Room for More

One important reason that we seem to always be in the middle of re-arranging things on the shelves is that there are always new products on their way into the store. Sometimes, they are seasonal products (craft beer especially, but think about Rose wine and Beaujolais Nouveau); others are limited editions (often a Bourbon or craft spirit), and sometimes it's just a vintage change. Whatever the reason, we need to find space for great new products, like these:

The Bruery Jardinier, a brand new, year round beer. Jardinier, which is French for "gardener," was inspired by the fresh, sessionable beers so often found on the Belgian dinner table. Bright and flavorful with an assertive hop character, Jardinier is a perfect beer for any occasion, casual or ornate. 4.5% ABV, 35 IBU's. Enjoy Jardinier with California avocado toast, saffron & garlic clams, rotisserie leg of lamb, crispy Brussels sprouts, burnt orange ice cream. Available in 750ml bottles.

Apothic Crush. This will arrive within the next few days. This decadent red blend is every bit as memorable and captivating as your first epic crush. "This limited release red wine blends luscious red fruit flavors with notes of caramel and chocolate for a velvety, smooth mouthfeel," said Debbie Juergenson, Apothic winemaker. "With our time-tested winemaking style of blending Old World intrigue with modern sophistication, Apothic Crush is our most decadent red blend yet."

This will be available only for a limited time, at $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Remy Martin V. Returning after a hiatus. Daring and sophisticated: the premier eau-de-vie de vin from Rémy Martin. Born of legendary French vineyards, Rémy Martin V‘s grapes are distilled in the traditional manner in copper pot stills. Fresh, smooth, with crisp

flavors, and sophisticated aroma. Ice-cold filtration refines Rémy Martin V’s exceptional smoothness and brilliant transparency.

On the nose, fresh fruity notes with hints of grapes and pears and nuances of melon. The taste offers subtle hints of pear and nuances of fresh mint. The body is smooth and balanced.

Rémy Martin V is vibrant and intricate on the rocks. Mixed, it reveals the soul of great cocktails, classics and new creations alike. Available for $37.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Allagash Evora. Evora is a golden hued ale with aromas of tropical fruit, honey, and spice. Citrus, oak, and earthiness dominate the flavor and give way to hints of bread

crust. Malty and robust, this medium bodied beer finishes fruity, dry, and slightly tart.

We brew this beer with Maris Otter Malt and flaked oats, and hop with Sorachi Ace, Hallertau and Northern Brewer. Evora begins fermenting on stainless steel with a classic Belgian yeast strain, then moves over to Portuguese Brandy Barrels, where it ages with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis for over a year.

This is highly allocated, and we have a very limited amount for sale. Please call the store directly to see if any remains available. 375ml only.

Remember that we receive many more new products each week than we can possibly preview here. If you're looking for a specific new item, or you're just interested in what's new in general, please consult with our store staff.

Spirits 101: Louis XIII Cognac

Wednesdays on the BottleBlog will feature an education session on wine, beer or spirits. Today, Shannon Spare discusses Louis XIII Cognac.

This week, a few lucky Joe Canal's employees (not today's blog author, unfortunately) were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend an industry tasting at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City. The store was abuzz with the featured special event of the occasion: a Louis XII Cognac seminar and tasting. Of course, still learning, this meant nothing to me, until store manager Zack Goldberg took me to the locked case in the front of the store.

Louis XIII is the most coveted cognac in all the world. Its legacy reaches far and wide. The cognac is manufactured using grapes from the Grande Champage territory of Cognac, France. It is blended from 1200 eaux-de-vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in oak barrels that are several hundred years old.

Tasting notes of this acclaimed cognac include a color of golden-yellow with mahogany highlights and red notes. The nose is said to include hints from the oak barrels it's aged in (also called tiercons), as well as floral and spicy undertones. The taste is said to be, according to Remy Martin, the producer, "a dense celebration of floral notes and candied fruits with hints of spices..." "notes of jasmine twirled with nuances of passion fruit, ginger and nutmeg," as well as "touches of roses and iris," dancing with "elements of fig, prunes, sandalwood and honey."

One of the really special things about Louis XIII cognac is its crystal decanter. Each decanter is unique, combining the work of 11 trained craftsmen who first blow the crystal, place by hand the characteristic ornaments, and decorate the neck with 24-carat gold.

It's rumored that once a bottle of Louis XIII is empty, you can take it to the distillery in France and have it refilled for free. I can't find any substantiation of that clam, however. Has anyone heard of this?

Is your palate wishing for a taste of Louis XIII? Ask a manager to unlock the cabinet for you to pick up a bottle... it'll only run you $1,699.00!

Have you tried Louis XIII? What were your thoughts? Leave me a comment below!