Master of Wine and wine buyer for Forth Wines It has a rather odd red colour, although I know it is meant to be red. It is very fizzy but the bubbles go quickly. It has a strong, bitter, hoppy nose and a lightish bitter watery taste. There is no great length in the mouth or complexity. The packaging is quite nice, so the product is rather a letdown as a result. I think for St Valentine's Day only it isn't worth the effort, as it will have limited appeal at any other time. Success rating out of 25 ­ 12 THE DESIGNER Matt Thompson A clever marketing strategy aimed, I guess, at the woman on the family shop. The gift drum and the £1.99 price point giving the incentive to pop it in the shopping trolley to show she cares. If men buy chocolates or flowers for the wife, then it's logical a woman would buy ale for her man, especially if the alternative is a £20 aftershave. I can't believe, though, as the back copy suggests, that a couple would share a "loving cup of ale together", but then I guess love works in mysterious ways! Perhaps a clearer communication of the unexpected ginseng ingredient could have given it more appeal to both sexes. Success rating out of 25 ­ 21 . THE BUYER Adam Marshall Licensed trading controller at Nisa-Today's The taste delivery is better than the nose but as a "gimmicky" beer it should perhaps be stronger (say 6.5%) to give it body. There was little evidence of the ginseng in either the taste or the aroma. The gift tube and bottle label are quite well presented but the Cain's branding tends to detract from the overall impact. This may have worked equally as well in a clear bottle and without the tube. At £1.99, it really prices itself out of the average premium ale drinker's pocket with regards value for money, so will rely heavily on the female impulse purchase for giftability. Cupid's Ale, Feb 14 ­ a one day wonder..... I wonder why? Success rating out of 25 ­ 8 Total score out of 100 ­ 57 {{DRINKS }}

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