Spirits Weekly Webinar: A trip through Scotland

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

You can say that we saved the best for last. This is our last Webinar before Christmas and we wanted to bring you a new host on our series, someone with great experience in Scotch whisky.

Meet Dave Conroy, the East Coast Region Manager for International Beverage Company. To listen to Dave is a pleasure because when he talks about Scotch whisky he actually takes you there, to the lush countryside of Scotland, giving you a feel of the soil, the air and the peat that lends its flavor to each bottle you buy and taste.

As you listen to Dave, layers of information unfold to take you into the background of each product, the ingredients and the careful craftsmanship with which each bottle of Scotch is produced.

With Dave, the more you listen the more you learn. The most important thing I learned so far ... that more than the soil, the air or the peat, water is the key to a great tasting Scotch whisky! Imagine that!

If you are like me, you will like to know the history, the story and the details behind every gift you give this Christmas, of what you serve for your guests or even what you taste yourself. When I taste a wine or liqueur that I have researched and learned about, my enjoyment of the product doubles because I can go deeper into the taste, the nuances of the product and the experience becomes even more delicious.

Thanks to our knowledgeable pool of experts, who are always willing to spend their time with our readers and customers to make their wine and fine spirits shopping experience much more exciting and fun.

When you are ready to brave your way through Scotland, please drop by our store at 853 Route 35 N, where the clown is and walk through Aisle 3 to make your fine selections.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Drink of the Day: Cinnamon Toast

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

And so this is Christmas!

Anywhere you go these days, you are sure to hear some holiday music playing at the store. This weekend is heavy shopping and shipping weekend. The lines at the post office have already doubled. The malls....well, you know, they are crowded but that's a good sign right? The economy is supposed to be getting better.

The New York Times reported today that U.S. employers have stopped laying people off, at least during the holidays. The jobless rate is the lowest currently (10 percent) since the recession began, the report says.

While there is a nagging concern that this trend might change come January, one cannot live in fear and anxiety. After all, this is the holiday season.

Let's drink to that. Today's drink comes from Middletown Store Manager Raymond Kimble and is called Cinnamon Toast. Ray, as he is popularly known, is very knowledgeable about bartending and can answer any questions you have about wines and spirits.

To make this drink, Ray suggests mixing 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder with 1 tablespoon sugar, add to that one-and-half-ounce of your favorite spiced rum, then mix in 6 oz of hot apple cider and serve in a mug.

At Spirits Unlimited Middletown you can find over 20 varieties of spiced rums in Aisle 3. So stop by on your way home and we will help you pick one. If you have any questions, e-mail us at spiritsmiddletown@gmail.com.

We know the holidays are busy, that's why we are here for you.

Drink of the Day: Black Cherry Bourbon + coke

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

Dec. 2 and the skies get dark earlier.

The BRIGHTER side to that — Christmas lights are on.

On the way back from work, it is a pretty sight to see the neighborhood light up with holiday spirit.

Tonight we celebrate the community spirit found in one's own nook of the world during the holidays.

The drink, Black Cherry Bourbon + coke, is a contribution from our team member Greg.

To prepare this, mix 1 part Jim Beam Red Stag Bourbon with 2 parts coke or cherry coke. Then add ice and stir.

According to Greg, this drink is a great twist of the classic whiskey and coke.

While you enjoy your drink, check out more recipes at the Red Stag site.

Drink of the Day: Dunkin Dutch

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

Today is Dec. 1 and the countdown to Christmas is on.

With the holidays coming, we know that you have tons of holiday stuff to do once you get home from work. So, we thought we have to do something to keep you in good spirits.

Throughout this month, as the countdown continues, we will bring you a "Drink of the Day" recipe, just a little something to make this December special for you.

Today's recipe is "Dunkin Dutch." This is a perfect "pick-me-up" after a day's work and has been suggested to us by Spirits Unlimited Middletown team member, Ellen.

It's the simplest cocktail recipe that I have come across that tastes great. To prepare this, you need to pick up a French Vanilla Iced coffee on your way home from work and add a shot of Van Gogh's Dutch Caramel Vodka to it when you reach home. "Voila!" Your evening has now become perfect.

At Spirits Unlimited Middletown (on Highway 35 North) we carry over 14 varieties of Van Gogh Vodka and the Dutch Caramel is the first to disappear off our shelf, it's that popular. So, in case if you have not bought a bottle already, stop by our store and stock up on the good stuff. You will find it on the top shelf (left) toward the end of Aisle 3 in our store.

Spirits Middletown presents even more savings online!!!

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

Who wants to save a dollar? Or better even save $5?

We, at Spirits Unlimited Middletown, bring you a special holiday offer with our first-ever Internet Discount Coupons.

For a limited time only, we are offering two great red wines, the Estancia and Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon at unbelievable prices.

While at the store you will get the Estancia for $15:99, you can save an additional $3:41 by downloading and printing this Internet coupon and buy the same great wine for only $12:58.

Similarly, the store price for the Franciscan is $24:99. You save an additional $5:01 by downloading and printing this Internet coupon and treat yourself to an amazing wine at an unbelievable price of $19:98.

Both wines have received very high customer feedback. In addition, we have Jerry Johnston, the Premium Wine Manager from R&R Marketing, reviewing these two wines for you right here, so you can understand what great value and quality you will receive for printing out these coupons and coming to our store with them.


Notes on Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon


Color: Deep red


Nose: Spicy, berry notes and hints of toasted sweet oak.


Taste: Rich fruit-flavor up front with soft tannins and a smooth finish.

Regular store price: $15:99
Internet price: $12:58
Savings: $3:41

Notes on Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon


Color: Ruby Red


Nose: Fruity, jammy notes with hints of cocoa and oak


Taste: Flavors evolve in layers with tastes in mid and end palate

Regular store price: $24:99
Internet price: $19:98
Savings: $5:01

Wouldn't you like to save more and stretch the value of your dollar this holiday season? We all would! That's why Spirits Unlimited Middletown is always here for you, thinking about you and giving you amazing discounts to put you in the holiday spirit.

But hurry! This offer is really too good to be true. Print this coupon and rush to the Middletown store at 853 Highway 35 to get your special discount.





Please remember to present your online coupon to the cashier before the beginning of the transaction. In case you have problems printing, then mention the online coupon codes (Estancia #02720 and Franciscan #02719) to the cashier at the Middletown Spirits Unlimited store before your items are scanned to redeem your savings.

If you have any questions, please write to us at spiritsmiddletown@gmail.com

Spirits Weekly Webinar: Craft Beers

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

Craft beers are as American as apple pie.

These beers are usually produced in a specialized brewery and are brewed with great care to achieve distinctive taste and flavor. They are also produced for a specific target audience who prefer that style. Craft beers are never mass-produced but there might be exceptions. The largest American craft brewery is Samuel Adams.

With brewpubs, microbreweries and restaurants, the craft beer scene is New Jersey is hot and happening. My three favorite brewpubs in the state — Harvest Moon (New Brunswick), Triumph (Princeton) and Basil T's just down the road in Red Bank, serve some great selections. The food to go with beer isn't bad either, with Basil T's Italian grill ranking pretty high on the culinary scene. I highly recommend trying a "growler" at your nearest brewpub because we have a lot of new varieties brewing in the Garden State (Check out the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild) and there will surely be more than one that will knock your socks off.

But if you are not feeling adventurous enough to venture out, and just want to relax at home and chill, we highly recommend that you drop by Spirits Unlimited Middletown and grab your favorite craft brew. We have a huge selection and can almost guarantee you will find what you are looking for. In case we don't have it on our shelf, just ask us to get you your beer of choice. We will do our best to keep you happy and "chill'n!"

On that note, I would like to present to you our expert on beer, Jonathan Wurm, the Imports and Crafts Account Manager with MillerCoors. Today he will share with you some aspects of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company, one of the seventh-oldest brewery in this country. Like every microbrewery, there is a story behind Leinenkugel as well, a lore that takes you back in time to 1867, to the era of the lumberjacks in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Family-owned and operated, Leinenkugel beers are handcrafted and bring home the adventures of the Northwoods in Wisconsin. Between four seasonals and year-round brews this self-described "old-world Germanic brewery" has won many awards, and will win your heart as well.

The Point is here in Middletown

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

How can a cold, rainy day sizzle?

When you have a great radio station to rock with. Now playing at Spirits Unlimited Middletown is 94.3 The Point.

The Point Crew is also giving you a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to see the Devils battle the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center in Newark on March 10.

So rush to the store now, the radio station is here only until 7 p.m. tonight!