Spec’sology Blog

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

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