Spec’sology Blog

I tasted through a lot of Bordeaux in 2019. Not a disproportionately high amount, but Bordeaux has been on a fairly unprecedented run of quality vintages dating back to 2014, so there are a lot of great wines both currently available and coming soon to market (the 2017 and 2018 Bordeaux futures campaigns are still active). The most exciting aspect of tasting is stumbling across a wine that offers real value – a $20-$30 bottle that drinks like it should cost twice that – which surprisingly are still plentiful in the Bordeaux category. If I can find one wine like

It’s hard not to notice Christmas is coming even as early as the beginning of November, so you don’t technically need an Advent calendar to remind you but getting to open a little prize is a joy in and of itself! We know it as a calendar with little chocolates hidden behind paper doors that you get to eat every day until Christmas, but what is Advent and where did the calendar come from? What Is An Advent Calendar? Advent is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on December 25th. Historians estimate that Advent, which derives from

We are pleased to announce Spec’s TOP WINE PICKS OF 2019! Our wine experts have traveled to Spain, Napa Valley, and everywhere in between this year tasting thousands of different wines to better serve our customers (and to enjoy some great wine too). These will be great for a Holiday gift or a dinner for two. We hope you enjoy trying these amazing wines! Blue Rock ‘Best Barrels’ Cabernet Franc 2016 Alexander Valley, California The ‘Best Barrel’ program for Blue Rock is an intensive progress where the best barrels from each vintage are kept off to the side to produce

Few drinks personify the holiday season like eggnog. While it may not be everyone’s favorite, it certainly hits the spot when spiked with alcohol. With so many varieties of eggnog and eggnog cocktails out there, we decided to offer up some of our favorites to help you get through the holidays! Spiced Eggnog Cocktail Ingredients 1 quart eggnog¼ cup Captain Morgan’s 100-proof spiced rum¼ cup Kahlua2 tablespoons Wild Turkey Kentucky bourbon½ teaspoon pure vanilla extractGround cinnamonGround clovesGround nutmegDemerara sugar, to coat the rim of each glass Directions In a blender, add eggnog, rum, Kahlua, bourbon and vanilla.In a small dish,

Gifting Some of our top gifts to give your friends and loved ones for the holiday season! Homemade Maple Pecan Pie made with Crown Royal It’s everything you love about pie with a subtle kick of everything you love about bourbon. The infusion of Crown Royal Maple Bourbon highlights the seasonal flavors in every slice of sticky sweet perfection! But you’ll want to hurry in and get yours soon as they’re only available for a limited time! Watermelon Tapping Kit Perfect for the friend that’s always outside grilling! Use this on watermelon as well as other fruits. Included in the

Next time you hit up the farmers market for fresh veggies, fruits, and flowers, consider turning your farm-to-table goodness into a farm-to-bar cocktail! Botanical cocktails are garden-inspired cocktails that can encompass a myriad of ingredients relating to a plant. Everything from spices and herbs to oils and tinctures to create a naturally delicious beverage that flaunts your bar skills and your green thumb! Whether you get your ingredients from the grocery store, farmers market or just pick them out of your garden, we’ve put together a list of 5 fantastic recipes for you to try out! Botanical Bee’s Knees Ingredients

It’s culturally rare for Americans to indulge in a multicourse meal over several hours, but Thanksgiving is one of those times we do exactly that. It’s also a time to consider wrapping up your meal with a digestif! What Are Digestifs? Digestifs are much more popular in European countries where families often gather for large grand meals later in the evening leaving them rather full, and therefore in need of a way to settle the stomach before bed. This is where a digestif comes in. What Is The Purpose of Digestifs? Digestifs are found in a wide variety of flavors

Have your cake and drink it too with these mouthwatering cake cocktails! Skip the oven and warm up the shaker instead. All you need are a few ingredients, a shaker, some ice, and of course sprinkles - even if you don’t need them for a particular cocktail, sprinkles are always good to have on hand! These crowd-pleasers are perfect for any occasion but especially birthdays, weddings, bridal showers, and neighborhood get-togethers. So, gather your pals and get to caking with these 10 delicious cake cocktail recipes. Cake Batter Martini Ingredients 3 oz Cake Vodka 3 oz white/clear creme de cacao

Thanksgiving is coming up soon, and this year why not kick up the fun by infusing your holiday dishes with a little something extra! We talk a lot about food and wine pairings, but did you know that if it pairs well you can cook it right into the dish? We’re talking everything from bourbon to beer to biscuits and birds! We’ve put together some of our favorites to help you add a splash of palate pizzazz to your plate! Rosé Cranberry Sauce Ingredients 1 ½ cups Rosé12 oz fresh cranberries2 cups sugar1 red pear1 pomegranate1 orange juiced1 orange, zested

The holidays can be a stressful time. Decorating the house, preparing for guests, hosting guests, feeding guests, and buying presents for everyone all while trying to embrace the holiday spirit can take a toll on even the cheeriest residents of Whoville. A great way to cut your gifting stress down (sorry, but we can’t do anything about your uncle-in-law clipping his toenails in the living room) is to shop Spec’s vast collection of gift baskets! And as an extra bonus, you can just simply call in your order and pick it up at your convenience. Order a Pre-Made or Custom

“Shall we retire to the study for cigars and brandy?” You’ve heard this before in a movie and they always make it sound so relaxing, but what happens if you have no idea what you’re doing when it comes to pairing a cigar with a fine spirit? Well, you either get it wrong and everyone notices, or you get it right and everyone notices. Either way, people are going to find out whether you know what you’re doing or not and, depending on the company, judge you accordingly. So, instead of fumbling around in the smoke-filled dark, why don’t we

Perhaps you’ve heard, but sugar is one of the culprits that leads to your morning after, regret-filled headache. Thankfully, there’s an easy and delicious way to combat the effects of dehydration due to alcohol - pickle juice! That’s right, this salty water is the key to retaining water and keeping you hydrated into the morning. It’s an easy to use cocktail ingredient most of us have at home anyway and makes for some truly unique and tasty beverages. Here are a few ways to work this lifesaver into your next happy hour - you can thank us later. Tequila Pickleback