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Pumpkin Whiskey Cocktail Recipe & Two Tasty Twists on Classics

Looking for the perfect cocktail to make this season?

Here are 3 tasty recipes that you and your guests will love for the fall, Thanksgiving, and beyond.

These all feature a local whiskey distillery, Sons of Liberty Spirits, and are fun twists on cocktail classics. Visit the SOL Spirits website for even more cocktail ideas!

Cheers!

HOP_TONIC

HOP WHISKEY TONIC

This whiskey is dry-hopped like a beer! Woah. It makes for an idea tonic for a beer lover.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Hop Flavored Whiskey

5 oz Tonic Water

GARNISH

Lemon wedge

DIRECTIONS

Serve whiskey and tonic water over ice. Stir & garnish with lemon wedge.

PUMP_MAN

PUMPKIN MANHATTAN

Sons of Liberty’s Pumpkin Spice Whiskey has won best flavored whiskey in the world. Now that’s a Manhattan.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Pumpkin Spice Whiskey

1 oz Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

GARNISH

Luxardo cherry

DIRECTIONS

Stir ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish with cherry.

RUSSIAN

DARK RUSSIAN

No comment necessary.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Loyal 9 Dark Chocolate Vanilla Vodka

1 oz coffee liqueur

1 oz heavy cream or half-and-half, lightly whipped

GARNISH

Dust with grated nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

Shake vodka and coffee liqueur with ice. Strain into ice-filled glass. Float lightly whipped cream on top of drink. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

 

-ENJOY!

Southside Manhattan, a SCLT Cocktail Recipe with Sage Honey Syrup

Southside Manhattan - cocktail recipe with rye whiskey and sage honey syrup

Bottles is proud to be a supporter of Southside Community Land Trust. SCLT is a fantastic organization and forceful change agent for community food security, providing land, education, tools, and support for people to grow food for themselves in greater Providence, Rhode Island.

This past Tuesday was a fundraising event, the 11th annual Harvesting Hope. Attendees enjoyed seasonal small plates featuring fresh ingredients grown on SCLT land, delicious wines from Bottles, and silent and live auctions.

The experts at Bottle created the Southside Manhattan special for the event; it’s a cocktail that uses fresh sage and honey that are grown and made by SCLT.

Try making your own Southside Manhattan at home!

First, make a batch of the Sage Honey Syrup, and combine with rye whiskey & a dash of orange bitters.

It’s yum. And a great way to use fresh, local ingredients in your cocktail.

 

HOW TO MAKE A
SOUTHSIDE MANHATTAN

INGREDIENTS
– 2 oz. Rye Whiskey
– 1 oz. Sage Honey Syrup*
– Dash of Angostura Orange Bitters

DIRECTIONS
Stir all ingredients over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a whole sage leaf.
Alternatively, stir ingredients over ice & strain into a tall glass filled with ice; garnish.

*SAGE HONEY SYRUP
– 1 cup water
– ½ cup honey
– 10 fresh sage leaves

In a pot over high heat, bring water, honey, and sage to a boil. Reduce heat to low & simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the mixture to cool completely. Remove sage.

Cheers!

How to make a sage honey syrup

 

Sons of Liberty Spirits: Craft Whiskey, Vodka & Gin Made in Rhode Island

Sons of Liberty Spirit

It was a warm, early Autumn day a few years back, and some of the staff at Bottles were on their way to Peacedale. We had been speaking with Mike Repucci, founder of the fledgling Sons of Liberty distillery, and he had invited us down to fire up the still and make some whiskey. How could we say no?

Mike explained the Sons of Liberty philosophy to us. If all whiskey starts as beer (true), then why not make great beer and turn it into fantastic single malt whiskey? As he spoke, he let us taste the creamy, cocoa-laced flavors of the raw spirit coming out of the still, and we were hooked.

Mike has continued to innovate since those early days, and has produced an authentic line of Whiskeys, Vodkas, & Gin that have received accolades from all around the globe. We’re so proud to have this kind of home-grown spirit here in Rhode Island, and we’re excited to share Sons of Liberty with you.

Cheers,
–  Liam Maloney

 

THE WHISKEYS

Sons of Liberty Spirits Distillery - Uprising Whiskey

Uprising

The first Sons of Liberty spirit we tasted on that autumn morning. It starts life as a creamy & decadent chocolate stout, and you can taste it in the finished product. Look for light notes of vanilla and caramel, complemented by toasty spice flavors from American & French oak. This is a Scotch drinker’s whiskey.

 

Sons of Liberty Spirits Battlecry Whiskey

Battle Cry

A Bourbon drinker’s whiskey, Battle Cry starts off as a Belgian ale. Utilizing both rye and honey malts, to achieve a balance of dry spiciness & sweet grain flavors, Battle Cry is aged in new American oak before bottling. They also use a strain of Trappist ale yeast to ferment, which adds notes of dark fruits and anise to the dry finish.

 

Hop Whiskey - SOL Spirits

Hop

Brewers have long used a method called ‘dry-hopping’ to add aroma and flavor to their beers. The same method is used here, when Sons of Liberty distills an IPA and ages the finished spirit in oak with whole flower Citra & Sorachi Ace hops. Herbal & aromatic when young (and the perfect choice for a whiskey & tonic), it mellows with age, becoming more minty & oaky. A whiskey for the cocktail enthusiast, that is as good in a gin cocktail as it is in a whiskey-based one.

 

Pumpkin Spice Whiskey by Sons of Liberty Spirits Distillery

Pumpkin Spice

When you think about it, what would make more sense than turning a warming, spice-laced pumpkin beer into whiskey? This is a craft beer & spirit drinker’s whiskey, as the roasted flavors of pumpkin, clove, & allspice are subtle, and secondary to the flavors of the whiskey. Sons of Liberty uses tons of locally grown pumpkins each year, scooping & roasting them all by hand, and carefully aging the finish whiskey on the pumpkin & spice until just the right amount of flavor is achieved. This is a true New England original that we can all be proud of.

 

THE VODKA

Loyal 9 Vodkas

Loyal 9

Loyal 9 is exceptionally smooth vodka, made from corn, and distilled 99 times to achieve a sterling clarity. You’ll often find it in our home bars, where we like it on the rocks with a splash of bitters, or in any number of cocktails.

 

Loyal 9 Mint Cucumber

Loyal 9 Mint Cucumber

Sons of Liberty doesn’t do anything if they’re not going to do it right. So when they say mint & cucumber, they mean it. The base spirit of Loyal 9 is blended with subtle, cooling cucumber, and a fresh blast of mint. It’s very refreshing in a vodka tonic, or when blended with lemon juice & simple syrup.

 

Loyal 9 Dark Chocolate Vanilla Bean

Loyal 9 Chocolate Vanilla

Rather than being a fudgy, milk chocolate kind of vodka, Sons of Liberty continues their style of reserved, appropriately flavored spirits with this expression. Flavors of dry cocoa and a strong undercurrent of real vanilla beans make this vodka the perfect choice for chocolate martinis and white russians.

 

THE GIN

True Born Gin - The Belgian Wheat Act - Sons of Liberty

True Born Gin

True Born is a new staff favorite here at Bottles.  Sons of Liberty starts by making truly excellent Belgian Wheat ale, brewed with lemongrass & coriander. It’s a beer that could stand on its own as is. When distilled, however, and seasoned with a touch of juniper, citrus, & other botanicals, it completely shines in the glass. We like to shake it on ice & strain it into a chilled cocktail glass, where the lemony flavors really shine. It also makes a memorable Negroni, and a very refreshing gin & tonic.

 

 

 

Top 9 Fall Wines: New York, Washington, Oregon

Top Fall Red & White Wines

Ah, autumn.

It’s time to ditch your summery drinks and pull out those velvety reds and luscious white wines.

After all, you need something perfect to drink for the cooler weather, and equally yummy when with paired with harvest veggies, slow roasts, and big pasta dinners.

Luckily, the shop has tons of incoming wines. It was a hard job to taste them all and choose just nine favorites, but we did it.

We’ve focused on notable non-California wine regions—Long Island, the Finger Lakes, Washington State, and Willamette Valley Oregon.

Cheers!
– Eric Taylor, Bottles General Manager

 

OREGON

Firesteed Wine

Firesteed Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon

A great example of the elegance of Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Featuring great gobs of bright cherry fruit and cola (yes, cola) with hints of mocha and vanilla from the judicious oak aging.

Brilliant with salmon or lighter meat dishes.

 

Kings Ridge Pinot Gris - White Wine

King’s Ridge Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Pinot Gris is often overlooked because of its famous cousin Pinot Noir, but this beautiful white certainly demands some love.

Fresh and lively with pretty peach, citrus and herbal flavors like lime, nectarine and thyme.

Drink this with harvest veggie dishes and TV snack time foods.

 

Ken Wright Cellars - Willamette Valley Oregon - Pinot Noir - Red Wine

Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Ken Wright, maker of very high end Pinot Noir, makes this wine by blending grapes from his very best vineyards.

Extremely enjoyable, lush and full of pure Pinot fruit flavors like ripe raspberries and cherries.

This wine and roast chicken are meant to go together.

 

WASHINGTON

Columbia Crest 'Horse Heaven Hills' Merlot - Washington Wine

Columbia Crest ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Merlot
Washington

Merlot is making a big time comeback amongst serious wine drinkers and this wine is one of the reasons why.

This medium-bodied Merlot delivers aromas of spice and blackberry, with a perfect balance of earth, cocoa and ripe cherry flavors with a rich velvety finish.

Slow braised pork or beef with this wine will make you happy.

 

Owen Roe 'Lenore' Syrah - Washington Red Wine

Owen Roe ‘Lenore’ Syrah
Washington

In our opinion, Syrah is the showcase grape coming out of Washington and Lenore is a great example why.

This is powerful and intensely concentrated and while shows boastful fruit flavors, this comes across as more savory than fruity with flavors of wild herbs and black pepper.

Lamb + Lenore ≥ Heaven

 

K Vintners Viognier - Washington White Wine

K Vintners Viognier
Yakima Valley, Washington

Rock star winemaker Charles Smith turns it down a bit from his head-banging Syrah set with this elegant and frankly sublime white from a top-tier vineyard in Yakima Valley, Washington.

This Viognier shows layers and layers of complex flavors and aromas of Meyer lemon curd, clove, melon and bee’s wax all with big mouthfeel that a Chard drinker would love.

Can stand up to meat dishes, but will excel paired with savory veggie soups and side dishes.

 

NEW YORK

Ravines Riesling - Finger Lakes Wine

Ravines Riesling
Finger Lakes, New York

Dry and crisp without being sweet. Some of the best wine from the Finger Lakes Region!

Look for flavors of peach and honeysuckle with a nice crisp ripe lemon/lime finish.

Try it with roasts that include apples in the recipe.

 

Shinn Estates Wine

Shinn Estate Vineyards Red Blend
Long Island, New York

A blend of all of the Bordeaux grape varieties (Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot) grown in the beautiful North Fork region of Long Island.

Luscious bright fruit and acidity with flavors and aromas of red cherries, licorice and spice.

Goes great with red meat based pasta sauces.

 

Southold Wine - Devils Advocate

Southold Farm + Cellars ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ Chardonnay
Long Island, New York

An intriguing, one may even say beguiling, Chardonnay from the North Fork.

This is certainly not the oaky/butter bomb that you would get from California – this is much more restrained and truer to the flavors of Chardonnay.

Look for beautiful tropical fruit flavors and big rich body – great as a cold weather aperitif or paired with squash based soups.

 

 

 

Rosé Wine: Color Chart with Flavors & Pairings

Rosé Wine Guide - Styles, Colors, Flavors

Have you ever had trouble deciding which rosé wine to get when shopping at a wine store?

Well, to help you out, we’ve created this handy infographic on rosé wine colors, pairings, and flavors. Looking at the color of a rosé tells you a lot about its general flavors and potential food pairings.

Most of the rosés we have on our shelves are dry, and they’re definitely not the sweet blush or white zinfandel wines you might be thinking of. Learn more about the particulars on rosé wine in our video.

The color of rosé wine ranges from a light salmon pink, all the way to a deeper ruby-pink tone. Actually made of the same grapes used in red wines, the longer a wine sits on its skins, the darker it is, and the richer and fuller it tastes.

Stop by Bottles for the best selection of rosé wines in town!

Cheers!

 

The Bottles Instagram Beer #Regram Giveaway!

UPDATE:
We’re so excited about this week’s @gansettbeer / @Revivalbrewing H.P Lovecraft Honey Ale release that we decided to add it to our #bfwbeergiveawayInstagram regram contest! Simply follow us, like the picture, regram, and @ mention @bottlesfinewine and ##bfwbeergiveaway to join the contest and a chance to win a 6pack of Honey Ale, or any of the 3 previous beers! Ends Sunday 1/25 at 11:59PM! 3 winners, 4 choices!

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The Iris Cantillion beer from our last giveaway was so popular we decided to feature ALL beer, 3 awesome and delicious beers that is, for our second Instagram giveaway!  So take a chance and join in on the regraming! Choose from our sweet selection of: Jester King Brewery: Mad Meg Provision Ale, De Glazen Toren: Saison d’Erpe-Mere Lentebier, and Prairie Artisan Ales: Prairie Ale Saison!

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How to enter:

1. First, follow @bottlesfinewine on Instagram.
2. Like and regram the Giveaway Prize Photo.
3. In your regram, you must @-mention @bottlesfinewine and #-hashtag #bfwbeergiveaway!
That’s it!

The Bottles Instagram Beer Giveaway ends at 10:59PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday, January 25rd. Three winners will be announced on Monday, January 26th, and winners will also be contacted privately through Instagram direct with details on how to claim their prize!

Giveaway Rules:

-Must be 21+ years of age to enter contest
-We cannot ship to Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah or Vermont. We do not ship outside of the United States.

– Enjoy responsibly!

1-megJester King Brewery Mad Meg

A Provision Ale unique to Texas Hill Country, where naturally occurring wild yeasts impart a sense of place. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned beer. Named after “Mad Meg”, a peasant woman from Flemish folklore who leads an army of women to pillage hell. Also known as “Dull Gret”, she’s famously depicted in Pieter Brueghel the Elder’s 1562 painting​ by the same name.

1-glazenDe Glazen Toren Saison d’Erpe-Mere Lentebier

An unfiltered Begian dry-hopped saison. It’s springtime in a glass! Also, it’s delicious dry, sparkling, and very, very floral.

1-prariePrairie Artisan Ales Prairie Ale

A beautiful golden toned saison with a generous addition of Saaz hops, which adds a spicy, floral flavor and aroma. Brewed with a mix of three different yeasts, including ‘brettanomyces bruxellensis’, a yeast known for its pineapple and mango flavors.

  Good luck! 1-grouptopsCheers!  The Bottles Team

For official rules click here– 

 

Elemental: WaterFire Providence’s Benefit Bash!

waterfire10WaterFire is a local institution, and on the crisp first day of fall at the Elemental WaterFire Benefit Bash, Bottles was proud to support and donate to this local arts organization that inspires Providence and its visitors.

waterfire4 waterfire5 It was a beautiful clear evening full of wine, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the quintessential creative scenery of WaterFire, including performers, lights, live and silent auctions, and of course the blazing baskets we know and love. We supplied some of our favorite wines for the generous attendees to enjoy; a variety of French, Californian, and Italian wines to choose from, including red, white and champagne.

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It was a celebration of the elemental experience of WaterFire that transforms our perceptions of the urban landscape. We hope everyone enjoyed the event and hope to see you soon at the next WaterFire event! 

Cheers!

waterfire2

Walrus and Carpenter Oysters – Farm Feast 2014

Over my many years, we’ve been a part of many special dinners and events, but nothing has compared to the experience we had at the Walrus and Carpenter Dinner Series.

DSC_2127Things started off at Lavin’s Landing Marina right on Ninigret Pond – a brackish pond that opens up to the Atlantic Ocean via the Charlestown Breachway.  As people arrived at the marina they were greeted by a beer or “Docktail” as we waited to board the boats.  Once everyone was loaded and secured on the skiff and pontoon we headed slowly to the Oyster Farm, a 3 acre plot, all underwater, leased by Walrus & Carpenter from the State of Rhode Island.

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At the farm, owner of Walrus & Carpenter, Jules Opton-Himmel, showed us oysters growing in their bags and taught us everything there is to know about oyster farming.  Once we had learned about all about the process and history of the oyster cultivating industry, we made our way to the raw bar, set up a few meters away from the dining area. We all enjoyed the raw, hand-shucked oysters with lemon slices, a lemon-honey relish, and more than enough sparkling wine to go around!

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Once all the oysters were gone, we took a short walk to East Beach – the part of the beach that’s way down at the end, and part of the State Park system. DSC_2001
We had the whole span of pristine beaches to ourselves. Once we had amply documented and soaked in the scenic vista (even some taking a quick swim!) we head back on our trek through the sandy paths to dinner.

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As we approach the sandbar, we saw that dinner would be served on a long table top placed oyster baskets and crates (mermaid chic), complete with tablecloths, cloth napkins, stemware and silverware – and our own little private bar stocked with a great selection of wine selected to pair with the night’s cuisines, set a few feet into the water, right next to our docked skiff from the ride in. Certainly the fanciest beach picnic you’ve ever seen!

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The entire dinner was cooked on a grill set over a wood fire, from the broccoli and heirlooms, squid and corn, to the beautiful bluefish, caught right off of Point Judith, to the beautiful currant clad desert.

DSC_2136aDSC_2218Chef Ben Sukle, Ed Davis and the team from birch prepared and cooked the wonderful selection of the locally sourced meal – it was more than fantastic and perfect for this very special setting.  A truly memorable experience, and one that we’ll never forget.

Cheers!

Eric Taylor
Bottles General Manager

 

 

 

 

Pimm’s Cup & Light Cigar Pairing – 5 Vegas Gold Nugget

Last week, you may have read about the Classic Corona — here is another cigar from our selection from the highly regarded 5 Vegas family, Gold Nugget. A great cigar at a great price, Gold Nugget mild enough for an early morning or afternoon cigar.

5vegagoldnugget_1

5 Vegas Gold Nugget, 4.5 x 44

The Gold blend is finished with a mild Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, making flavorful with a slightly sweet finish.  If you are new to smoking cigars or simply want a mild afternoon smoke, this is the perfect smoke.  At 4.5 inches by a 44 ring, it is an ideal size for a cocktail or aperitif.

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Need a pairing idea? Try an aperitif or summer cocktail – like a Pimm’s Cup, Grumpy Cup, or your favorite summer ale – no jet fuel required!

A classic summer refresher, and popular in Britain, a Pimm’s Cup is easy to mix up. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in about 2 ounces of Pimm’s No. 1, and fill the rest with your favorite ginger beer. Garnish with a slice of lemon or cucumber.

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liqueur, dark in color, and with some lovely citrus and bitter notes. Combined with Fentiman’s ginger beer, you can have a few and still be standing. A tasty drink to pair with this light cigar!

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  Enjoy!

 

 

Welcome Springtime with Local Scallops and a Bottle of Muscadet

Scallop and Wine Pairing

Winter is coming to an end and Spring is just around the corner. What better way to transition to the next season than with seared, fresh Sea Scallops gathered from Narragansett Bay? To enhance the mild flavor of the scallops, we recommend a bottle of Muscadet, a dry, bright, and minerally white wine. Down with the reds! Bring on the whites and rosés!

Scallops and Wine Pairing 

Sea Scallops

Found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, sea scallops are harvested anywhere from Newfoundland down to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Generally shiny and creamy white in color, scallops have a sweet, rich taste that is mild or briny. Don’t worry about a slight orange or pinkish tint when raw; it’s natural and won’t affect the flavor. High quality scallops have an ivory translucence to them and should keep their oval shaped structure.

  • The Local Catch provides fresh, available seafood at the Wintertime Farmers Market. Sea Scallops are there now!
  • For a list of wholesalers and local seafood farms check out this list at Farm Fresh.
  • For some of the best scallop recipes in New England, interviews from Nantucket scallop fishermen, shuckers, world-renowned chefs and history check out Scallops: A New England Coastal Cookbook.

Muscadet Wine

Domaine de la Pepière
Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie

Located in the far western portion of the Loire Valley, in France, wine grower Marc Ollivier makes some of the top Muscadets from the AOC Muscadet Sevre et Maine appellation. Hand-picked by Ollivier himself, this Muscadet is unique because of the use of natural yeasts. Taking longer to ferment, the wine is bottled later, but it is well worth it.

The Muscadet vines are grown in terroir that is thick with granite stones and debris, giving the wines a particularly lemon-tinged, mineral edge that makes it perfect for seafood. His Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie has beautiful, bright and energetic aromatics that are fruit forward and floral. The palate displays similar characteristics, with lots of pleasing texture and substance.

This Muscadet is a fantastic complement to this simple seared scallop recipe that only takes 10 minutes to prepare. We recommend enjoying this pairing on your veranda on a fresh spring day.

Sea Scallops Recipe

Sautéed Scallops with Garlic & Parsley 

Ingredients
1 lb Sea Scallops
2-3 tsp grapeseed oil or olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
A handful of Parsley, chopped
1 tsp unsalted butter
Fresh ground pepper
Juice from half a lemon
Sea Salt

Method of Preparation
1. In a bowl gently toss the scallops with the oil, garlic and parsley. For increased flavor, store in the refrigerator for some minutes before cooking.
2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a sauté pan.
3. Once the butter starts to bubble, add the scallops, season with ground pepper and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4. Very carefully, turn over the scallops. After about 1 minute squeeze the lemon juice over top and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Once they have become opaque, stop cooking them!
5. Serve over salad greens and sprinkle with sea salt. Yields 4 servings. *Recipe by Savoring the Thyme

PRINT RECIPE CARD >

Looking for other spring food and wine pairings? Try Asparagus with Grüner Veltliner or Arugula with Sauvignon Blanc.

Cheers!
by Kim Vroegindewey