Weekend Grab Bag

We can all shop in a more leisurely manner than last weekend, so that's a good thing. Please note, however, that the professional football championship game (we honor trademarks and copyrights, but you know what we mean) is one week from Sunday. You'll beat the crowds if you do your Big Game shopping this weekend.

In-Store Events

It's a wine tasting weekend in Lawrenceville. We will observe the usual tasting hours of 4-6pm Friday and 2-4pm Saturday. Click here for the tasting menu.

Looking ahead to the Big Game weekend, we have a tasting of Neshaminy Creek Brewing on Friday, February 5, and a visit from the Bud Light Girls on Sunday. Of course, there will also be the regular Saturday wine tasting. Later on, we wrap up February with a Leap Year Sale and Celebration, with details TBA. Click here for the complete Events Calendar.

In Woodbridge, we're also having a wine tasting weekend. Our tasting hours are 4-6pm Friday and 1-3pm on Saturday. Click here for the tasting menu.

We'll have three different tastings at Woodbridge on that Big Game weekend. Stop in on Friday for a tasting of Jim Beam Apple and Kentucky Fire. Our regular wine tasting will take place on Saturday. And come back on Sunday for a tasting of a new product, Henry's Hard Soda.

The rest of our February schedule includes a tasting of Leinenkugel's. Click here for the full Events Calendar.

New Products

River Horse Chocolate Porter. We start with a brown porter brewed with dark roasted malts, and add one pound of chocolate per barrel. We then throw in some Madagascar Vanilla beans to accentuate the chocolate flavors, resulting in a decadent porter. Available February - March. ABV - 6.5%.

Bodegas Avante Tineta 2012. "This Tempranillo is lush and inviting with a lot of personality for the modest price. The wine offers flavors of dark raspberries, spice, cedar and cocoa. Deep and dark with lush tannins and medium acidity.  Give this an hour to open up and enjoy!!!" - Brandon

Bartfalvi, Senior Wine Manager, Lawrenceville.

Also Rated 91 points by IWC. Their review: "Dark purple. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes dark berries, cola and candied flowers. Plush and invitingly sweet, displaying good heft to its concentrated boysenberry, lavender pastille and cherry-cola flavors; zesty acidity contributes spine and lift. Shows real depth and power but comes off as lithe, with a bright minerally quality adding cut. Fine-grained tannins add grip to the very long, penetrating finish, with the blue fruit and floral notes echoing. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in used French and American oak barrels."

Only $10.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Dream Catcher Legendary "Toasted" Irish Liqueur. Rooted in an old Gaelic recipe and started in an historic farmhouse with a pot still in County Cavan, Ireland. A farmer was inspired to blend the natural flavor of toasted chestnuts and other superb ingredients with Premium Irish Spirits. The farmer said that it was a "dream worth catching."

Available for only $18.99. Click here for cocktail recipes featuring Dream Catcher.

                                 Ripped from the Headlines

Wine from Kim and Kanye? Click here for that story.

There's no more news possible after that. Have a great weekend!

Build a Bar Workshop: Gin

A good quality Gin should be a staple in your home bar. Gin is a vital ingredient in a range of classic cocktails, from the obvious (gin & tonic) to the colorful (Negroni), to the ultimate (martini). The subtle flavors of London Dry Gin are easy to use as a cocktail base.

Gin History

Juniper berries

The first confirmed date for the production of gin is the early 17th century in Holland, where it was produced as a medicine and sold in drug stores to treat stomach complaints, gout and gallstones. To make it more palatable, the Dutch started to flavor it with juniper, which had medicinal properties of its own.

British troops fighting in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) were given "Dutch Courage" during the long campaigns in the damp weather. Eventually, they started bringing it back home with them, where already it was often sold in their version of drug stores, called chemist shops.

King Charles I authorized the formation of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, where members had the sole right to distill spirits in London and Westminster and up to twenty-one miles beyond. This improved both the quality of gin and its image, and it also helped English agriculture by using surplus corn and barley.

Gin triumphed in the 1920's - the first "Cocktail Age" - after having been scarce during the First World War.

Gin Today

There are several methods of producing gin. The EU defines three:

-London Gin which is produced by the traditional method described below. Plymouth gin is made in a similar manner.
-Gin can be made from any spirit alcohol made from agricultural product which meets the neutral alcohol requirements laid down in the spirit drink regulation. The neutral alcohol must be distilled to a minimum of 96% ABV and the residues must not exceed those stated in the neutral alcohol definition. The finest raw materials for this 'neutral' spirit are either grain (normally barley or maize) or molasses. The best neutral alcohol has no flavor at all.
-Gin can be produced by simply flavoring suitable alcohol with substances (known as botanicals) which give a predominant taste of juniper; this method is technically known as "compounding".

The type and quantity of each producer's botanicals vary according to their own closely guarded recipes; all are carefully selected and tested for purity and quality. All gins include juniper as an ingredient: other botanicals used are coriander, angelica, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom, cinnamon, grains of paradise, cubeb berries and nutmeg.

There are three definitions of gin: gin, distilled gin and London Gin. We'd get too lost in the weeds here by offering the specific definitions. Click here for the official EU Gin definitions. And note that Plymouth Gin is made in Plymouth, England.

As with many of our product categories, your shopping choices can be divided into craft producers and mass market producers. Price, quality and value are the usual decision points.

We stock gin from craft producers like Berkshire, Bluecoat, Brooklyn, Hendricks and the Botanist. These gins are made in non-traditional locations like Massachusetts, Philadelphia and the Islay region of Scotland.  Larger producers include Beefeater, Bombay, Gordon's and Tanqueray. There are about two dozen different brand choices in our Gin category. Talk with our in-store experts about the best selection for your palate, or just experiment until you find the one you like.

Gin Cocktails

From Bluecoat, try the Gin Rickey
1.5 oz Bluecoat American Dry Gin
.5 oz Cointreau
.5 oz fresh lime juice
Club soda

Add the ingredients into an ice filled Collins glass. Gently stir. Garnish with a few lime wheels.

Or try the Unusual Negroni, from Hendrick's Gin
1 Part Hendrick's Gin
1 Part Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
1/2 Part Campari

1/2 Part Aperol
Orange Segments and Zest

Combine ingredients and shake well with ice. Serve up and garnish with an orange twist.

Cheers!

Some information courtesy the Gin and Vodka Association of Great Britain and liquor.com.

Melting Snow, Chilling Beer

The weekend snow caused a minor disruption in our supply chain, but we did get in plenty of new craft beer. Here's a look at our most recent deliveries.

Troegs Nugget Nectar. The annual release of Nugget Nectar is always a highly anticipated event. Once a year, as the newest humulus lupulus harvest arrives at Tröegs, we blend these super-fresh hops into an Imperial Amber Ale. Excessively dry-hopped, Nugget Nectar is an explosion of pine, resin and mango.

Available in 6-pack bottles in both stores. Available in 6-pack cans in Lawrenceville only.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down. Our malty and rich beer with a snappy hop finish truly defies style…Imperial Mild?...Uber ESB?... We do know for sure that it is Unforgiven and Unrepentant. 9.3% ABV. Pair With a minced dandelined-nettle blend atop a bed of bitter, aromatic greens...and corned-beef. Click here for our coupon page (valid at both stores) to save $1.50/6-pack (up to 3) of this seasonal beer from Lagunitas.

Bolero Snort Javahorn. We took one of our favorite treatment casks and popped it into production. This assertively hopped American Black Ale hits you with and up front bitterness that makes way for a big espresso kick! A healthy dose of vanilla

beans gives this brew a silky smooth finish. 22oz bottles, Woodbridge only.

Sixpoint Hi-Res. To see the hop cone up close, we zoomed in microscopic, and found a hi-res view. In Hi-Resolution, the hop optic was magnified; our perception, fully amplified. It's microscopic. It's telescopic. It's off-topic. It's Mad Science. 10.5% ABV, 115 IBU's.

Fort Collins Oldwyn Olde English. The matured demeanor of a malty-sweet, rich dark amber brew, Oldwyn Olde is a grumpy old monster with a temper of aromas, including dried fruit, vinous and toffee. It's followed by a tantrum of malt complexity and alcohol notes, finishing sweet. 7.5% ABV, 25 IBU's. Extremely limited availability.

Old School, New Concept

Donnachiara's new Concept winery is located in Montefalcione (Avellino), with vineyards that stretch along the hills that are typical of the Irpinia. The winery's location is south-central Italy, east of Naples. Donnachiara produces white wines and red wines of high quality including Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, Taurasi DOCG and also sparkling wines like Santè Falanghina.

Donnachiara is a family owned and operated business, relying on values that only a family can express. Five generations of experience in quality wine means a wealth of knowledge, proper care and attachment to one’s work that exceed the economic return of any single project.

Another key aspect of the Donnachiara philosophy is the attention to the environment. The sensitivity to the culture and the concern for the landscape.  We pay strict attention to detail and  respect nature and sustainable production. For nearly a decade, “integrated management” has been the rule. This strategy eliminates plant disease. Our energy needs are produced by solar power at the winery. Water is recycled even though there is an  abundance of local springs. The vines are tended like window boxes even though the locations can be distinctly challenging. This process makes for superior vines, grapes, and ultimately, wines.

James Suckling rates the 2013 Donnachiara Falanghina Beneventano at 92 points: "Beautiful aromas of mangoes, dried papaya and hints of cream follow through to a full body with dried apples and minerals. Lots of lemon zest. Excellent Falanghina. Drink now."

Made from 100% Falanghina grapes, this pairs with pasta with light sauces, seafood and fresh cheese. Only $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Celebrate Australia Day with Joe Canal's

Australia Day is January 26, commemorating the first landing in Australia by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788. Considering the International Date Line, it's already Australia Day there. Besides, we have another post planned for tomorrow. We can't think of a better way to celebrate Australia Day than by including a visit to Joe Canal's. Let us explain.

Australians celebrate this day much like we celebrate the 4th of July. So while we're not exactly seeing barbecue weather here in New Jersey (or even seeing our grills at all right now), we can still enjoy the bounty of Australia. We carry so many wines from Australia that both stores devote an entire section to the choices. Whether you prefer the casual and inexpensive labels like Yellow Tail or Little Penguin, step-up brands like Penfold's or Mollydooker, or fine wine like Glaetzer Amon-Ra, we have an Aussie wine for you.

I don't know whether they still teach this in our schools, but Australia was first used by the British as a penal colony. In that time, crime was so bad that the jails, particularly in London, were filled beyond capacity. The solution was "Punishment by Transportation," because the trip to Australia was lengthy and brutal.

Soon enough, a list of 19 Crimes was put into effect, which you can see here:

Of course, to pay homage to the not-so-glorious roots of Australia, today we have two different 19 Crimes wine!

The Red Blend is comprised of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. Dark red and maroon hues extend from the core of the glass as dark fruits, licorice and spice linger. The Shiraz is the brooding component that brings the core of dark fruits, licuorice and round ripe tannins. The Grenache is focused in the red and blue fruits spectrum and delivers plushness to the final blend. Last but definitely not least the Mataro brings the spice and finer tannins, pulling the structure together and giving the wine drive. The resultant wine is complex and layered in a soft, approachable style.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderful when paired with a scheme for an evening’s escape. This wine conjures up red currants, dark berries and sweet vanilla oak in a passing smell. Caramel lurks in the back. Firm Cabernet tannins and red fruits let the flavor linger after each nip.

Either wine is only $8.49 in the Bottle Club®; you can't beat it for your personal celebration of Australia Day.

Friday Grab Bag

From all reports, the snow storm won't start until pretty late today, Friday. We suggest stopping in to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge on your way home tonight. Consult our Twitter feeds for information on weather-related changes to our store hours.

In-Store Events

We're going ahead with our planned tasting for today. It's a wine tasting in Lawrenceville, 4-6pm. Click here for the tasting menu. In Woodbridge, we're sampling Hiro Sake, 4-7pm. Both stores have wine tastings scheduled for Saturday, but if we get the amount of snow that the forecasters are suggesting, well, you know the rest.

In February, look for tastings of Jim Beam Apple and Kentucky Fire at our Woodbridge store. UPDATE: We've just added tastings of Henry's Hard Soda on February 7 and 21.

As an aside, we're not joining the crowd who are naming these winter storms. There is a government agency that names tropical storms and hurricanes, and they started doing so in 1953. Winter storm names started in 2012, and are attributable to one of the commercial weather forecasting services, so until they break out a name like "Winter Storm Cabernet", we'll skip their naming system.

New Products

Poggio Anima Asmodeus Nero D'Avola. Of all of the varietals of Italy, Nero d’Avola is as lustful and pleasurable as it gets. Rich, peppery and opulent. It has many of the same characteristics of Syrah and is the most important grape of Sicily. Dark ruby-red. Blackberry and dark plum on the fresh nose, with complicating notes of anise, shoe polish and fresh herbs. Bright and juicy on entry, then firmer in the middle, offering dark cherry and plum flavors and a hint of cola. A musky herbal note comes up with air on the moderately long finish, with the cola note recurring.

New to the Lawrenceville store is the 1.5 liter size of this wine. That should get you through a weekend snowstorm. Only $28.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Poggio Anima Lilith Primitivo. Also in Lawrenceville only, in the 1.5 liter size, at $28.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Primitivo refuses to be submissive to the oenology that it is the same grape as its close relative Zinfandel. Many subscribe to this idea, though they are both mutations of Crljenak, a Croatian varietal. Primitivo always brings plenty of flesh and ripeness to the table with a solid spine of certainty and structure.

This is a subtly floral expression of this this mighty red grape from Southern Italy. Rich purple in color, inviting aromas of spiced cherries and black fruits complement undertones of tobacco and dried plums. It is a full-bodied wine, warm and soft on the palate with flavors that continue to evolve into the finish.

Both of these wines, in the 1.5 liter size, are available in very limited quantities.

Flying Dog Single Hop Series, HBC-291 Imperial IPA. Lemon/lime, pineapple and black pepper hop bite dominate so try this bad boy with lemon pepper chicken and Hawaiian pizza. 8.0% ABV, 75 IBU's. Very limited availability.

Bolero Snort Rotatabull 002. It's been on our Growler station already, and the bottles started rolling out LAST weekend. Bottles of this batch have WHITE caps (as opposed to 001’s green). 002 is super floral and fruity with background

notes of pine. The downside to putting a MASSIVE amount of Simcoe, Ahtanum and Palisade in this batch was slightly smaller yield/less bottles with the next batch not due out till early March. In Woodbridge only, with very limited availability. 22oz bottles.

                                                Ripped from the Headlines

More whiskey? Heaven Hill Brands is planning to undertake a $15.5 million expansion project at its Bernheim Distillery, reports the Louisville Business Journal. The expansion marks the third for Bernheim—where Heaven Hill distills Evan Williams, Elijah Craig and other brands—since 1999. Upgrades will include a 4,600-square-foot addition, three new fermenters and a new still, with work likely to begin in the next few months. (from Shanken News).

Have a great weekend, and be safe!

Beer Blizzard

It's been a good week for deliveries of craft beer. It's shut-down week for many of our wine and spirits distributors, so the craft beer people must have upped their game. The beers shown here are available as of this writing, but you know that craft beer doesn't last long. Since the current predictions for the storm suggest it arriving Friday night, there's a limited amount of time to shop. Please note that if our store hours change due to the weather we will post the information on our Twitter feeds. Click on your preferred store below, and follow us. We follow back.

Twitter for Lawrenceville
Twitter for Woodbridge

Flying Dog Brewhouse Rarities Tropical Stout. Rich, roasted malt meets juicy pineapple and toasted coconut, making this beer the perfect replacement for anything that comes with a tiny umbrella. 6.0% ABV, 30 IBU's.


Founders Azacca IPA. Named for the Haitian god of agriculture, the Azacca hop boasts intense, tropical fruit notes. Azacca IPA includes a touch of caramel malt to provide a sweet backbone to the citrus, mango and orchard fruit notes in this

7% ABV, 70 IBUs beer. The label artwork symbolizes the god of agriculture watching over a field where the ingredients used to make the beer are being grown.


Sierra Nevada Otra Vez. On our search for the perfect warm weather beer, we wanted something light bodied and thirst quenching, yet filled with complex and interesting flavors. We stumbled across the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, native to California. This tangy fruit is a great complement to the tart and refreshing traditional gose style beer. Otra Vez combines prickly pear cactus with a hint of grapefruit for a refreshing beer that will have you calling for round after round. Otra Vez!

4.5% ABV, 5 IBU's. Pair with Thai or Vietnamese noodle dishes. Grilled Mahi. Pickled watermelon salad, fresh tangy goat’s cheese or even grapefruit and mint sorbet.

Abita Bayou Bootlegger Hard Root Beer. Bayou Bootlegger is a decidedly adult take on the old-fashioned soda fountain root beers of days gone by. Gluten-free and sweetened with pure Louisiana cane sugar, this handcrafted beer delivers aromas of wintergreen, vanilla and sassafras, with hints of clove and anise. Enjoy its smooth, complex and satisfyingly sweet flavor as your go-to thirst quencher or paired with your favorite meal.

Its namesake is inspired by New Orleans’ original bayou bootlegger, Jean Lafitte, the early-19th century French pirate and smuggler who took up arms in defense of New Orleans during the War of 1812. As the packaging says, these sodas "are brewed with the swagger and rebellious spirit of our most famous pirate." 5.9% ABV. Available only at our Woodbridge location.

Storm's Coming, So Stock Up

Even if this weekend's storm fizzles out, there will be others, so we recommend having sufficient supplies of wine, beer and spirits on hand. Because no one asks for milk and bread after shoveling the

driveway. We have a number of new products that can be enjoyed on a snow day. Or any day.

Chateau Valandraud Bordeaux Blanc 2013. 93 points from Wine Spectator. "Features lemon zest, kiwifruit and honeysuckle notes out front, followed by white peach and jicama details. Hints of macadamia nut and brioche lurk through the finish and should blossom with a bit of cellaring. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2017." Also rated 91-92 points by James Suckling, and 90-93 points by IWC. $45.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Château Mayne-Vieil Cuvée Alienor 2012 is a selection of old Merlot vines planted on clay and gravel. In an unusual step, the wine is aged in American oak barrels, with the potential for aging from 10-15 years. 91 points from Wine Enthusiast. "New-wood aromas stand out strongly in this prestige cuvée from Mayne-Vieil. On the palate, they are integrating well into the rich berry fruits and ripe, lush texture. The wine needs to age and will be better from 2016." Only $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorees Cote de Brouilly. The vines for this beautiful wine grow on the south-east facing slopes of Beaujolais known as the Côte de Brouilly, where he has two plots of 50 year old vines at around 300 metres above sea level. The slopes are covered with blue granitic scree - and the Gamay grape is known to thrive in granitic soils. It exhibits dark berry fruits and lots of minerality.

The Côte de Brouilly is one of the ten cru areas of Beaujolais that produce the highest quality wines.

This is a roller coaster of a wine, and is loaded with brisk acidity and sheer volcanic minerality. Light on its feet and elegant; this is a wine that's all about fresh cherry spice and refreshment. Highly recommended! $19.99 in the Bottle Club®. 92 points, Vinous Media.

You know there's more than wine being delivered. Any time now, we'll get our shipment of London Vodka.

London Vodka deservedly represents the pinnacle of the British vodka-making tradition.

Produced exclusively from the finest East Anglia wheat and quadruple distilled to create the perfect balance of character and purity, it is the authentic expression of a quintessentially British vodka.

Completely additive-free and blended with purest English water, London vodka combines a century of spirits producing expertise with an uncompromising commitment to its unique, authentic recipe and production method.

80 proof (40% ABV), $18.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Red Wine Hot Value

If you've shopped with Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge for any amount of time, you know that we often have highly rated products at ridiculously low prices. We understand that independent and reliable outside ratings organizations like Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate help you make an informed choice. You already know, for example, that a 90 point rating from a source like Vinous Media means that you'll likely enjoy that wine.

Flaco Tempranillo did receive that 90 point rating from Vinous Media. And since it's on sale in the Bottle Club® for only $6.96, you may want to pick up a case, before we sell though this vintage.

Flaco, made with Spain’s signature Tempranillo grape, means "dude" in English. In the words of The Savvy Lush, Flaco "is the best goof-proof, budget-friendly wine out there." Spain is the largest producer of Tempranillo. These thick-skinned grapes are grown in regions that have hot days followed by cool evenings. This creates a concentrated, yet balanced flavor.” It is produced by Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico in the Demoninación de Origen (DO) of Vinos de Madrid. Flaco shows the complexity of a serious wine for the price of a song! The luscious fruit and soft texture make it a perfect wine for everyday drinking.

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain but also one of the country's most interesting wine growing regions. The outskirts of this great royal city are full of old Tempranillo vines. Most Spaniards do not know that Madrid makes wine, and therefore don't know the incredible values that Madrid showcases at the present time. Madrid is the great unknown.

Produced from organically grown, dry-farmed vineyards. Flaco shows the complexity of twice its price. These vines are tended in diverse micro-climates, allowing for more consistency of ripeness year after year. Yields are very low,  resulting in wines that showcase extreme quality for its price point.

TASTING NOTES: Silky and sweet on the palate, offering intense but edge-free raspberry and spicecake flavors. A wine of noteworthy elegance, especially for the money. Finishes sappy, floral and long, with lingering red fruit character and just a hint of tannins. This vibrant, emphatically fruity, pure Tempranillo was raised in a combination of large concrete and stainless steel tanks.

The fresh, pure character of this wine makes this an extremely versatile wine to pair with food. This wine pairs well with white meats like pork and chicken and flaky fish like hake, cod or flounder. This has the fruit and acidity to match with red meats, as well.

Now, reading those notes (provided by the importer), you might think the wine is a fruit bomb. Your blogger shared a bottle of Flaco just last night, and we can assure you that this is a sophisticated wine, with flavors that are more subtle that described above. We paired the Flaco with an Italian dish called "pizzoccheri" (buckwheat pasta, potato, cheese, spinach, Valtellina sausage), and it was a perfect complement.

We've been talking about the great values in Spanish red wines for quite a while now. If you've hesitated, of if you've already tried and enjoyed Spanish reds, this is the next great value for you.

Photo credit: Friederike Paetzold.

Road Trip

Your blogger was in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and we made the time to visit our friends at the Penn Brewery. We appreciated their hospitality, and enjoyed the afternoon of beer sampling. That led our thoughts to today's topic.

You don't have to go as far as Pittsburgh to enjoy samples from the producers of wine, craft beer or spirits. Those tasting trips give you the opportunity to try something you may have seen in our store, but weren't quite sure about. And then when you find some new favorites, you can find most of the products on our shelves.

We have some outstanding producers right here in New Jersey, so you don't even need to book an overnight hotel stay to enjoy a weekend diversion. And some of our vendor partners even have weekday tasting room hours!

This is not a comprehensive list of local producers with tasting room hours, but it's a good place to start. Consult their websites for important details like hours and addresses.

Craft Brewers

According to the Brewers Association, New Jersey has over 30 craft breweries, and the economic impact is 15th among the states.

Carton Brewing was founded by two cousins. Their brewery and tasting room are in Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

Flying Fish Brewing is the largest craft brewer in the state, and is a seven-time medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival. Visit them in Somerdale, NJ.

River Horse Brewing was taken over in 2007 by people who wanted more than just a corporate job, eventually moving the brewery from Lambertville to Ewing, NJ.

                                                                          Wineries

New Jersey remains one of the top wine making states, and the sweet fruit wines are always in demand.

Tomasello Winery has tasting room hours every day of the week. They are a third-generation, family owned winery with over 75 years of history in Hammonton, NJ.

Valenzano Winery is also a family-run project, dating to the early 1970's, in Shamong, NJ.

Distillers

Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey. Sometimes, you just have to cross a bridge. Dad's Hat is in nearby Bristol, PA. Rye whiskey distilling was an important part of America from our earliest days.

Jersey Artisan Distilling was the first new distillery to open in NJ since Prohibition. Visit them in Fairfield, NJ, and get their Busted Barrel Rum at Joe Canal's.

As we noted at the top, this is not a comprehensive list of craft breweries, wineries or distillers in our area. Go out and enjoy their facilities and products, and then come back to Joe Canal's for your purchases.

Friday Grab Bag

Monday is the Federal holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge will operate on our regular schedule on Monday. If you're making a 3-day weekend out of it, we hope to see you as you head out of town.

In-Store Events

To help your weekend planning and wine purchases, there will be wine tastings at both stores on Friday and Saturday.

In Lawrenceville, the wine tasting hours are 4-6pm today, and 2-4pm tomorrow. Click here for the tasting menu. You can save even more money on your purchase of any of the tasting menu wines by using our weekly coupons. Click here for our coupons, which are refreshed weekly and are valid at both stores.

We're two weeks out from the Goose Island Small Plates Dinner. Five courses will be expertly paired with five different Goose Island brews. This in-store event will be Saturday, January 30. Please call 609-520-0008 for information or to register.

In Woodbridge, the wine tasting hours are 4-6pm today, and 1-3pm tomorrow. Click here for the tasting menu. In time for the holidays in 2015, the Woodbridge tasting menu always included at least one outrageously good wine, and that's continuing. This week, the superstar wine is the 2011 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape. On the nose, the wine is very delicate and powerful at the same time, red fruit, black currants, blackberries, spices, thyme and lavender. The bouquet is very elegant, rich and round. Figs, cherries, black currants and stewed fruit, all with a great acidity. The tannins are present but very delicate. The scores: WA:94, WS:94, WE:94, IWC 91-93. So while we carry a (seemingly) countless number of outstanding wines that are under $20, this gives you the opportunity to expand your palate. Your blogger has a preference for wines from Châteauneuf du Pape, so we may have to stop in for a taste as well.

New Products

Flaco Tempranillo. It is produced by Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico in the Demoninación de Origen (DO) of Vinos de Madrid. Flaco shows the complexity of a serious wine for the price of a song! The luscious fruit and soft texture make it a perfect wine for everyday drinking.

Produced from organically grown, dry-farmed vineyards. Silky and sweet on the palate, offering intense but edge-free raspberry and spicecake flavors. A wine of noteworthy elegance, especially for the money. Finishes sappy, floral and long, with lingering red fruit character and just a hint of tannins. This vibrant, emphatically fruity, 100% pure Tempranillo was raised in a combination of large concrete and stainless steel tanks.

This wine pairs well with white meats like pork and chicken and flaky fish like hake, cod or flounder. This has the fruit and acidity to match with red meats, as well.

Earlier, we noted how we carry huge numbers of outstanding wines that are under $20. This wine rated 90 points from VM, and is available for only $6.96 in the Bottle Club®. This one won't last long.

CARM Douro Reserva 2011. CARM is Casa Agrícola Roboredo Madeira. The Estates lie around the town of Almendra, in Vila Nova de Foz Côa,in the reaches of the Upper Douro River. This is the confluence of three icons of Portugal and the world's natural and historic heritage: the Archaeological Park of the Côa-Valley, the Natural Park of International Douro and the Douro D.O. Region for Porto and wine. The family has been producing wines, olive oil and almonds in these lands since the Seventeenth Century.

The wine scored 91 points from Wine Spectator. "An unctuous, powerful red, with notes of bacon to the ripe dark plum, blackberry and cherry tart flavors. Shows plenty of grip as well, with muscular tannins. The rich, juicy finish is loaded with Asian spice and mocha nuances. Drink now through 2020." Only $17.99 in the Bottle Club®.

We're bringing in several different extensions of the Glenfarclas Whisky line. Glenfarclas is renowned for producing Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky in the traditional Speyside style, with a heavy Sherry influence. These are all available in extremely limited quantities-as little as one bottle per store. It's best to call to inquire about a purchasing opportunity, as the stock might be depleted by the time you've read this.

For those looking for a much older whisky with an age statement, may we suggest the Glenfarclas 40 Year Old.

Color: Rich dark mysterious Gold. Nose: Antique leather, walnuts and chocolate covered raisins. Flavor: A sweet initial taste, orange segments, chocolate. Then a lovely flavor of burnt brown sugar. Finish: The dry finish oozes big tannins and more rich dark cocoa beans. Let the whisky breathe a little or add a drop or two of water to fully open up the dram. Comment: This new Glenfarclas 40 Years Old, bottled in March 2010, has been awarded a score of 95/100 by the Malt Advocate magazine.

$529.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Ripped from the Headlines

Romanée-Conti Caper Leads Officials to Dockworker

There's been a break in the case of the DRC (one of the most prized wines in the world) that walked off the dock. On Oct. 14, 2015, a shipment of Burgundy destined for Canada from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti passed customs in Le Havre in northern France. But when the Liquor Control Board of Ontario received the shipment, the container was short 31 cases of the 2012 vintage, worth more than $50,000 wholesale.

“It’s the first time we’ve had a theft from a container like that,” Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, told public radio station France Bleu. Investigators were stumped until early December when a wine collector saw two magnums of DRC on sale for $52,000 on Le Bon Coin (a French website that serves as a cross between eBay and Craig's List) and alerted DRC. Sadly, it’s not an uncommon occurrence for stolen wine to appear for sale on Le Bon Coin, where the French flog everything from used camping gear to—ahem—stolen wine.

DRC notified the police in Dijon and Versailles, setting off an undercover sting operation that pulled in two fences. The fences revealed that they’d bought the two magnums of DRC from a Bordelais. Cops found four more bottles of DRC with the aforementioned Bordelais, who led them to his supplier, a 34-year-old Honfleur dockworker. At the dockworker's home, cops found a stash of expensive grands crus, but not the DRC. Despite his claims to being just a simple, devoted wine collector, he was arrested. What has become of the rest of those 31 cases of Canada-bound DRC remains a mystery.

Have a great weekend!

Euro All-Stars

Your blogger spent yesterday on jury duty, well, waiting to be called for an actual jury, so we missed our usual posting time. But with our inventory closure this week and most of our wholesale distributors going on shut-down next week, we're all off schedule.

One other scheduling note. This Monday, January 18, is the Martin Luther King Day Federal holiday. Both of our stores will be open regular hours that day.

Today, we'll look at several new and returning products, all with scores of 91 points or higher.

Donnachiara Falanghina Beneventano 2013. This one is returning to our shelves. Donnachiara's new Concept Winery is located in Montefalcione, an ancient small village in Avellino province. The location is south-central Italy, east of Naples. This ancient land was a specific choice of the  Petitto family for the production of the three DOCG wines of Irpinia: Fiano di Avellino,Taurasi and Greco di Tufo, in addition to the DOC wines: Aglianico, Falanghina, and Coda di Volpe. The vineyards have been in the  the family for 150 years.

James Suckling rates this 92 points: "Beautiful aromas of mangoes, dried papaya and hints of cream follow through to a full body with dried apples and minerals. Lots of lemon zest. Excellent Falanghina. Drink now."

Made from 100% Falanghina grapes, this pairs with pasta with light sauces, seafood and fresh cheese. Only $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Pinino Brunello Di Montalcino 2010. The Pinino wine estate was founded in 1874, and the Pinino philospophy is very simple. Brunello and Rosso are produced according to the old traditions of Montalcino and finished in large oak wood barrels from Slavonian oak. A clear focus on achieving the highest possible quality for both the vineyard and the wine-cellar will allow Pinino to reach the objective of becoming one of the leading Italian winemakers.

One characteristic of the Pinino Brunello di Montalcino is the long obligatory aging (four years) before it can be sold. Production, refinement and bottling must take place in the municipality of Montalcino. According to the best of traditions our Brunello matures in large oak barrels.

93 points from Wine Advocate: "Pinino's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit sourced from the northern half of the appellation near the Montosoli single-vineyard. The wine opens to medium consistency and a pretty ruby color with dark garnet hues. It takes a few minutes to start its engines, but once it does it operates with a slow, steady pace that promises longevity over immediacy. This cellar-worthy Brunello should continue its evolution over the next ten years. The tannins are tight, but they already deliver attractive silkiness on the long finish. This promises to be a very enjoyable wine after 2017."

$34.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Ste.-Claire 2014. 91 points from Wine Spectator, and #47 on their Top 100 of 2015. "A textbook flinty aroma gives way to green apple, lemon and mineral flavors in this white, which shows fine depth and richness, offset by vibrant acidity. Excellent length. Drink now through 2020." 100% Chardonnay.

Located near the city of Auxerre, in the valley of the Serein river, Chablis is the center of one of France's oldest wine-growing regions. We place the vine at the heart of its environment and use preparations made from beneficial plants to stimulate its immune system. The work in the vineyards and in the cellars is carried out according to the lunar cycle.

The principles of biodynamic and organic culture are applied to the majority of our vineyards. We continue our work always with the aim of improving the quality of our products.

The release price was $22, but it's available in the Bottle Club® for only $15.99.

Build a Bar Workshop, Part 2

This is the second installment of our Build a Bar Workshop. This series is educational in purpose, with the goal of helping you understand and appreciate the different products that we carry at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. We know that some categories can be mysterious, but we think the information will demystify things for you.

One quick side note before we get into today's topic. Both of our stores are closed all day today/tonight, for inventory. We will re-open at our normal time, 9am tomorrow.

Today's topic is Irish whiskey. If all you know about Irish whiskey is Jameson, you have plenty of company. Jameson remains the world’s only Irish whiskey selling more than 1m cases annually, and retains its position as the 4th best-selling world whisky brand. Edging towards the 5m case mark, the brand, owned by Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers subsidiary, grew 6% in 2014. Adding 1.7m cases since 2010, Jameson has witnessed one of the fastest rates of growth across the entire world whisky category over the past five years.

Irish Whiskey has been distilled in Ireland since the 6th century. At its height in the mid-19th century, 88 licensed distilleries made Irish Whiskey the largest global spirits category of the time. However, by the mid-1980's, only two Irish whiskey distilleries remained, both owned by Irish Distillers.

By 2013, there were four distilleries in Ireland in operation producing and selling Irish Whiskey:

Cooley Distillery (est 1987)
Kilbeggan Distillery (est 1757, re-commissioned 2007)
New Midleton Distillery (est 1975)
Old Bushmills Distillery (est 1784)

In addition, there are more than a dozen distilleries in the planning stages, marking the beginning of an Irish whiskey renaissance.

There are an assortment of styles within the Irish Whiskey category.

Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, which is then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Pot Still Irish Whiskeys are characterized by full, complex flavors and a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel. These are whiskeys originating from a single distillery. Redbreast and Green Spot fall into this category.

Irish Single Malt Whiskey. The laws that govern the production of Irish whiskey are almost exactly the same as those used to make

Scotch whisky, so there are many similarities between the two. Irish Single Malt whiskey is aged in oak for at least three years, and must be distilled from a mash of nothing other than malted barley at a single distillery. We carry the Connemara Peated and Tyrconnell brands. Like their cousins in Scotland, Irish Single Malts can age gracefully before bottling.

Irish Blended Whiskey. Irish Blended Whiskeys offer tremendous value, and are among the country's most popular exports. Brands such as Bushmills and Jameson can be found across the world. Blended whiskeys in Ireland can be made by blending malt whiskey and grain whiskey, but also by blending single pot still Irish whiskey with either of the other two styles, or any possible combination of the three! Other brands to look for here are Paddy (made, unusually, with the three main styles of Irish whiskey: single pot still, single malt and grain), Teeling, Tullamore D.E.W.,

Similar to how bourbon is often bottled, Irish Single Cask Whiskey comes exclusively from one cask per bottle. Because whiskey barrels infuse the liquid with different characteristics based on where the barrel is stored, the temperature range as it ages, how long it's aged and the source of the wood, there are likely to be subtle differences between bottlings.

Irish Cask Strength Whiskey. These are bottled at the natural strength at which they leave the cask, uncut, with an ABV around 60%.

Irish Single Grain Whiskey. Whisk(e)y can be made from many different grains. Corn, rye, barley and wheat are typically found in whiskey. As the name suggests, this type of whiskey is distilled from only one grain. For example, Greenore Single Grain Irish Whisky is distilled predominantly from corn, producing a distinct sweetness.

As a general rule, Irish whiskey is lighter and sweeter than similar products. For someone interested in whiskey, this may be the best place to start. Some distillers are experimenting with different casks for finishing the whiskey (a year or so in an ex-Port barrel will impart additional flavors and nuances, for example), and many Single Malts are available with 12 year (or older) age statements, so there's something for everyone in this whiskey category. Feel free to browse our shelves, or ask one of our team members for their suggestions.

H/T Irish Whiskey Association, Irish Whiskey Awards, Master of Malt.