Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
Goomba

Goomba38 wrote:

> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
> to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
> difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
> better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba

If it were me, I would go for Harvey's Bristol Creame I do like a
creamed sherry for drinking not cooking and Harvey's has a nice, smooth
flavour. If you want a cooking sherry, I would go for a dry, aged
sherry. I like Regency for a dry for cooking where you only use a wee
bit. Not sure if that helps a lot. Oh and if she likes sherry, she
might just like a port wine.

Goomba38 > wrote:

> I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.

See
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cooking/msg/3a8ae5399720ec33>.

Victor

Goomba38 wrote:

> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
> to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
> difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
> better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
>

Go for the one she likes. I don't like sherry myself, but my wife really
enjoys a nice dry sherry. One of her favourites is Dry Sac, and she
sometimes has Shooting Sherry but she cannot tolerate Bristol Cream or any
of the sweet sherries.

On Wed 21 Dec 2005 03:36:19p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Goomba38?

> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
> to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
> difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
> better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba

Dry Sack Sherry would be my choice.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
__________________________________________________ ________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible to shop
> for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very difficult. SHe does
> enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift her with a particularly
> special brand, but need help picking one out. The one liquor store I went to
> didn't have anything but Taylor's and some generic Fairchild (or something
> like that) brand. Surely there are better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba


Dry sack if she has it before dinner
Harvey's Bristol Cream is after dinner.

If you don't want to go that high then Almaden makes a Solera cream sherry.
Korbel also has some very nice wine.

BTW the ones at Trader Joe's are acceptable.\

Dimitri

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible to
> shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very difficult. SHe
> does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift her with a
> particularly special brand, but need help picking one out. The one liquor
> store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and some generic
> Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are better ones I
> could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba

If she likes good sherry it must come from Spain. Lustau is a brand I love.
They make many different kinds ranging from bone dry to sweet - what does
she like?


--
Peter Aitken

In article > , "Dimitri" > wrote:

>Dry sack if she has it before dinner
>Harvey's Bristol Cream is after dinner.
>
>If you don't want to go that high then Almaden makes a Solera cream sherry.
>Korbel also has some very nice wine.
>
>BTW the ones at Trader Joe's are acceptable.
>
I dropped a mandible at reading this, as I might have written precisely the
same!

For a low-cost product, the Almaden is surprisingly tasty, if not quite up to
Harvey's standards.

Trader Joe's usually doesn't seem to keep the same brands very long; for
several years they had a product - which I thought was branded as "Solera" -
that struck me as better than Harvey's, but I haven't seen it there for a
while. What they're selling now, whose name escapes me (I'm at the office) is
more than decent.

Art

~patches~ wrote:
> Goomba38 wrote:
>
>> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is
>> impossible to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is
>> very difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like
>> to gift her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking
>> one out. The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but
>> Taylor's and some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand.
>> Surely there are better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
>> Goomba
>
> If it were me, I would go for Harvey's Bristol Creame I do like a
> creamed sherry for drinking not cooking and Harvey's has a nice,
> smooth flavour. If you want a cooking sherry, I would go for a dry,
> aged sherry. I like Regency for a dry for cooking where you only use
> a wee bit. Not sure if that helps a lot. Oh and if she likes
> sherry, she might just like a port wine.

Goomba, if you go for a port, make it tawny port, which is much more smooth
than a regular port. I cook with it but I also enjoy the occasional sip of
it, too

Jill

Goomba38 wrote:
> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
> to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
> difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there
> are better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba

Call around to a few other liquor stores (if there are any in a reasonable
distance) and inquire as to what they have. Taylor is mediocre and is fine
for cooking with but I wouldn't call it "particularly special". You do need
to find out if she likes a sweet or dry sherry; if you don't want to ask her
directly is there someone who could find out for you?

Jill

Goomba38 > wrote:

>Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
>to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
>difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
>her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.

If you live in Seattle, Santa Fe, or the San Francisco bay area
go to a place called Spanish Table. They have dozens labels of
sherry and will help you pick one out.

If you live in any other urban area of the U.S. there are
Spanish food specialty shops that generally also carry Spanish
wines. (Except in states with state-run liquor stores, in
which case you may be hosed on this mission.)

A high-end wine retailer will also do but their staff is less
likely to know much about sherry and their buyers less likely
to have the connections for the real stuff.

I generally prefer a dry sherry, particularly an Amontillado.
The most widely marketed label that is anything other than mediocre
is Lustau, but there are much better ones. Expect to pay $20
or more for a fine sherry. Avoid sherries marketed by the
famous port houses such as Taylor or Sandeman, and of course
don't buy anything called "Sherry" that is not made in Spain.

Good luck --

Steve

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> Dry Sack Sherry would be my choice.
>
Thank you. That gives me a name to look for. Somehow I just knew that
Taylors was not going to be special enough?

Dave Smith wrote:

> Go for the one she likes. I don't like sherry myself, but my wife really
> enjoys a nice dry sherry. One of her favourites is Dry Sac, and she
> sometimes has Shooting Sherry but she cannot tolerate Bristol Cream or any
> of the sweet sherries.

You're the second to suggest Dry Sack, so I'll go looking for it. The
military class Vl store (the liquor store) should carry it and other
brands. The civilian liquor store seemed to be limited to just the
Taylors and some other cheaper brand.
Thank you

On Wed 21 Dec 2005 04:27:17p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it jmcquown?

> ~patches~ wrote:
>> Goomba38 wrote:
>>
>>> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is
>>> impossible to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is
>>> very difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like
>>> to gift her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking
>>> one out. The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but
>>> Taylor's and some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand.
>>> Surely there are better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
>>> Goomba
>>
>> If it were me, I would go for Harvey's Bristol Creame I do like a
>> creamed sherry for drinking not cooking and Harvey's has a nice,
>> smooth flavour. If you want a cooking sherry, I would go for a dry,
>> aged sherry. I like Regency for a dry for cooking where you only use
>> a wee bit. Not sure if that helps a lot. Oh and if she likes sherry,
>> she might just like a port wine.
>
> Goomba, if you go for a port, make it tawny port, which is much more
> smooth than a regular port. I cook with it but I also enjoy the
> occasional sip of it, too

Another choice might be a good madeira; malmsey for sweet, sercial for dry.
Many people who like sherry also like madeira. I actually prefer madeira
over sherry.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
__________________________________________________ ________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.

Peter Aitken wrote:

> If she likes good sherry it must come from Spain. Lustau is a brand I love.
> They make many different kinds ranging from bone dry to sweet - what does
> she like?
>
I don't know? I should take note sometime when I'm in her home, but
since my father passed away I don't see me traveling down there again
anytime soon? :/ She drinks a small glass nightly before dinner.
I'll keep my eyes open for Lustau. Thanks for the reply

jmcquown wrote:

> Call around to a few other liquor stores (if there are any in a reasonable
> distance) and inquire as to what they have. Taylor is mediocre and is fine
> for cooking with but I wouldn't call it "particularly special". You do need
> to find out if she likes a sweet or dry sherry; if you don't want to ask her
> directly is there someone who could find out for you?
>
> Jill

<cringe> Not at this late date, darn it. I have to find it and deliver
it to her son tomorrow, so am pressed for time. And yeah, I
procrastinated, LOL. I also purchased her the book "Memoirs of a
Geisha" which I'm hoping she'll enjoy while sippin that sherry. It
really is hard to shop for her.

Goomba38 wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Call around to a few other liquor stores (if there are any in a
>> reasonable distance) and inquire as to what they have. Taylor is
>> mediocre and is fine for cooking with but I wouldn't call it
>> "particularly special". You do need to find out if she likes a
>> sweet or dry sherry; if you don't want to ask her directly is there
>> someone who could find out for you?
>>
>> Jill
>
> <cringe> Not at this late date, darn it. I have to find it and deliver
> it to her son tomorrow, so am pressed for time. And yeah, I
> procrastinated, LOL. I also purchased her the book "Memoirs of a
> Geisha" which I'm hoping she'll enjoy while sippin that sherry. It
> really is hard to shop for her.

Darn! Too bad you procrastinated... I wound up with TWO copies of 'Memoirs
of a Geisha' (hardback) last year and could have sent one to you for merely
the cost of shipping. Fascinating book.

As for the sherry, for all you know she *likes* Taylor It's a gift; I
wouldn't sweat over it too much. Good luck!

Jill

Goomba38 sez:

> I don't know? I should take note sometime when I'm in her home, but
> since my father passed away I don't see me traveling down there again
> anytime soon? :/ She drinks a small glass nightly before dinner.
> I'll keep my eyes open for Lustau. Thanks for the reply

Since she takes it as a preprandial drink, I'd definitely go for dry sherry
over a cream, or sweet sherry. Steve Pope mentioned Amontillado, which is
also my favorite; it's medium-dry, rather nut-like in taste, as opposed to
dryer sherries like manzanillas (which I think are also called "fino"
sherries). I've no doubt she'll enjoy it and thank you for your
thoughtfulness.

Spitz
--
"Home, James, and don't spare the horses!"

I've tried a number of Sherrys over the years, and yes, Harvey's Bristol
Cream is not bad, but IMO, it's a bit on the cloyingly sweet side.
Harvey's is outstanding for making Teriyaki Chicken Wings though! (I
think I have a recipe somewhere).

Women might like Harveys for the sweeter taste.

My favorite has always been an Oloroso Sherry (Spanish naturally) It is
dry, but does have a touch of sweetness, and a nice "aged" "oak"
character-flavor to it. If memory serves me correctly, the brand I
always bought was Soler and Cia. Mark

Victor Sack wrote:
> Goomba38 > wrote:
>
>
>>I'd like to gift
>>her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
>
>
> See
> <http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cooking/msg/3a8ae5399720ec33>.
>
> Victor

Fascinating!! It mentions the Finos and Oloroso being served chilled as
an aperitif. I know she drinks it before dinner, but the bottle sits on
at room temp. I didn't get the impression the other sherries discussed
were served chilled though, right?
This post you shared provides me with so much that I can share with
her and should stimulate some conversation (always a good thing!) I'm
curious if she's ever been to Spain, and what started her on sherry?
I'll have to ask.
Thank you Victor
Goomba

Spitzmaus wrote:
> Goomba38 sez:
>
>
>>I don't know? I should take note sometime when I'm in her home, but
>>since my father passed away I don't see me traveling down there again
>>anytime soon? :/ She drinks a small glass nightly before dinner.
>>I'll keep my eyes open for Lustau. Thanks for the reply
>
>
> Since she takes it as a preprandial drink, I'd definitely go for dry sherry
> over a cream, or sweet sherry. Steve Pope mentioned Amontillado, which is
> also my favorite; it's medium-dry, rather nut-like in taste, as opposed to
> dryer sherries like manzanillas (which I think are also called "fino"
> sherries). I've no doubt she'll enjoy it and thank you for your
> thoughtfulness.
>
> Spitz

I feel well armed now to go on that sherry hunt tomorrow! I can't wait
to see what my choices will be. The military liquor store usually
carries a wide, eclectic assortment of liquor. They have a sign on the
entrance advertising Friday Samplings.. maybe I need to go avail myself
of some and learn more about these things, all the nuances and options?
I personally prefer Gin and Tonic or red wine. I don't drink a lot but
enjoy learning about it. I always thought a "Scotch Tasting", somewhat
like a wine tasting, would be interesting. I once read about all the
variables in scotch yet when I've sipped it, it was just a "burn" and I
didn't know what I was tasting?
Goomba

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Victor Sack wrote:
>> Goomba38 > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'd like to gift her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking
>>>one out.
>>
>>
>> See
>> <http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cooking/msg/3a8ae5399720ec33>.
>>
>> Victor
>
> Fascinating!! It mentions the Finos and Oloroso being served chilled as an
> aperitif. I know she drinks it before dinner, but the bottle sits on at room
> temp. I didn't get the impression the other sherries discussed were served
> chilled though, right?
> This post you shared provides me with so much that I can share with her and
> should stimulate some conversation (always a good thing!) I'm curious if she's
> ever been to Spain, and what started her on sherry? I'll have to ask.
> Thank you Victor
> Goomba

I don't know why but I suspect she is drinking the sweeter amontillado before
dinner because that is what she likes. Put your thinking cap on - What is/was
the color of the wine you saw her drink - was it clear like a Chardonnay or
dark like a whiskey?

Rule of thumb be it inaccurate - generally the darker the sweeter, One of the
ones sold here (US) is called a "Cocktail Pale Dry" because of the color and
sweetness.

Good Luck.

Dimitri

Dimitri wrote:

> I don't know why but I suspect she is drinking the sweeter amontillado before
> dinner because that is what she likes. Put your thinking cap on - What is/was
> the color of the wine you saw her drink - was it clear like a Chardonnay or
> dark like a whiskey?
>

Not clear. More tea colored.
She is a good drinker though.. nothing prissy about her if that helps
choose one? She also drinks Manhattans, which I find incredibly strong.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> Go for the one she likes. I don't like sherry myself, but my wife really
>> enjoys a nice dry sherry. One of her favourites is Dry Sac, and she
>> sometimes has Shooting Sherry but she cannot tolerate Bristol Cream or
>> any
>> of the sweet sherries.
>
> You're the second to suggest Dry Sack, so I'll go looking for it. The
> military class Vl store (the liquor store) should carry it and other
> brands. The civilian liquor store seemed to be limited to just the Taylors
> and some other cheaper brand.
> Thank you

I'll third it -- my brother-in-law loves Dry Sac.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Dimitri wrote:
>
>> I don't know why but I suspect she is drinking the sweeter amontillado before
>> dinner because that is what she likes. Put your thinking cap on - What
>> is/was the color of the wine you saw her drink - was it clear like a
>> Chardonnay or dark like a whiskey?
>>
>
> Not clear. More tea colored.
> She is a good drinker though.. nothing prissy about her if that helps choose
> one? She also drinks Manhattans, which I find incredibly strong.

She's got a sweet tooth.

Go with a cream sherry.

Dimitri

Mark D wrote:

> I've tried a number of Sherrys over the years, and yes, Harvey's Bristol
> Cream is not bad, but IMO, it's a bit on the cloyingly sweet side.
> Harvey's is outstanding for making Teriyaki Chicken Wings though! (I
> think I have a recipe somewhere).
>

Oh do tell, please. I have never cooked with creamed sherry so this
sounds really appealing.

> Women might like Harveys for the sweeter taste.

DH doesn't like sherry at all but will tolerate a little dry sherry in
sauces. I don't like dry sherry for drinking but creamed sherry is ok.

>
> My favorite has always been an Oloroso Sherry (Spanish naturally) It is
> dry, but does have a touch of sweetness, and a nice "aged" "oak"
> character-flavor to it. If memory serves me correctly, the brand I
> always bought was Soler and Cia. Mark
>

Hi Patches/All,
Here's the very "yummy" recipe for Chicken Teriyaki. I must confess, it
is my Uncle's recipe, and he's always been like a Gourmet Chef. This
has always been a big hit with me, and the rest of the family, as it
tastes soooooo good!

He usually did it with Wings, removed the tips, and cut at the joint.
Please let me know that you've gotten it, Enjoy!
Mark

Chicken Teriyaki
1 Chicken (Or Wings)
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Sherry (Or Harveys Bristol Cream)
1 TBSP Vegetable oil
3/4 Tsp Ground Ginger
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Tsp Salt

Combine Ingredients, and Marinate Chicken for several hours in
Refrigerator.
Broil for 1/2 Hr, turning occasionally, and basting with the reserve
marinade.

Mark D wrote:
> I've tried a number of Sherrys over the years, and yes, Harvey's
> Bristol Cream is not bad, but IMO, it's a bit on the cloyingly sweet
> side. Harvey's is outstanding for making Teriyaki Chicken Wings
> though! (I think I have a recipe somewhere).
>
> Women might like Harveys for the sweeter taste.
>
Heh... you shouldn't assume you know a womans "taste". You might know that
of young women without a more refined palate but you hae no idea about
someone who can discrern the difference.

Jill

Heh... you shouldn't assume you know a womans "taste". You might know
that of young women without a more refined palate but you hae no idea
about someone who can discrern the difference.
Jill
---------------------------------------------------------------
True Jill, my error. I shouldv'e said "perhaps". lol
Me, I'm mostly a "Dirty Martini" man myself, either Bombay Sapphire, or
Tanqueray (If I can't find better Gin), made about 5 to 1, accompanied
by either a Pickled Hot Mushroom, Blue Cheese, or Anchovy Stuffed Olive.
Had one tonight in fact! :-) Mark

Goomba38 wrote:
> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
> to shop for. She wants for nothing, so buying presents is very
> difficult. SHe does enjoy her nightly sherry though. I'd like to gift
> her with a particularly special brand, but need help picking one out.
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
> better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba


Suggest:

1. a larger liquor store
2. an imported Spanish sherry

Sherries vary widely in flavor from very dry to very sweet.
Does she drink it as an aperitif or dessert?

My late MIL loved cream (sweet) sherry, but then she
also really liked catawba wine, which we used to tease
her was "Welch's grape jelly in a glass."

gloria p

jmcquown wrote:

> Mark D wrote:
> > I've tried a number of Sherrys over the years, and yes, Harvey's
> > Bristol Cream is not bad, but IMO, it's a bit on the cloyingly sweet
> > side. Harvey's is outstanding for making Teriyaki Chicken Wings
> > though! (I think I have a recipe somewhere).
> >
> > Women might like Harveys for the sweeter taste.
> >
> Heh... you shouldn't assume you know a womans "taste". You might know that
> of young women without a more refined palate but you hae no idea about
> someone who can discrern the difference.

That is why I suggested that the OP buy the sherry his mother in law drinks.
While sherry is one drink I have never been able to develop a taste for, the
people I know who do like it tend to have pretty good taste in other drinks.
While my wife really enjoys Dry Sack and some other good Spanish sherries,
there are some sherries, mostly sweet sherries, that she cannot stomach.

Puester wrote:

> My late MIL loved cream (sweet) sherry, but then she
> also really liked catawba wine, which we used to tease
> her was "Welch's grape jelly in a glass."
>
> gloria p

Is that like Manishevitz?? That's exactly how that tasted from the one
time I tried it!!! LOL

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
...
> Ok, maybe not a true emergency but almost. My stepmother is impossible
>
> The one liquor store I went to didn't have anything but Taylor's and
> some generic Fairchild (or something like that) brand. Surely there are
> better ones I could seek out? HELP!?
> Goomba

Shoots, did you go to the liquor store I work at, or something? LOL.
That's all we carry, too!

kili

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
snip
> Go for the one she likes. I don't like sherry myself, but my wife really
> enjoys a nice dry sherry. One of her favourites is Dry Sac, and she
> sometimes has Shooting Sherry but she cannot tolerate Bristol Cream or any
> of the sweet sherries.
>
I'm with your wife. Bristol cream is like eating candy. It is meant as a
small after dinner drink.

Goomba38 > wrote:

> Victor Sack wrote:
> >
> > See
> > <http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cooking/msg/3a8ae5399720ec33>.
>
> Fascinating!! It mentions the Finos and Oloroso being served chilled as
> an aperitif.

As an aperitif, yes, but not necessarily chilled.

> I know she drinks it before dinner, but the bottle sits on
> at room temp. I didn't get the impression the other sherries discussed
> were served chilled though, right?

Usually, finos are indeed better chilled, if only slightly, usually,
though some are served at (cool) room temperature; olorosos are usually
served at cool room temperature, even as an aperitif.

Victor