Spirits

Crown Royal Shooter

Crown Royal Flavors and Shooter Recipes

Spec’sology Blog, Spirits
Hear ye, hear ye! Make way for the Crown. Crown Royal is more than a whisky with a regal name. In fact, the brand got its name because it was created to honor King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s first trip to Canada. As the top-selling Canadian whisky in the world, it’s no wonder that in North America many believe that Crown Royal does, indeed, wear the crown of whiskies.The most preferred method to drink Crown Royal is neat or on the rocks. However, when you’re pleasing a variety of part... Read More

Top Picks For American Whisky Month

Spec’sology Blog, Spirits

Whiskey is made all over the US and there are more and more distilleries popping up all of the time. We’ve put together a list of 6 American whiskeys that are worth taking a break from your usual.

But first, let’s go into some detail about whiskey and bourbon. All bourbon is whiskey is but not all whiskey is bourbon. The folks over at Jim Beam say, “Bourbon is kinda like whiskey’s ‘sweet spot’ … because corn is a sweet grain. The more corn, the sweeter the whiske... Read More

6 Cognac and Food Pairings

Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Spirits

Who is cognac?
Cognac is that person you go on a date with who whispers,

“I’m not like all the others, you know—I’m complex.”

Intriguing. Bold. And yes. Very complicated in taste. Many think Cognac is difficult to pair with most foods—that she demands to be savored all by herself, with our palate’s full and undivided attention.

But there’s a side to cognac you haven’t seen yet. A friendlier side.

Cognac, with her balance of fruit and acidity is much easier to pair ... 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 th... 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 g... 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 k... 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