Holidays

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 Gin Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, the woman who created the... 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 thin... 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... 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... 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 Cocktail Ingredients 1 quart eggnog¼ cup Captain Morgan’s 100-proof spiced rum¼ cup Kahlua2 tablespoons Wild Turkey Kentucky bourbon½ teaspoon pure vanilla extractGround cinna... Read More
Holiday Gift Guide - Spec's Wines, Spirits, & Finer Foods

Spec’s Holiday Helper Guide

Spec’sology Blog, Gifts, Holidays
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 ... Read More
Thanksgiving Digestifs - Spec's Wines, Spirits, & Finer Foods

Thanksgiving Digestifs – The Anti-Food Coma

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays
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. W... Read More
Spiked Thanksgiving Dishes - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Spiked Thanksgiving

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

Specs-tacular Gift Baskets – The Art of Gifting Well

Spec’sology Blog, Entertain, Gifts, Holidays
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 ... Read More

Fall in Love with Bordeaux!

Entertain, Holidays, Wine

The cooler temperatures of Fall are upon us and that means it’s Wine Weather! And if you haven’t already heard, Bordeaux is the way to go. Take a look at our top 20 Bordeaux selections, all under $20, to expand your wine horizons and keep your wallet full.
Château Ampélia, Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2015
Owned and operated by François Despagne, of the famed Ch. Grand-Corbin-Despagne. The wines of Château Ampélia offer the freshness and mineral character that come from the li... Read More

Celebrate Year of the Dog Chinese New Year

Fun Facts About Chinese New Year

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays

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... Read More

Champagne and New Year's Eve Party Tips

NYE Champagne and Party Tips

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays

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 cel... Read More