April 2011 Archives

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of April 18th:

New in-store and online products:

• Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750 ML (#003615, Regular, $45.99)
• Marie Brizard Orange Curacao France 750 ML (#030569, Limit Dist, $25.99)

The final product for the initial specialty spirits collection has arrived: Marie Brizard Orange Curacao fills the last painful gap in the classic cocktail enthusiast's spirits arsenal. Pennsylvanians can now make a proper Margarita or Mai Tai, as well as myriad vintage drinks like the delightful Honeymoon Cocktail or the 19th century New Orleans Brandy Crusta.

Angel's Envy is a new bourbon on the market from the recently-formed Louisville Distilling Company. The company was co-founded by Lincoln Henderson, the former distillery manager for Old Forester and Woodford Reserve. While LDC is getting their still set up, they've purchased some bulk whiskey and rebarrelled it in used port casks, which they claim nobody has ever done with Bourbon before. The result is pretty good--an easy-drinking bourbon with lots of fruit notes from the cask finish. John Hansell gave it 93 points and called it "dangerously drinkable." Consider picking up a bottle if you're a fan of subtler, less-bold bourbons.

Delisted SLO products:

• JM Rhum Vieux Vintage 750 ML (#056454, SLO, $19.99)
• Kah Tequila Anejo 80pf 50 ML (#507990, SLO, $8.69)
• Kah Tequila Reposado 80pf 50 ML (#507989, SLO, $7.69)

Reactivated SLO products:

• DeKuyper Cactus Juice Margarita Schnapps 750 ML (#058815, SLO, $14.39)
• M P Roux Elisir 1 L (#063240, SLO, $35.39)

New SLO products:

• Bulleit Rye 750 ML (#511718, SLO, $27.99)
• Casa Dragones Tequila 80pf 750 ML (#511757, SLO, $274.49)
• Cold River Blueberry Vodka 750 ML (#511763, SLO, $52.79)
• Franciacorta Vodka 750 ML (#511741, SLO, $48.59)
• Hirsch Selection 20yr Canadian Rye Whisky 750 ML (#511752, SLO, $63.99)
• Pinnacle Whipped Orange Vodka 1 L (#511571, SLO, $15.59)
• Pinnacle Whipped Vodka 1 L (#511573, SLO, $15.59)
• Pinnalce Whipped Cherry Vodka 1 L (#511572, SLO, $15.59)
• Poli Sarpa Barrique Grappa 375 ML (#511553, SLO, $29.99)
• Smirnoff Pear Vodka 1 L (#511587, SLO, $14.99)
• Stolichnaya Citrus Vodka 750 ML (#511596, SLO, $18.69)
• Zyr Russian Vodka 750 ML (#511643, SLO, $37.89)

Whiskey drinkers have been clamoring for Bulleit Rye to be available ever since it was released in the so-called bourbon markets (NY, CA, KY) back in March. Actually, people have been asking about it since before it was released anywhere, since Diageo did an excellent job of promoting it among bloggers, spirits reviewers and whiskey enthusiasts. Now it's available in PA by SLO from Diageo with no minimum order, and at a pretty decent price--it's listed for $34+ in New York. Don't want to bother with placing an SLO? The online store will have it available in about two weeks for $27.99 as well.

Casa Dragones Tequila is a new blanco tequila priced at $275. Yes, really. Is it worth it? DrinkHacker thinks so, giving it a rare A+ rating.

Special note for wine drinkers: the PLCB cut prices on a bunch of wine club selections as they're trying to clear out some space in the fulfillment center. These sale items are online-only and in some cases there isn't much stock left, so take a look through the selection and get your order in while you can.

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the weeks of April 4th and 11th:

New in-store and online products:

• Farmer's Botanical Small Batch Organic Gin Minnesota 750 ML (#030968, Online, $28.99)
• Fee Bros Grapefruit Bitters 118 ML (#003720, One Time, $7.99)
• Fee Bros Lemon Bitters 118 ML (#003726, One Time, $7.99)
• Fee Bros Old Fashioned Bitters 118 ML (#003728, One Time, $7.99)
• Fee Bros Orange Bitters 118 ML (#003730, One Time, $7.99)
• Forty Creek Barrel Select Whiskey Canada 750 ML (#030966, Online, $21.99)
• Jacquin's Kummel Liqueur 750 ML (#030601, Limit Dist, $10.99)
• Liquore Strega 750 ML (#009612, Limit Dist, $32.99)
• Massenez Creme de Framboise 750 ML (#010858, Online, $26.99)
• Massenez Creme de Griote 750 ML (#030654, Online, $26.99)
• Massenez Creme de Mure 750 ML (#010859, Online, $26.99)
• Massenez Creme de Peche 750 ML (#010851, Online, $26.99)
• Massenez Poire Williams Prisoner Pear Eau de Vie 750 ML (#030653, Online, $69.99)

This week marks the return of the Massenez fruit liqueurs as online-only items, joining the Massenez Crème à la Fraise des Bois (strawberry liqueur, for those who don't read French) which has been available online for some time. The Crème de Framboise (raspberry), Crème de Griotte (morello cherry), Crème de Mûre (blackberry) and Crème de Pêche (peach) are some of the best fruit liqueurs you can get in this country, and I strongly recommend them for cocktail use. Try dashing one of them into a gin sour, a la Bramble.

Forty Creek was, until very recently, considered by American whiskey enthusiasts to be the only Canadian whiskey worth drinking. In 1992, the master distiller, John Hall, opened what was probably the first modern craft whiskey distillery in Ontario, and since then has won a number of awards for Forty Creek. It does conform to traditional Canadian whiskey standards, including a corn/rye/barley mash bill and a "lighter" blended flavor, but unlike mass-market Canadian whiskeys, it actually has some character and complexity.

The PLCB expanded their cocktail bitters selection last week by adding four flavors from the Fee Brothers bitters line. For several years these were the only bitters on the market besides the pre-Prohibition Angostura and Peychaud's bitters, and they filled an important niche for classic cocktail enthusiasts who were recreating recipes that called for long-defunct bitters brands. While some of the Fee bitters are less than stellar, the four picked up in PA stores are decent. (It might be helpful to know that the "Old Fashioned" bitters are flavored predominantly with cinnamon.)

Finally, Strega has returned to shelves after getting delisted from the regular selection in 2009. It's an intense herbal liqueur, supposedly with healing properties, and a staple of craft bars. I'm pleased to see it back on the shelf. My favorite Strega cocktail these days is the Eulogy, from Anvil in Houston, which Chuck Taggart has written up nicely.

New-to-store items (previously online-only):

• Death's Door White Whiskey Wisconsin 750 ML (#010929, Limit Dist, $31.99)

In-store products moved to closeout:

• Cruzan Mojito Cocktail Cube 1.75 L (#003166, Regular, $14.99)
• Sweet Magnolia Half and Half Sweet Tea and Lemonade Cocktail 1.75 L (#003308, Regular, $13.99)
• Sweet Magnolia Raspberry Lemonade Cocktail 1.75 L (#003309, Regular, $13.99)
• Sweet Magnolia Sweet Tea Cocktail 1.75 L (#003311, Regular, $13.99)

Delisted SLO products:

• Bunratty Potcheen 750 ML (#057904, SLO, $19.49)
• Christiania Vodka 750 ML (#060894, SLO, $32.49)
• Coppo Grappa Pomorosso 375 ML (#073923, SLO, $59.99)
• Corralejo Tequila Blanco Clear Glass 750 ML (#077387, SLO, $24.79)
• Dailys Margarita Pouch 300 ML (#066266, SLO, $1.94)
• DeKuyper Pomegranate Schnapps 1 L (#068939, SLO, $14.09)
• Hangar One Vodka Chipolte 750 ML (#052069, SLO, $42.89)
• Knob Creek Bourbon Bradford House Special Label 9yr 100pf 750 ML (#504135, SLO, $31.29)
• Marani Vodka 50 ML (#062284, SLO, $2.29)
• McCormick Canadian Whiskey PET 1 L (#064605, SLO, $11.29)
• Molinari Limoncello di Capri 750 ML (#040438, SLO, $15.19)
• Plymouth Sloe Gin 750 ML (#054759, SLO, $37.39)
• Teachers Highland Cream Scotch 750 ML (#061895, SLO, $17.99)
• Three Olives Tomato 750 ML (#061729, SLO, $17.69)
• Tomatin Single Malt Scotch 18yr 750 ML (#071625, SLO, $48.59)
• Vice Martini Vodka Infused with Ice Wine 750 ML (#508292, SLO, $38.99)

Plymouth Sloe Gin is available in specialty stores for quite a bit less money...

Reactivated SLO products:

• Bushmills 1608 750 ML (#056652, SLO, $49.99)
• Gilbeys Vodka Grape 750 ML (#070639, SLO, $10.39)
• Grand Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire 150th 750 ML (#063877, SLO, $164.99)

New SLO products:

• El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6 Year Rum 750 ML (#511295, SLO, $30.39)
• Franciacorta Grappa Piave 1 L (#511368, SLO, $33.99)
• James River Plantation Sweet Tea Vodka 1 L (#511386, SLO, $27.99)
• Joseph Cartron Creme de Cassis de Borgogne Liqueur 750 ML (#511363, SLO, $29.89)
• Joseph Cartron Creme de Cerise de Bourgogne 750 ML (#511364, SLO, $27.89)
• Joseph Cartron Cremfoise de Bourgogne 750 ML (#511365, SLO, $27.89)
• Joseph Cartron Ginger Liqueur 750 ML (#511367, SLO, $27.89)
• Joseph Cartron Pomegranante Liqueur 750 ML (#511366, SLO, $27.89)
• Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Bourbon 750 ML (#511362, SLO, $33.49)
• Sauza 100 Anos Tequila Blanco 750 ML (#511183, SLO, $20.79)
• Skinos Mastiha Spirit Liqueur 750 ML (#511446, SLO, $36.99)
• Stulski Vodka 1 L (#511393, SLO, $6.89)
• Trader Vics Silver Rum 1 L (#511449, SLO, $14.29)
• Voodoo Spiced Rum 750 ML (#511306, SLO, $20.09)

El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6-year-old Rum is quite new to the country--I don't see it listed for sale anywhere but PA. It is, to my knowledge, the longest-aged white rum available in the US, and those six years in the cask work wonders. Ed Hamilton's glowing review is worth a read.

Also from Palateur Imports is Old Bardstown Estate 101 Bourbon, which Jim Murray gave 95 points to in his 2006 Whiskey Bible. While the blend is slightly different than it was back then and no longer carries an age statement, it's still getting snapped up by bourbon enthusiasts.

The PLCB's latest allocation of Sazerac 6-year-old Rye just came in last week, and to make sure everyone gets a crack at it they put the entire allocation into the online store. As of this morning they had 240 bottles in stock so get it while it's hot.

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the week of March 28th:

New in-store and online products:

• Devotion Vodka 750 ML (#003619, Regular, $25.99)
• Don Cesar Pisco Puro 750 ML (#030556, Limit Dist, $25.99)
• Jack Daniels and Cola RTD 4-355 Ml 1420 ML (#003700, Regular, $9.99)
• Jack Daniels and Diet Cola RTD 4-355 Ml 1420 ML (#003701, Regular, $9.99)
• Jack Daniels and Ginger Ale 1420 ML (#003703, Regular, $9.99)
• Luxardo Marachino 750 ML (#030549, Limit Dist, $26.99)
• Old Raj Dry Gin Red Label 750 ML (#030595, Limit Dist, $45.99)

The Preiss Imports items for the specialty stores have finally arrived. If I remember correctly, this is the last of the initial roll-out of specialty spirits. We have the PLCB's first pisco in...maybe ever? Certainly longer than I've lived in the state. Don Cesar is an upscale pisco brand which I highly recommend for all your pisco cocktails--starting with, of course, the iconic Pisco Sour and the trendy, so-old-it's-new Pisco Punch.

Old Raj Gin arrived this week as well, though it's the more accessible 92-proof bottling. (The 110-proof version can be purchased for a few dollars more from the online store.) It is delicious, infused with saffron, and you should buy a bottle immediately. Yes, it is worth the price.

Also from Preiss Imports we have Luxardo Maraschino. I'm a bit sentimental about it, as it's the very first product I SLO'd back in 2006 so I could make one of those Aviation cocktails that everyone was talking about. At the time I promised myself I would put up a website to help other cocktail enthusiasts with the convoluted SLO process. Five years later, Luxardo Maraschino can be found on shelves across the state, in large part due to my advocacy. I can't help but look back and smile.

Oh, and that Aviation cocktail? Turns out it's not as life-changing as it sounded. Here's the best recipe I've found:

• 2 oz Plymouth gin
• 1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 1/4 oz simple syrup (optional)
• 1 tsp creme de violette (optional)
  

Shake, strain, serve up. Admire the ugly dishwater color, and take a sip. Tart, cherry-flavored, and tasty. But not the end-all, be-all of cocktails, as the lifestyle journalists of 2006 would have you believe.

Devotion Vodka (infused with protein!) is currently available only in the Franklin Mills store, for yesterday's celebrity appearance with Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. It will be rolling out state-wide over the next couple weeks.

Delisted SLO products:

• Christian Brothers XO Brandy 750 ML (#061582, SLO, $6.99)
• DeKuyper Cactus Juice Margarita Schnapps 750 ML (#058815, SLO, $14.29)
• Dujardin VSOP Brandy 750 ML (#063896, SLO, $21.19)
• Grand Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire 150th 750 ML (#063877, SLO, $164.99)
• Schlichte Steinhaeger Dry Gin 750 ML (#073346, SLO, $22.39)
• Stroh Obstler Fruit Brandy 750 ML (#502024, SLO, $24.29)
• Talisker 175th Anniversary 750 ML (#053589, SLO, $97.99)
• Van Gogh Espresso 750 ML (#050412, SLO, $21.39)
• Zyr Vodka 1 L (#500986, SLO, $32.49)

Schlichte Steinhager moved from Niche to Majestic. The new code is below.

Reactivated SLO products:

• DeKuyper Thrilla Vanilla 1 L (#503840, SLO, $11.69)
• Four Roses Bourbon 750 ML (#041223, SLO, $20.89)
• Martell XO Cognac 750 ML (#051636, SLO, $151.09)
• McCormick Triple Sec 1 L (#054591, SLO, $5.09)
• Skyy Vodka Vanilla 750 ML (#066901, SLO, $18.89)

In what may be a new record, Four Roses Yellow Label is available on SLO a mere two months after it was put on close-out. Kudos to Southern for ensuring its continued availability in the state.

New SLO products:

• Dujardin VSOP Brandy 750 ML (#511027, SLO, $27.19)
• Finlandia Vodka Tangerine 1 L (#511157, SLO, $20.79)
• Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 750 ML (#511283, SLO, $104.69)
• Karma Tequila Silver 750 ML (#511206, SLO, $39.99)
• Sauza Blue Tequila Reposado 750 ML (#511182, SLO, $20.79)
• Sauza Blue Tequila Silver 750 ML (#511181, SLO, $20.79)
• Schlichte Steinhager Dry Gin 750 ML (#511035, SLO, $24.79)
• Tullamore Dew 10 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750 ML (#511282, SLO, $25.99)
• Voodoo Tiki Tequila Anejo 750 ML (#511097, SLO, $59.99)
• Voodoo Tiki Tequila Desert Rose Prickly Pear 750 ML (#511098, SLO, $34.99)
• Voodoo Tiki Tequila Platinum Silver 750 ML (#511100, SLO, $45.99)
• Voodoo Tiki Tequila Reposado 750 ML (#511099, SLO, $49.99)

Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix has kind of a cute story behind it. Two winters ago, the heavy snow in Scotland collapsed warehouse roofs at the Glenfiddich distillery, exposing thousands of casks to the weather. After cleaning up the mess, the distillery decided to dump and blend some of the casks that lived through the incident, creating Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. The few reviews I've seen have been promising.