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Friday, March 8, 2013

New Bitters..Scrappy's


We are the bitter headquarters for St. Louis...
In stock now at Forsyth



Scrappy’s Bitters is the first New American bitters company to commercially produce handcrafted bitters. Although officially launching in 2008, the journey to develop and perfect our recipes and techniques began years ago.

We started with the simple idea that, “Bitters could be better!” Our focus; to create bitters using nearly all organic ingredients of the highest quality with no artificial flavors, chemicals, or dyes, all while respecting sustainability, and contributing to our communities in the process. These values and beliefs are what set us apart from other brands and make our bitters shine even brighter in your drinks and your dishes.

We draw our inspiration from the Old World, utilizing small-batch, handcrafted techniques that allow us to control the quality of our product on a level not yet achievable by robots. We know this because in our quest to make the best bitters possible, we have tested almost every modern-day commercial production technique and consistently discovered that there is no substitute for our original methods. Every component of our bitters has been thoroughly considered and developed by us, by hand.

At Scrappy’s, we believe that by making bitters with the finest ingredients, a touch of love, and a meticulous attention to detail, you’ll be able to taste and smell our commitment to excellence.



Scrappy's Bitters Lavender...$18.99
Our flagship blend. We are the originators of lavender bitters. Bright, sweet, yet remarkably well rounded. We captured spring in a bottle which allows you to place the soul of the lavender flower in a glass.
click here for recipes

Scrappy's Bitters Cardamom...$18.99
Release the pure essence of cardamom balanced with delicate citrus. Whether crafting a heady rum punch or wistful warming toddy, cardamom bitters adds a potent kick to your mix.
click here for recipes

Scrappy's Bitters Orange...$18.99
A craft bar staple for over 150 years. Scrappy’s orange bitters continues the tradition with this unique blend of bright, fresh and bitter oranges, herbs, and spices.
click here for recipes

Scrappy's Bitters Lime...$18.99
Intense, fresh organic lime is the forgotten element in many drinks. You’ll discover what you’ve been missing once you experience the flavor.
click here for recipes


Plus these are fantastic gifts or starter packs...
you get 4 different flavors of sampler size bottles of bitters in each pack

Scrappy's Gift Box A....$19.99
Includes 1 small bottle of each
  • Orange
  • Lavender
  • Aromatic
  • Celery

Scrappy's Gift Box B....$19.99
Includes 1 small bottle of each
  • Lime
  • Chocolate
  • Cardamom
  • Grapefruit 

New Vodka!


American Harvest Vodka...$19.99 / 750ml
American Harvest Vodka...$5.49 / 50ml
Like America itself, American Harvest was built on a promise. From field to bottle, a promise to create the finest quality product, without compromise to the environment or our nation’s natural resources. American Harvest is proudly handcrafted in small batches from organic American wheat, certified organic ingredients and water from deep beneath the Snake River Plain, yielding a distinctly smooth and silky spirit with a crisp, clean taste.


Distinct taste: American Harvest is organic vodka to which a proprietary blend of organic ingredients has been added, creating a truly unique vodka specialty. It’s a revolutionary way to look at the vodka category. The addition of these ingredients results in a distinctive, smooth, clean and crisp character.
American made: American Harvest is handcrafted in small batches from organic winter wheat grown on a family owned and sustainably managed American farm, and from water from aquifers deep beneath the Snake River plain.
Quality: American Harvest has been developed with great care for the quality, organic nature and sustainable growing practices of all of its ingredients. It has no artificial additives or preservatives. The American Harvest Distillery located in Rigby, Idaho is independently owned and operated and is USDA Certified Organic.

Why Organic?
Organic is a symbol of a premium, quality product and is a point of differentiation in spirits.
US sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $24.8 billion in 2009 and are continuing to rise at a rate of over 5% per year.
How is American Harvest Supporting the Environment?
Sustainable agriculture: The producers of American Harvest support sustainable agriculture by using organic materials and an organic production process.
Wind power: The American Harvest Distillery supports renewable energy. One-third of the monthly electrical consumption at the distillery comes from local wind generated power. Additionally, unused materials from the distillation process are used as cattle feed along with most of the water.
Recyclable glass: The American Harvest bottle manufacturer is dedicated to a sustainable development approach and to preserving natural resources through the efficient use of raw materials, water and energy. American Harvest bottles are 100% recyclable and are coated and decorated with organic inks and water-soluble varnishes.





Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey


Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey...$17.99 / 750ml
Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey...$1.89 / 50ml


"Jacob's Ghost is not moonshine or un-aged white dog.  It's special white whiskey, aged for at least one in year white oak barrels and crafted with over 200 years of Beam Tradition.  Enjoy it the way you would a bourbon, or mixed like a clear spirit, in short, drink it any damn way you please"

Stillwater 4 pks!!!



Much better price than the 750ml!!!
bottled on date of 2/19/13

 in stock at Forsyth now
Stillwater Stateside Saison....$9.99 / 4pk
Rated 97 on RateBeer

"Stateside Saison pays homage to old world tradition while celebrating new world innovation. Naturally brewed with the finest European malts & fresh aromatic hops from the United States & New Zealand. It’s then fermented using a classic farmhouse ale yeast and bottle conditioned to enhance stability. The outcome is a beer of unique design and exquisite taste, showcasing some of the best attributes of modern-day craft brewing."
Product info: Stateside Saison
Style: Saison, refermentation in bottle
Alcohol Content: 6.8%/vol

Goose Island Fleur 2010

We just received a case of 2010 Goose Island Fleur

2010 Goose Island Fleur....$6.99 / 22oz
Brewmasters Notes: 
A Belgian style pale ale blended with hibiscus and kombucha tea, Fleur is a beautiful, rose-colored ale with an aroma of strawberries and hibiscus flowers. Her flavor balance starts with a hint of sweet, ripe berry and finishes tart.


Recipe Information:

Style: Belgian Style Pale Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 7.0%
International Bitterness Units: 32
Color: Rose
Hops: Super Styrian, Styrian Golding, Saaz
Malt: 2-Row, Caramel, Sugar


Serving Suggestions:
Preferred Glass: Wide Mouth Glass



Thursday, March 7, 2013

Big time 2010 Bordeaux



2010 Chateau Haut Bailly Pessac-Leognan...$213.99
Deep plum/purple, Haut-Bailly’s 2010 required some coaxing to appreciate its subtle notes of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and creme de cassis as well as its touches of pomegranate and forest floor. The oak is pushed far into the background and the tannins are extremely silky, but the intensity of the wine is profound and the finish lingers for close to 55 seconds. This wine is ripe yet delicate, powerful yet stylish, and essentially resembles a remarkable fashion design from a house of haute couture. This wine needs a good 7-8 years of bottle age and should keep for 40-50+ years. 

Rated 98/100 The Wine Advocate
Chewy and brambly, but integrated, this carries a very hefty core of espresso, ganache, mulled plum and blackberry fruit. The purity starts to shine through on the finish, which drips with cassis and is threaded with a long warm paving stone note. Tight and backward today, this extremely well-built wine will need substantial cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2035. –JM
Rated 95/100 The Wine Spectator
Wow. What a superb nose of blackberries, flowers and licorice. Full bodied, with a powerful palate of super rich fruit yet bright tannins and loads of blackberries and ctirus on the finish. This is really structural with amazing purity of fruit. It is so direct and powerful. Chic brick house of a wine. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Rated 96/100 James Suckling

Marilyn Monroe Strawberry Vodka


NEW!
Three Olives Marilyn Monroe Strawberry Vodka...$14.99 / 750ml


click here for recipes

Big score, low price

In stock at Forsyth



2011 Chapoutier Occultum Lapidem...$24.99
Although these wines are normally reviewed by my colleagues David Schildknect in his Languedoc-Roussillon and Alsace reports and Lisa Perrotti-Brown in her reviews of Australian wines, I tasted them during my visit with Chapoutier, so I will include them in this report as they are of high quality and merit attention. I will just list the wines, my score, and the region from which they emerge.
Rated 94-96/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

4 Hands Brewing Co. News!!!!


Time to get excited!



I am told we the 4 Hands Brewing Bona Fide Stout aged in a Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey barrel will be bottled this month!  It went in barrel back on February 13, 2012 -- OVER A YEAR in barrel about 13 months.  4 Hands did not want to release it before it is ready.  "We will sell no wine [ or beer] before its time" -- Orson Wells for Paul Masson


Barrel Aged Bona Fide Stout with Espresso Coffee and Vanilla Beans
It is a barrel aged version of this beer....
"Bona Fide Imperial Stout is a collaborative effort with Goshen Coffee, a local fair trade coffee roaster. This beer is big, bold, and in your face. Bona Fide pours black as night with a smooth mouth feel. Aromas of espresso, dark chocolate, roasted malt, with nuances of vanilla. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years. 9% Alc/Vol 65 IBU's"


Same beer aged in two different barrels...
Barrel - Elijah Craig 12yr Old  Bourbon 
Date filled: Filled on February 13, 2012
Date bottled: Elijah Craig barrel bottled October 1, 2012
Cases produced: 228
Status: Beer released and sold out

Barrel - Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey 
Date filled: Filled on February 13, 2012
Date Bottled: soon (going to be about 13 months in barrel)
Cases produce:  ?
Status: soon to be released

As soon as we get a confirmed bottling date, we will set the date for the release party.  I saved some of the other beers for the release party!
The release party will include a tasting of all three!!!!! 
(only the Dry Fly version will be available for sale)
  1. "regular" 4 Hands Bona Fide Stout 
  2. Elijah Craig Barrel Aged 4 Hands Bona Fide Stout 
  3. Dry Fly Barrel Aged 4 Hands Bona Fide Stout 


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

This week's recipe



Prosciutto Arancini
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Italian by Michele Scicolone (Oxmoor House, 2007). 


Try this recipe with these two wines....
2011 Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio
2009 Villa Antinori Toscana


Arancini means “little oranges,” which is exactly what these round, deep-fried rice croquettes look like when they are lifted from the hot oil. They are served as snack food in bars and cafés all over Sicily.

Ingredients: 
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 
  • 1 cup medium-grain white rice such as Arborio ***
  • 1 Tbs. unsalted butter 
  • Pinch of sea salt     ***
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese     ***
  • 1 whole egg, plus 1 egg yolk     ***
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 
  • 2 cups fine dried bread crumbs (I prefer panko for added crunch)     ***
  • 3 egg whites     ***
  • 2 oz. prosciutto, chopped     ***
  • 2 oz. Sottocenere with Truffle *** grated medium on a box grater (the original recipe calls for mozzarella but the Sottocenere adds a deep earthy flavor from the truffles while maintaining the soft melted texture of the mozzarella)
  • Olive or canola oil for deep-frying     ***
 *** In stock at The Wine and Cheese Place

In a saucepan over high heat, bring the broth to a boil. Stir in the rice, butter and salt. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.

Transfer the rice to a bowl and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Let cool slightly, then stir in the whole egg and egg yolk. Let cool completely.
Spread the flour on a dinner plate, and spread the bread crumbs on a separate plate. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg whites until blended. 

In a small bowl, mix together the prosciutto and sottocenere, moisten your hands with water. Scoop up 1/4 cup of the rice mixture and place it in the cupped palm of one hand. Flatten out the mixture slightly and place a good pinch of the prosciutto-sottocenere mixture in the center. Shape the rice into a ball. Roll the ball in the flour, and then in the egg whites to coat completely. Finally, roll the ball in the bread crumbs and place on a rack. Continue with the remaining ingredients to make roughly 12 balls total. Rinse your hands frequently to prevent the rice from sticking to them (this is important to be able to shape the arancini). Let dry on the rack for at least 15 minutes before frying, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.


Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 200°F. Line a large baking sheet with paper towels and set it next to the stove, in order to keep the cooked arancini warm while frying the rest. Pour the olive oil to a depth of 3 inches into a deep, heavy fry or sauce pan and heat to 375°F on a deep-frying thermometer. The oil must cover the balls by at least 1 inch so they will cook evenly and not burst.

Using a slotted spoon or wire skimmer, gently lower a few of the rice balls into the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry until golden brown and crisp all over, about 2 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the arancini to the prepared baking sheet, sprinkle with sea salt while hot and place in the oven to keep warm. Fry the remaining arancini in the same way, allowing the oil to return to the original frying temperature before adding the next batch.

Serve warm with sauce of your choice, I enjoy the Rustichella d’abruzzo Napoletana sauce with these arancini.


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout


Back in stock - just arrived today!

I am told this the last batch of the season!



4 Hands Brewing Chocolate Milk Stout...$6.99 / 22oz
"Our Chocolate milk stout pours black as the night sky with aromas of dark chocolate, chocolate malt, and more chocolate.  With a frothy tan head and a rich velvety mouthfeel our Chocolate milk stout is a perfect addition to the change of seasons.  Brewed with over 3 pounds of cocoa nibs per barrel this beer is a chocolate lovers dream!" -- label

NEW - Abita Spring IPA

Abita Spring IPA...$7.99 / 6 pk
Spring IPA (March-May) is a West Coast-style IPA with an up-front intense hop flavor and aroma. Amarillo and Centennial hops give the brew a rich and resinous flavor of citrus and spice. This bright pale ale has a malt sweetness that will give way to a pleasant bitter. It pairs well with Mexican or spicy Szechwan Chinese food. Spring IPA is a nice accompaniment for cheeses with strong flavors, like sharp cheddar or goat cheese.


Beer Profile
ABV 6.25%
IBU 65




New limited Glen Grant Scotch


The Major's Reserve
Glen Grant The Major's Reserve Single Malt...$31.99
Inspired by James ‘The Major’ Grant, this easy drinking single malt is the most fresh and light of the Glen Grant range. Creamy and fruity on the palate it has a slightly dry, nutty finish.
The Major’s Reserve, 40%
“Balance and quality nothing short of superb.”
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2008
Tasting notes
Appearance
Light, golden colour

Bouquet
Soft, slightly dry with a delicate apple/fruity note

Palate
Creamy, fruity

Finish
Slightly dry, nutty

Whisky style
Rich, smooth, fruity Single Malt whisky with a hint of spice

Cask type
Matures in Bourbon casks

Distillery
Glen Grant Distillery, Rothes, Morayshire, Speyside



Monday, March 4, 2013

New from New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA

Brand new!!! Imperial IPA!!!
Just arrived at Forsyth



New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA...$8.99 / 6pk
STORY
A burly and bitter Imperial IPA, Rampant pours a pure copper and carries the sheen of a rightly hopped beer. The Mosaic and Calypso hops bring stonefruit to the front seat, and the addition of Centennials nod towards citrus for a well-rounded aroma.

The taste expands these hops with heavy peach tones and a profoundly bitter bite. There is some malt sweetness to stand this beer up, and Rampant’s finish is bone-dry.

BEER FACTS
Birthdate: February, 2013
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 85
Calories: 230
Hops: Mosaic, Calypso, Centennial
Malts: Pale, Black
Fruits/Spice: Lemon Peel
  • Body: Medium-Light
  • Aroma: Prominent lemon citrus and floral hop aroma and flavor including some nice dry-hopped fresh grass and spicy pine notes.
  • Mouthfeel: Warmth from alcohol is present but not conspicuous. Nice dry finish from carbonation and glass full of bitter hops.
  • Flavor: Hint of sweetness in the background from malt, the rest is a story of ambitious but not overwhelming bitterness.
  • Visual: Golden with solid white foam and a slight hop sheen.

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