Spec’sology Blog

When most people think of Spanish wine they inevitably think of sangria, but Spain has a lot more to offer when it comes to wine! The origin of wine in Spain is old enough to have been lost to time as no one really knows who first brought vines to the area. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded what are now the cities of Cadiz and Jerez, viticulture was well established, and Spanish wines became widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. In the 19th century the devastating vine louse phylloxera was destroying

When you think whiskey, you typically think of countries like Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the U.S., but there are actually over 25 whiskey-producing nations around the world. These different regions of the world have different spellings – whiskey or whisky, and neither is technically wrong. Whiskey is generally used in the US and Ireland, while whisky is used in Scotland, Canada, and Japan. Whiskey is made by distilling fermented grains and evidence of this process can be traced as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. This style of creating alcohol eventually found its way into European monasteries. It arrived in Scotland

When Irish eyes start smiling, knowing the proper libation to serve will help keep them that way. That being said we’ve put together a list of the top, and some obscure, Irish potations for you to keep on hand this St. Patrick’s Day. Bunratty Irish Honey Mead Created from an old Irish recipe this mead is made of honey, white wine, and herbs and produces a fairly sweet mead well-suited for a variety of occasions. Served cold or slightly warmed, it pairs well with chicken or turkey, and is the perfect finish to a St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned

The largest non-official work holiday is almost here! Non-official work holiday? By this we’re referring to the last few weeks of March where you keep one eye on keeping up appearances and the other firmly planted on some sort of visual display showing college basketball. It’s March Madness! And while American companies reportedly lose at least $1.2 billion per every hour of unproductivity during the first week of the NCAA tournament, you can certainly raise the bar on your watch parties with some delicious cocktails. So, before the whistle blows be sure to have your cocktails ready to roll with

St. Patrick’s Day typically conjures images of green beer, tacky t-shirts, and terrible Irish accents. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, if you give us a minute, you’ll be the historically savvy fella spreading a smidge of knowledge about the man behind this gloriously green holiday! Patrick, “the patron saint of Ireland”, was actually born in Roman Britain, not Ireland. His birth name wasn’t Patrick either – it was Maewyn Succat, but he chose to go by Patricius. While his father was a deacon in the early Christian church, Patrick wasn’t much of a believer until he was

The rise in Chilean wines may seem new to the wine world, but Chile has been planting grapevines since the 1500’s. The recent surge in Chilean wine exports has finally brought the recognition these vintners deserve; prior to the 1990’s almost all of Chilean wines were consumed by its residents. This slender strip of land produces festive sparklers, crisp and refreshing whites, and bold, world-class reds, plus every style in between. Chile’s topography creates islands of isolation for the vineyards protecting them from the elements. Bordered by the cool Pacific Ocean to the west and the snow-capped Andes to the

Australia is one of the most prolific wine-producing countries in the world and not many people in the U.S. are aware of it. History of Australian Wine The birth of Australian wine making first started when vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope were brought to the penal colony of New South Wales in 1788. Although these first vines failed, eventually other settlers managed to successfully cultivate vines for winemaking, and Australian made wine was available for sale domestically by the 1820s. Currently, wine is produced in every state, with more than 60 designated wine regions totaling around 160,000

Martinis are no longer restricted to business lunches and casually cool spies. In fact, it’s as common to see them at brunch as it is at happy hour. From gin or vodka to fruity, sweet, or savory, the martini is a jack of all trades. Join us in celebrating this versatile cocktail during National Martini Month with one of these delicious recipes and let your fancy flag fly! Snickerdoodle Martini The perfect dessert martini! Creamy, sweet, and decadent in all the right ways. Ingredients 2 oz. Ketel One Vodka 1 cup heavy cream 1 oz. Monin Caramel Syrup ¼ cup

Valentine’s Day is here, and Spec’s has you covered with gifts for all! Sure, when you think Spec’s, you think alcohol, and while that’s most certainly true, Spec’s also offers a ton of other items to woo your boo! Since you’re probably in a hurry to find a gift and not looking for the history of Valentine’s Day or other random factoids, we’ll get right to it! Gifts for Her A Bouquet of Rosés Korbel Sweet Rosé House Wine Rosé Castellblanch Rosado Brut Carat Cava Budget Friendly Bubbly for your Beloved Ayala Brut Majeur Chandon California Brut Classic Lucien Albrecht

Chunky or creamy, peanut butter is just dreamy! From the classic PB&J to a smoothie ingredient to just eating it out of the jar, peanut butter has been an American staple for decades. So, on National Peanut Butter Day, we dug deep to find our favorite peanut butter drink recipes. Join us as we expand your peanut buttery horizons with everything from peanut butter cup cocktails to PB twists on tried-and-true classic cocktails. Spiked Peanut Butter Cider Ingredients 1½ oz. peanut butter whiskey 4 oz. hot apple cider Garnish: cinnamon stick Directions Combine ingredients and garnish. Enjoy! Hard Ball Ingredients

When you think of pairing cheese with a drink, wine is usually the first to come to mind. And with good reason; cheese’s high fat content tends to coat the tongue and dampen taste receptors to beverages, but the acidity of a well-paired wine can cut through this creamy barrier and unlock flavors of both itself and the cheese. But wine isn’t the only beverage that does wonders with cheese! Join us on National Cheese Lover’s Day as we explore some interesting cheese pairings that’ll have you falling deeper in love with cheese than you ever thought possible. Sparkling Wine