Catching Up

It's an odds-and-ends kind of blog post today. We need to clear out the inbox, but there are other things you should know about.

Dark N Stormy Tasting Event. Please join us at our Woodbridge store for this special tasting this Friday, 5/27. Sample the classic Dark 'N' Stormy cocktail, made with with Gosling's Dark Rum and Gosling's Ginger Beer. Then, sample Silvato Bros. Dark N Stormy cakes.  The cakes will be available for only $7.99/each. We added this event to our calendar late in the day last Friday, so we didn't have the chance to properly talk about it.

That's Friday-did we mention Thursday? Stop in to our Woodbridge location for a sampling of HABARITA habanero craft margarita mixes. Between the two tastings, you'll have some great new options for the Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day store hours. Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge will be open from 9am to 6pm on Memorial Day Monday. We will have regular hours otherwise, which is 9am-10pm six days per week, and 9am-7pm on Sunday.

New Products

Wines like Apothic Red and Cupcake Red Velvet have been extremely popular because they arrive at the intersection of great flavors and exceptional value. With Bottle Club® prices that are under $10, they are accessible wines that can be enjoyed every day.

We've just introduced a new wine in that same category, The Industrialist. It's a crowd pleasing red blend filled with bold flavors of black cherry, juicy plum, cassis, vanilla and a dash of spice. The complex, medium-bodied palate is lush and round with the balanced acidity, smooth tannins and a long finish. Enjoy on its own, or pair with hamburgers, BBQ and pizza. At only $8.27 in the Bottle Club®, it's the low-price leader!

The movie Sideways came out in 2004, and the reputation of Merlot took a beating. Maybe it was deserved, maybe not. But in the decade plus since the movie's release, Merlot has staged a comeback.

We've been selling the James Wyatt Red Blend for a few months, and it's become a popular choice. We've just added the James Wyatt Merlot, and we think you'll enjoy this classic Bordeaux varietal even more.

James Wyatt Merlot is ruby red in color with a classic bouquet of Bing cherry, blueberry, mocha, vanilla and white pepper. Smooth and round on the palate with elegant fruit flavors, ripe tannins and a long finish. This wine will pair well with peppered steak, mushroom sauces and fragrant cheeses. It's available in both stores for the Bottle Club® price of only $14.97.

Special Events

National Cucumber Day. The folks at HENDRICK’S GIN have officially taken unofficial responsibility for this year’s Cucumber Season — 44 SPECTACULAR DAYS of events, amusements and botanically-inspired aerial transport, laddering up to the June 14th holiday.

Celebrate with Joe Canal's and Hendrick's Gin with a sampling of Hendrick's Gin Cucumber Lemondae. This will be at our Woodbridge store on June 4, 1-3pm, and at our Lawrenceville store on June 17, 5-7pm.

Since June 1 is next Wednesday, we wanted to mention this again. We take delivery of a brand-new Harley-Davidson motorcycle that day.It's not designed for home deliveries and, unfortunately, it's not ours to keep. But it is being raffled off. The HD will be on display all during the month of June, then it will be sent to only three other stores in New Jersey. At the end of the summer, there will be a drawing, and one lucky winner will get to take that bike home. Entries will be accepted at both the Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores, and no purchase is necessary to enter the contest.

Memorial Day Shopping List

Since this is the last full weekend before the Memorial Day weekend, we thought we'd help you plan things out. Bring this shopping list to Joe Canal's, but be prepared to discover something new. Look for these great products in our stores, as they are sure-fire hits for your Memorial Day get-together. Please note that our stores will only be open from 9am to 6pm on Memorial Day.

This shopping list covers all of our product categories, and is a great place to begin assembling your Memorial Day event supplies. Our store staff will be happy to assist you further, and shopping this weekend will also help keep you out of the crowds.

Bols Genever. This had been available on a special order basis, but we now have a limited supply on our shelves, based on requests. Bols Genever is an award-winning classic cocktail spirit that combines the mixability of a white spirit and the complexity of a brown spirit, resulting in a flavor that is like nothing else out there. Rediscovered, it is renowned for its mixing qualities and for sipping; the original Dutch ritual of drinking Genever neat in the traditional tulip glass.

Bols began distilling genevers – The Netherlands' national spirit category – in 1664, a proud tradition that continues to this day. The smooth, subtle, malty flavor comes from using over 50% malt wine, which is made from long-fermented rye, corn and wheat, triple-distilled in copper pot stills.This malt wine – the heart of a good genever – is then infused with a carefully selected distillate of botanicals and

brought to 42% alcohol; a percentage carefully chosen by our master distiller for the perfect combination of aroma and mouth-feel.The attention to detail in the distilling process is comparable to a fine single malt Scotch.

River Horse Summer Blonde. We brought Summer Blonde to an event last weekend, and it was grabbed up pretty quickly. Summer in New Jersey means enjoying some of the great craft beer that's brewed right here. Summer Blonde is a light, refreshing Ale that is easy to drink yet complex. Available in bottles or cans.

Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine Rose 2015: The classic Provence Rosé profile is what every serious winemaker around the world attempts to mimic and for good reason. The delicate balance between floral, herbal, red fruit and acid is tricky to hit but

sensational when it lines up as it does with the 2015 Bieler Père et Fils "Sabine" Rosé. The aromas and flavors are all so finely knit together that it’s almost hard to write a tasting note at times: from the more savory lavender and rosemary to rose petal notes to citrus, wild raspberry, and tart cherry. There’s acidity on the tongue yet a hug of richness. Sleek yet full and inviting aromatics with a touch more red fruit than the 2014 make this my favorite rosé we’ve made in several years. Mid-palate is broad yet light and dynamic, and the color is a pale but vivid pink. A spectacular vintage in the hills surrounding the beautiful and ancient city of Aix en Provence.

The blend is the following: Grenache: 40%, Syrah: 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon: 25%, Cinsault: 7%, Rolle: 3%. It's just not summer without a great rosé. This wine is on the tasting menu on Saturday in Lawrenceville, along with three other outstanding summer wines.  Click here for more information.

Capriccio Prosecco. We know there will be plenty of brunch opportunities over the holiday weekend, so you'll need a sparkling wine for your Mimosas and Bellinis. Capriccio has a vibrant bouquet of apples, white peach and exotic fruits. The finish has hints of melon and gingerbread. In addition to brunch, it goes nicely with light summer dishes, sushi and shrimp.

We mentioned brunch, didn't we? The other classic brunch beverage, of course, is the Bloody Mary. We have a great new vodka that will help take your Bloody Mary to the next level.

Hammermill Vodka is available in 750ML and 1.75 L sizes. Hammermill's Small Batch style vodka is distilled five times for a supremely smooth flavor and clean finish, that can be sipped straight or used with a classic mixer like soda or tonic. Or, like we said above, in a Bloody Mary.

We also stock ice, along with a variety of mixers, plus cheese and other snacks that will make all of your shopping that much easier.