I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the few journos invited to the launch of Veuve Clicquot RICH at 54 on Bath. It’s a new champagne that’s been created expressly for mixology – and the first Champagne ever created to be consumed in cocktails, mainly because it’s been created using a higher ‘dosage’ (sugar content).
Veuve Clicquot worked with professional mixologists to create a totally new wine for a new time: “sugar in champagne is like spices in a recipe, used correctly it can bring out specific aromas and play with taste”. Veuve Clicquot RICH was developed to be combined with a selection of ingredients that bring out the mixologist – or in their words the ‘Clicquologist’ – in everyone.
The signature notes of the wine are magnified by the presence of selected ingredients: pineapple, grapefruit zest, cucumber, celery, peppers or tea, all on the rocks. We were given the opportunity to mix and match as we pleased to find our perfect RICH combination; in my opinion the cucumber, celery and grapefruit zest made the best pairings, but the options really are endless…there are no rules, just fun and bubbles.
In a nutshell: They’re starting out in a seriously exclusive way; having handpicked only 16 cities worldwide to showcase their new little gem and Joburg is one of them, the only one in South Africa! (Sorry Cape Town) At the moment it’s available at 54 on Bath and Cocoon Lounge and is a little more expensive than a bottle of classic Veuve: a glass will set you back R250 and a bottle R1100 from 54 on Bath.
My verdict: If you’re a purist – I’d tell you to stick with Classic Veuve, but Veuve Clicquot RICH is trendy, sexy and it offers those with a sweeter tooth an option in terms of a refined and classy cocktail made with world-class ingredients. It also won’t leave the heads feeling the same way a few rounds of double vodka red bulls will. In short, I think it’s going to be a big hit!