Robert Nist

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Earth Day Cocktails

Cocktails For Earth Day – April 22, 2018

April 22nd is Earth Day and on this spring holiday we laud and celebrate all things planet Earth. Some like to think of Earth Day as ‘Mother’s Day’ for nature, a time to give back and show appreciation for our planet. It was first celebrated in 1970 and has only grown since then. Today, the Earth Day network hosts environmental protection events in over 193 countries! But Earth Day is more than environmental activism. It’s about having fun! People celebrate Earth Day by spending time out... Read More
National Amaretto Day

National Amaretto Day – April 19, 2018

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes
April 19th is a ‘nutty’ holiday for sure! It marks the celebration of National Amaretto Day, one of the world’s most popular liqueurs. The word Amaretto literally means “a little bitter” in Italian—and rightly so. This famous Italian concoction is made from bitter almonds, or apricot kernels. The nuts are infused in pure alcohol or brandy, giving the liqueur a distinctively bold almond flavor. To celebrate National Amaretto Day, sip on this savory liqueur at home and mix up one of ou... Read More
World Malbec Day

Celebrate World Malbec Day – April 17, 2018

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
What is World Malbec Day? World Malbec Day isn’t just a seemingly random day to sip on wine. (Though any reason to drink wine is a good one if you ask us.) April 17th actually marks a fateful day in wine history, commemorating Argentina’s wine renaissance. This was a time when president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry in 1853, by ordering a botanist to transport and plant the French grape to South American soil. Why does it matter... Read More
Friday the 13th Cocktails

Beat Bad Luck with These Friday the 13th Cocktails

What’s up with Friday the 13th? To many, it’s an unlucky day. The fear of Friday the 13th stems from a fear of the number 13 itself, also known as “triskaidekaphobia”. That’s one heckuva vocabulary word—try playing it in Scrabble, and everyone’s heads might implode. So let’s put fear of bad luck aside! It’s still a Friday after all, so start the weekend right with this collection of Friday the 13th themed cocktail recipes. Be sure to stop in to your local Spec’s for all your... Read More
Grilled Cheese and Wine Pairings

Grilled Cheese and Wine Pairings

Grilled cheese? Yep, you heard us right. But don’t bust out the juice boxes and spaghetti-os just yet! Grilled cheese can be so much more than kid-food. With the wide assortment of artisanal cheeses and fine wines available at your nearest Spec’s—the gourmet pairing combos are endless. In honor of National Grilled Cheese Day, here are our favorite grilled cheese and wine pairings: Cheddar and Bacon with Riesling You don’t need a Riesling to enjoy bacon. (See what we did there?) Piperade ... Read More
New Beer's Eve

Texas Beers to Celebrate New Beers Eve

April 6th is New Beers Eve—a day which marks that historical time in 1933 when the sale of beer became legal once again. Essentially, April 6th was the end of the prohibition era (or as we call it—“The Era That Shall Not Be Named”) and the rebirth of fun. And at Spec’s, we’re all about the fun. So let the suds flow! In celebration of New Beers Eve, we’ve collected a handful of our favorite Texas beers for you to enjoy. So drop by your local Spec’s, stock up, and be thankful you d... Read More
Golf cocktails

Golf Themed Cocktails in Celebration of the Masters Tournament

It’s an exciting time for all the golf-nuts out there! The pros are getting ready to tee off for this year’s first major championship, The Masters, held in Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club. To celebrate, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite most classic golf-themed cocktails. Mix up any one of these for yourself (or your caddie) and your Masters celebration is sure to be a hole-in-one! The Azalea The Azalea is arguably the most famous Masters of Augusta cocktails. It tak... Read More

April 2018 Connoisseur

Connoisseur, Wine Club
LE MONDE CHARDONNAY With an arresting straw yellow color and savory body, Le Monde Chardonnay is a wine that’s as expressive as a painter. Dry and fresh in the mouth, with a finish that boasts excellent minerality and layered spiciness. It’s ideally paired with our selected recipe—but this wine also plays well with a variety of appetizers, cold meats and cheeses, seafood and pasta. Helpful Highlights Origin Italy Region Fruili Venezia Giula Aroma White florals, vanilla and young fruit Tast... Read More

April 2018 Enthusiast

Enthusiast, Wine Club
WATERFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC We’d expect no less from the leading apple producing region in South Africa. The characteristic chalky/slate soils bring out precision in aromatics and fresh minerality in the wine. Waterford’s Sauvignon pops with crisp freshness, and an acidic zing. (If you’re the kind of person who makes those happy humming sounds when you taste something pleasant—get ready to make some noise.)Helpful Highlights Origin South Africa Region Elgin Grapes Sauvignon Blanc Aroma Goo... Read More
Easter Cocktails

Brunch Cocktails For Easter

Easter—it’s the heart of the spring season! While the kids will be squealing with joy as they run about the backyard in a jelly-bean-fueled frenzy, questing for plastic eggs—the real fun will be had around the adult’s table, with these festive Easter brunch cocktails. The Green Garden Cocktail Ingredients: 1 small Turkish cucumber sliced into ¼ inch slices (approx. ½ cup) 1 handful Tender herbs, torn (tarragon, dill, Italian parsley, celery leaves, mint or a mix) 1 oz Simple syrup 4 o... Read More
Wine Lingo

Basic Wine Lingo: Talk Like a Sommelier

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
Wine stewards and connoisseurs have their own unique vocabulary—which can often sound like spy code to the outsider. Not to worry! Here’s a glossary of the most commonly used wine terms. Brush up on these, and you’ll be able to rub elbows with the pros at your next tasting session or impress your dinner date. Wine Terms Glossary Acidity — the liveliness and crispness of wine, often stimulating your salivary glands Aeration — the addition of oxygen to round out and soften a wine App... Read More
Hill Country Wineries

10 Hill Country Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
Hill Country Wineries make us proud to be a Texan. You can find some great ones scattered all across the region, from far north of San Antonio, to east of Lampasas. Most offer very informative tours throughout their scenic vineyards. But what really puts the icing on the cake, are the wine samples from their tasting rooms. Take a day trip to any one of the following Texas Hill Country wineries, and we guarantee you’ll feel that Texas pride swell in you with each sip of ‘cowboy cabernet’. T... Read More