Hot New Products

July 25, 2024 --  Captain Morgan Sliced Ready-to-Drink has just launched a sweepstakes that offers winners a really fun choice prizes. From now through August 5, fans 25+ can enter the “Sliced is Better'' sweeps for a chance to embark on a truly epic, bucket list-worthy adventure of a lifetime....

May 17, 2024  --  We wrote about Via Carota Craft Cocktails when their line of pre-mixed cocktails was introduced in February of 2023.  After that successful launch of elegant four-serve bottles of six classic cocktails, Via Carota has followed up with a new line of single-serve, ready-to-pour sparkling cocktails which...

December 8, 2023 --  Dassai, a sake brewery founded in the 1700s in Southern Japan, has opened a state-of-the-art brewery and tasting room in Hyde Park, N.Y., as well as launching a new U.S. brand, Dassai Blue.  On hand for the opening were Hiroshi and Kazuhiro Sakurai, the father and...

March 09, 2021  -- Woodford Reserve’s 2021 Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle is now available in liquor stores across the country.  This is the 22nd such bottle which is beloved by racing fans, bourbon drinkers and collectors.  The label features the artwork of Louisville resident Richard Sullivan, a former professional baseball...

December 31, 2020 – NIPYATA! the adult party people who created the alcohol filled piñata, have come up with the solution to buying a socially distanced drink for a friend or family and we think it is sooooo cool.  It’s a drinkable greeting card that contains a 50 ml. bottle...

November 20, 2020 – There’s something fun about opening a box with all the fixin’s in it and that’s what you get when you order Bacardi’s Spiced Up Cider Kit from Cocktail Courier.  But that’s not all.  Each order will receive a 12-ounce bottle of Bacardi Spiced Hot Honey. The...

October 23, 2020 --- The Captain never rests.  He’s taken his Original Spiced Rum, added a subtle hint of ginger and fused it all together with the taste of deliciously juicy, crisp fresh cut apples.  What’s not to like. Just in time for fall activities and party season that follows,...

October 15, 2020 -- Halloween 2020 is sure to be different because everything else is. The dilemma is how to celebrate safely.  For adults, no need to go virtual or ruin your one chance of the year to play dress up.  Smirnoff Vodka has come to the rescue with the...

September 18, 2020 – Five straight bourbons, spaghetti westerns and silk pajamas. Yup, sounds kind of crazy but that’s the story of Fistful of Bourbon, a brand new all-American whiskey launched this month by the Scottish family William Grant & Sons. A blend of five straight bourbons – literally a...

September 11, 2020 –-  Spiced rum is hot.  In fact spiced rum makes up a third of the rum category and Bacardi is taking it seriously.  Just in time for Fall, their Oakheart Spiced Rum is being relaunched in a new package but with the same great spicy flavor. Bacardi...

July 27, 2020 --- Organic.  Botanic.  Sparkling.  Delicious. What more could any discerning, health-conscious Millennial or Gen Zer want in a canned cocktail?  But there’s more.  This new line of ready-to-drink cocktails comes from Square One, the organic spirits company founded, funded and run by a woman.   Its CEO Allison...

July 10, 2020 – Wild Turkey has rounded out its rye whiskey portfolio with the permanent addition of Rare Breed Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.  It is a blend of four-, six-, and eight-year-old non-chill filtered rye bottled directly from the barrels (Barrel Proof) without so much as a single...

June 3, 2020 – Wild Turkey is releasing a rarity – Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond. It is the fifth release bearing the Master’s Keep imprimatur but only the second-ever Wild Turkey bourbon to carry the Bottled in Bond label.  This is sure to be of great interest to bourbon...

May 22, 2020 --- Award winning actor, producer, designer and entrepreneur Sarah Jessica Parker is adding a new rosé wine to her collection of wines with New Zealand-based winery Invivo & Co and it will be available just in time for summer sipping. This premium rosé - Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker Rosé - comes from...

May 2, 2020 – Like everything these days, celebrating Mother’s Day is going to be different this year so here’s a bold suggestion:  set Mom up with a membership at Haus the new, all-American aperitif that’s only available online. Haus?  Haus is the creation of winemaker Woody Hambrecht and his...

February 27, 2020 – Spiked Coffee is a trendy hot product right now and we think Cafe Agave Spiked Cold Brew Coffee is definitely the way coolest entry in this category.  What sets it apart from its competitors is the use of super-premium ingredients, including 100% Arabica Columbian Cold Brew...

December 4, 2019 – Just in time for the Holiday Season, Bacardi Rum has released a limited edition Bacardi Coquito.  This is the drink of Caribbean holiday celebrations that originated in Puerto Rico, a sort of tropical eggnog that is really delicious.  Traditionally home made, Bacardi has created a ready-to-drink...

November 13, 2019 – The summer of hard seltzer has morphed into the fall and winter of hard seltzer.  If hard seltzer is a part of your journey to a healthier lifestyle, and if gluten-free is an important or necessary part of that, then you can rejoice. If neither applies,...

November 6, 2019 – Once again, Kona Brewing Co. has captured the flavor of Hawaii with a newly released Hibiscus Brut IPA.  We poured ours into large wine goblets and loved the rosy hue as it swirled under a big creamy head.  Hibiscus is Hawaii’s national flower so they must...

October 30, 2019 --  Starward Australian Whisky burst on the U.S. scene in May 2019 with Nova, an international award-winning single malt that led Forbes Magazine to opine that Australia might replace Japan as the hottest unconventional crafter of fine whisky.  Recently, the Melbourne-based distillery increased its visibility in this...

October…, 2019 – Martini fanciers have very strong views on how a martini should be made.  It starts with whether it should be made of gin or vodka and heats up from there.  But we’ve found a recipe that is sure to impress even the most stubborn Martini maven.  Its...

September 13, 2019 – Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, has just released Grand Cru. This exclusive and elegant whisky has matured for 23 years in American and European oak casks and elegantly finished in rare French cuvée casks for up to six months. What exactly does...

September 6, 2019 – Jägermeister, the iconic and popular shot liqueur, is adding intense rich Arabica coffee and cacao to its 56 herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits to launch Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee. “Combining Jägermeister with coffee has been a fan favorite for years, so we wanted to perfect that...

August 11, 2019 – Calling all bourbon enthusiasts, hog and chopper zealots and denizens of the man cave start your engines!  Easy Rider Bourbon is back and even better. In 2018, Hood River Distillers acquired Easy Rider and have reintroduced the brand as Easy Rider Kentucky Straight Bourbon.  The distillery,...

July 25. 2019 --- Well, Comic-Con is over and apparently so is The Walking Dead.  But fans can drown their sorrows in The Walking Dead Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey coming soon. The announcement was made at a sneak preview event at Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend.   For those...

July 17, 2019 -- The limited edition fourth iteration of Crown Royal’s Noble Collection is now available nationwide.   Crown Royal Noble Collection French Oak Cask Finished used new oak casks sourced from the Voges region in France.  The tight grain of this oak helps to impart subtle flavors and...

June 28, 2019 -- Tequila lovers and people with beautiful bars, this is your moment. Patrón, the ultra-premium tequila has gone super-ultra-premium with the release of Gran Patrón Smoky.  The bottle is so beautiful you absolutely have to have it and what a perfect gift for the third marriage of...

June 20, 2019 – We know that wine labels sell wine so there’s a good chance the same can be said for beer.  We’ll admit to being suckers for Kona Brewing’s labels and the Gold Cliff IPA is no exception.  We want to be there! We were lucky enough to...

April 5, 2019 –The 19th Century was regarded as the golden age of Irish whiskey and one of the most innovative distillers was George Roe. The Roe family began distilling whiskey in the 1700s, but it was George Roe in the mid-1800s who turned his family’s small distillery business into...

March 28, 2019 – Bulleit, one of the early contributors to the booming Rye Whiskey category, has released a limited edition ultra-premium straight whiskey matured to perfection in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of 12 years. Rye whiskey is the choice of bartenders around the world interested in...

February 20, 2019 --- National Margarita Day is this Friday February 22 – which is better than when it happens during the workweek.  But we keep wondering who chose Freezing February to celebrate America’s favorite cocktail.  Perhaps the idea is that sipping a Margarita after shoveling the driveway will remind...

October 19, 2018 -- Smirnoff Vodka bottles featuring New York, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Seattle, Chicago and California are now available in those markets for a limited time. The regular 750 ml bottle is decorated with iconic skylines and images associated with a particular city or state and includes an “ode”...

September 8, 2018 – Metallica’s recently launched Blackened American Whiskey has gone through an unusual aging process: The black brandy barrels have been subjected to low hertz sound waves from their “…And Justice for All” album.  The sound waves cause vibrations that allow the molecules of liquid in the barrel...

September 7, 2018 – National Coffee Day on September 29 calls for a Cup of Joe with pizzazz and there’s even a kit to help make it happen - the Cold Brewtini Kit! Reyka, the Icelandic Vodka, and La Colombe Coffee Roasters have created a marriage made in heaven for...

August 23, 2018 – Treasury Wine Estates which enlivened the purchase and enjoyment of wine with augmented reality  labels on 19 Crimes and other brands, is launching emBRAZEN, a trio of California wines honoring trailblazing women on August 26 which is Women’s Equality Day.  In case you’ve never heard of...

August 9, 2018 – Captain Morgan’s latest foray into the fruit and veg department is Apple Smash now available in stores just in time for National Rum Day on August 16. Apple Smash comes in the familiar round cannonball bottle this time in bright green scratch and sniff cladding.  And,...

July 26, 2018 – Suddenly the Cosmo cocktail will have a whole new meaning.   Silver Screen Bottling Company is collaborating with CBS Consumer Products to market a luxury vodka blended with vodka that has traveled beyond Earth.   Named Ten-Forward Vodka, for the bar on the Starship Enterprise-D, each bottle...

July 19, 2018 -- Bulleit Bourbon is teaming up with four trailblazing artists and shaking up tattoo culture with the announcement of Bulleit™ Bourbon Tattoo Edition.  The collaboration marks the first time the frontier-inspired Bulleit bottle will be altered and each design is guaranteed to become highly collectible and a...

July 18, 2018 – A new rose pink gin has just been released nationally.  After much success in France and Spain, Bosford Rose Premium Gin & Strawberry Liqueur is set to capture the market’s desire for all things rosé. Strawberry and raspberry flavors are blended with the original Bosford London...

July 12, 2018 – New Wine Glass Design You Need to Know About - 1 Wine Glass Wine drinkers who fuss about the shape of the glass are not being pretentious.  They know that the shape of the glass affects the taste of the wine.  This is something you can...

 June 20, 2018 – Crown Royal Texas Mesquite – Let the Grilling Begin! Don’t mess with Texas unless you are Crown Royal which has just released a limited edition Texas Mesquite whisky to go with summertime grilling.  How did they do it?  They used locally sourced Texas mesquite wood to give...

  May 23, 2018  -- Smirnoff ‘s Splashy Patriotic Bottle for Red, White & Berry Vodka Looking for a way to include the good old red, white and blue on your bar for Memorial Day?  Then pick up Smirnoff’s vodka flavor of Red, White & Berry in an eye-catching red,...

May 21, 2018 – MANCAN Rosé Wine Made for Memorial Day. MANCAN has added a delightful rosé to its popular white, red and fizz wines in a can and it’s available for the start of summer celebrations this coming weekend. MANCAN launched in 2015 and was an immediate hit with...

May 20, 2018 --- A first ever line extension has just been released by Jägermeister.  Manifest is hitting the stores this week and like its parent, it bold, irreverent and in a class of its own. Super-Premium Manifest Jägermeister Manifest has slightly sweet notes of anise and dried fruit, which...

April 26, 2018 – Spiked flavored water is a great alternative for summer refreshers. Truly Spiked & Sparkling has just released Wild Berry, a delicious new addition to their line up.  Wild Berry’s hint of clean, crisp flavor comes from everybody’s favorite summer fruit -- California strawberries, raspberries and Marion...

March 12, 2018 – The collaboration between the famous Camus Cognac family and the 7th Baron of Revelstoke has resulted in a new Irish whiskey.  It’s a story filled with history, fascinating anecdotes and decades of expertise as these families come together. Lambay Irish Whiskey debuts in the U.S. market...

Captain Morgan Recipes March 9, 2018  -- The creative crew at Captain Morgan has come up with another doozy of a bottle and flavor to join the Canon Blast released in 2015, the Pumpkin Jack O’Lantern in the Fall of 2016 and last summer’s LocoNut coconut flavored spiced rum in...

March 6, 2018 – Twisted Tea, the top selling hard iced tea in the U.S., has added Blackberry and Huckleberry to its delicious line-up of flavored teas. We’ve sampled both and while we liked the Huckleberry a lot, it was edged out by Blackberry, but just by a tea leaf....

February 14, 2018 – National Margarita Day is February 22, which falls on a Thursday this year.  Bummer!  Having to get up Friday morning puts a damper on things but you can still relax with a delicious, organic, hassle-free Margarita at home in a matter of minutes.  The secret is...

February 15, 2018 – In an effort to staunch the defection of young drinkers from beer to wine and spirits, Miller-Coors is introducing Two Hats, a light fruity beer costing just $5 for a six-pack.  The launch flavors are lime and pineapple with an ABV of 4.2 percent. Beer has...

February 9, 2018 – Rock star Jon Bon Jovi wants to be a part of your summer sipping.  His new rosé from France will be rolling out across the country this month.  Called “Diving Into Hampton Water”, a mouthful of a name, the label features a woman in a gold...

December 5, 2017 – The guy with a man cave has plenty of socks and he doesn’t want a tie.  What he does want is Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum with two collectible oil can mugs featuring Sailor Jerry’s pin up girl.  The gift pack, which is a reasonable $14.99 MSRP,...

  November 2, 2017 – The Macallan has just released a unique single malt called Classic Cut.  Limited to just 90,000 bottles globally, this is a one time, never to be repeated, collectible expression of The Macallan. Matured exclusively in hand-picked oak casks seasoned with Oloroso sherry from Jerez, Spain,...

November 1, 2017 – Wine in a can has finally caught on and it is a trend that has gone mainstream. Backpack Wines hit the market a year ago with Snappy White and Cheeky Rosé.  Rowdy Red is the newest addition just in time for fall and winter tailgate parties...

October 52, 2017 – The first ever wine in a chromed glass wine bottle has hit the market with the appropriate name of “Chrome Dreams”.  This extraordinary project comes from Tank Garage Winery in Calistoga. An ode to the golden era of American automobiles, Chrome Dreams features a mirrored surface...

September 9, 2017 – The handsome fellow who stands with his left foot defiantly on a barrel has a new look, just in time for Fall.  His redesigned bottle features updated embossing and a new cap and label with plenty of gold, - very appropriate for a pirate.   After a...

July 14, 2017 – Ready to invoke Caribbean breezes and sparkling waves as we slowly simmer in summer heat?  Bacardi Banana is the answer with its aromas of fruit and candy banana, caramel and vanilla.  The aftertaste is burnt sugar and butterscotch. It can be served splashed over ice or...

  June 14, 2017 – June is Marilyn Monroe’s birthday month.  She was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles as Norma Jeane Mortensen.  The name Marilyn Monroe was created by 20th Century Fox. Norma Jeane is a delicious Merlot just released by Marilyn Wines.  The grapes are from Paso...

June 2, 2017 – Summer drinks just got easier and a whole lot classier with the introduction of Moët & Chandon’s Mini Moët six-pack.  Each little bottle of classic Imperial Brut contains 6.3 ounces (187 ml), which is slightly more than the usual serve of Champagne.   OK, it’s a six-pack...

April 5, 2017 – If you loved Captain Morgan Cannon Blast last fall, get ready for Captain Morgan LocoNut – an explosively delicious coconut shot for summer. Using the same round bottle that cleverly resembled a pumpkin, LocoNut sports a coconut wrap that releases a sweet coconut aroma when you...

February 10, 2017 – The word is out that Lady Gaga’s latest project is to build a wine empire.  The wine will be named “Grigio Girls” which was a bonus track on the album Joanne.  The brand will include winecoolers, wine cocktails and punches according to TMZ, and her company...

February 10, 2017 — Rebel Juiced IPA, which was introduced at the end of last year on draft is now available in cans and bottles. A West Coast IPA infused with mango, Rebel Juiced is a medium-bodied beer with a slightly veiled golden color that brings a big tropical aroma of...

November 18, 2016 – Patrón, the folks with the iconic bottle, have supersized it to hold one liter and decorated it with an art deco design that incorporates Mexico’s rich heritage as well as Patrón’s famous bee insignia. The intricate black and silver pewter label is elegantly topped with a...

October 20, 2016 – The latest offering from Captain Morgan, pumpkin spiced rum, captures the spirit of fall and Halloween in every way possible. Let’s start with the eye-catching packaging.  The familiar Cannon Blast bottle returns wrapped in bright orange, ribbed like a pumpkin with a gray-green neck and cap....

October 14, 2016 – Two new alcoholic sodas from WG Brewing in Nashville hit the market recently.  Wild Docta’ and Wild Sit Russ joined Wild Ginger Alcoholic Beer and Wild Root Alcoholic Root Beer. Wild Docta’ taps a nostalgic vein with its gown-up nod to Rock & Rye soda –...

October 14, 2016 – Marilyn Wines has just released the 30th vintage of Marilyn Monroe Merlot, a Napa Valley classic collectible.  The sought after wine is made by Bob Pepi who himself is something of a legend in Napa’s winemaking world. Bob Pepi worked closely with great Napa Valley vineyards,...

October 7, 2016 – Red Truck Wines, owned by Bronco Wine Company, one of California’s giant producers, is launching an innovative spiral cork that fits a special glass bottle with an internal thread in the neck creating the world’s first cork stopper and glass bottle with easy-to-open and reclose technology....

October 7, 2016 — Fans of single malt Scotch whisky, and The Macallan in particular, will be excited about The Macallan’s release of a whisky aged in American Oak Sherry-seasoned casks and blended with whisky aged in Sherry-seasoned European oak casks. The Macallan has been investing in new American oak...

October 6, 2016 – Turns out that cute little cat is really a lush and she’s produced a whole litter of rosy, sparkling wines for adults that can’t get over their childhood. Made by Torti, a winery in Northern Italy, the line has Hello Kitty Sparkling Sweet Pink, Cupido Sparkling...

September 16, 2016 – Aging wine is barrels is normal.  Aging wine in used whiskey barrels isn’t.  Apothic Inferno blends the red and dark fruit flavors of its wine with layers of maple and spice, by aging in charred, white oak whiskey barrels for 60 days. “The result is a...

September 9, 2016 – Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur that we all know and love has a new release combining favorite fall flavors such as cinnamon, pumpkin pie spices, brown sugar, maple, sugar, vanilla and coffee. We haven’t sampled it yet but we’re betting it will be the go to drink...

June 24, 2016 – Remember the Johnnie Walker Booze-in-the-Shoe gambit? http://www.wineandspirits.com/these-shoes-are-made-for-boozing/ Well Bacardi Rum has gone one better.  Way better. They are recycling the wood from retired oak rum barrels as eyeware!  Certified craftsmen from Puerto Rico-based RAW Eyewear manually perform the painstaking process of assembling, sanding and finishing the frames...

June 3, 2016 – Booker Noe, the Beam family’s sixth generation master distiller died in 2014 but his legend lives on with the release of Booker’s Rye “Big Time Batch” produced from barrels he laid down in 2003.  It has received rave reviews for “packing dense layers of sweet and...

June 3, 2016 – Havana Club’s Añejo Blanco has a new sibling – a dark rum variant Añejo Clásico.  Both bottles feature new packaging and are being rolled out this month in Florida with Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas beginning in July and August....

May 26, 2016 — Bacardi Grapefruit and Bacardi Raspberry flavored rums are now available in markets nationally, just in time for summer entertaining. Both new flavors are available in 750ML size for a suggested retail price of $12.99, in addition to 50ML, 200ML, 375ML, 1L and 1.75L sizes. Bacardi Grapefruit...

May 13, 2016 – Yes, we can! is the motto of Seattle-based Precept Wine.  The company has just released a new line of two popular varietal wines in sleek cans through Whole Food stores and at select airport restaurants operated by global restaurateur HMSHost. Named West Side Wine Co., the...

May 13, 2016 — Were they scoundrels or heroes?  We’re talking about the industrious folk who went to great lengths, more often than not landing in jail or the “big house”, to supply alcoholic beverages to Americans during Prohibition.  It depends which side you were on.  For the G-Men, they...

April 6, 2016 – With summer and fun on everybody’s mind, Barefoot’s launch of spritzers in a can gives consumers the freedom to enjoy wine any place any time. Barefoot Refresh Spritzers, made in the classic spritzer style, are a refreshing wine-based beverage with a signature spritz.  The 8.4 ounce...

December 9, 2015 – There’s no end to the creativity of the wine and spirits industry!  When’s the last time you had a Wine and Vodka cocktail?  Never, of course because Maven Wine and Vodka Cocktails in single serving bottles are unique.  They cost just $6.99 a 6.8 oz. bottle...

November 3, 2015 — A new application from Wine Ring takes the worry out of choosing a new wine.  The clever software, which you can download on your smartphone, allows you to build a personal profile of wines that you love, like, think are just so-so, or dislike.  Based on...

September 4, 2015 – Every year for the past 14 years Old Forester releases a limited edition of a special bourbon to celebrate the birthday of George Garvin Brown, the founder of Brown-Forman.  His birthday was September 2. This collector’s item comes from the June 13, 2003 vintage.  The barrels...

September 4, 2015 – The Captain’s line extension, Cannon Blast is a Caribbean rum flavored with citrus, chipolte and jalapeno pepper.  Diageo, owners of the Captain Morgan brand, sees Cannon Blast as perfect for shots.  Recipe sounds interesting so it is sure to end up as a popular cocktail base....

September 4, 2015 –Ménage à Trois has released a new red wine blend of Pinot Noir, Malbec and Petite Syrah called Ménage à Trois Silk.  Based on the success of Ménage à Trois Midnight, a more hearty red blend, Silk will appeal to wine drinkers looking for a softer, smoother, fruity red...

August 11, 2015 —  It doesn’t happen very often – just 40 times in the past 95 years – that Moët et Chandon releases a vintage made from grapes from a single harvest.  Usually the wine is blended from various harvests. The 2006 vintage was a very difficult year in...

August 5, 2015 – Bourbon is booming and enthusiasts are clamoring for unique tasting experiences worthy of discussion and debate. The release of Rhetoric 21-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will give them something to talk about. This is a great opportunity for the rest of us to explore the effects...

July 18, 2015 —  Jack Daniel’s is releasing the brand’s first-ever barrel strength offering within the coveted Single Barrel Collection, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof. The newest member of the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands will hit shelves in August and will be available across the U.S. “As master distiller...

July 18, 2015 — Bacardi isn’t just for rum.  The latest addition is Bonnie Rose, a new Tennessee white corn whiskey.  Other whiskeys in the portfolio include Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon line. Bonnie Rose features two fruit-flavored 80 percent white corn whiskeys that will launch in Tennessee followed by...

June 22, 2015 — For the newest limited edition release of Tanqueray, the juniper-forward Tanqueray Bloomsbury gin, Master Distiller Tom Nichol drew inspiration from a recipe created by Charles Tanqueray’s son, Charles Waugh Tanqueray. In 1868, when Charles senior died, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray took over his business. He...

June 5, 2015 —  – Sauza Tequila is unveiling its first flavored tequila innovation, Sauza Cucumber Chili Tequila combining natural cucumber flavor and a chili twist.  Sounds like the perfect tequila for a premium, slightly spicy, and refreshing margarita. “Sauza Cucumber Chili Tequila offers a delicious alternative for spicing up a...

June 5, 2015 – Sangria is a hot category growing 8.5 percent in the last six months and it isn’t even summer yet.  Shanken News Daily reports that Trinchero Family Estates, owners of the Sutter Home brand, is introducing a new sangria described as “California style” being lighter and juicier...

June 15, 2015 – What’s better than an icy cold drink from Mike’s on a hot summer day?  “Flavors of America” is their four-can pack comprising Lemonade, Peach, Black Cherry and Apple flavors.  Being in cans, you can take them places glass can’t go.  Available nationwide, the four-pack retails for...

2 parts Sauza® Cucumber Chili Tequila 1 part DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur 2 parts fresh lemon sour Juice of one whole lime Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain over ice in a salt-rimmed cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with a lime and float a thin slice of...

April 22, 2016 – The Longmont, Colorado brewery is releasing “Extrovert IPA” in 36 states around the country in May.  Extrovert joins “Introvert Session IPA” as a year-round offering in six-pack and draft. The press release describes Extrovert as assertive with a big personality of 75 IBUs, yet reveals layers...

April 12, 2016 – Brown-Forman, proud owners of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey will roll out a new bourbon during the summer.  Initial release will be limited to Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.  As supplies increase distribution will include other states. The new bourbon will be...

April 1, 2016 – Once it is opened, a bottle of wine spoils.  Everyone knows that.  So you’d better plan on drinking it all or stick the cork back in, put it in the fridge and hope that it tastes OK a day or two later.  Fear of spoilage is...

March 27, 2015 – Anheuser-Busch’s Oculto Tequila Barrel-Aged Lager is now available across the country.  Besides aging in tequila barrels, the beer is also infused with blue agave.  The emphasis seems to be more on the packaging than the flavor.  The bottle is embedded with hidden messages and a skull...

March 27, 2015 – If flavored vodka is your beverage of choice, look no further than Heaven Hill Distilleries Burnett’s brand.  They have a total of 36 flavors with the addition of Cherry Limeade and Apple Berry. Both come in a choice of four sizes – 50 ml, 750 ml,...

March 27, 2015 – When you hear “mint julep” you know the Kentucky Derby is around the corner. Old Forester Bourbon mint julep cocktail is ready to drink.  Just serve over crushed ice.  Packaged in a commemorative Kentucky Derby-inspired bottle, it is rolling out in most of the country ready...

March 27, 2015 — Woodchuck Hard Cider of Middlebury, Vermont has a new addition to its Out on a Limb series.  Oopsy Daisy is the fourth iteration in the rotating limited release. Made from McIntosh and Cortland apples, Oopsy Daisy is described as semi-dry infused with chamomile flowers giving the...

March 27, 2015 – Game of Thrones aficionados will have a new beer to celebrate the start of Season 5.  The fifth beer of the series in the Ommegang Game of Thrones collection is Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison.  It will be released April 6 giving you just six days to...

March 27, 2015 – For older drinkers, this will be a trip down memory lane. After a hiatus of 20 years or so, I.W. Harper bourbon is back on the market.  It was phased out in the 90s as whiskey sales tanked, or at the very least fell flat.  The...

Feb. 13, 2015 – Original Sin, a line of dry ciders from upstate New York, has just released the latest in its series made from heirloom apples.  Northern Spy Dry Cider has shipped to the following markets: New York, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Washington, North Carolina, Florida and the District of...

Feb. 12, 2015 – If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.  That’s what major breweries are doing with gusto.  Tired of losing market share to spirits companies, Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors are rolling out beers flavored to taste like cocktails. The Wall Street Journal reports that the category’s share of...

November 7, 2014 – San Francisco’s Anchor Distilling Co. recently introduced Anchor Old Tom Gin.  This is the third product in their line of small-batch gins the other two being Junipero Gin, a classic London dry gin, and Genevieve, a Genever-style gin. Anchor’s Old Tom is delicious, smooth and silky. ...

Being named one of only 10 winners of the 2014 World Whiskies Awards given by Whisky Magazine in London eased the pain of peeling 32,000 lbs of pumpkins at the Sons of Liberty Spirits Company based in South Kingston, Rhode Island.  The award was for “World’s Best Flavored Whiskey” and...

We’ll try to sort it out for you.  Whyte & Mackay is a distillery founded in 1844 in Glasgow.  It has had a number of owners, which we won’t go into here.  In 1993, Whyte & Mackay’s parent company bought the parent company of a distillery on the Isle of...

“Hpnotiq Sparkle” is the name of a new, effervescent liqueur being launched for the Holidays with the help of reality TV star Khloe Kardashian. From Heaven Hill Distilleries, Hpnotiq Sparkle is a blend of exotic fruit juices, white wine, vodka and a touch of Cognac – and bubbles — making...

An exquisite new Gin from Québec, Canada, is now available in the U.S.A.  Ungava Canadian Premium Gin is as rare as its botanicals, hand picked on the northern Québec tundra by the ancient Inuit people.  The color of a beautiful yellow beryl or tourmaline gemstone, Ungava is an amazing gin...

Summer is the season of grilled meats and casual meals that calls for a red wine that is delicious and fruity but not overpowering.  We found just such a wine from the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Recently introduced to the U.S. market, Astoria Primo Rosso is a lovely blend...

Sileni Estates expands its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc selections with the introduction of “The Straits”, a Reserve wine made from their best vineyard blocks in the Wairu, Waihopai and Awatere valleys.  New Zealand owns the “new world” Sauvignon Blanc category with double digit growth year after year.  Family owned and operated...

Carter Oosterhouse who has been featured on HGTV and TLC,  has launched Bonobo Winery in northern Michigan.  He will be releasing a 2012 Chardonnay Barrel Reserve and a 2012 Riesling Reserve later this year.  The wines will retail around $22 in the new tasting room.  He anticipates selling online within...

Heineken USA has LDA Millennials in mind for summer 2014 with its Beers of Mexico variety pack.  (LDA stands for Legal Drinking Age)  New this year, Dos Equis Azul is a blend of signature golden wheat lager and blue agave.  Other cans or bottles in the pack feature Dos Equis...

Did you know that the swashbuckling figure on the Captain Morgan Rum bottle was a real, historic figure?  He was a 17th Century Welshman who was a pirate but also Governor of Jamaica.  In 1671 he raided and captured Panama City’s Fort San Lorenzo.  That was 343 years ago, not...

Spanish winery Freixenet (they own Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Wines in Sonoma, California, which is definitely worth a visit!) is launching a new line of Spanish wines called Mia.  The five wines comprise 2012 Mia Red; 2013 Mia White; 2013 Mia Rosé all priced at $10.  Mia Moscato and Mia Moscato...

Did you know that E&J Gallo is the biggest winery in the world?  Now you do! They also produce the New Amsterdam vodka brand and have just added to the line with Pineapple and Orange flavors.  Flavors already on the market are Red Berry, Peach, Citron and Coconut.  A bottle...

Malibu has a new sparkling rum that looks like fun for $16.99 a bottle.  Pop the cork and count the bubbles!  Malibu is a blend of Caribbean rum and coconut water.  Pour it over rocks and you’ll get even more fizz....

A bottle of rum and a couple of cans of Casa del Sol iced coffee sounds like a delicious serving solution.  RumChata is a combo of rum, cinnamon, vanilla, sugar and real cream that is made to be married with coffee.  The new RumChata Summer Iced Coffee Sampler Pack also...

Grey Goose, which arguably has the prettiest bottle in the Vodka department, will be releasing a new flavor on May 1 called Le Melon.  This isn’t your supermarket cantaloupe flavor.  It is from the prized Cavaillon melon grown in Provence, France. Here’s a bit of history about the Cavaillon melon...

Woodchuck brand hard cider is adding to its Cellar Series with Cellar Series Mint.  It’s a combination of Vermont McIntosh and Irish bittersweet apples and spearmint leaves.  It’s a limited edition and looks like it will be available in May only.  They also have a blueberry infused Summer Seasonal available...

Using his well-known moniker “The Duke”, Monument Valley Distillers of California has released DUKE Kentucky Straight Bourbon.  Hand-crafted to match a bottle of Wayne’s favorite bourbon from the early 60’s in his private collection, various small batches were meticulously blended to create the flavors and aromas preferred by the Duke,...

Margaritas are so yummy but oh so fattening.  Help is at hand with two more choices in the Skinnygirl line of 21 cocktails, wines and vodkas.  There’s a Skinnygirl Sweet’arita and a Skinnygirl Sparkling Margarita.  The maker, Beam Inc., says they are under 100 calories per serving but that depends...

Mango Fusion (with a hint of orange) is new to Barcardi’s flavored rums.  It will retail for $15 for a 750 ml bottle and if want to try it first, or if you really like it, you’ll be able to buy it in 50 ml, 375 ml, 750 ml, 1...

It doesn’t seem like 15 years ago that we first tried and liked Mike’s Hard Lemonade but it is and to mark the occasion they are introducing new flavors including Smashed Apple Ale made with Washington state apples, Hard Peach Lemonade, Frozen Pouch Mango Lemonade and others.  A new long-neck...

At $300 a bottle, don’t expect to see a lot of Taylor Fladgate’s newly released 1964 Single Harvest Tawny Port.  It is the first of a series of rare 50-year-old ports that will be released over the next few years.  It comes in a wooden gift box and is the...

Tim Smith, the Moonshiner from Climax, VA and star of the popular reality TV show, gave up his illegal ways in 2013 joining forces with Prost Beverage Company to launch Tim Smith’s Original Climax Moonshine.  After successfully marketing it in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Delaware, Ohio,...

Belvedere will be rolling out a new Mango Passion vodka in April.  It will retail for $34.99.  It’s meant to be mixed with some type of soda or in a cocktail. Smirnoff White will launch in July at duty free stores according to the Moodie Report.  Duty Free is now...

A rival to Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is about to launch courtesy of powerhouse Jack Daniel’s.  The new product is called Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire which, at 70 proof, is a little stronger than Fireball (66% abv) and also slightly more expensive. According to Businessweek’s Devin Leonard, cinnamon flavored whisky is...

Aimed squarely at the he-man, Smith & Forge hard cider is launching nationally, boldly packaged in a black, orange and antique white can featuring a blacksmith’s hammer.  The packaging delivers a message of a bygone era when toughness and hard work were celebrated values.   “There was a time when...

Do you know about Bud Light’s fruit flavored beers?  Two new flavors, which will be available year around are Mang-O-Rita and Raz-Ber-Rita.  They join the original flavors of Lime-A-Rita and Straw-Ber-Rita.  Summer can’t be far away, surely....

Time to dream of surf and sand.  Beso del Sol is a bag-in-the-box sangria from Spain that is being launched on the east coast, plus Tennessee and Georgia.  It is light, sweet and juicy with just 8.5% alcohol.  Its 3-liter box allows it to stay fresh for six weeks, although...

Four delicious combinations of Caribbean rum and Wisconsin cream have hit the market in 22 states under the very cute label Tippy Cow.  Packaged in old-fashioned milk bottles, the Tippy Cow flavors are Vanilla Soft Serve, Chocolate, Orange Cream and Shamrock Mint.  The product is not too high in alcohol...

If ever there was perfect timing for a beer to help us escape the winter blahs it’s got to be right now.  Sam Adams is offering aptly named “Escape Route”.  The style of beer is from Cologne, Germany brewed with Strisselspalt and Aramis hops.  Among the food pairings suggested are...

Captain Morgan, owned by Diageo, is going blond.  Bacardi introduced a dark, spiced rum so now Captain Morgan is moving into their territory with a white rum.   The new Captain Morgan White Rum will retail for $15.99 for a 750 ml bottle....

Rosenblum Cellars, a division of Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, has just launched The Great American Wine Company.  Accompanying the three wines – a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay and a red blend – was a donation of $100,000 to the USO.  The wines are being distributed nationally this month and...

Everyone loves to celebrate with bubbles and now you can do it with rum flavored with coconut water.  Malibu has added bubbles and a cork creating a truly festive drink that will be in demand come summer.  At $16.99 a 750 ml bottle, stretch your investment by mixing the cocktails...

Glenmorangie’s Private Edition series has a new entrant – Glenmorangie Companta, the fifth in this annul special offering.  “Companta” means friendship in Scots Gaelic.  It retails for $99 a 750 ml bottle....

For a cool $1,100 you can now buy a bottle of Odyssey, the super-luxury blended Scotch whisky from Johnnie Walker, a major brand of global drinks giant, Diageo.   The whisky is a secret blend of three rare and unnamed single malts.  Master blender Jim Beveridge used the hand-written notes...

You know she loves wine, and you know she has specific tastes, so what can you give her that she almost certainly doesn’t have and which you can afford?   A very clever new wine bag may be the answer.  It is a small handbag that hangs on the wrist...

Halleck Vineyard, a small producer of high-end Sonoma wines, has a really hot gift suggestion for the wine enthusiast. Owner, Ross Halleck, has developed a line of wine and travel luggage made from American bison in Berkeley, CA.   Halleck, a marketer par excellence of luxury goods, was searching for...

For spirits connoisseurs or anyone who likes to have fun in the kitchen, the HomeMade Gin Kit is sure to be a creative gift. With it you can make small batch gin at home without costly (and illegal) distilling equipment (no bathtub needed!). The Gin Kit comes with a special...

Its time has come!  After all, the bag-in-the-box has been around for decades.  Tetra Pak works well.  We’re used to screw caps, plastic stoppers and even plastic bottles.  The paper bottle, made of molded recycled cardboard with a plastic liner, is the latest packing innovation to debut in the California...

Mixing cocktails can be a lot of work, especially if you are the host.  But Monsieur will solve the problem.   This futuristic robotic bartender can make 300 different cocktails and even remember your favorites, know when you’ve had a hard day or if you have company.  Plus it will...

Absinthe, a drink that was banned in the US in 1912 and in Europe by 1915, will once again be available in it original formula from the 1800s. The US lifted the ban in 2007.   According to Pernod-Ricard, Pernod Absinthe was the aperitif of choice in France in the...

Connoisseurs of Scotch and Cognac are the targets for The Facundo Rum Collection, a limited edition of four sipping rums named for Bacardi founder Don Facundo Bacardi Massó.   The first level is Neo, aged for 8 years and priced at $45.00. The second is Eximo, which has been aged...

An innovative web site where winemakers recommend wines they didn’t make launched recently. The brainchild of two men who grew up in Napa, www.WinemakersRecommend.com is the place to hear comments and recommendations from highly respected Napa Valley winemakers about wines made by their peers.   Marcus Krupp left Napa for...

Absolut Vodka has released the seventh in a series of special vodkas inspired by various cities in the US. Absolut Chicago is infused with the flavor with olive and rosemary and packaged in bottle decorated with artwork reflecting the skyline and iconic Chicago landmarks.   The city series started in...

Kentucky-based Knob Creek, a member of the Jim Beam family, has introduced its first flavored bourbon. Smoked Maple Bourbon is now available across the U.S.   Interest in high proof spirits correlates with the popularity of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” series that started out pre-Prohibition and now dwells on the bootlegging...

“Project 12” is the name given to beers produced by Budweiser’s 12 brewmasters scattered across the country.   Each brewmaster is charged with producing a beer that reflects his location while staying true to the company’s roots and using the same yeast strain that Budweiser has been using since 1876...

With the introduction of Wild Honey Flavored Vodka and Cinna-Sugar Twist Flavored Vodka, the Smirnoff flavors now number 36. There must be something for everyone!   The Wild Honey is described as pairing well with other spirits or with mixers. The Cinna-Twist partners well with juices and sodas. Both products...

Jim Beam’s introduction of Ice Surge™ Liqueur is proof that you can be cool even if you have been around for 200 years. The new cordials available in two flavors are described as a combination of refreshing fruit flavor and an icy blast.   Ice Surge™ Tropical Freeze starts off...

The 2011 vintage was a difficult one in the Napa Valley being cooler and wetter than normal resulting in smaller yields. Even so, the slow ripening of the fruit produced many special wines including the DeSante Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc. Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc is more common in France where...

Jack Daniel’s has had seven master distillers in its nearly 150 years of operation. To honor these men, the company is releasing a limited edition series of whiskeys honoring each one. Master Distiller #1 is named after founder and first distiller Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel.   The collection was originally...

Cameron Hughes Wine has just announced the release of two new merlots from two of the Napa Valley’s famed appellations – Oakville and Rutherford – both from the 2011 vintage. Both are selling for $18.00 a bottle, an amazing bargain for truly great merlot from the Napa Valley.   How...

Two new flavors will be available nationwide in February.  Look for Mango Pineapple and Strawberry Lemonade.  They will retail for $12.99 a 750 ml bottle.   Svedka’s other flavors are Colada, Strawberry Colada, Orange Cream Pop, Cherry, Citron, Clementine, Raspberry and Vanilla....