Holidays

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Thanksgiving Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Pairings, Wine
Thanksgiving is almost here and that means the holiday stress is just starting to peak. We’re going to take care of that with some wine pairing tips you and your guests will be grateful for! Here are a few ways to go about this: One White, One Red A good and simple strategy for Thanksgiving wine is to select a very good white and a very good red, offering your guests their choice. For reds, look for soft tannins that will yield to and blend with your dishes, like Pinot Noir, Syrah, a Cabernet... Read More
Halloween & Drink Pairings - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Halloween Movie Drink Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Pairings
There’s something perfect about curling up with your favorite ghoul pal and making yourself too terrified to leave the couch. So, this Halloween season, you’ll want to keep the bar cart within reach as you pair up one of these frightfully delicious drinks with some classic spooky films! The Shining + Redrum Ingredients 2 oz. aged rum 1 oz. fresh lemon juice 1 oz. simple syrup 1 oz. red wine 2 sticks cinnamon (and 2 for garnish) Directions Combine aged rum, lemon juice, simple syrup and tw... Read More
Spooktacular Cocktails = Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Spooktacular Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Holidays
Scare up some refreshing fun this Halloween with our collection of spooky cocktails! These frightfully refreshing drinks are the perfect way to raise your Halloween spirits and spread some fermented fun for the adults! Swamp Juice Ingredients 1 ½ oz. vodka 1 oz. lemon juice 2 oz. Jarritos Lime Soda club soda Swedish Fish garnish: gummy worms Directions Add ice and Swedish Fish to glass Pour in lemon juice, lime soda, and vodka Stir, top with club soda, and garnish with gummy worms Enjoy! De... Read More
Pretty Pastel Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Pretty in Pastel: Colorful Easter Cocktails

Drink Recipes, Entertain, Holidays, Spec’sology Blog
If you’re anything like us, when you think of Easter, you tend to think in pastels. So, when you’re crafting your Easter Brunch menu, of which Easter-themed beverages are surely a part, you’ll want to take a look at our collection of pastel colored cocktails to set the perfect mood.And, if you’re curious as to why pastel is tied to Easter, the following explanation will provide a deeper meaning to this seasonal décor.Why Pastels?Pastels of white, violet, pink, and green, along with are ... Read More
St. Patrick's Day Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Holidays
Saint Patrick’s Day has a rich history that runs through the culture of Ireland as St. Patrick is the patron saint of the Emerald isle. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned around 30 years later to convert the Irish to Christianity.But let’s be honest, here in America St. Patrick’s Day has basically just become an excuse to wear green, put on green head ware, and, most importantly, consume ... Read More
Mardi Gras Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Mardi Mardi We Like to Party – Mardi Gras Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Entertain, Holidays
Mardi Gras is all about overindulgence, in fact, the name itself is French for Fat Tuesday. It takes place the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is a celebration of all the rich food and drinking excessiveness before the leaner days of Lent begin. The most famous Mardi Gras celebration in America takes place in New Orleans, home to some of the richest food and abundance of alcohol in the U.S. While not everyone has access to the plethora of bars found in New Orleans, you can still have a collecti... Read More
Wine & Chocolate Pairings - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Divine Chocolate & Wine: Sweet Valentine’s Day Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Gifts, Holidays, Pairings
Your significant other isn’t the only thing that can sweep you off your feet this Valentine’s Day! Chocolate and wine have been having a discreet love affair for centuries and we think you should get in on the action. If paired correctly, chocolate and wine can be the ultimate power couple. Check out our pairing list and get ready to indulge!Chocolate & Sea Salt + VerdejoWhite wine goes wonderfully with salty foods and the combination of this Spanish Verdejo with a sea salt milk chocolat... Read More
New Spirits To Try 2020 | Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

New Year, New Spirits – What to Try in 2020

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Spirits
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 GinMaster Distiller Lesley Gracie, the woman who created the Hendric... Read More
Creative Uses for Champagne - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Cheers to Champagne

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Entertain, Holidays
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... Read More

Holiday Bordeaux 2019

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Wine, Wine Reviews
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... Read More
DIY Alcohol Advent Calendar - Spec's Wines, Spirits, & Finer Foods

Cheers to the Season! DIY Alcohol Advent Calendar

Spec’sology Blog, Gifts, Holidays
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 Dece... Read More
Eggnog Cocktails - Spec's Wines, Spirits, & Finer Foods

Eggnog Grog: Eggnog Holiday Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Holidays
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 CocktailIngredients1 quart eggnog¼ cup Captain Morgan’s 100-proof spiced rum¼ cup Kahlua2 tablespoons Wild Turkey Kentucky bourbon½ teaspoon pure vanilla extractGround cinnamonGround cl... Read More