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:
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):
In-store products moved to closeout:
Delisted SLO products:
Reactivated SLO products:
New SLO products:
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.
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)
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)
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)
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.
