Scotch Lovers' Special - The Balvenie 12yr Single Barrel is Here!

This Limited Edition 12yr Single Barrel Balvenie is in stock right now at both locations! Don't miss out on this unique bottling.  A perfect gift for any Scotch lover in your life!

Balvenie 12yr Single Barrel (750ml)
Speyside, Scotland

This Single Barrel expression from The Balvenie has been aged in a 12 years in first fill Bourbon cask of a single distillation. The Balvenie Malt Master hand selects only those casks characterized by sweetness and subtle vanilla oakiness to be bottled as The Balvenie Single Barrel. Each bottling forms a limited edition of no more than 300 hand-numbered bottles drawn from a single cask. No two casks, even of the same type and filled with spirit from the same distillation, will produce an identical single malt, so each bottling is unique and unrepeatable. The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year Old is bottled at the higher strength of 47.8% ABV.

Suggested Price: $86.99
Regular Price: $79.99
Bottle Club® Price: $69.99  37% OFF!

Single Malt Lovers Take Note! Macallan 12yr Double Cask is Here!

We wanted to let you know about a great new offering we have in stock! Just in from Macallan, 12yr Double Cask at a great price! There are very limited quantities available, and at this price, it won't last long!  Stop in today and get yours - Available at both our Woodbridge and Lawrenceville locations.  A perfect gift for your favorite Scotch aficionado.

Macallan 12yr Double Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotland
The perfect fusion of two worlds. The extraordinary evolution in the birth of Yan. This single malt whisky matures into a state of perfection in Spanish Oak sherry casks and American Oak sherry wine casks, taking the attractive qualities of the perfect fusion of two kinds of Sherry casks, thus creating a rounded, full and detailed, luscious flavor.
Suggested Price: $69.99
Regular Price: $58.99
Bottle Club® Price: $53.99 

Build a Bar Workshop

This is the first installment of what will be an on-going series. We're aiming to accomplish two different things with this series of posts. Goal one is to demystify our products. For example, we'll begin discussing Scotch Whisky today, and there are so many different questions about this category that we could spend an entire week on the topic without reaching the end. The other goal is to help you make the right decisions when you're building your own bar, regardless of size.

As always, we apply Rule 1: Drink what you like. The corollary here, of course, is that building a bar suggests that you want to please your guests as well. For reference, some of our information comes courtesy of the Scotch Whisky Association.

There are five categories of Scotch Whisky. They are:

Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery (i) from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and (ii) by batch distillation in pot stills.   Since November 23 2012, it is required that Single Malt Scotch Whisky must be bottled in Scotland. Some of the more familiar brands in this category are Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, The Macallan and The Balvenie.

Single Grain Scotch Whisky. A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery (i) from water and malted barley with or without whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals, and (ii) which does not comply with the definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Blended Scotch Whisky. A blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies. This category includes brands like Compass Box.

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. A blend of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery. Probably the biggest-selling Scotch category, with brands like Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Dewar's.

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky. A blend of Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery.

There are five recognized regions where Scotch Whisky is distilled and bottled. The product must be entirely distilled within a region in order to have that designation on the label.

Campbeltown is in the lower left, in yellow, and it has the fewest distilleries of any region (three). Distilleries include Springbank (we carry several of their expressions). Springbank performs every step of the whisky-making process, from malting to bottling, in-house.

Highland covers the largest area, seen in green. The area at the top right and left used to be considered a separate region called Island. Highland Park and Talisker come from the former Island region. Other Highland distillers include Aberfeldy, Dalwhinnie, Glenmorangie, Jura and Oban. Styles range greatly, from the very peaty and smoky (Talisker) to the lighter, grassy and sweet (Glenmorangie).

Non-Scotch drinkers often ask us what we mean by "peaty" or "smoky". Think of it as drinking the smoke from a campfire. The grains are dried by peat-fueled heat, and the grains pick up that smoke.

Islay (pronounced 'eye-lah')is in the middle left, the small region in dark brown. Most of the whisky produced here will fall into the smoky category. Ardbeg, Bowmore and Lagavulin are all distilled here.

Lowland covers the second largest area, and is about the add their fourth distillery. We carry Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie, from the Lowlands.

Speyside is in light brown, surrounded by Highlands, and has the largest number of distilleries. The general feature here is that the distilleries are typically in the vicinity of the River Spey. Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, The Balvenie and The Macallan are all produced here. The taste profile of Speyside whiskies generally are either light and grassy or rich and sweet.

Flavor Profiles. We threw out a lot of terms here that may or may not make sense to you. Courtesy of malts.com, click here for a grid that illustrates the typical flavors one will find in a Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

At the top of the page, we said we'll begin discussing Scotch Whisky today. We met that goal, and hopefully added to your understanding of this category of brown spirits. We'll continue this conversation in the coming weeks.

Hop Scotch

Today, we're discussing an adult version of that playground game. The "Scotch" we're referring to is Johnnie Walker Platinum Label, in the 1.75 liter size.

John Walker began selling Scotch whiskies in his Kilmarnock grocer's shop in 1820 and quickly established an unsurpassed reputation for quality. The Johnnie Walker name has come to represent the ultimate in Scotch whisky for connoisseurs the world over.

Like the rare metal after which it is named, Johnnie Walker® Platinum Label® is rich and refined, a contemporary and complex blend of single malt and grain whiskies matured for a minimum of 18 years.

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label was inspired by private blends the Walker family would craft for preferred customers, it is a truly luxurious blend, and a bold step forth in the tradition of those that have come before it.

Drawn from a limited number of casks, carefully chosen and retained throughout their maturation because of their exceptional character, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label is a skillful blend of style and substance artfully crafted by Master Blender Jim Beveridge.

Flavor notes include rich dried fruit, malty cereal, smooth creamy vanilla, fragrant almonds and tangerines. It is an elegant, contemporary example of the Speyside style, finished with a hint of Islay smokiness.

Enjoy neat, or with water.

At Joe Canal's, we stock an assortment of sizes of the many Johnnie Walker labels. You can start from the 50ml Red Label, through the 200ml Sampler, through Black, Double Black, Green, Platinum and Blue Label, as well as Swing, Odyssey and King George. No matter your palate or budget, there's a Johnnie Walker that will fit.

The Striding Man, circa 1909

Mid-Year Gift Giving Time

We're going to offer a gentle reminder that Father's Day is this coming Sunday. Even if you missed our bottle-engraving events this past weekend, we still have great gift choices available.

2013 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most sought-after ultra-premium California wines. We've just received a shipment of the latest vintage, the 2013. Caymus Napa Valley delivers big aromas and flavors that include cocoa, cassis and vanilla. Caymus prides itself on producing wines that are as approachable in youth as well at maturity.

Like all wines of this stature, availability is fairly limited. Priced at only $64.99 in the Bottle Club®. We always sell out of the Caymus, so we recommend getting your bottle, or bottles, as soon as you can.

For those who prefer a Scotch whiskey, we can recommend the Laphroaig 15 year old. Laphroaig 15 year old was first created 30 years ago. Barrels were individually selected for their particularly mellow rounded flavor, then batch bottled at the higher export strength of 43% ABV. The resulting flavor soon became a firm favorite, winning many awards. Its highlight was being chosen for the famous ‘Erskine Charity Bottling’ in 2000, when 270 bottles were drawn from a single 15 year old cask signed by HRH The Prince of Wales for this charity of which he is a patron.

On the nose, there are initial scents of grapefruit and fresh mint. A touch of water releases salted caramel, with signature Islay peat smoke underlying sweet orchard fruit aromas. On the palate, enjoy pink peppercorns, light peat smoke with a soft dryness, before a finish of tobacco and faint sea salt.

If you're inclined toward the Laphroaig 15, please note that we have a coupon posted on our website for an additional saving. Please click here to view the coupon. Only $69.99 in the Bottle Club®, before the coupon savings.

While there's no time for a bottle engraving, a purchase of Dewar's Higher Marques offers you the option of a wax seal gift tag. Click here for more information on this, which will run from 2-4pm on Saturday, at both stores.

Maybe a shared special dinner interests you. On Monday, June 22, we are hosting a Bourbon dinner at Vidalia's in Lawrenceville. Great Bourbons, like Elmer T. Lee, Basil Hayden and more will be paired with some of Vidalia's exceptional dishes. Lawrenceville's Store Manager Toni Carver will be your host for the evening. Please click here for information.

Of course, if you don't want to make a final decision yourself, a Joe Canal's Gift Card is available from any cashier, in any denomination.

At Joe Canal's, we have hundreds of items that will make great gifts. If you're not sure, just ask any store associate for assistance.

Johnnie Walker Monday

Mixology Monday is always about a high-quality spirit. While you may not want to use any of these three new items in a cocktail, a little water will always open up a beautiful Scotch whisky. These are all limited edition products, and each would be would be a unique Father's Day gift,

Johnnie Walker Odyssey 

A new super-premium release from Johnnie Walker whose launch has been continuously celebrated by an extraordinary around the world journey of a 157 foot luxury yacht. The John Walker & Sons Voyager, as the yacht is called, has been holding parties at cities across Asia and Europe!

This luxury blended malt has been based on the notes of Alexander Walker. It is made up of three carefully selected single malts married in European oak casks. There is absolutely no grain whisky used in this spirit, just three hand-selected single malts from three distinct distilleries, whose identities are a closely held secret. But the musty-sherry and honeyed-heather bouquet of this whisky hints that they are most likely Highland in origin, with at least one of the oak casks coming from Speyside—and perhaps a touch of Islay. A single sip all but confirms this, with elements of stone fruit and a whiff of smoke in the long, extremely smooth finish.

In stock now for $549.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Johnnie Walker King George V

King George V was created to celebrate the Royal Warrant given to the Walker family in 1934 to mark their exceptional quality. This blend includes Port Ellen, a highly prized malt whose distillery no longer exists. King George V has more restraint and sophistication than the Blue Label. The smoke is supplied from the unique, closed distillery of Port Ellen and is powerful, slow and resonant. It's a slower whisky to evolve but has enormous depth.

Besides Port Ellen, the distilleries include Cardhu, Lochnagar and some very old grain whisky.

Nose: Profound smoky initial aroma followed by sweet, fresh fruit (apples, pears, bananas) malt characteristics; developing into rich dried fruit/spicy complexity (raisins, figs, cinnamon).

Palate: Smooth with a rich, fruity sweetness. Warming with subtle flavors of sandalwood and smoke.

Taste: Powerful, complex, rich and smooth.

Finish: Mouth-warming and lingering rich peaty finish.

With water: Releases new flavors, more fresh fruitiness and more smoke on the palate.

In stock now for $324.99 in the Bottle Club®.

John Walker & Sons Private Collection - 2015 Edition

This is the second release in the John Walker & Sons Private Collection range. The first release was a "Unique Smoky Blend", whereas the 2015 edition focuses on the "Rare Fruit Character" of the Johnnie Walker range.

This limited edition blended Scotch whisky was made using 29 specially selected casks. As with the previous edition, 8,888 bottled were produced, all very handsomely presented.

Nose: The initial aromas are full of freshness and vibrancy – grassy notes, crisp green apples and pineapples from the Speyside malts.

These evolve into the heady Highland aromas with the autumnal richness of stewed apples, and then the spicy dried West Highland fruits emerge with orange peel and dried apricots.

These are balanced by sweet fudge notes provided to the blend from American oak casks.

With a few drops of water, the blend develops floral notes reminiscent of the sun-baked Highland heather moor, then into estery pear drops.

Palate: The mouthfeel is smooth and velvety.

Here the Speyside fruit character is present as orange citrus and passion fruit. The Highland whiskies appear as sweet and succulent ripe melons, and there is a West Highland dusky peach skin sweetness. Hints of honey are rounded off by a delicate sweetness from the grain whiskies.

Long years of maturation of the experimental cask whiskies deliver underlying notes of vanilla and a touch of rich fruits. As these flavors begin to fade, a very subtle hint of the John Walker & Sons signature smoke arrives, leading to a sweet, slightly warming finish.

Coming soon, for $499.99 in the Bottle Club®.

A Dram a Day

As a category, Scotch whisky can be a little challenging to a novice. Distillery names can be difficult to pronounce, and the right inflection for the region of Islay (eye-la) can also be elusive. The styles of Scotch are intriguing, but where to start? What's light and sweet? What's heavy and peaty? How can I tell the difference? Joe Canal's is here to help.

On Monday, October 27, in conjunction with Bruichladdich (brook-laddie), we're offering two FREE, hour-long tasting sessions, exploring five different drams.

Bruichladdich believes that Islay whisky should have an authenticity derived from where it is distilled and where it is matured...from the philosophies of those who distill it.

At this intimate, private event you will learn about what sets Bruichladdich apart and why terroir matters while tasting authentic Islay whisky in five distinct styles. If you have a passion for single malts and enjoy fine spirit that captures rich history and tradition in every bottle, then come experience Bruichladdich with a small, inspired group of fellow Scotch enthusiasts.

There will be two sessions, each limited to 25 people, each running 60 minutes. One is at 6:30pm, the other at 8pm.

Participants will sample:
-The Botanist gin ("Welcome" drink, either neat or gin & tonic)
-Bruichladdich Black Art
-Bruichladdich:
--Scottish Barley
--Islay Barley
--Port Charlotte
--Octomore

Light hors d'oeuvres will also be available.

Click here to RSVP, or call the store at 732-726-0077.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bruichladdich-tasting-event-at-joe-canals-tickets-13539179049

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.

Come In Out Of The Rain

On days like this, you need a really good reason to stop in at Joe Canal's. We're prepared to give you several.

You need an easy-drinking red wine to warm you up tonight. Our newest everyday red is the Nicodemi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Terrana. This wine exhibits impressive, surprisingly delicious and authentic characteristics. With bright fruitiness, good structure, well-rounded character, it can go with any meal, from pizza to pasta to a juicy steak. And at $8.76 in the Bottle Club®, it over-delivers for a weeknight wine.

Cold, raw evenings also suggest Scotch whisky to some people. We've blogged previously about the Lost Distillery, the company that is re-creating some of the long-gone brands from Scotland. The latest line extension is Gerston.

The story of Gerston whisky is a tale of two distilleries, known as Gerston One and Gerston Two. Gerston One was a family-owned farm- house scale distillery, with a typically small output, making high quality spirit that was in demand both at home and further afield. It was enjoyed by the great and good of London society and had customers as far apart as Brazil and India. It existed for over eighty years, and remained in the Swanson family for nearly all of that time.

Gerston Two was an industrial scale distillery with a capacity of 80,000 gallons of spirit per year. The owners hoped to emulate the success of the whisky from Gerston One by building a new distillery, which had a capacity almost ten times the size of Gerston One. When it was opened in 1886 it was arguably the most innovative and modern distillery in Scotland, and certainly the largest distillery in Caithness. Its design utilized a natural fall in the land, which allowed gravity to govern the process and the movement of liquids. Production at Gerston Two lasted for little over two decades – they were unable to replicate the success and, importantly, quality of spirit previously associated with the Gerston name.

We currently have the Gerston Deluxe in stock, and Gerston Vintage will likely be added when it is finally available. Here are the tasting notes on the Deluxe, which comes in at 46% ABV.

Aroma: Light malt loaf to start, with sultanas and a trace of allspice. After a while a very slight steamy/smoky note, and hints of hard toffee. The smoky/maritime note increases over time, but becomes dirty (exhaust fumes) when water is added.

Taste: Smooth texture, sweet taste with smoke in the finish and a mineral twist. Water softens the texture; less sweet but still smoky, and a lingering smokiness in the aftertaste. Available for $56.49.

One quick reminder for each store. Look for samples of Margaritas in Lawrenceville this Saturday, from 10am to 2pm. In Woodbridge, we'll be sampling Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps on Saturday, from 1-3pm.

New Wine Wednesday

Maybe it's a Wine Wednesday, or maybe we just have a number of new items that we need to tell you about. Let's dive right into the new arrivals.

Domain Philippe Charlopin

Each store will only receive one case of two different wines from Domain Philippe Charlopin. The Morey Saint Denis rated 90-92 points, and the Marsannay en Montchenevoy rated 89-91 points, both from Wine Advocate. These Cote de Nuits wines are both from the 2010 vintage, with a winemaker that that delivers consistently high-quality efforts.

Bruichladdich Classic

Our selection of single-malt Scotch whisky is growing again. Bruichladdich makes some of the most compelling whisky on the market, with an unexpectedly large range of offerings. The latest, at one case per store, is the Classic Laddie, an unpeated Islay malt.

Smooth as pebbles in a pool, it’s clean, fresh and lively with both the oak and the grain in perfect harmony.

The bouquet is brilliant. Opening with barley sugar and a hint of mint before leading into the most wonderful notes of freshly cut wild flowers; buttercup, daisy, meadow-sweet, myrtle, primrose and cherry blossom. The cleanliness of the spirit is remarkable. As the seconds tick by, more aromas rise from the glass, little zephyrs of spindrift and sea pinks reminding you that this spirit is matured exclusively by the sea. After some four or five minutes and with the addition of a little water, caramelized fruits drift onto the scene; lemon drops and honey, tangerine and tablet.

The palate entry is so refined and refreshing, the sweet oak and the barley arriving together sending the taste buds into raptures. The fruits from distillation drift in on an Atlantic breeze and pop on the tongue like champagne bubbles. A combination of ripe green fruit, brown sugar and sweet malt bring closure. A taste back in time, a realization that not all single malts are equal and to achieve the absolute optimum, you must use barley that is grown in Scotland. Make this one the benchmark for all others you meet on your journey through the stills of Scotland.

More of the Pinot Project

The Pinot Project Pinot Noir has been a strong seller since we started carrying the brand. Now, we're adding two new wines from the Pinot Project team: the Pinot Project Pinot Grigio and the Chard Project Chardonnay.

Like any negociant, the Pinot Project team selects the best available wines to bring to market.  The Chardonnay is from California, and the Pinot Grigio is from Italy.

The CHARD PROJECT is hand-crafted from the finest California Chardonnay grapes; a majority of which come from Sonoma County. The wine is about half stainless steel fermented and half barrel fermented (30% of which are new). This combination gives The CHARD PROJECT a rich, lovely mouthfeel. Pure CHARD aromas and flavors – fresh apples and citrus kissed by oak and complimented by just the right amount of spice.

The Pinot Grigio is hand-crafted from the finest Italian Pinot grapes. Pure Pinot aromas and flavors - pears and citrus, unoaked to enhance the pure

fruit qualities. Extremely versatile with a host of your favorite dishes.

The items discussed on today's blog post are fewer than half of the new products that either have already arrived, or are due in within the next couple of days. Please don't hesitate to ask one of our team members to show you what's new at Joe Canal's!

Grab-Bag Friday

We round out the week with an assortment of items that you should know about, but won't fill a blog post on their own.

Ommegang Game of Thrones Fire and Blood

Each new season of Game of Thrones is partnered with a special, limited release from Ommegang. This season's brew, Fire and Blood, will be available Monday. Call the stores for direct purchase information, which is limited to one bottle per person. Lawrenceville is 609-520-0008, and Woodbridge is 732-726-0077.

Weekend Tasting Schedule

In Lawrenceville, the wine tastings are on the regular schedule of 4-6pm Friday, and 2-4pm Saturday. The specialty tapping tonight is DuClaw Serum Double IPA, at 5pm.

In Woodbridge, tonight we're tasting Dad's Hat Whiskey, from 5-7pm. The specialty tapping, normally at 6pm, is moved to 7pm just for tonight. And we're also tapping DuClaw Serum Double IPA. The Saturday wine tasting will be at the normal time of 1-3pm.

Starting in April, the Lawrenceville specialty tapping will move to Thursdays at 6pm. For both stores, the featured brewery in April is the Clown Shoes Beer Company.

Additional New Products

Although we've already highlighted several new products this week, we want to bring some others to your attention.

Unico Pinot Grigio is now available in both Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. It's a delicious, crisp, fruity white wine. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and perfectly balanced, supple and refreshing. This is a versatile wine that matches well with a great variety of dishes, but is also excellent served on its own as an aperitif. Delicious with seafood linguine or grilled tuna. Only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.


Both stores have also received very limited quantities of the latest addition to the Robert Biale line, the 2012 Bedrock Vineyard Sonoma Zinfandel.

The Biale family, immigrants from Northern Italy, began growing grapes in Napa in the 1930’s – Zinfandel only. Zinfandel, California’s adopted grape, was widely planted by immigrants throughout the state’s history as a highly flavorful red grape well-suited for its expansive range of arid climates and diverse soils. In the 1940’s Aldo Biale sold bottles of illicit homemade Zinfandel known as “Black Chickens” over his party line phone service.  

Their Bedrock Vineyard has quite a history, as people ranging from General Tecumseh Sherman to William Randolph Hearst to the Parducci family have either owned the property, or made wine there. This vintage is Biale's first at the property.

The wine itself is aromatic, finely textured, and expressive of warm blackberries, cherry pie, stony minerals and baking spices. Its elegant and hedonistic style can be enjoyed now, or cellared for a long future. Only 300 cases were produced, and it's priced at $48.99.

And one for the whisky lovers...

Tullibardine Aged 20 Years

Matured in first fill Bourbon Barrels, this is a wonderful, charming, single malt that delivers vanilla, cocoa, honey, and oatmeal in equal measure, while finishing smooth and dry on the palate. There is a complexity from its age, but there is still that hint of subtle sweetness that Tullibardine has in its malts.  Only about 3 bottles will be available in each store, priced at $136.99 in the Bottle Club®.

And while you're thinking about a single malt, look for the Tullibardine 225 (Sauternes finish) and Tullibardine 500 (Sherry finish), each priced at only $54.99 in the Bottle Club®.

News You Can Use

Every week, we're happy to assist people looking to stock their home bar with quality spirits, beer and wine. But you can't forget the bar tools, if you want to make quality cocktails at home. Click to read what you might be missing.

Waiting for a $100 cocktail? It's in Boston. Click for the article. 

Have a great weekend, everyone.

 

Midweek News

Here's a quick whip-around look at some of our newest products:

Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm 2007

Bruichladdich has some of the most interesting whiskys on the market now.

The wild west Atlantic-facing coast gave birth to this third release in Bruichladdich's uber-provenance Islay Barley series.

Harvested in 2006 and distilled in 2007, the grain for this iconic whisky was grown for Bruichladdich in the Minister’s Field at Rockside Farm by Mark and Rohaise French.

A painfully slow distillation to gently coax the delicate oils and flavor compounds from the barley, coupled with casks carefully selected to preserve those flavors, has resulted in a whisky of exceptional complexity.

Bruichladdich believes terroir matters. Distinctive, authentic and unique, this is land and dram united. 50% ABV.

The texture is rich and robust with the maltiness of the barley very much at the fore. There is a natural innocence and purity to this spirit that brings an unbelievable depth and complexity to the palate. For a spirit so young it is outstanding.

The oak has been waiting patiently and now it cradles all of the aromatics. This malt is in so perfect a place at this time that one cannot ever recall such a pleasurable taste experience. The flavors of this Island detonate across the palate. Made and matured by the ocean by real artisans, working with Victorian equipment. It’s the start of a journey that few have ever dreamed about and now it’s possible to walk with this young Ileach as he challenges the shaman and their marketing myths.

Available at $60.99.

Cherry Pie Cherry Tart Pinot Noir

While walking through a new vineyard for his now famous Cherry Pie Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir, Winemaker Jayson Woodbridge was struck with a new concept: applying his “micro fermentation” technique used on Cherry Pie to three vineyards, in order to create a “Multi-Single-Vineyard blend”. Utilizing the unique taste and flavor profiles of three single vineyards, combined with the artisan micro winemaking approach of its namesake Cherry Pie, small individual lots are micro fermented in puncheon barrels. The result: Cherry Tart redefines artisan Pinot Noir.

Cherry Tart Pinot Noir exhibits notes reminiscent of cherry pie, plums, cranberries and a hint of wild strawberries. This beautifully rich, pure Pinot Noir offers abundant aromas of cloves, sweet apple skins and Rainier cherries. Full bodied, a rich texture with fresh flavors of Bing cherry and red plum lead to a long finish. Vanilla oak and lively acidity round it out and leave you wanting more.


Only $17.49 in the Bottle Club®.

Two New SVEDKA Flavors!

SVEDKA Strawberry Lemonade is a contemporary twist on the wistful, classic lemonade drink. Infused with aromatic, ripe berries, the blend boasts notes of juicy lemon pulp with a crisp, refreshing finish. Just in time for the warmer weather that will arrive any time now. 

SVEDKA Mango Pineapple retains a tropical island aroma, as the infused vodka is mingled with warm, tangy notes that produce a bold entry of juicy, sweet pineapple and succulent mangoes trailed by layers of a sweet tropical fruit bouquet.

Each new flavor comes in the 750ML size, and is priced at $12.99.

La Tancia Chianti 2011

Your new everyday red. From the heart of Chianti, at a site where they've been making wine for 250 years.

The wine has a ruby red color tending to garnet with aging. Intensely vinous with violet profumoda, has a dry, fruity, harmonious and slightly tannic feel, which over time will be soft and velvety. 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo.

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.


When you're next in Joe Canal's, please take a moment to find these great new items, and enjoy them at home.

Friday Grab Bag

A look at industry news and Joe Canal's updates that we couldn't fully cover earlier in the week.

Ripped From The Headlines

There are laws that spell out the requirements for a Tennessee whiskey. The elements include the mashbill, the specifics of the barrel used for aging, and so on. Lawmakers in Tennessee are considering changes to the current law. Read about it here.

A trailer-load of a rare Canadian whiskey is missing. That's 1532 cases of Mastersons 12 year old, with a value of about $700,000. Read the whole story here, which includes tasting notes on a 12 year old whiskey that we'll probably never see.

Hungary abolishes three and four Puttonyos Tokaji grades, effective later this year. While this change won't have an immediate impact, if your favorite Tokaji falls in that range, you might want to stock up. The Puttonyos scale refers to sugar levels. Read about it here.

In California, a warehouse worker was arrested, accused of stealing over $400,000 worth of wine. That's about 350 cases. The story, with snark, is here.

In-Store Tastings

We're covering all of our product categories in Lawrenceville this weekend. On Friday, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, we're offering a complimentary tasting of Dad's Hat Whiskey. Based in nearby Bristol, PA, Dad's Hat is made by hand, in small batches, using only natural, local ingredients and the most careful methods. It's crisp, smooth and delicious, and is produced in the original home of American Rye Whiskey.

Also at 5:00pm, we have our weekly specialty Growler tapping. Our featured brewery in March is DuClaw Brewing Company, and we're tapping Naked Fish.
 Like most traditional Stouts, Naked Fish is medium-bodied and nearly black in color, with a light tan head. But where Naked Fish turns the stout style upside down is in its flavor profile. Gourmet Chocolate Raspberry Coffee is added to the grain bill to produce a taste experience you’ll never forget.

Finally, we have our regular weekly wine tasting on Saturday, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. You can find the tasting menu here.

We've just added a Lost Distillery Scotch Whisky tasting for Friday, April 11, from 4:00 to 6:00pm. In their words: "The Lost Distillery Company is an independent boutique Scotch Whisky company. We are obsessive about our craft and uncompromising when it comes to whisky quality. Our mission is to create present day expressions of legendary whiskies that belonged to the craft of whisky distilling almost a century ago."

There's also plenty to taste in Woodbridge. The normal wine tasting schedule is in force, with the Friday hours 4:00 to 6:00pm and 1:00 to 3:00pm on Saturday. Friday's tasting is themed to the arrival of Spring, as suggested by the staff. You can find both Friday and Saturday tasting menus here.

And the Woodbridge specialty tapping of DuClaw Naked Fish will be at 6:00pm on Friday.

                           Now In Stock

Both stores have received a limited amount of the Canal's Family Selection Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Single Barrel Canal's Family Selection. A genuine small batch Bourbon, it's named after the Rev. Elijah Craig, the man who discovered the method of making true Kentucky Bourbon when he stored his wares in barrels that had been charred in a fire. Single Barrel means that the Bourbon is bottled exclusively from one hand-selected barrel, rather than from a blending of 70 barrels for a typical Bourbon. This leads to uniquely rich and distinct flavors.

Due to arrive today is a new Canal's Family Selection product: Maestro Dobel™ Tequila. This tequila is sourced from single estates and is distilled from 100% blue agave and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico. Each bottle of Dobel™ Tequila is double-distilled, matured in Hungarian White Oak barrels, and filtered for exceptional smoothness and clarity.

Making Their Debut

We do love to talk about the new products that we bring into our stores. When you think about how many beer, wine and spirits items that we already stock, we need to make sure that the new products also get your attention. Your new favorite beverage might just have arrived, and you should know about it.

This is actually a good time to pause for a reminder about our tastings. Our regular wine tastings are every Friday and Saturday, and both our Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores. At our Growler stations, you may sample a limited number of beers before you make your purchase. We also have an assortment of other tastings throughout the year; for example, we have a Punzone tasting in Lawrenceville tomorrow, and an Irish Whiskey tasting in Woodbridge on Sunday. As always, please check our Events page and Bottle Club® emails for complete details.

Back on point, let's talk about some of the many new items we've recently added to our shelves. The critically acclaimed wine from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is Château Miraval. For the new season, we've added their white wine, the Château Miraval Varois en Provence Blanc ''Pitt & Jolie''. Château Miraval, located in the heart of the Var, is one of the most beautiful historic domaines of Provence. With investment in the latest wine-making technology and a passion for excellence at every stage of production, Miraval is producing some of the most exciting wines in the Provence. This white blend is 75% Rolle and 25% Grenache Blanc. Rolle (called Vermentino in Italy), imparts vibrant citrus aromas while a touch of Grenache Blanc reminds one of white peach and fresh herbs. The regular price of this wine is $28.99, but it's currently in the Bottle Club® for only $25.99.

Glenmorangie is one of our best-selling Scotch brands. Their different finishes offer some truly interesting -and delicious- single malts. The newest expression to hit our shelves is the Glenmorangie 18.

The Glenmorangie 18 Years Old is a single malt Scotch whisky of serious distinction. Once it has spent fifteen years maturing in American white oak casks, approximately 30% is transferred into Spanish Oloroso casks to spend a further three years maturing. Then, when both elements have reached 18 years, they are blended back together to create a whisky with a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavor.

For a whisky of this age, this expression has maintained, thanks to the delicate floral spirit and fine Oloroso casks, an incredible degree of vibrancy, where the raisiny sweetness of the sherry has been toned down by the nuttiness of the American oak.

The taste is balanced between honey, malt and flowery scents. Dates and figs emerge in the background with a hint of wood smoke. The finish is long and enticing with the sweetness of dried fruit and subtle dryness of Oloroso nuttiness. Glenmorangie 18 is available in very limited quantities, at $116.99 for the 750ML bottle.

The weather just has to warm up, and then everyone will be looking for a white wine. Beat the rush with this newest Italian. You already know the Stella label, as their Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of our biggest-selling Italian red wines. The Stella Trebbiano d'Abruzzo just might be your next everyday white wine.

Made from 50% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and 50% Trebbiano Toscano grapes from vineyards near the windy Adriatic coast of Abruzzo, the wine is fermented under temperature-controlled conditions in stainless steel tanks.  It is released on the market in the spring following the harvest.

Straw-yellow in color with delicate aromas of green apple and flowers, Stella Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is smooth, clean, dry, versatile, and always refreshing. It's excellent with fish antipasti, pasta with clams, fish-based soups, and other light fares. And it's only $4.96 in the Bottle Club®, making it perfect for both cooking and sipping.

Our food choices almost always put us in the mood for an everyday red wine. Meeting that need is the Tenuta Amalia Dolce Viola Cagnina di Romagna. This was just featured in one of our weekend wine tastings in Woodbridge. The wine is predominantly made from Refosco grapes (locally known as Cagnina, or Terrano, meaning earth), and emerges as a deep purple colored and full-bodied red with sweet fruit intensity, offering notes of strawberry and raspberry, backed by soft tannins. This will go nicely with most pasta dishes, burgers, or sausages. The Bottle Club® price is only $7.96.

As we've noted in earlier posts, Joe Canal's regularly receives new items, and we're not always able to go into each one in depth, no matter how much we'd like to. So the next time you're in one of our two stores, don't hesitate to ask one of associates to show you something new.

Wednesday Grab-Bag

Topics have been piling up like the snow has this winter, so I think we need a grab-bag to clear off my car, I mean, my desk.

Scotch Dinner on April 9

This dinner will feature an exceptional meal paired with The Macallan Single Malt (12 year, 15 year and 18 year) and the Famous Grouse. Dinner will be held at Centro Grille in Robbinsville. Space is limited, so call Centro at 609-208-9300 to RSVP. Questions? Ask at Customer Service in Lawrenceville, 609-520-0008.

The Macallan’s curiously small spirit stills are the smallest on Speyside. Their unique size and shape give the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the ‘new make’ spirit and provide the viscosity and rich, fruity, full-bodied flavors so characteristic of The Macallan. There are fourteen of these curiously small stills, crafted from copper, each holding an initial ‘charge’ of 3,900 liters. These stills are so famous that they have appeared on the back of a Bank of Scotland £10 banknote!

New Products

While we're on the subject of Scotch whisky, we've added the BenRiach 15 year Madeira Finish to our shelves. Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, this whisky is then finished in Madeira barrels, sourced from the semi-tropical Portuguese island of Madeira, hundreds of miles off the coast of north-west Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean. During this second period of maturation the whisky derives many interesting characteristics specific to the Madeira barrel. The nose offers vanilla and spices with watermelon and peaches, with a rich backdrop of Madeira and oak wood. An avalanche of butterscotch, hazelnuts, peaches and spices, with a rich Madeira finish envelop the palate.

Flavored vodkas are still going strong. In stock now in Lawrenceville, and coming soon to Woodbridge, is the Smirnoff Sorbet® Light Pineapple Coconut. This is a full-flavored, sorbet-inspired vodka with natural fruit flavor, containing juicy, ripe pineapple and creamy toasted coconut notes.  It offers sophisticated fun with only 78 calories per 1.5 fl. oz.

Try this cocktail recipe: Weekend in the Tropics

1.5 oz Smirnoff Sorbet Light® Pineapple Coconut
1.5 oz pineapple juice
1.5 oz mango juice

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the above ingredients. Stir, then garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Tastings and Other Stuff

We understand that warmer weather will get here eventually. When that happens, you'll enjoy a clean, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, either with a light meal or on its own. Our distributor is discontinuing Omaka Springs Sauvignon Blanc, and we just made a big buy on this wine. At only $10.98 in the Bottle Club®, Omaka Springs will please your wallet and palate. Omaka Springs Estate Sauvignon Blanc shows the best that Marlborough has to offer.  This wine displays a burst of tropical fruits - guava, passion fruit, and a hint of ripe melon, complimented by a vibrant acidity, herbaceous tomato stalk notes and nuances of green capsicum.  The careful addition of a small amount of Semillon lends good structure and adds to the texture and length.

Both stores will have a tasting of Shiner Ruby Redbird & Shiner White Wing. The tasting will first land in Lawrenceville on Thursday, March 27, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Next will be Woodbridge, on Thursday, April 3, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The tastings will be at the Growler station.

Ruby Redbird is their summer seasonal, brewed with tart Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit and a "kick" of Ginger. White Wing is a year-round Belgian white, brewed with authentic Belgian yeast, along with hints of coriander and orange peel.

Our final tasting note is a Woodbridge-only event. On Saturday, April 5, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, we'll pour samples of Miller Fortune.

You first notice Miller Fortune's distinctive malty aromas, backed with subtle citrus notes. The taste is nicely balanced, with hoppy tones and a restrained sweetness that matches its light body. The crisp, clean finish is in keeping with the 6.9% ABV.

We hope you'll join us for these tastings, as well as our regular weekend wine tastings.

Beat The Snow!

Like everyone else, we've been seriously disrupted by the snowy, messy winter. Delivery schedules are off, the staff can't get to work some days, and can't get home on others. With all that going on, we've had some new products come in that we haven't even had time to talk about yet. So let's fix that now, before we get stuck in the house again.

Both the Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores have the Jenna Sparr Cotes du Rhone Villages 2011 in stock. We last had the 2009 vintage of this wine, and it was a proven winner. This wine has earthy aromas of prunes, stewed fruit and licorice. It is full-bodied with plum, licorice and spicy flavors. At only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®, this Grenache-Syrah blend is a perfect anytime wine.

With the threat of a pretty major storm arriving during the night, some of our team like nothing better than to sit at the window at home and watch it snow while sipping on a serious single malt Scotch. If you're like us, then the just-added Glengoyne 18 year old Highland malt is for you.

The slowest distillation process in Scotland. Six years spent preparing the perfect oak casks before they receive their first drop of spirit. Barley dried by air, never peat. Glengoyne gives you pause to reflect that it's only by investing valuable time and infinite care that you can create something of real worth. Glengoyne - it's worth the wait.

This dram has spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. This is the result of 18 long years and a generous proportion of first-fill sherry casks. And of the patience Glengoyne takes over the slowest distillation in Scotland. 43% ABV. Only $97.49 in the Bottle Club®.

We also find that red wine warms us on these cold nights, and a newly-arrived Italian red should do the trick. The Masseria Trajone Salice Salentino comes from Apuglia, in Southeastern Italy, and is a blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grapes. The wine is medium-bodied, with flavors of dark berries, allspice and raisins, with soft tannins partnering with notes of black pepper on the long finish. You'll find a touch of smokiness on the nose as well. This is also an everyday red, with a tasty price point of  $8.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Lastly, let's note the arrival of the Charles & Charles Red Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, vintage 2012. This wine scored 90 points from Wine Spectator. The Charles & Charles project is a collaboration between Charles Smith and Charles Bieler of Three Thieves, Bieler Père et Fils, and Sombra Mezcal. The aromas have the same signature blackberry, violet, currant and mocha that it's had in previous vintages but also takes on more of a cigar box component. The price? Only $9.69 in the Bottle Club®, making this another great option as an everyday red.  

Since the snow isn't supposed to start until after our regular closing time, we hope you'll take advantage of the weather window and take a bottle home with you. It'll make being snowed in tomorrow much more fun.
 

Friday Grab-Bag

I need to clear out my in-box, so let me briefly introduce some new products with special pricing.

We have the end-of-vintage close out of Rusden Driftsand Red 2010. One of Australia's most respected wineries, Rusden grows their grapes in Vine Vale, with a terroir that is deep white sand over red clay.

2010 was one of the lowest yielding Grenache vintages in their history. This makes for a very fruit driven style, balanced with some real lifted spice that their Grenache is famous for. The Shiraz adds white pepper on the nose and sweetness on the palate, while the Mataro component adds some rich, gamey complexity. Rated 91 points by IWC, this is in the Bottle Club® for only $16.98.

David Ramey is held in the highest esteem as a true innovator, a talented wine artisan and an industry revolutionary. More than 30 years ago David helped lead the charge away from technically proficient, squeaky clean wines toward natural winemaking methods that embrace the importance of terroir, creating distinctive wines of unique character. He's the consulting winemaker for the Brassfield Estate Winery Volcano Ridge Vineyard Eruption Red 2012 that's new to our shelves.

The 2012 Eruption Red is rich and intense. The wine has aromas of fresh blueberries, toasted brioche, black cherries, and mocha, giving way to flavors that are jammy, ripe and unctuous. The palate explodes with blackberries, dark currants, and clove while it layers supple and round coating tannins, making the wine hedonistic while being simultaneously elegant. Made from Syrah, Malbec, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah, Eruption is only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Another VIW (Very Important Winemaker) in the Napa Valley is Chuck Wagner. Among his other projects, Chuck brought us Caymus. We're now carrying his Emmolo Napa Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.

If you could bottle freshness, the Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc would be it. The personality of the River Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford is prominent in this Sauv Blanc. It's true to the varietal with well-integrated citrus, lemongrass, hints of passion fruit, melon, apricot and nicely woven minerality throughout. Crisp and clean; yet nicely textured. $19.99 in the Bottle Club®.

The Merlot is a rich example of the varietal, with Pomerol-like characteristics. It's highlighted by layers of ripe berries, earthy notes and hints of smoke and truffle on the finish. It’s bold, yet balanced. $54.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Our grab-bag wouldn't be complete without whisky. We've just brought in the Glenmorangie Companta, in 750ML bottles. On the nose, Companta (Scots Gaelic for ‘friendship’) exudes rich, autumnal scents of red berries and damp forest floors, with a hint of fragrant woodsmoke complementing notes of aromatic, nutty oak. Upon tasting, a spicy palate redolent of cherries and stewed fruits is slowly revealed, as notes of sugared plums, blood orange and rose-hip syrup emerge alongside milk chocolate and brown sugar. Companta lingers on with a rich, mouth-coating finish. $92.99 in the Bottle Club®.

So my in-box is a little lighter, and you know about some great new products. My job here is done for today.