December 2011 Archives

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

New in-store and online products:

• Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old Canadian Whisky 750ML (#030417, Online, $19.99)
• Canadian Club Whisky 8 Year Old Sherry Cask 750ML (#030512, Online, $31.99)
• Gozio Amaretto 750 ML (#004544, Regular, $24.99)
• KAH Tequila Extra Anejo 750ML (#030544, Online, $195.99)
• New Amsterdam Vodka 200 ML (#004465, One Time, $3.99)
• Vinas de Oro Pisco Puro Acholado Pisco 750ML (#030689, Online, $33.99)
• Vinas de Oro Pisco Puro Torontel Pisco 750ML (#030769, Online, $33.99)

While pisco has yet to gain much traction with mainstream consumers, a new generation of producers and importers has been trying to elevate the category above the Pisco Sour/Pisco Punch box that it's been stuck in since the beginning of the modern cocktail renaissance. ClearGrape, a small San Francisco importer, has been one of the more vocal proponents of the stuff, even writing and publishing a photo-filled book about pisco.

ClearGrape's brand, Viñas de Oro, is a high-quality artisan spirit that thoroughly impressed me at Tales of the Cocktail this year. The torontel is an explosively floral puro (single varietal) pisco that I've been sipping in a Martini or even just mixed with Pelligrino--a suggestion from the importer. The acholado, a mix of varietals, is an excellent mixing pisco for the Pisco Sour, naturally, but it's also versatile enough to substitute for the white spirit in many existing cocktails. Ever had a Negroni made with pisco in place of gin? You'd be surprised...

After the KAH tequila line finally made it back into the state by SLO, the online store decided to pull in the Extra Añejo expression. This expression takes the intricate, hand-painted skull theme one step further by embedding hundreds of Swarovski crystals in the bottle.

Delisted SLO products:

• Dartigalongue Armagnac 30 Year 1979 Vintage 750 ML (#504001, SLO, $144.99)
• Don Julio 1942 750 ML (#056782, SLO, $109.99)
• Jacquins Vodka Lime 750 ML (#050377, SLO, $12.69)
• Johnnie Walker Blue 200 ML (#071687, SLO, $37.49)
• Pampero Anniversario Rum 750 ML (#057658, SLO, $24.99)
• Stolichnaya Cranberry Vodka 1 L (#500489, SLO, $23.89)

It seems Diageo just can't keep the Don Julio 1942 and Pampero Anniversario in stock. Don't be surprised to see price increases on these soon.

New SLO products:

• Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength 750 ML (#517708, SLO, $72.09)
• Amrut Two Continents Malt Whisky 750 ML (#517705, SLO, $112.89)
• Antiguo Tequila Anejo 750 ML (#517655, SLO, $31.29)
• Antiguo Tequila Blanco 750 ML (#517656, SLO, $23.89)
• Antiguo Tequila Reposado 750 ML (#517654, SLO, $23.89)
• Blackadder Raw Cask Whisky Smoking Islay 11 Year 750 ML (#517711, SLO, $112.59)
• Blackadder Raw Cask Whisky Bowmore 21 Year 750 ML (#517710, SLO, $194.59)
• Glayva Liqueur 750 ML (#518066, SLO, $38.29)
• Glenglassaugh Master Distiller's Selection 37 Year 750 ML (#517706, SLO, $576.19)
• Pinnacle Vodka 1 L (#517766, SLO, $15.59)
• TGIF Blender Strawberry Shortcake 1.75 L (#518065, SLO, $14.99)

Amrut, the Indian whisky producer that catapulted to fame recently, just released their "Two Continent" single malt. As the name suggests, the whisky was first aged in India and then shipped to the UK for an additional three years of maturation. I was fortunate enough to get a taste of this a few weeks ago, and I was impressed by the additional complexity that resulted from aging in two vastly different climates. If I remember correctly, there's only a single case of this stuff allocated to Pennsylvania, so get your order in now.

Antiguo Tequila, produced as a separate label by Herradura, is finally available here. Brown-Forman is positioning it as a mid-range tequila between their El Jimador line and Herradura, somewhere in the mid-$20s. Interestingly, Antiguo has come and gone in other markets, apparently failing to catch on with the consumer. For more information about Antiguo's production, see this 2009 post on Alcademics.