Happy 4th of July From Southern Spirits!
1 Jul, 16 / 
Hey boozefans, it is our independence day, and as good Americans we celebrate with booze. We started making spirits here quickly upon arrival and since that time have only continued to advance and improve our domestic spirits. We now make some of the best beer, wine, and spirits in the world. I believe the secret to our success is a combination of innovation and imitation. Our beer industry, for example was modeled after both the German and the British, but that all changed when Fritz Maytag put out Anchor Steam Liberty ale in 1976. His introduction of a pale ale with original hops changed the entire world. He influenced so many young brewers who then in turn influenced so many others. Causing the late great Michael Jackson (the beer/whiskey guy, not the pop-star) to announce that the United States was where it was at when it came to beer. The great beer hunter himself, exclaiming that the future of beer was here in the United States. Turns out he was right. Of course, we cannot neglect Napa Valley and the famous tasting of 1976, when California wines defeated some of the most famous French wines in the world and put California on the map. Now when it comes to Spirits, I believe we are right smack dab in the middle of our ascent to greatness. We have attracted talent from all over the world to come and make some of the best stuff anyone has ever tasted! While we can claim Bourbon as our very own, we have fantastic stuff happening all over the country. We are continuing to take old ideas and graft new concepts on to them, but also making totally original spirits. It is without a doubt a wonderful time to be alive. There are still some walls that need to be kicked down and broken, life the one that divides wine and beer, from Spirits, and the various laws prohibiting small wineries, distilleries, and breweries from selling their products wherever there is demand. The old guard is hanging on tightly, but the democracy of taste will defeat them. You may not realize it, but so many of you are aiding in this fight when you purchase craft items. When I fight to bring something in and you guys find it, love it, and spread the word, then we are sending a message that we will not tolerate being shut out and told what to drink! We don’t care about your magazine ads, your commercials, and your clever marketing schemes. We are finding the best stuff in the world on our own with the help of each other. So many of my favorite items in this store have come from suggestions by you guys! I always steer clear of politics in the boozeletter and this is not about politics. This is about being proud to live in a country where we have the freedom and the imagination to take ideas from all over the world and run with them!
P.S. Sorry for the lack of jokes this week. Humor returns next week!
P.S. P.S. Okay here is one joke: Three guys walk into a bar, the first guy orders a margarita, the bartender asks “Which tequila?” The first guy shrugs his shoulders so the bartender uses the worst tequila. Next guy orders a martini, and the bartender says “which gin?” The guy shrugs so the bartender uses the worst gin. Keith looks at the bartender and the other two guys and says “water for me” the bartender grabs the gun. Keith raises his hand “no no no, I am going to need spring water, no ice, in a chilled tulip glass, filled 7/8 full.” The bartender looks at Keith and says “are you kidding me?” “I thought we were in some kind of bizarro universe where people don’t care about the things that they should and so I thought I would make a big deal of something that doesn’t matter.” “very amusing sir, so what can I get you?” “Do you have any van winkle?” Bartender raises bat and Keith runs for the exits!
TASTINGS
WINE FRIDAY 4:00-6:00
JORDAN CHARDONNAY – This another winery that is famous for a good reason. While best known for its Cabernet, they make other tasty wines.
ELK COVE PINOT NOIR ROSE: Rose is the perfect Summer wine! Light, but flavorful, adventurous but approachable, and you can get top quality without breaking the bank! What is not to love?
TALLEY PINOT NOIR: Arroyo grande produces some great Pinot due to its dramatic shifts from hot days and cool nights.
ROBERT CRAIG AFFINITY: This wine changed my life once. Years ago I was at one of the best events on the planet, California Cab Society, and at this amazing event you get to taste most of the best Cabernet that California has to offer. That particular year, Robert Craig was that wine, it beat out every famous winery you can think of, and I have never stopped loving them.
BEER FRIDAY 4:00-6:00
SCHOFFERHOFER GRAPEFRUIT BEER: This beer is a great way to survive this already very hot summer! Not only is it quite refreshing by itself, but it can make a wonderful Paloma or Greyhound (which I made last night). All you need is some silver tequila for the Paloma, or some Gin for the Greyhound (you can use vodka if you reallllly must).
SATURDAY DIXIE VODKA 3:30-6:30
Our number one selling vodka is here, and they have brought their brand new flavor, CITRUS, with them. I am excited to try this new flavor! If you have somehow missed trying this local and fantastic vodka, correct this egregious error and try it on Saturday. I know a lot of people think we must be getting something for all of the effort we put into the sales of Dixie, but I assure you that it is simply the combination of the quality and the localness. We brought this vodka in because we loved it and that is the same reason we promote it.
KEITH’S CABINET: What Keith is drinking now.
GREENHAT GIN: I revisited this excellent gin on Saturday and was reminded of how tasty it is. What an excellent gin and tonic it makes! The strong lemon taste blends so well with the tonic and the lime.
VIZCAYA RUM: I finally killed this lovely rum last night, and I enjoyed every last drop!
PILAR BLONDE: I love mixing this with the Sipp Vanilla soda. What a wonderful and simple cocktail!
SIGNATORY GLENLIVET: I found this whiskey to be absolutely lovely! It has so much going on without ever being overpowering.
NEW ARRIVALS
OCEAN VODKA: This organic vodka from Hawaii really impressed me. I found it to be incredibly smooth and yes I do like its packaging as well. I am normally immune to style as evidenced by the way I dress, my hair, car, etc…, but sometimes I think a bottle looks cool.
THATCHERS ELDERFLOWER: I believe that elderflower should be treated like avocado, added to almost everything! St. Germain is the most famous but Thatcher’s to me is just as good for less money.
CRAIGELLACHIE: IT IS BACK!! I do not know for how long but it was a sight for sore eyes when it came in yesterday morning!! I love everything about this scotch.
REDEMPTION RYE: I have been trying to add this rye since the day I arrived but was thwarted time and time again. This used to be my go to for Manhattan’s, I think there is going to have to be a revisiting here.
DIXIE CITRUS: After a very long wait, the Dixie citrus is here and I for one am excited!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: CORN AND OIL
2 ounces of Dark Rum: Cana Brava 7, Brugal XV, Hamilton Reserve, Cartavio 5 year
1 ounce of Velvet Falernum
.75 ounces of lime juice
A dash of bitters
Pour ingredients into an ice filled shaker, shake violently and then strain into a rocks glass full of ice.
