Quinta do Noval Black - Port cocktails

[Roy Hersh]

Here are a bunch of excellent cocktails that you may want to try this season!

PDT's Jim Meehan has ushered in the cold season with the debut of six Port cocktails featuring Quinta do Noval's Noval BLACK. Launched two years ago by legendary Port producer Quinta do Noval to bring Port to a wider audience and a new generation, Noval BLACK's freshness and versatility make it the perfect star ingredient in Jim's cocktails. Jim's goal in creating these cocktails was to create "Port cocktails" and not simply cocktails "with Port." Ripe with lush berry and cherry notes, Noval BLACK also makes a perfect aperitif or after-dinner drink.

Below are the recipes for Jim's cocktails, as well as some notes on their inspiration. Attached is a hi-res image of Deep Purple, a Port and Cognac-based cocktail with muddled Concord grapes and shiso. Hi-res images are available for all of the cocktails.

2012 Noval Black Port Fall/Winter Recipes
by Jim Meehan, PDT, New York


Third Wheel

2 oz. Noval Black Port

2 oz. Brewed Oolong Tea (room temperature)

1 oz. Angel’s Envy Bourbon

Build over ice in a wine glass

Garnish with a mint sprig



Initially, Port seems like a third wheel when mixed with two old friends: bourbon and iced tea. In this case, the third wheel brings stability to the first two by rejoining the bourbon with the cask it formerly rested in.



Deep Purple

1.75 oz. Tesseron Lot 76 XO Cognac

1 oz. Noval Black Port

.75 oz. Lillet Rouge

6 Concord Grapes

1 Shiso leaf

Muddle the concord grapes and shiso

Add the rest of the ingredients and ice

Shake and fine strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with pebble ice

Garnish with a shiso leaf



After helping Jim formulate this autumnal cognac cobbler composed of Concord grapes, fragrant shiso and inky Noval Port, bartender Karen Fu quickly named it after the seminal English rock band, Deep Purple. Feel free to hum “Smoke on the Water” as you sip it.



Port Authority

2 oz. Noval Black Port


1 oz. Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy

.5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe

Garnish with 3 black olives on a pick



The spirits accentuate the cidery, earthy quality of Noval Black Port and the black olives allude to the olive trees that surround the Quinta. The cocktail is named after the New York City bus terminal you depart from to visit Laird’s.



My Favorite Things

1.5 oz. Noval Black Port

1.5 oz. Tesseron Lot 76 XO Cognac

.5 oz. L’Abricot du Roulot

1 Egg white

Dry shake, then shake with ice and strain into a chilled fizz glass

Garnish with grated nutmeg



This title of this cocktail, one of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane’s most famous tunes, refers to the grouping of three of Jim's favorite liquids and the improvisational nature of mixology: the logic used to combine these ingredients.



Last Liberdade

1.5 oz. Noval Black Port

1.5 oz. Siete Leguas Anejo Tequila

1 oz. Grapefruit Juice

1 Cardamom Pod

1 Whole Egg

Muddle the Cardamom Pod, then add the rest of the ingredients

Dry shake, then shake with ice and fine strain into a chilled coupe

Garnish with grated cardamom



The liberdade, literally “liberty,” begins when the grape stompers, foot-pressing grapes in traditional lagares, are freed from the methodical, march-like beginning of the process, and begin to dance. This rich, after dinner cocktail, is the perfect Port-based punctuation to an evening.



Perfect Finish

2 oz. Noval Black Port

1 oz. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Scotch Whisky

.25 oz. Brizard White Crème de Cacao

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe

Garnish with a piece of dark chocolate

[Eric Menchen]

I will have to try some of these this fall when I open up some non-VP bottles. They sound interesting. I just have green Chartreuse, not yellow. If I put that in a Port Authority, do you think Darrell Corti will notice?

[Carl D]

I will have to try some of these this fall when I open up some non-VP bottles. They sound interesting. I just have green Chartreuse, not yellow. If I put that in a Port Authority, do you think Darrell Corti will notice?

Yes! I'm sure he will. ..but only if you invite him over for drinks!

[Rob C.]

Attached is a hi-res image of Deep Purple, a Port and Cognac-based cocktail with muddled Concord grapes and shiso. Hi-res images are available for all of the cocktails.

Think the picture got missed out.

Pictures for all are available, though not in high res, here

Hover the mouse over each picture to see which is which.