This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about loons
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
In the early mornings before the sun inches over the stand of trees across the lake and before the sounds of boat motors, lawn mowers, weed whackers and chain saws overpower the melodies of lapping waves, rustling leaves and skittering squirrels, I like sitting on the deck, a mug of coffee in one hand and my favorite pipe in the other, listening to the birds.
The morning avian serenades always begin with the soft cooing of the mourning doves against the background of chirping robins and chattering blackbirds. You can always count on the flocks of ducks and the gaggles of geese to pitch in with occasional, somewhat comical interludes of quacking and honking. If I'm lucky the performance will include the hoots of the owl that lives in the woods in back of the pole barn and if I'm really lucky I'll get to hear the distinctive calls of the resident loons.
Author Jim Harrison who observed nature with a poet's sensibilities wrote in Just Before Dark that if a bird was ever found on the moon it would be a loon. In terms of appearance the loon's black head and bill, black and white spotted back, white breast and red eyes are eerily striking, but it's their repertoire of wails, hoots, yodels and tremolos that sets them apart from their more mundane and far less melodic aquatic cousins. Take a listen.
Featured Wines of the Week
Fontella, Chianti, 2019, Italy, $11.99/750ml- Traditional blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo, from selected vineyards in the Chianti DOCG area. Ruby red, with a typical Chianti nose, smooth, medium-bodied palate, with an attractive lingering finish. (Source)
Quid Pro Quo, red blend, Portugal, 2019, $12.99/750ml- A truly fragrant and aromatic wine bursting with lavender and violet notes. A very special wine with a deep ruby colour and complexity that can be appreciated by all. After a long ageing period in oak barrels this is a full-bodied wine that will be perfect to serve on special occasions. (Source)
Calcada, 2019, Vinho verde reserva, $13.99/750ml- Made from Alvarinho (Albariño), Arinto and Azal, this incredible value wine is layered with concentrated citrus, green apple and melon fruits with just a hint of honeysuckle to balance the tart fruits. It’s light enough to enjoy as an aperitif but also has the complexity and body to pair with lighter summer fare. In true Vinho Verde style, this wine is cheerfully lively and refreshingly addictive. (Source)
Ego Bodegas, Goru Monatrell, Spain, $15.19/750ml- This muscular red shows an austere character, offering loamy earth, anise, espresso and mineral flavors that frame a core of currant and cocoa. The tannins are ripe, with enough acidity to keep this balanced. Reserved but rich. (Source)
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Featured Spirits of the Week
Alkkemist Gin, Spain, $47.39/750ml- Alkkemist Gin features a base of triple-distilled grain spirit and 21 different botanicals, interestingly including Muscat grape, alongside orange and lemon peel, rose petals, samphire, fennel, thyme and mint, among others. Also, it's apparently "distilled by the light of the full moon"! A wonderfully-presented gin that works excellently in a G&T as well as a number of cocktails.
Nose: Lemon peel, lavender, apple blossom, a touch of fennel. Palate: Fruit notes rush to the fore, with grape sweetness intact. Supporting notes come from clove, peppery juniper and a floral waft of rose. Finish: Subtle salinity of samphire paired with juicy orange. (Source)
Woodinville, Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Washington, $39.99/750ml- This truly small-batch bourbon starts with traditionally grown corn, rye and malted barley. All of our staple grains are cultivated exclusively for us on the Omlin Family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grains are mashed, distilled, and barreled in our Woodinville® distillery, then trucked back over the Cascade Mountains to our private barrel houses, where Central Washington’s extreme temperature cycles promote the extraction of natural flavors from the oak. Prior to being coopered, the barrel wood is seasoned in open air, rain, wind, sun, and snow for eighteen months, softening the wood’s harsh tannins. The barrels are then slowly toasted and heavily charred to further enrich the wood’s desirable flavors. This meticulous process yields a truly hand-crafted spirit with aromas of crème brûlée and spice cabinet, as well as notes of rich caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean on the palate with a sweet, lingering finish. (Source)
Diaz Brothers Agave, Mezcal Espadin, Mexico, $42.09/750ml-
Classification:Mezcal Artesanal Distillation Process: Wood Fired Copper Pots Mill Process: Horse Pulled Stone Tahona Varietal: 100% Espadin Mezcalero/s: Carlos Mendez Blas Region: Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca ABV: 46% NOM: 020X Inside Bottle Picture: The inside picture is our Grandfather and his brother, along with my father, Jesus "Jesse" Diaz, and his brother, Carlos "Charles" Diaz. This picture is from circa 1953 in Rock Island, IL (Source)
New and Returning Products
Atwater Light Citrus Blond, $1.79/12oz-Ctirus flavored light wheat beer
Big Lake Cotton Candy Haze, $3.39/16oz-A cotton candy flavored juicy new England style IPA. (Source)
Black Rocks Honey Lav, $1.99/12oz-Wheat Beer - American Pale Wheat
Brew Detroit Shiny Dog, $2.79/16oz-Light straw-colored ale with a dense white head. Fermented at a lower temperature to produce a crisp clean ale with a subtle accent of stone fruit and herbal spice. (Source)
Brew Detroit Smoke Delay, $2.49/16oz-Crisp. Light. Juicy. Smoke Delay was brewed in proud partnership with Detroit City Football Club and The Faithful of Detroit City. Dry-hopped with Mosiac and Loutus hops lend notes of citrus, berry and fruit, finishing with a mild bitterness. (Source)
Founders Mas Agave Classica Grapefruit, $4.59/12oz-Sour - Fruited Gose
Founders Mas Agave Classica Lime, $4.59/12oz-Imperial gose style ale brewed with agave and sea salt aged in tequila barrels with added lime. (Source)
Founders Mas Agave Classica Prickly Pear, $4.59/12oz-An oasis of flavor in the desert of normalcy, this cocktail-inspired imperial gose is brewed with agave and sea salt then aged in tequila barrels. When it emerges we hit it with a healthy dose of prickly pear extract, lending the liquid its flamboyant fuchsia glow and mellowing out the tangy tartness with hints of berry and melon. It’s no mirage, it’s the real deal. ¡Más Agave Clásica Prickly Pear! (Source)
Grand Armory Mango Grindage, $2.19/12oz-A Mango IPA for mugs, chillin, and grindage, bud-dy! The Mango addition in this juicy IPA makes you feel like you’re in Encino, sneaking slushee pulls right off the machine. (Source)
Jolly Pumpkin Phobos, $3.69/16oz-Ale brewed with wheat, dried basil, garlic, salt, plum tomatoes & olive oil, with peach, apricot, pineapple and raspberry puree added. (Source)
Mikkeller Suuuper Helles, $5.99/16oz-German-style Helles Dry-Hopped w/ Galaxy & Lagered in Superstition Mead Barrels. A few years ago we had the special pleasure of brewing a pair of beers with our friends at Wren House Brewing in Phoenix, AZ. One of the beers to come from that trip was a Pilsner that we lagered in Mead barrels and then dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin. The beer was soooo good, we had to produce a redux here at Mikkeller SD. Our version is a German-style Helles, featuring Galaxy and Summer hops. Also lagered in mead barrels, this version is crisp, with subtle malt notes and awesome tropical hop character. This is our best lager yet. (Source)
Prairie Cherry Bomb, $9.89/12oz-Imperial Stout with chilies, cacao nibs, vanilla, coffee and sweet cherries. (Source)
Tri City All Season Ale, $1.49/12oz-An easy drinking beer that’s never out of season.