"According to an old saying in the Port trade, every wine would be a Port, if it could." Ha! Ha! (Otherwise: rubbish).
Strange how the great British port families feel like relatives to me, an ordinary one-bottle man. (A thought which drifted towards me when I was draining, at a funny morning hour, an illegitimate bottle of Dow's).
The Younger one. (Three)
P.S. In 1799, 44 million litres (over 11.6 million US gallons) of
Port were imported by the English - an equivalent of five litres for every man,
woman and child in England. During this period, Port became associated with the
"Englishman's drink" with social clubs touting membership of
"three-bottle men*" or those who were able to drink at least three
bottles of Port in one sitting. Among the notable men who touted this
accomplishment were William Pitt the Younger and the playwright Richard
Brinsley Sheridan. (wikipedia)
*Not that I remember it too clearly, but I must have been, at wilder times, a two-bottle man. However, I don't feel envious: I guess there is some wisdom in power being wielded by the stronger; as long as they listen to the wiser.
