Thursday June 17, 2021
... PSA: Rosé Fest is THIS Sunday.
This Week: In case you forgot: Father's Day is THIS Sunday. Get your gifts in order and card written. Better yet, think outside the Dad's day gift box and take him to Rosé fest which also happens to be on Sunday. Then, use your ticket stubs to save 20% on your next purchase here at NLWS through Aug 31.

If you need other ideas for Dad's Day gifts, peep Todd's whisk(e)y and gin reviews as well as the usual staff picks. We taste it all - hard work, but someone's gotta do it.

The reminder: Rosé Fest is back and better than ever. Hosted by our friends at Solo Vino in St. Paul, Rosé Fest is happening on Sunday, June 20. Article here from MSP Mag that'll get you stoked. And then.. information and link to tix below.

On the agenda: Friday tasting! 4pm until 8pm. Our very own Nick will be pouring. Nick's Picks to be announced. Taste, enjoy and get 10% off your purchase of any wines on the tasting table. Of course, don't forget to ask about that Secret Sipper.

Enjoy the cooler weather up ahead.

Cheers,
The Team at NL Wine & Spirits
ROSÉ FEST IS THIS SUNDAY!
Shoutout to a favorite event hosted by our wine friends in St. Paul.

WHEN: Sunday, June 20, 2021
Tickets available for 2:00, 4:00, 6:00PM sessions.

WHERE: KELLOGG MALL PARK, ST. PAUL, MN

WHAT: 90-minute tasting sessions will feature 8 samples of rosĂ© and a catered snack from Revival Smoked Meats. The Wine Company Spritzer Station and RosĂ© Garden will feature full sized pours of the rosĂ©s offered at the festival plus a variety of delicious canned seltzers, spritzes, and other fun libations like Hoxie Spritzer, St. Agrestis Spritz, and Greenhook Ginsmiths Gin & Tonic. (No ticket necessary to visit the Spritzer Station and RosĂ© Garden.) Local producer and DJ AndrĂ© Mariette will be spinning chill vibes from his Somber Summer EP throughout the day.

Tickets:

The best part? Show us your Rosé Fest ticket stub at our shop to get 20% off of your wine purchase. We'll honor the stub discount through August 31. So, if you lose that tiny little ticket stub and find it mid-July - come by for the sweet discount!
Whisk(e)y for Dad: One of Those Gifts You Can't Mess Up
Sure, not the most inventive idea. But hey, it is tried and true - Todd highlights two of his favorite bottles to gift and have on hand for himself.
Father's Day is this weekend and we are here for you. Whether you are looking for the perfect bottle of wine, a delicious bottle of whiskey, or a refreshing beer our staff is here to help you find the perfect libation for celebrating dad. Decisions are hard, we get it. So, a few ideas from me. Cheers!
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Green Spot Irish Whiskey - $59.99
Green Spot is a single pot still Irish whiskey with a fascinating history. The whiskey was originally produced exclusively for Mitchell & Sons Grocers in Dublin. The folks at Mitchell & Sons would place the barrels of whiskey in their bonded underground storage facility. They would then paint different colored spots on the barrel heads to differentiate between barrel types and how long they planned to age the whiskey. The result is Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Blue Spot, and Red Spot Irish whiskies. Green Spot is made of malted and unmalted barley (which originally helped the Irish distillers avoid English taxes) and is aged in bourbon and sherry barrels.

On the nose I get orchard fruits, warm, dried oak, and a bit of cantaloupe. The first taste provides notes of cinnamon and brown sugar, as many reviewers have noted, the flavors are reminiscent of a rich snickerdoodle cookie. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming and provides a nice warmth on the tongue. This is one of my favorite sipping whiskies, but I am also very partial to Irish whiskey, most especially single pot still.
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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon - $64.99
1920 Prohibition Style is part of Old Forester’s Whiskey Row series that commemorates significant moments in Old Forester history. Prohibition went into effect in 1920, shuttering many distilleries and officially stopping whiskey production in the United States. Six distilleries in the United States were issued permits from the federal government to sell medicinal whiskey, Old Forester was one of those. At the time whiskey was also a pharmaceutical product, often prescribed as a pain killer, antibiotic, or cough medicine. You might have had to fake a cough, but you could buy Old Forester during all of Prohibition.
 
Old Forester 1920 is bottled at 115 proof, which is approximately what barrel strength would have been around 1920. For some the high proof point may be a bit much, but you should feel free to add water or ice if you need to tone it down.
 
Aromas of baked cherries, chocolate, caramel, and seasoned oak jump out of the glass. Taking a sip I get a lot of caramel and notes of graham cracker or shortbread. The finish is long on this one, continue to get caramel and a bit of s’more on the palate.
 
Old Forester 1920 is a great sipper for an evening in air conditioning. If you decide to venture out and maybe sit on the patio simply add some club soda or ginger ale for a whiskey highball. The higher proof point of the bourbon will still come through and the club soda will help keep you refreshed in the hot sun.
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Ok, Ok... Dad's Whisk(e)y Collection is already in good shape, so now what?
Kyrö Napue Gin - $33.99
 
This Finnish gin is distilled from rye and features 17 botanicals in the recipe. 13 of those are traditional gin botanicals such as juniper, coriander, and angelica root. Four of the botanicals are locally foraged in Finland. Aromas of cumin and coriander are prominent and continue on the palate, adding the flavors of turmeric, rosemary, and a bit of peppercorn. This gin is best enjoyed in a classic gin and tonic or a negroni.

Cheers!
Todd
Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink.

2015 Heitz Cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $84.99
Father's Day is this Sunday and I would be remiss if I didn't pay homage to my pops in writing about the wine of our namesake. Full disclosure, my last name is Heitz and my pops and I may very well be related to the Heitz family in Napa that started their winery there in 1961. Joe Heitz was a legendary vitner in Napa, ushering in the modern era with his iconic and globally celebrated wines, including Napa Valley's first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard. This wine is as classic as it gets, the real deal, old-school Napa Cab that is elegantly structured, with beautiful aromas of blackberry and nutmeg. Aged for four years in French barrels, both old and new. Luscious weight and texture with a racy edge of acidity on the palate make this a powerful wine with wonderful aging potential. The 2015 vintage was unusually warm resulting in reduced yields with impeccable fruit. It should be drinking beautifully right now so splurge a little for Father's Day this year. He's worth it!
-Angie

2019 Envinate, Lousas Vinas De Aldea, Ribera Sacra, Galicia, Spain - $43.99 
Fathers day is Sunday so it gives us a great excuse to splurge on wine! Whether your buying this for you Father, Husband or yourself this is certainly a special bottle that will do justice for that certain someone in your life. This cuvee is made up of 90-95% MencĂ­a with other co-planted varietals blended in. This vintage Viña de Aldea was foot-trodden in open top plastic tubs, fermented spontaneously with wild yeasts, with 40% whole clusters included, and raised in old barrels for 11 months with no racking and no SO2 added until bottling. It is a very fresh and elegant red with beautiful aromatics of black pepper, pomegranate, and herbs, which leads to an elegant and pure palate with loads of peppery tannins, and a dry finish. only 300 – 6 packs produced!
-Nick Z.

2018 I. Brand & Family, Bates Ranch, Cabernet Franc, Central Coast, California - $36.99
Here's a fun one. Ian Brand is a Bonny Doon alum making distinctive wines in California, always from small remote vineyards and very old vines. His I Brand & Family line is home to his smallest production wines and these entries tend to be brimming with personality. The Bates Ranch Cabernet Franc is one of two Cab Francs by Brand. This one starts off deceptively simple with ripe cranberry and herbal notes and is fairly light on the palate . However, the wine has some concentration and good length and, as it evolves, reveals red currant and floral aromas and takes on a seamless texture through the long finish. This one's refreshing but also a bit of a thinker.
- David

2018 Ercole, Bianco, Monferratto, Piemonte IT - $15.99 (1 liter)
The Piedmont Guy, Weston Hoard, brings us wine only from the Piedmont region of Italy (hence the name of his import company, lol). In the past, he represented only family owned wineries but with Ercole he now offers us the wine of the farmer-growers themselves, through a generations-old co-op. Their vineyards are in the Monferratto area of the Piedmont. This is near Gavi where the Cortese grape makes possible one of the most beautiful white wines in Italy. So too in Monferratto is the Cortese grape making up the majority of the Ercole Bianco. With a dash of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc added for complexity and fermentation in stainless steel tanks, this wine is crisp with minerality, retained acidity, and has pleasing notes on the palate of apple, stone fruit, and white pepper. As a liter bottle this is an especially good value for a great summer white. Enjoy by itself or with a crisp fruit salad!
-Patrick

Cynar - $25.99
Cynar is a Classic Italian Amaro that has been around since the 1950's. Cynar blends together a secret recipe of 13 herbs and botanicals with the main ingredient being artichoke. Which is where it's name comes from. Cynar has a very dark amber appearance and on the nose there is warm spice citrus and a hint of menthol. On the palate there is a nice viscosity that coats the mouth and flavors of kola, bitter orange, dark chocolate and there is a vegetal quality coming from the artichoke.  Cynar is amazing by itself or on the rocks. It also mixes great. One of my favorite cocktails is the Boulevardier which is whiskey, Campari and sweet vermouth. I like to substitute the Campari with Cynar and and you get a very dark, rich, herbaceous, Manhattany cocktail. 

Cynar Boulevardier
1.5 oz  Rye Whiskey
1 oz   Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
.75 oz  Cynar
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice, stir and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
-Nikola
VERY IMPORTANT: Cute Dog Visitors!
Dog pics are an excellent way to spread cheer, we hear.
Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits