The Cosmo: A Very Trendy Little Cocktail

Thanks to the popular TV show, Sex and the City the Cosmopolitan has become a staple drink for women. A relative of the classic New England cocktail the Cape Codder, this drink is simple to make, pretty to look at, and easy to drink. The history of the Cosmo, like a lot of cocktails, is fuzzy, but it's said to be created in the early 1970s.

A few years ago, I dabbled in a bit of bartending and took a class at a local bartending school. While much of what I learned has faded from memory, the ingredients in a Cosmopolitan have stuck with me years later because of the clever mnemonic that serves as the title to this blog. The Cosmo is a Very (vodka) Trendy (triple sec) Little (lime) Cocktail (cranberry).

Cosmopolitan
-1 oz. vodka
-1/2 oz. triple sec
-1/2 oz. lime
-1/2 oz. cranberry juice

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice in a shaker and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge, or a twist.

Unlike the classics, where the ingredients are all but legally binding, this popular cocktail is open to expression. Once you get the hang of the basics Cosmo recipe, you can play around with cranberry juice substitutes. Try different fruit juices or liqueurs such as Midori or peach schnapps! For a Blue Cosmo, use white cranberry juice and substitute blue curacao for the triple sec!

A Guide to BYOB

Buying wine at a restaurant can be ridiculously expensive. You could end up paying 3 times more than you would here at Joe Canal's at a nice restaurant. There's a way past that, however: BYOB. There are quite a few BYOB restaurants in our area that make delicious food and have lovely ambiance. Why not scope out a local BYOB restaurant, and stop here on the way! One of our knowledgeable Wine Managers will be happy to help you choose the perfect bottle for your dinner, but here is a general list to guide you, based on the cuisine you'll be eating.

Chinese
Dominant flavors in Chinese food include ginger, garlic, sesame, soy sauce, chiles, and oyster, all of which fall into either the sweet or the salty taste group. This means that your best matches are going to be sweetish, spicy or fruity white wines. If you're going for reds, choose low-tannin, unoaked reds, because salty foods make a wine's tannins taste more bitter. Light, crisp roses or sparkling wines would also be a very good match, as their texture can either cut through any heaviness in a dish or underline the delicacy of more fragile ones, such as wontons or steamed dumplings.

Japanese
Overall flavors of Japanese cuisine are bitter and vinegary, with elements such as wasabi, vinegar, soy sauce, and onions. Therefore, you should avoid acidic wines and go for chilled, off-dry, fruity white wines and any sparkling wines with dishes like sushi or sashimi. For heavier dishes like tempura, choose fuller, fruitier styles like Champagne. Or, of course, you may opt for a bottle of traditional sake.

Thai Thai food has playful, contrasting tastes including lemongrass, citrus, chile, ginger, coriander and basil, and can often be difficult to match. Try a crisp, dry white like a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. A fruity, robust Shiraz will also work well with this spicy chile or beef dishes.

Mexican
Very hot and spicy foods need equally spicy wines with a touch of residual sugar to counteract the spice. Try fruity whites and acidic roses to temper the heat. Low-tannin reds that are fruity and spicy like a Merlot or a Pinot Noir will also work.

Indian
What matches well with the Indian staple, curry? Stay away from the oak and stick to full-bodied wines. Possible matches include Merlots, Zinfandels, and Syrahs, a rose with samosas and pakoras, or a Gewurztraminer with tandoori.

Italian
While we could get into the specific flavors of Italian foods and pair precisely with the dishes (Riesling with gnocci, for example), why not do like the Romans do and drink Italian wines with your Italian dinner? Chianti is a traditional Italian staple and you can't go wrong with a bottle on your table. Other Italian wines that would be fantastic to grace your table with would be Barolos, Barbarescos or Barberas.

New E-mail Format!

We've been working hard to streamline our newsletters and we're pleased to announce that the new format is being launched today!

Everything you've come to love about our informative newsletters is still there, they just look a little different. We've condensed them to be easier to read and navigate. Out BottleClub Specials and Highlights are still front-and-center, and all your coupons will be available to easily print on jcanals.com.

We'll also have information about our weekly tasting events, specialty tappings, and other special events we're holding on the left-hand side of your newsletters, with links that will take you to specific pages devoted to each event. Links to the BottleBlog, our Growler Menu, and the wines available to taste on demand in Woodbridge are there for you as well. This way, it'll be easy for you to read about what you love.

We hope you love the new format, and that you find it organized and easy to navigate!

Valentine Sparkles

What could be more romantic than settling down on Valentine's Day night with a nice cold bottle of bubbly and a plate of fresh strawberries? Why don't you pick some pink bubbles for your Valentine this year? Here are a few different pink sparklers that will be sure to delight your sweetheart.

Castello Banfi Rosa Regale 2009

Light ruby red. Lively pink mousse with a persistent perlage. Bouquet is intense, aromatic, varietal with hints of Bulgarian rose. Taste is soft and elegant with berry flavours and a touch of almond and nutmeg. A soft red sparkling wine, made from Brachetto. This extremely aromatic, complexand historical grape variety grows only in the area of Acqui Terme, in Southern Piedmont.The cold maceration of the grapes, followed by a soft pressing, allows the extraction of thetypical intense aromas from the skins and gives to the wine its characteristic light ruby red color. Very pleasant and extremely elegant. This wine matches perfectly with fresh strawberries, fruit cakes, fruit salads, pastriesand chocolates. An ideal aperitif as well.

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Allure Pink Moscato

Bright pink color indicates the wine will be very festive in nature. Apricot, peach, bergamot, and mint flavors give our Pink Moscato a fresh and lively demeanor. The combination of bubbles and off-dry balance enhance the refreshment enjoyed with each sip. This is a very easy wine to drink by itself. However, its cheery nature suggests it is welcome at celebrations and where gatherings might include a variety of dishes. It should be on the table ready to serve throughout the meal, including dessert.

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Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose

The assemblage, which is formed around Pinot Noir, is both spontaneous and balanced, emphasising fruity liveliness. It is zestful, with great suppleness. The assemblage with red wine also gives it feminine, coppery shades. Lively, expressive, dominated by the scent of wild strawberries. Full-bodied, zestful, assertive fruitiness.

Joe Canal's Presents Glenmorangie Artein!

Glenmorangie Artein

Joe Canal's is excited to present Glenmorangie Artein!

Glenmorangie is proud to announce the release of Glenmorangie Artein, the third release in its award winning Private Edition range. Scots Gaelic for stone "Artein" is an intriguing 15 Years Old Glenmorangie, extra matured in "Super Tuscan" wine casks.

Stone has always been at the heart of the making of Glenmorangie single malt
Scotch whisky. Glenmorangie has its own unique hard water source - the Tarlogie Spring - which slowly filters through layers of limestone, adding rich minerals that eventually give Glenmorangie its complex fruity aromas. The Company has had a close affinity with stone since an ancient stone of symbolic significance was uncovered near the Glenmorangie Distillery in the Scottish Highlands - the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. Glenmorangie proudly adopted the intricate Pictish motif from this iconic monument as its brand emblem.

On nosing, Glenmorangie Artein recalls a sweet and heady bouquet of ripe red berries, honeysuckle and fresh mint. On the palate, sun soaked baked fruits such as ripe apricots, peaches and plums harmonise gracefully with hints of spearmint and cherries in milk chocolate. A whisky of great length, Glenmorangie Artein finishes with top notes of zesty, lemon sherbet and a flourish of creamy cappuccino.

Try this exciting new whisky for only $74.99!

Valentine's Day Inspiration

Next Tuesday is Valentine's Day, and our tasting table this weekend will feature sparkling wines to enjoy with your sweetheart. But why not take advantage of the ambiance of the day and whip up one of the following super-romantic, ultra-indulgent cocktails for your sweetheart?

Ultimate Chocolate Martini

- 1/2 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur
- 1/2 oz Godiva white chocolate liqueur
- 1/2 oz Stoli Vanil vodka
- 1/2 oz Bailey's Irish cream
- 1/2 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and serve. To enhance appearance, drizzle chocolate syrup into glass before pouring martini.

* * *The Valentine

- 1/2 oz vodka
- 1/3 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur
- 1/3 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur
- 1/3 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

Mix ingredients in a collins glass, stir, and serve.

* * *Godiva Chocolate Covered Banana

- 1/2 oz dark rum
- 2 oz Godiva® chocolate liqueur
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Blend in a bar blender until smooth. Pour into a highball glass and garnish with some of the remaining banana.

* * *White Blizzard Chocolate Martini

- 4 ounces of Absolut Vanil vodka
- 1 ounce of clear Creme de Cacao
- 2 ounce of White Chocolate liqueur
- 1 teaspoon of coconut flakes
- 2 freezing martini glasses

Add the vodka to a shaker half full of cracked ice. Shake vigorously for a full minute. Add the white chocolate liqueur, and Creme de Cacao. Swirl the shaker for another full minute, and then let it rest for a minute. Strain your martini into the freezing martini glasses. Each glass gets half of the coconut flakes. Stir each martini gently to start the blizzard!

What's in a name: Sonoma

The fog retreating from the mountains in Sonoma on a beautiful early October morning

Although Sonoma is one of Northern California wine country's most venerable regions, the exact origin of the name isn't clear. The Spanish and Mexican settlers who came to the area in the very early 1800s believed it was a word from the Coast Miwok and Pomo tribes in the area and meant "valley of the moon." (Jack London's 1913 novel The Valley of the Moon put that name on the map.) This translation was first recorded in an 1850. I can tell you firsthand, that when the full moon rises over the mountains, it is a sight to behold. I don't know that I've seen a more beautiful moonrise in my life.

Another theory, also linked to the two tribes, focuses on the grammar of the natice languages. Tso meant "earth" and noma meant "village." Together tsonoma says "earth village."

Other sources say Sonoma comes from the Patwin tribes west of the Sacramento River, and their Wintu word for "nose." Per California Place Names, "the name is doubtless derived from a Patwin word for 'nose', which Padre Arroyo gives as sonom."

One last theory is that Spaniards found an Indian chief with a rather large nose, and applied the nickname of Chief Nose to the village and the territory. Other scholars believes the name applied originally to a nose-shaped geographic feature.

Regardless of what the name may mean, Sonoma County, California is a wine region rich in history and natural beauty.