Spec’sology Blog - Spirits

The key to remember is that all ryes, scotches, and bourbons are types of whiskey, but not all whiskeys are ryes, scotches or bourbons. The same way all Chardonnays are white wine but not all white wines are Chardonnays. Bourbon, scotch, rye and the like are different types of whiskey that come from different regions and share different taste properties. What Makes A Scotch, A Scotch? So, what needs to be in a Scotch in order to be able to call it Scotch? It must be produced, bottled, and distilled in Scotland. Must be based on barley and water and

As a Texas family-owned business, Spec’s makes a point to bring you the latest and greatest made-in-Texas items! We develop special relationships with Texas wineries, distilleries, and breweries to ensure our shelves are stocked with Texas-made items. Supporting local businesses like our own is just one of the many ways Spec’s puts Texas first! Join us on a tour of some tasty Texas towns with a collection of local favorites from across the Lone Star State. William Chris Skeleton Key Proprietors Red – Hye, TX William Chris Vineyards boast a majestically restored Dieke family farmhouse, and they offer barrel tastings,

The History of Whiskey The history of whiskey dates back to Medieval monks in Scotland and Ireland whose monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the European continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillations of modern whisky. The Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in the world, opened in Northern Ireland in 1608, but it would take nearly 200 more years for America to put its own whiskey on the map. American Whiskey Is Born Whiskey made its way to America with the arrival of the first colonists and the encouragement of settlers to move

You don’t have to fly to some exotic location to enjoy a much-needed summer vacation! With a state as big as Texas, there’s plenty to do all within a day of travel! Check out some of our favorite summer spots in Texas and be sure to hit up Spec’s on your way for everything you’ll need to have a great time! New Braunfels New Braunfels is known for being a city that loves to have fun on its rivers. With two rivers to choose from, and plenty of tubing companies for each, you could spend a whole weekend here and

The history of rum as we know it today begins in 2010. Before this period, rum was considered a mythical libation due to its draconian production methods. It was reported that in order to make rum, one was required to do so on a ship, in the eye of a hurricane. The rum was then rapidly bottled and sold to the sailors under the prerequisite that they must consume the rum before sailing through the hurricane. Hence the nickname “Suffering Sea Sugar”. Things changed in 2010 with the birth of Arabella Landrum. This American actress, best known for Antebellum (2020),

There’s one summer staple that often gets overlooked – the blender. Without this magnificent machine how would we whip up the perfect frozen poolside sippers to help get us through another Texas summer?! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite frozen cocktails to give your blender a much needed workout. As delicious as these are, you might be tempted to suck one down with gusto, but be careful of their chilling side effect, the dreaded brain freeze! That being said, let’s kick this off with some Jimmy Buffet wisdom: But there’s booze in the blender And soon

The martini is a timeless classic. It never falls out of fashion and there’s no shortage of Bond films to remind us of its cool factor. Numerous theories on the cocktail’s origins exist, as do numerous versions and recipes. From gin or vodka to fruity or savory, the martini is a jack of all trades. Martini Terms Dry: a martini with more gin and less vermouth Dirty: a martini with dashes of olive brine Up: chilled in a cocktail shaker and strained into a martini glass On The Rocks: served over ice as opposed to being strained into a cocktail

When you think whiskey, you typically think of countries like Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the U.S., but there are actually over 25 whiskey-producing nations around the world. These different regions of the world have different spellings – whiskey or whisky, and neither is technically wrong. Whiskey is generally used in the US and Ireland, while whisky is used in Scotland, Canada, and Japan. Whiskey is made by distilling fermented grains and evidence of this process can be traced as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. This style of creating alcohol eventually found its way into European monasteries. It arrived in Scotland

When Irish eyes start smiling, knowing the proper libation to serve will help keep them that way. That being said we’ve put together a list of the top, and some obscure, Irish potations for you to keep on hand this St. Patrick’s Day. Bunratty Irish Honey Mead Created from an old Irish recipe this mead is made of honey, white wine, and herbs and produces a fairly sweet mead well-suited for a variety of occasions. Served cold or slightly warmed, it pairs well with chicken or turkey, and is the perfect finish to a St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned

Martinis are no longer restricted to business lunches and casually cool spies. In fact, it’s as common to see them at brunch as it is at happy hour. From gin or vodka to fruity, sweet, or savory, the martini is a jack of all trades. Join us in celebrating this versatile cocktail during National Martini Month with one of these delicious recipes and let your fancy flag fly! Snickerdoodle Martini The perfect dessert martini! Creamy, sweet, and decadent in all the right ways. Ingredients 2 oz. Ketel One Vodka 1 cup heavy cream 1 oz. Monin Caramel Syrup ¼ cup

It’s January so you’ve probably finished reading all the 2020 recaps and are beyond ready to move on and leave those 365 days as far behind as possible! We feel you. So, what’s new for beverages in the year 2021 you ask? Well, settle on down and get ready to have your happy hour future read by the experts. 2021 will see the continued rise of hard seltzers as more and more brands get in on the action with new and unique offerings. Online wine education courses skyrocketed during quarantine leading consumers to begin looking for diversity in their wines,

When it comes to relaxing, a refreshing beverage is everything, and the ultimate refreshment is one that doesn’t require you to keep making a new one every time you empty your cup! Having a pitcher of perfection on hand lets you relax without having to make multiple trips to the bar, and when it comes to relaxation - less is definitely more. That’s why we’re big fans of summer punch. Make it once and you’re good for hours of delicious refreshment! They require a little more planning, but the results are absolutely worth the effort! Check out some of our