Weekly Catalog Update for 3/30

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.