Perfect Father's Day Gift - Glenlivet Tasting Kit

Can you say perfect for Father's Day!

The Glenlivet Tasting Kit....$44.99

Includes a bottle each...

Glenlivet 12 year Old 200ml

Glenlivet 15 year Old 200ml

Glenlivet 18 year Old 200ml

Magnum Single Hop beer

Hermitage Brewing Single Hop MAGNUM...$5.99 / 22oz

German Magnum hops are a high alpha acid hop believed to have low flavor and aromatic qualities. Because of this, Magnum hops are prized for the “clean” bitterness they impart to beers and are typically used just for bittering. Here at HBC, we wanted to challenge this preconception and see what qualities Magnum imparts when used in late hop additions and in dry hopping. Lead Brewer Greg Filippi had this to say:

Our Magnum IPA showcases the trademark bitterness of the variety at about 70 IBUs, but doesn’t stop there. Our hearty dry hopping lends a beautifully sweet, fruity aroma almost like juicy fruit gum, with evergreen notes reminiscent of pine or maybe fir trees.

Magnum is now available. Visit our Where to Buy page to find locations that sell HBC craft beers.7% ABV / 70 IBUs

Virgile is back!!

This has been one of our best selling and most exciting new wineries

that we picked up about a year ago.

Chateau Virgile is a family-owned domaine is managed by two brothers, Serge and Thierry Baret in the Costières de Nîmes (which starting in 2004, is now part of the Cotes du Rhone)

2010 Chateau Virgile Costières de Nîmes Blanc...$11.99

Blend: Marsanne 40%, Roussanne 40%, and Viognier 20%

Tasting Notes: Château Virgile’s white is truly a classic Rhône blend. The Roussanne, with peach and apricot flavors, gives the wine weight, texture, and body. Next, the Marsanne adds lively acidity, a hint of minerality, and citrus fruit flavors. Finally, the Viognier adds tropical fruit flavors to the wine, as well as beautiful, floral aromatics. This is a great wine for just about any type of shellfish, especially seared scallops.

2010 Chateau Virgile Costières de Nîmes Rouge...$11.99 

Blend: Syrah 60%, Grenache 30%, and Mourvèdre 10%

Tasting Notes: This is a rich and intense Costières de Nîmes dominated by Syrah fruit in the blend. In the nose black fruit mixes with garrigue spice. The mouth is full of black raspberry, black cherry, cassis, and white pepper. This wine shows an extraordinary amount of character and complexity for a entry-level Costières de Nîmes.

Technical Notes: This wine really shows off the great terroir at Château Virgile. The vines, situated at the edge of a plateau in very deep gravel, produce dark, concentrated wines. The Château Virgile Rouge does not spend any time in oak and is aged exclusively in tank. It is lightly fined and filtered before bottling.

ROSE for the first time

2012 Chateau Virgile Costières de Nîmes Rose...$11.99 

Grenache 90%, Syrah 10%

Technical Notes: The grapes are hand-harvested at night to preserve their freshness, and then 100% de-stemmed before undergoing a short 12-hour maceration in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Beginning in 2009 Serge and Thierry have progressively increased the percentage of Grenache from 60% to 80%, and now to 90%. The result is dramatic. Though they have always made elegant, balanced rosés, the wines have become increasingly 

perfumed and silky. 

Tasting Notes: Delicate aromas of wild strawberry and red cherry dominate the nose of this beautiful rosé. The wine is bright pink with a tinge of fuchsia in the glass. The strawberry and cherry notes carry through to the mouth, where they are complemented with hints of red raspberry and refreshing minerality. Château Virgile produces a very versatile rosé, crisp enough to drink on its own, but flavorful enough for a meal

97 Point Tuscan

2009 Petrolo Galatrona....$65.00 net

We are the lowest price on Wine-Searcher

Amazing aromas of black truffles, crushed blackberries and dark chocolate. Dried flowers too. Full-bodied, with wonderful fruit that is layered and gorgeous. The finish is fruity, long and stylish. Give it three years to come together. Best after 2013.

Rated 97/100 James Suckling

Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

Father's Day Beer Gift Set!

We got in our new gift boxes - so far only at Forsyth.

In stock now

Microbrewery Collection....$15.99 / 8 bottle box

We only make a few at a time to keep them fresh unlike the big chains.  We put in beers that you want and you want to give as gifts.  Beers will not necessarily  be the ones in the picture.

click here to order online to pick up

Recipe of the Week : Linguini Puttanesca

Linguini Puttanesca
A friend of mine mentioned the other day that he wanted to create a phone app that allowed you to enter the contents of your fridge and the app would come up with a list of recipes that you can make given what you already have on hand. I feel like I am that app (my fridge though is The Wine and Cheese Place so at least the wine pairing always works) at least once a week as I look around the store trying to figure out what I can bring home to make a quick and tasty dinner for our family.   I decided to make a departure from my standard weekday dinners this week and make a puttanesca, simple as can be, just a bit of chopping and boiling water for the noodles, the results were favorable. Enjoy!

• 1 Can San Marzano Crushed Tomatoes 28oz   ***
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped    ***
• 2 tablespoons drained bottled capers, chopped    ***
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 anchovy fillets, patted dry and finely chopped      ***
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes*(optional not a big hit with my kids)
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar      ***
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil     ***
• 1 lb dried linguine      ***
• ½ Cup Grated Reggiano Parmesan Cheese    ***

 *** Available at The Wine and Cheese Place

Preparation:Simply combine all ingredients other than the linguine in a large bowl (large enough to add cooked pasta) and mix, once the pasta is boiled add hot pasta plus 1/3 cup pasta water to bowl and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with grated Parmesan.

Wine Education - Grape : Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Tasting at all FOUR locations

Taste a few wines made from Sauvignon Balnc at all four of our locations this Saturday, June 8 from 11am-4pm.

 (each store will also have other wines out to taste)

A little more education: We are going to try to feature either a grape or a wine region each week at our stores. We will give you some background information on the grape or region and feature a wine that highlights what we are featuring. We will taste that wine on Saturday at all four of our locations. We will post it here in our blog and send it out in our emails - click here to sign up for our emails

I have started a new label "Education" that you can hit to read all the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels".

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

image from Wikipedia

Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc’s roots, pun intended, are in France’s Bordeaux region where it is used to make both dry crisp wines and the great sweet wines of Sauternes.   In fact, Sauvignon Blanc was crossed with Cabernet Franc to create the grape we now most associate with Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon. Though still important to the production of White Wine in Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc’s influence has spread not just throughout France, being the dominate varietal grown in the Loire Valley, but in fact the world. This is no more evident than in the wine industry of New Zealand where Sauvignon Blanc has become synonymous with the idea of New Zealand winemaking. This thin skinned grape does take a deft hand to handle its intense aromatics and flavors, but when done correctly Sauvignon Blanc can be a wonderful expression of place, whether that place be France, California, New Zealand, or even Chile. Come try Sauvignon Blanc from all over the world this weekend, you are sure to find a favorite summer wine.

New Zealand: Kim Crawford
California: Sonoma Coast Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Loire, France: Chateau de Sancerre 

Perennial Plan B with Half Acre!

In stock now and online

Perennial Artisan Ales Collaboration with Half Acre of Chicago, IL -- 

Perennial / Half Acre Plan B...$11.99 / 750ml
Plan B! Plan B will be a sour mash Belgian Dark Ale with Black Currants.

Stone Enjoy By IPA

In stock now at Forsyth.  Each of our stores should get some today.

• We are not taking online reservations as we want to sell it FRESH and let as many people get it today!
• 
  
• If you are coming today to Forsyth you can call 314.727.8788 to reserve some.   We will hold it for 2 hours from your call time.  That way you do not have to race over here just to find out it is gone.
• 
  
• If there is some left, I will post online reservations tomorrow Morning (Saturday), still with a shorter pick up window.

Stone Enjoy By 07.04.13 IPA...$6.49 / 22oz

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 9.4%

Bottling On: 05.31.13

Enjoy By Date: 07.04.13

You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - we've taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA.

On twitter, make sure you tweet to @StoneBrewingCo and add the hashtag #EnjoyBy #MO 
This will keep us in the running for more batches.

New batch of Twisted Pine beers...

In stock at Forsyth and online

Now in CANS!

Twisted Pine Hoppy Boy IPA....$9.99 / 4pk (16oz CANS)
Style: American IPA 

IBU’s: 65 Hops – Cascade, Northern Brewer, Chinook

ABV: 6.2Hoppy Boy India Pale Ale is the flagship beer of Twisted Pine. It pours a hazy pale orange and has a dry, tart taste with an earthy bitterness. Pleasant grapefruit and citrus notes are provided by the addition of Cascade hops. This classic American IPA is brewed with medium caramel malts that play off the citrus and orange rind hop flavors to make this beer most enjoyable.

Twisted Pine La Petite Saison...$7.99 / 22oz

Availability: Summer Seasonal
La Petite Saison is a beautifully crafted beer brewed in the Belgian farmhouse style. The award-winning ale relies on Pilsener malt and white wheat, gently flattered with German Perle, Czech Saaz and American Willamette hops which add subtle, yet intricate flavoring to the beer. The Belgian yeast headlines the show, lacing palates with the delicate, floral esters for which the style is known. LPS is a smooth sipper with a crisp finish, and at 5.3% ABV skirts the upper range of session territory.
The yeasty notes in this saison make it a natural pairing for a variety of breads, cheeses and salads and it makes for a great backyard barbeque or watching the sun set over the Rocky Mountains.

Twisted Pine Hoppy Knight IBA...$8.99 / 22oz

In July of 2010, Twisted Pine Brewing Company celebrated its 15th anniversary by introducing a new member to the popular Hoppy family. A tribute to Gordon Knight, founder of Twisted Pine, Hoppy Knight pours black as midnight with citrusy, Cascadian hop notes floating up through the aroma. Carafa malt from Germany adds the inky color as well as the roasted notes that mingle with the hops in perfect balance and harmony. Originally intended to be a one-time commemorative brew, rave reviews and raging demand eventually forced the Twisted staff to reconsider, and we are now proud and pleased to offer this distinctive ale full-time. Enjoy Hoppy Knight at any time of year in any type of weather. This unique black brew is just as satisfying after an exhausting powder run down snow-laden mountain slopes as it is shielded from the hot summer sun by a large beach umbrella.

Twisted Pine Big Shot Espresso Stout

Style: Coffee Stout IBU’s: 30 Hops – Northern Brewer, East Kent Goldings

Rated a 95 on ratebeer.com. Big Shot is a favorite of many coffee-loving beer drinkers. This thick Stout is playfully infused with espresso in every pint. It pours jet black with a rich creamy brown head with wonderful roasted coffee and grainy malt aromas. The earthy, dark chocolate flavors of the espresso showcase the flawless balance of the beer.

Back in stock now!

Twisted Pine Ghost Face Killah....$3.39 / 12oz btl

Style: Chili Beer IBU’S: 10 Hops – Willamette, Northern Brewer ABV 5%
GFK is brewed with 6 zany peppers. Anaheim, Fresno, Jalapeno, Serrano, Habanero and Bhut Jolokia – Otherwise known as the Ghost Pepper. 200 times the heat of jalapenos, Bhut Jolokia are the hottest peppers in the world, a pepper so hot it can be weaponized. So hot that our brewers had to wear masks and gloves to cut them up. Aroma of smoked chillis fills the nose on first whiff, but don’t let it linger to long. Immediately on first taste GFK has a nice golden wheat flavor, but this is only for a fleeting moment before the temperature rises. Just hold on, the warmth of this beer will set in for a long spicy burn. There is only one finish on this beer – HEAT!

Food Pairing: Ice-cream or milk, because that is all that is going to help you with this brew.

Limited Distillers Edition scotches

In stock at Forsyth and online

Lagavulin Double Matured Special Release....$89.99
Distilled in 1996 : Bottled in 2012
Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine.
A really distinctive and distinguished dram, full of peat while the Pedro Ximinez sherry wood naturally has a big say; A more mellow Lagavulin, not quite as deep or intense as the 16 year old.

In stock at Forsyth and online
Cragganmore Speyside Double Matured....$57.99

Distilled 1998 : Bottled 2012Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine.
The complexity of Cragganmore prescribes an out of the ordinary choice for a second cask finish. However, port-wine casks provide the perfectly harmonious partner. Sweet and deeply fruity oak-smoked malt; a long, dry finish.

Summit Meridian Session Ale

In stock now, a new one from Summit.

I am told only about 32 cases came to STL on this one.

In stock at Forsyth and online

Summit Union Meridian Session Ale...$8.99 / 6pk

Summit kicks off the new limited-release Union Series with Meridian Session Ale. Inspired by Belgian Enkel (single) style ales. Drinkable yet distinctive. Simple in design yet complex in character. Brewed with a single malt, Concerto Pale, that’s a rising star in the UK and a new hop variety called Meridian that was actually discovered by accident in Oregon (more on that story below). Of course, we called it Meridian Session Ale for a reason. So don’t let the whole single-minded thing keep you from ordering another round.

Terrific spicy, floral lemon aroma and very clean bitterness from the Meridian hops. The Concerto malts provide great depth and a superb base of light toast.

Absolut Cilantro just arrived at Forsyth!

ABSOLUT CILANTRO is a contemporary new flavored vodka alive with aromatic cilantro and vibrant lime. Taking its inspiration from Latin American kitchens, ABSOLUT CILANTRO bursts onto the scene with a taste that’s smooth, fresh and unforgettable. Made from all natural flavors with no added sugar, it is versatile and easy to mix. Perfect for summer socializing.

Fresh, smooth and naturally sweet. The distinctively aromatic cilantro combines with playful notes of ripe, juicy limes, and finishes with a subtle hint of herbaceous spice. ABSOLUT only makes flavored vodka from all natural flavors. No added sugar. Low in calories..

ABSOLUT VODKA is the iconic premium vodka from one source. One source? Yes. That’s right. One source. One grain. One well. One distillery. One small Swedish town. And one exceptional vodka. Åhus is the name of the small Swedish village where it all began. The ABSOLUT origin. And nothing has changed. Åhus is still Åhus. The grain is still the finest. The well the deepest. The vodka the cleanest. How do we do it? How do we continuously achieve ABSOLUT perfection?

Take me to the source ...

Our ABSOLUT passion for perfection means that we do not triple distill. We do not even quadruple distill. No! We distill until the job is done. From the small Swedish town of Åhus, Lars Olsson Smith, the founder of ABSOLUT vodka, introduced the continuous distillation technique in 1879 with the herald of his creation ‘Absolut Rent Bränvin’ (Absolute Pure Vodka). L.O. wanted perfection. Yes. A pure, clean vodka made from the most natural of ingredients. So L.O. set out to make the perfect vodka. L.O. succeeded. Obviously. And ABSOLUT was born. (Thank you L.O. We love you).

AROMAPALATEFEEL & FINISHFruity. Aromatic. Herbal. With the unmistakable character of cilantro and vibrant notes of ripe, juicy lime. A naturally sweet and fresh blend of cilantro and lime with a subtle hint of spice. Vibrant. A fresh, smooth and balanced mouthfeel. Long fruity finish with a pleasing touch of herbaceous spice.

Long pour. Short pour. Straight up. Straight down. Doesn’t matter. It will be exceptional. Because we only make premium vodka of exceptional character that’s easy to mix. Smooth on its own. Straight forward with one ingredient. Or playful in a complex cocktail.

1 part ABSOLUT CILANTRO

3 parts Lemonade

Club Soda

Pour vodka and limeade over ice in a tall glass, and top up with soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel. 

2 parts ABSOLUT CILANTRO

1 part Fresh Lime Juice

3⁄4 part Triple Sec

Rim glass with chili powder or salt. Shake ingredients with ice, and strain into a chilled margarita glass. Garnish with a cilantro sprig.

Bourbon and Rye Tasting - New Ballas

Continuing our 2nd Anniversary Tastings at New Ballas.....

Bring your Father and let him pick out his own Father's Day present!   Make sure he gets something he wants.

Open House


Bourbon and Rye Tasting - NEW BALLAS location
Friday June 14 (5pm-7pm)

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon "TWCP Single Barrel" Edition
• Elijah Craig 12 Year Old "TWCP Single Barrel" Edition
• Blantons Bourbon "TWCP Single Barrel" Edition
• Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
• Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye
• Henry McKenna 10 Year Old
• Elmer T. Lee Bourbon

Rare Glenfiddich 21 year Old

Rare Glenfiddich 21 year Old

In stock and online

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva.....$139.99

Casks that once contained premium Caribbean rum are used to finish this expression, aged for 21 years. Four months in Gran Reserva barrels selected by our Malt Master, wrap this single malt whisky in distinct aromas and flavours.

An intense and vanilla sweet aroma, floral with hints of banana. And a soft, lively taste with lime, ginger and spice are followed by a complex and very long ending.

Our rum finish releases layers of intensity and sets this 21 Year Old apart from other whiskies.

Very Limited 40 Year Old Balvenie

In stock now at Forsyth and online

Only 1 bottle available -- we have bottle #33

Batch #7

The Balvenie 40 Year Old....$3799.99 / 750mlTo create Batch One of only 150 bottles of The Balvenie Forty, Malt Master David Stewart has skilfully married together small amounts of The Balvenie matured in 4 refill hogsheads and 3 sherry butts that have lain in our warehouses for at least forty years.

TASTING NOTESNOSE
Rich oak notes overlaid with baked apple, stewed fruits and soft leather. The addition of a little water releases sweet fruit notes and hints of vanilla.

TASTESilky texture delivers a beautifully mouth-coating sweetness and a spicy sensation of cloves, cinnamon and ginger. The flavour develops into a gentle oakiness with hints of dark chocolate, roasted almonds and sherried fruitiness.

FINISHRich, warming and slightly dry.

New SINGLE BARREL Balvenie

Order Balvenie online

The Balvenie 12 Year Old SINGLE BARREL First Fill...$64.99

We know you'll share our excitement about the launch of David Stewart's latest creation - The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel First Fill.

Bottled at a higher strength of 47.8% ABV, this unique spirit spends 12 years in first-fill Bourbon barrels before being filled into no more than 300 hand-numbered bottles per cask. And while no two casks are quite the same, David personally selects only those with the distinct honey, oak and vanilla notes characteristic of The Balvenie Single Barrel.

Like each of our expressions, the exceptional quality of the 12 Year Old Single Barrel begins with the unparalleled craftsmanship retained by our distillery. We proudly still grow and malt our own barley, employ a coppersmith and our own team of coopers to tend to our casks and have in our service the longest serving Malt Master in the industry.

We're proud to share a rare piece of our collection with you, and we hope that you'll make it a part of yours.

Slainte Mhath!

40 Year Old Bunnahabhain Single Malt Scotch

In stock now at Forsyth and online

2 bottles in stock
Only 1 bottle left
Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old....$2,999.99 / 750ml
We have bottle number 725 / 750
and bottle number 732 / 750
Only 750 bottles made of hand numbered.
which only 100 bottles will be available in the U.S.

The story of Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old begins in the north-eastern part of the isle of Islay, where this magnificent whisky lay quietly maturing for over four decades, until Master Distiller Ian MacMillan discovered the casks listed in the distillery ledgers.

This extraordinary journey of discovery is retraced through the label, which was specially created by renowned Scots illustrator Iain McIntosh.

From the water source at Margadale Spring to Bunnahabhain Distillery, from the ledgers to the turney casks, the illustration recounts the story of timeless passion and dedication which has gone into this truly exceptional whisky.

Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old is a one-off release of 750 individually-numbered and hand-signed bottles presented in bespoke packaging.