CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER

Founded in the 1829 in Ay, the larger than life, family-managed Bollinger champagne house has long been a favourite of high flyers and licensed-to-kill double-o agents. Not styled to lurk in the shadows, the non-vintage is fittingly robust and opulent, expanding joyously onto the palate in a wave of appley authority, while the vintage and prestige expressions are held in high regard.

During her reign at the company (1941-1971), the expansive Lilly Bollinger put it thus: ‘I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty.’