Enjoy After Dinner

Some of us prefer coffee after dinner, while others prefer a digestif, and others enjoy a cocktail. Of course, dessert is always on option. The after-dinner drink is the final category that we'll explore in this pre-Cinco de Mayo time.

Celebrated around the globe, Tequila Rose is a natural strawberry flavored cream liqueur blended with a splash of premium Tequila and real dairy cream.

Enjoyed over ice or as a versatile cocktail ingredient, Tequila Rose is also a wonderful addition to desserts.

Patrón XO Cafe is an extraordinary blend of ultra-premium Patrón Silver tequila and the pure, natural essence of fine coffee. The taste is dry, not sweet as with most low-proof coffee liqueurs with notes of chocolate and vanilla. Patrón XO Cafe is excellent for sipping, as a premium cocktail ingredient, or as a unique and delicious dessert topping.

Color: Dark, rich brown.
Aroma: Fresh coffee balanced with chocolate and vanilla.
Taste: The rich taste of fresh-roasted coffee, notes of chocolate, chile and light tequila.
Finish: Smooth, yet dry.

Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa combines high-quality Patrón Silver tequila with the extraordinary essence of fine coffee and Criollo chocolate from Mexico to create a unique and enjoyable ultra-premium coffee liqueur. Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa marries the smooth, dry taste of Patrón XO Cafe with the decadence of rich chocolate and light tequila.

Color: Rich, dark brown.
Aroma: Fresh coffee balanced with cocoa.
Taste: Rich taste of fresh roasted coffee, rich chocolate and light tequila.
Finish: Smooth, yet dry.

Patrón XO Cafe Incendio is a bold and fiery chile chocolate liqueur that combines the heat of the Mexican arbol chile, the rich decadence of Criollo chocolate and the crisp

smoothness of Patrón Silver tequila. The distinctive sweet and spicy flavor is perfect alone as a shot or over ice, as well as for mixing in cocktails and desserts.

Color: Deep, dark brown.
Aroma: Sweet chocolate.
Taste: Decadent chocolate with a spicy kick and light tequila.
Finish: Smooth, yet dry.

Cheers!

We figured that we were due for a Mixology Monday. Not that the Cinco de Mayo parties that will start this weekend have anything to do with that. Nope, that's our story. South of the Border-style cocktails are way more than just Margaritas, so let's discuss!

The Paloma

2 ounces blanco or reposado tequila
6 ounces fresh grapefruit soda
1/2 ounce lime juice
Salt for rimming (optional)

Rim a collins glass with salt.
Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice.
Top it off with grapefruit soda.

For blanco, we have a great sale price now on the Patron Silver 1.75 liter, $75.99 in the Bottle Club®. Sauza 901 is also an outstanding choice. For a reposado, consider the Clase Azul.

Click here to get more detailed information about Patron Silver, Sauza 901 and Clase Azul. And click here to see about our Mexican beer selection.

The Chimayó Cocktail

1 1/2 ounces tequila
1 ounce unfiltered apple cider
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce creme de cassis
Apple slices for garnish

Build the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
Stir well.
Garnish with apple slices.
Sliced apples yellow very quickly and do not look the best as a garnish. To stop this, quickly dip your cut slices into a little lemon juice and shake off any excess.

Reposado Old-Fashioned

Here, a classic cocktail is re-imagined.

3 ounces reposado tequila (Clase Azul)
2 nectarine slices
2 bing cherries
1 Tablespoon agave nectar
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Bing cherry for garnish

In an old-fashioned glass add the cherries, nectarines, and agave nectar.
Muddle well, until ingredients are mixed well.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Add the tequila and stir well.
Garnish with a slice of nectarine and bing cherry.

Any of these cocktails can be scaled up to pitcher size, if you're hosting the party.

1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila...

Most weeks, we review a number of new products in our Wednesday post. However, since we're in Cinco de Mayo season, we thought we'd postpone new products until tomorrow, and discuss tequila today.

We know that lots of Margaritas will be made for Cinco de Mayo parties. Mixed drink or not, we always suggest using a quality tequila, which will maximize your enjoyment.

We start with Clase Azul, a tequila bottled in one of the most compelling packages anywhere. We carry the Plata and Reposado.

Each bottle of Clase Azul Tequila is literally touched by the human spirit. The love and nurturing our craftspeople put into producing Clase Azul starts in the agave fields and is continued through the bottling process where, in our own facility, each bottle is created by hand.

Inspired by traditional Mexican family values, we chose to produce all of our products in a small village that continues to thrive with our brands. And each bottle of Clase Azul is a work of art. Hand sculpted and individually painted, no two bottles are exactly alike.

Plata

All Clase Azul tequilas are produced from organic agaves that are grown to maturity for at least nine years before careful harvesting. Once the agave is harvested, we slow cook the hearts known as "piñas". During this process, piñas are steamed in brick ovens so their natural sugars come out. Additionally, the heat in the oven brings out the natural moisture in the piñas which is intentionally evaporated so we are able to cultivate the most desirable juices necessary for the next step. Once the most delicious flavors have come out in the piñas, they are crushed to extract the most exotic flavors which are then fermented using our proprietary yeast.

Plata is not aged and the natural colors that come from the slow cooking are filtered out prior to bottling in a stunning crystal clear bottle with blue accent at its base.

The Plata is an outstanding base for cocktails, like the El Burro:
2 oz. Clase Azul Plata

Reposado

1 oz. fresh pressed lime juice
1 oz. ginger beer
Mix the ingredients, float a dash of bitters, garnish with grilled lime.

For many years, tequila connoisseurs have praised Clase Azul Reposado for its superior taste and stunning handmade decanter. By definition, reposado translates to "rested" or "calm" which can certainly influence the experience of sipping this particular Clase Azul which is aged in used American oak barrels for eight months after it has gone through the distillation process. Each bottle is made with high quality white ceramic and then hand painted by artisans in our bottling facility. Attention to detail comes second to none, which is evident when admiring what is considered an iconic bottle.

Sauza 901 Tequila. For a super smooth, triple-distilled premium tequila experience that is a cut above the rest. Every bottle of 100% agave Sauza® 901® is carefully crafted using only the finest blue weber agave. 140 years of tequila-making history and one of the greatest creators of our time come together for a distilling process as unique as the bottle in which it’s served.

The premium agave used to give Sauza® 901® Tequila its distinctive taste arrives at the distillery cleaned, cut and ready to be cooked. Each agave plant, also called a pine, weighs around 65 pounds.

During a visit to the tequila heartland of Jalisco, Mexico , Justin Timberlake was struck with the idea of connecting with his fans by uniting the passion he has for his craft with the art and dedication that goes into every bottle of premium tequila. He set out to tell the story in a way that fully embodies his creative and hardworking, yet easygoing lifestyle. The result is an incredibly smooth premium tequila named for the time when the night gets interesting - 9:01 p.m.

He turned to one of the largest and most storied tequila houses in Mexico – Sauza® Tequila - as a means to reach fans in the broadest way possible. The two icons joined forces to change the way people think about premium tequila with Sauza® 901® - creating a co-branded partnership and a one-of-a-kind spirit.

Patrón Silver. When you're looking for the brand that started the interest in high-end tequila, Patron is commonly cited. Using only the finest 100 percent Weber blue agave, Patrón Silver is handmade in small batches to be smooth, soft and easily mixable. A favorite of tequila connoisseurs worldwide, each bottle is individually crafted by a glass artisan and is hand-numbered for authenticity.

The Silver is crystal clear, with a nose of fresh agave with fruits and citrus. The taste is smooth and sweet, with more notes of fresh agave and citrus. The finish is highlighted with subtle peppery flavor.

Right now, we have an outstanding sale price on the Patrón Silver, 1.75 Liter size (you'll be making margaritas, after all). The Bottle Club® price is $75.99.

Patrón Silver also makes a great base for cocktails, like the Hermosa Sunset:
1 1/2oz Patrón Silver
1/2oz Patrón Citrónge
2oz pomegranate juice
1oz fresh lemon juice
1/2oz simple syrup

In an ice filled mixing glass add all ingredients; shake until well blended. Strain into an ice filled 14 oz. goblet. Garnish: Red currants.

Cinco de Mayo Pronto

Taking some liberties with Google Translate, we're using this opportunity to remind you that Cinco de Mayo is only three weeks away. We've just added an outstanding Tequila to our shelves, and we think it will be a perfect pairing with any Cinco festivities you might be a part of.

Siete Leguas Reposado had been available strictly as a special order item, but it makes sense to stock it. Based in Atotonilco El Alto in Jalisco, Mexico, Casa 7 Leguas counts more than 50 years’ experience in the making of tequila by means of traditional processes. The company’s most outstanding achievements are their full-bodied, high-quality spirits of refined flavor.

A central character in Mexican revolutionary days was Pancho Villa, who, riding his horse Seven Leagues (7 Leguas), swept a great expanse of the Mexican land. Though Villa had a lot of detractors, he also had his share of followers. One of the General’s greatest admirers was Don Ignacio González Vargas, a proud, enterprising Mexican, who in a show of affection for the Centaur of the North, named his own tequila after Pancho Villa’s favorite horse. Thus, Tequila 7 Leguas was born.

To make Tequila, the process starts out with an operation called the jima, in which the pencas, the hard, pointy leaves of agave plants are carefully cut off to uncover the piñas, the blue agave heads.

Before the blue agave heads are allowed into the factories, a sample is taken from each lot to verify that the sugar content of the fruit is right to ensure that a high quality spirit will be produced.

Once a particular lot has been verified and its entry has been authorized, the blue agave heads are split and slowly cooked in masonry ovens; there, specialized stokers keep careful records of each oven’s firing to ensure the perfect cooking of dark brown, tender piñas of intensely sweet flavor.

Cooked piñas are then taken to the Tahona, a traditional stone mill driven by mules, where they are ground to extract precious agave wort, which is then fermented, distilled and (depending on the selection) aged. 7 Leguas is the only tequila distiller that still uses this age-old method.

What's New?

We hear that question so often at Joe Canal's. While we all have our favorites, we also like to find something new. Our buyers evaluate products from all over the world, just to find the best items, and the best values, to share with you. Here is a select list of some of the newest products in our store. As always, we can't list everything here. If you're looking for our newest products, just ask one of our team members.

Clase Azul Tequila

Clase Azul Reposado

Each bottle of Clase Azul Tequila is literally touched by the human spirit. The love and nurturing our craftspeople put into producing Clase Azul starts in the agave fields and is continued through the bottling process where, in our own facility each bottle is created by hand.

Clase Azul is world renowned for its superior quality and rich flavor profile. The attention to quality begins with the selection of the finest organic agaves and extends to the spirit's decanters, which feature handcrafted artwork from Mexican artists, and are meant to add an additional layer of sophistication to the experience of Clase Azul.

The Reposado: For many years, tequila connoisseurs have praised Clase Azul Reposado for its superior taste and stunning handmade decanter. By definition, reposado translates to "rested" or "calm" which can certainly influence the experience of sipping this particular Clase Azul which is aged in used American oak barrels for eight months after it has gone through the distillation process. Each bottle is made with high quality white ceramic and then hand painted by artisans in our bottling facility. Attention to detail comes second to none, which is evident when admiring what is considered an iconic bottle. $83.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Clase Azul Plata

The Plata: Clase Azul Plata is a fresh tasting blanco tequila produced from 100% organic blue weber agave. The agave is slow cooked in traditional brick ovens for 72 hours and then distilled using a proprietary yeast developed by our master distiller. Plata is not aged and the natural colors that come from the slow cooking are filtered out prior to bottling in a stunning crystal clear bottle with blue accent at its base. $69.99 in the Bottle Club®.

As far as bottle designs go, tequila seems to be far ahead of every other spirits type. Consider that Milagro and Kah tequilas also have very distinct bottles. Other than Crystal Head Vodka, there aren't many truly unique spirits bottles on the market.

Tikveš Bela Voda 2011

A new vintage of a wine that we haven't had for a while. As early as in Roman times, a tradition in Macedonia was flourishing - a tradition to craft enchantingly powerful wines exhibiting the scent of the south, having a symphonic flavour and epitomizing the joyfulness of Macedonians. Tikveš Winery is one of the most important creators of this tradition. For more than 125 years, the sky, land, sun and vineyards in the south of Europe, each with its own share, have been a part of the story about Tikveš wines. Tikveš Winery has been crafting and aging premium Macedonian wines … ever since 1885.

This terroir wine comes from the Bela Voda region which is composed of clay soils enjoying soft Mediterranean climate. As a blend of the Vranec and Plavec varieties, this wine exhibits cocoa and wild black fruit aromas as well as a rich fruity structure.

Did we mention that this wine rated 94 points from Wine Advocate? Their review: "Looking at their upper-tier cuvee, which comes from a warmer, slightly lower elevation vineyard, the 2011 Bela Voda (a 50/50 blend of Vranec and Plavec) offers a beautifully complete profile, with classy aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, licorice, graphite and floral nuances to go with a full-bodied, elegant and nicely focused profile on the palate. Still showing the hedonistic, sweetly fruited slant of the estate, it has solid concentration, ripe tannin and impressive length. Enjoy it over the coming 5-6 years, although who knows, it could certainly last longer."

Only $16.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Domaine Alphonse Mellot Edmond Sancerre 2011

The appearance: Pale gold yellow in color with light green sheen - brilliant, bright and clear - a young honest appearance.

A rich majestic nose. All is rich, ripe and powerful, whether it is fruity or floral. Density, depth and balanced graceful "majestic nature" are established from the outset. Honey, vanilla, lemon, brioche etc., follow each other as if in a daydream, all orchestrated through a new woody tone.

Opening it makes it welcoming and tender with crisp plants revealing aniseed, menthol, liquorice and spices. The effect is extensive, lively and gluttonous, ideally balanced between being highly well rounded and agreeably crisp. Smoothly rounded it gives full measure in establishing liquorice and aniseed, lime and vanilla, pepper and Muscat. The long spicy and woody finish is carved in flint.

All is rich in this virile whole: structure, substance, aromas, minerals. When older, it should accentuate its buttered, grilled and vanilla coated hints favoring a better place for the mineral.

Pairings: Belon oysters, crayfish cooked in a court-bouillon, scallops in caramelized chicory, sauteed Sancerre chicken with mixed vegetables in butter, chitterlings sausage in mustard seed, fresh Chavignol goatsmilk cheese, blue and remade, fresh fruit topped with toasted cheese in Sancerre zabaglione, egg whites with vanilla custard.

$65.99 in the Bottle Club®. Rated 91-92+ by Wine Advocate. From their review: "Tasted from both a wooden fermentor and demi-muids representative of the vessels in which the entirety of this cuvee would reside until bottling, the Mellot 2011 Sancerre Edmond exhibits rarified, high-toned, Chartreuse like herbal and floral aromas. On its rich yet surprisingly buoyant and infectiously juicy palate, it introduces chicken stock and sweet-saline, scallop-like savor to an otherwise chalk-inflected matrix of citrus, quince, and melons, making this in its own way one of those not infrequent instances between Mellot’s two most recent collections when one is reminded of Chablis. This long-finishing beauty really sets the imagination and salivary glands working, and I imagine it will do so for at least the better part of a decade."

Cheers!

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.

Only the Best!

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge now have an extremely limited supply of Gran Patrón Piedra, an incredible extra añejo tequila. Better for our shoppers is that, right now, Gran Patrón Piedra is available nowhere else in the US other than New Jersey.

This extraordinary extra añejo tequila is crafted entirely from the “Tahona” process, a time consuming and ancient method for creating tequila. To produce Gran Patrón Piedra, first Patrón selects the highest-quality, 100 percent agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, which they then steam-cook and slowly crush with a large volcanic stone Tahona wheel. The resulting juice is then fermented and distilled along with the agave fiber. Piedra, which means “stone” in Spanish, is one of very few tequilas that is still produced in this age-old way. After distillation, Gran Patrón Piedra is meticulously aged for more than three years in new American and French oak barrels for a deep mahogany color and sweet, subtle aroma of fruit, fresh mushroom, light citrus, and toasted French oak. The distinctive Gran Patrón Piedra bottle, which was inspired by the Tahona stone, is packaged in an elegant box that converts into a beautiful display case.

The taste is sweet, yet rich and complex, combining an herbaceous agave flavor with light vanilla, and fresh mushroom finish that is both long-lasting and incredibly smooth. At 40% ABV, it's a subtle tequila meant for sipping.

Gran Patrón Piedra is priced at $315.99.

Gift Giving Guidance

You know that there are certain times when buying a gift set is the most appropriate decision. At Joe Canal's, our gift sets are priced aggressively, so your selection process might be slowed down by all of the great choices that we offer. We recently ran through a few suggestions on our Facebook pages, but we have some others that you might enjoy giving. Or receiving. Or buying for yourself. These are available in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, while supplies last:

 St. Bernardus Gift Pack

St. Bernardus, not to be confused with St. Nicholas, is one of the great Belgian beers available in the US. The gift set includes a six-pack, and 2 chalices. If you're giving this as a gift, then they conveniently have a glass to share this brew with you.

Ardbeg Exploration

Ardbeg is one of Islay's premier single malts. It a rich, smoky dram that is perfect at this time of year. The Exploration gift set includes one 750ml bottle of their standard 10 year old whisky, along with sampler-sized bottles of their Correyvreckan and Uigeadail extensions. And at $47.99, this gift set is the same price as the 10 year old by itself.

Patron Anejo/XO Gift Set

One of the best after-dinner drinks we've had in a long time is the Patron XO Cafe. After first trying it at the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, we were hooked. A Patron tequila and coffee liqueur? What could be bad? This gift set packages a 375ml bottle of the Patron XO Cafe with a 375ml bottle of Patron Anejo tequila with sipping glasses. At $42.99, I might keep this for myself.

Innis & Gunn

Innis & Gunn comes to us from Scotland, making it a good fit with the Scotch Whisky's we have in this post. The gift set includes the Original, Rum Cask aged, and Bourbon Aged Stout, along with a branded glass. So maybe the recipient won't share, unless you're ready to drink it from the bottle.

Glenmorangie Discovery Gift Set

And then there's the Glenmorangie Discovery Gift Set. Because everyone has trouble with it, pronounce it "Glen More N Gee". This set includes a 750ml bottle of their original expression, along with 50ml bottles of Lasanta, Nectar d'Or, and Quinta Ruban. Those are samples of Glenmorangie finished for two yeards in Oloroso Sherry, Sauternes, and Port casks, respectively. And, like the Ardbeg gift set, this is priced the same as the Original is on its own, at $34.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Gift sets are a hot commodity, with very limited availability. To get the best possible choice, stop in to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge today!

Spirits 101: Tequila

It may be a cold, dreary rainy day in New Jersey, but warmer temps are right around the corner! We're only one weekend away from Cinco de Mayo, and what better way to get into the mood than with a quick refresher course on Tequila?

Tequila is made only in Mexico. The country even has an international right to the name and threatens legal actions on other countries that try to manufacture the liquor. It comes from the blue agave cactus, which can only be grown in certain parts of Mexico that have a favorable red-volcanic soil.

Tequila's roots began in the 16th century, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived, and eventually ran out of Brandy. Instead, they distilled liquor from the agave plant. Tequila began being mass-produced in 1600 and was first distributed into the United States in the mid to late 1800s.

Tequila is usually bottled in one of five categories:
-Blanco ("white") or plata ("silver"): white spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels
-Joven ("young") or oro ("gold"): a mixture of blanco tequila and reposado tequila (Ex. José Cuervo Oro)
-Reposado ("rested"): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size
-Añejo ("aged" or "vintage"): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels
-Extra Añejo ("extra aged" or "ultra aged"): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels.

Tequila is aged in barrels made from oak that is usually imported fro the US, France or Canada. Sometimes the distillery will char the wood to impart a smoky flavor to the spirit. Another technique for flavor is to age the tequila in barrels that were previously used other alcohol, such as whiskey, or even wine.

There's a common association with tequila and the presence of a worm. The presence of a worm in a type of tequila called mezcal, was actually started as a marketing gimmick in the 1940s. In truth, the presence of a worm in the agave plant indicates an infestation, and if there's a worm in the tequila it's a very poor quality spirit.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold was a one-liter bottle of limited-edition premium tequila which sold for $225,000 in July 2006 in Tequila, Jalisco, by the company Tequila Ley .925. The bottle which contains the tequila is a two-kilo display of platinum and gold.