I’ll be hosting the stirrup cup for one of the upcoming hunts, and being a newer member I want to make sure I bring something that’s decent.
Any recommendations for a port that’s ready to drink and is a decent price, considering I’ll be buying 3-4 bottles?
(I’d be willing to spend up to about $100 total.)
Warre’s.
Their distributor is
VINEYARD BRANDS INC
Ms. Martha Champaigne
2000 Resource Drive
Birmingham
35242
see if they want to comp you some for ad photos ??
or Dow or Graham’s
personally I prefer Tawny
Since you are apparently not a port drinker I will send you a PT with my address in case there are any leftovers 
You are nice to host, have a great day
Presidential Tawny Port is quite nice, and you can get it from most any liquor store.
If you want something special- maybe try a local vineyard. The one near me has an amazing port! They will ship and take orders. For our race meet last year, I had custom labels put on the wine we had at our tailgate. It turned out great!
Nice try Mudroom! :lol:
I actually don’t mind drinking it, I just rarely buy it! I figure it’s time for me to pony up after bumming off of some others flasks.
Tawny is a type, right? Any brands to look for, or to avoid?
Presidential makes several varieties of it and have found that it is the most popular.
You will find a plethora of Port here; http://www.internetwines.com/wines-port.html
Just remember; GOOD Port is not made in California.
don’t get hung up on which brand- buy one you can afford, and make sure you buy enough.
The thing is- no one is really scrutinizing their stirrup cup: it is hastily drunk while mounted on a keen horse, before hounds move off. C’mon guys- does anyone really look into their cup and think:“Gee, this is a really cheap brand of Port”??? Heck no- 99% of the folks are happy they are getting a swig ( or two, if they drink quickly, and the tray is still within reach), happy that the elixir stayed in the cup and down their throat, as opposed to down the front of thier stock tie (as when usually staid -and -still -as -a -statue -hunt- horse suddently decides to act like an idiot just as you reach for your cup), happy that THEY are the ones mounted and enjoying the toddy and NOT the poor chap who got stuck serving it. LOL!!
IMO, I’m more impressed when the stirrup cup is served in an actual glass or cup of some kind, as opposed to a dixie cup. Here is one instance where the conveyance is more important than the spirits being presented, as traditionally, a paper cup would have never been used! JMO.
Dont let ayone make you think you need to spend a fortune on an expensive brand- believe me, no one is going to notice or care what is in the cup, as long as its port or- horrors- sherry.
JSC-
Your suggestion reminded me of a fundraiser (I believe it was that), by a hunt club in MD. We were there for a joint meet, and a stirrup cup was presented. All the “elixir” was served in very nice pewter/silver mint julep style cups. Apparently each member had purchased on through the club, with their name on it, in order to be used for such stirrup cups. I was highly impressed with the presentation and the fundraiser’s style.
wow- Steelerider- that’s a great idea. 14-15 years ago, I donated a bunch of silverplate cups that I found in an antique shop, along with serving tray. But I really like that idea of each member buying and donating a julep cup. I served mint juleps at the Marylnd Puppy Show this past spring (held the day after the DerbY)- we could get double-duty out of julep cups. 
Our stirrup cup is not port. It’s sort of a spiced cider thing. It is delicious. There was none left from our blessing of the beagles.
Here is the recipe from our 82 yr old whip and former MFH:
1 quart apple cider
6 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 oz rum
4 oz brandy
1/2 bottle red wine
I doubled the recipe so I could use a whole bottle of wine.
Add a little (or a lot) Jameson Irish Whiskey to this and it is Spectacular!
Just as a note, so I don’t take credit for the idea, I believe it was De La Brooke that was the host and had implemented the stirrup cup fundraiser.
SteeleRdr - I bought a horse years ago from a whip with De La Brooke. Hope Jacobs - is she still hunting with them?
Oh - for the record - I am a port snob. I’m glad to have anything for a stirrup cup, of course - and would never complain. The stuff they sell around here is caa caa. Equibrit is right - good port isn’t made in California, and it sure as heck isn’t sold at Food Lion.
Painted Wings - I love that recipe. Sounds delicious.
Dows or Taylors
thanks!
YUMMMMMMMMMM:D This was the hit of our tailgate today :winkgrin:
OK, dumb question about Painted Wings recipe–to be served hot or cold (room temp)?
Glad I could help
This was the traditional beverage for our hunt stirrup cup and our hunt celebrated it’s 80th blessing today! Indeed this was served.
[QUOTE=Leather;2781064]
OK, dumb question about Painted Wings recipe–to be served hot or cold (room temp)?[/QUOTE]
oh! I assumed warm.
hey Painted Wings, can you post more explicit instructions, as I was afraid to heat it too hot. God forbid all the alcohol burns off :winkgrin:
thanks for sharing!
Yes it is served warm
It was served today pretty hot. I agree, you don’t want to get it too hot and boil off the alchohol. The idea is a something to warm the insides on a cold hunt morning.
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