Spec’sology Blog - Spirits

Memorial Day is here and that means it’s time to drag your grill into the kitchen and put it to use! OK, you should probably skip the dragging inside part, but either way, your grill will definitely be the center of attention this holiday weekend. And where there’s grilling, there’s marinating! Everyone has their preferred method of marinating meats, and one of the most popular ways to do it involves alcohol. A bourbon marinade is an excellent choice for chicken or steak, but there are a lot of other options out there that will have folks praising you as king

As you may have noticed in your youth, when it comes to tequila you get what you pay for. A good tequila in the US can easily break the $100 mark, but if you’re just looking for a tasty one to mix up at your Cinco de Mayo party or for casual drinking, you’ll want to find something that’s both tasty and affordable. Lucky you (and us), we’ve done the research and sipped all the samples to cut out the guesswork for you. Here are 4 exceptional tequilas that will tickle your tastebuds without blowing your budget. Sauza Tres Generaciones

Tequila punch is always a wonderful addition to any gathering, but even more so for Cinco de Mayo! A punch cocktail is made with fruit juice and alcohol and is a great way to get yourself out from behind the bar and back into the party. These large-batch cocktails can be made well in advance of your gathering and stored in the fridge until guests arrive. We’ve got 5 punches to put the feisty in your fiesta! Patrón’s Citrus Punch Ingredients 2 oz agave nectar 9 oz Patrón Añejo 3 oz Martini & Rossi Bitter 3 oz freshly squeezed orange

Pairing a cigar with a tumbler of whiskey can be a delightful experience…as long as you pair the right cigar with the right bourbon. There are a few key things to keep in mind when pairing tobacco and alcohol, but the main thing is to enjoy yourself! The keys to a good pairing You want your cigar and alcohol flavors to be opposing flavors that balance each other and enhance each profile. You don’t want to pair similar flavors/notes together, as it can wash out the flavor profile and become a one-note experience. Each puff of a cigar & each

When it comes to whiskey, the most expensive isn’t necessarily the best. The price can be directly related to the distilleries marketing expenses, the amount they created, or any other business-related factor besides the quality of the whiskey. The best whiskey can vary depending on what you’re using it for. Some are excellent in cocktails while others are best sipped on a special occasion. We’ve put together some simple ways to help you figure out what you’re looking for as well as some recommendations to get sipping on. Get to know your tastes You don’t have to dive into the

Nothing screams spring like colorful flowers and fresh blooms! And we can’t think of a more suiting way to praise the petals than by adding them to a cocktail! Botanical cocktails are as delicious as they are beautiful, and we think they’re the perfect way to welcome in the changing of the seasons! Check out some of our favorite floral and herbal cocktails and be sure to hit up your local florists or garden for the pretty plant parts! Herb Gardner Ingredients 1 ½ oz Patrón Silver ¾ oz. Fresh lime juice ¾ oz. Simple syrup 2 dash Aromatic bitters

No one likes missing out on something good, especially when good means delicious! So, to make sure you aren’t raising a glass to FOMO, we talked to the experts and put together a few wines and spirits that may not be on your list but totally should be! Spirits Trail’s End 10 Year Bourbon Trail’s End 10 is the Second whiskey collaboration between Hood River Distillers, the oldest distillery in Oregon, and the expert team at Clear Creek Distillery, the second-oldest distillery in Oregon. They take a 10-year Kentucky Bourbon and then further age it in local toasted Garryana oak

Texans are in for a treat with these new products hitting shelves just in time for spring! From spirits to seltzers and everything in between, Spec’s keeps you in the know when exciting new beverages become available in Texas. Bud Light Next Bud light dropped a new zero carbs, super crisp light beer called Bud Light Next. Bud Light Next is made with malt, rice and hops, so getting it down to zero carbs was extremely challenging. In fact, Bud Light says they’ve been working on this for ten years and it was only up until recently, that some new

Texas Independence Day weekend is the perfect time to raise your Texas spirits with a trip to a Texas brewery, distillery, or winery! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites from across the state. These offer not only outstanding products but an excellent atmosphere for learning and fun! Please celebrate responsibly and don’t drink and drive by planning ahead. Breweries Jester King - Austin, Texas Jester King offers an outdoor dining & drinking experience which includes almost 2 miles of hiking trails, live music, and more across their beautiful 165-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country! It’s

Professional athletes have been endorsing products for decades; everything from shoes and apparel to cars and food. 99% of those are not made by the athlete, just endorsed. But when it comes to alcohol, athletes are much more involved in the creation and production of these brands. But are any of them any good? Check out our collection of top-rated wines and spirits from professional football players and, in some cases, entire teams. Raise your spirits with team sprits and bring home the win at Spec’s! Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Dallas Cowboys Special Edition Recently, the Dallas Cowboys teamed up

It’s that magical time of year when we get to take a look back at how the last twelve months went through the lens of what we liked best. And while lists of the top movies, music, and books are at the top of the list for lists, this is Spec’s and we’re all about the cocktails! Every year we post dozens of cocktail recipes for you to try at home, and every year you have your favorites. So, after having our highly advanced AI scrutinize your facial muscles to decipher your favorite recipes, we can mow present to you

Not all alcohol belongs in a glass. These boozy desserts are the perfect way to wrap up your Thanksgiving dinner! Spec’s Maple Pecan Pie made with Crown Royal Whisky The directions for this delicious pie come with a couple of options: you can drive to your neighborhood Spec’s and buy it in person, you can order online and choose in-store or curbside pick-up, or you can order online and have it delivered! Then you simply dispose of the packaging, sprinkle a little flour around the kitchen, and claim it as your own creation! No matter how you present it, this