Scottish Country Dance of the Day

Goodness gracious! Well, if that swoon-worthy wine description doesn't make you faint with expectation and cause dead poets to roll over with envy, I don't know what would! If immune, you are well fortified against other fruity and flowery language excesses and ready for this heady jig which will have you "set and linking" and "chasing" with mad delight, even before a glass or two.

And if you happen to be fond of wines and can detect in them all those delicate and subtle flavours described above, you might very well be a "supertaster"! Apparently, roughly 25% of the population has the ability to differentiate more flavour compounds than average, although it is most pronounced in detecting bitter components such as those in cruciferous vegetables, black coffee, dark chocolate, hot peppers or even the sting of alcohol. Sip, sip! Chin chin! 🤪 ❤️ 💜 ❤️ 🍇 🍇 🍇 🍷🍷

According to the famous champagne maker Moët & Chandon, hot, dry harvest seasons produce aromas of spicy, nutty flavors like sandalwood, praline and marzipan, while wet harvest seasons produced floral bouquets with hints of vanilla, honey and almond!

Are you a connoisseur of the grape? An oenophile? A Merlot fan!? All of the most common red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Pinot Noir are descended from just one species of grape: Vitis vinifera, which originated in Eastern Europe. In fact, the oldest-known winery was discovered in a cave in Vayots Dzor, Armenia, and contained a wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups dating to c. 4100 BC! The parentage of the Merlot grape has been the subject of much research. One wine parent has been determined to be that of a Cabernet Franc and a half-sibling of Carménère, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The identity of the second parent of Merlot has been recently identified by DNA analysis, from vines growing in an abandoned vineyard in Saint-Suliac in Brittany, as the mother of Merlot! Cheers! 🍷🍇

Feel a bit of cold or flu coming on? Ward it off with something traditional, or jig those germs away with this namesake classic remedy cure dance! And whisky is recommended! The Hot Toddy, a classic remedy for winter colds and flu, has origins shrouded in mystery. By the 1700s, however, it had become a beloved drink in Scotland. Some trace its name to Allan Ramsay's 1781 poem The Morning Interview, which references Edinburgh's Todian Spring, also known as Tod’s Well. Another theory suggests the cocktail was inspired by toddy, a fermented palm sap drink from India, reimagined by British traders upon their return to Scotland as a mix of tea, Scotch, and sweetener. A third possibility links the name to 19th-century British physician Richard Bentley Todd, who advocated the drink for its medicinal benefits. Whatever its origins, the Hot Toddy endures as a comforting elixir. Even modern doctors acknowledge its potential health benefits, thanks to its soothing blend of honey, lemon, spices, and whisky. Notably, whisky contains ellagic acid, an antioxidant with antiviral and antibacterial properties. Cheers to a timeless cure that warms both body and soul! 🥃 🍋 🍯 🐝

Made with the lacy, cream-colored flowers of the elderberry shrub (Sambucus nigra or S. canadensis), elderflower "champagne" is a naturally bubbly, sparkling wine with a delicate taste. A favourite beverage of home brewers, care must be taken to avoid exploding bottles during fermentation. For a less dangerous beverage, elderflower cordial is also a lovely after-dancing drink! Recipes included! 🍾

Ah well, at least the human condition allows for dancing to cheer, such as this easy to learn jig! However, if crying over spilled plain milk seems just too mundane for these days of artisan dairy products, you now have curious and unusual choices to lament over should they accidentally slip from your hand, including: yak butter, water buffalo gelato, reindeer cheese, camel milk, kumis (alcoholic horse milk), human cheese (!), sheep yogurt, moose cheese, goat ice cream, donkey cheese, or pig milk ricotta. Goodness gracious! If that list is just a bit too much, enjoy a bracing cup of traditional tea with milk in readiness for dancing, or perhaps mix yourself up an après-dance "Spilt Milk" cocktail (recipe included, using a milk liqueur of your choice). And mind that milk! Moo! 🥛 🐄

From a collection of dances created for wedding celebrations in the German-Scottish dance community, this delectably-named strathspey (and its companion tune, "Three Cheers for Serendipity"), celebrate Frankfurt’s role as Germany’s apple cider capital while also paying tribute to Georgia, the “Peach State.” Frankfurt has a long-standing tradition of producing "Apfelwein," a regional apple cider that has been enjoyed for centuries, usually made from . tart varieties such as Rheinischer Bohnapfel, Boskoop, and Eifeler Rambur! Apfelwein can be enjoyed at special taverns known as "Apfelweinkneipen" which are scattered throughout the city and its surrounding areas, especially frequented during the annual Frankfurt Apple Wine Festival in August. On the peachy side, for over three centuries, English speakers have used the words “peach” and “peachy” to describe things that are exceptionally good, desirable, and attractive! So, raise a glass to the dancing couple, and of course, don’t forget to enjoy a peach! Cheers! Prost! and Slàinte! 🍎 🍏 🍎 🍷 🍑 🍑 🍑 🥂

In the mood for Butterbeer, Cauldron Cakes, and Fizzing Whizzbees? Butterbeer is the drink of choice for younger wizards. It can be served cold or hot but either way it has a warming effect. Although House-elves can become intoxicated on Butterbeer, the amount of alcohol contained in Butterbeer has a negligible effect on Witches and Wizards. The actual alcohol content of Butterbeer is open for debate among Potter scholars and fans, but most agree that it does contain some alcohol, just not a lot, similar to a wine cooler. At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Disneyworld, you can try a real-life Butterbeer in two varieties, frozen and regular. It has been variously described as a cross between cream soda and butterscotch or more like shortbread and butterscotch. All agree it's very sweet with a thick head of foam on the top.🍺

Possets and Poussettes in one dance?! If you think a splash of whisky in the punch might enhance the festivities, you’re probably right! The dance devisor behind this lively 40-bar jig, also called "Peter’s Caper", has choreographed nearly non-stop figures for all four couples—perfectly suited to a little pre-dance punch to keep the spirits high. But tread carefully, for even the most delicately spiced punch can inspire unplanned reels—or, in the case of eggnog, outright revelry! Eggnog, that creamy holiday indulgence beloved in the American colonies, owes its popularity to an abundance of eggs, dairy, and a healthy dose of liquor. Its origins trace back to the 14th-century posset, a warm, spiced mixture of hot milk curdled with ale or wine, designed to cheer both body and soul. Modern eggnog takes this up a notch with the addition of eggs, rich cream, and a bartender’s dream selection of rum, whiskey, sherry, brandy, or bourbon. Yet, this festive treat isn’t all sugar and spice—it also carries the infamous legacy of the Eggnog Riot of Christmas Eve in 1826 at West Point. Also known as the "Grog Mutiny, overindulgence in this traditional drink by cadets, led to complete Christmas Eve chaos and court-martials! ❤️ 💚 ❤️ 🥚 🥃 💛 🤍