Spec’sology Blog

For those who enjoy entertaining, having a well-stocked bar is pivotal to your success. A handcrafted cocktail can lighten the mood, schmooze the in-laws, wow a friend, or impress a date. Being able to mix a variety of drinks at home adds a certain swanky swagger to your hosting ego, and rightly so! It’s a heck of a lot cooler than only being able to offer canned beer and shots of Fireball. We’re helping you raise the bar a little bit! Starting a home bar may seem like an intimidating endeavor, but it doesn’t need to be. Becoming an amateur,

Kombucha. You’ve probably seen it in stores, and possibly had a friend tell you all about the magical health properties of kombucha. If you haven’t heard about this tonic and are wondering what the rave is about, here’s the 411. What is Kombucha? Kombucha is a fermented, slightly alcoholic (0.5%), lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly intended as a functional beverage for its claimed health benefits. It’s often flavored with juice or spices to enhance the taste. So, there ya go – it’s fermented tea. While some of them are actually quite good, it’s definitely an acquired

In honor of Oktoberfest starting at the end of the month, and also in honor of the perfect Austria dish, the wiener schnitzel, we’ll be pairing up beers with your bites! But first, some background! What Is Schnitzel? Schnitzel is a cooking method. Pounding a piece of meat to tenderness and then lightly coating it in a flour, egg, and breadcrumb mixture before quickly pan-frying the whole thing is called “schnitzel.” Food historians debate the true origins of the method, but Austrians have claimed it as their own, making the dish something of a national treasure. Schnitzel can be found

Celebrating Labor Day only requires three ingredients for a good time: Friends, Food, and Fun. So, in keeping with the idea of minimal ingredients, and to keep you from getting stuck behind the bar making complicated cocktails all weekend, we’ve put together a collection of 3-ingredient cocktails guaranteed to keep you and your guests having a great time without wasting all of yours! 10 Three-Ingredient Cocktails 1. Limoncello Lady Ingredients 3 oz. Prosecco1 oz. Limoncello2 oz. LemonadeLemon slices (for garnish) Directions Slice your lemons for your garnish.Combine the limoncello and lemonade in a glass.Add ice to the top.When ready to

The simple pleasure of a grilled cheese is one of the most magical joys in life. We all know how the salty, fatty goodness that is melted cheese can make you stop, drop, and drool should you get even a tiny whiff. And we all know wine and cheese are basically the most perfect match ever created, but when was the last time you sat down with a homemade grilled cheese and poured yourself a glass of your favorite wine? There’s just something about the buttery, toasted bread, the rich, melty cheese, and the delicious variety of flavorful ingredients you

The mojito is a classic cocktail praised for its sweet smoothness by the likes of Ernest Hemmingway and James Bond. Usually it’s best not to mess with a classic, but sometimes you find yourself oversaturated with beachy cocktails and yearning for something familiar yet different. And that’s why we’ve gathered up some tasty twists on the mojito. Some use flavored rum, fresh fruits or even a different alcohol entirely, but one thing is for certain, they’re all refreshingly delicious! So, get your muddler ready to muddle and checkout some mouthwatering mojitos! Pineapple Mint Mojito Ingredients 2 oz. Pineapple rum½ oz.

Prosecco is Italy’s most famous sparkling wine. Known for its aromas and flavors of white spring flowers, citrus fruits, green apples and pears. They are balanced with lively acidity and an elegant mousse. People are often confused by the differences between Prosecco and Champagne, as they’re both sparkling wines from Europe. What Is The Difference Between Champagne & Prosecco? Champagne is only made in the Champagne region of France and is produced using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Because Champagne ages longer on the lees (leftover sediment in the barrels), the flavor often resembles cheese rinds. In finer

“When most people are introduced to the idea of “sour beer” they often assume something has gone wrong with the liquid. But, most of those same people are surprised and delighted with their first sip or a sour beer. The acidity comes across in a very citric, lemon way that, coupled with the carbonation and chill of the liquid, makes for a perfect hot weather thirst quencher.” The idea of beer as a flavor doesn’t usually shout a noticeable acidity, but historically most beer had a pronounced tartness shortly after the end of the brewing process. The world around us

Pool days are a summer rite of passage! They define the lazy days of the heat-soaked season and offer a fun getaway from the daily grind. And any trip to paradise needs to taste like it too! So, instead of, or along with, the standard beach and pool beverages of beer and wine, why not try some drinks you can mix up before hittin’ the water? We’ve put together some recipes that you can either premix at home or just make them at the pool with some simple ingredients. Of course, make sure to verify the rules for the particular

Mead is the oldest alcohol on Earth. Scientists have found Chinese pottery from 9,000 years ago with evidence of mead fermentation that predates both beer and wine by thousands of years. To put that into perspective, humans were just reaching the end of the Stone Age! What Is Mead? So, what exactly is mead? Simply put, mead is a fermented beverage made primarily from honey. The three basic ingredients of mead are honey, yeast, and water. It exists in its own distinct category. You may hear it referred to as honey wine, but this is incorrect as wine is made

I was outdoors for a three-hour birthday party Saturday, and it was hot – not exactly out of the ordinary for a Houston weekend in July. It’s never a surprise when that pervasive heat continues to hang over the city through August and most of September before Fall begins. But as bad as it may have been here (the high that day was pegged right at 100°F), a record-breaking heatwave crested in France last week, with temperatures in various areas reaching up to 114°F. With large swaths of the country like Bordeaux, chock full of so many historical old buildings

Welcome to the final week of Spec’s Le Pour de France wine tour! We’re following the riders across France and giving you a rundown of the wine regions they’re in so as they’re pedaling you can be pouring glasses of regional favorites. This week brings us into the south of France for some truly incredible wines with a rich history of production and viniculture. Languedoc-Roussillon Region With 300,000 hectares of vineyards covering the Languedoc-Roussillon region is France’s largest wine producing region. In fact, it’s estimated that one in every 10 bottles in the 20th century originated here. The vineyards here