Weekly Catalog Update for 3/28

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.