Thursday October 29, 2020
.. tbt to when Halloween costumes were actually scary.
This Week: What a time to be alive - Halloween is falling on a Saturday, a full moon, a blue moon AND Daylight Savings. Seems a bit much for one day but hey.. what else would we expect from 2020. At least we're getting a nice little heat wave to compensate for experiencing the coldest October 26th since 1886!

Hang in there. Per usual, we have some good wine suggestions from our very "studious" staff. And, some Halloween-worthy classic cocktail ideas for when you're responsibly enjoying a very sanitized and socially distanced holiday.

Whatever the outcome next Tuesday, be prepared. Stock up. Don't be caught without wine.

Cheers,
The Team at NL Wine & Spirits
3 Classic Cocktails for Halloween
If you've been reaching for Halloween-themed beverage ideas.. we're here for you. Sometimes getting creative is hard. Any of these recipes can be multiplied to make a punch should you be having a socially distanced costume party - or just sitting on the couch with your dog.
1. The Corpse Reviver #2
This drink made its debut in the Savoy Cocktail Book circa 1930. As suggested, this was classically a hair of the dog treatment; however, The original Savoy recipe carried the note, “Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.”
Combine equal parts Gin, Lillet Blanc, Lemon Juice, Cointreau and a dash of Absinthe. Shake, strain into a coupe. Or really, enjoy however you see fit out of whatever glassware you have available.
2. El Diablo: Perfect for this impending "heat wave" - this one is incredibly refreshing, slightly sweet, and slightly spicy. And.. super easy. There are fancier versions you can shake but for a less involved version, grab a highball and pour some tequila over ice. Top with ginger beer, squeeze a fresh lime over the top. Finish by pouring about 1/4oz of Creme de Cassis over the top as a float.
3. the Necromancer: Inspired by the Corpse Reviver, this shaken drink gets a heavier dose of absinthe and just a dash of gin. Take .75oz Absinthe, .75oz Lemon Juice, .75oz Lillet Blanc, .75oz St Germain and that bit of gin - shake and serve in a coupe (or whatever you have).
STAFF PICKS
Things our staff "taste tested" this week. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Antica Terra, 'Anthikythera,' Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley - $179.99
- Potentially the best Oregon Pinot Noirs I have ever had are made by Maggie Harrison of Antica Tera. Maggie Harrison worked for the legendary Elaine and Manfred Krankl for 9 years at their winery, Sine Qua Non. This wine encompasses all the things that make a Rock-Star Oregon Pinot Noir. Sumptuousness, mineral-driven, some earth and spice.
-Mary K.

2016 Domaine de la Rochelierre, Fitou - $19.99
Fitou is a lesser know Appellation in the Southwesten France worth exploring.
With the benefits of lots of sun and the cooling Tramontane winds, coming down from the Pyrenees, this wine has sweet fruit, light spice and pepper with a balance of earth.
Organically farmed by the Fabre family, the blend of grapes for their Cuvee Tradition is Grenache Noir, Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvedre. They age the wine for a year in stainless vats to preserve the unique aromas of the Garrigue vegetation growing on the limestone hills in the local area of their vineyards.
Domaine de la Rochelierre is a great value wine, ideally matched when young to grilled beef rib eye or, when aged for a few more years, the rich Southwestern French dish of Cassolette, perfect for this winter!
-Patrick D.

J. Rieger & Co. Caffe Amaro - $35.99
Based in Kansas City, MO, J. Rieger & Co. is the revival of a historic spirits company guided in their rebirth by the legendary distiller Dave Pickerell. Since 2014 they have been leading the craft whiskey industry & have developed a distinctively Midwest style of gin, and most recently, they've begun to branch into liqueurs with this caffe amaro. Not quite a traditional Italian-style, nor a coffee liqueur, this expression stands on its own as a dry & complex herbal liqueur. The initial impression is of black licorice, caramelized citrus, and baking spices. On the palate the coffee (they use a Sumatran blend from Thou Mayest coffee roasters, also located in Kansas City) definitely shows itself, though it does not obliviate the nuances of the rest of the recipe. It's a perfect early-evening sipper for a chilly Halloween weekend, or try it in this Manhattan riff:

Midnight Manhattan
2 oz Del Maguey Vida mezcal
1/2 oz Cynar amaro
1/2 oz J. Rieger Caffe Amaro
2 dashes Bittercube Chipotle-Cacao (formerly Corazon) bitters

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass, or a rocks glass with ice, whichever is your preference. Garnish with an expressed orange peel (if you're feeling ostentatious, a flamed orange peel would not be out place with this drink).
-Nick S.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT...
Just some good dogs that visited us recently.
(We hear dog photos are a great way to spread cheer)
Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits