Spirits: Grape and Grain

CIROC Vodka | $30

CLASSIC MALTS Selection | $50-$400

www.diageo.com

Supreme Sipping: Vodka and scotch are two cottage industries in and of themselves, with more brands, flavors and price ranges than most other liquor families. Good thing golfers, especially traveling golfers constantly on the lookout for the good life, tend to be discerning drinkers. In that spirit, FG points you to pour some Cîroc Vodka or perhaps a Classic Malt Scotch this holiday season, both offered by well-known importer Diageo.

One of the world’s only vodkas made from grapes, Cîroc’s refined citrus nose, smooth, lightly sweet flavor and crisp, clean finish make it uncommon in its origin, distillation process and taste. Cîroc vodka is made from Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes grown on elevated vineyards in the Cognac and Gaillac regions of France, which are harvested under the watchful eye of Alain Gayrel, whose family has been growing grapes for more than 400 years. These fine French grapes are cold fermented (not unlike fine wines) and distilled five times ­ two more times than even the most premium of other vodkas — the fifth distillation using a traditional copper pot-still method. The result of this unique process is a polished vodka that sets the standard for refined sophistication. Wine Enthusiast magazine lauded Cîroc vodka as “superb, highly recommended, [whose] finish is delightfully sweet, polished, and elegant.” It’s best served in a champagne flute, which brings its distinctive body and refined nose to the forefront.

The Classic Malts Selection represents single malts from Scotland’s six distilling regions, with seven new offerings available this winter including four Rare Editions (21 to 30 years old) of about 600 bottles each, two The Distillers Editions and the Glenkinchie 12-Year-Old. Representing all the major whisky flavor styles — smoky, light, rich — this limited-edition collection offers an unparalleled range of single malts suitable for every palate, from novice to expert.

Big-bucks standouts include Talisker 30-Year-Old produced on the Isle of Skye, the smoky Port Ellen 28-Year-Old and Oban Distillers Edition double-matured in Montilla Fino Sherry Wood for a light, fruity sweetness. The Glenkinchie hails from the peat-rich Scottish Lowlands, which yields a whisky with sweet and spicy overtones.