Zünftler Black Forest Cherry Schnapps

If you’re planning to celebrate the start of Oktoberfest this weekend (yes, in September - I *know*) snap up this full-size bottle of Zünftler cherry schnapps from Lidl for just £14.99

It’s drier than kirsch (think grappa rather than a liqueur) and packs quite a punch but would be good as an after dinner shot after a hearty wurst-laden meal*. You can drink it as a frozen shot but having tried it that way I’d serve it at room temperature and let anyone who wants to add an ice cube or two. Handsome bottle as well if you want to take it along as a present.

Celebrate your own Oktoberfest!

Lidl is also stocking two really cheap German beers over the next couple of weeks - a Festbier and Wheat Beer - both at 99p and a shandy-style drink, Naturtrübes Radler, for 59p. I haven't tried any of these so can't vouch for them but I'd take a chance on the beers.

Alternatively try this delicious recipe for Oktoberfest chicken

Gin of the month: Audemus Esprit d'Eté

If you've developed a bit of a collector's habit when it comes to gin here's a truly limited edition one of which only 200 bottles were originally made

It's called Audemus Esprit d'Eté (spirit of summer) and was the winning gin in last year's Waitrose Drinks festival. Laura Parton and Joseph Blenkinsop picked the botanicals which include bergamot, orange peel and galangal which gives it a refreshing citrussy character while retaining its essential 'ginnyness' - something that's by no means true of all new gins. With an ABV of 43% it also makes a good gin and tonic (I used Fevertree's original which lets the fragrant, summery. orange flavour come through)

Six food pairings for gin that might surprise you

If you miss out - and I'd get in quick given the website is claiming there are only 194 bottles - French owned distillery Audemus also makes a delicious pink pepper gin. The Esprit d'Eté costs £39 online from Waitrose Cellar. Expensive but worth it.

Shackleton blended malt whisky

I’m not a big fan of buying whisky for Father’s Day - it always seems a bit of a cliché - but this new blended malt from Whyte & Mackay is such a great bottle it’s an absolute must for any whisky-loving dad (or mum, come to that!)

Named after the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who led the Endurance expedition to the antarctic, the whisky is based on the Rare Old Mackinlay’s, that Shackleton took with him on his voyage. It’s comes in beautifully packaged bottle but the contents are really great too - it’s a rich, sweet, peaty dram laced with tropical fruit (mainly mango and roasted pineapple) flavours. Although it would be great on its own or on the rocks it would work well with a ginger ale and packs quite a punch for its 40% ABV

You can buy it for £34.95 from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt and around £40 elsewhere.

Incidentally there’s a fascinating post on Shackleton, an extraordinary man, on the BBC website

Which foods pair best with whisky?

Indulgent chocolate drinks for Easter

Why should the kids have all the fun at Easter? These days there are a number of indulgent chocolate-flavoured liqueurs and wines that make up for being (almost) too old for an Easter egg.

The first is a Polish chocolate vodka liqueur under the Chopin label called Likier Czekoladowy which is so thick and unctuous it’s almost like a chocolate sauce (maybe that’s how it’s meant to be served) While it’s definitely for the sweet-toothed - think chocolate flavoured condensed milk - it’s also got an impressively natural chocolate taste. You can buy it from The Whisky Exchange for £14.15 a 50cl bottle and, I suspect, a fair number of Polish shops and delis.

Even better is an Italian whisky liqueur called, rather entertainingly, Cioccowhisky in which you can actually pick up both the chocolate and the whisky. I liked it but thought it might not be so appealing to the sweet-toothed chocolate-loving friend I was testing it out on. However a blissful look passed over her face and she said it was “the best BY A MILE.” That’s £16.15 at The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt.

If you enjoy the combination of red wine and chocolate about which I’m never wholly convinced (love red wine, love chocolate but a bit dubious about the two together) you may like Rubis which tastes like chocolate flavoured port and which you can get delivered next day if you’re on Amazon Prime. They charge £12.75 a bottle though you find it cheaper elsewhere - Frazier's in Solihull for example do it for £9.49. Harvey Nichols has it for £13. I also tried the Marks & Spencer’s copycat version Chocolate Ruby which isn’t quite as good but should be easier to get hold of. In theory. It’s not showing on their website.

Also frustratingly elusive is the M & S Black Forest Gateau liqueur which is actually as rich and indulgent as its namesake. You can buy it as part of a set of six liqueurs for £60 online but may be able to pick up an individual bottle in store. Which I would. Think boozy cherries with a hint of chocolate. Good enough to dispense with the cake ...