Spec’sology Blog

Relaxing with a whiskey by the fire doesn’t have to mean sipping on a sniffer-full of scotch. We’ve put together a collection of fireside-appropriate whiskey cocktails that’ll have you pulling your recliner closer to the hearth and indulging in the delights of a cozy whiskey cocktail. Hot Toddy Ingredients 2 oz. whiskey4 oz. hot water, to top½ oz. lemon juice1 tbsp. honeyCinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)Ground nutmeg, for garnish (optional)Ground cloves, for garnish (optional)Star anise, for garnish (optional)Lemon peel, for garnish (optional) Directions Add whiskey, honey and lemon juice to a mug and stir to combine.Top with hot water, and

In case you’re wondering why all your friends are refusing to attend your National Hedgehog Day Party on February 2nd, it’s because the Big Game happens to be on that very same Sunday. *If you aren’t a big sports fan, the Big Game refers to the annual championship football game of the National Football League that pits the winner of the AFC against the winner of the NFC. And because you’ll spend all day in a state of perpetual curiosity; AFC stands for the American Football Conference and NFC stands for the National Football Conference. The game was born out

It’s National Cheese Day and that means it’s time to slice, melt, spread, and crumble your way to mouthwatering nirvana. We’ve put together a list of 6 of our favorite cheeses to help you do just that! Why Is Cheese So Good? First, we wanted to know what makes cheese so addictively delicious, and it turns out there’s a reason behind our cheesy cravings. Cheese contains casein and casein fragments called casomorphins, which is a casein-derived morphine-like compound. So basically, dairy protein has opiate molecules built in and when consumed, these fragments attach to the same brain receptors that prescription

It’s National Appreciate a Dragon Day! Yes, it’s a thing. So, whether you’re a fan of Puff, Smaug, or Drogon, January 16th is the day to raise a glass to your favorite mythological creature. And to make this list of dragon-inspired cocktails even more interesting, we’ve got some classic dragon movies you should checkout as well! Dragon Films The NeverEnding Story (1984) Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) DragonHeart (1996) Reign of Fire (2002) How to Train Your Dragon (2010) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) Now that you’ve got your dragon movie all picked out, you need a proper

When it comes to cold weather drinking, folks usually think of hot beverages spiked with alcohol. When it comes to winter, however, it is wine’s time to shine. Unless you’re struggling to survive in a desolate tundra, a hot beverage may not be the best route for enjoying the evening. Curled up by a roaring fire, the last thing one might want is a hot drink that matches the heat pouring out of the hearth. When’s the last time you opted for a hot coco in the middle of summer? Wine, on the other hand, is the perfect complement to

Sometimes less can be deliciously more! There’s no need to have your bar stocked with every kind of liquor imaginable in order to make great cocktails that your guests will love. And you’ll also be any bartender’s favorite patron when you ask for a 3-ingredient cocktail that doesn’t require them to toast a thinly sliced vanilla bean during peak bar hours. If you’re thinking these are going to be barebones, old school, cocktails that your granddad drank, well you’re partially right. Some of the most enduring drinks have the simplest ingredients, which is probably why they’ve managed to stand the

If you’re looking to raise a glass to something new in 2020, we’ve put together a list of our favorite new spirits to hit the market this year and we’re excited to share. From floral, seasonal gin to flavored vodka infused with Japanese citrus fruit, and an entirely new spirit that’s similar to mescal yet completely different, these five new spirits are more than worthy of your attention. Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice Gin Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, the woman who created the Hendrick’s brand, has released a brand-new gin. Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice ups the floral essences that pair so wonderfully with

Champagne is known as the drink of choice for celebrations of all kinds, but this bubbly beverage is so much more than a special occasion sipper. Champagne can be used in all sorts of dishes from risotto to Jell-O and everything in between! We’ve put together a list of great Champagnes and sparkling wines for the holidays along with some recipe ideas to use with any leftovers you might have. Or if you’re like us, you might just want to buy an extra bottle or two as there’s no such thing as leftover Champagne. Top 5 Best-Selling Champagnes Brands of

Everyone knows the holidays are a time of indulgence; and most of us also know they’re a time of notorious overindulgence. No other time of the year is it seen as perfectly normal to have several pie options sitting on your table or to begin considering whipped cream as a condiment. With those delicious thoughts in mind, we’ve decided to help you dive a little deeper into the appetizing abyss of delectable desserts by incorporating alcohol! These dessert-inspired cocktails will either help you curb your diet demons or have the completely opposite effect and allow you to double indulge your

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