Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare Special Blend

 Rare and limited release!

Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare Special Blend...$349.99

Introducing Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare
special release
The new liquid is the first in a series of special releases crafted using irreplaceable whiskies from "ghost" distilleries that have long since closed, together with other rare malt and grain scotch.

Diageo Reserve has today announced the launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare. Each edition will be crafted with one incredible whisky at its heart, the first being Brora.

Crafted by Johnnie Walker Master Distiller, Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare is a rich, velvety smooth blend of eight treasured Scotch whiskies, including three "ghost" whiskies from the silent distilleries of Cambus, Pittyvaich and the Highland Single Malt, Brora, which lies at the heart of this special release bringing a light peatiness and sophisticated subtle sweetness.  The additional five whiskies are rare expressions of malt and grains from the existing distilleries of Royal Lochnagar, Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie and Cameronbridge. The result is a smooth scotch, with the fruity sweetness of pineapple, rich notes of hazelnut and dark chocolate, and a subtle smoky finish.

Commenting on the special release, Jim said: “Over the years of crafting fine Scotch whiskies, I've had the remarkable privilege of working with some of the rarest spirits ever to come out of Scotland. I'm lucky that we have stocks from more than 30 distilleries from every region of Scotland from which to choose the perfect casks to craft each blend. It gives us a richness of character, flavour and age that no other scotch can match.

“Whiskies from these ghost distilleries are becoming increasingly rare. From our library of irreplaceable casks that we keep exclusively for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I've chosen a few uniquely full-bodied expressions of these precious malts and grains to let people explore, in a new way, the extraordinary richness found in our pinnacle whisky.”

94 point Chard - best price in the country!

One of the best deals we will see on a great Napa Valley Chardonny.
From the famous Antinori Family's Napa property we are very excited to offer this Chardonnay at the lowest price in the country by $10 per bottle.  This won't last long.

2015 Antica Chardonnay Napa Valley Atlas Peak...$19.99

Suggest retail $35

Lowest price on Wine-Searcher is $29.98

Oyster shell and cooked apple with hints of lemon follow through to a full body, tangy fruit and a flavorful finish. Minerally. Fascinating. Drink or hold.
Rated 94/100 James Suckling

"Lemon gold in color, giving way to mouthwatering citrus aromas tinged with baking spice notes. Creamy and decadent, with ripe melon, apricots, lemon curd, Marcona almond notes and juicy acidity. A long mineral finish demands Antinori's favorite pairing of spaghetti with clams." - Food and Wine Magazine

"That cold air allows Antica's Chardonnay to ripen slowly while retaining bright acids.  Antica Is One of Napa's Hidden Treasures" - Food and Wine Magazine

Lagunitas Willetized Coffee Stout

sold out now
Limit  1 - 6pk per person
Lagunitas Willetized Coffee Stout...$11.99 / 6pk

A Big, Dark, and Scary Barrel-Aged Beast
Our friends over at Kentucky’s own Willett Distillery have one kind of barrel: wood. And they put two things in them: Bourbon and Rye. We were fortunate enough to get some of their Rye barrels, and we put our Imperial Stout in them. It’s a chocolatey, coffee-y, smoky, Bourbon-y beast of a barrel-aged thing. Word.

Goose Island Juliet and Madame Rose

More just arrived -- 

Goose Island 2017 Juliet Blackberry Wild Ale...$31.99 / 4pk

(also sold as single bottles in the store)

A tart, jammy, complex ale fermented with wild yeast and aged in wine barrels with fresh blackberries, with notes of wood, tannin, and spice.
Inspired by sour beers from the Cantillon Brewery in Belgium, Juliet is a tart, jammy, complex ale fermented with wild yeast and aged in wine barrels with fifty pounds of fresh locally sourced blackberries, with notes of wood, tannin, and spice.
RECIPE INFORMATION
Style: Belgian Style Wild Ale

ABV: 8.0%

Goose Island 2017 Madame Rose...$31.99 / 4pk

(also sold as single bottles in the store)
Aged on Sour cherries

Madame Rose is a crimson colored Belgian style brown ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on cherries in wine barrels. Layers of malty complexity, sour cherry, spice and wood notes make Madame Rose an ideal beer to suggest to Bordeaux enthusiasts and beer drinkers fond of Belgian Kriek and Flanders Brown Ales.
RECIPE INFORMATION
Style: Belgian Style Brown Ale
ABV: 6.7%

Pinckney Bend new items

From the great state of Missouri!

Pinckney Bend Apple Ambush...$18.99
Apple is the original flavor of temptation. Add a little cinnamon and spice, along with corn and neutral grain spirits, and you have an easy drinking shot of 70 proof liquid delight. Enjoy Apple Ambush hot or cold, straight up, or as a cocktail component. But beware of temptation...it might be an Ambush.

Pinckney Bend Navy Strength Gin...$27.99

57% ABVThe Story of Navy Strength Gin
For over two centuries, English distillers supplied the British admiralty with 57% ABV Gin. This overproof expression (typical gin is 40%-45%) became know as Navy Strength. The U.S. Navy served sailors a spirit ration of rye whiskey until the practice was discontinued in 1862. We like to think that had American Congressman, Naval officers and seamen been exposed to Pinckney Bend Navy Strength gin, perhaps history would have been different

Lindemans Ginger Gueuze

Lindemans Ginger Gueuze...$24.99 / 750ml
The History of Ginger Gueuze

A brewery both traditional and innovative, Lindemans is creating a new beer category with their Botanical Lambic series: wild-fermented lambic beers, with a new ingredient that leads to an entirely new flavor sensation. The first in the series was SpontanBasil, made with fresh basil; now, Lindemans GingerGueuze brings the bold aroma and taste of fresh ginger to traditional lambic. (Note that the French spelling is gueuze and the Dutch spelling is geuze - both are commonly used in Belgium.)
Taste

Hazy golden color; bold ginger aroma and flavor enmeshed with the sharp, tart dryness of gueuze.

Brooklyn Brewery new releases

Brooklyn Defender IPA....$8.99 / 6pk
Defend Beer with Brooklyn Defender IPA, our heroically hopped golden IPA featuring strong notes of tropical fruit, well-muscled hop bitterness, and an incredibly dry finish. Cape not required. #DefendBeer
Brooklyn Defender IPA is proud to be the official beer of New York Comic Con.

Brooklyn Naranjito...$8.99 / 6pk

Brooklyn Naranjito is a classic American pale ale pushed a tiny bit further. An extra burst of aromatic hops and a sizable helping of sweet orange peel create just the right pop of citrus. It elevates your favorite meals, brightens spices, and proves what a little orange can do.

Firestone Walker Agrestic

One last BRC one today -- thanks - emails sent

Firestone Walker Agrestic....$11.99 / 375ml

Fittingly, Agrestic Ale begins its journey as DBA; the foundational beer first offered when Firestone Walker opened its doors in 1996. Oak barrels along with our proprietary collection of microflora act like a chrysalis process, transforming DBA into Agrestic Ale over the course of several months. The result is a synergistic blend of beer matured in French and American oak with signature flavors and aromas: wood-derived toast, lemon pith, and rosewood swirl on the nose and palate, followed by an amazing harmony of vanilla, coconut and Earl Grey tea. Dark cherries, caramel malt and spice round out its complexity and drinkability. The finish is crisp with a mouthwatering acidity and chewy tannins. A santé!
Barrel // Ratio // Maturation time
French Oak // 80% // 12-15 months
\American Oak // 20% // 12-15 months

Brooklyn Black Ops

BRC Emails sent on this one

Brooklyn Black Ops...$18.99
Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a strong stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. The myth is that this supposed “Black Ops” was then aged for months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast. Presumably such a beer would raise a rich, fluffy dark brown head and it would combine chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like bourbon notes. A beer like that would be mighty nice, but it would be hard to make more than few cases – it could never be sold or released to the public. They say that the brewmaster revealed the beer to a few other people at the brewery only after it had been barreled. The rumor going around is that the brewery plans to drink the beer themselves over the holidays and give some to their family and friends. That’s what they say. But frankly, there’s no evidence for any of this. This beer is obviously a figment of people’s fervent imaginations. People tend to get loopy around the holidays. Everyone go home now – there’s nothing to see here.

Given this beer’s higher ABV and sturdy character, we think it’s a prime candidate for cellaring. Find a cool, dry spot away from light sources, and see how it changes in the years to come. You never quite know what will happen when you age a beer: perhaps the body will smooth out, notes of vanilla, oak, and tannins will come to the front, or hints of leather and soy sauce will make themselves known. No matter what, remember that beer is meant for drinking, so don’t keep it to yourself for too long.

Bells Black Note Stout

BRC Emails finally sent on this one - this one is sold out and done

Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout...$5.99 / 12oz
One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell's history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark.

L.N. Mattei Cap Corse

L.N. Mattei Cap Corse Vin Aperitif Quinquina Blanc...$18.99

L.N. Mattei Cap Corse Vin Aperitif Quinquina Rouge...$18.99
Inimitable aperitif, L.N. MATTEI since 1872. Its original recipe based on Cape Corsica mistels, cinchona and many exotic plants, guaranteeing quality, comes in two versions, Cap Mattei Rouge and Cap Mattei Blanc.

Jameson Caskmates Irish Whiskey IPA Edition

Jameson Caskmates Irish Whiskey IPA Edition...$28.99
We had a hunch that a zesty IPA would be the perfect partner for our whiskey, so we loaned barrels to our drinking buddies to make a Jameson-seasoned IPA. The beer-soaked barrels returned to the distillery full of new crisp, hoppy notes. We re-filled them with Jameson, and the wait began. Our signature smoothness is still there, but now thanks to the IPA it’ll be rubbing shoulders light hints of hops, fresh citrus and floral notes.

Nose: Floral, herbal hops, grapefruit citrus notes with subtle orchard fruits, complemented by wood shavings and a little nuttiness.

Taste: Hops and light citrus with sweet herbal notes and delicate spicy tones.

Finish: The lingering fresh fruit and hops give way to grains of barley and a signature smooth finish.

BRC/WRC --

Just a quick word about allocated beer (and Whiskey)...
Some people get still get angry when we say it went through our Beer Reward Club or Whiskey Reward Club.   Somebody called this week and asked about Founders CBS and got mad when we said it went through our BRC program.  He said "so there is none for regular customers" and hung up on us on the phone.  That is the point of the BRC is to give it to our "regulars".  I cannot tell you how many people walked into the store this week asking for Founders CBS, when we tell them we are out, they turn around and walk out, they had no intention of buying anything else from us.  We appreciate any business, but many of these people do not shop at our store and will only come for the rare beers that we can sell 100 times over.   We do the BRC/WRC to support our regular customers, it is a lot of work and takes a lot of time, but we feel it is worth it to reward "regulars".   I think our regulars appreciate it.   There is more and more beer out there and we do less releases through the BRC as supply is better and there are enough exciting releases now--so we have been doing more fastest finger releases again (follow us on Twitter to keep up with those).  But the super sought after beers/whiskeys will still be released through our reward clubs.  

Regulars this week that stopped at the store were able to grab off the shelf some exciting extras that we secretly threw on the shelf--
These were scored this week by "regulars"

• Blantons Bourbon
• Weller Reserve
• Eagle Rare 10yr
• Ballast Point BA Victory at Sea
• Side Project Merci
• Goose Island BCS
• Cantillon
• Drie Fonteinen
• and a few other surprises....

Rare beers do make the shelf - we just do not announce them so that people that are shopping for their everyday items will find them.

The Side Project 35th Anniversary release which will be in next week or so....if I did the report today, everyone that averaged purchasing a $10-6pk each week over the past 6 months will qualify for the Side Project release (subject to change in the next week, of course).  That is what we call rewarding "regular" customers.   If you buy your regular every day IPA/Stout or whatever each week, you will get some rare beer.   We know the convenience of shopping at the grocery store, so we want to reward the regulars who will make the special trip to our stores and support us.   We know that all of our locations do not have the same large selection, but you can order online and we can transfer it within just a few days.  

We update our blog many times a day with the new releases - just place the order and pick which store you want to pick up from - we can be your personal shopper and have it ready to go!

Thanks very much for your support.  We do our best to offer a great selection, great price and great service.

Paul

feel free to email me any questions comments

paul@wineandcheeseplace.com

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

2016 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc...$10.98

Compare to $12.07 at Total Wine and More in Missouri

AROMA: Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc aromas of lifted citrus, tropical fruit, and crushed herbs.

PALATE: A fresh, juicy wine with vibrant acidity and plenty of weight and length on the palate. Ripe, tropical fruit flavor with passion fruit, melon, and grapefruit.

CELLAR: All these factors have resulted in the plethora of fruit flavors, crisp acidity, and complexity of this stunning wine. Ready for immediate enjoyment, this wine will continue to develop from one to three years.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Pairs brilliantly with fresh oysters, asparagus, lobster, or summer salads.

Lafage Bastide Miraflors - 94 points - $13.99

2015 Lafage Bastide Miraflors V.V....$13.99

This wine is almost too good to be true. A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that was brought up in concrete tanks (Grenache) and demi-muids (Syrah), the 2015 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes reminded me of a mini Syrah from California's Manfred Krankl (yes I just compared a $14 Syrah to Sine Qua Non). It's a ripe, sexy, heady beauty that exhibits a deep, purple color as well as killer notes of smoked meats, chocolate, blackberry and black raspberries. Deep, unctuous, open knit and layered, it continues to change in the glass, has a seamless and silky profile, and not a hard edge to be found. It's a sensational value that needs to be tasted to be believed. Drink it anytime over the coming 2-4 years.

Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

Chateau St Roch - new vintages

2015 Chateau Saint Roch Kerbuccio Maury Sec....$17.99 

(We are the only place in town you will find the fantastic 2015 Vintage)
A more serious, structured wine than the Vieilles Vignes, the 2015 Maury Sec Kerbuccio is 80% Grenache and 20% Carignan that was brought up in 50% new demi-muids. Deep, rich, concentrated and full-bodied, yet always light on its feet and graceful, it offers fabulous southern France notes of roasted herbs, pepper, licorice and assorted dark fruits. It’s heavenly juice that tastes like it cost three times the price.
Rated 92-94/100 The Wine Advocate

2016 Chateau Saint Roch Cotes du Roussillon Blanc V.V....$12.99 

The 2016 Côtes du Roussillon Vieilles Vignes Blanc is a beauty. Made from Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, this medium-bodied, deliciously crisp and racy white offers lots of citrus and lime characteristics, a hint of minerality and bright acidity. It’s a perfect meal starter to drink over the coming year.

Rated 90/100 The Wine Advocate

Beer Tasting tonight

The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105

Taste tonight from 4-6pm!

• 4 Hands La Belleza Imperial Stout
• Jolly Pumpkin Clementina Saison
• Lagunitas Imperial Stout
• Dogfish Head Siracusa Nera

Founders CBS

Founders CBS - BRC emails just sent.

Founders CBS ...$22.99

CBS was born when we stumbled upon some bourbon barrels that had previously housed maple syrup. We opted to put the same base beer as KBS, an imperialized version of Breakfast Stout, in the maple barrels and, after one taste, we knew we had something special. Rich maple syrup, roasted coffee and velvety chocolate meld together in what can only be described as a transcendental drinking experience.

4 Hands La Belleza Imperial Stout

4 Hands La Belleza Imperial Stout...$9.49 / 22oz

La Belleza is an Imperial Stout brewed with cacao, cinnamon, vanilla, chilies, ginger, and nutmeg.

Pappy Van Winkle Raffle

Pappy Van Winkle/ Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and other rare bourbons....

We have a date for the Whiskey Reward Club Raffle now ---



Monday December 11th will be the raffle (I might try to get the first emails out on Sunday Dec 10, not sure yet).
Either way the deadline for your purchases to count towards the raffle will be December 9th at 7pm.


The raffle is based on your purchases from December 1, 2016 until December 9th at 7pm

Below is the list of Bourbon that will be in the raffle.  The raffle is for a chance to purchase one of these bottles.

• Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old (107 proof) 
• Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve 
• Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old Family Reserve 
• Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Family Reserve 
• Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old Lot B 
• Eagle Rare 17 Year Old 
• Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old 
• George T. Stagg Bourbon
• Thomas H. Handy Rye Whiskey
• William Larue Weller 
• Four Roses Limited Edition 2017 Small Batch Barrel Strength 
• Four Roses Al Young 50th Anniversary 
• Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 
• Parkers Heritage 11 Year Old Bourbon 
• Elijah Craig 18 Year Old 
• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 
• Whistlepig 15 Year Rye
• Whistlepig Boss Hogg Black Prince
• Michters 10 Year Old
• MIchters Toasted Barrel 
• Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 23 Year Old Bourbon
• Orphan Barrel Entrapment 25 year old 
• Elmer T. Lee
• Stagg Jr.
• Balvenie Peat Week 14 Year Old
• Ardbeg Kelpie 2017 Special Committee Only Edition (white label)
• plus a few others also

This is the plan, very similar to last year -- always subject to change.  
We will start to draw names as soon as possible after the December 9th deadline.    
It is a weighted raffle,  for every $600 (average of $50 per month) that you spent over the last year it will count for a raffle ticket (click to read more).  For ease of explaining, lets pick an easy number like 200.  Say we have 200 bottles of whiskey total from the list, we will divide by 5, which is 40, of course.  We will send emails out to the first 40 names picked on the first day--we cannot be responsible if you do not check your email or if your email is wrong in our system, or if you are out of town. Those people will be asked to email me back a list of their top 10 choices from the list.  We will start with the first name drawn in the raffle and they can buy the highest whiskey on their list that is still available.  We will go to the next person and do the same.  They will have 1 day to respond.  The next day we will email the next 40 and do the same thing with what is left.  If you were picked on the first day, but did not respond until the second day or third day, you will still get your allocation, but you risk some of your top choices not being available anymore.   If you do not respond before the end of the fifth day and the last names are drawn, you will lose your allocation and we will draw more names.  I will put more details (deadlines and times) in the individual emails if your name is drawn.  Again, many of these are very rare and odds are not great.   Please do not email or call each day to see if your name was drawn.  We will not have time to take all of these inquiries.  We will do our best to get a hold of people.  If somebody does not respond to emails, we will even post on the blog their first name and last initial that we are trying to track you down.    Each day, I will confirm on our blog if everybody has checked in for their allocation.   That is it for now....and Thank you for your loyal support.  
Check the blog each morning about 9am starting December 11th, I will post the names of those that did not respond to the emails, first name and last initial.
Make sure you check your email during that time and watch the blog to see if your name is listed as not responding to the emails.  The emails will come from paul@wineandcheeseplace.com - make sure you watch for that.