Digestif, anyone?
After dinner drinks are the most pleasant way to end a meal, enhance the entire culinary experience and extend a leisurely evening with my companions.
To be sure, my favourite way of topping off an evening of waterfront fine dining in the Cayman Islands is with a sophisticated after dinner drink. It ‘s so delightful to sip a sweet cordial or savour a single-malt Scotch while watching the sun slowly melt into the horizon over the Caribbean Sea. There’s no finer way to appreciate both the beauty of the environment and the soul-warming smoothness of a special rum, bourbon or cordial.
Fortunately, there’s an extensive after dinner drinks menu to choose from, including rare bourbons, a vintage port collection, limited edition liquors and delectable dessert wines. I might choose a warm French Sauterne to balance a rich dessert, or a port to complement an array of cheeses, or perhaps a single barrel bourbon to enhance the sumptuous flavour of a full-bodied chocolate cake.
After dinner drinks are good for you!
These after dinner drinks, or digestifs, are as satisfying as they are sophisticated (think: 1940s movies), and – bonus – they’re good for you! They are said to settle an uneasy stomach and help digest food. Since the history of these intense alcoholic beverages dates back to the fifth century, I believe that the tradition has survived for good reason! The French picked up on this marvelous idea in the late 1800s, but quite by accident. Apparently, a chemist created a fortified wine with a blend of herbs and spices as a way to disguise the bitter taste of quinine, which was used to fight malaria among soldiers in the French foreign legion. The digestif was already popular in Italy, where stylish cafes served regional favourites. It is still quite popular in both countries today, as well as in America, and, thankfully, the trend has spread across oceans and is available to those of us who truly enjoy premier dining at a waterfront restaurant in the Cayman Islands.
Extensive selection of after dinner drinks
Finally, what a pleasure to be able to choose from such a large selection of after dinner drinks when I’m enjoying waterfront fine dining in the Cayman Islands. The list of blended and single malt Scotch whisky and rare bourbons alone is bountiful: Macallan 12-year-old single malt, as well as Macallan Sienna blended Scotch, Johnnie Walker Blue Label blended and King George blended Scotch, Glenfarclas 40-year single malt, Elijah Craig 18-year single barrel Kentucky bourbon, and A. H. Hirsch Reserve (16 years old), just to name a very few!
Of course, I may have decided I’m more in the mood for a port , in which case there are many vintage choices, including Quinta do Noval, Douro, 1994, and Warre’s, Douro, 1996. On the other hand, if it’s a dessert wine I’m craving, just for that sweet-little-something to cap off my meal, I might go with a glass of Studeny, Eiswein, Austria, 2013, or I might really indulge my palate with the French Chateau D’Yquem Sauternes, 1996, or Chateau Climens Sauternes-Bersac, 1988.
Whatever my choice, I know that I will end my evening of fine dining in the Cayman Islands in the most enjoyable fashion and filled with great memories.
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