New deli delights (Demijohn)
Sally Toms visits Demijohn,a new breed of independent bottler and off-licence in the heart of Edinburgh
Scotland has long been a nation that looks towards Europe; take the auld alliance or café culture for instance.
But now, thanks to husband and wife team Angus and Francis Ferguson, this continental influence is reaching the nation’s drinking habits.
Angus’s appreciation for the continental way of life was gathered during his years spent working in Italy and travelling Europe as a member of the Blackwatch.
Wine cooperatives and ‘fill your own’ offlicences are well established on the continent, but almost completely unheard of in the United Kingdom.
In 1994 Angus and Frances opened Demijohn, Edinburgh’s first official European-style liquid deli, and began to change the way we buy wine and spirits in Britain.
On entering the shop on Victoria Street, customers are met with shelf upon shelf of glass demijohns filled with deliciously grassy Italian olive oils, traditional and flavoured vinegars, high quality flavoured spirits, wines and liqueurs sourced from small producers around the country.
There’s an exquisite 25 year old Balsamico di Modena at £300 for 100ml, and a rare vintage gin at 60% ABV from Blackwood which will drive gin lovers nuts. The damson gin is fabulous as are the flavoured vodkas – the raspberry is particularly good.
But this isn’t Raspberry Vodka Magazine… our readers are sure to be more interested in the four 50 litre octave casks in the window, each containing a different whisky selected by Demijohn and bottled on the premises.
Dur.....
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By Sally Toms
Section : Spotlight
Page number : 17
