ThePortForum.com

I will be in London and I will be thirsty

Being edited by Alex on behalf of Justin so I can keep track of what’s happening.

Table for 6 booked (by Neil) in the main dining room upstairs at the Boot & Flogger.
Start: 18.00 for 18.30
Theme: Port in a half bottle.

Attending:

1. Justin
2. Alex
3. Julian
4. Neil
5. Mike if the weather or cricket at the Oval drives him to the B&F

I can be there. Let me know where and when.

Provisionally, yes. Is there a theme?

I unfortunately can’t make this.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:38 Sun 25 May 2025 Provisionally, yes. Is there a theme?

Yes, bring a half bottle(s)

Justin K wrote: ↑13:21 Mon 26 May 2025

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:38 Sun 25 May 2025Provisionally, yes. Is there a theme?

Yes, bring a half bottle(s)

Seriously? What is this peculiar folly?

Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

jdaw1 wrote:

Justin K wrote: ↑13:21 Mon 26 May 2025

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:38 Sun 25 May 2025Provisionally, yes. Is there a theme?

Yes, bring a half bottle(s)

Seriously? What is this peculiar folly?

(edited to remove my unnecessary comment).

Sadly unable to join for Jun 3rd.

jdaw wrote:Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

That’s what I’ve done! Dow’s 1970 and ano on the way.

Justin K wrote: ↑20:59 Mon 26 May 2025 Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

That’s what I’ve done! Dow’s 1970 and ano on the way.

Your the organiser .... So what ever you want is fine !!

jdaw1 wrote: ↑14:35 Mon 26 May 2025

Justin K wrote: ↑13:21 Mon 26 May 2025

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:38 Sun 25 May 2025Provisionally, yes. Is there a theme?

Yes, bring a half bottle(s)

Seriously? What is this peculiar folly?

Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

But the theme is “a half bottle” and not “half a bottle” so it has to be in a 37.5cl container.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑21:34 Mon 26 May 2025But the theme is “a half bottle” and not “half a bottle” so it has to be in a 37.5cl container.

If that were the command of the organiser, then I would have to make my apologies.

But happily, it seems that it isn’t.

Justin K wrote: ↑20:59 Mon 26 May 2025

jdaw wrote:Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

That’s what I’ve done! Dow’s 1970 and ano on the way.

Ok Julian has me on not reading replies with the scrutiny of someone like George. I will however bring a measuring tape and woe betide any short servers.

Justin K wrote: ↑22:07 Mon 26 May 2025I will however bring a measuring tape and woe betide any short servers.

So less than a half would be punished — and quite rightly. Are long servings also to be punished?

jdaw1 wrote:

Justin K wrote: ↑22:07 Mon 26 May 2025I will however bring a measuring tape and woe betide any short servers.

So less than a half would be punished — and quite rightly. Are long servings also to be punished?

As far as I can tell the theme seems to deem to be acceptable anything which meets the criteria of "at least a half-bottle of at least one port". JDAW1 in clover.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:56 Mon 26 May 2025

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑21:34 Mon 26 May 2025But the theme is “a half bottle” and not “half a bottle” so it has to be in a 37.5cl container.

If that were the command of the organiser, then I would have to make my apologies.

Well, yes and no. If you own no empty half bottles, I can offer a couple of empty ones for adoption.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:56 Mon 26 May 2025But happily, it seems that it isn’t.

Justin K wrote: ↑20:59 Mon 26 May 2025

jdaw wrote:Am I allowed to decant some things at the weekend, drink half of them, and bring the remainder?

That’s what I’ve done! Dow’s 1970 and ano on the way.

These various requirements are all entirely compatible.
(a) You must bring your Port in a half bottle
(b) The Port does not need to have been originally bottled in a half bottle
(c) If you own no empty half bottles (or half bottles already full of Port), your Port loving friends can help you out

Simples!

As a wise man once said "I have a cunning plan".

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑14:33 Tue 27 May 2025(a) You must bring your Port in a half bottle

But I always decant into a decanter.

I'm available & will be bringing halves.

Have just contacted B&F to get a table. Asked for Boardroom if available.

nac wrote: ↑18:59 Wed 28 May 2025 Have just contacted B&F to get a table. Asked for Boardroom if available.

Thanks Neil.

Justin K wrote: ↑20:21 Wed 28 May 2025

nac wrote: ↑18:59 Wed 28 May 2025 Have just contacted B&F to get a table. Asked for Boardroom if available.

Thanks Neil.

None of the private rooms are available, so we've just got a table in the main restaurant area.
It's booked for up to six heads and I've asked for 10 glasses each.

As we're unlikely to have space for placemats, bringing a couple of chalk-pens might be a good idea.

nac wrote: ↑08:42 Thu 29 May 2025

Justin K wrote: ↑20:21 Wed 28 May 2025

nac wrote: ↑18:59 Wed 28 May 2025 Have just contacted B&F to get a table. Asked for Boardroom if available.

Thanks Neil.

None of the private rooms are available, so we've just got a table in the main restaurant area.
It's booked for up to six heads and I've asked for 10 glasses each.

And is booked for 1800. Have said we'll be ordering on the night and aim to have food 1915/1930ish.

To what extent sighted?

Depending on what happens on Tuesday with the weather at The Oval, I may appear at the B&F at some point.

I’ve just updated the first post to keep track of developments.

Justin K wrote: ↑20:29 Sat 24 May 2025Theme: Port in a half bottle.

This is obviously impossible for me, so will do something half-adjacent.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑13:28 Sun 01 Jun 2025 To what extent sighted?

Sighted so there won't be any duplications (Great minds etc.).

Sighted: I plan to bring half bottles of Croft 2004 LBV ( from the crazy Tesco sale in 2009 - I have a few left still!) and a half bottle of Quinta do Noval 2011, a half bottle which was filled by me when tasting a newly released bottle in 2013.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:21 Sun 01 Jun 2025

Justin K wrote: ↑20:29 Sat 24 May 2025Theme: Port in a half bottle.

This is obviously impossible for me, so will do something half-adjacent.

I will bring:
• half a bottle of Crasto 1996 decanted in one particular way, and
• half a bottle of Crasto 1996 decanted in different way.
Question: are they the same?

I’m bringing halves of Dow’s 63 & 70 and a Taylor’s 60. Bit of a choppy sailing so hopefully Port travels safely

If I make it, I'll have these with me






Seeing as no alcohol can be brought into international games at The Oval, I’ll swing by the B&F and drop them there this morning.

Well that was a lot of fun. For a small number of people, a tasting featuring half bottles definitely works well. You get to taste a lot more wines and it was interesting to taste a range from 2013 to 1960.

As and when I get the chance, I’ll set up a review thread.

Agree with Alex - that was a lot of fun and the halves worked really well.

Thanks for coming along and sharing some nice Ports. Also the help with my old single malt’s dilemma