Epicurean Calgary

New(ish) and/or Interesting Liquor Of The Week 2007

Each week a new product will be added that is either new to Alberta, or maybe just sadly overlooked and should be tried. To find who sells the products, click on the link at the bottom of the description.

12/30- Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, CSPC 721365; Retail: $40-$45 per 750 ml. bottle

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PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, the world's first true pomegranate liqueur, is leading the way in the next major category in the spirits world--pomegranates.  Made with all-natural California pomegranates, premium vodka and "a touch" of tequila, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur is the first premium pomegranate-flavored liqueur available. Ruby red in color with a sweet, yet tart, thick flavor, PAMA is a great representation of the real "forbidden fruit" and can transform a variety of cocktails into an exotic explosion of the recently rediscovered flavor. PAMA is a versatile liqueur that can be mixed into a number of cocktails. It pairs especially well with club soda, Champagne, grapefruit juice and ginger ale and is an exotic sipper when served straight on the rocks with a lemon twist. 17% alcohol

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12/23- Blasted Church Pinot Gris, CSPC 714566; Retail: $30-$35 per 750 ml. bottle

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From Blasted Church Vineyards, just outside of Okanagan Falls, B.C., this wine has a mid straw colour with pale lime hues. Its bouquet has an intense pear and apple character, with layers of peach and apricot. It is medium bodied, with stone fruit and citrus flavours, hints of creamy vanilla, and flint lead to a crisp, steely finish.
Great on its own, it also is useful with food pairings; serve chilled, with grilled seafood, and summer salads. 13.2% alcohol

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12/16- Anchor Steam Christmas Ale 2007, CSPC 712583; Retail: $14-$17 per 6 x 341 ml. bottles

 New in Alberta

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Every year since 1975 the brewers at Anchor Steam have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which they offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. 
Each year the Christmas Ale gets a unique label and a unique recipe for the Ale itself. Although the recipes must remain a secret, many enthusiasts save a few bottles from year to year—stored in a cool dark place—to taste later and compare with other vintages. This year's version has hint of clove and cinnamon. Properly refrigerated, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years, with different nuances slowly emerging as the flavor mellows slightly. 5.5% alcohol

Read Mike Tessier's article on the beer here.

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12/09- Whisky Works, CSPC 727060; Retail: $125-$130 per 750 ml. bottle and 1 L. cask

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The whisky included in the WHISKY WORKS kit is a premium Pure Malt Whisky. It is a marriage of all Single Malt Whiskies. There are 10 individual Single Malt Scotches from various regions in Scotland. To this, they have added a small amount (1%) of Canadian Single Malt Whisky. The master blender has selected these malts in specific proportions to create a whisky that can be enjoyed as is.
The youngest Single Malt Whisky in the Pure Malt is 3 years old. The oldest Single Malt Whisky in the marriage is at least 12 years old. The whisky is supplied at a cask strength of 59.5% alc./vol. Also included:
1 litre cask handcrafted from American White Oak and toasted to a medium char, Cask bung (stopper), spigot and stand, 750 ml bottle of premium Pure Malt Whisky, cask strength (59.5% alc./vol.), aged a minimum of three years. Instruction booklet includes theory of whisky maturing.

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12/02- Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur, CSPC 723851; Retail: $25-$30 per 750 ml. bottle

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Blended with aged Virgin Island Rum, Fresh Dutch Cream, Black Tea from India, Premium Spirits from Holland and a distinctive blend of spices from Asia, Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur has a rich, creamy smoothness that you should expect from a Premium Liqueur.
The liqueur is manufactured in the Netherlands. Voyant Chai Cream is characterized by its strong, spicy aroma which resembles pumpkin pie and its creamy chai/vanilla infused taste with relatively low alcohol burn (which the manufacturer credits to a usage of premium spirits). The consistency of Voyant Chai Cream is similar to, though slightly thinner than other cream liqueurs. A perfect holiday drink. 12.5% alcohol.

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11/25- Quady Electra, CSPC 293860; Retail: $10-$13 per 750 ml. bottle

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With the first sip you feel the wine- light as springtime, delicately sweet, refreshingly crisp, a bouquet of flowers with the taste of peach and melon. Electra is electricity for the mouth!
Created by Quady Winery (California) in 1990, this was a new type of dessert wine, light, delicate, easy to drink, and very refreshing was produced. As the Orange Muscat grape juice was just on the verge of turning into wine— halfway between wine and grape juice, a small test batch was bottled. The wine tasted wonderful, but the alcohol was only 4% (most wines are at least 12%). The wine was bottled using sterile filtration to prevent re-fermentation and the new creation named Electra after the electric like texture one notices on the tip of the tongue.
Electra goes with summer fruits (strawberries, nectarines, peaches, melons), salads, spicy Asian and Indian foods, light desserts, blue skies and fresh air. 4% alcohol

GOLD MEDAL:
Amenti del Vino
Special Awards:
2006 World Wine Championships - 92 Exceptional 
Silver Medal: 2007 California State Fair
2007 San Diego International Wine Competition

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11/18- MIll Street Tankhouse Ale, CSPC 676510; Retail: $14-$16 per 6 x 341 ml. bottles

 New in Alberta

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Like traditional pale ales, Tankhouse Ale has a deep copper-red colour. They use five different malts to produce a complex malty texture. The most dominant character of the Pale Ale is the hop. The spicy Cascades hop is used to give an assertive hop flavour, aroma and bitterness. The result is a satisfying and complex-tasting beer. Their brewmaster developed this recipe 20 years ago and it has remained his favorite drink of choice. 5.2% alcohol

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11/11- Baileys Caramel and Mint Chocolate,  Caramel CSPC 722424 and Mint Chocolate CSPC 722425; Retail: $30-$35 per 750 ml. bottle

Click above for more info.       New in Alberta

Since its first introduction nearly 30 years ago, Baileys has successfully combined the luxurious flavors of vanilla, chocolate, fresh cream and Irish whiskey to become one of the most popular spirits in the world. While there are now many other cream liqueurs on the market (and cheaper ones too), many swear by the original. New this year are two new Baileys; one with a hint of Caramel, and another with the same delicious Baileys taste with just a hint of mint chocolate. 17% alcohol for both.

Find it here: Caramel
Find it here: Mint Chocolate

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11/04- Angostura 1824 Rum, CSPC 726480; Retail: $55-$60 per 750 ml. bottle

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Angostura 1824 Limited Reserve is a Trinidadian blend of the finest mature rums, hand-picked by the master blender from select casks. These rums are aged in charred American oak bourbon barrels for a minimum of 12 years and then skillfully hand-blended and re-casked. Upon the rum's optimum maturity it is hand-drawn, filtered and hand bottled.
The rum itself excudes a rich bronze colour with a seamlessly smooth texture and well rounded, medium to full body. The bouquet is seductively rich with aromas of sweet molasses, vanilla, honey, spice and cognac-like notes.
The palate of Angostura 1824 offers mouth-watering flavours of honey, fruit, chocolate, spices and herbs. The finish is remarkably long and flavour-packed. 40% alcohol

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10/28- Collalto Prosecco Extra Dry, CSPC 720618; Retail: $24-$26 per 750 ml. bottle

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While Prosecco's are fairly new to the Alberta market, it is definitely the fastest growing segment of the Sparkling Wine category. The Collalto family of Veneto has been in the wine business for centuries and make a variety of Proseccos (among other wines). This Prosecco is made with 90% Prosecco grapes and 10% Chardonnay. It's light, straw colour belies its rich, fresh fruity nose, with hints of pears and apples. Lightly carbonated, it has a good softness but provides a good taste of fruit with citrus overtones, while remaining quite dry. 11.5% alcohol

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10/21- St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, CSPC 922450; Retail: $14-$15 per 6 x 341 ml. bottles

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At the World Beer Championship in 1994, St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout received the second highest rating of the over 200 beers in the competition and won one of only nine platinum medals awarded. Brewed from 40 percent dark malts and roasted barley, this intensely black ale carries strong hints of espresso and chocolate. Oatmeal contributes body and a long-lasting mocha-colored head to this well-hopped beer. It is jet black in colour and the head is a light brownish colour. The aroma is reminiscent of hops, milk chocolate and heavily roasted malt. When you taste the beer, the first thing you notice is the silky smoothness, followed by some subtle carbonation, which makes it lighter in body than a traditional stout, like Guinness. The taste is easy with a good background of malt, coffee, bitterness and subtle sweetness with a malty finish. 5% alcohol

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------------------------------------------------------------10/14- Trump Super Premium Vodka,  CSPC 725587; Retail: $53-$56 per 750 ml. bottle

 New in Alberta

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Trump Vodka is from Holland distilled five times from select European wheat and stored in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. The distillate is then filtered through a carbon filtration process twice, run through a 9-column filtration process and carbon filtered twice more before resting in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling. The bottle itself is a Bruni Glass design, with labels and outer decorations by world famous New York designer and artist Milton Glaser. The thin, clear spirit bears a clean, granular fragrance clearly defined by the wheat it was produced from. A smooth, transparent entry is followed by a finish of citrus undertones. 40% alcohol

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10/07- Aalborg Akvavit, CSPC 141796;
Retail: $28-$30 per 750 ml. bottle

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From the Danish word for "water of life", Akvavit has returned to the Alberta market after almost a 2 year absence. The classic AALBORG TAFFEL Akvavit has a very pure caraway bouquet which is supported by a slight hint of orange. Its full body and aromas make it all the way around your mouth. Friends of AALBORG TAFFEL Akvavit could say the same thing in 1846, because the recipe for “Red Aalborg” has been identical in all the years since – as is the result: a crystal clear aquavit that is full of character and is enjoyed chilled with herring and other good food. You may like to also try it with gorgonzola and egg yolk. 40% alcohol

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09/30- Domaine Pinnacle Ice Cider, CSPC 709683; Retail: $30-$33 per 375 ml. bottle

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Award-winning and critically-acclaimed, Pinnacle Ice Cider is produced from a select blend of 6 varieties of hand-picked apples, harvested after frost and extracted naturally over the winter months. The unique combination of ideal summer growing conditions and cold Canadian winters create a product like nothing else you have ever tasted!
Rich, golden and full-bodied in the glass, the Ice Cider has an appealing mellow flavor and clean, distinct taste of apples that builds from its smooth, velvety start to its well-balanced, long-lasting finish.
Due to product complexity, can be served on its own or as an exceptional complement to a variety of foods...

• as an apéritif
• with pâtés, foie gras, game or poultry
• with spicy dishes
• with fine cheeses, particularly blue, goat, aged cheddar and brie
• with desserts, including of course, many apple-based classics
• on its own, as a digestif, to end a perfect meal!

About half the price of Icewine, and not quite as sweet. 12.5% alcohol

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09/23- Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer,  CSPC 715953; Retail: $3-$4 per 330 ml. bottle

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For 30 days this honey-hued beer sleeps in hand selected oak barrels (previously used to mature bourbon), locked inside a bonded warehouse, gradually assimilating the subtle flavours that reside in the wood. Barrels are then emptied and maturation continues for a further 47 days in a marrying tun where these natural flavours infuse and fall into perfect balance. This 77-day process is unique and produces a delicious, refreshing beer: Aromas of vanilla and toffee, hints of citrus, with a malty, lightly oaked,palate. Deftly balanced and light in texture, soothing and warming in the finish. 6.6% alcohol

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09/16- Bak's Bison Grass Vodka, CSPC 718143; Retail: $35-$45 per 750 ml. bottle

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Long revered by enthusiasts and aficionados, ZUBRÓWKA is a traditional Polish vodka flavored with bison grass. Produced at the Polmos Poznan Distillery, the vodka is triple-distilled in column stills from potatoes and artesian well water. It is then infused with the essential oils of the buffalo grass before being filtered through charcoal and oak chips.
The vodka has a pale, yellow hue, lightweight body and a generous bouquet of fresh, grassy aromas and even contains a long, slender blade of buffalo grass. The vodka has a pale, yellow hue, The palate is loaded with spicy, sweet flavors that gradually fade into a warm and relaxed finish.
The bison grass in the Zubrówka is said to give one vitality and strength. Others say it has aphrodisiac properties. Whatever the motivation, Zubrówka is an experience not to be missed. 41% alcohol

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09/09- Agavero, CSPC 723238; Retail: $55-$60 per 750 ml. bottle

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Warning: The Damiana flower, is reputed to be an aphrodisiac in Mexico. That is one aspect of Agavero you’ll have to test for yourself.

Find it here