Independence Day Cocktails

We're always in favor of a holiday, especially when we can responsibly enjoy some of our products. First off, however, we're going to offer a lesson on layering cocktails. That also means we'll have a recipe today that requires that fairly simple technique.

Layering Cocktails

1) Figure out the specific gravity of each of the ingredients in your drink. Recipes sometimes contain this information. Sort out your ingredients in terms of heaviness, so you can pour them in from heaviest to lightest.

2) Pour the heaviest liquor or liqueur into a shot glass or cordial glass (or whatever you prefer – the broader the glass is the less noticeable the layers will probably be). Try not to get any up on the sides – pour straight down into the center of the glass.

Turn a spoon upside down. Place it inside the glass, with the tip of the spoon against the inside edge of the glass, above the first layer and not touching it. (Some online sources say it should be right at the top of the first layer, or even down in it a little – for me, having it above the others worked best, but it may depend on your style and/or the exact liqueurs you’re working with.)

3) Pour the next heaviest liqueur as slowly as possible over the back of the spoon, moving the spoon up as the level of ingredients rises (keep it above the ingredients). It’s easier to do this with a bottle that’s half full (or less) rather than one that’s nearly full, so you may need to pour some of the liquor or liqueur into another container. Pour from the opposite side of where you’re holding the spoon.

If the two ingredients mix up a little bit, give them a few seconds to settle, and they should separate nicely.

4) Repeat the process with the third layer, continuing to raise the spoon as you pour. Bring it as close as you dare to the top (wipe off anything that spilled on the outside of the glass). As you get closer to the rim of the glass, you can move the spoon slightly away from the edge of the glass and continue to pour over it – that gives the liqueur plenty of room to land in the glass without landing too heavily. (Besides, the further along you get in that layer, the less danger there is of disturbing the one beneath it.)

Your finished result is three (or more) distinct layers in different colors. You should pick ingredients that aren’t too close in color if they’re next to each other, to emphasize the contrast. This is an extremely artistic approach to cocktail pouring, and there’s no end to what you can come up with.

Courtesy of Mix That Drink

The Fourth of July

The overall flavor of this drink is a blend of pomegranate and orange – fruity, but not too sweet, and agreeable to most people’s palates. You can pour these before a party starts and put them in a tray in the refrigerator and bring them out as a surprise after dinner drink for guests. The presentation possibilities are amazing.

Layer equal amounts of the following, in this order:

Grenadine (Daily's or Giroux)
Blue Curacao (Hiram Walker)
Vodka (Tito's)

Consider Rum Chata instead of the vodka. Rum Chata will add the color that vodka lacks, while adding a sweet, cinnamon flavor to the drink. You can also pre-make any number of these drinks and store them in the fridge until you need them.

Red, White & Blue Sangria

This is a nice punchbowl recipe.

Ingredients:

2 bottles dry white wine (consider La Cana Albarino or Shaya Verdejo; both are Spanish wines)
1 cup Hiram Walker or DeKuyper triple sec
1/2 cup berry-flavored vodka (try Ciroc Berry)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup simple syrup
1 cup blueberries
1 1/2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries
1 cup raspberries
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks

Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl or pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve well-chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink, or serve over ice.

Please note that our stores will be open from 9am to 9pm on Friday, July 4th.

Friday Grab Bag

It's time for our round-up of information that you need to prepare for the weekend. One quick note about the upcoming holiday. We celebrate Independence Day next Friday, July 4th. Both stores will be open from 9am to 9pm on July 4th.

Woodbridge Events

We'll start in Woodbridge this week. The big event is our Beer & Burgers night, to benefit Meals on Wheels. This is a Sunday night, after-hours craft beer fest where you can sample from about a dozen breweries, and maybe buy an allocated or rare beer. The full details are one our web site here. You can have a great time while supporting an important cause.

Our wine tasting schedule is normal for the weekend, 4-6pm today and 1-3pm tomorrow. For Friday, we will be tasting through four different wines from 90+ Cellars, and we're tasting Staff Selections on Saturday. You can see the weekend's tasting menu here.

Also tonight is the final Starr Hill specialty tapping. Stop in at 6pm to fill a Growler with Starr Hill Soul Shine. 

Looking ahead into July, we have a free Senor Sangira tasting on Thursday, July 3. The following week will be arguably the best event of the summer, the Caymus dinner, being held at LouCas in Edison on July 10. You'll enjoy 6 great courses with 7 outstanding wines. Complete information is available on our web site here.

 And don't miss the free soft pretzels on Saturday, July 5, from 1-3pm, while supplies last.

Lawrenceville Events

While this weekend's tasting hours are normal, our menu is very different. Tonight, from 4-6pm, we're sampling McKenzie whiskey, from New York's Finger Lakes region. We carry the McKenzie Bourbon, Pure Pot Still Whiskey, and Rye whiskey.

McKenzie Whiskeys are made from only the best ingredients, and are distilled using old-time techniques. Handmade and un-chillfiltered, these fine spirits have rich, complex flavors and smooth, colorful finishes. Superb straight-up or on the rocks, but they also stand up well in a variety of cocktails. 

McKenzie Pure Pot Still Whiskey  is their take on an Irish-style whiskey – soft, smooth and easy drinking. They use a combination of locally-grown unmalted barley and malted barley. The whiskey is aged in used bourbon and rye barrels.

McKenzie Bourbon Whiskey is a very rich bourbon with just enough rye spice to complement the subtle sweetness. A local variety of corn makes 70% of the mash bill. The bourbon is aged in new charred barrels and finished in local chardonnay casks, which gives the bourbon a round, buttery finish.

McKenzie Rye Whiskey is made from local rye grain and is distilled using old-time techniques. The whiskey is aged in new charred oak casks and finished in sherry barrels from local wineries. The sherry balances the spiciness of the rye and also gives a nod to the wine region where this whiskey is produced. 

Our Saturday tasting, from 2-4pm, is Senor Sangria. Senor Sangria is the perfect accompaniment to
summer.

What's New

Cannonball 2012 Merlot is euphoria in a bottle. The crimson color alone tempts all the senses, while enticing aromas of amaretto, black plum, fresh fig, and candied
violet fill the nose. The wine has a full silky entry with sophisticated structure, wonderful concentration and playful texture peeking through, slowly building into an engaging finish of fresh cherries, rich chocolate, and spiced cake.

An absolute pleasure to enjoy on its own, the lush ripe tannins of this Merlot also pairs well with a wide range of foods including salmon, pork, root vegetables and aged cheeses. Its expansive persona has enough backbone to accompany red meats, Asian duck, and pasta with rich sauces.

Only $12.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Summer Cookin'

With grilling season here, we consulted our industry partners for some recipes. Our industry does have some delicious research projects, and we like to share the results.

Grilled Tuscan Rib Steak with Heirloom Tomato, Gorgonzola & Arugula Salad

Recipe and image courtesy of Chateau Ste. Michelle

The steak:

2 12-oz. boneless rib steaks about 1 inch thick
1½ tsp. dry thyme
1 tsp. dry oregano
2 tsp. smoked paprika
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
1 tsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
olive oil
Instructions:

Mix the spices together in a small bowl. Rub the steaks lightly with olive oil and sprinkle both sides with the spice rub. Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Place the steaks on the grill and cook about 5-7 minutes per side, depending on how well done you like your steak. Let the steak rest for at least 15 minutes, the slice across grain into thick slices. Put on the serving plate and top with the salad to serve.

The salad:

3 large Heirloom tomatoes, assorted colors
½ c. crumbled gorgonzola
¼ medium red onions, thinly julienned
1 clove garlic, minced
2 c. arugula leaves
3 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:

Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut into thin wedges. Put the tomatoes, onions and garlic in a small bowl. Add the olive oil and vinegar, toss gently to coat well.Season with salt and pepper, let marinate for about 30 minutes. Just before serving, add the gorgonzola and arugula and mix gently to just to combine.

Serve with Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon

Blue Cheese Burger with Chive Aioli

Recipe and image courtesy of St. Francis Winery

It seems like everyone has their own favorite burger recipe. If you haven't yet sampled a recipe from Sonoma's St. Francis Winery, you are missing something special.

Ingredients:

1½ pounds ground beef
1 large red onion, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
½ cup mayonnaise
1 bunch chives, sliced thin
1 clove garlic, finely minced
6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
Salt and black pepper
Sliced tomatoes and baby spinach for garnish
4 Hamburger buns

Preparation:

Coat the sliced red onion with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and marinate for about 1 hour.

Mix the chives, garlic and mayonnaise together and reserve for later use.

Preheat a grill or cast iron griddle pan over medium high heat.

Form the ground beef into 4 to 6-ounce patties about 5 inches in diameter.

Grill the onion slices on the preheated grill for 2-3 minutes per side or until well marked and just tender. Remove onions from the grill and reserve someplace warm.

Season both sides of the hamburger patties with salt and black pepper and lightly coat with olive oil. Place the patties on the preheated grill and cook about 3 minutes per side for medium or until desired temperature. When the burgers are nearly done, distribute the crumbled blue cheese evenly over the 4 patties so the cheese begins to melt. Remove the patties and reserve.

To assemble; spread a liberal amount of the chive aioli over the bottom piece of each bun and add the finished burgers. Garnish with grilled onions, tomatoes and baby spinach as desired.

Serve immediately.

Pair with either the St. Francis Sonoma Merlot or the St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel.

Grilled Shrimp with Balsamic Aioli

Recipe courtesy of Allagash Brewing Company

Ingredients

6 shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 leaves of radicchio, blanched and chilled
6 thin sliced pancetta
4 oz olive oil
½ tb balsamic vinegar
1 egg yolk
1 clove garlic smashed with knife
½ lemon
1 tb chopped herbs- chive, rosemary, basil, parsley, any or all
½ tsp mustard

Method:

Pre heat grill to high for 15 minutes
Season shrimp with ½ herbs, 1 tb olive oil, salt and pepper
Next, wrap shrimp with radicchio and then wrap in pancetta
Set in fridge until ready to grill

Balsamic aioli

Wisk egg yolk, mustard, herbs, vinegar together
Add olive oil very slowly, drop by drop to start and whisking all the time until it's emulsified together
Add remaining garlic, salt, pepper and 3 drops hot sauce

Brush shrimp with olive oil and season again with pepper only
Place on grill and turn down heat to med/high and turn with tongs as Pancetta crisps and renders
Place on a platter with mixed greens and lemon
Spoon sauce over shrimp and serve

Enjoy with Allagash White or Allagash Saison

Maker's Mark® Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe and image courtesy of Maker's Mark

We can't have a nice weekend dinner without some dessert, right? Fortunately, bourbon lends itself very nicely to a variety of desserts.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy
Makes 12 cupcakes

The Maker's Mark® Cupcakes

1/4 cup Maker's Mark Bourbon®
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup whole milk

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners. Sift all dry ingredients together: flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Put aside for later use.
Cream the butter and brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition and beating well.
Add the molasses and mix well.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk to the batter.
Add the Maker's Mark® Bourbon, stirring well with a spoon/spatula. The batter will look thin and slightly broken. Fill the cupcake liners almost to the top and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out cleanly when tested.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely, about 20 minutes, before frosting.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes 2 cups

1-1/2 cups cream cheese (12 ounces), softened to room temperature
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese well, using a wooden spoon or paddle attachment.
Add the softened butter. Continue to beat until well mixed in with the cream cheese.
Add the powdered sugar, cinnamon and salt. Beat until well incorporated. Refrigerate until needed and allow to soften at room temperature before using.

When You're Looking For Something New

A quick note before the main topic of the day. Our Woodbridge store has a new Twitter handle: @jcwoodbridge. Please update your records.

We'd like to present a round-up of brand-new items, and a preview of what's due to arrive.

Malibu Rum Cans

These selections should arrive within the next couple of days. They're prefect for by the pool, or any other place where glass isn't appropriate.

MALIBU presents instant coco. A line of quality, pre-mixed drinks perfect when chilling with friends and getting ready for that fun night out.

MALIBU pre-mixed cans brings a Caribbean twist to your favorite drink and also introduces new exciting ways of enjoying that coconut rum you love. Serve chilled for a perfectly mixed drink every time.

Look for Pineapple, Cranberry and Pink Lemonade flavors.

Chateau la Fleur de Jaugue 2009

A Grand Cru from St. Emilion, with a blend of 80% merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Another top-notch wine from the amazing 2009 Bordeaux vintage. It has a glossy dark color with beautiful highlights. On the palate, it develops the characteristic notes of the Bordeaux grapes, combined with subtle aromas of ripe fruit, leather and wood. A very pleasant wine structured, tannic with a nice body, soft and gentle on the finish.

Only $21.98 in the Bottle Club®.

Iris Pinot Gris

After the long winter, we recommend taking full advantage of our selection of summer wines. High on our list is the 2012 Iris Pinot Gris.

It rated 91 Points and “Editors Choice” from the Wine Enthusiast June 2014 edition. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this is a clean, crisp, fruit-driven wine.

This pale straw colored Pinot Gris displays enticing aromas of pear, cardamom, orange blossom and lemon zest. On the pallet, it bursts with concentrated citrus, apple, and gooseberry flavors, accompanied by an excellent acid balance followed by a long, clean citrus, mango finish.

The 2012 Iris Pinot Gris price at the winery is $16.00, but we have it in the Bottle Club® for only $11.99.

Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 20 Year

We'll wrap this post with a look at a pretty special whiskey. Ten steps ahead in a dance of discourse, Rhetoric candy-coats and compels with equal amounts of art. Proper, eloquent, and poetic, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey speaks a language to which you could listen for hours.

Each sip starts with a smoky, leathery nose that translates into vanilla oak, toasted rye, and dried fruits, and concludes with a long, full finish of cherry blossom and bitter chocolate.

An ever-changing specimen, Rhetoric is an experiment in how barrel maturation imparts a lasting impression year after year. Each new year results in an older and wiser limited release from remaining maturing stock. A conversation piece if there ever was one.


20 years matured. 45% ABV.

This is a highly allocated whiskey, and only a few bottles are available in each store. Priced at $89.99.

A New Tee for Tuesday

Warmer weather often finds whisk(e)y drinkers trying something lighter, which almost always means Irish whiskey. Brand new to our stores is Teeling whiskey. That's the "Tee" we referenced in the title

Their mission statement tells you a lot about their view of whisky production: "We are an independent Irish whiskey company dedicated to bringing choice and breadth back to the Irish whiskey category through small batch releases of interesting and flavoursome bottlings. Our goal is to revive the independent spirit of Dublin."

Teeling whiskeys stay true to the family tradition of quality over quantity and their belief that it’s what is in the bottle that really counts. While being respectful to the past and their own provenance they are confident enough to forge a new future for Dublin and Irish whiskey through innovation and daring to do things differently.

From grain to bottle many hands are involved in this small batch production process to ensure that each bottle of Teeling is crafted to the highest standard possible. Each bottle carries the signature of Jack Teeling, along with details of the casks used and when bottled reinforcing the hand crafted nature of Teeling Whiskey.

Teeling's Flagship Irish whiskey is their attempt to create the most interesting Blended Irish whiskey. This small batch bottling consists of hand selected casks which are given further maturation in ex-rum barrels imparting extra character and smooth flavor unique to Irish whiskey. Bottling at 46% with no chill filtration completes an Irish whiskey of true character.

NOSE: An inviting nose where vanilla and spice dances with bright sweet notes of Rum.

TASTE: While being very approachable, the influence of the rum cask and higher percentage alcohol creates a unique smooth, sweet, slightly woody marriage that sparkles on the tongue.

FINISH: Slightly moorish, sweet spice finish complimented by woody undertones.

Only $34.99 in the Bottle Club®. And how about a quick cocktail recipe?

Bang Bang

This is a variation on a whiskey sour using Irish whiskey with Earl Grey tea as a subtle influencing aroma in replace of Angostura Bitters.

Ingredients

Teeling Whiskey

Earl Grey Tea

Lemon Juice

Sugar Syrup

Garnish : Lemon Zest

Ice : Cubed

Glass : Tumbler/Rocks

Method : Shaken

Deep Eddy Cocktails

We've had the most amazing reaction to the introduction of Deep Eddy Vodkas, thank you. To show their flexibility, here are a few cocktail recipes that feature Deep Eddy.

Skinny Dip

1 part Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
1 part water
lemon to taste
Serve over ice in a Mason jar

Deep Daly

1 part Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
1 part fresh lemonade

The above two cocktails can be made by the glass or by the pitcher, as long as you maintain the proper ratios. Next is a by-the-glass choice.

Afternoon Delight

1oz Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
1 pint Hefewizen
squeeze of orange

But we carry more than the Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka.

Ruby Rouge

3 parts Deep Eddy Ruby Red
3 parts club soda
1 part Campari
Lime wedge for garnish
Serve in a highball glass

Fresca Rojo

1oz Deep Eddy Ruby Red
1oz 100% Agave Silver Tequila (Try Camarena, 100% Blue Agave Tequila)
2oz fresh watermelon juice
1oz Fresca or Sprite

Rim a highball glass with Chile Salt
Mix the first three ingredients in a shaker, adding ice
Shake, then strain into the glass with fresh ice
Top with Fresca or Sprite

And don't miss Deep Eddy Cranberry Vodka. Cheers!

Grab Bag Friday

Tomorrow, we'll hit the official start of summer at 6:51am, and it's the longest day of the year. To celebrate summer, we have some great events over the next two weekends, so we'll start the Grab Bag there.

Lawrenceville Events

The highlight, of course, is our first Beer & Burgers event on Sunday, after hours, starting at 7:30pm. For the price of admission, you can sample from more than a dozen breweries, enjoy great food from Smokin' Dale's, and have the opportunity to purchase allocated and hard-to-find beers. Best of all, $5 from the price of each ticket goes to Ryan's Quest. The mission of Ryan’s Quest is to raise awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy with the purpose of allocating funds for research that has the greatest potential of finding a treatment or cure for this disease.

For complete details on Beer & Burgers, click here. Don't wait until Sunday; get your tickets today!

Lawrenceville will also host its regular, free weekly wine tastings today, 4-6pm, and tomorrow, 2-4pm. The tasting menu is here. Next weekend, look for a tasting of McKenzie whiskey on Friday, and a tasting of Senor Sangria on Saturday. Both are free, of course.

Woodbridge Events

This weekend starts normally, with our regular wine tasting from 4-6pm. The menu is here. Saturday, however, is a Mob Wives kind of day.

Carla Facciolo

From 1-5pm tomorrow, Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo will be at our Woodbridge store for a bottle signing/wine tasting. We will be tasting Carla's Prosecco, Montepulciano and Trebbiano during the event, and Carla will be available for photos.

Next weekend, we'll have a 90+ Cellars wine tasting on Friday, 4-6pm, and staff selections for our wine tasting on Saturday.

On Sunday, June 29, our Woodbridge store will host its own Beer & Burgers night. For the price of admission, you can sample from about a dozen breweries, enjoy great food from the Ah, la Cart! food truck, and have the opportunity to purchase allocated and hard-to-find beers. Best of all, the event benefits Meals on Wheels. Meals On Wheels Association of America empowers community programs to improve health and quality of life.

For the complete agenda, including ticket information, please click here.

As we turn the calendar to July, we have a two more events for you. On Thursday, July 3, we have a free tasting of Senor Sangria. The following wee, on Thursday, July 10, there will be a Caymus dinner at LouCas in Edison. You'll enjoy six great courses, paired with seven great wines. For details, please click here.

Ripped from the Headlines

Is all craft beer becoming lager beer? Read the story here.

News you can really use: how to set up the ultimate beer cooler. Read the story here.

Cheers, everyone. Enjoy the weekend!

Beat the heat with these great items

New wines. New spirits. At the beginning of the summer, we're pleased to be able to offer some outstanding new items.

Teeling Irish Whiskey

Warmer weather often finds whisk(e)y drinkers trying something lighter, which almost always means Irish whiskey. Brand new to our stores is Teeling whiskey.

Teeling whiskeys stay true to the family tradition of quality over quantity and their belief that it’s what is in the bottle that really counts. While being respectful to the past and their own provenance they are confident enough to forge a new future for Dublin and Irish whiskey through innovation and daring to do things differently.

From grain to bottle many hands are involved in this small batch production process to ensure that each bottle of Teeling is crafted to the highest standard possible. Each bottle carries the signature of Jack Teeling, along with details of the casks used and when bottled reinforcing the hand crafted nature of Teeling Whiskey.

Teeling's Flagship Irish whiskey is their attempt to create the most interesting Blended Irish whiskey. This small batch bottling consists of hand selected casks which are given further maturation in ex-rum barrels imparting extra character and smooth flavor unique to Irish whiskey. Bottling at 46% with no chill filtration completes an Irish whiskey of true character.

NOSE: An inviting nose where vanilla and spice dances with bright sweet notes of Rum.

TASTE: While being very approachable, the influence of the rum cask and higher percentage alcohol creates a unique smooth, sweet, slightly woody marriage that sparkles on the tongue.

FINISH: Slightly moorish, sweet spice finish complimented by woody undertones.

Only $34.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Cutty Sark Prohibition

One of the iconic Scotch whisky brands, Cutty Sark, used the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition to bring something new to the market: Cutty Sark Prohibition edition.

Cutty Sark Prohibition is an old-school, authentic Scotch, smooth on the tongue but with a big finish through the inclusion of different whiskies like The Macallan and Highland Park. This small batch bottling is sweet and salty, with top notes of citrus that are complemented beautifully by toffee, caramels, and spicy pepper.

Prohibition was a time when Cutty Sark established itself in the US and the new blend is a tribute to the notorious Captain William McCoy,  who smuggled the brand into the country and whose reputation for fairness and supplying unadulterated liquor gave rise to Cutty Sark being referred to as ‘the real McCoy’.

Priced at only $28.99.

Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge 2010

Speaking of iconic, that's the single-vineyard Brothers Ridge, from Rodney Strong. In the northernmost hills of the Alexander Valley AVA, with average temperatures of 67 degrees, heat dominates, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen well. In the hills to the east of the small town of Cloverdale, Brothers Ridge spans 141 acres, nearly all planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Malbec.

This is a deep dense wine bursting with complex dark red fruits like cassis, cherry and plum with hints of tobacco followed by a round and seductive mid-palate and a long, structured finish.

The 2010 Brothers Ridge earned 91 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "The gripping tannins are evident early on, wrapped around a rich mix of red and black fruits, gaining depth and a range of flavors, with melted black licorice folding in. Ends with cedar-graphite tannins. Needs time. Best from 2014 through 2025. 1,649 cases made."

Limited quantities are available, priced at $69.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Josh Cellars Legacy Red

Wine drinkers are probably aware of Josh Cellars. We currently carry their Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir. We've just added the Josh Cellars Legacy Red to our stores. Josh Cellars makes rich, approachable wines. Wines that are bold and expressive, but unassuming and approachable.

The Legacy Red fills the glass with aromas of blueberry pie, fresh raspberries, sage rosemary and cigar box. The wine is dense and lush with flavors of plum, black currant and dark chocolate, offering a luxuriously smooth texture and a long, juicy Bing cherry and cocoa powder finish,

Priced at $14.99.

Tea for Tuesday

Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is handcrafted in a tiny distillery in Austin, Texas by Clayton Christopher (creator of Sweet Leaf Tea) and Chad Auler (creator of Savvy Vodka)- two guys serious about creating a superior beverage.  They distill the vodka 10+ times in a state-of-the-art 20 foot column still, and source the ingredients and water from right there in Texas (except for the Indonesian Black Tea in the Sweet Tea Vodka).

Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is the first flavored vodka in Texas. They blend Texas premium vodka and the best tasting iced tea to create the finest and first "premium sweet tea vodka." This vodka is 75 proof (35% alcohol by volume) and is gluten free!

Deep Eddy scored a Gold Medal at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 San Fransisco World Spirits Competition, and a Gold Medal and Distillery of the Year - 2013 - New York Intl. Spirits Competition.

In addition to the Sweet Tea Vodka, we also carry the Deep Eddy Cranberry and Ruby Red Vodkas. All have the same pricing: $18.99 regularly, and $16.99 in the Bottle Club®.

World Cup Cocktails

The NHL and NBA seasons ended this past week. The NFL and college football don't really start for another two months. Of the local baseball teams, only the Yankees have a winning record, so all we're left with for the escape of sports is the World Cup. And while no one expects the USA to win the Cup, we have at least three matches to capture our interest, with the first one coming today.

With the World Cup in mind, our resident mixologist, David Rudd, Floor Manager at our Woodbridge store, offers us a couple of cocktail recipes.

Caipiroska

Do you want to try a popular Brazilian cocktail while watching the USA compete at the World Cup, but are a little nervous about cachaça?  No problem!  Just substitute vodka and you’ve got the Caipiroska.  In the bottom of your glass, muddle a lime cut up into wedges with 1 tablespoon of sugar.  Stir until the sugar dissolves and then top with ¼ cup of Tito’s™ vodka.  Toss the mixture into another glass half full of cracked ice and then toss back into your first cup.  Turn up “Gloryland” and enjoy.

On the other hand, if you prefer the authentic Brazilian experience, try this;

Caipirinha

Caipirinha (pronounced kie-purr-REEN-yah) roughly translates to "country bumpkin" and it is the national drink of Brazil, where it originated, and is a common Carnavale drink.

It is made with cachaça, an intensely sweet Brazillian style of rum that is made from sugarcane juice. The market is changing and now it is possible to easily find a premium cachaça to use in this drink, which is highly recommended because it is the main component of the drink.

The Caipirinha is a perfect cocktail to adapt for seasonal fruits and is fun to use with different fruit combinations.

Ingredients:

1 lime, quartered
2 teaspoons fine sugar
2 ounces Pitu cachaça

Preparation:

Place the lime wedges and sugar into an old-fashioned glass.
Muddle well.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Pour in the cachaca.
Stir well.

Note: Keep the sugar mixed in the drink by stirring often.

If you're having a group of football soccer fans over to watch the matches, a punch bowl drink is a nice alternative to making individual drinks. David sends this recipe along:

Vanilla Pomegranate Mojischtoska

This delicious punch was recently a huge hit at one of my house parties. Soak a whole vanilla bean in 1 cup of simple syrup for 24 hours and then remove the vanilla bean pod.  In a punch bowl muddle the leaves of one bunch of mint with 32 ounces of pomegranate juice.  Add 1 bottle of Pama™ Pomegranate liqueur, 1.75L of Ketel One™ vodka, the vanilla simple syrup mixture and 2L of club soda.  Add 5 lbs. of ice and let the mixture mellow.  This is a real crowd pleaser.

Special Events Grab Bag

For the next few weeks, Joe Canal's is all about special events. We have a Beer & Burgers event at each store, the bottle signing by Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo, and extra tastings at both stores. That's in addition to our regular schedule of specialty tappings and tastings. Yes, it's going to be a lot more fun than usual at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Lawrenceville Events

The highlight in Lawrenceville, is the Beer & Burgers fund-raising event on Sunday, June 22. This is an after-hours event, and tickets are required. We'll have hard-to-find and allocated beer available in the bottle and at the Growler station. Complete details are on our web site here. Do good while having a good time, as $5 from every ticket purchased will be donated to Ryan's Quest.

Lawrenceville will have regular weekend wine tastings, every Friday from 4-6pm, and every Saturday, 2-4pm, with the exception of June 27. That afternoon, we'll host a tasting of McKenzie whiskey.

Woodbridge Events

Tomorrow, we'll have a Father's Day special, with free gift wrap on your purchase of The Macallan.

Next weekend is one of our most-anticipated events, as Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo comes to Woodbridge for a bottle signing on Saturday, June 21, from 1-5pm.

Carla Facciolo is the break-out star of Mob Wives, the cable TV docu-soap series. Known to love the finer things in life while also being down-to-earth, Carla will sign bottles of her Prosecco, Trebbiano and Montepulciano.

On July 29, the Woodbridge store will host its Beer & Burgers evening. We'll also have hard-to-find and allocated beer available in the bottle and at the Growler station. Complete details are on our web site here. In Woodbridge, we're raising funds for Meals on Wheels.

Our wine tasting schedule will be enhanced by an exclusive 90+ Cellars tasting on June 27, from 4-6pm. And on Thursday, July 3, we'll have a special tasting of Senor Sangria.

Looking a little further into July, we're able to offer a spectacular dinner opportunity. Taste six amazing wines from the Wagner Family of Wines, paired with six delicious course at LouCas in Edison. The wines will include the 2011 Caymus Special Selection and the 40th Anniversary Caymus Napa Cabernet 2012. The full menu, guest speaker, time and pricing can be found on our web site here. Seats are limited, so reserve your place now.

What's New

Here's a look at what's due in.

We've had quite a few requests for Deep Eddy Vodka, and we'll stock the Cranberry, Ruby Red and Sweet Tea vodkas.

Deep Eddy Straight Vodka & Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is handcrafted in a tiny distillery in Austin, Texas by Clayton Christopher (creator of Sweet Leaf Tea) and Chad Auler (creator of Savvy Vodka)- two guys serious about creating a superior beverage.  They distill the vodka 10+ times in a state-of-the-art 20 foot column still, and source the ingredients and water from right there in Texas.

Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is the first flavored vodka in Texas. They blend Texas premium vodka and the best tasting iced tea to create the finest and first "premium sweet tea vodka." This vodka is 75 proof (35% alcohol by volume) and is gluten free!

For the Johnnie Walker fan, look for an upgraded Johnnie Walker Blue Label, the Limited Edition Gift Pack Designed by Alfred Dunhill.

The brand's premium blend, Johnnie Walker Blue Label goes hand in hand with luxurious living. Made with rare whiskies from the Johnnie Walker reserves, it's a legendary blend that doesn't compromise.

Therefore, it deserves a box fancy enough to hold it, and who better to design such a box than Alfred Dunhill, the London luxury goods brand. Inspired by the idea of the founders of each company travelling together and creating a shared journey, the inside of the box has been modeled after the contours of a map, while the outside has been decked out with Dunhill's signature 'Chassis' design.


Have a great weekend. Cheers!

Thirsty Blog Thursday

We got caught up in the Thirsty Thursday frenzy today, as one of our sales reps brought in a couple of dozen new products to evaluate. While we're tasting and debating the new products, we'll review some other recent additions.

Stone Enjoy By 07.04.2014

You might have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - Stone has taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, they specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, Stone made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, they've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA.

Please call the store to determine availability of this limited-release beer.

Iris Pinot Gris

"This pale straw colored Oregon Pinot Gris displays enticing aromas of pear, cardamom, orange blossom and lemon zest. On the pallet, it bursts with concentrated citrus, apple, and gooseberry flavors accompanied by an excellent acid balance followed by a long, clean citrus, mango finish."
91 points, Wine Enthusiast.

Only $11.99 in the Bottle Club®.

2008 Urbion Rioja Crianza

The 2008 Urbion Crianza is the same blend as the Cuvee. It has a more -serious- bouquet with blackberry, a touch of burnt toast and Asian spices. The palate is very well-balanced with fine, supple tannins. It has superb purity and refinement with lovely blackberry and licorice towards the finish. Once again, this is unbeatable value. Drink now-2016.

 
While this wine scored 91 points from Wine Advocate, more importantly, it scored two thumbs up from Lawrenceville's Senior Wine Manager, Brandon Bartfalvi!

Only $11.96 in the Bottle Club®.  

Cheers! 

Mid-Week Deliveries

To get you thinking about the weekend, we offer some notes about recent deliveries.

Bodegas Briego Crianza

From Spain's Ribera del Duero region, this vintage scored an impressive 91 points from Wine Advocate. Their review: "The 2009 Crianza comes from 20-year-old vines in Penefiel and aged for 14 months in used French and American oak. It has fine delineation on the nose with raspberry preserve and cassis aromas, and hints of incense emerging with time. The palate is smooth and silky with plush dark cherries and plum notes, leading to a svelte, finely focused finish that is caressing and long. This is a lovely wine, a delicious Ribera del Duero. Drink now-2016."

Only $19.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon

Arrowood Vineyards is located in the historic Sonoma Valley, a swath of land tucked between the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountain ranges. Shielded from the cold maritime winds off the Pacific Ocean, their AVA has often been described as a warm pocket in a cool region – ideal for a myriad of noble varieties. For more than two decades Arrowood has been in the vanguard of California’s organic farming movement. In addition to their estate vineyards, they source Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier from a number of legendary sites throughout Sonoma County. Since the 2010 vintage, Arrowood's wines have been made by Heidi von der Mehden. 

As with previous vintages, the 2009 Sonoma County Cabernet shines aromatically with rich, dark fruit and beautifully integrated notes of oak. As it opens up, there are layers of red berries, rose petals, black cherries, leather, mocha and mint. The palate is sleek and concentrated with dark fruit, spice, cola and cedar. The finish is framed by bright acids and big, juicy tannins.

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2% each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 90 points from The Tasting Panel Magazine, a trade publication. Priced at $25.99. 

Ardbeg Auriverdes

Skilful newcomer Ardbeg Auriverdes is the newest talent to emerge from premier distillery Ardbeg. Distilled with equal measures of both skill and passion, all eyes will be on Ardbeg Auriverdes – named after its golden whisky (auri), and unmistakable green bottle (verde) – when it makes its debut on Ardbeg Day on 31st May.

There’s talk of the new signing being a bit of a hot head, thanks to its toasted cask lids. So is Manager Mickey Heads worried?

“There’s no smoke without fire, but I’m confident its creamy vanilla sweetness will tame its dark mocha coffee side,” said Mickey. “Anyhow, a bit of fire in the belly is no bad thing.” He added.

No doubt the Ardbeg Committee agree. So what will the fans make of the new bottling in the Ardbeg line up? If past signings are anything to go by, Auriverdes is bound to strike a chord and get the fans roaring. A superb performance is virtually guaranteed.

This limited-release Ardbeg carries a one bottle/person limit, and is available for $89.99.

Clos Floridene Graves Blanc

Sometimes, there's nothing quite as enjoyable as a classic Old World white wine in the summer. The 2012 vintage of the Clos Floridene Graves Blanc rated 91 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "Lovely, with lemon shortbread, chartreuse, yellow apple and kaffir lime notes, layered seamlessly and backed by a long echo of quinine on the finish. Drink now through 2016."

Only $23.99 in the Bottle Club®.

As always, there are too many new items and new vintages to cover here. Please ask one of our team members for new products on your next visit.

A Classic Region Returns

Like a refreshed classic cocktail, some older wine regions are producing superior wines today, and so it goes with Soave. Re Midas Soave hails from the Veneto, a region located in Northeast Italy with a deep winemaking history. This expansive region with sunny hillsides is home of the delicious Soave wine. Re Midas Soave fully expresses the Veneto region’s luscious fresh fruit flavors.

Re Midas Soave has a nose of wild flowers and ripe lemons. On the palate, it's bright, clean, delicious palate bursting with layers of fresh fruit and citrus overtones; crisp minerality, hints of toasted nuts and a nice lingering finish. Enjoy with seafood and shellfish, grilled vegetables, grilled chicken and pork.

As the myth goes, everything that Re (King) Midas touched turned to gold. Re Midas wines are an example of this “golden touch.”

100% Garganega.

Best of all, we are able to offer a steeply discounted Bottle Club® price of $3.98 for this summertime wine.