HEADSUP!

At our *FREE* in-store tasting bar this afternoon (Saturday, May 18 from 1-6pm), we’ll be pouring four lip-smackers from the Vintners Blend series of quaffable, affordable wines made by the Ravenswood winery in Sonoma, California. 

Oh, and even though these wines are affordably priced when NOT on sale (i.e., under $10), during the tasting bar hours today, these four will be discounted even more than normal … ’cause that’s how we roll ’round here. 

Come sip for free, then buy on sale!

TASTING  LINEUP:

• Ravenswood Vintners Blend
  • Chardonnay
  • Merlot
  • Petite Sirah
  • Zinfandel

Photo Credit.

HEADSUP!

… and you’ve never tasted Red Stripe, either?  At our *FREE* in-store tasting bar this afternoon (Friday, May 17 from 4-7pm), we’ll also be pouring the taste of Jamaica from Desnoes & Geddes Brewery in Jamaica:  Red Stripe. 

STUDY UP:

• Red Stripe Jamaican Lager — (American Adjunct Lager) (4.7% ABV)
  • Brewery website
  • Beer Advocate reviews

HEADSUP!

What?!?  You’ve never tried Guinness?  Well, today is your lucky day!  At our *FREE* in-store tasting bar this afternoon (Friday, May 17 from 4-7pm), we’ll be pouring *FREE SIPS* of Guinness Draught.  Sláinte!

STUDY UP:

• Guinness Draught – (Irish Dry Stout) (4.2% ABV)
• Brewery website
• Beer Advocate reviews

HEADSUP!

At our *FREE* in-store tasting bar this afternoon (Friday, May 17 from 4-7pm), we’ll be tasting a selection of wines from Colorado’s Cottonwood Cellars / Olathe Winery.   *DEEP DISCOUNTS* on the wines during tasting bar hours.  Come check ‘em out!

TASTING LINEUP:

• The Olathe  Winery Chardonnay NV
• The Olathe Winery Claret 2009
• The Olathe Winery White Lemberger 2011
• Cottonwood Cellars Syrah 2008

HEADSUP!

Scotland’s House of Dewar’s has just released its Highlander Honey, their blended “White Label” whisky infused with the natural flavors of real Scottish honey. Master Blender Stephanie Macleod uses honey from bees that harvest near the Dewar’s distillery in Aberfeldy.

Enjoy on the rocks or neat, in a chilled shot glass.  Or use it in a cocktail:  Try a shot of Dewar’s Highlander Honey poured over ice in a rocks glass and then topped up with cola.  Or pour a shot into your morning cuppa java.

$22.99 … and in our spirits aisle.

STUDY UP:

• Dewar’s website

HEADSUP!

This time of year, I switch to lighter reds — Grenache, Tempranillo, Gamay, Zweigelt, Pinot Noir — and serve them slightly chilled.  And if they come in at under $20 (but taste like the cost more than $20), even better.

Here’s a new acquisition from the veteran Sebastiani wine-making family in Sonoma, California … made with fruit sourced from Carneros and the Petaluma Gap.  Pinot Noir loves these cool regions, and I love the wine made with grapes grown from these appellations.  This one’s a keeper, folks.  A beautiful wine at an affordable price.  *LOVE*

STUDY UP:

• Don & Sons Pinot Noir 2010
            (87% Sonoma Coast:  71% Carneros, 16% Petaluma Gap), 13% Clarksburg

HEADSUP!

In honor of American Craft Beer Week this week, we’re highlighting a couple of *NEW* craft brews in our beer aisle.  Introducing … Smoglifter and The Bullocks from Brash Brewing Company.

Brash is the, um, brewchild of Ben Fullelove, owner of The Petrol Station, one of the best craft beer bars in Houston, Texas.  Because of the tortuous Texas alcoholic beverage code laws, Ben’s ownership of a beer bar prevents him from opening up his own brewery there.  So Ben packed up his recipes and took them to Clown Shoes Beer in Ipswich, Massachusetts to do the production and distribution of his brand of big, bold badass beers.

We just brought in two of these bad-boy brews, in limited quantities, so if you are a fan of Imperial IPAs or Imperial Coffee Milk Stouts, check these 22oz bombers out. 

Big BIG *B*I*G* !  (AND with really cool label art)

STUDY UP:

• Brash Brewing Company “SMOGLIFTER” — Imperial Coffee Milk Stout (10% ABV)
  • Brewery notes
  • Beer Advocate reviews
• Brash Brewing Company “THE BULLOCKS” — Imperial IPA (12% ABV)
  • Brewery notes
  • Beer Advocate reviews

HEADSUP!

Summer is on the horizon, which means you’ll be sipping Daiquiris, Mojitos, Piña Coladas, Mai Tais, Dark and Stormies, and other delicious rum concoctions soon enough. 

Enter YOLO Gold Rum, the latest addition to our rum collection.  It’s a joint production between a master distiller and rum blender from Cuba, a distillery in Panama, and an innovative beverage company based in Denver.  And it’s smooooooth and delish.

You Only Live Once, so don’t sip bad rum.  Sip YOLO Gold.  The 750ml bottles are $42.99, and you know where to find ‘em …

STUDY UP:

• YOLO Rum website

HEADSUP!

Treat your Mom to  the favorite beverage of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mum, who likes gin (30%) and Dubonnet (70%) with a slice of lemon under the ice.  Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, also favors this tipple; she has been known to take a Dubonnet and gin before lunch every day.  So if it’s good enough for the Queen and the Queen Mum, offer this drink up to your own mum and let her feel like a queen for the day today.  Happy Mum’s Day!

The backstory:  Dubonnet was created in the 1840s as a way to make Quinine — a medicine for malaria — more palatable for the French Foreign Legion troops in North Africa.  Dubonnet – a sweet, wine-based aperitif based on fortified wine, herbs and spices — tastes bitter on its own, but pairs nicely with gin.  The earliest incarnation of the cocktail was the early 1900s, when it was known as the Dubonnet Cocktail. The mix served over ice came to be known as the Zaza.  And today, because of its reputation as the drink of the royals, it is known as the Queen Mother.

To party like the Queen and the Queen Mum, be sure to use a London Dry Gin (of course); the Queen likes Gordon’s.

PRODUCT PRICING:

We’ve got 750ml bottles of Gordon’s Gin for $10.99, and Dubonnet Rouge for $12.99. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 ounces Dubonnet Rouge
• 1 ounce London Dry Gin (e.g., Tanqueray, Beefeater, Bombay, Gordon’s, etc.)
• lemon twist for garnish

DIRECTIONS — BASIC VERSION:

1. Add a few ice cubes to a mixing glass.
2. Pour in the Dubonnet and gin.
3. Mix gently.
4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with the lemon twist.
6. Sip, savor and enjoy!

DIRECTIONS — QUEEN MUM’S VERSION:

1. Put a lemon slice at the bottom of a cocktail glass.
2. Place two ice cubes on top of the lemon slice.
3. Continue with the steps for the basic version, listed above.

Photo Credit – Dubonnet.

HEADSUP!

At our *FREE* in-store tasting bar this afternoon (Saturday, May 11 from 1-6pm), we’ll be pouring four Mom-friendly wines — featuring a sweet bubbly from California and a dry bubbly from Italy; a pretty-in-pink rosado from Spain; and a silky and sensational red blend from Argentina.  Come taste for free, then buy on sale!

TASTING LINEUP:

• La Marca Prosecco NV
            (Veneto, Italy)
• Las Rocas de San Alejandro Rosado 2012
            (Calatayud, Spain)
• Don Miguel Gascon Colosal Red Blend 2011
            (Mendoza, Argentina)
• Martin & Weyrich Moscato Allegro 2010
            (California)