GIFTS: Wine & Spirits

Liquor stores are filled with gift sets and specials for holiday gifting. Champagnes packaged with flutes, Cognacs with snifters, tasting kits (a box of smaller bottles of different expressions), “keeper” bottles with holiday designs and limited editions (Absolut Electrik, anyone?) all vie for your attention. We received scores of pitches, but here’s what caught our…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Cranberry Sangria

For the holidays, we like Cranberry Sangria. In addition to making pitchers of it to serve at Thanksgiving and Christmas, we keep a pitcher of Sangria in the fridge for daily apéritifs and impromptu visitors. In the first recipe, tart cranberry juice is paired with a sweet wine and orange liqueur. It takes only 10…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Homemade Cranberry Vodka

Should you change your vodka for the holidays? Some vodka producers make seasonal flavors. Pinnacle Vodka, for example, has a portfolio of holiday flavors that include Caramel Apple, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Peppermint Bark. Finlandia, Skyy and Smirnoff make cranberry vodka. Maybe you’ll be luckier than we’ve been in finding it. So here’s another…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Serpent’s Bite Apple Cider Flavored Whisky

[1] Good enough to tote in a flask (photo © Spirits Marque One). [2] Take a sip, bite the apple (photo © Spirits Marque One). [3] How about adding some Serpent’s Bite to a glass of cider? (photo © Freestocks).   Flavored shots are trending, and our favorite this season is Serpent’s Bite Apple Cider…
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What Is Liqueur, & The History Of Liqueur, For National Liqueur Day

October 16th is National Liqueur Day, so celebrate with a shot of your favorite. But first, what is a liqueur? Pronounced lih-CUR in French and lih-KYOOR by some Americans, it’s one of a group of after-dinner drinks that also includes eau de vie, cordial, and schnapps. Most people—including American producers and importers—use these terms interchangeably.…
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