Whether it’s fine wines, the purest beers, classic spirits or obscure liqueurs, Europe is home to many of the world’s greatest drinks. Of course, many of these are available in the supermarket, but to make it a proper experience, it’s best to go right to the source and discover where the best drinks come from originally. But where should you head to if you want to get a taste of the real thing? David Whitley checks out where to head to for a more sophisticated version of the booze cruise.
Pilsner beer
World-renowned for producing consistently high quality brews, the Czech Republic has become almost a pilgrimage site for beer lovers. It’s the city of Plzeň, approximately 90 minutes south-west of Prague, however, that really reels in the devotees. It is home of Pilsner Urquell, unquestionably one of the finest drops in the world, but more importantly, it is the birthplace of the pilsner style of lager. The light, hoppy style has been mimicked all over the globe, with brands such as Lowenbrau, Heineken, Becks and Grolsch being famous examples. It has been brewed here, though, since 1842.
The tour of the brewery is befitting of the amber nectar it produces, and includes cinema presentations as well as an informative stroll past the tanks, barrels and space-age machinery.
Meanwhile, the visitor centre is also home to a Brewery Museum, which looks at the history of beer, from its ancient origins in the Middle East to the mass-marketed produce of the present day.
Chartreuse
Practically guaranteed to turn any peaceful social gathering somewhat messy, the exceptionally powerful green Chartreuse is something that should be handled with care. At 110% proof and coloured with chlorophyll, one shot of it is more than enough, and as with most of the world’s mostly lethal drinks, it is made by peaceful, unassuming monks.
The exact recipe, including 130 herbs, is known only by three of the Carthusian brothers who live in the Grand Chartreuse monastery near Grenoble.
It’s a recipe that is almost impossible to reproduce as well, as the French government discovered when they expelled the monks in 1903. After several desperately unsuccessful attempts to copy the drink, the brothers were practically begged to return, and when their distillery was destroyed by a mudslide in 1935, they received assistance in building a new one at nearby Voiron. The monastery is closed to the public, although it can be seen when driving through the Chartreuse Massif. However, the troubled story of the monastery and the Carthusian order is told at the Musée de la Grande Chartreuse near the village of St Pierre De Chartreuse. Those wishing to knock back some of the green stuff, or its mellower yellow equivalent, should head to Voiron, and the Caves de la Chartreuse. This is where the drink is now bottled, and a tour, including 3D films and tasting at the end of it for those not planning to drive back along winding mountain roads, is free.
Vermouth
The famous brands of Cinzano and Martini both originate from the area around Turin, with Cinzano being marginally the oldest, having been founded in 1757. A fusion of wine, sugar, alcohol and wormwood, the Rosso (red) and Bianco (white) varieties have found their way into drinks cabinets across the world. However, since being bought out by the Campari group, it is no longer produced in the town that it is named after. There’s nothing to stop you going there and sampling it in its birthplace, though – Cinzano is about 45 minutes south west of Turin, between Bra and Alba.
Martini came along a little later in 1786, and you can discover more about it in Pessione, 20km south of Turin. This satellite town is home of the Museo Martini di Storia dell’Enologia, which is set in the villa originally used by the Martini and Rossi families for making their famous concoction. It covers wine-making processes from the Roman times onwards, and the history of the key ingredient in James Bond’s cocktail of choice.
Champagne
The story goes that champagne came about as an accident, stumbled upon by a blind Benedictine monk called Dom Perignon who exclaimed: “Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!” upon first tasting the bubbly. As with many great stories, it is almost entirely nonsense. Perignon wasn’t blind, the quote comes from an advert and sparkling wine was almost certainly an English invention, as England was the only country producing bottles strong enough to hold the highly pressurised contents.
However, whatever the origins, proper champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France, a short drive east of Paris. Reims is the main hub of the region, although the smaller town of Épernay is right in the heart of the vineyards. World famous names such as Veuve Cliquot and Moët & Chandon can be found here, and tasting tours of their cellars can be arranged with prior appointment. There are plenty of wineries that can be visited without booking in advance, however, and it’s worth exploring a few to discover the hidden gems. Alternatively, Shuttle Paris is amongst the many companies offering day trips to the Champagne area.
Scotch whisky
Trying to find a good whisky distillery in Scotland is a little like trying to find a tall man on a basketball court – there are so many of them that you don’t know where to start first. However, one of the most popular drams is Glenfiddich, and that is lovingly created in the small town of Dufftown, halfway between Aberdeen and Inverness. For whisky lovers, this area is heavenly, as there are seven separate distilleries within a short radius of the town, including the highly-regarded Macallan operation.
Glenfiddich is the best-known, however, and a tour of the Visitors Centre is an excellent way of getting to know it even better. It’s free, and a wee dram is included at the end of the tour round the equipment used to make the whisky on site. Those really wanting to go in-depth have the option of taking an extended visit for £20, which goes into much more detail and includes tutoring on how to nose and taste properly.
Lillet
Fruity, but bitter, this decidedly upmarket drop is designed as a pre-meal appetiser, and is sometimes used as a key cocktail ingredient in very expensive bars. Originating in Podensac, 40 minutes south of Bordeaux, Lillet has a series of strange ingredients, including orange peel and Peruvian quinine. It’s essentially a fortified wine, but comes over as lighter than a port or sherry, and can be drunk alone or with soda.
Lillet – named after the brothers who founded it, not the northern French city – organises guided tours of its cellars and distillery on request all year round, whilst it is open for tasting between July and September from 10am to 6pm, and at other times with advance booking.
This article was originally written for the Sun-Herald.
Copyright David Whitley
