Drinks news

Internet store giant Amazon.co.uk is currently offering a selection of rare vintages to suit every budget - from £5 to £10,000. Some UK fine-wine specialists are selling a selection of sought-after vintages via the company's on-line auctions. The auctions last for between one day and one week. For example, James Tait Wines had a 1900 Château Beychevelle, St Julien, for which the minimum bid was £10,000. For half the price, and half the age, they were also offering a bottle of 1955 Château Latour Pomerol, with a minimum bid of £4,000. Berry Bros & Rudd had some Champagne deals - with bids starting at £5 for a 1979 Krug, or a case of Mumm 1988 for £250. "It's a new and exciting forum both for the consumer and the wine trade," says John-Paul Cockain, Internet manager for Berry Bros & Rudd.

You know you'll have one, so here's the cure, from cocktail maestro Salvatore Calabrese at the Lanesborough: it's called the Wake Up 2000, "The drink to start the year 2000," he chuckles. "It's a variation of the classic Bloody Mary but, true to the hair-of-the-dog tradition, Champagne is added, as you should always drink what you were drinking the night before!" Ingredients: 3cl vodka ("to ease the pain and top up your alcohol levels"), 2cl Cointreau ("the orange flavour and the sugar will help pick you up and give you energy"), 1cl lemon juice ("the sharpness will help settle your stomach") and tomato mix ("tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar for more energy"). Method: pour all the ingredients into a mixer with ice and shake. Pour into a chilled highball glass with ice until three-quarters full. Top up with Champagne, stir, and garnish with a wedge of lime.