There are so many reasons to celebrate this week. Graduation parties are cause for Champagne, Port, or a special Whiskey. Mother's Day is right around the corner, so don't say we didn't remind you! The Kentucky Derby calls for Mint Juleps — better throw a bottle of Bourbon in the shopping cart.
Cinco De Mayo is the annual celebration of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cinco De Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, nor is it widely celebrated in Mexico outside of the state of Puebla. In America, May 5th acts as a day to recognize and celebrate Mexican heritage. And what better to fuel these celebrations than Mexican-made Tequila, Raicilla, Mezcal, Gin or Beer?
In this newsletter, we will explore some unexpected cocktails to get your party started!
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Field Recordings Cellar Event |
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Wednesday, May 10th
6:30 p.m.
$30 ticket includes $20 credit towards Field Recording wines!
Join us in our cellar for an intimate tasting with one of California's most beloved winemakers, the king of affordable organic wine, Andrew Jones. He's the mastermind behind Field Recordings, Alloy Wine Works, Wonderwall and The Fablist! He just might be the "busiest man on the Central Coast" and several of his wines grace our shelves due to their great value and quality. It seems like anything Andrew makes fits both the flavor profile and price our customers are seeking.
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Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
-Beyond The Basic Margarita-
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Juschu Cocktail
Adapted from 'How and When,' by Hyman Gale & Gerald F. Marco, 1937
2 oz reposado tequila
0.75 oz honey syrup
0.75 oz fresh lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake vigorously, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
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El Diablo
Adapted from 'Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink,' by Victor Bergeron, 1946
1.5 oz blanco tequila
0.75 oz lime juice
0.25 oz simple syrup
0.5 oz creme de cassis (float)
Ginger beer
Combine all ingredients except creme de cassis in a shaker, shake vigorously, and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and float the creme de cassis on top.
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Third Man Up
Third Man Up is a gin tiki drink that was created at Attaboy by Andrew Rice in 2017. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, use Gracias A Dios Agave Gin from Mexico.
2 oz Gracias A Dios Agave Gin
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Apricot liqueur
0.5 oz Orgeat
Add all ingredients into a shaker, dry shake and pour into a tall glass with crushed ice. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a lime wedge, mint sprig and fresh grated nutmeg.
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Derby Cocktails
-Beyond The Basic Mint Julep-
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Champagne Julep
0.5 oz cognac
0.5 oz simple syrup
3 oz champagne/sparkling wine
2 dashes Angostura bitters
7 or so mint leaves
Combine mint leaves and simple syrup in a Julep tin and lightly muddle. Add cognac, bitters, and a bit of crushed ice, briefly stir, then add champagne and fill the Julep tin with crushed ice. Garnish with a straw and a mint bouquet.
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Coronation Cocktail
Adapted from 'Old Waldorf Bar Days,' by Albert Stevens Crockett, 1931 (though this cocktail likely originated before Prohibition)
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz dry vermouth
0.75 oz apple brandy
0.25 oz apricot liqueur
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and though the original cocktail calls for no garnish, I like this with a lemon peel.
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Agave Spirits
Can you believe how large our tequila & mezcal selections have become? We've grown nearly 50% since last Cinco De Mayo, adding a third shelf to accommodate our obsession. You are guaranteed to find something artisanal and exciting to explore — with hundreds of selections, there's always a new adventure to be had. Agave spirits include tequila, mezcal, raicilla, sotol, and even gin!
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Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 05/05/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Doug of The Wine Company for a FREE wine tasting this Friday!
Get 10% off any of the wines you taste.
We will be tasting outside!!
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2022 Pomelo Frankovka Rosé
Hiyu Wine Farm Tzum Moonhill Farm III
2020 Hiyu Wine Farm Arco Iris
2022 Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Semillon
2022 Lavendette Rosé
2022 Joguet Chinon Rosé
2022 Domaine Salvard Rosé
2021 Gallety Vallee du Rhone Blanc
2021 Ceretto Blange Langhe Arneis
2021 Ceretto Rossana Dolcetto d'Alba
2021 Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
2021 Delille Metier Red Wine
2021 Delille Metier Sauvingon Blanc
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6oz Pour
Wine Education Classes
New Zealand & Australia
In 7 Glasses
Thursday, May 11,
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., $60
We're going down under and over to explore these winemaking powerhouses. We'll focus on not only what makes the Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon so great from these nations but also zoom in on some of the largely overlooked wines like the Pinot Noirs of Central Otago and the old vine Grenaches of Australia that are baffling in their deliciousness and affordability.
Reserve your seats on Tock
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Staff Picks - What to Drink This Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2021 Tantaka Arabako Txakolina - $29.99
Serious Txakolina (say it with me: Cha-co-leena) from the Arabako DO, where bubbles are considered taboo, which makes it different from the spritzy Txakolina from the other two DO's in the Basque. This 100% Hondarrabi Zuri is organically farmed and naturally made by Juanjo Tellaetxe, on land his family has owned since time immemorial. Juanjo’s goal is to produce “honest wines avoiding manipulation and masking”. His dedication to Tantaka is second only to his first devotion, his role as priest in the local villages. In the glass it's all bright citrus and mineral with silky texture from lees-aging with a salty finish. Bring on all the fish and seafood dishes!
-Angie
2022 Charles Joguet Cabernet Franc Rosé
- $31.99
Charles Joguet is an iconic producer in the Loire who championed terroir driven wines, vinifying separate parcels of land, creating single vineyard bottling and thus revolutionizing winemaking in Chinon. He has since retired and left the winery and vineyard management in the capable hands of Kevin Fontaine who has continued his legacy. The rosé from Joguet is always an eagerly awaited, dynamic rosé among French wine fanatics but usually is a bit austere out of the gate and takes a while to round out. This is not the case with the 2022 which shows its richness and depth right when you crack the bottle. The nose shows bright red fruit with honey notes and the medium bodied palate delivers rich creamy strawberry fruit and minerality. This is a great rosé for consumers looking for a rosé with more structure and weight. Try this rosé with salad nicoise or barbeque chicken thighs.
-Rob
2022 Catena 'White Clay' White Blend, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza - $23.99
From Laura Catena and her family comes another winner and a great value for a high quality wine. From the high-elevation, cool, white clay (hence the name) soils of their Estate vines in Lujan de Cuyon, this is a blend of 60% Semilion and 40% Chenin Blanc. After 8 months aged, partially, in new French oak this wine gives us intoxicating aromas of white flowers and lemon citrus while opening up to a rich palate of quince, peach, and honey. Sharp acidity cuts through creamy layers of ripe fruit, vanilla, and lemon curd and leads to a long finish.
Immensely enjoyable, especially with glazed ham!
-Patrick
Ricard Pastis de Marseille - $29.99
I recently got to try pastis for the first time, and I loved it. But since I generally enjoy anise-flavored things (like absinthe and black licorice), that's not too surprising. The general differences between absinthe and pastis are that pastis is a tad less bitter and lower-proof than absinthe. The Ricard Pastis de Marseille is a great example of a quality pastis, coming from Marseille, France, the city most well-known for pastis. The traditional way to drink pastis is diluting it with cold water and adding ice, making for a delightfully refreshing drink on a warm afternoon. As things warm up around the metro area, it's a perfect time to indulge in one of the most recognizable flavors of the Mediterranean.
-Nick N
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VERY IMPORTANT - Furry Friend Visits! |
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Cheers, Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits
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