Spec’sology Blog

10 Champagnes Under $15!

Entertain
If you plan to pop, fizz and clink your way into the New Year, we have the selection and savings to fill up your flute! Taking your night up a notch with a crisp, quality champagne doesn’t have to be costly. Here is a list of our favorite bubblys on a budget, in no particular order: Segura Viudas Spanish Extra Dry Reserve $10.69 Aria Brut Sparkling $7.99 Zonin Asti Spumante $8.49 Labet Cremant De Bourgogne $14.99 Castellblanch Spanish Extra Brut Sparkling $7.99 Dibon Brut Riserva Spanish Spark... Read More
Finer Things

Last Minute Gift Ideas!

Entertain
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be hectic! If you’re scrambling to find last minute gift ideas that will impress without breaking the bank, we have a guide to help. Zonin Prosecco Well-balanced and appealing, it makes an excellent aperitif and can also be served throughout any meal. Turin Liqueur Chocolates These world-class, premium chocolates offer a unique and luscious experience that will satisfy even the most sophisticated palate. 99 West Pinot Noir Cinnamon, clove,... Read More

Cheers to the New Year!

Entertain
Let the countdown begin! 2013 is coming to a close and it’s time to raise our glasses to the start of a new year! To help ring in 2014 why not take the bubbly up a notch and give one of these Champagne cocktails a try? Have your own favorite New Years drink? Share it with us in the comments! Bellini 4 oz Champagne or sparkling wine 2 oz peach juice Pour the peach juice into a champagne flute. Slowly add champagne and serve. Black Velvet 4 oz Champagne or sparkling wine 4 oz chilled stout Pour ... Read More

Treat Yourself: Delicious Dessert Cocktails!

Entertain
Lose the fork and pop the cork, it’s dessert time! Using infused liquors, creamy mixers and sweets to top them off, these recipes transform classic desserts into delicious drinks. The best part? There is no cooking involved, they are easy to make and are sure to impress the guests at your next dinner party. Red & White Delight 2 oz strawberry flavored vodka 3 dashes white crème de menthe 2 1/2 oz cranberry juice Candy cane for garnish Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with i... Read More

Summer Seasonals! Saison and Session Beers

Entertain
Summer is the season for both saison and session beers, and Spec’s has plenty of both! A saison beer (also known as “farmhouse-style”) is a pale ale that originated in Belgium for farm workers to drink in the summer. As craft brewing has taken off, several interpretations of this style have developed, but it is always light, with grassy, “funky” flavors and the hoppiness of pale ale. “Session” is the term for a lower-alcohol beer with a balanced flavor and clean finish that can be ... Read More

Go Wild For Watermelon! Seasonal Watermelon Drinks

Drink Recipes, Spirits
June is watermelon season, and what better way to cool off than with a juicy cocktail? Watermelon works wonders with a wide range of liquors – all available at Spec’s! Here’s a list of libations that showcase watermelon and celebrate summer! Pink and Gold (serves 4) 5 cups diced watermelon, divided into 1-cup portions 6 oz gin, divided into 1 ½ oz portions 8 tbsp lime juice (2 tbsp per cocktail) 1 1/3 cup ginger ale lime wedges for garnish Freeze 1 cup watermelon for garnish. Purée the ... Read More

Bring The Heat! Hot Sauce/Salsa Tasting Party

Finer Foods
While the weather may not yet be at its hottest, why not turn up the heat with a hot sauce or salsa tasting party? Spec’s has a great selection of spicy and sweet spreads – plus all the cooling drinks any hot party needs! To put together a comprehensive spread, start with the mild end of the spectrum  and build up the Scoville scale (the official measurement of the heat of chili peppers). Within this huge range, there’s room for some delicious variations with roasted, sweet, or otherwise ... Read More

Taste More Texas! Keg-Only Texas Beers

Beer
Spec’s appreciates Texas brews, and strives to offer great beers in every possible form. In some cases, that means keg-only offerings. Although there’s been a recent, explosive growth of great Texas breweries, many of them do not have bottling equipment and a limited distribution radius. While individual bottles from these breweries may be missing from the Spec’s shelves, it’s easy to order them at the stores for special-occasion keg parties and kegerators. Draft-exclusive beers make an ... Read More

Stay in Season at Spec’s! Perfect Pineapple Drinks

Drink Recipes, Spirits
Spring is sneaking up, and Spec’s is ready with everything you need to find a new spring beverage! Pineapples have just come into season, so here are a couple of recipes for luscious libations that’ll make your March! Bright, fresh herbs like basil and mint balance out the sweetness of the pineapple nicely. Pineapple Basil Cocktail 3 basil leaves, rolled and sliced into strips ¼ lime ¼ cup pineapple juice 1 ½ oz gin club soda ice Muddle basil and lime in the bottom of a highball glass... Read More

Local Beer, Global Impact!

Beer
Spec’s is proud to stock a huge selection of beers from from local breweries such as Live Oak, Austin Beer Works, and Real Ale! Whether you’re building your beer collection or picking up a keg for your football bash, locally brewed beers can bring new flavors to your table and add an extra level of planet-saving sustainability to your toast. How does Spec’s selection of local brews add green power to your pint? Locally brewed beer is a more environmentally friendly product from a transport... Read More

Regal Rice: Special-Designation Sake

Spirits, Wine
Spec’s stocks some spectacular sake – and shows that there’s much more to this Japan-based beverage than an unusual bottle. We previously provided an intro to sake, but for further facts, here’s more on this delicious rice-based beverage. The process of sake production is simple. The rice is washed and steamed, then mixed with yeast and a mold known as “koji.” (See our introductory sake post for more on koji.)This mix is allowed to ferment while adding more rice, water, yeast, and ko... Read More

Pack a Punch! Perfect Punches for New Year’s Cheers!

Drink Recipes, Holidays, Spirits
New Year’s Night is nigh, and Spec’s is stoked to help you host! We’re fully stocked with all manner of merriment, from party trays to barware, and our experts are eager to assist you in perfecting your party plan. One low-key way to keep glasses raised is to make a punch your celebratory centerpiece. These historical bowlfuls may have a bad rep for soggy fruit and melted sherbet, but the recent interest in craft cocktails has led to the delicious rediscovery of punches for all occasions. ... Read More