Popular beers and weekend drink recommendations

Weekend Beer: GEMS 8.8

The GEMS Brewery is celebrating its 15th anniversary and announces its annual 8.8 Day festivities, named after its best-selling beer. The celebrations, which will kick off on Thursday, August 8, 2024, will continue throughout August at eleven locations nationwide, from Haifa to Beersheba.

What's on the Agenda: Live performances at the flagship branch in Petah Tikva include Shefita on Friday, August 16, and Shanan Street on Sunday, August 25. There will be a special menu based on the flavors of GEMS 8.8, plenty of discounts on beer cases, and a special GEMS 8.8 package with a branded glass as a gift.

Weekend Whisky: Tamnavulin Sauvignon Blanc Finish

The Tamnavulin expression from the Speyside region is a single malt whisky finished in white wine barrels. It follows a successful single malt whisky finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, which was popular due to its wintery sweetness and fruitiness. The current whisky is aged for at least three years in American oak barrels before a lengthy maturation in barrels previously used for Sauvignon Blanc.

It’s not hard to guess that a Sauvignon Blanc finish affects the flavors less than a Cabernet Sauvignon finish, but the white wine barrels provide a distinct "atmosphere" to the sip. Expect more tropical notes, lighter body, with aromas of caramel, banana, and honey combined with refreshing citrus and white fruits.

On the palate, the sweetness of baked apples and caramel receives a kick of fresh tropical and baked lemon. It’s a great summer whisky, fruity and delicate, though it made me want to put it on ice. Perfect for beginners or those who don’t need a Glencairn glass to enjoy whisky.

Price: NIS 149, plus a flask! Which immediately won me over.

Weekend Wine: Botyri, Cretan White Wine

Botyri is a family-owned winery established in 1879 by Yannis Botyri and is now one of the largest and most significant producers in Greece, operating six wineries in renowned wine regions of Greece and the islands. One of these is Crete, the source of the wine.

The white wine is made entirely from the local Vilana variety, grown in calcium-rich clay and sandy soils, and undergoes short fermentation and aging in stainless steel tanks.

It might be a bit stereotypical, but it’s exactly what I think of when someone says "Greek white wine." It’s a light, fruity wine with a burst of floral and tropical fruit aromas, a full and rich palate with pleasant acidity. Enjoyable.

Price: NIS 60