FOR a change from wine, our subject on this occasion was Italian liqueurs.

David Hampshire, an old friend from Hamps Wines, and specialising in small vineyards in Tuscany, gave a presentation.

Liqueurs can be taken as a digestif at the end of a meal.

Many are vodka-based, and the quality of the fruit used determines the result. Additionally, the alcohol content changes with the different fruit used.

David had brought a generous selection of eight liqueurs with him. We tried strawberry, containing small wild strawberries; cherry; liquorice – a most distinctive flavour considered to be like medicine, and which was agreed to be like Marmite – you either love it or hate it.

Crema chocolate was the fourth, followed by orangecello and lemoncello.

David recommended that lemoncello is good topped up with Prosecco. Seventh was Amaretto and finally, Grappa, which is generally taken with coffee and is an acquired taste.

It is made from a red grape and starts as 100 per cent alcohol.

We enjoyed the opportunity to try these different liqueurs and this was evidenced by the amount of noise at the end of a very pleasant evening.

The December meeting was a social with a delicious buffet for which all members brought a contribution.

This was followed by a lighthearted quiz around wines and Christmas. The event is always popular, and sets the scene for the festivities to come.