Mirto - Sardinia's Favorite Liqueur

There's a shameful little secret all travelers have in common. We've all done it, every single one of us, and I'm sure you're no exception.

Red Mirto, Sardinia's favorite tipple

I'm talking about that dusty stash of bottles hidden away at the back of a cupboard somewhere in your kitchen or dining room. The barely tasted bottle of limoncello brought back from that great holiday in Sicily all those years ago. That fabulous aged tequila that you lugged back from Mexico, determined to educate your friends and family about what the "real thing" tastes like. The unopened bottle of sake a well-meaning relative gave you after a trip to Japan or the evil-looking Genepi from a ski trip to the Alps...

We've all got them, and we all forget about them. Until the end of that fabulous dinner party that is when, after a few too many glasses of wine, some misguided impulse compels you to delve around in the back of that cupboard, blow the dust off a couple of bottles and force a few of glasses on your bemused guests. Invariably, as you fumble for the aspirin the next morning, you swear to clear that cupboard out once and for all and tip the lot down the sink... but you never quite get round to it.

But why? Why, when we're normally so careful with the pennies do we find ourselves with hundreds of pounds worth of perfectly good alcohol that we never touch?

Personally, I think that liqueurs are so inextricably linked to the cultures and environments that produced them that they're never quite the same tasted out of context.

Myrtle berries on the bush, ready to be made into mirto

Take Sardinian mirto for example. It's made from the berries and/or leaves of the myrtle bush (Myrtus Communis) which flourishes in Sardinia's poor soil, growing up to six metres tall. It can be found everywhere on the island, forming part of the wild "macchia mediterranea" that covers just about every inch of undeveloped or unfarmed land.

The last 20 years have seen programmes started to selectively breed some of the 40 wild varieties of myrtle in order to improve and standardise yields, specifically with the production of mirto in mind, but the tipple's origins are truly ancient. Both the red and less common white varieties of the liqueur have been produced here for hundreds of years.

Mirto rosso (red mirto) is made from the crushed berries whilst mirto bianco (white mirto) is made from the leaves. The processes for making both are similar, seeing the berry or leaf pulp steeped in alcohol (usually grape spirit) for around two months. The resulting liquid is then filtered, mixed with sugar syrup and bottled at 30-35% alcohol.

I can't count the number of times I've sat in the departure lounge at Cagliari airport watching departing tourists in the gift shops. Already nostalgic for long dinners under lemon trees, perfectly cooked roast suckling pig and the scent of citronella candles drifting in the warm dusk air, they pick up a bottle of this fabulous liqueur as a reminder, hoping to recapture the magic of those perfect meals back home. It never has quite the same effect though when tasted in the dining room somewhere in London, and we already know it'll end up gathering dust along with those other sad relics of holidays past.

No! Mirto is too good a tipple to waste, so we've come up with a couple of recipes guaranteed to transport you back (gastronomically speaking) to Sardinia and conjure up a little of that mirto magic on a rainy day.

Sardinian Tiramisú

Ingredients:

• 500g ricotta
• 250g icing sugar
• 150ml white mirto
• 400ml water
• 40 ladyfinger biscuits
• A little cocoa powder

In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta together with the sugar
When thoroughly blended, whisk in three dessert spoons of mirto to get a smooth, creamy mix (if needed, blend in a few drops of milk)
In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining mirto and the water
Dip the ladyfingers in the water and mirto mix, allowing them to soak up the liquid without getting too soggy
Cover the base of  a high-sided serving platter with a tin layer of ricotta, then lay some of the ladyfingers on top.
Carry on alternating layers of ladyfingers with ricotta mixture until both have been used up (finish up with a layer of the ricotta)
Refrigerate for at least two hours, dust with a layer of cocoa and serve

Mirto Martini

Ingredients:

• 4 parts orange vodka
• 3 parts mirto
• 3 parts fresh lime juice
• 2 parts Cointreau
• 1 part simple sugar syrup

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add all the ingredients and shake well
Strain into a chilled martini glass and, if desired garnish with a few fresh blueberries

We'd love to hear what you think of these recipes, and let us know if you have any other tried and tested ways of using up leftover mirto!

www.sardiniaholidayconcierge.co.uk

How to Get the Best Deals on Your Sardinia Holiday

As one of the most beautiful and exclusive islands in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is not a budget holiday destination. However, follow a few simple rules and make those holiday dollars work for you.

1) Fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday
These are traditionally off-peak days for airlines so flying on these days can mean lower fares and less crowded cabins. Beware though if you're looking at self-catering villa accommodation in Sardinia, especially during the peak months... most properties adhere to a strict Saturday to Saturday stay and trying to economise by booking a mid-week flight can leave you seriously struggling to find the perfect villa.

2) Think Self-Catering
The cost of restaurant meals three times a day for the whole family whilst on holiday can really add up so consider self-catering villa options with good kitchen facilities to allow you to make the most of Sardinia's fresh local produce and save money at the same time.

3) Look Out for Discounted Flights
Most airlines offer deals and discounts on flights over Christmas and New Year, at Easter and in August.

4) Sign up for Email Notifications
Many sales on flights and accommodation are often unannounced to the general public with service providers preferring to notify their loyal customers of preferential deals. To avoid being bombarded by unwanted mail, create a new email account and use this to sign up to the mailing lists of companies you like the look of then simply log in when you come to plan your holiday and you'll have all the best deals and news at your fingertips.

5) Team up With a Friend
Many self catering holiday villas in Sardinia will offer discounts for stays of two weeks or over, with even better deals to be had if you book for a month or longer. If you're looking for a shorter stay, it's worth finding out which of your friends are also looking to holiday in Sardinia this summer so you can book the same property. If you stay for the first two weeks of July and your friends take the same villa for the second two weeks you can often secure really good savings for the total period.

Alternatively, holiday together with a friend. Especially in holiday villas you will find that the price per person is significantly lower for four bedroom properties than for two bedroom houses of the same standard. Larger villas are also much more likely to have extra facilities like private swimming pools than smaller properties.

6) Look for Added Value
Book villas with reputable companies that are happy to go the extra mile to make your holiday the best it can be. Services like a fully stocked fridge on arrival, restaurant recommendations and help with planning your itinerary will all ensure you get the best out of your holiday.

7) Stick to Off-Peak Dates
July and August in Sardinia can be expensive. May, June September and October are wonderful months to visit the island with bright sunshine, warm seas and far fewer tourists on the beaches so wherever possible try to travel at those times. You can often get the same hotel, Bed and Breakfast or villa for half the amount you would pay during peak season.

8) Find a Great Holiday Concierge
As English speaking residents of Sardinia, we often have access to deals, services and suppliers that the general public doesn't and can save you time and money as well as helping you discover the hidden corners of the island that only locals know about.

www.sardiniaholidayconcierge.co.uk