Spec’sology Blog

We all know what Oktoberfest is and which country it takes place in, but do we know why it even occurs in the first place? Sure, Germany makes some world-class beers, but is that the reason for the season? Turns out, this beer bash was born out of another party; a wedding party to be precise. Back in 1810, the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, opted to turn the traditionally stuffy, private, nobles-only wedding celebration into a massive public festival complete with a huge agricultural fair, food vendors, and even an extravagant horse race at

As autumn arrives, bringing crisp air and seasonal change, our desires shift towards richer culinary experiences. We seek deeper flavors and wines that capture the essence of the season. This transition from light summer wines to heartier fall selections is driven by the harmonious pairing of wine, food, and the overall autumn atmosphere. In fall we’re eating roasted root vegetables, squash, wild mushrooms, game meats, hearty stews, and foods spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, sage and thyme. The wines that shine in this season often feature oak-derived notes like vanilla, toast, baking spice; or they reflect earthiness, forest floor, dried leaves,

The History of Whiskey The history of whiskey dates back to Medieval monks in Scotland and Ireland whose monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the European continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillations of modern whisky. The Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in the world, opened in Northern Ireland in 1608, but it would take nearly 200 more years for America to put its own whiskey on the map. American Whiskey Is Born Whiskey made its way to America with the arrival of the first colonists and the encouragement of settlers to move

Tailgating can be a simple affair with a couple of six packs and some pals to share them with before the game. Or tailgating can turn the back of your truck into a grand banquet hall fit for gridiron kings! (There’s probably a middle ground here as well, something above average, but not requiring pyrotechnics or FAA clearance.) Turn your tailgate into a top shelf experience with these simple tips and ideas from your fun-loving friends at Spec’s! Eat Up your grub game with some high-quality party trays that’ll keep everyone fed and fueled for game time! Wings & Drinks

Send summer off with a delicious bang with these perfect end of summer cocktails! Blood Orange Champagne Mule Ingredients 1 ½ oz. vodka juice of ½ a medium blood orange juice of ½ a lime 4 mint leaves 2 oz. chilled ginger beer Top off with chilled champagne or prosecco Directions Add all ingredients to a glass and top off with a splash of bubbly. Grilled Watermelon Margarita Ingredients 1 oz. Cointreau 2 oz. tequila 1 oz. fresh lime juice 0.5 oz. grilled watermelon syrup 0.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice Directions Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake

Chianti, pronounced “kee-on-tee”, is a red wine blend from the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy, made primarily with Sangiovese grapes. You used to see it in a squat bottle wrapped in straw, but nowadays most producers use standard bottles and have left the straw off completely. The History Of Chianti The history of Chianti dates back to at least the 13th century with the earliest incarnations of Chianti as a white wine. Over the years, Chianti has evolved into the red blend you see today. The first known “Chianti recipe” was created in 1872, and recommended 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo

Pinot Noir is a black wine grape variety that hails from France. It’s one of France’s oldest grapes, cultivated more than a century ago by the Cistercian monks in Burgundy. Today, collectors prize Pinot Noir for its finesse and age-worthiness. Due to its popularity and difficulty to grow, it’s one of the world’s most expensive wines. Finding the right Pinot Noir for you can be deliciously challenging as Pinot Noir wine taste varies based on climate, soil, and producer style. Cooler climates produce more delicate and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Warmer climates produce riper and fuller-bodied Pinot Noirs with higher alcohol.

You don’t have to fly to some exotic location to enjoy a much-needed summer vacation! With a state as big as Texas, there’s plenty to do all within a day of travel! Check out some of our favorite summer spots in Texas and be sure to hit up Spec’s on your way for everything you’ll need to have a great time! New Braunfels New Braunfels is known for being a city that loves to have fun on its rivers. With two rivers to choose from, and plenty of tubing companies for each, you could spend a whole weekend here and

The history of rum as we know it today begins in 2010. Before this period, rum was considered a mythical libation due to its draconian production methods. It was reported that in order to make rum, one was required to do so on a ship, in the eye of a hurricane. The rum was then rapidly bottled and sold to the sailors under the prerequisite that they must consume the rum before sailing through the hurricane. Hence the nickname “Suffering Sea Sugar”. Things changed in 2010 with the birth of Arabella Landrum. This American actress, best known for Antebellum (2020),

With Texas opened back up and everyone looking for something to do this summer, we thought it might be nice to put together a list of no-stress good times. We couldn’t think of a better way to get back out there than by enjoying some live music. So, we’ve put together a handful of shows across Texas and even did you the courtesy of pairing them with a pre-concert cocktail to get you in the mood to groove! Justin Bieber – DFW – Aug 6 The Despacito Ingredients 1 ½ oz. reposado tequila ½ oz. sherry ½ oz fresh lemon

Choosing an Italian wine can be a bit overwhelming, but that’s what happens when a country has been making wine for several thousand years. In fact, Italy is the leading wine producing country in the world both in terms of volume and exports. Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy and is home to some of the oldest wine-​producing regions on Earth. But don’t let the sheer number of options keep you from exploring all Italian wines have to offer! With such a large array of Italian wines to choose from, you can spend as little or as

The 2021 Summer Games, previously known as the 2020 Summer Games, kickoff on July 23rd with the first sporting event starting the following day. New to the games this year are 4 sports making their Olympic debut: surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and karate. Rumor has it that breakdancing will make its first appearance at the winter Pairs games. With 205 countries participating, we thought it was a good opportunity to explore some unique cocktails from various countries. So, in the spirit of the Summer Olympics, let’s get into spirits from around the world! Thailand The Siam Sunray combines vodka, coconut