There are very limited amounts of this precious brandy and because of this a very small number of people are fortunate enough to gain access to it.

Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Res 42% Spain £11.50 This is a Solera Gran Reserva Brandy, the highest category within the regulating council “Brandy de Jerez”. It is aged in American oak casks that have previously been used for the ageing of Pedro Ximénez and old Oloroso wines. These oak casks form part of one of the largest Brandy Solera Gran Reseva bodegas in the world.

Uno en Mil Solera Gran Reserva 40% Spain £ The origin of this brandy is one thousand American oak casks of selected grape spirits, and therefore its name of One in a Thousand , or, 1/1000, which is the way the casks are called in the Cellars.

13 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 14

BRANDY at The Merchant

Vecchio 800 1976 53% Italy £11.25 Made by the Eaux-de-Vie Brandy specialists Bepi Tosolini. The history of Tosolini begins after World War II when Bepi Tosolini, who cultivated a profound knowledge of his land and traditions, dedicated himself to transforming his distillate of humble origins into an elite beverage for the most refined and demanding of palates.

CALVADOS at The Merchant

Adrien Camut Prestige 40% France £33.00 40-50 years old and Deep amber. Tremendous legs and nutty vanilla on the nose. Deep notes of preserved, baked apple, smoke, and prune. Impeccably balanced, earthy complexity. Long, pure finish.

Adrien Camut 6ans 40% France £5.25 Since the 1800’s, the Camut family has grown 115 acres of apple trees in the Pays d’Auge, the finest growing region for Calvados. In Normandy, 800 types of apples are grown; the Camut family grow about 25 of these, all of which are hand-harvested at optimum maturity between October and mid-December. This 6 year old has impressive viscosity for a relatively young.

Lemorton Rarete 40% France £36.50 The Lemorton family has a long history in the Domfrontais. Roger is the fifth generation and his son Didier now run the domaine. The Lemorton’s distill their cider after aging it for eleven months in oak barrels. Distillation takes place in their own alambic, a single-distillation unit that distills to about 140 proof. A true treat for Calvados lovers.

Berneroy No. 5 40% France £3.50 For more than fifty years the estate producing Calvados Berneroy has been the Normandy based production facility of one of the most respected Calvados Houses. Pronounced and very rich with smoothing apple fruits on the palate.

APPLEJACK at The Merchant

Lairds Applejack 3-4 yrs 40% USA £3.95 Only carefully selected, whole tree-ripened apples can be used in the making of Laird’s Applejack. Many varieties of apples are used, including Jonathans, Winesaps, Stamens, Pippens and Delicious apples. Applejack is made at the peak of the apple harvest, early September to mid November.

Lairds Rare Apple Brandy 12yr 44% USA £6.95 The 12 year old Apple Brandy is the finest American Apple Brandy. Each of the barrels containing apple brandy are tasted as they rest in a barrel ageing facility. Only the finest barrels are selected for 12year old Rare Apple Brandy.

14 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 15

GRAPPA at The Merchant

Bepi Tosolini de Merlot 38% Friuli £3.75 Made using pomace from Merlot grapes and produced in the Grave del Friuli area. This Grappa is transparent and crystal-clear. There is a distinct note of brushwood aromas, with marked hints of raspberry. Pleasant and delicate, but distinct. Bright and fruity aftertaste.

I Legni stagionata en Frassino 42% Friuli £4.95 The team at Bepi Tosolini have rigorously maintained the rules of refinement and aging to best preserve the flavours and aromas of ancestral Friuli, which also symbolize their love of tradition. Together they strive to keep the knowledge and craftsmanship of the master distillers of Friuli alive, as master Bepi did years ago through a relentless pursuit of quality and purity. This grappa has been seasoned in Excelsior ash-barrels and is from Colli Orientali of Friuli

Most da Uva Ramandolo 40% Friuli £12.50 Made using Ramandolo grapes in the Colli Orientali area of Friuli using a traditional, manually operated, copper steam-pot still. The aromas are sweet and delicate reminiscent of ripe apple. Full bodied on the palate and aged in stainless steel with a brief period in ash barrels.

JENEVER at The Merchant

Ketel One Jonge 35% Holland £4.75 Best known for its excellent Vodka production this company was first established as a Jenever house and still produces it to this day. Made by the Nolet family. The Dutch refer to their pot stills as ‘ketels’.

15 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 16

GIN at the Merchant Hotel

Xoriguer (Mahon Gin) 38% Spain £3.35 In the 18th Century British sailors and soldiers stationed in Menorca wanted gin so the local craftsmen distilled gin from wine alcohol. Centuries Later, Miguel Pons Justo, a descendant of one of the original craftsmen, branded his gin, ‘Xoriguer’ and it is still run by the Pons family.

Whitley Neill 42% England £3.35 Inspired by Africa, it contains two botanicals specially selected to create a vibrant Gin with bold, warm flavours. These botanicals are Baobab (fruit from the Baobab tree, known as the ‘tree of life’) and Cape Gooseberry. This Gin is produced in very small batches.

Cadenhead’s Old Raj 55% Scotland £5.45 Old Raj Dry Gin is distinctive in that it contains a measure of saffron, the rare and costly spice derived from the crocus flower. In addition to a slightly spicy flavour, this also imparts a pale yellow colour to Old Raj. The addition of saffron is undertaken personally by the Company Chairman in order to ensure consistency in flavour and colour each time Old Raj is bottled.

Broker’s Export 47% England £3.45 Made with the finest herbs, spices and fruit imported from the continents, Broker’s Gin is specially blended to be dry...not unlike the British sense of humour. An extremely high quality gin designed to compete with the best brands in the world. It is made from 100% English grain, quadruple distilled and flavoured with 10 botanicals.

Bombay Sapphire 40% England £3.35 Launched in 1987 the flavoring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients: almond, lemon peel, licorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled, and the alcohol vapours are passed through bundles of the herbs and spices in order to gain flavour and aroma. Then, water from Lake Vyrnwy is added.

Citadelle 44% France £3.55 This recipe was developed by a distillery in Dunkirk in 1771. Dunkirk was one of the first ports of call in Europe for many explorers sailing back from the Orient, whose ships were laden with exotic herbs and spices. It is made according to principles laid down in the original recipe. They still use the same 19 botanicals listed in the original recipe.

Haymans 1820 40% England £4.25 Haymans 1820 is the worlds first gin liqueur. The combination of botanicals used in the distillation results in a smooth, clean and refreshing gin with an obvious citrus lilt. However, when combined with the additional sweetness that one would expect from a liqueur, the result is a product with a delicious orange character. It is also an extremely versatile cocktail base spirit. Hayman’s has been compared to a traditional style of gin known as Old Tom, which is now extremely rare.

Hendricks 41.4% Scotland £3.95 Hendrick’s is produced as a small batch gin distilled in Ayrshire, Scotland. Handcrafted gin with traditional botanicals, juniper, coriander, and citrus peel but the special infusion of cucumber and rose petals creates a unique and unexpected flavour.

Junipero 49.3% USA £5.45 Junipero Gin is made by hand in the classic “distilled dry gin” tradition utilizing more than a dozen botanicals in their natural state, in a small copper pot still at the Anchor Distilling Company’s little distillery on Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

16 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 17

GIN at the Merchant Hotel

Martin Millers Westbourne 45.2% England £4.25 This multi award winning gin is receiving unbelievable reviews worldwide and its extra strength simply increases the terrific gin that it already is as normal Martin Millers Gin. Pot distilled in 100 year old still, using only the heart of the spirit.

Plymouth 40% England £3.65 is the only 18th century gin still batch distilled in the original distillery, Black Friars in Plymouth, England. It is a unique style of gin that differs from London , due to the use of a special blend containing only sweet botanicals.

Tanqueray No. Ten 47.3% England £4.25 Created under the watchful eye and uncompromising senses of our Master Distiller, No.TEN is the only gin in the world distilled with handpicked, whole-fruit fresh botanicals. And it is produced exclusively in a special small batch still aptly dubbed “Tiny Ten,” which is specifically designed to provide for the exquisite depth and character of the resulting spirit.

Tanqueray Export Strength 43.1% England £3.50 Tanqueray Gin was initially distilled in 1830, by Charles Tanqueray who was descended from three generations of clergy from the village of Tingreth in Bedfordshire. At 20 he chose not to follow the family calling and established a distillery in the Bloomsbury district of London instead. When Charles died, in 1868, the company passed into the hands of his heir, Charles Waugh Tanqueray.

Crimson Ireland £4.25 There is a long and distinguished history of gin distilling in Cork city dating back to the l700’s. This is the new super premium gin from and apparently only the most expensive and rare ingredients are used in its creation!

Beefeater 40% England £3.25 This gin is distilled from “100% grain spirit”. The bottle bears an image of a Yeomen Warder who are more popularly known as ‘Beefeaters’, the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. The manufacturer has been in business since 1820 and is located in London, England.

17 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 18

RUM at The Merchant

LIGHT RUM

Appleton White 37.5% Jamaica £3.15 A truly versatile rum and was awarded the Greenall’s Trophy for the Best White Spirit Overall, and a Gold Medal in the 1998 International Wine and Spirits Competition. Appleton White Jamaica Rum is a blend of rich pot still rums and light column still rums and, unlike many other white rums, it is aged and then filtered slowly through special charcoal filters.

Havana Club Anejo Blanco 37.5% Cuba £3.25 Havana Anejo Blanco is transparent in colour and characterised for its smooth and sweet aroma, with subtle hints of vanilla, caramel, and mint. It has a delicate and balanced flavor, which makes it a perfect ingredient for many cocktails. Used as the base in its home country for most Mojito cocktails.

Matusalem Platino 40% Dominican Rep. £3.35 Unique blend of triple distilled, hand-crafted spirits, joined in a special process, and filtered and refined to create a rum of exceptionally clean taste, delicate balance and subtle flavour. Presented in distinctive packaging emphasising the rum’s heritage, Platino is a discerning trade-up for standard rum drinkers and sophisticated alternative to premium vodka drinkers.

Santiago de Cuba Blanca 38% Cuba £3.95 Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanco Rum is a white rum distilled from sugar cane grown in the rich microclimate of the Sierra Maestra basin around Santiago de Cuba. It is matured for up to 3 years in the oldest oak barrels in Cuba, which date back to the 1920’s. The nose is light and fruity with a sweet, smooth flavour. There are hints of summer fruits on the palate with a lasting, dry finish. Cubans consider this to be the best premium rum.

GOLD RUMS

Angostura 1919 40% Trinidad & Tobago £3.75 A marvelous anejo made from a blend of light and heavy, molasses-based rums aged for a minimum of 8 years in charred American oak bourbon barrels. Angostura 1919 rum possesses a rich, golden-amber hue with excellent clarity. The rum exudes a complex bouquet brimming over with aromas of cocoa, molasses, caramel and vanilla.

Appleton Special 40% Jamaica £3.25 Appleton Special Jamaica Rum is a medium-bodied golden rum that truly epitomises the tropical energy lifestyle unique to Jamaica. This is a perfect blend of fuller-flavoured traditional pot-still rums and lighter column still rums.

Appleton 21yrs 43% Jamaica £12.95 A rare blend of some of the world’s finest aged rums, Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Jamaica Rum is a smooth sipping rum that will leave a lasting impression on even the most discerning of palates. The rums in Appleton Estate 21 Year Old, each aged a minimum of 21 years, bring their own special characteristics together into a truly glorious harmony.

Appleton Estate Extra 43% Jamaica £4.75 Appleton Estate Extra Jamaica Rum is often regarded as the ultimate expression of the rum-maker’s art. Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Appleton Extra is a superb blend of rums, many of which have been aged for as long as 18 years. Its bold character and smooth taste can easily be compared to the exemplary qualities of a fine cognac or single malt scotch. 18 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 19

RUM at The Merchant

Appleton Estate V/X 40% Jamaica £3.50 As the flagship brand of the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum family, Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum is the embodiment of the distinctive rums for which the Appleton Estate is renowned. Born on the Appleton Estate, home of the finest rums in the world since 1749, Appleton Estate V/X is an exceptional blend of several rums of varying types and ages with an average age of between five and ten years. This full bodied medium-sweet rum boasts a warm golden colour, a rich aroma and an exceptionally smooth taste.

Appleton 250th Anniversary Jamaica £60.00 Joy Spence, Master Blender at J. Wray and Nephew Ltd., has the distinction of being the first woman to hold this position in the industry. Her crowning glory, however, is the Appleton Estate 250th Anniversary Blend – a limited edition rum of which only 6,000 bottles were produced to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Appleton Estate.

St. James Vieux 42% Martinique £6.45 Rhum Saint James, from the French Caribbean Island of Martinique, are the only sipping rums dating back to 1765 When the French King, Louis XIV, banned the sale of rum in France, an enterprising priest moved to Martinique and founded Plantations Saint James, where he produced and sold his rum to the settlers in New England.

Coruba Jamaica £5.75 A traditional planter’s rum, the historic sort that first distinguished Jamaica as a producer of quality rums. Distilled in small batches using time-honored methods and traditional copper stills, Coruba derives its flavor from the richest cane molasses Jamaica has to offer. It is a full-flavored, full-bodied dark rum.

Bacardi 8yrs 40% Bahamas £3.45 Don Facundo Bacardi created the worlds original, smooth premium rums in Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Now under the watchful eye of the family’s master blender, Bacardi presents Bacardi 8, the aged rum historically reserved for Don Facundo and the Bacardi family.

Bacardi Gold1950’s Cuba £150.00 A true historical piece of rum of a very rare status. The Bacardi family maintained a fierce opposition to Fidel Castro’s revolution in Cuba in the 1960’s. The Bacardi family where eventually forced to exit Cuba but they had already started a few years previously by moving all important trademarks to the Bahamas. This was among some of the last bottles actually made in Cuba before their departure.

Wray & Nephew 17yrs 75.3% Jamaica £700.00 Probably the rarest rum in the world and The Merchant is the only bar in the world where you can get it. Originally used in 1944 by Trader Vic for his cocktail invention ‘The Mai Tai’ the success of the drink was so major that the 17 year old rum quickly ran out. Only 6 bottles have since been re-created and released to the world by world famous Master Distiller Joy Spence.

Clement Rhum Agricole VSOP 40% Martinique £4.25 This rum has long been the identity of Rhum Clément. The superb alchemy between rum and wood orchestrated by the Cellar Master is what gives Clément VSOP its unique personality and well-deserved notoriety. It is the ideal rum to sip neat in a snifter with a cigar, on the rocks, or enjoy in your favorite cocktail. Along with several of our aged rums and cuvées, it received a gold medal at the 2004 International Spirits Competition.

19 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 20

RUM at The Merchant

Havana Club Anejo Especial 40% Cuba £3.50 Specifically created for premium cocktails such as Mojito, Daiquiri and Cuba Libre, Havana Club Especial is aged for up to 5 years for an intense, persistent taste in the mouth, while keeping the lightness. This rum has a sweet nose with deep smoked aromas.

Havana Club 3yrs 40% Cuba £3.35 Havana Club 3 year old rum is distilled from fermented molasses and is the colour of yellow straw from being aged in oak barrels. The scent and taste has a bizarre tequila style to it. Check it out the next time you try it.

Havana Club 7yrs 40% Cuba £3.75 The necessary “patience” for the ageing of this rum- 7 years in white oak barrels in the age-old cellars - instils in the drink that powerful and complex aroma: its distinguishing feature. Appreciated as a liqueur by experienced rum-lovers, Havana Club 7 years naturally has its place among the very best spirits. Like Anejo Especial, Havana Club 7 years combines wonderfully with its Cuban brother, the Havana cigar.

Havana Club 15yrs 40% Cuba £15.95 Havana Club Rum 15 Anos Gran Reserva was created by selecting the best quality reserve rums of Cuba. It is the result of a lengthy and complex aging process, which has produced a rum with a flavour, that will please even the most particular palates.

Havana Club San Cristobal 40% Cuba £20.00 A Havana Club Special Edition label, which is generally only sold in the official store of the Havana Club Foundation Distillery. Havana Club rum Solera San Cristóbal was created for the grand celebration of the 480th Anniversary of the Villa San Cristóbal Foundation of the city of Havana.

Matusalem Gran Reserva 40% Dominican Rep. £4.25 Originally produced over 130 years ago in Santiago de Cuba and known as the “Cognac of Rums,” this solera 15 super-premium rum is the perfect choice for those looking for exceptional quality and sophisticated taste. Complex yet velvety smooth, with a pronounced bouquet and flavour, Gran Reserva is idealy enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but will also make your favourite cocktail even better.

Mount Gay Eclipse 40% Barbados £3.35 Mount Gay is one of the oldest rum in the world. Since 1703 this rum has been hand-crafted at the same location, using the finest Barbados sugar cane and pure spring water. Mount Gay Rum’s heritage and legendary quality continue to be enjoyed by rum connoisseurs the world over.

N.O (New Orleans) 43% USA £3.95 A fairly new rum on the market first released in 1998, this is a single barrel rum distilled in Louisiana. Produced in what must be the world’s smallest distillery this is the only style of small batch golden rum that they make.

Plantation Trinidad 1993 45% Trinidad £5.50 This outstanding rum with great finesse is produced with the best sugar cane in the world and admirably represents its country of origin. Its colour is intense golden yellow and its bouquet is subtle, elegant aromas. On the palate a long, very subtle aftertaste. Rich, exotic, complex flavours of coconut and citrus fruits.

Plantation Guyana 1990 45% Guyana £5.50 From the west coast of Demerara, Plantation Guyana 1990 is distilled in a small traditional copper still, using techniques that date back several centuries. Its bouquet is redolent with flambeed bananas, dried figs, and raisins. It is beautifully balanced on the palate with a long aftertaste. 20 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 21

RUM at The Merchant

Plantation Barbados 1993 45% Barbados £5.75 This rum is made following traditional methods and aged in Bourbon casks. Like all the Barbados rums, it is rich and full of aroma without losing any of its subtlety and elegance.Its colour is dark amber and its nose is delicate aromas of sugar cane mingled with vanilla. The taste is pleasant, mellow, long, with lasting flavours.

Plantation Jamaica 8YO 45% Jamaica £5.75 This extraordinarily rich rum is produced by traditional methods and aged in small oak barrels. It is Mahogany in colour and its bouquet is a broad palette of tropical aromas consisting of roasted bananas, coconut, and sweets. On the palate it is generous, gourmet rum.

Doorlys XO 40% Barbados £3.95 From the House of Martin Doorly comes this rare rum of unparalleled excellence. Created through the time-old traditions of master blenders who have combined Barbados finest, oldest rums with a special second maturation. The special ‘rare’ second maturation takes place in solid oak Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks, which ages Doorly’s XO Fine Old Barbados Rum to perfection for a taste of exception smoothness and superiority.

Cockspur 37.5% Barbados £3.25 This fine golden rum is matured slowly in American white oak barrels before being expertly blended to create the final product. In Barbados, Cockspur & Coke is a popular favourite. Five Star is light and golden in colour with an uncomplicated, pleasant smell. Its taste is extremely smooth, round and warm, which becomes spicy on the palate, getting slightly buttery towards the end.

Barbancourt 15yo Res 43% Haiti £7.25 Aged 15 years, the Reserve du Domaine was originally reserved for the Barbancourt family and their friends. It was offered for public sale for the first time in the middle of the 1960’s. Today, the reserve du domaine and its incomparable flavour has become a veritable institution in the world of connoisseurs.

Santiago de Cuba Anejo 38% Cuba £5.25 Santiago de Cuba Rum Anejo is distilled from sugar cane grown in the rich microclimate of the Sierra Maestra basin around Santiago de Cuba. It is matured, using the Spanish Solera system, for up to 5 years, in the oldest oak barrels in Cuba, which date back to the 1920’s. Combines a grassy, spirity bouquet with a complex flavour, suggestive of vanilla combined with hints of orange zest. Cubans consider Santiago to be the best.

Santiago de Cuba Extra Anejo 40% Cuba £32.50 Santiago De Cuba Extra Anejo 20 yo is distilled from sugar cane grown in the rich microclimate of the Sierra Maestra basin around Santiago de Cuba. It is matured, using the Spanish Solera system, for up to 20 years, in the oldest oak barrels in Cuba, which date back to the 1920’s. This aging has produced an elegant and mature rum which has hints of candied fruits, oranges and just a hint of cigar box.

Santa Teresa 1796 40% Venezuala £7.50 This rum of rums and Santa Teresa’s flagship product is a careful blend of the finest rums matured over 15 years. Launched in 1996 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Hacienda Santa Teresa, this rum represents a proud 200 year tradition. This rum has been listed as the best aged (anejo) super premium rum two years running (2003 and 2004), and has won the Gold Medal of the Chicago Tasting Institute.

Cruzan 5yrs 40% Virgin Islands £4.95 Founded in 1760, the Cruzan Rum Distillery is recognized as much for its hand crafted, ultra premium rums as for its pioneering efforts in introducing critically acclaimed, natural tasting flavourful rums. This rum is a blend of five to ten year old cask aged rums.

21 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 22

RUM at The Merchant

Pyrat Cask 23 40% Anguilla £45.00 Pyrat (Old English: pronounced pirate) Cask is an ultra premium aged, limited production rum. This excellent dark amber rum is blended from the finest Caribbean rums, aged up to 40 years. Pyrat Cask has the body and color of a rare cognac and is perfect for sipping.

Ron Zacapa 23yr Old 40% Guatemala £7.45 This rum was a specialty Item made for just the owners of the distillery for many years. This rum is produced in a small town in Guatemala which is named Zacapaneca. A very impressive rum and is typically sweet of Guatemalan rums. This is the only rum to be awarded First Place Gold Medal for five consecutive years at the ‘Caribbean Weeks Rum Competition’.

Malecon Esplendida 1976 40% Panama £13.75 A rare rum from Panama and darker than most golden rums. The rum itself is from 1979 and has been bottled in 2002. The rum is very soft, round and harmonious. The long aftertaste fills your palate with cinnamon, dried fruit and leather. Each bottle in individually numbered.

DARK RUM

Captain Morgan 40% Caribbean £3.25 Captain Morgan Black Label rum offers a unique depth of taste recalling the navy rum rations which were the choice of swashbuckling adventurers and connoisseurs alike. Its dark, full-bodied colour and distinctive rich, smooth taste are unmistakable.

Goslings Black Seal 40% Bermuda £3.50 In the World Spirits Championship conducted by the Beverage Tasting Institute,Gosling’s Black Seal Rum was awarded a Platinum Medal in a blind taste test consisting of an extensive collection of world class rums, Black Seal was rated 96 out of a possible 100 and Best Buy. The corks were secured in place with the use of black sealing wax, prompting people to refer to the brand as “Black Seal.”Famed in Bermuda for making a dark and stormy.

Myers Original Dark 40% Jamaica £3.50 Myers’s is 100 per cent Jamaican Rum using only pure Jamaican molasses. A blend of up to nine select rums, Myers’s is produced from continuous and pot still distillation and is then matured for up to four years in white oak barrels.

OVERPROOF

Wray & Nephew Overproof 63% Jamaica £4.50 To the uninitiated, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum is merely the top-selling high strength rum in the world. In its native Jamaica, however, this crystal-clear rum is legendary. In the country known for its rum, it is the rum of choice. In fact, it currently accounts for more than 90% of all rum sold in Jamaica.

SPICED

Four Square Spiced 35% Barbados £3.35 Voted best spiced/flavoured rum at The Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Beating products such as Bacardi and Captain Morgans. Foursquare Spiced Rum is an aged rum with hints of cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg gently blended in at the distillery. The actual recipe is a family secret passed down through five generations. 22 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 23

CACHACA at The Merchant

Germana 10yrs 40% Brazil £9.75 A serious cachaca distilled in copper potstills and aged in oak for ten years, during which time it develops into a spirit of remarkable honeyed complexity.

Beija Flor Reserva 10yrs 40% Brazil £5.95 Reserved in oak barrels for 10 years, Reserva Especial is heavenly, rich and complex with characters of caramel, vanilla, chocolate and nut. Enjoy in cocktails or simply straight or on ice.

Sagatiba Preciosa 38% Brazil £ The first ever Cachaca to be sold at the auction house. Each bottle comes in a handcrafted Brazilian wood case. The Sagatiba Preciousa was distilled in 1982 and matured in European oak barrels.

Sagatiba Velha 38% Brazil £3.25 This is a top quality, aged Cachaca produced by careful distillation of sugar cane, slowly aged in oak barrels. Its name means ‘The Infinite Saga’ the never ending searh for purity, quality and flavour.

TEQUILA at The Merchant

BLANCO

Gran Centenario Plata 40% Nom – 1122 £3.50 The process begins in the area of Jalicso, where a selection of 10 year old agave is cooked in ovens of stone to obtain the honey flavours that ferment naturally, and is then slowly distilled on two occasions and aged in oak barrels for a smooth flavour of the silver (plata) Gran Centenario.

Patron Silver 40% Nom – 1492 £6.75 Patron Silver is called young or “joven” tequila. A similarity may be made to a young or nouvelle wine. It is known for its light, fresh, crystal clear look and an elegant smoothness not found in other silver . Many prefer this smooth, soft and light tequila over an aged and slightly oaky flavour. Those that know the difference may find Patron Silver the finest silver tequila available. It is perfect for blending with a high quality mixer or may be easily sipped.

Patron Gran Patron Platinum 40% Nom – 1492 £50.00 Gran Patron is the world’s finest platinum tequila. Triple distilled then aged to perfection, it is a true connoisseur’s silver tequila. This is the smoothest sipping tequila ever produced. With this claim of being the smoothest sipping tequila ever produced, the Patron Spirits Company’s Gran Patron Platinum Tequila is created using hand selected Waeber blue agave grown in the hills of Jalisco, Mexico.

Porfidio Plata 39.5% £9.75 Made by the Austrian born Martin Grassl this agave spirt is not aged and is bottled within 60 days of distillation. Porfidio does not dilute the freshly squeezed agave juice during the pressing process as some manufacturers would, as this would reduce the quality of the agave juice. The agave juice derived from mature agave plants contains natural agave sugar, which is the basis for the subsequent fermentation process. The agave juice is brownish in colour and similar to coffee in appearance.

23 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 24

TEQUILA at The Merchant

Arette Blanco 38% Nom – 1109 £3.95 Arette is a 100% blue agave estate-bottled tequila, born in the heart of the town of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Arette Tequila, the most ‘premium’ of tequilas, is one of the best in Mexico. Carefully produced at the El Lano distillery, it has been made by the Orendain family since the early 1900s, using a process that has been mastered and refined over generations. Blanco, or silver, is a strong and pure tequila of exceptional quality.

REPOSADO

Gran Centenario Reposado 40% Nom – 1122 £3.75 Gran Centenario Reposado is a tequila of unparalleled smoothness and quality. It is distilled from carefully selected 10 year old blue agave plants and aged in new oak barrels to achieve the perfect balance of taste and smoothness.

Patron Reposado 40% Nom – 1492 £7.75 Patron Reposado is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of six months. Patron Reposado is aged and blended to incorporate the fresh clean taste of Patron Silver with a hint of the oak flavour found in Patron Anejo. Patron Reposado may be enjoyed as a sipping tequila or mixed with high quality mixers. It makes an excellent “Ultra Premium” margarita.

Arette Reposado 38% Nom – 1109 £4.45 The name Arette, comes from a famous horse champion of jumping in the Olympic games of England in 1948. Mounted by Gen. Humberto Mariles, winner of the only double gold medal for Mexico in this discipline. Tequila Arette, The best of Tequilas. 4 to 6 months of maturing in barrels of white oak, give bouquet, unmistakable body and personality to this tequila.

ANEJO

Patron Anejo 40% Nom – 1492 £7.75 Patron Anejo is a delicate blend of uniquely aged tequilas. As in many premium red wines the blends must be adjusted for each vintage. The same care and attention is paid when blending Patron Anejo. All the aged tequilas are aged in small, white oak barrels. Each bottle is invidually signed and given a unique bottle number due to the limited number produced.

Porfidio Single Barrel Anejo 41% £17.50 With probably one of the most striking looking bottles on the market this agave spirit has been aged for 5 years in new American oak barrels that are only used once. The agave juice is fermented by introducing micro-organisms, or ‘good’ bacteria, which convert the sugar into alcohol. ‘Bad’ bacteria would turn the agave juices into vinegar. The fermented agave juice has an alcoholic content of only 12% abv. Destileria Porfidio is the only factory in Mexico which implements quality fermentation in a rigorously controlled and therefore ideal environment.

24 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 25

VODKA at The Merchant

Ketel One 40% Holland £3.50 Joannes Nolet founded the Ketel One Vodka distillery in Schiedam, Holland, over 300 years ago. Ten generations on, his descendants craft Ketel One Vodka in a traditional copper pot still just like the alembics that Joannes used. Ketel One Vodka is distilled from fine wheat and pure water and filtered through natural charcoal for added clarity. A member of the Nolet family tastes every single batch.

Belvedere 40% Poland £4.45 Belvedere hails from the small town of Zyrardow in the Mazovian plains west of Warsaw, Poland. Following traditions dating back over 600 years, Belvedere is handcrafted in small and is distilled four times. If a taste sampling shows even a hint of imbalance, the entire batch is destroyed.

Finlandia 40% Finland £3.25 Produced from water which has been naturally filtered through moraine soils and the finest six-row Finnish barley offering the highest quality starch, the biggest enzyme count and the lowest volume of fatty oils of any distilling grain. is manufactured according to a continuous process, from fermentation using specially cultivated yeast, through to a double distillation and continual clarification of impurities.

Grey Goose 40% France £4.35 Launched in the US in 1997and winner of the 1998 World Spirit Championships. is made from a unique combination of the choicest grains. Lovingly created with clear mineral waters from the Gente Springs of Cognac, natuarlly filtered through Champagne limestone. Handcrafted in small batches through a five step distillation process starting ina a traditional copper pot still.

Kauffman Luxury Vintage 40% Russia £11.25 Made from the highest quality wheat of one single harvest only in the years when the finest wheat grains are identified. To guarantee high quality and retain continuity of style Kauffman Luxury is bottled only once per vintage with each bottle carrying a limited edition number. This blend contains the infusion of dried wheaten crusts that is thoroughly filtered before being added to the other components of Vodka Kauffman Luxury.

Kauffman Inauguration 40% Russia £79.50 This vodka was issued in limited edition (2000 bt) on the occasion of the Russian President’s Inauguration in May 2004. The bottle is truly inspirational and decorated by the 24-carat gold sputtering. The taste is soft and elegant, inherent to a honey-based vodka, marked by a barely perceptible scent of roasted rye bread crust.

Kauffman Select Vintage 40% Russia £7.75 In 2003 Dr Mark Kaoufman launched his second range of vodka - Kauffman Special Selected Vintage. Dr. Mark Kaoufman, the creator and brand owner of Vodka Kauffman, is Academician of the International Academy of Viticulture and Winemaking and the President of National Wine & Food Association and Moscow Branch of International Wine & Food Society and author of a series of books about wines.

Sibirskaya 42% Russia £3.95 Truly authentic Russian vodka, distilled and bottled in the colds of Siberia. This is a soft smooth sipping vodka made with crystal clear water from Siberian artesian wells.

Krolewska Blue 42% Poland £3.95 Pronunced Crow-Loo-Ska this is a deluxe 100% neutral spirit distilled from grain alcohol, which is highly refined, and used to produce Krolewska. The royalty of this vodka is also underlined via the image of the package - a satin bottle of a slender shape with the stained glass window from Mariacki Church in Cracow.

25 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 26

VODKA at The Merchant

Potocki 40% Poland £4.35 Pronunced ‘Pot-Ot-Ski’ this Ultra premium vodka only requires double distillation due to its incredible purity. The vodka has been made to recreate what the Potocki family did before the war as they were renowned for distilling at the countries oldest distillery. The vodka is still family owned.

Siwucha 40% Poland £3.75 Siwucha was developed in 1996 by Elzbieta Goldynka at the Zielona Gora distillery to mark the fiftieth post war anniversary. This rye vodka is packaged with a cork and wax seal enclosure, and made by adding a small amount of unrectified barley spirit. Awarded a Trophy in a blind tasting of over 40 at the International Spirits Challenge 2002.

Stolichnaya 40% Russia £3.25 The name comes from the Russian word ‘Stolitsa’ meaning ‘capital city’ and there are 3 key elements that separate Stoli’ from its imitators. First, Stoli’ is distilled from winter wheat, which is the best tasting wheat, not from corn or other grains. Secondly, virtually all domestic vodka producers use processed water to reduce the product to its proper proof, whilst Stoli’ uses the purest, softest glacial waters. Last, Stoli’ is carefully filtered through both quartz and activated charcoal, then through quartz again.

Stolichnaya Elit 40% Russia £6.75 Elit’s unmistakable purity is the result of the highest quality ingredients, centuries-old traditions and above all, a unique and revolutionary ‘freezing’ filtration process, specially developed and patented by the SPI Group. This expensive, labour and time consuming procedure filters the spirit at sub-zero temperatures reaching -18 C, so that the liquid’s density increases causing all impurities to freeze aagainst the walls of the filtration tanks.

Tanqueray Sterling 40% England £3.50 Tanqueray Sterling vodka is made using a craft process extremely different from the factory methods used to make other vodkas. It is slower, laborious and more expensive, but allows maximum control over the quality. This vodka is made from pure grain spirit, distilled at high proof and carefully distilled a second time in a 220-year-old copper pot still. After the final distillation, the spirit is “cut” with water to give it the final desired 80 or 100 proof.

U’Luvka 40% Poland £5.75 Distilled in small batches, by craftsmen, from the finest Polish rye, wheat and barley. It has roots going back to the alchemists of the 17th century Polish Royal Court. In those heady days, the tradition was to drink vodka from glasses without bases. This had one unfortunate side effect that the glasses could not be put down until the entire contents had been drunk.

Wyborowa Exquisite 40% Poland £5.25 Exquisite is produced exclusively from a single variety of premium rye, Dankowskie Zlote Zyto which is grown on a single Estate around the village of Turew near Poznan in Western Poland. Shortly before launching in the USA, Wyborowa Single Estate was awarded a double gold medal in San Francisco, followed by a gold medal at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute, and has been voted as ‘one of the best’ amongst New York Times journalists in January, 2005.

Zubrowka Bison Grass 40% Poland £3.25 Pronunced ‘Zhu-Brov-Ka’ it is a genuine Polish vodka, a result of a tradition going back to the 14th century. Zubrowka owes it’s name to an aromatic grass growing wildly in the Eastern part of Poland, where bisons live in their natural habitat. Zubrowka is a unique product flavoured with bison grass. In every bottle a single blade is placed, which confirms the polish origin and bottling of the vodka.

26 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 27

VODKA at The Merchant

Chopin 40% Poland £ It is claimed that this is the only luxury potato vodka in the world, it is named after the famous Polish Romantic composer Frédéric . It was first introduced to the world in 1997. Seven pounds of potatoes are used to make each bottle of Chopin. The production is made in small batches and under rigorous quality control, to ensure maximum quality. The manufacturer claims that if a taste sampling shows even a small hint of imbalance, the whole batch is destroyed.

Wyborowa Original 40% Poland £3.35 Wyborowa is produced in Poland where vodka has been the favourite national drink for hundreds of years. It’s distillation from pure grain has earned it a reputation amongst connoisseurs as the world’s finest vodka. Wyborowa Polish Vodka also makes the perfect base for refreshing long drinks and cocktails.

Russky Standart Imperia 40% Russia £4.25 Quartz filtration is exclusive to Imperia. The filtration not only uses charcoal filters to remove undesirable remaining congeners such as ethanol, aldehydes, esters and fusel oils, but it also uses quartz crystal filters that compress the vodka molecules into smaller molecules, thereby increasing the level of smoothness.

Zytnia Extra 40% Poland £ Extra Zytnia Vodka is an excellent dry vodka and one of the most popular in Poland and among Polish expatriate communities around the world. Zytnia (pronounced zhit-NYA) is made from high quality rectified rye spirit obtained from special varieties of grain. This vodka has won numerous gold medals for its taste. Most recently the Chicago-based Beverage Tasting Institute named Zytnia a “Gold Medal World Champion Vodka.”

Krepkaya 56% Russia £ Distilled four times from local grains and purified water producing the finest taste and clarity. Though do be very wary of krepkaya vodka, which at 110 proof is quite a bit stronger than the standard.

Lancut Wyborowa 40% Poland £3.75 The distillery in Lancut was founded by Duchess Lubomirska on the vast estate of the Lubomirski family. The Distillery Museum has an original document attesting to the distillery’s existence in 1784. At that time the Lancut estate produced regular, anise flavoured and sweetened vodkas. In 1823 the Lancut and Lvov Lubomirski estates were taken over by a grandson of the Duchess, Count Alfred Potocki.

Moskovskaya 40% Russia £ Produced at the same distillery as the well-known and popular Stolichnaya known worldwide for exceptional quality. Moskovskaya Vodka has the same basic label design and recognizable bottle as Stolichnaya. It has pictures of the Award Winning Medals just like Stolichnaya. This is a great value for all vodka drinkers, especially fans of Russian vodka who want something a little different.

Luksusowa 40% Poland £3.25 is uniquely smooth, crystal-clear vodka made from potato spirit. The spirit used to make Luksusowa is produced from potatoes grown along the Baltic Sea coast, where the soil is loamy and the potatoes are truly superior in quality. Extra steps of purification mellow the taste of this excellent vodka.

27 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 28

SPIRITS OTHERS at The Merchant

ABA 40% Pisco Chile £3.25 Pisco ABA uses only the best Muscat grapes from a designated area in the Elqi Valley, in the high, clear Chilean Andes. They then distil in small traditional stills to produce a white eaux de vie called Pisco.

Opal Bianco 40% Sambuca Italy £3.35 Opal Bianca is a modern interpretation of traditional Italian sambucas. It is made with pure Alpine water, elderflowers, fresh lemon and two kinds of anise. These all natural ingredients produce a smooth, seductive aniseed and citrus flavour. Enjoy it straight, over ice, in coffee or as a refreshing aperitif.

Opal Nera Black 40% Sambuca Italy £3.35 The world’s original black sambuca, Opal Nera is a dark, edgy blend of anise, elderberries and lemon with a distinctive flavour of liquorice and aniseed backed by citrus freshness. Its smooth finish makes it the ideal shooter and its indigo hue is 100% natural.

Pernod 40% Anis France £3.25 Pernod’s secret formula includes mint, added for its cooling and digestive properties, and coriander, for its heady and subtle flavour. Pernod is different from the other anise spirits, as its subtle taste and bouquet come from the distillation of star anise alone. , on the other hand, is produced by maceration and includes liquorice as a major flavouring agent.

Pernod Absinthe 68% Absinthe France £5.45 In 1805, Henri-Louis Pernod founded the first absinthe distillery this absinthe is inspired by the original recipe. Pernod with absinthe plant extracts is produced in compliance with current legislation and is made from a great variety of plants, including the famous wormwood (artemesia absinthium).

VERMOUTH, APERITIF & DIGESTIF at The Merchant

Noilly Prat 18% France £3.25 Bitter-sweet in the mouth with a slightly gingerish note, cinnamon, clove and green apple. Very attractive. The essential grape varieties used by Noilly Prat are exclusively Blancs de Blancs white wines, light and fruity. The wines are first matured separately in large oak casks inside the original storehouses first used in 1850. For eight months, contact with the oak strengthens the body of the wine.

Noilly Prat Rouge 18% France £3.25 Noilly Prat Red is the new sweet vermouth. It uses a secret combination of 30 herbs imported from five continents. The vermouth is created from two types of fine white table wines¸ Clairette and Picpoul. Production takes three years to complete¸ including a year aging in outdoor barrels. It is versatile and ideal for cooking¸ as the flavour does not evaporate¸ or as an aperitif.

Lillet Blanc 17% France £3.25 (pronounced lee-lay), is a French Aperitif made from a blend of wine, liqueurs, fruits and herbs. It originated in the French village of Podensac and has been made since the late 1800s. Lillet Blanc is made from white wine. Lillet Blanc has a golden color with candied orange, honey, pine resin, lime and fresh mint aromas.Full and rich on the palate with a lovely, long aftertaste.

28 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 29

VERMOUTH, APERITIF & DIGESTIF at The Merchant

Vya Sweet Red 18% USA £4.25 Vya sweet vermouth, inspired by the best Italian sweet vermouths, is all about sensations which stimulate the taste buds, producing a mouth-watering effect. Vya sweet induces a warm tingling in the mouth with a subtle balance of bitter and sweet. According to classic references, sweet muscat is the preferred base wine for sweet vermouth. For Sweet Vya, a special base wine using Orange Muscat and Valdepenas (for its red fruit tones) was made.

Campari 25% Italy £3.25 Campari is a bitter Italian aperitif made according to a secret recipe originally developed in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Milan. Campari is the result of a unique blend of aromatic herbs mellowed in selected spirit.

PORT at The Merchant

Churchill’s Vintage Character Reserve £ btl £3.75gls VCR is a Premium Ruby Port blended from the wines of different years from our top grade “A” quintas. It has plenty of structure and layers of flavour. Four years of ageing in oak gives it a measure of complexity whilst still retaining a dark ruby colour, and presenting itself as fresh and fruity.

Churchill’s 10 Year Old Tawny £ btl £4.25gls “Unquestionably the finest Tawny I’ve tasted in years. What makes it profound is its complex fragrance of roasted nuts and sweet fruit. There is impeccable definition and richness, a velvety texture and a long lusty finish. It is all a Tawny should be” – Robert M. Parker Jnr. – The Wine Advocate

Churchill’s Traditional Late Bottled Vintage £ btl £3.75gls LBV is a rich, concentrated port from one good harvest, which has been aged for 4 years in wood. The word “traditional” means that it is bottled without any filtration or refrigeration so that the wine can continue developing in the bottle before it is released for sale, two years later.

SHERRY at The Merchant

Fino Romate 17% £ ? btl £3.35gls Made using the Palomino Fino grape variety and aged for a minimum of 3 years, this sherry is pale yellow in appearnce with a delicate, penetrating aroma and a dry, light taste.

Amontillado Romate 17% £3.35gls Made using the Palomino Fino grape variety and aged for 5 years, this sherry is amber, lively and radiant in colour with a dry, profound, harmonious, oak taste.

Oloroso Romate 17% £3.35gls Made using the Palomino Fino grape variety and aged for 5 years, this sherry is mahogany in apperance and has a very aromatic and fragrant aroma. The taste is dry and long with lots of body.

Cream Romate 17% £3.35gls Made using the Palomino Fino and PX grape varieties and aged for 5 years, this sherry is dark mahogany in colour and has a well rounded, fruit driven aroma with hints of oak. The taste is smooth, sweet and velvety.

29 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 30

LIQUEURS at The Merchant

Benedictine 40% France £3.35 Using twenty-seven ingredients of herbs and spices the D.O.M. stands for Deo Optimo Maximo which means - To God most good, most great. Close to its 500th birthday and produced at the Benedictine Monastery at Fecamp on the coast of Normandy, France since 1510. The monastery was destroyed during the French revolution and has since been produced by Alexandre le Grand.

Briottet Crème de Cassis de Dijon 15% France £2.95 Briottet Crème de Cassis de Dijon is the only Cassis to be defined at European level. Produced from the maceration in alcohol of “Noir de Bourgogne” blackcurrants, considered to be the best in the world, it is beautifully made and loaded with fruit.

Briottet Crème de Figue 16% France £2.95 Briottet Creme de Figue is made from macerating figs in and spirits. Serve Crème de Figue as they do in Malta, with delicious nougat.

Cartron Anisette 25% France £2.95 A blend of Badiane extract with neutral alcohol and sugar. Then the final liqueur is carefully filtered. A delicious flavour of the anis with a lot of tonicity and a really long taste.

Cartron Crème de Mure 18% France £2.95 The bramble bush flourishes along our country paths, and produces delicious small black berries. They are harvested at the end of the summer, when perfectly ripe, an essential guarantee for quality. It is the time when the berries aroma is at its best.

Illy Espresso 28% Italy £ The finest coffee in the world and it’s liqueur are celebrated in the striking red and black bottle designed by architect Spiro Radomirovic. Following a philosophy based on quality, Illy Espresso Liqueur is the fruit of a collaboration between the famous Illy family of Trieste and the renowned Italian distillery of Bepi Tosolini. Each bottle contains 120 grams of the prestigious Illy 100% arabica coffee blend - the same coffee distributed by illy in distinguished bars, restaurants and retail stores worldwide.

Chambord 16.5% France £3.35 Today, Chambord is a world class liqueur which the same family has owned and produced for Generations. Each successive son has passed down a passion for quality that has remained unchanged from the very beginning. Chambord has a rich delicate black raspberry taste created in accordance with a 300 year old tradition.

Heering Cherry 24.7% Denmark £3.25 Heering cherry liqueur is made to a traditional recipe of 1818 using only natural ingredients, with no additives or artificial colourings and all cherries are grown in Denmark where the liqueur is produced.After harvesting, the cherries are crushed and mixed with spirits, sugar and spices and then matured for 3 years in their cellars in Dalby. Heering cherry liqueur is one of the original ingredients of the famous Singapore Sling cocktail.

Cointreau 40% France £3.35 The classic orange liqueur. Cointreau has been a world-wide legend since its creation in 1849. Its authentic qualities, 150 years heritage, and its presence in virtually every bar in the world make Cointreau one of the most famous crystal-clear spirits.

30 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 31

LIQUEURS at The Merchant

Disaronno Amaretto 28% Italy £3.35 There are many brands of amaretto, but DiSaronno is the original and the biggest selling worldwide. Disaronno, the amber-coloured liqueur with the incomparable taste, dates back to 1525. Original since birth, Disaronno is the Italians best selling liqueur around the world. Smooth, velvety and full of almond aromas.

Frangelico 24% Italy £3.25 Produced in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, its origins date back more than 300 years to the presence of early Christian monks living in the hills of the area. Named after a local legend Fra. Angelico, a hermit monk believed to have inhabited the magnificent Piedmont hills during the 17th century. This is a traditional hazelnut liqueur. Grand Marnier 40% France £3.35 Unique for being exclusively based on Cognac to give a rich and smooth taste to the orange liqueur. Its makers, Marnier-Lapostolle, established their distillery at Neauphle-le-Chateau in the 1820’s, but only began producing Grand Marnier in 1880. The cognac is actually aged elsewhere, at Chateau de Bourge in the Charente area.

Luxardo Maraschino 32% Italy £3.35 Maraschino Luxardo is a classic. The typical straw coated bottle is by now a true icon on the mass consumption scenario. It is one of the very few liqueurs in the world produced by distillation. It is obtained from the marasca, a sour cherry variety exclusively cultivated by Luxardo. The distillate is allowed to mature for two years in Finnish ash vats (this wood does not lend its colour even after many years of maturing), and is then diluted and sugared.

Tia Maria 26.5% UK £3.35 Tia Maria is a premium, medium strength liqueur delicately flavoured with an intriguing blend of cane spirit, the finest Jamaican coffee, vanilla and sugar.

Drambuie 40% Scotland £3.35 Scotland’s most famous liqueu. Drambuie is made to a secret recipe, said to have been given to a Captain Mackinnon by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Still made by the Mackinnon family, this classic liqueur is a blend of Scotch whisky, heather honey and herbs.

31 MERCHANT MENU 15/3/07 11:07 Page 32

BEER at The Merchant

Chimay Red 33cl 7% Belgiuim - Trappist The biggest and best known trappist brewery and also the first to brew commercially. This beer is smooth and mellow with a light cooper colour.

Duvel 33cl 8.5% Belgium - Golden Ale High strength and distinctive character. One of the world’s great beers which is delicate yet complex.

Hoegaarden 33cl 4.9% Belgium - Wit/Blanche A white beer with a unique and refreshing taste using special ingredients like coriander and curacao.

Leffe Blonde 33cl 6.6% Belgium - Abbey Easy drinking blond Abbey Ale, soft and rounded, with plenty of body and well-balanced fruity hop flavours. Top fermented

Schneider Weisse Original 50cl 5.4% Germany - Wheat Schneider has built the reputation of being the most distinguished and exclusive purveyor of wheat beers in Germany. This is a rich and full bodied wheat beer.

Paulaner Munchaner Original 50cl 4.9% Germany - Wheat Munich is the home of the Paulaner brewery founded by the Paulaner monks in 1627. Today the brewery is the largest in Munich and Bavaria.

Asahi Super Dry 33cl 5% Japan The most popular beer in Japan. And with a population of 127 million people, that’s saying something

Tiger 33cl 5% Thailand Brewed exclusively in the Far East by a process that incorporates no less than 250 quality control checks, 50 more than most other beers.

Carlton Crown 37.5cl 4.9% Australia This premium beer uses Carlton’s original strain of brewing yeast. Light in colour and full of flavour, it balances malt, hop bitterness and a slight sweetness.

Brooklyn Lager 33cl 5.1% USA Brooklyn Breweries flagship and award winning beer is enjoyed with everything from salads to steaks. Or, of course, by itself.

Goose Island IPA 35.5cl 5.1% USA Founded in 1988 in Chicago, Roger Protz said in the Guardian ‘this is one of the finest new beers I have tasted in some time’

Kasteel Cru 33cl 5.2% France This beer from Alsace is brewed using champagne yeast and bottled with glass made in the ‘Reims’ area of Champagne. It is delicate on fizz and is a ‘must have’

32