A Noble Wine For Gentle Folk

Palazzo Cantucci

The Contucci family has likely been living in the center of Montepulciano since the year 1000. The Contucci's were one of the "founding fathers" of Vino Nobile, as is documented in 1773; having a major role in making it world famous: "a noble wine destined for the table of gentle folk". Today, Cantucci Vino Nobile may be matured for a long time with excellent results.

Contucci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2009 rated 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, and was an Editor's Choice. Their review: " This is a classically crafted wine made by one of Montepulciano’s most historic estates. It has an alluring bouquet of violet, rose petal, cassis and nutmeg. The palate delivers an intense wild-cherry flavor layered with white pepper and cinnamon, all impeccably balanced by firm tannins and vibrant acidity."

Made from 80% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 10% Colorino, and aged in oak casks for 2 years.

Excellent with roasted meat and with game.

Only $22.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Cantine Contucci

Upcoming Agenda

We'll start the week off by looking ahead to several newly-scheduled October events.

Lawrenceville

Ladies Night Out returns on Sunday, October 19. As in previous editions, this will be a Sunday night, after-hours event, starting at 7:30pm. While the full agenda isn't complete, you can count on tasting through some great wine and enjoying some very tempting food. That night, as we will throughout October, we will fund-raise for the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure.

Weyerbacher is one of the best craft breweries in Pennsylvania, and their offerings will be the centerpiece of an in-store Beer Dinner on Wednesday, October 29. Details will be posted shortly.

Woodbridge

October starts with a Scotch Whisky Dinner, featuring The Macallan and famous Grouse on Tursday, October 2nd. The dinner will be at the Red Chutney, in Iselin. To RSVP, please call the restaurant at 732-549-7788.

Ladies Night Out in Woodbridge will be after-hours on Sunday, October 26. Look for the details to be posted shortly.

We will wrap up the outside events on Wednesday, October 29 with a Wine Dinner at Dominic's Italian Restaurant in Avenel. Please call the store for more information, 732-726-0077.

And let's not forget our weekly wine tastings, held in both stores on Friday, from 4-6pm, and Saturday 1-3pm in Woodbridge, and 2-4 in Lawrenceville.  

Joe Canal's Takes Kentucky!

On occasion, Joe Canal’s staff members are able to go on trips to meet the producers of the items that we sell. Whether we travel to the great wine regions, or any other location, the trips are educational, great for team-building, and, of course, they’re fun.

Lindsey Daly, Front End Manager at our Lawrenceville store, recently visited Bourbon country on just such a trip with other Joe Canal's team members. Here's her report:

Lindsey Daly

When I was first offered the opportunity to travel to Kentucky I must admit that I was worried. As a beer-only kind of girl, I wondered what would make them think of me for this trip; surely someone else would benefit from this trip more than I would. Luckily, I kept these thoughts to myself and agreed to make the journey.  I understand now that I was chosen so that I could learn, and I also realize how lame my worries sounded.

As we prepared to land in Louisville, I made sure to look out the window. I knew Kentucky was beautiful, as I had done some research before we departed. I knew about the Kentucky Derby, the music, the sports and, of course, the Bourbon.  I did not expect to see a breathtaking patchwork of green fields dotted with large buildings. This was going to be amazing.  As soon as we landed, we made our way to The Seelbach Hotel, a grand hotel built in 1905, the inspiration F. Scott Fitzgerald used for Tom and Daisy Buchannan’s wedding venue in The Great Gatsby. If they had told me the trip would not extend past the hotel walls, I would have been happy to sit in the lobby and imagine all of the historical figures that had once rested in this very building: nine presidents and several gangsters, including Al Capone.  There was, however, no time to get lost in history on our first day. We ditched our bags and headed out, since we had a date with Evan Williams.

The Evan Williams Experience was a couple of blocks from the hotel, so we decided to walk. Located on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville, the building is not far from where the first Evan Williams Distillery once stood! The Evan Williams brand is part of the much larger Heaven Hill (planned for day three) portfolio. The history nerd in me was super excited to learn all about the history surrounding bourbon and to get to know the namesakes for so many of the bottles I’ve seen on the shelves at Joe Canal’s.  Turns out that a lot of people made whiskey back then; the names we remember are the pioneers of good whiskey. Elijah Craig was the first to discover that a charred barrel gave whiskey a caramel color and a much more enjoyable taste. Evan Williams was one of first to mass-produce whiskey. After a stroll through time, we got to the fun part. In a replica of an 1890s tavern, we tasted some of Heaven Hill’s bourbon.  I learned how to properly enjoy all the qualities of a bourbon. This was an excellent first stop, as I needed all the tips I could get. My Joe Canal's travel partners both have a lot more whiskey knowledge than I do, and I didn’t want hinder their experience. I learned this was not a possibility they were just as excited as I, and equally eager to learn more.

1890's tavern replica

We chatted with our guide for a good while after the tour, and sampled a few more of Heaven Hill’s

Holy Grale

fine products before we caught a cab to the Holy Grale for dinner. The Holy Grale is a bit of an oddity in the land of bourbon, mainly because they do not serve bourbon, only beer. Even though they do not serve liquor, it was clear that this church-turned-bar/restaurant  was inspired by the elixir that puts Kentucky on the map. Their bar was made of used bourbon barrels, and many of the unique brews served there have spent quite some time in a bourbon barrel before making it to the bottling line.  The food was phenomenal; we ate outside next to a wall that doubled as a garden which was a perfect marriage of beauty and functionality. I enjoyed my meal as I watched the chef occasionally pop out to gather some herbs for the next dish. After our dinner, we explored Louisville until finally our travels caught up to us and we called it a night.

Our second day in Kentucky would be action packed, as we had three distillery tours planned! We loaded into our van and headed out to Jim Beam.  Jim Beam’s property featured beautiful green fields, with red and black buildings clustered together. Our first stop on the tour was a watershed, where we learned why Kentucky is synonymous with bourbon. It’s all about the water; Kentucky sits on a limestone shelf with acts a natural filter for the water, removing all of the iron, which is the enemy of bourbon.  After the water, we learned about the sour mash and what makes a whiskey a bourbon. It turns out that the Federal government has some strict regulations when it comes to bourbon, and if the whiskey does not follow these regulations, it cannot be called bourbon. I found myself wondering why the government puts so much stock in the regulations of bourbon, why do they care so much- Bourbon is uniquely American, and the government recognizes this and, as a result, takes great pride in the product. After tasting some of Jim Beam Brands including Knob Creek, Bakers, Bookers, and Basil Hayden, we headed to the smokehouse on Jim Beam’s property for lunch. Beef brisket sandwiches with Jim Beam barbeque sauce equals heaven!

The Willett pot still

Next Stop: Willett! Compared to Jim Beam, Willett is teeny tiny, but the product is outstanding! We got to see the famous pot still that inspired Willett's bottle design. Our tour guide walked us through the small distillery and pointed out some exciting construction on the property (bed and breakfast at a distillery? Sign me up!). Then we moved on to a rick house, where they age the barrels of whiskey until they are ready to be bottled. Even though I had seen a rick house at Jim Beam and experienced that heavenly smell (the Angels Share), the rick house at Willett was my favorite. There are few lights and no machinery to lift the barrels (which weight 500 lbs when full). Even the barrel filling room was old school. Next, we were able to sample Johnny Drum, Rowans Creek, Noah’s Mill and Willett Rye. While purchasing a t-shirt in the gift shop, David Rudd, a Manager at our Woodbridge store, and I got to talking to our tour guide, and I realized that in Kentucky, bourbon is in the blood. Everyone has a family member that works for, or is retired from, one of the many distilleries in the area. It’s a community of people who support and genuinely enjoy each others whiskeys. That to me is refreshing; they thrive off of each others success.

In the Willett rick house

Our last stop of the day was Maker's Mark, and it was located on another beautiful property. While the processes to make bourbon are essentially the same, the stories are what set each distillery apart. Maker's Mark still uses an old fashioned printing press to make their labels, and they really do hand dip their bottles in red wax. The workers who hand dip the bottles can dip about 23 bottles per minute! Of course that tends to hurt you wrist, so everyone that works at Maker's Mark is trained to do multiple jobs, to give those wrists a rest. They have a lot of pride in their product, and it comes through in the presentation. We were able to taste classic Makers Mark, Maker's 46, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength (available at the distillery only) and Maker's White (also available at the distillery only). A lovely surprise at Maker's Mark distillery is the new ceiling in the tasting room. Designed by Dale Chihuly, the new installation is called “The Spirit of the Maker” and it is incredible. My picture does not do it justice. It was recently installed to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

The Spirit of the Maker

Finally, we moved to the gift shop, where we were able to dip our very own bottle of Maker's Mark in that red wax, after putting on a bunch of protective gear, of course. It was really special to be able to take a bottle home that I assisted in creating.

I dipped this one

After a day filled with a lot of walking and a lot of bourbon samples, we were ready to relax and eat. We chose a place in Louisville called The Garage. The name is not ironic; it was built in an old gas station, with the garage now housing the bar with an extensive bourbon and beer collection. I can best describe it as a high end pizza place with a unique vibe. The garage door is left open to the reveal the extensive bar, the pump area now house outdoor tables, and the alley on the side of the building has another bar and a lounge area. The handmade pies were amazing, and they boasted some pretty creative cocktails, such as honey lavender lemonade. The next day was going to be a long one, travel-wise so we agreed to call it a night pretty early.

Rick houses at Heaven Hill

I couldn’t believe it was already our last tour day in Kentucky. We headed out fairly early, for the long drive to the Heaven Hill Distillery. We arrived just as they opened, so our timing was excellent. Our tour began with an educational video on the process of making bourbon and the history of the company. We then began our tour of the grounds. The grounds at Heaven Hill are massive, and their rick houses where the biggest we had seen thus far, holding over 20,000 barrels of whiskey. When we went back into the Whiskey Heritage Center to sample some of Heaven Hill’s higher end bourbons, including Elijah Craig 23yr…let’s just say that by this point I had become a big fan of bourbon! What’s truly amazing about it is that once it goes into that barrel, it is completely out of the distillers hands; it’s left to the fates.

Inside a rick house

Old Talbott Tavern

We made lunch plans at the Old Talbott Tavern, which was built in 1779 and is said to be haunted! It certainly looked the part, and many famous historical figures have boarded at the Talbott, including Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone. We snacked on bourbon meatballs and fried green tomatoes while we waited for our lunch.

Our final distillery tour was Wild Turkey. Our first stop on Wild Turkey’s property was the brand new Visitor’s Center, to check in. Unfortunately Jimmy and Eddie Russell (the father/son Master distillers) where both out of town during our visit. We were given a behind-the- scenes tour by James, the Operations Supervisor for the distillery. Our first hint that this was no ordinary tour was that the driver had no idea where he was going, and needed directions from James. He took us to the barrel filling room, then to the rick house where we got to see some of his team actually moving barrels (impressive, since those things are not light).  We were also able to walk through the bottling facility and go backstage to the quality control area. We were lucky enough to be the first people outside the distillery to sample a new product from Wild Turkey called American Honey Sting (American Honey with Habanero pepper. It's incredible, and should be available some time before Christmas-fingers crossed).

As if all of this was not enough we got another surprise: we would be Skeet Shooting on the property! Not many people can say they shot skeet at Wild Turkey- we appreciated that opportunity! After we all had our fun, we headed back to the Visitor Center to eat and sample some bourbon (my new favorites are Russell’s Reserve and Wild Turkey Rye). All of the distilleries made us feel special, but Wild Turkey made us feel like family. It was honestly the best way to end the trip. I am so thankful I was asked to make the trip and what I learned with stay with me forever.

Great views at Wild Turkey

A Perfect Pair

We usually highlight one new product every Tuesday in our Bottle Club® email. This week, however, we're showcasing two new wines from the same producer. These are outstanding wines at amazing price points, and both will make any meal that much more enjoyable.

Terredavino is a top Italian winery. Located in Barolo, in the heart of the Langhe territory, with a unique philosophy: only wine from Piedmont, only DOC and DOCG wines.

In their words: "We are a winery surrounded by the picturesque vineyards of the Langhe district, one of the most renowned vine growing areas of the world. However, we are more than just that, we are an agricultural firm without peer in our region. We encompass over 5,000 hectares of vineyards cultivated by over 2,500 growers. This gives us a unique basis of immense proportions which allows us to produce at a very high quality level that often reaches the peaks of excellence. We offer a vast range of wines, spanning from those names known throughout the world to small locally known niche products."

Our New Product is the Terredavino Barbera d'Alba. The Barbera grapes for this distinctive wine come from the heart of the classic zone for Barbera, in the magnificent hills surrounding the city of Alba, in the Langhe of Piedmont.

Winemaking is totally traditional, with a 10-day maceration on the skins and a controlled fermentation at 25-28°C. Malolactic fermentation immediately follows, in steel, and the wine is then given a brief bottle aging.

The nose is fruity, intense but refined, with lovely notes of dried plum and vanilla. Dry, smooth, very full and harmonious on the palate.

The Terredavino Barbera d'Alba is available at only $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

The Terredavino Roero Arneis was the featured product in today's Bottle Club® email.

The pre-eminent growing area for Arneis is the Roero, the area of magnificent hills on the left bank of the Tanaro river. Here, the calcareo-siliceous soils encourage the development of perfumed, elegant wines.

After a gentle pressing, the must is given a cultured-yeast fermentation for some 10 days at 16-18°C. A final crucial step is a brief maturation in the bottle to further improve the structure of the wine and the complexity of its bouquet.

The wine is a deep straw yellow with greenish highlights. The nose is generous, crisp, and refreshing, releasing aromas of blossoms and green apple. It's dry, full-bodied, and balanced on the palate, with savory flavors and an appealing, subtle style.

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

"Thank You" from Joe Canal's

Customer Appreciation Weekend at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge was a great success and a lot of fun. The first and largest "Thank You' is directed to you, our loyal customers. Whether you showed up for the opportunity to dunk an employee, to taste some great wine, or just to do your regular shopping, we're glad that you came to Joe Canal's. Thanks are also extended to our employees, especially the good sports who took a dunking for a great cause. We also thank our industry partners for their help in ensuring the success of the weekend.

In Lawrenceville, some employees made it an early Halloween.

We had unannounced tastings, including Sterling Vineyards wines

And we tasted fine wine, like the Caymus 40th Anniversary vintage

With your help, we also raised money for the Autism Research Institute, by dunking employees like Senior Wine Manager Brandon Bartfalvi

We'll have more pictures and stories as they become available.

Customer Appreciation Weekend Meets the Friday Grab Bag

Today is the start of our three-day Customer Appreciation Weekend. We have special events, extra discounts, free food, raffle prizes and lots of fun scheduled for today, tomorrow and Sunday. Now the format of this blog post is the Friday Grab Bag, but it's really a celebration of our thanks to you, for your continued loyalty.

Customer Appreciation Weekend Events

We offered a full preview of the schedule for both stores in yesterday's blog post. Click here to see that.

To see the schedule for the Lawrenceville location, please click here.

To see the schedule for the Woodbridge location, please click here.

After this weekend, both stores move back to the regular wine tasting schedule. Currently, the only variation from that will be on Saturday, October 18, in Woodbridge. We'll have a tasting of B & G wines that day.

New Products

Contucci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2009: 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, and an Editor's Choice. Their review: " This is a classically crafted wine made by one of Montepulciano’s most historic estates. It has an alluring bouquet of violet, rose petal, cassis and nutmeg. The palate delivers an intense wild-cherry flavor layered with white pepper and cinnamon, all impeccably balanced by firm tannins and vibrant acidity."

Made from 80% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 10% Colorino, aged in oak barrels for 2 years.

Only $22.96 in the Bottle Club®.


Beringer The Waymaker: The Waymaker represents the best of the Paso Robles region. The foundation of the Waymaker is Syrah, a varietal that demonstrates great richness and generosity from Camatta Hills. Cabernet Sauvignon comprises the majority of the balance of the blend, and lends great depth of fruit as well as lifted spice notes. The Waymaker was aged in a combination of seasoned oak barrels with a small amount of new oak for 17 months to both round and soften the tannins and bring in some additional spice notes. The excellent 2012 vintage delivered warm and dry conditions, perfect for the inaugural release of this wine.

Serving suggestion

We invite you to explore this full-bodied wine, which has enticing flavors of blue fruits accented by floral and dusty notes.

At present, we have limited stock in both stores, at $18.99.

Ripped from the Headlines

We recently discussed the troubles at Balcones. Click here and here for updates. Like so much else, part of the battle is on Twitter, where two hashtags are trending, #NoChipNoBalcones and #isupportchiptate. If you want to get your bottle of Balcones before the lawsuits interfere with production or distribution, we have Baby Blue, Brimstone and Rumble in stock.

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Customer Appreciation Weekend Update

At Joe Canal's, we thank you for your patronage every day of the week. But sometimes, we want to be a little more obvious about it, which brings us to this year's Customer Appreciation Weekend. There will be special events, extra sales, food and fun all weekend, at both the Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores.

In the last couple of days, we've made some additions to the schedule. These additions include:

-raffle drawing for Philadelphia Eagles tickets (Lawrenceville only)
-tasting and bottle signing, Villa Massa Limoncello (Friday, both stores)
-Free tasting, Dewar's and Highland Honey (Saturday, Lawrenceville only)
-balloon pop discounts (added to Woodbridge; already on the Lawrenceville schedule)
-the dunk tank charity in Lawrenceville is the Autism Research Institute
-the dunk tank charity in Woodbridge is the Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response Team

The following will go on each day in Lawrenceville:

-A 10% discount on purchases of a half-case (6 bottles, 750ML) or more, of wine, non-Bottle Club® wines. Mix & Match or same.
-A 5% discount on the purchase of six bottles of spirits (750ML size), non-Bottle Club® items. Mix & Match or same.
-A 10% discount on the purchase of craft beer in 750ML or 22OZ bottles, non-Bottle Club® items. Mix & Match or same. For the discount to apply, the minimum purchase is 12 bottles.
-Coupon for a Free bag of Crostini with the purchase of a block of cheese (spread purchases are not eligible).
-Raffles and giveaways, including a pair of tickets to a Philadelphia Eagles home game! No purchase necessary to participate.
-Balloon Pop Discounts all weekend. These discounts will exclude any Bottle Club® items and cannot be combined with any other discount.

In Lawrenceville, Friday only: High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Dom Perignon
--Johnny Walker Blue Label
-Free tasting, Villa Massa Limoncello, 4-6pm; bottle signing by Sara Massa
-Free tasting, Drambuie, 4-6pm
-Free tasting, Stoli Vodka, 6-8pm

Saturday only:
-Free Hot Dogs, 1-3pm, while supplies last
-Charity Dunk Tank. Sink a Joe Canal's employee, at $1 per ball toss,to benefit the Autism Research Institute, 10am-3pm
-Free tasting, Dewar's and Highland Honey, 2-4pm
-High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Caymus
--Dalmore Cigar Malt




Sunday only:
-High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Silver Oak, Alexander Valley
--Abelour Abundah

The following will go on each day in Woodbridge:

-A 10% discount on purchases of a half-case (6 bottles, 750ML) of wine, non-Bottle Club® wines. Mix & Match or same.
-A 5% discount on the purchase of six bottles of spirits (750ML size), non-Bottle Club® items. Mix & Match or same.
-A 10% discount on the purchase of craft beer in 750ML or 22OZ bottles, non-Bottle Club® items. Mix & Match or same. For the discount to apply, the minimum purchase is 12 bottles.
-A coupon for a free bag of Crostini with the purchase of a block of cheese (spread purchases are not eligible).
-Raffles! Items being raffled off include a Sam Adams umbrella, a space heater, used Bourbon barrels and coolers. No purchase necessary to participate in the raffles.
-Mixed drink kits for sale.
-"Blind" wine tastings. you won't know what you tasted until the "reveal".
-Balloon Pop Discounts all weekend. These discounts will exclude any Bottle Club® items and cannot be combined with any other discount.

In Woodbridge, Friday only: High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Dom Perignon
--Johnny Walker Blue Label
-Villa Massa Limoncello tasting, 7-9pm; bottle signing by Sara Massa

Saturday only:
-Hot dog truck, 1-4pm
-Charity Dunk Tank, 1-4pm. Sink a Joe Canal's employee, at $1 per ball toss, to benefit the Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response Team
-High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Sassicaia
--Don Julio 1942
 Sunday only:
-Growler discounts. Blindly pick a coupon, with discounts ranging from 5% to 30%
-Free soft pretzels, 12-3pm, while supplies last
-High-end tastings, while supplies last, starting at 2:00pm
--Dominus
--Beluga Gold

The above schedule is subject to change without further notice.

Midweek News

While the headline refers to the new products that we'll outline below, the other news is about our upcoming Customer Appreciation Weekend. Joe Canal's says "Thank You" with our Customer Appreciation weekend, September 19-20-21! Come out for our great service, outstanding selection and unbeatable prices, plus special discounts, free food, tastings of fine wine and spirits, raffle prizes and more!

To see the schedule of events in Lawrenceville, please click here.

To see the schedule of events in Woodbridge, please click here.

Cuttings Red

The Prisoner Wine Company has delivered some outstanding products. Their Saldo was a recent Wine Spectator Top 100, and their flagship wine, The Prisoner, has been at cult status for years. You can now look for their newest wine, Cuttings, at Joe Canal's.

Cuttings is inspired by the age-old method of using cuttings from a vineyard to propagate new vines, this new Cabernet-based blend is unique and special. Cuttings combines the richness, complexity and depth of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) with the structure and intensity of Petite Sirah (15%) and Syrah (15%), all the while channeling the robust character of Zinfandel (5%).

Powerful and structured, with intense aromas of ripe dark fruit, black cherry and subtle spicy notes of cedar and anise. The palette is rich and dense, with flavors of sweet plum and red berries and complimented with a hint of dark cocoa powder. Polished tannins and integrated French
oak adorn a long silky finish.

Available for $42.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Roca Patron Silver

Roca Patron is sweet - with notes of black pepper, pimpkin and lime tea - to create a more complex finish. It's brilliant, transparent, silver, crystal clear. The nose offers fresh, delicate citrus, a low and balanced alcohol note, and humidity. On the palate, it's smooth and sweet, with humidity, earthy, spiced notes like black pepper, plus a long-lasting aftertaste with cooked agave, light citrus notes, cooked pumpkin, fruits, light herbs and lime tea. 45% ABV.

Available for $55.99 in the Bottle Club®.

We're pleased to introduce a couple of new wines from Terredavino, in Italy's Piedmont region.

Terredavino Barbera d'Alba DOC

The Barbera grapes for this distinctive wine are sourced from vineyards in the heart of the classic zone for Barbera, in the magnificent hills surrounding the city of Alba, in the Langhe of Piedmont.

Winemaking is totally traditional, with a 10-day maceration on the skins and a controlled fermentation at 25-28°C. Malolactic fermentation immediately follows, in steel, and the wine is then given a brief bottle aging.

The wine is a rich, ruby red. The nose is fruity, intense but refined, with lovely notes of dried plum and vanilla. It's dry, smooth, very full and harmonious on the palate.

Only $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Terredavino Roero Arneis DOCG

The pre-eminent growing area for the arneis grape is the Roero, the area of magnificent hills on the left bank of the Tanaro river. Here, the calcareo-siliceous soils encourage the development of perfumed, elegant wines.

After a gentle pressing, the must is given a cultured-yeast fermentation for some 10 days at 16-18°C. A final crucial step is a brief maturation in the bottle to further improve the structure of the wine and the complexity of its bouquet.

The wine is a deep straw yellow with greenish highlights. The nose is generous, crisp, and refreshing, releasing aromas of blossoms and green apple. It's dry, full-bodied, and balanced on the palate, with savory flavors and an appealing, subtle style.


Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Ardbeg Supernova

Supernova was brought back by popular demand in 2010.

 The 2010 expression was out of this world – even deeper, stronger and earthier than the award-winning 2009 edition. Peated to more than 100 parts per million Supernova is the peatiest Ardbeg ever and quite simply heavenly.


Aroma: Big and powerful with peaty, earthy and deep herbal notes.

With the first sniff, encounter deep earthy peat oils and crushed black pepper embedded in the darkest chocolate. Swirl the glass and dip your nose into herbal infusions of juniper, elderflower and agave. Tarry ropes and creosote-soaked elm follow with flowering currants, olives and hot chilli peppers.


Swirl water into the glass, and voyage into the unknown with smoky coal tar, an open box of rolling tobacco, peat moss and roasted malt. A barbecue of smoky charcoal rises above the peat moss, softened by camomile, cedar and heather bloom. A blast of brine, white pepper and smoky asparagus escapes into the atmosphere with a spritely display of gooseberries and greengages.

Taste: Ardbeg challenges the palate with a smoke and salt explosion - hot, sizzling and gristy sensations effervesce and explode on the tongue with a powerful peaty punch. Black and white crushed pepper pop with chilli and chocolate. Chewy sweet rolling tobacco, linseed oil and newly tanned leather roll backwards on a wave of brininess and burst of juicy lime marmalade. Cigar smoke builds up to a crescendo before drying out to bring dark roast earthy coffee, toasted almonds and licorice root.


Finish: Long, deep and powerful, refusing to fade away – remaining warm and drying with tarry peat, cocoa and chilli.

For the whisky enthusiast, Supernova is highly allocated, and priced at $129.99.

Tippy Tuesday

One of the hot, growing categories in wine & spirits is Rum Cream. We're (mostly) all familiar with the Irish Cream category, and the Rum Cream drinks have both similarities and differences. As a general rule, any of these Cream drinks can be enjoyed on their own, or you can use them as a base for a delicious cocktail.

At Joe Canal's, we're pleased to introduced the Tippy Cow Rum Cream line.

Tippy Cow will remind you of tastes you have been enjoying your whole life. Proudly made by Wisconsin cows, Tippy Cow uses only the highest quality ingredients to ensure a perfect flavor experience. Let the Chocolate take you back to your local ice cream shop for a chocolate malt; enjoy Orange Cream and think about frozen orange desserts you ate every summer. Savor Shamrock Mint and remember your favorite Saint Patrick's Day shake, or delight in Vanilla Soft Serve and wish you could eat the cone. Enjoy these classic tastes on the rocks, straight up, or as a base for a variety of cocktails, but be prepared to share as Tippy Cow always draws a crowd!

There are two basic elements to Tippy Cow: Caribbean Rum and real dairy cream.

As we noted, Rum Cream drinks make for great cocktails, and Tippy Cow is no exception. And the best part is that the recipes are really simple.

Irish Hot Chocolate

1 part Tippy Cow Shamrock Mint + 1/2 part Irish Whiskey + 3 parts Hot Chocolate

Irish Mint Coffee

1 part Tippy Cow Shamrock Mint + 1/2 part Irish Whiskey + 3 parts Hot Coffee

Mint Chocolate Moo

1 part Tippy Cow Chocolate + 1 part Tippy Cow Shamrock Mint

Almond Delight

1 part Tippy Cow Chocolate + 1/2 part Coconut Rum + 1 part Amaretto

Vanilla Latte

1 part Tippy Cow Vanilla Soft Serve + 3 parts hot coffee



Tippy Cow is available for only $18.49, and it's certified Gluten-free. Tip a glass, not a cow!

Weekends Update

While our grammar might be less than perfect, that seemed like the best way to address the weekend coming up, and the weekend that just ended.

In talking about the weekend that just ended, we're really highlighting the special appearance of Christina Milian at our Lawrenceville store on September 12.

A long line awaited Christina, and the line stayed strong throughout the two hours she was in-store. However, the line did move well, and she gave every guest her complete attention.

Viva Diva Moscato wines are from Italy's Piedmont region, and are high quality sweet, slightly sparkly wines that are infused with natural flavors of Mango, Peach, Pineapple-Coconut and Strawberry. 

We are all looking forward to the upcoming Customer Appreciation Weekend. There will be special discounts and extra sales all weekend long. Both stores will have free food on Saturday, along with a charity dunk tank that will allow you to try and sink a Joe Canal's employee, for only $1 per ball toss.

In addition, both stores will offer tastings of high end products on all three days. Want to sample Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Dom Perignon, Caymus, or Beluga Gold? All are on the tasting schedule for Customer Appreciation weekend.

Because each store will have unique events, and restrictions will apply in certain circumstances, the best thing to do is check the complete agenda for each store.

For the Lawrenceville schedule, please click here.

For the Woodbridge schedule, please click here.

See you this weekend!