Spec’sology Blog

When it comes to classic whiskey cocktails we typically find them made with American bourbon or whiskey, and that is absolutely fine! But, if you were to swap that spirit with an Irish whiskey you might be in for a treat! Bourbon tends to be sweeter and denser than Irish whiskey, which is less smoky, but very smooth and a bit fruity. Typically, bourbon boasts strong flavors of oak, caramel, marshmallow, and vanilla. Whiskey, however, has a taste that is warm, spicy, sweet, caramelly, or toasty in flavor. Of course, whiskey isn’t the only spirit made in Ireland! We included

No one likes missing out on something good, especially when good means delicious! So, to make sure you aren’t raising a glass to FOMO, we talked to the experts and put together a few wines and spirits that may not be on your list but totally should be! Spirits Trail’s End 10 Year Bourbon Trail’s End 10 is the Second whiskey collaboration between Hood River Distillers, the oldest distillery in Oregon, and the expert team at Clear Creek Distillery, the second-oldest distillery in Oregon. They take a 10-year Kentucky Bourbon and then further age it in local toasted Garryana oak

Texans are in for a treat with these new products hitting shelves just in time for spring! From spirits to seltzers and everything in between, Spec’s keeps you in the know when exciting new beverages become available in Texas. Bud Light Next Bud light dropped a new zero carbs, super crisp light beer called Bud Light Next. Bud Light Next is made with malt, rice and hops, so getting it down to zero carbs was extremely challenging. In fact, Bud Light says they’ve been working on this for ten years and it was only up until recently, that some new

Texas Independence Day weekend is the perfect time to raise your Texas spirits with a trip to a Texas brewery, distillery, or winery! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites from across the state. These offer not only outstanding products but an excellent atmosphere for learning and fun! Please celebrate responsibly and don’t drink and drive by planning ahead. Breweries Jester King - Austin, Texas Jester King offers an outdoor dining & drinking experience which includes almost 2 miles of hiking trails, live music, and more across their beautiful 165-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country! It’s

What is it about Kahlúa that makes it so popular? Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans and rum, Kahlúa coffee liqueur is one of the main ingredients in many of the world's favorite cocktails. Brunch, lunch, evening drinks, or whenever—Kahlúa helps turn the average into the extraordinary and any coffee into a delicious coffee cocktail. Below you’ll find 5 delicious and super easy Kahlúa cocktails you’ll be able to whip up in no time! Kahlúa & Coffee Serves 2 Ingredients 1 and ¼ cups filter coffee 2 shots Kahlúa Sugar to taste Whipped cream Dark chocolate, grated Directions Add one

When we think of Mardi Gras we think of New Orleans. Mardi Gras began in medieval Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and eventually made its way to the French House of the Bourbons. From there, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf followed France to her colonies one of which was New Orleans. The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. Texans aren’t known for passing up a good time, so eventually Mardi Gras traditions jumped

Australia is quickly becoming one of the world powers of wine. The wine industry in Australia is perhaps the most technologically advanced, and forward-thinking on earth. Australia has no native vines. Winemaking grapevines first came to the country in 1788, from South Africa. Fast forward 234 years and Australia is now famous for its fresh, fruity red and white table wines that are extremely consistent in quality. Australia now ranks sixth in the world in wine production — making slightly more than half as much wine as the United States — and fourth in exports. The two most popular grapes

Pop the cork on a romantic Valentine’s Day evening without blowing a hole in your wallet! Check out our top 5 picks for deliciously affordable Valentine’s Day wines that’ll have you oohing and aahing all night long. Roederer Estate Brut Estate Bottled Champagne Blend $14.73 An elegant blend of approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, this Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor. Sunny With A Chance Of Flowers Sauvignon Blanc Light $11.99 Sunny with a Chance of Flowers is

Pardon me, old chap, but did you know that teatime is becoming the new happy hour?! Calm down, we’re not suggesting you replace your happy hour with tea and crumpets! Quite the contrary actually. Our mixologists have been crafting new ways to incorporate tea into delicious cocktails! Use the recipes below as an excuse to call up your Sunday brunch crew for a very un-brunchy afternoon gathered around a Mad Hatter inspired tablescape with all the fixins for tantalizing tea-based cocktails! Just don’t forget to occasionally shout "Clean cup, clean cup! Move down!" as it’s a great way to keep

Professional athletes have been endorsing products for decades; everything from shoes and apparel to cars and food. 99% of those are not made by the athlete, just endorsed. But when it comes to alcohol, athletes are much more involved in the creation and production of these brands. But are any of them any good? Check out our collection of top-rated wines and spirits from professional football players and, in some cases, entire teams. Raise your spirits with team sprits and bring home the win at Spec’s! Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Dallas Cowboys Special Edition Recently, the Dallas Cowboys teamed up

After visiting friends and family over the holidays you may have noticed your home bar was lacking. Or it could have been an inspiration to finally get yours up and running. Either way, we’ve got some tips on getting the basics covered without going overboard! Fact is, the best way to stock your bar is with the ingredients necessary for the cocktails you like to drink. It is your bar, after all! Don’t get overwhelmed right out of the gate; stocking your bar is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it slow and gather quality ingredients over time and eventually,

Looking for a great sparkling wine but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with this little rundown of what’s what in the world of sparkling wine. The main difference between sparkling wine and Champagne is that Champagne is made in the Champagne region of France and is the only sparkling wine allowed to be called Champagne. Types Of Sparking Wine Cremant – France Cava – Spain Espumante -Portugal Prosecco – Northeast Italy Lambrusco – Emilia-Romagna region of Italy Franciacorta – Lombardy region of Italy Asti – Italy Sekt – Germany American Sparkling Wine As for the price,