Holiday Weekend Grab Bag

From the lack of traffic yesterday afternoon and this morning, many of you are already gone. We hope you enjoy the weekend. We're working a full day today, so let's get the grab bag started.

Holiday Store Hours

Both of our stores will be open from 9am to 8pm tomorrow, Independence Day. In case you're not familiar with our standard business hours, we're closing two hours early tomorrow. Please plan accordingly.

Store Events

The tastings, Christmas in July events and other programs at both stores were discussed in yesterday's blog post. Click here for that post.

New Products

Infinity Cellars Merlot. Our wine team was pleasantly surprised by this. Too many Merlot’s are soft and round, without being memorable. This is definitely a Cabernet drinkers Merlot, displaying a texture that you can sink your teeth into, great depth and length of flavor and a finish that keeps you coming back, glass after glass. Only $12.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony. Hibiki, which means "resonance" in Japanese, is now one of the most popular blended whiskies in the world thanks to its lovely bottle with its 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the lunar calendar.

The highly expected Hibiki Japanese Harmony will be the fifth version entering the Suntory's permanent range as the entry-level whisky. It is a blend composed with the best single malts from Yamazaki and Hakushu aged in different types of casks and grain whiskies from Chita distillery. Numerous types of pure single malt whiskies, ageing in various types of casks, including Mizunara oak, a very rare Japanese oak, all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

Available for $59.99.

                                           Ripped from the Headlines

Lagunitas On Track for 50% Growth in 2015, according to Founder Tony Magee

With the beer business’s biggest holiday weekend at hand, craft player Lagunitas Brewing Co. is firing on all cylinders. Petaluma, California-based Lagunitas—whose portfolio is led by Impact “Hot Brand” Lagunitas IPA—is on pace to grow by nearly 50% this year, company founder Tony Magee tells an industry newsletter.

With demand rising rapidly, Lagunitas is ramping up production. Just a little more than a year after opening a brewery in Chicago, Lagunitas—the sixth-largest craft brewer in the country, according to the Brewers Association—has commenced construction on its third facility in southern California.

"The eastern U.S. is growing very quickly for us. The west is simply more developed for all brewers," Magee explains. "But in California and the Pacific Northwest, we’re still seeing many more beer lovers coming over and liking what they find. That is why we need more brewing capacity here on the left coast."

Have a happy and safe Independence Day weekend!