Willett Rye

Willett Rye - a little bit in stock at all 4 locations while supply lasts

Willett Family Estate Bottled Rye....$35.99 
55% Alc. By Vol. (110 Proof)
Color: Mahogany
Nose: Intensity – 3; A very nice nose @ 110 Proof. Spearmint, pine forest, benzoin, cinnamon, 
woody cologne
Palate: Light molasses notes, clean & crisp rye notes, more mint, salty mouthfeel, fresh linens, 
clean clothes; with water added it turns very creamy & elegant for a 110 Proof Whiskey
Finish: Length – 3; Spearmint, pepper, almonds, ginger
Overall Impressions: These rich, woodsy cologne notes on the nose followed by classic rye mint notes mixes with this fresh, clean, crisp, taste and mouthfeel with ample mint prevailing and an dreamy candy sweetness.

Evil Twin Hipster Ale in CANS

Evil Twin Hipster Ale...$8.49 / 4pk CANS

Perhaps you heard of a worldwide beer-movement that tributes favorite hipster neighbourhoods across the globe. First came Istedgade, Copenhagen then Södermalm, Stockholm followed by Williamsburg, New York and Shoreditch, London accompanied by Trastevere, Rome & last El Raval, Barcelona. If you feel excluded because you’re hip but your city is not, this cutting-edge, ‘hip without borders’ pale ale is an homage to you – the global hipster. Cheers!

Rated 94/100 RateBeer

Two vintages of Cepparello - both 95 points

In stock at Forsyth now

2009 Isole e Olena Cepparello...$64.99
The extraordinary 2010 Cepparello (100% Sangiovese aged up to 18 months in oak, one-third new) presents fine nuances of red berry, cherry, spice, tar, licorice, wet earth and forest leaf. The bouquet is very elegant but this wine delivers power too with tight structure that immediately wraps around the palate. Somewhere in the crossroads between tradition and modernity, Cepparello is a stunning wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. 
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate
A longtime favorite. Aromas of blueberries and flowers follow through to a full body, with soft and silky tannins and a ripe and rich finish. Lots going on here. Give it a year or two to come together. Pure Sangiovese. Best after 2014.
Rated 94/100 James Suckling

2010 Isole e Olena Cepparello...$64.99
The 2009 Cepparello is gorgeous. It brings together the radiance and ripeness of a warmer year with the medium-bodied structure of a cooler vintage. Today the 2009 is a bit reticent and appears headed for a period of dormancy. From time to time hints of its ultimate potential come through in attractive layers of dark red fruit. The rich, textured finish bodes well for the future. Paolo De Marchi describes 2009 as a year with a cold spring and a hot summer that also brought hail in early August. The 2009 Cepparello is clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate

Rated 93/100 James Suckling

Eat more nuts! New study...

Make sure you pick up some of The Wine and Cheese Place mixed nuts

• The Wine and Cheese Place nuts are dry roasted - no oils
• no preservatives
• roasted fresh in each of our stores.

Eating nuts 'may prolong life'
By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News
People who regularly eat nuts appear to live longer, according to the largest study of its kind.  The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggested the greatest benefit was in those munching on a daily portion.  The US team said nut eaters were likely to also have healthy lifestyles, but the nuts themselves were also contributing to their longer lifespan.  The British Heart Foundation said more research was needed to prove the link  The study followed nearly 120,000 people for 30 years. The more regularly people consumed nuts, the less likely they were to die during the study.  

People eating nuts once a week were 11% less likely to have died during the study than those who never ate nuts.
Up to four portions was linked to a 13% reduction in deaths and a daily handful of nuts cut the death rate during the study by 20%.

Lead researcher Dr Charles Fuchs, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital, said: "The most obvious benefit was a reduction of 29% in deaths from heart disease, but we also saw a significant reduction - 11% - in the risk of dying from cancer."  Eating nuts was linked to a healthier lifestyle - including being less likely to smoke or be overweight and more likely to exercise.  This was accounted for during the study, for example to eliminate the impact of smoking on cancer rates.  The researchers acknowledge that this process could not completely account for all of the differences between those regularly eating nuts and those not.   However, they said it was "unlikely" to change the results.  They suggest nuts are lowering cholesterol, inflammation and insulin resistance.
Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This study shows an association between regularly eating a small handful of nuts and a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease.  "While this is an interesting link, we need further research to confirm if it's the nuts that protect heart health, or other aspects of people's lifestyle.  "Nuts contain unsaturated fats, protein and a range of vitamins and minerals and make a good swap for snacks like chocolate bars, cakes and biscuits.  "Choosing plain, unsalted options rather than honeyed, salted, dry-roasted or chocolate-covered will keep your salt and sugar intake down."  The study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation.

Also reported on NPR - read more

Great value from Tuscany

In stock and online

2010 Il Molino de Grace Toscana Il Volano....$15.99
Showing depth to the cherry, raspberry, licorice and spice flavors, this red is balanced and well-structured, with a lingering finish of fruit and spice. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2018. 5,000 cases made. –BS
Rated 90/100 The Wine Spectator

Foie Gras and Duck Fat

In stock at our Forsyth location in the freezer next to the deli case.

Raisin River Foie Gras

Farbrique Delices Rendered Duck Fat

Better than butter ! Use rendered duck fat to make your own confit and to sauté potatoes and vegetables.

Great Value in Chardonnay

Great Chardonnay on sale now

2011 Cartlidge and Brown Chardonnay...$9.99

French in style with an elegant minerality and complexity combined with the slightest caramel and brown sugar notes. Aromas of a green apples medley and more floral honeysuckle lead to a palate that is both silky and alive. Welcome flavors of honey and baked bread from sur lees aging while maintaining a delicious fruit profile and Meyer lemon cake.

Very versatile. This wine is so well balanced with excellent acidity that it will perfectly pair with a number of foods. Will be particularly delicious with an aromatic roasted chicken cooked with lemons, garlic and herbs. Or try with a range of seafood dishes, grilled chicken, pork or veal.

"The question that begs to be answered is why so many producers ignore what Cartlidge and Browne does better than just about anybody else in the state – produce fruit forward, pure, varietally correct, delicious wines.”- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Price good through November 30, 2013

Spaten

Spaten is slowly coming back -- just a few in stock now.

Ola Dubh 30th Anniversary Limited Ale

Very limited - just received 12 more bottels
In stock at Forsyth and online

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30 year Anniversary...$13.99 / 11oz
Aged in 30 Year Highland Park Casks
Rated 99 percentile on RateBeer

"Ola Dubh (or ‘Black Oil’) is a collaboration between Harviestoun Brewery and Highland Park, Distiller of the Year*. It is based on Harviestoun’s award-winning Old Engine Oil. With more than a stylistic nod to the classic Imperial Porters (and Stouts) of the nineteenth century, this deliciously rich, dark, 8% a.b.v. beer is the first ale to be aged in malt whisky casks from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, the rest with genuine provenance. Ola Dubh will initially be available in three different expressions; the initial release will be of small batches aged in casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 12 Year Old, Highland Park 16 Year Old and Highland Park 30 Year Old. Further variants are planned for the future. Ola Dubh is, in the words of beer aficionado Owen D.L. Barstow: “The most interesting new British beer I have tried in years.” Retaining the appearance of used motor oil from which the beer gets its name, it is deep dark brown, dense and oily. On the nose there are notes of true oil and cocoa as well as faint smoke and heathery peat from the whisky casks. Although lighter in body that its appearance suggests, Ola Dubh is pithy, oily, salty and bitter on the palate. The finish is exceptional; burnt and bitter notes with an interplay of late hop characters, orange oil, fruity tartness and then delicate, fragrant smoke." -- importer

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Back in stock - fresh batch bottles 10/24

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale...$8.99 / 6pk
Festive fresh hop holiday fun.The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada.

Anchor 2013 Christmas Ale is here

Just arrived at Forsyth!

Anchor Christmas Ale 2013....$11.99 / 6pk

Anchor Christmas Ale 2013...$16.99 / magnum

2013 Anchor Christmas Ale. New tree. New recipe. Same traditions.

Every year since 1975 the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. Our tree for 2013 is the California White Fir. It was hand drawn by local artist James Stitt, who has been creating Christmas Ale labels for us since 1975.

Not everyone who came to California in 1849 came in search of gold. A few came in search of trees. English botanist William Lobb was one such plant hunter. As a collector of California’s exotic flora for English nurseries, Lobb (born in East Cornwall in 1809; died in San Francisco in 1864) was responsible for the introduction of fifty-eight species of California plants to English gardens, including Giant Sequoia and California White Fir.

Each year our Christmas Ale gets a unique label and a unique recipe. Although our recipes must remain a secret, many save a few bottles from year to year. Properly refrigerated, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years. Different nuances emerge as the flavor mellows slightly, much like the memories of great holiday seasons past. Celebrate the holidays with Anchor Christmas Ale, an Anchor tradition since 1975.

Tallgrass mix 8 pack!

Tallgrass Mix Pack...$15.99 / 8 Cans

The new Tallgrass 8 pack is in stock and includes the new ....

Tallgrass Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat

Urban Chestnut Mix Pack

In stock now at The Wine and Cheese Place Forsyth

That’s right, St. Louis! Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is releasing another sampler pack featuring Fall flavors. Besides finding two bottles each of Winged Nut Chestnut Ale and Zwickel Unfiltered Bavarian Lager inside, you’ll also find two bottles each of our Dorfbier Munich Dunkel and our Pilgrim 7 Seven Grain Pale Ale.

Here is some info of the two new beers in the pack

Urban Chestnut Reverence Series #3 Dorfbier Dunkel Lager

"Some refer to the Dunkel style as the original bier of Munich and its surrounding villages (Dorfer).  This everyday beer ranges in color and sweetness depending on the amount of Munich and roasted malts used.  The sweetness of the malt is then balanced by the use of another Bavarian friend...the Hallertau hop...in this specific case, Hersbrucker, grown near Wolnzach, Halltertau.  Prost!" - label

Urban Chestnut Revolution Series #7 Pilgrim 7 Grain Ale

"Harvesters rejoice!  IN celebration of the seasons of "Reap" and Thanks" we introduce this bounty for your table - a sessionable ale brewed with seven (that's right, seven) different grains; Oats, Sorghum, Wheat, Barley, Rice, Corn, and Rye.  The result...a tasty, "cornucopia of flavors" ale.  Prost!" - label

Barrel Aged 2nd Shift LSD

Just filled by 2nd Shift Brewing

11/21/13

plus

= delicious in a few months!

Stay tuned for the next batch of Bourbon Barrel Aged LSD 

at The Wine and Cheese Place

Nouveau time!

2013 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau...$8.49

net, no case discount.

2013 Bouchard Beaujolais Nouveau...$8.99

Dom Perignon - Limited Edition

In stock now at Forsyth and online

2004 Dom Perignon Champagne Jeff Koons Artist Edition...$199.99
There's a sense of tension paired with grace in this deftly balanced version, with a rich and smoky vein of minerality underscoring the flavors of poached apple, honey, financier and sun-dried black cherry, showing hints of roasted almond, coffee liqueur and ground spice. Drink now through 2029. –AN
Rated 95/100 The Wine Spectator

For more info on Jeff Koons - visit Artsy

From jeffkoons.com
Jeff Koons was born in York, Pennsylvania in 1955. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1976. Koons lives and works in New York City.

Koons’s work is in numerous public collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY), the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY), the Guggenheim Museum (New York, NY), Los Angeles County Museum (Los Angeles, CA), The Broad Art Foundation (Santa Monica, CA), The National Gallery (Washington, DC), Hirshhorn Museum (Washington, DC), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, CA), Tate Gallery (London, UK), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Museum Ludwig (Köln, Germany), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan).

Koons earned renown for his public sculptures, such as the monumental floral sculpture Puppy (1992), shown at Rockefeller Center and permanently installed at the Guggenheim Bilbao. Another floral sculpture, Split-Rocker (2000), was installed at the Papal Palace in Avignon and at the Palace of Versailles.

Jeff Koons held major exhibitions at public institutions in 2008 including a large survey at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Celebration sculptures shown on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, and an exhibition at the Palace of Versailles which opened its doors to a living artist for the first time with Jeff Koons: Versailles. Koons presented the Popeye series at the Serpentine Gallery in 2009, and Artist Rooms, a collection of contemporary art jointly owned by the Tate and the National Gallery of Scotland, toured until 2011. Last year, Fondation Beyeler hosted Koons's first solo exhibition in a Swiss Museum with works from The New, Banality and Celebration. In addition, concurrent exhibitions opened last June in Frankfurt where Koons's paintings were presented at Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt while his sculptures were shown with works from the Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung permanent collection. Currently, Koons's work is in two separate solo exhibitions in New York on view until June 29th: New Paintings and Sculpture at Gagosian Gallery and Gazing Ball at David Zwirner Gallery.

Jeff Koons has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his cultural achievements. Most recently, the Royal Academy of Arts presented Koons with the John Singleton Copley Award, Koons received The Governor’s Awards for the Arts Distinguished Arts Award and President Jacques Chirac promoted Koons to Officier de la Legion d’Honneur.

Limited Realm Cellars

The rare and limited Realm Cellars....

In stock and online

2010 Realm Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon...$178.99
The finest fruit purchased by Realm Cellars goes into the Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon cuvee. The deep ruby/purple-hued 2010 boasts plenty of blue and black fruits along with hints of incense and violets, full body and beautiful purity, texture and length. The tannins, oak, acidity and alcohol are all well-integrated in this beauty. It should provide enjoyment over the next 10-15 years.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

2010 Realm Cellars Farella Cabernet Sauvignon ...$119.99

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard is fresh, perfumed and totally beautiful. Tobacco, freshly cut flowers and sweet red berries take shape in the glass. The Farella is unquestionably gorgeous, but this site doesn’t have the pure pedigree of the other single-vineyard wines in the range. The cool energy of Coombsville comes through on the focused, delineated finish. A dollop of Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
Rated 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

2010 Realm Cellars The Tempest Proprietary Red....$89.99
Shows muscle behind the rich aromas and flavors, with complex notes of cherry, black olive, mocha and mineral blending with a firm backbone of acidity and tannins. Hands off for now. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2015 through 2020. 305 cases made. –TF
Rated 92/100 The Wine Spectator

The 2010 Red Wine The Tempest is beautifully focused and vibrant. Sweet red cherries, flowers, spices and a hint of tobacco take shape in this focused, beautifully delineated wine. This is an unusually vibrant Merlot-based red for Napa Valley. In 2010, the balance and overall sense of harmony are first-rate. This is a gorgeous, entry-level wine from Realm. The blend is 64% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.
Rated 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Bear Republic - good news and bad news

Bear Republic Brewing Co. 
Bear Republic Racer 5 - Fresh bottled October 30


Good news:  We have fresh Racer 5 back in stock!
Bad news: this could be the last shipment for awhile.  They are pulling out of Missouri again.   Due to demand and a California water shortage.

Holiday Ales...

Stop by Forsyth and check out our Holiday Ales in stock

Back in stock...

Beers back in stock at Forsyth....

• New Belgium Lips of Faith Hop Kitchen Fresh Hop
• New Belgium Lips of Faith Le Terroir
• Lagunitas Brown Shugga'
• Bells Double Cream Stout
• Boulevard Nut Cracker
• Summit Extra Pale
• Tallgrass Zombie Monkie Porter

New...
Summit Unchained Series Biere de Garde

2011 Port scores big...

Limited - in stock now at Forsyth

314.727.8788

2011 Croft Vintage Port....$39.99 / 375ml
Effusively juicy, rich and concentrated, showing plenty of snap to the crisp and well-spiced flavors of wild berry, dark currant and plum tart. Orange-infused chocolate notes linger on the exotic, mocha-filled finish. Best from 2020 through 2045. 5,000 cases made. –KM
Rated 97/100 The Wine Spectator
Rated 92-95/100 The Wine Advocate

2011 Dow Vintage Port...$39.99 / 375ml
Powerful, refined and luscious, with a surplus of dark plum, kirsch and cassis flavors that are unctuous and long. Shows plenty of grip, presenting a long, full finish, filled with Asian spice and raspberry tart accents. Rich and chocolaty. One for the ages. Best from 2030 through 2060. 5,000 cases made. –KM
Rated 99/100 The Wine Spectator
Rated 96-98/100 The Wine Advocate


2011 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port...$94.99 / 750ml
Powerful, featuring concentrated dark plum and spicy cherry flavors that are finely balanced, showing notes of raspberry preserves. The mocha and wild herb accents are interwoven and supported by powerful tannins. The finish offers intense grip and violet hints. Best from 2020 through 2045. –KM
Rated 97/100 The Wine Spectator
Rated 96-98/100 The Wine Advocate


2011 Fonseca Vintage Port...$94.99 / 750ml
The Fonseca 2011 is typically more forthcoming on the nose compared to the bashful Croft: a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce. It is very well-defined, very focused and direct. The palate is silky smooth with not a rough edge in sight, though not a typically voluptuous Fonseca because of the keen thread of acidity and the structure that lends this mighty Port wonderful backbone. A slight viscosity on the finish lacquers the tongue and indicates a core of sweet fruit is ticking away underneath that will surely explode several years after bottling. A tincture of salted licorice on the aftertaste is very attractive. This will turn out to become an outstanding Fonseca, the growing season taming its exuberance with spectacular results. So much potential, but just 6,000 cases were produced. Tasted May 2013.
Rated 97-99/100 The Wine Advocate

2011 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port...$99.99 / 750ml
The 2011 Quinta do Noval has wonderful precision on the nose with blackberry, cassis, intriguing flinty notes and a whiff of smoke. It might not possess the power of the Nacional but it has freshness to spare. That comes through on the beautifully composed palate, which is underpinned by fine tannins that lend it a silky smooth mouthfeel. There is real intensity here, but it is very controlled with superb minerality on the finish. Excellent. Tasted May 2013.
Rated 94-96/100 The Wine Advocate

Word on allocated beers....

Reminder on allocated beers like Abraxas - you have 7 days to pick up or it goes back out for sale.


Overall, things have been going smoothly.  There are so many good beers available now that if you miss one, there always seems to be another beer coming.

We will continue to try to mix up the releases with different methods to give different people a chance to get the beers.

• In store pick up only
• Online reservations
• Might just announce release on Twitter only
• Might just announce release on Facebook only
• Might just announce release via Beer Email only
• Also, might not announce a release and just throw some on the shelf with out notice of their arrival to reward regular shoppers.

Important note:  Many regulars have found out that you will sometimes find left over goodies on the shelf.  When I do the online reservations, it happens so fast and furious that I have to turn it off guessing when it is all sold out.  Generally I end up with a little extra.  I don't announce it, I just put it on the shelf a few days later for people to find.   Don't come asking at the store, you will just have to find them on the shelf.  Yes, some people actually scored some Perennial Abraxas on the shelf after the release.  

Happy Holidays!!

New - 2011 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Reserve

2011 just arrived....in stock and online

2011 Mer Soleil Chardnnnay Reserve SLH....$27.99

"For the 2011 we have awarded the Reserve designation.  It is produce from hillside vineyards that are grown very near the Monterey Bay of California.  Mer Soleil Vineyard is names for "sea and sun" -- high winds of cool maritime influence which occurs in a sunny place.  The wine is produced form vineyards which we began planting in 1988, fermented and aged in French oak barrels.  Expect flavors of the Pacific wind, natural mineral acidity, luxurious and refined." - Chuck Wagner, winemaker

The Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2013

Here is what we have in stock at Forsyth.  As usual, a lot of the wines are sold out and have moved on to the next vintage already....

Here is what we have in stock at Forsyth

#8 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2010   96/100
#21 Le Macchiole Bolgheri 2011    93/100
#29 Tondonia Rioja White 2003   93/100
#36 Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva 2011  92/100
#51 Kung Fu Riesling 2012  90/100 
#55 A to Z Pinot Noir 2011   90/100
#65 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese  2011  93/100 
#74 Lucia Pinot Noir SLH Gary's 2011  93/100

Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux

In stock and online

Dupont  Avec Les Bons Voeux...$9.99 / 750ml
“With best wishes…of the Brewery Dupont” is how the name of  Dupont’s wonderful Christmas offering translates into English. And wonderful it is. Rich gold color, fragrant (lemony with hints of pepper, banana and clove), as all the beers of Dupont are, with a full, deep malt richness that lingers on your tongue for what seems the whole holiday season. Considered by some the finest offering from this unparalleled brewery.

GREAT WITH FOOD!

We love this beer with Thanksgiving turkey. Try it with spicy Thai dishes. Pairs beautifully with creamy, nutty and pungent cheeses such as camembert, fontina, asiago, and gorgonzola. Nice with lamb stew. Delicious with sautéed sweetbreads.

“Golden amber color with a high white foamy head. Rich salty baguette, marmalade, and spicy apple-pear tart aromas with a vibrant, fruity-yet-dry full body and an everlasting, pepper bread, date, sour cherry, earth, and elegant spice driven finish. A incredibly complex and flavorful Belgian ale. Amazing! Winner of Best Belgian Specialty Ale”

- World Beer Championships

Dubuisson Scaldis (Bush) 2013 Noel Premium

In stock at Forsyth and online

Dubuisson Scaldis (Bush) 2013 Noel Premium ...$16.99 / 25oz
Christmas Premium is a traditional Christmas Bush which has undergone fermentation in the bottle 75 cl hot chamber for 3 weeks. It has therefore not only luxury qualities of the traditional Christmas Bush - copper color, rich aroma and strong yet balanced - but also, by its fermentation in the bottle, the Bush de Noël Premium develops flavors and a muscular alcohol level slightly higher (13% alc.vol).
Brewed in limited quantities, the Bush de Noël Premium is an essential reference in the beer season. " -- brewery

Vicaris Winter 2013 Ale

In stock and online

Vicaris Winter 2013...$16.99

Vicar Winter has a reddish brown color with a nice tinted foam and a full versatile palate. It is brewed with three types of malt and two types of hops. The winter beer is the first Vicar Beer with herbs and ideal to enjoy during cold winter nights. 

Historic Series Madeira Baltimore Rainwater

In stock and online

Historic Series Madeira Baltimore Rainwater Special Reserve...$45.99
Madeira was once the most prestigious wine in America. And the most prestigious style of Madeira was Rainwater.

Rainwater took its name from its pale color and delicate texture and flavor. Yet, the origins of the style are shrouded in mystery. Some attributed it to a Savannah wine merchant after the Civil War, but that cannot be, as Rainwaters existed at least a half century earlier. Others said Rainwaters were a freak of nature. Noel Cossart credited his own firm with creating Rainwater in the 1700s, after a barrel of wine was left on a beach.

Rainwater Madeira reached the pinnacle of prestige in Baltimore. In 1902, that city's greatest Madeira connoisseur, Douglas H. Thomas, called Rainwater the highest standard. And the absence of Rainwaters in a 1900 New York auction prompted one merchant to speculate that Baltimore connoisseurs thought so highly of them that they bought them all up and none reached New York.

Unfortunately, in the 20th century the name "Rainwater" became bastardized--used to label inexpensive Madeiras that were too sweet and too soft to have anything in common with the great Rainwaters of the past.

I have long wanted to remind America of Rainwater’s pedigree by making a classic example. And from contemporary descriptions, I had a fairly good idea of what it should taste like. But I hoped to find an actual model for my wine. I finally found it in 2008, when I purchased a few bottles of a very rare Rainwater imported into New York City by Robert Benson in the 1820s. Because the wine was put into glass soon after its arrival in the U.S., its taste was essentially frozen in time, giving us a very good idea of what Rainwaters tasted like in the 19th century. I shared samples of this wine with Barbeito winemaker Ricardo Freitas and asked him to model our Baltimore Rainwater on it.

Ricardo started with a base wine that was 80% Verdelho, made up of two lots ranging in age from 8 to 13 years. Young Verdelho was a perfect starting point, not only because of its delicacy and minimal sweetness, but because Verdelho would have been the most common component in the early Rainwaters.

For a greater sense of age and also a bit more body, but without increasing the wine’s sweetness, Ricardo added two different lots of old Tinta Negra Mole. Prior to entering the Baltimore Rainwater blend, each of the components was aged (like all of our wines) by the time-honored Canteiro method.

Baltimore Rainwater is very possibly the first Madeira made along the lines of a classic, 19th century Rainwater in at least a half century. Hopefully it will mark a return to Rainwater as it should be: a Madeira of ethereal body, great finesse, delicate flavors and just a touch of sweetness.

—Mannie Berk

Black Bull 12yr and 40yr are back...

Order online also now 

Black Bull 12yr Old
Black Bull Deluxe Blended Scotch Whisky 12 years old
As a follow up to the release of 30 Year Old BlackBull in 2009, Duncan Taylor Co is releasing a 12 Year Old BlackBull Deluxe Blend. Black Bull contains 50% malt whisky and 50% grain whisky and has not been altered by chill-filtration. This special blend is a marriage of the finest 12 year old single malt and single grain whiskies distilled in Scotland. The selection of whiskies falls true to the Duncan Taylor ethic of unbridled quality, each whisky from each cask is nose and tasted before going into the Black Bull vatting.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Full Amber

Nose: Robust, chunky aromas. Chocolate, toffee, sherry, vanilla and lemon sherbet.

Flavour: Smooth, mellow and rounded. Milk chocolate, treacle toffee, pears, green apples and lots of sweet vanilla.

Finish: Some heavier fruity notes emerge, and lots of creamy notes coming through

Comments: A very creamy whisky with a lot fruity toffee notes.

Finally back in stock and it is still Batch #1 --
I believe this is the one and only batch ever made.
Very limited, we only have 4 bottles left

Black Bull 40 year old Scotch....$269.99 / 750ml
"The spirit in this very first bottling of Black Bull 40 contains whiskies ranging from 40 to 44 years old from the following distilleries: Bunnahabhain, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, Glenburgie, Highland Park, Miltonduff, Springbank, Tamdhu and Invergordon.

Black Bull 40 Year Old, the flagship of the Black Bull range is a superior blend of the finest Single Malt and Single Grain whiskies available from Scotland’s premium Distilleries. The spirit in this very first bottling of Black Bull 40 contains whiskies ranging from 40 to 44 years old from the following distilleries: Bunnahabhain, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, Glenburgie, Highland Park, Miltonduff, Springbank, Tamdhu and Invergordon. Black Bull 40 year old is 90% single malt and 10% single grain and is bottled at cask strength. The spirit is completely natural, without chill filtration or added colourant." --website

Tasting Notes
Colour: Tawny
Nose: Sweet, Grapefruit, vanilla, iced buns, apples and mint
Flavour: Mild, juicy fruits, slight touch of oak and a soft coastal note. Raisins and cinnamon, exceptionally smooth
Finish: Vanilla, some kiwi fruits, freshly cut grass and a faint hint of aniseed
Comment: The best Bull yet! An exceptionally good whisky

The Big Smoke Scotch Whisky

In stock now at Forsyth and online

The Big Smoke Islay Malt Scotch Whiskies
Islay is more than just an Island!
It’s a style, a flavour, an ideal, a destination steeped in history and folklore and a
nirvana for fans of the smokier style of Scotch whisky.
Category: Blended Malt Whisky.


The Big Smoke Scotch 46% ABV...$48.99

The Big Smoke Scotch 60% ABV...$58.99
Islay is more than just an Island!
It’s a style, a flavour, an ideal, a destination steeped in history and folklore and a
nirvana for fans of the smokier style of Scotch whisky.

The Big Smoke was created to blend malt whiskies from some of the islands most
iconic distilleries, and then bottled at a relatively young age in its most rugged
form. This whisky is reminiscent of traditional Islay malts, full of peat smoke and
coastal sweetness, powerful yet caressing, everything you would expect from a
blend that includes Caol Ila, Bruichladdich and Ardbeg.

The Big Smoke 46 (46% abv) gives a gentle introduction to the Islay style. The
bonfire and seaweed characteristics you would expect are wrapped up in layers of
sweet vanilla from the fresh American Oak.

The Big Smoke 60 (60% abv) at full strength does everything it says on the tin, and
will live up to the expectations of even the most hardcore of Islay fanatics – to be
handled with care!

Duncan Taylor Dimensions Single Malt Scotch

In stock at Forsyth and online

Very rare scotches from Duncan Taylor
Dimensions is a super-premium collection highlighting the multi-dimensional nature of the Duncan Taylor Portfolio. The whiskies in this range vary from 10 year old single malts and grains up to 39 years of age.

The rarity of the Dimensions range is implicit. Each whisky is the product of a single cask, bottled at natural cask, bottled at natural cask strength and presented in a luxury carton. The provenance of each cask is featured on the label, including the origin of the spirit, distillation and bottling dates, cask number, the number of bottles and the individual bottle number.

The authentic characteristics of the spirit, cask and distillery environment have been preserved in the whisky by ensuring that all the whiskies in the range have been matured in the distillery warehouses, and by neither chilled-filtering nor artificially colouring the whisky. Thus the range has all the multi-dimensional characteristics of flavours and aromas that are true to the nature of their respective distilleries.

The breadth of the range is matched by the depth of the whisky. Cleanse your perception, test your senses, and unlock the dimensions.

Duncan Taylor Dimensions Cameronbridge 34 Year Old...$164.99

Single Grain Distilled at Cameronbridge
Distilled: August 1978

Bottled: August 2012

Cask: No.4

Bottles produced: 272

ABV:  54.6%

Duncan Taylor Dimensions North British 34 Year Old...$169.99

Single Grain Distilled and North British
Distilled: August 1978

Bottled: August 2012

Cask: No.39899

Bottles produced: 181

ABV:  54.7%

Duncan Taylor Dimensions Imperial 17 Year Old...$124.99

Distilled: May 1995

Bottled: July 2012

Cask: No.50057

Bottles produced: 259

ABV:  53.2%

Left Hand Fade to Black Volume #5

Left Hand Fade to Black Volume 5...$9.99 / 6pk

Black Rye Ale
Summer is over, but cheer up pretty people, it's time for the newest installment in our Fade to Black Series.This Rye Ale boasts a deep dark brown body with an off white head. This dark brew envelopes your nose with aromas of dark coffee, maple wood and hints of dark agave nectar. The flavor is an intense evolution that starts off with nut bread flowing into molasses followed by a taste of licorice. This lands on spicy rye notes all before being washed away by earthy hop, leaving behind a slight black pepper sensation. So put away the bathing suit, pop a bottle of this black beauty and watch summer fade way.
STYLE:  Black Rye Ale

ABV:  7.80%