Spec’sology Blog - Holidays

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

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

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

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

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

Hang the red lanterns and get ready to raise a toast to fresh starts! A worldwide party is about to begin. It has many names—the “Chinese New Year”, the “Lunar New Year” or the “Spring Festival” to name a few. The Chinese New year is a lot of fun, with many colorful traditions to go with it. Read on to learn more about this spectacular reason to celebrate! Swing into your local Spec’s where you’ll find all you need to celebrate including a variety of cognac, very affordable red tissue paper wrapping, and gift bags to go with it. Here

2018 is right around the corner! And that means it’s almost time for the big new year’s party. But before you go poppin’ bottles with your friends or family, read these very simple party-hosting tips. They’ll help make the last party of 2017, (and the first of 2018), one to remember. 1: Party Trays No New Year’s Eve party is complete without appetizers! But why spend extra time in the kitchen preparing, when you can order some gourmet party trays. A cheese plate or two is a NYE celebration staple. We recommend our Rustic European, and the Spinach and Artichoke

Cocktails and Christmas tend to go hand in hand. Whether it’s a decadent twist on hot cocoa or a sweet and spiced cider cocktail, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to sip a few fancy drinks during the most wonderful time of the year. Perhaps you need to get through an awkward work mixer, or maybe it’s the only way to tolerate a certain in-law. Regardless of your reason this season, these festive Christmas cocktails are sure to keep your spirits high and your Grinch low. Candy Cane Cocktail Ingredients For Candy Cane Infused Vodka: 1 cup