Kosher for Passover Wines

Next week is the Jewish holiday of Passover, and the wide selection of Kosher wines at Joe Canal's has been a hot topic these past few days.

Wine is an important element in the traditional Passover Seder. During the Seder, everyone present must drink four cups of wine during specific points in the dinner, each representing one of the four expressions of deliverance promised by God.

What makes a wine Kosher? Laws involving kosher wines are more concerned with who handles the wine rather than what they use to make it. To be considered Kosher, a Sabbath-observant Jew must be present for the entire winemaking process, from grape harvesting to the sealing of the bottle to ensure that no non-Kosher ingredients go into the wine. Now, while grapes, sugar and alcohol are considered Kosher, certain stabilizers that normally go into wine may not be, such as casein or gelatin. Wine that is labeled as "Kosher for Passover" must adhere to the above and go one step further: It must have been kept free from contact with bread, grain and dough.

We carry a great selection of Kosher wines for you at Joe Canal's! In addition to the well-known Manischewitz, we also carry brands such as Hai, Barkan and Ness.

Happy Passover!

Still time to register for our Balvenie Tasting & Seminar!

Balvenie Scotch
Tasting and Seminar
Wednesday, April 4th
6:30 pm - $10 per person
Joe Canal's Discount Liquor Outlet - WOODBRIDGE Location
Deadline to reserve is 12:00noon
Tuesday, April 3rd

Please join us as we welcome Nicholas Pollachi, Brand Ambassador from The Balvenie to lead us in a seminar and tasting through Balvenie's line of Scotches!

As a world traveler, spirits expert and single malt obsessive, Nicholas has spent his career committed to educating, entertaining and illuminating crowds across the planet. From his native Scotland to the four corners of the globe, Nicholas has developed the kind of expertise and knowledge that makes him the perfect Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie. Nicholas' journey started almost a decade ago, as the bar and spirits director for Bar Soba, one of Scotland's top cocktail bars. From there, he took his skill for education to its logical next step and assumed responsibility for the promotion and marketing of the Bacardi portfolio of rums in Scotland. His next role saw him returning to his passion for Single Malts, where his work for the Edrington Group saw him managing the promotion of the company's Single Malt portfolio throughout the world, first as the global PR manager and next as a training and education manager. His new role as Balvenie Ambassador has allowed Nicholas to marry his zeal for Single Malts with his ability to bring the world of whisky to life, as he travels the western and southern United States spreading the gospel of the most handcrafted Single Malt.

The Balvenie is unlike all other single malt Scotch whiskies, thanks to a unique combination of human craft and natural alchemy. Neither our craft nor nature’s mysteries have changed in over a century.

Scotches we will be tasting include: Balvenie 12, 14, 15, 17 and 21.

Also at the event will be the Morgan 8. A veritable museum on wheels, our Morgan Plus 8 is a piece of automotive history. Beautifully made by hand in Malvern, England since 1968, this open-top two-seater is the quintessential British sports car, always managing to attract attention.

Availability is limited so secure your spot today!!

Reservations can be made by phone or in person at Joe Canal's Discount Liquor Outlet:

489 US Route 1 South
Iselin, NJ 08830
732-726-0077

Riddle Me This

Riddling is the term for gradually turning and upending bottles of Champagne and other sparkling wines while it rests in the winery's cellars. The reason for riddling is to concentrate yeast at the tip of the bottle. Sparkling wines go through two fermentations, the second of which is in the bottle and creates the bubbles. After this fermentation, yeast cells remain trapped inside the bottles. Until the mid-19th century sparkling wines were always cloudy, because no one had figured out a way to get the yeast out of the bottle.

A solution was found when the winemakers realized that if they turned the bottles a little each day and slowly tilting them until they rested upside down, the yeasts would slide down the bottle and collect in the neck. When the necks of the bottle were frozen and the bottles opened, the frozen plugs of yeasts flew out of the bottle. A good riddler could turn 50,000 bottles of sparkling wine per day.

Today, while the idea behind the process is the same, many wineries that produce Champagnes and sparkling wines have automated machines that ever so slowly turn the bottles and collect the yeast. The up-ended bottles are dipped into a solution that freezes them, and the machines pop them open and eject the yeast.

What happens to all that yeast? Most of it gets sold to companies that make Champagne Vinegar!

Joe Canal's Presents Absolut Grapevine!

The newest member in the ABSOLUT family is ABSOLUT Grapevine, a new vodka that offers the true taste of white grape, balanced with notesGrapevine of dragon fruit and papaya. It is made from all-natural ingredients and contains no sugar.

Matt Pomeroy, Global Brand Ambassador at The Absolut Company, is an experienced mixologist. His favorite ABSOLUT Grapevine cocktails include:

GRAPEVINE BAY BREEZE
1½ part ABSOLUT GRAPEVINE
2 parts Cranberry Juice
2 parts Pineapple Juice
Build over ice in a high-ball glass, and stir. Garnish with fresh pineapple.

GRAPEVINE COSMOPOLITAN
2 parts ABSOLUT GRAPEVINE
2.5 parts Light cranberry juice
½ part light Orange Juice
¼ part Lime juice
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

March-tini Madness - Last Call!

In case you haven't heard, all month long we've been collecting your best Martini Recipes for our March-tini madness contests!


In April, we'll choose a favorite recipe for each store! The winner in Woodbridge will receive a 32" Samsung LCD TV, and Lawrenceville's winner gets a Nintendo Wii prize pack including a Wii Fit Plus and Sports pack! Both winners will have their pictures and drink recipes featured in our store!

Visit the links below for a printable entry form that you can fill out and drop off the next time you stop in. But hurry, the contest ends this Saturday, March 31st!

March-tini Madness - LAWRENCEVILLE

March-tini Madness - WOODBRIDGE

Fundraiser Tasting in Honor of Cpl. Kevin Reinhard

On March 22, 2012, we hosted a fund raiser in our private room we call the Liquid Learning Center. Debbie Meehan from The Colonia Corner newspaper decided to raise money to build a gazebo in Charlie Shaughnessy Park, Colonia in memory of Cpl. Kevin Reinhard, a Marine who was recently killed in Afghanistan. The gazebo will cost around $6,000 and all the materials and labor are being donated.

We served 10 wines and 10 beers along with a big spread of appetizers ranging from cheese and crackers to bruschetta and mini cupcakes. The food was donated by customer John Balestracci who owns Johnny B’s catering company.

80 guests arrived including Cpl. Kevin Reinhard’s mom and family, the Mayor of Woodbridge, John McCormack, Woodbridge Council Woman Brenda Velasco, representatives from the Avenel Detachment of the Marine Corp. League, the Avenel VFW, the Avenel Firehouse, some regular Joe Canal’s customers and quite a few new faces.

Around 7pm, a local bagpiper who recently played in the Woodbridge St. Patrick’s Day parade, walked through the doors of Joe Canal’s playing his bagpipes and played all the way through the back of the store to the Liquid Learning Center where he continued to play the Marine Corp. Hymn, America the Beautiful and a medley of various American songs. He stopped briefly to ask everyone to raise a glass to honor the Cpl and continued playing as he walked back through the store and didn’t stop until he walked out the exit.

You can watch the video here:



If you were unable to attend and you would like to donate to the gazebo project, please contact Debbie Meehan at 732-382-0273.

For more information on how you can have a private event at Joe Canal’s, contact Debbie Miller Nelson at 732-726-0077 or dnelson@joecanals.net

Upcoming Seminars at our Woodbridge Store!

We have two very special events coming up in Woodbridge! Next week, on Wednesday, March 28th at 6:30 pm we'll have Milagro brand co-founders, Daniel Schneeweiss and Moises Guindi to lead a tequila seminar and tasting!

Upon arrival, everyone will receive a taste of the Fresh Margarita – Milagro Silver, Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice and Agave Nectar. We'll also be serving cheese and crackers, and tasting through Milagro's great tequila line*:

Milagro Silver
Milagro Reposado
Milagro Anejo
Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Reposado
Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Silver

Everyone who attends will receive a sample of Milagro Agave Nectar and a hard cover recipe book!

We invite you to join us for this very special event! The cost is $10 per person, and availability is limited so secure your spot today!

Reservations can be made by phone (732-726-0077) or in person at our Woodbridge store!

The following week, on April 4th at 6:30pm, we welcome a Nicholas Pollachi, Brand Ambassador from The Balvenie to lead us in a seminar and tasting through Balvenie's line of Scotches!

THE BALVENIE is unlike all other single malt Scotch whiskies, thanks to a unique combination of human craft and natural alchemy. Neither our craft nor nature’s mysteries have changed in over a century.

Scotches we will be tasting include: Balvenie 12, 14, 15, 17 and 21.

Also at the event will be the Morgan 8. A veritable museum on wheels, our Morgan Plus 8 is a piece of automotive history. Beautifully made by hand in Malvern, England since 1968, this open-top two-seater is the quintessential British sports car, always managing to attract attention.

Cost to attend this class is $10 per person, and reservations can be made by phone (732-726-0077) or in person.