Spec's

Owned and operated by the same Houston family since 1962, Spec’s is a true destination shopping experience. We now operate over 150 stores all over the great state of Texas and offer a large selection of wines, spirits and finer foods.

Party Hard Tea: Iced Tea Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Entertain
There’s not much better than an ice-cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day! The key to that sentence was “not much” as there is in fact something better – hard iced tea.Origins of Iced TeaThe history of iced tea in America dates back to South Carolina in the late 1700’s when the French botanist, Andre Michaux, imported and planted the first tea plants in what is now known as the Middleton Place Gardens. Shortly after the plants arrival, American cookbooks began popularizing cold te... Read More

Howling at the Moonshine

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The BackgroundShine, rotgut, white lightning, hooch, mountain dew, firewater, popskull, sugar whiskey, bush whiskey, sweet spirits of cats a-fighting, happy Sally, blue John, jump steady, corn squeezing, or ruckus juice. America’s most infamous liquor has many names, but most folks just call it moonshine. The term originates from the way it was distilled in secret during the night using the moon light. Moonshine IngredientsThe basic ingredients for moonshine are quite simple: corn meal, sugar,... Read More

Macarons and Wine: Sweet Pairing Tips

Entertain, Finer Foods, Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
As far as meringue-based sweets go, the macaron stands out as a triumph of culinary achievement. Not to be confused with the similarly spelled macaroon, a coconut-based cookie, the macaron is made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder, and food coloring. It’s typically presented as a sandwich cookie with a buttercream, jam, or ganache filling. Macarons are available in a variety of flavors. These light in weight, but heavy in sugar, cookies pair wonderfully with wine. Th... Read More

Best Bourbons For Mint Juleps

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Choosing the proper bourbon can make or break your mint julep cocktail. So, which bourbon should you use? Well, the most important answer is whatever tastes good to you, but if you’re looking for a little more direction, we’ve got you covered.Origin of BourbonBourbon is the All-American spirit. Whiskey may be made everywhere but in 1964, Congress declared bourbon “America’s Native Spirit.” That means to be called bourbon, it must be made in the U.S., have a mash bill that i... Read More

Mouthwatering Memorial Day Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Spirits
It’s time to fire up the grill and break out the floaties! Even though you likely don’t need floaties anymore, they’re still a sign of fun times for the kids and therefore, you! So, let’s try rephrasing – it’s time to fire up the grill and dust off the bathing suit! Memorial Day is here to announce the unofficial start of summer! Along with hotter, longer days comes a reprieve from the dark and heavy drinks of winter and the beginning of fresh, fruity, and delicious cocktails... Read More

Six Great American Wines

Entertain, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
Americans have been appreciating fine wines from all over the world for decades, but what about wines made right here in the good old USA? American viticulturists have been hard at work crafting world-class wines, and winning awards around the world over the years. With wine typically recognized as a European and South American endeavor, it’s no wonder they haven’t been getting as much consumer attention. We aim to fix that with a list of America’s top wines for 2019 from around the countr... Read More

Recipes To Shake Up Your Cocktail Game

Entertain, Drink Recipes, Spec’sology Blog, Spirits
Everyone likes getting a little fancy now and then, be it an event you get dressed to the nines for or just a fancy dinner out. Other times you just want a taste of the good life without all the accruements. Enter fancy cocktails!  The perfect way to upgrade your evening without having to upgrade your wardrobe. So, the next time you’re feeling fancy, just grab your cocktail shaker, invite some friends over, and prepare to dazzle and delight your taste buds with an evening of extravagance.... Read More

5 Mother’s Day Brunch Wine Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Pairings, Wine
While you don’t need an excuse to celebrate mom, Mother’s Day is a great reason to host brunch and lavish well-deserved praise upon your mom. As we all know, brunch is the perfect reason to raise a glass before noon. Sure, you could serve up a regular old mimosa, but is that really worthy of the woman who spent hours in labor and then years raising you? We didn’t think so either, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of fabulous wines that pair wonderfully with mom’s love. 1. La C... Read More

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Spec’sology Blog, Cheese, Deli, Finer Foods, Gifts, Wine
If you aren’t sure if the old saying, “Mother knows best,” is true, then a quick trip to Spec’s will certainly solidify it as fact. Spec’s has aisles and aisles of mom’s favorites as well as accessories and gift baskets that’ll have her changing your name to Favorite. Below you’ll find a great little gift guide to show mom how much you care.SweetDelicious Lazzaroni Amaretti Cookies are a great way to tickle her sweet tooth.Lady Walton’s White Chocolate French Vanilla Cookies ar... Read More

Five Unique Kentucky Derby Drinks

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Entertain, Spirits
It’s time to throw on a fancy hat and head to Louisville, for the ultimate in horse racing, the Kentucky Derby! But if you’re not making the annual pilgrimage to the track, you can still have fun at home, hosting your own derby party. Just tell your guests to B.Y.O.H. (bring your own hat) and get your cocktail bar ready for some serious action. Sure, the Mint Julep is the iconic beverage of choice for the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out and have a little fun wi... Read More

Cinco de Mayo Cocktails and Food Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Pairings, Spirits
Everybody has margaritas on the mind this week as Cinco de Mayo is finally here! If you’re throwing a party you’ve probably got more than margaritas on your mind like food and drinks, besides margaritas, that pair with that food. Well, no need to worry your pretty little cabeza about it because we’re here to help! We’ve put together a list of common Mexican dishes and the beverages you should pair them with. This way you can stop stressing about hosting the perfect party and go back to h... Read More

5 Wine Pairings For National Shrimp Scampi Day

Entertain, Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
While we’re not entirely sure where all these National fill in the blank Day ideas come from, we certainly can’t hold it against the creators as it gives us a reason to get back on the kitchen and wow some palates!In case you lost your “National Day of” calendar, April 29th is National Shrimp Scampi Day! We can’t think of a better way to spend a day than by indulging in shrimp and garlic. When you’ve got shrimp and garlic on the mind, your next thought should be wine. But which one g... Read More