Joe Riley

Just to update this discussion....

  Since I last wrote that missive above, the Giffard Triple Sec of Curaçao HAS found a new U.S.A. importer, and we proudly carry it in our store.  Quite possibly, the best orange liqueur we've ever carried, and Jay Hepburn did not exaggerate its qualities.

  Also of note, while the Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is lovely, we now also have the Golden Moon Dry Curaçao, from Colorado, and it gives the Pierre Ferrand a serious challenge, with the single biggest difference between them being that the Ferrand is blended with Ferrand Cognac, and the Golden Moon does not have any Cognac or brandy in it., so perhaps that's like comparing Cointreau with Grand Marnier, or Combier with Royal Combier, as they are not exactly the same products.

Yes, indeed we do

After years of phone calls, emails, and other searching, I FINALLY acquired the Maraska Maraschino Liqueur today.

http://www.maraskausa.com/individual-products.html#maraschino

Been after this since, oh, at least 2008.

Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond; the one indispensable rye for your bar

Bulleit Rye is currently made at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  For less money, I'd rather have the Redemption Rye, which is the exact same mashbill as the Bulleit rye, but it is slightly higher in proof, though the whiskey itself is slightly younger.  Biggest differences between the two for me?  Bulleit Rye is too "soft";  Redemption Rye has the trademark forward rye spice that I love and look for in my rye whiskies

(See thumbnail attachment)

These folks just opened their distillery this month, and it's most encouraging to see: http://www.oneeightdistilling.com/home

Just as their neighbor, New Columbia, does, the folks at One Eight make their own grain neutral spirit (GNS), rather than purchasing it commercially.  That method certainly is NOT the path of least-resistance, but it does ensure their satisfaction of quality-control and D.C. authenticity.

As of this moment, only their vodka and their Rock Creek White Whiskey are available, but their Ivy City Gin will follow in just over a month, and they will be distilling other spirits as well.  Much to look forward to!

Okay - I've tried it (am trying it now, straight, chilled can poured into a cup).

It's very nice.  They do use pure cane sugar (no HFCS - yay!).  It's as clear as an unmuddied lake in summer, perhaps even more clear.

Will it replace Barritt's bottles (sugar cane) or Fever Tree (ditto) or Fentiman's (same) or Regatta (same) as my go-to ginger beers of choice?  No, but if it's the only one available, I certainly won't quibble.  The cans are quite handy, and obviously do chill faster than bottles.

As Clive Coates might say, "Very Good"

We just received it in the store today.  I haven't tried it yet, but I have some chilling for that very reason.  It comes in cans that make it look like Red Bull or even Sixpoint Brewery products.

Just a reminder: Stolichnaya is no longer "product of Russia"; it is "product of Latvia".

Color Todd Thrasher at Restaurant Eve as very impressed with these wines as well.  We don't stock them, but they are available to me to buy, if anyone is interested in acquiring some for themselves.

Related this recent brunch experience at Belga Café elsewhere, but thought it deserved to be shared here.

Had one drink today which, according to the drink menu, included Mount Gay "Black" rum, but I watched the bartender use Captain Morgan spiced rum instead (!!!). When I mentioned it, I was informed that the Mt Gay "Black" was out of stock.

My friend ordered a drink which, according to the menu, included Mandarin Napoleon, and Corner Creek Bourbon. Instead, the bartender used Grand Marnier and Jack Daniel's (!!!)

Maybe I'm spoiled, but I'm used to being informed ahead of time when I'm not getting the drink that I've ordered, and paid for. If you've run out of something, that's fine, but please give me the option of accepting the substitution or ordering something else. Silently substituting is insulting to me, and I don't appreciate paying the same money for cheaper ingredients. If you advertise specific ingredients, then that's the experience that I want. It's dishonest to switch them out without telling me. Why should I have to watch the bartender prepare my drink? I (rarely) have the opportunity to watch a chef prepare my meal; I have to trust that I'm getting what I ordered and paid for. No different with drinks.  If the menu simply said (for example) orange liqueur, Bourbon, etc... that's one thing, but to actually list the components by brand name takes things to an entirely different level.

I enjoyed my food just fine.  Terrific frites.  Great brunch menu, which I can happily recommend, but order with care off of their drink menu.

Wow, this thread hasn't been touched in so long, it has dust on it

I just acquired an old favorite of mine - The Franí§ois Collard (Cháteau Mourgues du Grès) "Galets Rosés" Costières de Nimes 2013.

I've loved this wine for years, and it now has a new U.S. importer, and tasting it took me back 15 years ago, last month, when I visited the estate.  It is summer in a glass, red wine with its shirt off.  A simple delight, and inexpensive as these things should be.

More info here: http://www.mourguesdugres.com/vins-vignes-languedoc.php?page=vins〈=en&recette_id=&vin_id=65

Islay-whisky enthusiasts!   Saturday, May 31st is Ardbeg Day!  Come and purchase the new Ardbeg-Day bottling, "Auriverdes"  as well as other Ardbeg bottlings at a nice discount.  Come on down, we'll talk about it.  Bring the wife, and then we'll dicker.... 

Hell, we've delivered liquor, wine, beer, sodas, juice, mixers, ice, etc... in D.C. since 1934!  www.acebevdc.com  Call me up!  I'll beat these people at their own game! 8)

I called around a few retailers today.  Ace Beverage says they're expecting a delivery sometime this week, though had hoped to get it earlier.  Davinos on 18th St says they expect it Friday.

Yup.  We got ours on Wednesday.  Already blown through a lot of it because we don't limit people.  I'm told a lot of people bought an entire case.

This is really kind of a hoot:

"Frogs and Puffins! 1730s Menus Reveal Royals Were Extreme Foodies" by Maria Godoy on npr.org

This is a private label which has a short but checkered history, and despite the goofy website and marketing, it's worthwhile Bourbon, and here's why:

It is Bernheim Distillery, wheated Bourbon, from 2006.  80 proof.  Obtained by KBD, sold to the folks who make Redemption and Temptation Bourbons and rye.

It's very limited, and really quite good.  Retails for less than $30, too.

Given that wheated Bourbon is becoming more difficult to obtain these days (other than Maker's Mark, but even they have shortages), this is a momentary bright spot, as this won't likely still be available beyond the spring.

Has anyone seen a Marc de Champagne available for sale in the United States, please?

I've seen marc brandies from Gigondas, Cháteauneuf du Pápe, and Bourgogne here but not from Champagne.

I've been after this product since 2008, when London-based bartender Jay Hepburn did an Orange Liqueur Showdown, and named the Giffard as the Best Orange Liqueur out of the 23 that he purchased himself and deconstructed by category.  His results are available online, but the highlights of the Giffard are below.

Jay Hepburn's Orange Liqueur Showdown (from 2008)

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

11:46 AM

http://ohgo.sh/archive/orange-liqueur-awards/

Emile Giffard, a chemist (what is it with those chemists?) in Angers, France, began distilling his Menthe Pastille Crème de Menthe in 1885, and the Giffard distillery is still ran by his descendants to this day. In addition to Emile's Menthe Pastille which is still available today, they produce a wide range of eaux de vie and liqueurs. Giffard have a number of different orange liqueurs available, including an interestingly named Parfait Triple Sec, but here we look at the Orange Curaí§ao from their standard range and the triple sec from their "Premium" range. For details on how the comparison was performed, check the notes on the showdown.

Giffard Premium Curaí§ao Triple Sec is part of Giffard's range of high-end liqueurs, launched in 2006, and is clear and fairly non-viscous in the glass. Its nose is a mild to medium strength orange zest smell, with a notably bitter edge like when you include a lot of rind in a twist. It is very natural, with just a slight suggestion of the alcoholic base.

In the mouth there is a strong mix of sweet and bitter orange flavours, and a notably subtle amount of sugar which makes this relatively dry for a liqueur. The orange bitterness intensifies toward the end, resulting in a powerful finish which has very little burn. The lack of sweetness and the strong, natural-tasting flavours make this a triple sec I am definitely looking forward to trying in a cocktail.

Best Triple Sec

The Edmond Briottet triple sec was a close contender, but Giffard's offering excelled in both the straight comparison and when mixed with cocktails which made it a real winner. Strong natural flavours of both sweet and bitter orange make for an interesting flavour that stands up well to other spirits, yet despite being 80 proof it remains smooth when sipped alone. Priced fairly similarly to Cointreau, choosing which one to replace will be a serious dilemma.

Giffard Premium Curaí§ao Triple Sec

So which is the best liqueur out of all 23? It would be easy to award Cointreau, the ubiquitous spirit that is perhaps the most famous of all orange liqueurs. Certainly Cointreau is an excellent cocktail ingredient, but the best orange liqueur? I think that award belongs to Giffard Premium Curaí§ao Triple Sec, a spirit that combines the mixability of Cointreau with a smoothness that made me rethink how appropriate triple secs were for sipping.

It's not got the advertising budget, and it's not stocked in nearly as many locations, but in my opinion Giffard Premium Curaí§ao Triple Sec represents all the most important features of an orange liqueur, and is therefore the best available today.

Anybody seen the smaller bottles in the area. I think they were 375s.

We have them at Ace; $15.99/375ml

The High West "Barreled Boulevardier" is really very nice.  http://www.highwest.com/spirits/the-barreled-boulevardier/

Joe, if they don't have large amounts of botanicals, what makes them smell so ... potent?

That is a question for Jake   Oh, Jake?

Oh, and it is fun to point out that Citadelle is produced at the Pierre Ferrand Cognac facilities.

I really like CItadelle because I like a *lot* of botanicals, which this one has in spades.  The Citadelle Reserve (barrel-aged) is also remarkably good. (88-pf)

Yes, the "new-western-style" of gin tends to play down juniper and they don't usually have a large slew of botanicals to them.  More's the pity.

One of my favorites in that category is the Voyager, from Washington State.  10 botanicals, and 84-pf.  Don, you might really appreciate that one.

I walked into a liquor store on saturday night set out to buy gifts (wine for my aunt, beer for my cousin, her son) and I ended up also walking out with a bottle for myself. I ended up with the 12-year Weller.

Where (roughly) do you live?  I know for a fact that it's not available in the D.C. or Maryland markets, darn it all.  The Sazerac company rep for the mid-Atlantic informed me earlier this year that, while they have enough to supply their current markets, they had no plans to open any new markets with it this calendar year.  I really look forward to being able to offer it someday.

Yikes!

FWIW, while Death's Door isn't my "go-to", a certain gin expert whose name rhymes with "Lon May-Beck" once told me he thought it was good tonic gin.

As for the Greenhook, well, I.....um...think we need to get you a new option.