Southern Spirits Welcomes June!
2 Jun, 16 / 
Hey there booze fans, I would like to thank everyone (more than 27!) that has taken the time to comment on how much they enjoy the boozeletter. These comments mean a lot to me and help inspire me to sit down each week and compose a brand new one, even if the evening before, Keith’s cabinet got the best of me. I have been thinking a lot recently about how this all began for me. I was a teacher in my previous life, and one day I decided I wanted to teach English in Japan. While I was waiting to go I took a job at Bevmo (a total wine type store in California). During my brief stint there, I really enjoyed myself. When I got back from Japan I was looking for a new teaching gig, but I return to work at Bevmo, while I waited. After a few months my boss there asked me to participate in Sommelier training and I said yes. When that course finished I was officially hooked. As I continued to explore wine, our spirits “expert” left, and I started to get heavily involved with that as well. They had training classes for that as well, and before I knew it, I was trying every single bottle I could get my hands on. At a certain point I realized that I could not afford (physically or financially) to continue to buy all of the bottles in the universe so I decided I would stop repeating purchases. I started a must be new to me rule and when you do that over a long period it really pays off. Over time, this rule has allowed me to explore a much larger number of items and inspired me to constantly seek out new forms of bottles and boldly go where… (NERD!) I have tried to instill my love and passion for these bottles to friends, coworkers, and you folks. I am happy to say that it is indeed contagious and that I will not have to go and eat worms. It is worth mentioning that many people have contributed to my large knowledge database. I have been to many tastings, many bars, had many customers share and gift me bottles, and of course an awesome selection of friends who have given and shared so many amazing bottles with me. While some in this business might moan about passion turning into work, I celebrate that!
WINE TASTING FRIDAY 4:00-6:00
Four wines, hand selected by our wine buyer Martha.
FORTY CREEK TASTING SATURDAY 4:00-6:00
I am excited to have another opportunity to get people to try this outstanding Canadian whiskey and demonstrate why you should be drinking this instead of Crown Royal. There are few better values in the whiskey world!
UPCOMING TASTINGS
6/11 MUDDY RIVER
6/18 SIGNATORY SCOTCHES
6/25 WOODFORD RESERVE
7/2 DIXIE
KEITH’S CABINET: What Keith is drinking now.
POLI MIELE: I love this fantastic, Italian honey liqueur! It is not overly sweet, and has some unexpected twists and turns. My best friend is currently producing roasted Pecans like a second job, and when we tried this liqueur with his cinnamon pecans, something magical happened!
GEORGE BOTANIVORE: Have I ever mentioned how much I love gin? No? Well I do, and I love St. George, and yes I would marry St. George if I could. I know the laws are pretty open in California but I am not sure if they allow people to marry distilleries yet.
HIGH WEST RENDEZVOUS RYE: I am a tremendous fan of this whiskey, and it helped me survive memorial day weekend. I didn’t use the bottle to fight of hordes of zombies (NERD!!) but I did use it to remind me that there are wonderful things to be enjoyed after a long day of ringing up customers and pointing vigorously at the correct bottles to purchase.
DON FELIX: I had both the reposado and the anejo and while I love them both, I have to give the edge here to the reposado, it is simply outstanding!
OSCAR BLUES DEVIANT DALES: I LOVE this beer! They have managed to balance, the hops, the malt, and the ABV to make a full bodied and exceptional beer that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
NEW ARRIVALS
JEWEL OF RUSSIA RED BERRY: Russia, while known for its vodka is not known for its flavored vodka. I found this vodka to be very well made and a great mixer. This was made for the pool or the beach.
ARDBEG DARK COVE: Ardbeg continues to put out special limited release bottles and they continue to do so in experimental fashion. This time out, they have joined the sherry camp and have put their traditional smokey/peaty scotch up against the fruitiness of the sherry. I love this trend in Islay and hope that it continues.
EL MAYOR EXTRA ANEJO: One of the best parts about the tequila movement is that we are starting to be able to get some of the high end ones. Aged tequila is as 
beautiful as anything out there.
NEW AMSTERDAM APPLE: I am not going to mock the folks at New Amsterdam (not attacking gallo? Someone check my temperature!) because quite frankly, there are NOT enough apple vodka’s. Also, not enough Lime vodka either. C’mon guys pick up the slack here. A little less cupcake with sprinkles and a little more flavors that exist in the wild.
MIRO VERMUT: That is right folks, another sweet vermouth from Spain! You guys have inspired me as usual to continue my endless pursuit of the best items from all over the world.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
CABBAGE JUICE – NAMED AFTER MY ROOMATE AND ITS CREATOR.
3 OZ OF JEWEL OF RUSSIA RED BERRY VODKA
6 OZ OF GINGER ALE (FEVER TREE)
