Booze that isn’t WINE – this section is all about alcohol such as Scotch, rum and vodka and beer of the globe
Chateau Quake and Domaine Dave love New Orleans, the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and Frenchman Street, so in honor of Mardi gras we decided to do CheapWineFinder Makes a Hurricane Cocktail For Mardi Gras. Pat O’Brien’s Bar on Bourbon Street has been on Bourbon since 1933 and is one of the most iconic bars in…
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In this episode, we switch things up & talk spirits! Local spirits! Specifically we chat with Eric McMillan, Brand Ambassador for Wolf Point Distilling in Chicago. We talk about what Wolf Point is & taste through their Jackscrew Vodka, Florence Field Gin, Captain Santa Vapor Infused Moonshine & an extra tasty treat or two as…
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Totally Naked is a world-class lager out of Wisconsin, specifically the quaint town New Glarus – “America’s Little Switzerland”. The beer-making savvy and philosophy of owners Daniel and Deb Carey really shine in this expression of American beer at its best. Adding to its enigma is the fact that it’s only available in the state…
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The Rockmill Brewery Witbier is a Belgian style spiced Wheat Ale produced by a small brewery in Lancaster, Ohio (near Columbus, Ohio). One of the owners Matthew Barbee, converted the family farm into a brewery. He had the water tested to see which style of brewing matched its characteristics and found the Lancaster, Ohio water…
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The Smoke Daddy Smokin’ Mary Bloody Mary Mix is the pre-mixed, bottled version of the Bloody Mary’s from Chicago’s (and Wicker Park’s) Smoke Daddy, a BBQ institution since 1994. Smoke Daddy hasn’t been around as long as some of Chicago’s south and west side old school BBQ joints and is more upscale (now, it wasn’t…
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I think sours will be the next IPA! There I said it. And not a moment too soon (pretty sick of IPAs)! Ever had a sour? It’ll definitely be one of your more memorable firsts. Funky! Some of you will stop after your first or first five, pucker, make a face, and never venture into…
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The Lehman’s Orchard Honeycrisp Apple Hard Cider is a small batch cider sourced from Lehman’s orchard in Niles, Michigan. Family owned and founded in 1929, Lehman’s has grown and sold fruit and harvested honey for decades and began making wines and cider in 2008. The color is almost clear, just slightly golden-yellow. The nose is…
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The Skinnygirl Sweet’arita is made from blue agave silver Tequila, Triple Sec, natural flavors and a dash of agave nectar for sweetness. There are two basic types of Tequila, Blue Agave and Mixto, the Blue Agave is derived 100% from the blue agave plant and Mixto (the label will just say Tequila with no reference…
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The Skinnygirl Sparkling Margarita made with Blue Agave Silver Tequila (when you see Blue Agave on the label that indicates that it is 100% Blue Agave and not mixed with cane sugar and Silver means this is non-aged, young, natural Tequila), along with Triple Sec, flavors, sweeteners and some carbonation. The carbonation feels more like soda or…
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The Highland Park 12 year old Single Malt Whiskey is distilled on the largest of the Orkney Islands, ten miles off the coast of northeast Scotland. Even though Highland is part of the name, this is an Island whisky not a Highland whiskey. Highland Park is one of only a handful of distilleries that still…
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The 2011 Bonny Doon Querry Cider is a blend of 58% Pear, 33% Apple (both sourced in California) and 9% Quince (Oregon). Bonny Doon uses several varieties of pear and apple to get the preferred flavor profile. The Querry Cider undergoes 2 fermentations, so it has a little bit of spritz. The apples and the…
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Whisky or Whiskey. The former, a Scottish concoction, the latter, an Irish origination. According to the website for World Whisky Day, “The term ‘whisky’ derives originally from the Gaelic ‘uisge beatha’, or ‘usquebaugh’, meaning ‘water of life’. Gaelic is that branch of Celtic spoken in the Highlands of Scotland.” There are some origin stories about Monks…
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Chivas Regal 18 blended Scotch Whisky is not what you would ever call cheap, it will set you back between $55 to $90, though it is far less expensive than comparable Johnny Walker Scotch blends. This blend was created in 1997 and is composed of over 20, at least 18 year old single malts. Blended…
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You may remember our review of their Signature bourbon? As with that particular expression, this bourbon is also a San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal winner. That means over 30 of the finest palates and spirits experts from all over the globe tasted over 1,400 spirits from 63 countries and gave Old Forester…
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The Samuel Smith Organic Cider is produced from several varieties of organically grown apples in the town of Tadcaster in Yorkshire, England. The Samuel Smith Brewery was founded in 1758 and the original well (also dug in 1758) used to provide water for brewing is still in use. Samuel Smith is so old school, that…
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How you set for honey whiskeys / whiskies? Gone through most of them yet? Just about EVERY distiller everywhere has one now, but do yourself a favor and check this one out. This is the familiar John Daniel’s black label Old No. 7 Tennessee whiskey blended with their own unique liqueur infused with 100% Tennessee honey. As…
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The Old German Premium Lager is one of Pittsburgh Brewing Company’s (the old Iron City Brewing Company) line of brews. The Old German Premium Lager had been produced by the Queen City Brewing Company out of Maryland, but Queen City Brewing was one of the many American breweries that shut down in the 1970s. A…
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The Mission St. Brown Ale is a $2.29 (22 oz bottle) Trader Joe’s exclusive. The label says Brewed and Bottled by Steinhaus Brewing Co., but a quick check with the www.TTB.gov public website shows Firestone Walker Brewery, a craft brewery from Paso Robles, California as the producer. In the past few years the market for…
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If you’re into whiskey, you probably already know that the bit of liquid that evaporates from the barrel while it was aged is known as the “angel’s share”. Cute, huh? Well here, Jim Beam goes a step further and makes this bourbon by extracting the liquid that was trapped in the wood after it was…
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If you’re new to whiskey, this is a great way to get your feet (and whistle) wet. Just like you can’t really start enjoying wine by jumping right into the big chewy bold spicy reds without developing your palate for a while, likewise don’t think you hate whiskey because you once dove right into the…
Read MoreHoliday entertaining means that you got to step your game up, no more tossing a couple of Bud Lights to your buddies while watching the game or twisting the top on a bottle of Skinny Girl Cocktails before Downton Abbey, that just will not do. Here is the best of the best, never fail, your guests…
Read MorePurīste Premium Vodka, created with the purest water and highest quality wheat from high in the Austrian Alps, was the brainchild of two guys that had great palates – Leo Hillinger and the late Alois “Luis” Kracher Jr., two of Austria‘s most successful winemakers. In the age where premium vodkas are being farted out left…
Read MoreFor theFour Roses Small Batch Bourbon, Master Distiller Jim Rutledge mingles four different bourbon recipes to bring you one helluva balanced bourbon that’s great for drinking “neat”, with a splash or as an integral part of your holiday egg nog! The four recipes follow as I thought it was very interesting to include the way…
Read MoreThe Arrogant Bastard Ale (You’re Not Worthy) is brewed by Stone Brewing Company of Escondido, California, they have been producing this label since 1997. The difference between Beer and Ale is Ale usually uses top fermenting yeast and is fermented at warmer temperatures and Beer uses bottom fermenting yeast and is fermented at much colder…
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