Sandeman Porto Wine Launches Cocktails

This isn’t your grandmother’s port. Sandeman Porto Wine is breaking out of its conventional confines of merely being a digestive drink to sip on after dinner with dessert, cheese or a cigar.  Sandeman Porto of Oporto, Portugal, one of the world’s most renowned makers of first rate port, makes a big beautiful ruby-colored splash into the cocktail world by introducing the bar scene to a whole new liquor to play with.

To launch this new era for Sandeman port, LA’s The Place was invited to a private  Sandeman port tasting last week at the Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills hosted by none other than the 7th generation of the Sandeman family, George Sandeman.  The festive event began with a simple port cocktail of Sandeman Founders Reserve poured over ice with a twist of orange and a sprig of mint. Although at first encounter, the discriminating guests eyed the new concept of port as a before dinner cocktail with doubtful suspicion, but after their first sip, it was an instant hit.

Throughout the three-course meal, LA’s The Place tasted six ports designed to pair with the oriental delights like coconut shrimp, pork dumplings, braised short ribs and flourless chocolate cake with a first hand tour by George Sandeman.  Sandeman’s 10, 20, 30, and 40 year old Tawny Porto wines were first, followed by Sandeman Vintage Porto 2007 and Sandeman Vau Vintage Porto 2003. Each of us around the tasting table had our favorite port but we all agreed the quality and versatility of Sandeman Porto wines were outstanding.

James Suckling from Wine Spectator said of the 2007 Vintage Porto, “Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry and mineral. Amazing. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins that are mouth puckering, with dark chocolate and intense, fresh dark fruits. The best in decades.”

LA’s The Place ranked the Sandeman 20 year Tawny as their favorite (as well as Mr. Sandeman’s) describing it as, “A perfect balance… not too fruit forward as a young wine would be and not too tannic as an aged wine tends to be with a gorgeous amber color as a European sunset.”

Mr. Sandeman… Bring Me a Cocktail

Just in time for Halloween, surprise your guests with these ‘bloody-good’ port cocktail recipes:

Sandeman Sangue Frio

1 part Sandeman Founders Reserve Port
1 ½ parts ginger ale
¼ green apple cut in small cubes
¼ part fresh squeezed orange juice
Combine all ingredients over ice. Mix and strain into an appropriately ghoulish glass.

Sandeman Spooky Sangria

1 1/2 parts Sandeman Ruby Porto
2 parts margarita mix
1 part orange juice
1/2 part grenadine
Orange, chopped (to taste)
Ice cubes
Prepare in a large glass jug. Add the chopped orange. Pour the other ingredients and top-off with ice. Stir well. Serve in a long drink cocktail glass and garnish with an orange wedge.

Sandeman Creepy Cosmo

1 part Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto
2 parts vodka (well-chilled)
1/2 part Triple Sec
1/2 part lime juice
Splash of cranberry juice
Using a shaker, mix the ingredients and serve in a well-chilled vermouth cocktail glass.
Sandeman Witches’ Brew

2 parts Sandeman Ruby Porto
1 part boiling water
1 lemon slice
1 clove head
This “winter warmer” takes the edge off the cold and wet weather.
Prepare and serve in a Hot Porto glass (or mug). Pour and mix the ingredients in the glass and add a slice of lemon speared with a head of clove.

The Don’s History

We asked George during the lunch where the infamous port drinking man in black on the logo came from that is so synonymous with Sandeman port. This is the story he gave of how the Sandeman icon was born.  In 1928, George Massiot Brown was an artist working for the Lochend Printing company, who approached Sandeman for business. Sandeman requested some designs for posters, and the remarkable silhouette of the Don was born.

Dressed like the Spanish caballeros de Jerez in a Portuguese student’s cape and wide-brimmed hat, the Don cuts a dark, dramatic figure with his glass of ruby colored Porto. George Massiot Brown was well aware that French poster artists were very much in vogue, so signed his artwork as G. Massiot to hide his Scottish origins. Little did he know that “The Don” would be the very first iconic logo for a wine. Recognized throughout the world, “The Don” represents the mystery and sensuality that communicates the Sandeman brand.

Sandeman History

 

In 1790, George Sandeman, a determined young Scotsman from Perth, founded his business in Tom’s Coffee House in London.  His vision of a bright future for the wine business and for himself was encouraged by his father, who loaned him 300 pounds sterling to set up as a wine merchant, specializing in Porto and Sherry wines. That 300 pounds turned into an international, prosperous success that continues still today.

From the modest start as a wine merchant, to today’s impressive lodges in Oporto and bodegas in Jerez, and the world’s best known brand of Porto and Sherry, there has been a continuous commitment to quality. The growth of Sandeman over the last centuries has been based on balancing tradition and innovation, respecting heritage but always seeking improvement.

Today, Sandeman is integrated within Sogrape Vinhos’ and is widely recognized throughout the world for wines of great elegance and consistent quality as well as the internationally renowned shadowy figure of the logo called, “The Don”.

For more info on Sandeman Porto wines or more port cocktail recipes, visit: www.sandeman.eu