April 2009 Archives

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of April 20th:

Discontinued Products:

• Anis del Mono Dulce 2004 750 ML (#50809, SLO, $16.49)
• Bushmills 16 Yr Malt Irish Wky 750 ML (#07714, Closeout, $45.99)
• Castries Peanut Creme Liqueur 750 ML (#64302, SLO, $31.89)
• Chateau Fontpinot XO 750 ML (#60297, SLO, $122.59)
• Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year Old Scotch 750 ML (#09237, Closeout, $124.99)
• Danny Devito Limoncello 750 ML (#53966, SLO, $27.09)
• DeKuyper Red Apple 750 ML (#70634, SLO, $13.59)
• El Mayor Blanco Tequila 750 ML (#57436, SLO, $43.39)
• Ferrand Cognac Ancestrale 750 ML (#50230, SLO, $377.69)
• Glenmorangie Lasanta 750 ML (#67297, SLO, $64.99)
• Jack Daniels Glass 50 ML (#53452, SLO, $3.69)
• Jack Daniels Single Barrel with Barrel Buy 750 ML (#65033, SLO, $39.99)
• Johnnie Walker Multi Pack Blue/Gold/Red/Blk 200 ML (#71705, SLO, $79.99)
• Juarez Tequila Silver 1.0 L (#60798, SLO, $10.99)
• JW Dant Bourbon 1.75 L (#63768, SLO, $29.59)
• Montbisou Liqueur Framboise 750 ML (#53297, SLO, $15.99)
• Montbisou Liqueur Pear 750 ML (#60405, SLO, $15.99)
• New Amsterdam Gin 80 Proof 200ML (#07945, One Time, $2.99)
• Premium Vodka Poland 1.0 L (#53924, SLO, $14.29)
• Premium Vodka Poland 750 ML (#53994, SLO, $11.09)
• Ultimat Vodka 750 ML (#65952, SLO, $44.09)
• Umberto Cesari Grappa di Chardonnay 2004 750 ML (#53741, SLO, $19.69)
• Wild Turkey Rye 750 ML (#55849, SLO, $27.29)

I think only the Montbisou liqueurs, Bushmills 16yr and Umberto grappa have disappeared entirely. Everything else used to be dual-listed as both in-store and SLO, or is still available in different bottle sizes.

New Products:

• Brinley Gold Coconut Rum 750 ML (#66464, SLO, $20.19)
• Brinley Gold Coffee Rum 750 ML (#66516, SLO, $20.19)
• Brinley Gold Lime Rum 750 ML (#66502, SLO, $20.19)
• Brinley Gold Mango Rum 750 ML (#66500, SLO, $20.19)
• Crystal Head Vodka 750 ML (#58707, SLO, $52.29)
• Dalmore Single Malt Scotch 12yr 750 ML (#63159, SLO, $49.59)
• Grand Marnier Cuvee Du Cent Cinquantenaire 150th 750 ML (#63877, SLO, $164.99)
• Iichiko Frasco Shochu 750 ML (#66375, SLO, $103.59)
• Jefferson Reserve Bourbon 750 ML (#53736, SLO, $63.39)
• Johnnie Walker Multi Pack Blue/Gold/Grn/Blk 200 ML (#71705, SLO, $79.99)
• Lluna Azul Tequila 750 ML (#66357, SLO, $23.99)
• Parkers Heritage Bourbon 750 ML (#66289, SLO, $198.99)
• Seagrams Sweet Tea Vodka 750 ML (#53718, SLO, $13.49)
• The Knot Irish Whisky 750 ML (#65036, SLO, $28.19)

Crystal Head Vodka is the best celebrity-branded liquor ever. Go watch Dan Aykroyd's video and tell me you wouldn't buy a skull-shaped bottle full of booze from him.

The Brinley Gold flavored rums are supposed to be pretty good, at least as far as flavored rums go. I haven't tried any of them personally.

Seagrams Sweet Tea Vodka placed higher than Firefly at this year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which I suppose means I should pick up a bottle. I don't usually put much trust in the results of this competition, but for $13, it's worth a try.

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of April 13th:

Discontinued Products:

• Bowmore 16yr Single Malt 750 ML (#57756, SLO, $108.69)
• Christian Bros Egg Nog 750ML (#03685, Holiday, $7.99)
• Dalmore Cigar Malt Scotch 750ML (#06587, Closeout, $35.99)
• Famous Grouse 18 Yr 750 ML (#51080, SLO, $33.29)
• Plantation Trinidad Rum 1996 750 ML (#69679, SLO, $28.99)
• Vox Apple Flav Vodka 80pf 750 ML (#09762, Closeout, $14.99)

The Plantation Trinidad was replaced with a newer vintage (below). Plantation is a blending house with a whiskey-like approach to rum. They buy casks from distilleries and attempt to blend them to create a bottling that exhibits an island's "terroir". Does it work? Scott Steeves is not convinced.

Relisted:

• Schwartzhog Krauter Liqueur 73.4 Proof 750ML (#04533, Regular, $17.99)

The name of this stuff cracks me up. Schwartzhog is a Kräuterlikör, a sweetened, herbed German liqueur, like Jägermeister or Killepitsch. It has a bit milder flavor than Jäger though.

New Products:

• Calico Jack Silver Rum 80 Proof 1.00L (#06158, Regular, $8.99)
• Cantina La Torre C M Sicilian Grappa 750 ML (#54506, SLO, $96.99)
• El Diamante del Cielo Tequila Reposado 750 ML (#66291, SLO, $58.19)
• Hennessy VS Ltd Edition Inauguration Cognac 1.00L (#05770, One Time, $32.99)
• JW Dant Bourbon 1.75 L (#63768, SLO, $29.59)
• Leroux Triple Sec 750 ML (#60340, SLO, $10.39)
• Marani Vodka 50 ML (#62284, SLO, $3.49)
• Myers Platinum Rum 80 Proof 1.00L (#06182, One Time, $11.99)
• Plantation Trinidad Rum 2000 750 ML (#66265, SLO, $35.99)
• Stolichnaya Vodka Gold 750 ML (#56468, SLO, $31.29)
• Sweet Carolina Vodka Mint Tea 750 ML (#66278, SLO, $15.59)
• Van Gogh Banana 750 ML (#66326, SLO, $22.99)
• Woodford Reserve Ky Derby Str Brbn 90.4pf 1.00L (#09609, One Time, $32.99)

The Hennessy VS "Inauguration" cracks me up. It's Hennessy VS in a commemorative bottle honoring the inauguration of the 44th president. Shouldn't this have been on the shelves like four months ago?

And I have no idea what's going on with the Cielo tequila. Everywhere else in the country, including the in-store code that's on closeout (#05196), Cielo Reposado sells for $33.

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of April 6th:

Discontinued Products:

• American Sweetheart Apple Blossom Martini Cocktail 750 ML (#09644, One Time, $10.99)
• Appleton Extra 750 ML (#62499, SLO, $37.29)
• Appleton Reserve 750 ML (#68344, SLO, $27.09)
• Arrow Lime Vodka 750 ML (#61276, SLO, $11.09)
• Corzo Silver Tequila 750ML (#10813, Specialty, $44.99)
• Jim Beam Kentucky Str Brbn Red Cap 80 Proof 1.00L (#08276, One Time, $14.99)
• Quady Vya Extra Dry Vermouth 750 ML (#62363, SLO, $23.99)
• Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac 200ML (#06288, One Time, $9.99)
• Seagram's Gin & Juice Purple Rage W/Ginseng 750 ML (#09777, Closeout, $4.99)
• Siete Leguas Anejo Tequilla 750ML (#10817, Specialty, $50.99)
• Siete Leguas Blanco Tequilla 750ML (#10818, Specialty, $42.99)
• Tanqueray No. Ten Imp. Gin 1.75 L (#09089, Closeout, $35.99)
• UV Lemonade Flavored Vodka 60 Proof 50ML (#08244, One Time, $0.99)

The Appleton rums getting delisted is most likely a temporary thing, as they're way too popular to be discontinued for good. It's unbelievable that these rums aren't available in stores, and it's almost criminal how much Capital charges for the Appleton Extra—in the rest of the country it's sold for around $30.

The Vya vermouths have been available in stores forever, so it's OK for them to come off SLO. If you're looking for them in the catalog, they're listed as Quady Vermouth Dry (#10060, Specialty, $17.99) and Quady Vermouth Sweet (#10063, Specialty, $17.99). While they're enjoyable aperitifs, they're fairly different from traditional vermouths and I wouldn't use them in cocktails.

Hopefully the Siete Leguas tequilas will be coming back; they're one of the few tequilas I would recommend that you can find in PLCB stores.

Relisted:

• Corralejo Triple Distilled Tequila 750 ML (#65732, SLO, $20.79)
• Wray And Nephew White Overproof Rum 750 ML (#63041, SLO, $22.69)

Check it out! The J Wray is back! I guess Capital was just out of stock for a couple months.

New Products:

• Cielo Anejo Tequila 750 ML (#51000, SLO, $72.49)
• Murray McDavid Mission Gold Springbank 13 Yr 95 750ML (#10886, Specialty, $149.99)
• Nonino Ue Decennale 750 ML (#52821, SLO, $67.09)

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of March 30th:

Discontinued Products:

• Artic Vodka and Peach Liquer 750 ML (#68169, SLO, $12.99)
• Artic Vodka and Strawberry Liquer 750 ML (#57558, SLO, $12.99)
• Artic Vodka and Thai Fruit Liquer 750 ML (#57908, SLO, $12.99)
• Bastianich Calabone Grappa 375 ML (#56701, SLO, $33.19)
• Canne Banane Rum 750 ML (#60920, SLO, $7.99)
• Canne Royale Rum 750 ML (#62635, SLO, $12.99)
• Casoni Limoncello 50 ML (#57101, SLO, $2.49)
• Crown Royal Pet 375ML (#05548, One Time, $9.49)
• DeKuyper Luscious Mixed Berry Medley Schnapps 750 ML (#07384, Closeout, $5.59)
• Ferrand Pino Charente Select Cognac 750 ML (#50236, SLO, $23.89)
• Glacier Vodka 1.0 L (#50644, SLO, $26.59)
• Hirsch Canadian Rye Whiskey 12 Yr Old 750 ML (#65667, SLO, $48.99)
• Hirsch Rye Whiskey 750 ML (#59353, SLO, $109.99)
• Littlemill Single Malt Scotch 750 ML (#65545, SLO, $56.99)
• Luxardo Amaro Abano 750 ML (#65657, SLO, $14.99)
• Mt Gay Extra Old Rum 750 ML (#68641, SLO, $43.89)
• Pierre Ferrand Cognac Vint 750 ML (#50953, SLO, $200.39)
• Square One Combo 1 Bt 80pf 1 Bt Cucumber 2 Bt Min 750 ML (#66895, SLO, $44.89)
• UV Vodka Citruv 750 ML (#52629, SLO, $10.19)
• Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka 1.0 L (#51127, SLO, $10.29)

Looks like Laird is cleaning up their SLO list a bit. They used to carry the Hirsch whiskies, the Littlemill, and the Luxardo Amaro Abano.

The Mount Gay XO (#08164, Regular, $44.99) has been available in stores since January, so that's why it's off SLO. Mount Gay recently "modernized" the product, including bumping up the price by almost 50%, but it's still a delicious sipping rum that's quite worth the price.

Moved to Closeout:

• Starbucks Coffee Liqueur 50 ML (#09699, Closeout, $1.99)
• Starbucks Coffee Liqueur 750 ML (#09642, Closeout, $19.99)
• Starbucks Cream Liqueur 750 ML (#05600, Closeout, $19.99)

This is sad and a bit surprising. Starbucks Coffee Liqueur is my favorite coffee liqueur, similar to Kahlua but smooth enough to sip on the rocks. Since it's only slightly more expensive than Kahlua, I would have thought that the Starbucks brand and a BTI score of 94 would have been enough to keep customers coming back. Ah well...if you haven't tried it before, pick up a bottle before it disappears.

Relisted:

• Pernod Absinthe 750ML (#10840, Specialty, $69.99)

New Products:

• Cielo Blanco Tequila 750 ML (#64161, SLO, $51.39)
• Citadelle Apple Vodka 70pf 750 ML (#64459, SLO, $27.59)
• DeKuyper Strawberry Liqueur 45pf 750 ML (#58368, SLO, $3.44)
• Deuces Wild Gin 1.75 L (#57604, SLO, $14.49)
• Hiram Walker Amaretto 750 ML (#61963, SLO, $10.29)
• Jack Spiced No. 94 Spiced Rum 94 Proof 750ML (#06333, Regular, $9.99)
• Le Tourment Vert 750 ML (#51396, SLO, $52.29)
• Leroux Rock And Rye 1.0 L (#64170, SLO, $13.89)
• Sauza Hornitos Anejo Teq 750 ML (#63085, SLO, $32.29)
• Scapa Scotch 14yr 750 ML (#62823, SLO, $41.59)
• Tvarscki Vodka Grape 750 ML (#64085, SLO, $9.69)
• Wild Turkey Am Spirit 15yr 101pf 750 ML (#63197, SLO, $96.79)

I'm hesitant to recommend the Cielo tequila because, despite the numerous good reviews it has received, there have been reports that their quality control is lacking and there is a chance that you'll receive a bad bottle. If this stuff was available in stores, it wouldn't be a big deal to exchange it, but with SLO products you'd have to make a good case to have it shipped back to the distributor. Also, it's rather overpriced here.

There's a good story behind Le Tourment Vert. Basically, the producer hired a PR agency to comment-spam cocktail and spirits blogs, and twelve bloggers responded by publicly berating them on the same day. The producer has since fired the PR agency and apologized to everyone, but it doesn't fix the fact that their product is pretty lousy. It does come in a pretty bottle, though.