Zombie Escape, Tue 29 Dec 2026, B&F

[jdaw1]

This post reserved to hold agreed plans.

When: 18:00 on Tuesday 29^th December 2026

Where: the Red Room in the Boot and Flogger (room booked by email Sun 4^th Jan; acknowledgement received 09:10 Mon 5^th Jan).

Theme is, unless changed, as it might be, ‘Decent Drink, sighted, at least some of it being Port, that you wouldn’t want the zombies to get’.

People:

1. Julian W.;
2. Ian J.;
3. Neil C.;
4. Alex B.;
5. John F.;
6. Cliff M.;
7. Cliff guest, likely Rory M. or Viktoria H.;
8. Alex M.;
9. Mike M.;
10. Nigel M.;
11. Harry H.;
12. Justin K.;
13. Martin C.;
14. Charles R.

Reserves:

• Cliff guest, likely Viktoria H. or Rory M.;
• George G.

Current draft of the placemats.

[jdaw1]

Christmas 2025 there was, chez moi, a zombie invasion. And, worse, just stupidly and carelessly and thoughtlessly, I behaved so perfectly that my boss has proclaimed that it all went so well — and you can see to what disaster this is leading — my punishment is that it all be repeated in 2026. More zombies. Again. And, likely, repeatedly. There is no mercy.

So I will need an escape, and it is to be a riff on the best bit of 2025’s Zombie Invasion. This 2026 Zombie Escape is scheduled for Tuesday 29^th December 2026 (as Mon 28^th is the Boxing Day Bank Holiday).

[jdaw1]

A draft of the placemats has been made. I don’t know why — no wines have been revealed.

(The placemat software includes a little PostScript file that shows all the characters in a chosen font (example output for the font /AvenirNextCondensed-DemiBold). Obviously such a demonstration of a font should show example Titles for a variety of shippers and years, those examples being “TH56 S97 Fr15 K47 D78 Mz96 Ck12 Ni27 NN31 Df35 Cr45 TSQ47 W55 O60 SW63 G66 Cá70 Ch85 Mg91 T92 F94 RP97 V00 Rr03 Qv11 Pç17 Ud23”. Not all these Ports are hard certain to be at this tasting.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Excellent! I’ll bring the Morgan 1991.

[Alex M]

Yes please. I can provide the Offley 1960.

[JohnDavidFrance]

This sounds fun! Is there a space still?

[flash_uk]

Happy to help slay the zombies

[mcoulson]

Yep count me in ...

I'll figure out what later ...

[jdaw1]

This sounds fun! Is there a space still?

Yes, added. Be aware that the current placemats are somewhat in jest — the presence of Tuke Holdsworth 1756 is not perfectly guaranteed, nor that of the Sandeman 1797, even knowing that everybody will be bringing serious bottles. But I’m very hopeful that somebody, maybe multiple people, will be bringing Kopke 1847 and the Dow 1878. Surely not everybody will fail me in the middle of a zombie invasion! Indeed, let me encourage you to bring either, or both, or both in magnum, or both in single and in magnum.

[CPR 1]

Count me in I will be there to help defeat the Zombie with T92 to help.....

[idj123]

Put me down, please stop. Hopefully, I can make it this time.

[JohnDavidFrance]

This sounds fun! Is there a space still?

Yes, added. Be aware that the current placemats are somewhat in jest — the presence of Tuke Holdsworth 1756 is not perfectly guaranteed, nor that of the Sandeman 1797, even knowing that everybody will be bringing serious bottles. But I’m very hopeful that somebody, maybe multiple people, will be bringing Kopke 1847 and the Dow 1878. Surely not everybody will fail me in the middle of a zombie invasion! Indeed, let me encourage you to bring either, or both, or both in magnum, or both in single and in magnum.

Thanks for the add! At present, the only pre 1900's bottle I have is a 1880 José Luis Borrajo Porto Velho or a Weiss and Krohn 1900 Reserve Particular bottled in 1973. Failing that a Noval 1937 Colheita?

[jdaw1]

I’ll bring the Morgan 1991.

I can provide the Offley 1960.

with T92

As we’re playing, I’ll bring — serious intention — G66. And I have Ch85, if that is still appropriate following serious revelations.

[NigelM]

I'm in, if space permits. Zombies, so resilient!

[Justin K]

I’m in if there is any space left.

[jdaw1]

I’m in if there is any space left.

Added. Will you be bringing the Kopke 1847, or the Dow 1878, or both?

[jdaw1]

Now full. There can be a list of reserves.
Edit: now only thirteen. One space.

It is too early for food orders, but not too early for serious revelations of bottles.

[winesecretary]

I am unlikely to be an attendee, with regret.

[nac]

Yup. Will be there.

[nac]

Yup. Will be there.

As it might be our final opportunity to drink it, will bring a 1871 Quinta do Loureiro Colheita (aka Cabral).

[cem]

I’ll be there almost certainly. No idea what I’ll bring at this stage port wise but sounds like some 96 or 06 Champagne and 86 or 66 claret will be needed.

[Justin K]

I’m in if there is any space left.

Added. Will you be bringing the Kopke 1847, or the Dow 1878, or both?

Nope but will bring something with a 6 involvement or Da Silva (Noval) ‘47 whichever suits.

[jdaw1]

Cliff asked whether he could bring a guest. I asked that the regulars be given a chance, and, 29⅓ hours later, the regulars are deemed to have had that chance. Cliff guest being added. And his other guest is first reserve.