15 December 2011 - The Unknown Shipper at the Bell

[Alex Bridgeman]

Christmas comes but once a year - but it brings our traditional Port Forum Christmas get-together themed along the lines of "The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends".

I spoke to Tom briefly on Saturday and Tom has indicated that he is happy once more to organise our Christmas bash at the Bell, in Wenden's Ambo.

I suggest Thursday 15th December would be a suitable date.

Obviously I'd like to attend and I'd like to bring a non-industry guest along - someone who has a decent port cellar but who has never been to one of our events before despite living near Stansted.

Attending
1) THRA
2) JGH
3) Alex Duffus (guest of AHB)
4) AHB
5) AP
6) DRT
7) BMHR - he has managed to get a pass!
8) WS1
9) RAYC
10) Vacant

11) Carl (Griff)
12) Phil W

The Bell is rather small. 10 people last year was much more comfortable than the 12 we had the previous year.

[Axel P]

I wont miss this for the world

Axel

[DRT]

I'm in

[Alex Bridgeman]

And I've even chosen the bottle that I'll bring along!

[benread]

I would love to come and have a bottle in mind! (Subject to negotiating a pass which i will work hard to do!)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Ben's hope to attend is noted on the first post.

[jdaw1]

Stickers again? (In which case I have some tasks outstanding.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Stickers again? (In which case I have some tasks outstanding.)

I would suggest that stickers would be best at the Bell

[WS1]

Hi there,

if still possible i would like to attend as well. I am sure i find something which follows the familar theme

regards

WS1

[Axel P]

And I've even chosen the bottle that I'll bring along!

Mee too.

Axel

[RAYC]

Yes please - I'd love to attend

[Deleted_User_1]

Me too please...

[jdaw1]

Stop! I think this event is already over-full. Stop, unless AHB permits to the contrary.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Attendee list updated to include Rob and Cookie.

The decision on numbers should be Tom's rather than mine since Tom makes the arrangements. However, I suggest that further volunteers wishing to drink fine port from the unknown shipper should continue to put their names forward and be placed on the waitlist.

[jdaw1]

Attendee list updated to include Rob and Cookie.

Axel? He posted before Rob and Cookie.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Attendee list updated to include Rob and Cookie.

Axel? He posted before Rob and Cookie.

Currently number 5 on the list - although I may have his initials wrong.

[JacobH]

I’d love to attend, again, this year, but I am afraid I probably won’t know my availability for December until mid-October. If it wouldn’t cause any trouble if I cancelled at that time, could I please go on the waiting-list?

PS.

I note the organising threads for the Christmas tasting were posted on:
2011: 28th April
2010: 10th May
2009: 14th May
2008: 10th July
2007: 24th August

At this rate, the organising thread for the 2015 one will be posted in 2014...

[griff]

I would be interested in attending this one so could I please be placed on the reserves? I have something that should suit.

Thanks

Carl

[PhilW]

I'd like to be added to the waitlist too please, just in case.
Thanks,

Phil.

[Alex Bridgeman]

You are both included on the waitlist now.

[benread]

You are both included on the waitlist now.

Please could you also note my status update of confirmed pass and booked hotel! (I thought I had sent you a PM to that effect but perhaps not in my current state of child induced disorganisation!)

[Alex Bridgeman]

You are both included on the waitlist now.

Please could you also note my status update of confirmed pass and booked hotel! (I thought I had sent you a PM to that effect but perhaps not in my current state of child induced disorganisation!)

Update done. Congratulations on your negotiating skills.

[Axel P]

Booked a flight. Cookie or Tom: could I ask for a ride to the Bell. I will be arriving at Stansted at 4pm.

Axel

[RAYC]

Are people booking the same hotel as last year?

[benread]

Are people booking the same hotel as last year?

I don't know about the same as last year but I have booked into Tom's recommended venue - Saffron Hotel.

[Deleted_User_1]

Are people booking the same hotel as last year?

I do not know which hotel is being booked but I do know that I shall be FIRST into the taxi this year!!!

[Axel P]

I would like to rephrase the very often used sentence into: We leave no-one behind, except ex-RAF-policemen, who should know their way around anyways...

Axel

[Deleted_User_1]

I would like to rephrase the very often used sentence into: We leave no-one behind, except ex-RAF-policemen, who should know their way around anyways...

Axel

You can wriggle as much as you like but it is still no excuse...the bit.... ''we leave no-one behind''... is the clue

[Axel P]

Accepted! So this year we should leave no bottle behind, how about this?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've just booked into the Saffron Hotel.

Nearer the time we should count the number of people who need to get back by taxi and whether that is back to the Saffron Hotel or to Newport. It could be that we end up booking two separate taxis to the two separate destinations.

Or perhaps we have Jan drive the naughty taxi, so that she can shout at and scold the people in the naughty taxi and someone nice driving the other taxi. Someone who will go back to pick up anyone left behind!

[jdaw1]

First draft of the placemats.

• Twenty-six ports between the ten attendees (is that enough?);
• Tasting-note sheets, but no glasses sheets;
• Two sets of sticky-label sheets:
  • Large bottle labels, two of each (for front and back), eight per sheet, and
  • Small glass labels, sixty-five per sheet, arranged by person for easy cutting and distribution.

Will decanter labels be needed?

Other comment welcomed.

[PhilW]

Hi - I've decided I should sign myself off for this one; as third reserve I'm very unlikely to be needed, and getting rooms at the last minute likely impossible, plus will simplify any other pre-xmas arrangements.

Phil.

[RAYC]

Another moment of panic as a date clash was threatened between this and my chance to see Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Steel Panther at Wembley Arena. Thankfully i will be able to enjoy permed mullets/lycra and unknown shipper port on consecutive evenings.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If you talk to us nicely, you can do both on both evenings.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've just updated the list of the attendees on the first post - my guest (who is not from the industry, but is a fellow port lover and consumer who happens to live close to the Bell) has confirmed that he is free on the 15th.

To try and make the arrangements for the Xmas Offline as smooth as possible, please would people:
(a) confirm that if they are on the list as attending, then they still intend to attend
(b) if they are on the list as attending and still intend to attend, whether they wish a taxi to collect them from the Bell and where they would like the taxi to take them
(c) whether they are attending or on the reserve list, if they would like a fillet steak and chips dinner, or something else

Thanks.

[benread]

I've just updated the list of the attendees on the first post - my guest (who is not from the industry, but is a fellow port lover and consumer who happens to live close to the Bell) has confirmed that he is free on the 15th.

To try and make the arrangements for the Xmas Offline as smooth as possible, please would people:
(a) confirm that if they are on the list as attending, then they still intend to attend
(b) if they are on the list as attending and still intend to attend, whether they wish a taxi to collect them from the Bell and where they would like the taxi to take them
(c) whether they are attending or on the reserve list, if they would like a fillet steak and chips dinner, or something else

Thanks.

Alex,

a) yes.
b) yes - Saffron Hotel
c) is there anything else on the menu?! I thought steak & chips was part of the deal in attending!

Thank you.

[DRT]

a) Yes
b) Yes please, to the Saffron Hotel
c) Fillet steak & chips, please

[WS1]

Hi,

a) Yes
b) Yes please, to the Saffron Hotel which I just booked
c) Fillet steak & chips, please




regards

WS1

[Axel P]

a) Yes
b) Yes please, to the Saffron Hotel which I just booked
c) Fillet steak & chips, please

Thanks for organising

Axel

[PhilW]

(c) whether they are attending or on the reserve list, if they would like a fillet steak and chips dinner, or something else.

Am on the reserve list (though did post to sign off it). If by some miracle (a) enough people dropped out, (b) I was able to make the date and (c) able to book a room somewhere, then fillet steak and chips would do nicely.

[RAYC]

To try and make the arrangements for the Xmas Offline as smooth as possible, please would people:
(a) confirm that if they are on the list as attending, then they still intend to attend
(b) if they are on the list as attending and still intend to attend, whether they wish a taxi to collect them from the Bell and where they would like the taxi to take them
(c) whether they are attending or on the reserve list, if they would like a fillet steak and chips dinner, or something else

(a) Yes
(b) Yes - Saffron Hotel (twin room booked some time ago, initially so that the spare bid would give some flexibility to Jacob if he moved to the main list but would be equally available to others on the reserve list or - if all confirm - on the main list )
(c) fillet? Since you're offering us a choice, what about a porterhouse?!

[RAYC]

First draft of the placemats.

Many thanks - i can volunteer printing services. And have bucket loads of the small sticky-label sheets, which have not been used since the tasting last year!

Twenty-six ports between the ten attendees (is that enough?);

Too many? I am bringing an unknown and a peculiar on the basis that neither may be drinkable, but i would have thought max 20 overall?

Two sets of sticky-label sheets:
Large bottle labels, two of each (for front and back), eight per sheet, and

Last year Tom provided decanters with 10 decanter neck tags numbered 1-10 (or thereabouts). If the same is to be done this year, we might only need sticky labels for ports 11 onward. Are two labels per bottle desireable?

Other comment welcomed.

WOTN currenlty split over two pages - is this felt to be easier to use?
Should there be categories? (best peculiar, best unknown)
Should the numbering on the small glass labels be restricted to the shaded background number only, allowing us to write clearly the identity of the port onto the label after the big reveal?
Despite being the cork display's biggest fan, i do wonder whether it will work in this type of set-up (though happy to keep and try to make work!)
Can we have small christmas trees or holly bushels in the corners of or background to the sticky labels? Or at least a star of Bethlehem...(butchered from the star quality tasting know-how)?!

[jdaw1]

Twenty-six ports between the ten attendees (is that enough?);

Too many? I am bringing an unknown and a peculiar on the basis that neither may be drinkable, but i would have thought max 20 overall?

DRT to adjudicate.

Two sets of sticky-label sheets:
Large bottle labels, two of each (for front and back), eight per sheet, and

Last year Tom provided decanters with 10 decanter neck tags numbered 1-10 (or thereabouts). If the same is to be done this year, we might only need sticky labels for ports 11 onward. Are two labels per bottle desireable?

One back and one front helps. Rather than hollering ‟where is n?”, one has a greater chance of seeing it and gently asking somebody nearby.

WOTN currenlty split over two pages - is this felt to be easier to use?

I guessed so. If you disagree, easily changed.

Should there be categories? (best peculiar, best unknown)

Instruct.

Should the numbering on the small glass labels be restricted to the shaded background number only, allowing us to write clearly the identity of the port onto the label after the big reveal?

Can we have small christmas trees or holly bushels in the corners of or background to the sticky labels? Or at least a star of Bethlehem...(butchered from the star quality tasting know-how)?!

You want to remove content to add writing space, and then to replace the writing space with clutter. Anyway, writing on the foot of the glass will probably be too fiddly. (And what does a ‟star of Bethlehem” look like?)

Despite being the cork display's biggest fan, i do wonder whether it will work in this type of set-up (though happy to keep and try to make work!)

Probably not. Failing contrary instruction, it will be removed.

[RAYC]

Should the numbering on the small glass labels be restricted to the shaded background number only, allowing us to write clearly the identity of the port onto the label after the big reveal?

Can we have small christmas trees or holly bushels in the corners of or background to the sticky labels? Or at least a star of Bethlehem...(butchered from the star quality tasting know-how)?!

You want to remove content to add writing space, and then to replace the writing space with clutter. Anyway, writing on the foot of the glass will probably be too fiddly. (And what does a ‟star of Bethlehem” look like?)

The first suggestion was a genuine one - writing F66, T27 etc. on the foot of the glass was exactly what a number of us did last year to keep track of what we were writing. [EDIT: drinking, not writing! But already quoted below!]

The second suggestion was tongue in cheek. Maybe i should have added an emoticon to flag this!

Star of Bethlehem:

[jdaw1]

Should the numbering on the small glass labels be restricted to the shaded background number only, allowing us to write clearly the identity of the port onto the label after the big reveal?

writing F66, T27 etc. on the foot of the glass was exactly what a number of us did last year to keep track of what we were writing.

Not sure that I like entirely removing the words, but something can be done.

[jdaw1]

As changes need to be made, please could there be an updated list of participants.

[DRT]

Twenty-six ports between the ten attendees (is that enough?);

Too many? I am bringing an unknown and a peculiar on the basis that neither may be drinkable, but i would have thought max 20 overall?

DRT to adjudicate.

As this is a "drinking" rather than a "tasting" I tend to agree with Rob that 20 might be considered to be enough. However, as always, the team will do there duty regardless of how many bottles turn up on the night.

Just to be clear in case we have any Xmas Bash virgins this year, the entry fee is 1 bottle of unknown or unusual Port (which doesn't necessarily have to be Port). If we get thirsty we can take the long walk to the bar, which is approximately 3 yards from the table.

[WS1]

Hi,

Axel and my bts are already with Tom, both fit the bill and all in all should be very interesting. However since I have a dentist appointment the next day in Woodbridge and with Seckfords I will avoid the "walking to the bar bit" despite tempting at one stage in the evening it may be. Secondly out of my experience these " in the beginning I thought this is a good idea" actions never held the excitement the next day.

regards

WS1

[jdaw1]

the entry fee is 1 bottle of unknown or unusual Port (which doesn't necessarily have to be Port).

He might have meant ‟which doesn't necessarily have to be Vintage”, but one can’t be sure with DRT.

out of my experience these " in the beginning I thought this is a good idea" actions never held the excitement the next day.

Typically on the next day one realises that the dose was too small.

[DRT]

the entry fee is 1 bottle of unknown or unusual Port (which doesn't necessarily have to be Port).

He might have meant ‟which doesn't necessarily have to be Vintage”, but one can’t be sure with DRT.

Non-vintage Port is certainly allowed and there have been many instances of such bottles appearing at The Bell. On previous occasions people have brought Madeira and bottles that were thought to be VP might have turned out to be something else. Whilst the central focus of the evening is indeed Vintage Port that is unusual or of unknown vintage or shipper, no one will be any less welcome if they decide to treat us to something else that fits with the general theme. So, if anyone turns up with an Amphora of Vino Romanica A.D. 0037 we are not going to be disappointed.