Perfect Drinks for a Romantic Valentine's Day

I received these products from Moonlight Meadery for review.  They produce over 100 varieties mead, cider and beer.  

 

In case you're not familiar with mead, it's a delicious, sweet wine that's mad from honey.  These meads from Moonlight Meadery are all gluten free and have an extended shelf life.  But best of all, when you serve it to your sweetie on Valentine's Day, you'll be serving up Romance by the Glass.

 

Midnight Meadery has given their meads fun names.  I'm glad they didn't give them ordinary, run of the mill names because these meads deserve to be called something special.  This one is called "No Need To Argue".  It's a deliciously rich Cranberry Mead that won Best of Show at the 2019 San Diego International Beer Competition.  It's the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness that comes together in harmonious flavor.

Wild is a light and refreshing blueberry mead that's made from unprocessed wildflower honey and wild mountain grown blueberries.  It's perfect to serve with a cheese plate and grilled steak.

 

Sensual is made with an award winning recipe that showcases honey that is aromatic, flavorful and deliciously sweet with a long lasting smooth finish.  You can enjoy it with any dish, especially spicy food.  It's great to serve slightly chilled or over ice on a hot summer night.

Paramour is a masterful blend of honey, blackberries, blueberries, black cherries and currants.  You'll love the full bodied and juicy flavor that goes great with any spicy or rich flavored dish, curries or spiced meal.

 

Mischief is a playful blackberry mead. The deep, decadent blackberry flavor integrates perfectly with the rich wildflower honey.  Drinking this may leave you feeling mischievous, so it's a perfect drink to share with your love.

The 2019 Bourbon Barrel Aged Kurts Apple Pie is an apple mead that's made with Vietnamese cinnamon and Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans.  It has all of the great apple, vanilla and cinnamon flavors you love... and so much more.

RAZZ What She Said has a deep and rich flavor of luscious raspberry and honey.  It's bright and sparkling with an off pink head and a pleasing semi-sweet finish.

 

Sam's Strawberry is a semi-sweet and bubbly session mead in a can.  And look how adorable the can is with the golden retriever surrounded by apples!

Little Apples is made from the finest New England apples.  This is a hard apple cider that's been aged in rye whiskey barrels.  It has a flavor that's light and crisp with a balanced acidity.

Moonlight Meadery has lots more to offer... browse their website to see their full selection.  You're sure to find the perfect drink for your Romantic Valentine's Day!

Delicious Bubbly for Easter

I received these products from Mionetto for review.  This Easter, after a busy night delivering Easter Baskets to all of the good little boys and girls, Mr. Easter Bunny can settle down to a nice romantic drink (or two, or three, or more!) with Mrs. Easter Bunny.  These sparkling bottles of Bubbly from Mionetto are the perfect choice!  And if you're really, really good, maybe the Easter Bunny will leave a bottle for you to share with your Easter sweetheart as well!

Mionetto Prestige Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut ($14 / 750ml and $4 / Mini 187ml):  This sparkling wine has an emphatic, yet stylish mousse and a luminous straw yellow hue that it gets from the grapes that are grown in the province of Treviso.  Treviso is an area that has always produced high quality Prosecco.  It has a bouquet that is redolent of Golden Delicious apples and a palate that is appealingly marked by aromatic notes of honey and white peaches.  This is from Mionetto's most classic Prestige line.  This is a line that reflects its connections with the history of the winery in the elegant presentation of the bottle, which features an oblique label design that has always been a characteristic of the winery.  The refined design of the label reflects the style of the products.  There's Prestige quality in every detail! 

Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry ($14 / 750ml and $4 / Mini 187ml):  This Rosé is the result of soft pressing of red grapes.  It has a peach blossom color with shiny reflections accompanied by a fine, lively perlage.  It has an intensely fragrant, fruity nose with hints of violet, raspberry, morello cherry and wild strawberry.  This is also from the most classic Prestige line. 

 
Mionetto Luxury Cartizze DOCG ($45):  This elegant Cartizze boasts luminous golden highlights that are fluted by a near endless, delicate bead of tiny bubbles.  It has a majestic, multi faceted bouquet that releases seductive impressions of apples and pears, alongside notes of citrus and glazed almond.  It is crisp, well balanced and elegant on the palate.  Its charming personality and the distinguishing feature of obliquity combines with the excellence of quality that is the result of Mionetto's wine producing experience to give it a sinuous appeal.  It is an exclusive "unicum" with unmistakable Italian style.  The choice of materials and the elegant, sinuous form of the bottle makes it feel innovative and refined.  The highly sought after personality of the most prestigious perlage of this historic vineyard is exalted by the Luxury Collection.

So this year after the Easter excitement calms down a little, enjoy a nice glass of any or all of these wines.  Just please REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY!       

The Vodka that promotes freedom of expression, acceptance and being yourself...

I received this product from Tom of Finland Organic Vodka for review.

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, 40% abv is a super premium vodka that is artistically crafted in Finland from the finest organically grown wheat, rye and pure arctic water.  It's bold, yet smooth.  It's full of character, where the spiciness of the rye is balanced by the softness of wheat and arctic water.  It's 100% organic, with no added sugar - or anything else... just pure spirits and water.  It's produced in small batches with love and care by Master Distiller Mika Mönkkönen at Lignell & Piispanen, which is the second oldest family run company in Finland.  The vodka is distilled five times and filtered through traditional sheet filters.  When vodka is this good, charcoal filtering just isn't necessary.

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka has clean aromas with subtle hints of rye spice.  Unlike most vodkas, there is no burn whatsoever with this one.  When you take your first sip, it coats your mouth with a silky smooth oiliness.  The taste of vanilla cream soda leads to a crescendo of spice that hints at cracked black pepper with wonderful overtones of star anise.  It finishes with a high note of spice that is perfectly accompanied by a soft and mellow finish.    

A percentage of profit from each bottle is donated to Tom of Finland Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Tom of Finland and Durk Dehner that is dedicated to promoting tolerant attitudes towards sexuality and the preservation of erotic art.

Tom of Finland was an original pioneer artist, who 50 years ago drew a world based in his ideals.  His art transcends the physical realm as it speaks to universal emotions by showcasing a whimsical, unbridled spirit that exists in us all.  Through his art, he has influenced the aesthetic of icons such as Freddie Mercury, and trends including the modern civil rights movements.  Today his work can be seen in galleries and museums around the world, in pop culture and in film.  Books on Tom and his art are common place in book stores and museum gift shops.    

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, like Tom's art, promotes freedom of expression and acceptance.  It encourages everyone to just be themselves.  When you bring out a bottle to serve someone, you're telling them that you love them and accept them exactly the way they are.

We all deserve something special for the Holidays.

I received these products from Mionetto for review.

We all deserve to be rewarded during the holiday season.  Having to endure your aunt’s ‘famous fruitcake’ and explain to distant relatives why you’re still single is enough to drive anyone up the wall.  Luckily Mionetto is here to help with a few refreshing sparkling wines from their Prestige and Luxury collections.  From the perfect holiday pairings, to luxurious gifts, to stocking stuffers galore, Mionetto has you covered this holiday season – or perhaps just keep the bottle for yourself?

 
Mionetto Luxury Cartizze DOCG ($45 for 750ml):  This elegant Cartizze boasts luminous golden tones and delicate beads of tiny bubbles.  A majestic, multi-faceted bouquet releases seductive impressions of apple and pear alongside notes of citrus and glazed almond.  On the palate it is crisp, well balanced, and elegant.  The perfect gift for anyone special in your life (even if that someone is you!).  A sinuous appeal with a charming personality and the distinguishing feature of obliquity combine with the excellence quality that is the result of Mionetto’s wine producing experience.  An exclusive “unicum” with unmistakable Italian style.  Innovative and refined, also in the choice of materials and in the elegant and sinuous form of the bottle, Luxury Collection exalts the sought after personality of the most prestigious perlage of this historic vineyard. 

Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry ($14 for 750ml / $4 for Mini 187ml):  This Rosé is the result of soft pressing of red grapes.  Peach blossom color with shiny reflections accompanied by a fine, lively perlage.   Intense fragrant, fruity nose with hints of violet, raspberry, morello cherry and wild strawberry.  Mionetto’s most classic line reflects its connections with the history of the winery in the elegant presentation of the bottle, which features an oblique label design that has always been a characteristic of the winery.

Mionetto Prestige Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut ($14 750ml / $4 Mini 187ml):  The grapes from the province of Treviso, an area that has always produced high quality Prosecco, give this sparkling wine a luminous straw yellow hue and stylish mousse.  The bouquet is redolent of Golden Delicious apple, while the palate is appealingly marked by aromatic notes of honey and white peach.  The refined design of the label reflects the style of the products.  Prestige, quality in every detail!

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Enjoy Peach Flavored Moonshine during your Holiday Celebrations!

I received this product from Shots Box for review.  Roberson's Tennessee Mellomoon Peach Shine is so good that it would make a wonderful addition to your drink menu for your Holiday Celebrations.  You can purchase a 750 ml HERE for $27.99 and have it shipped directly to your door.

 
Some folks say Tiny’s Peach Shine is so good, if you threw it up in the air it would turn to golden sunshine!  Well, we don’t know about that, but we do know it’s better to sip the shine than throw the shine.

Wanna give your ice tea a true southern flair?  Add it to your tea.

East Tennessee Distillery and Roberson’s Tennessee Mellomoon moonshine is steeped in the tradition of the Appalachian Mountains.  Nestled in the hills of Piney Flats, East Tennessee Distillery produces award-winning moonshine for their customers in Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, and Ohio.

Master distiller Tiny Roberson carries on the Appalachian tradition.  Initially trained to distill drinking water from the sea by the Navy, he refined his technical skills by working over 12 years as a lab technician and analyst for two very large corporations.  Using this knowledge and an interest in “fine tasting shine,” Tiny crafted small batches of “liquid sunshine” in his garage and shared his moonshine to an ever-growing fan base.

Tiny’s hobby became a business when one of his “fans” came back from vacation and brought him an order for 400 cases of his tasty shine.  At the same time, the State of Tennessee began licensing select moonshine operations.  Tiny immediately got the paperwork together and launched the business.

Roberson’s Mellomoon moonshine has won several awards including a platinum “Best of Show” award at the 2013/2014 World Beverage Competition and most recently a silver medal at the 2014 Craft Spirits Awards.

Please drink responsibly.

Shots Box is a wonderful way to sample new spirits without committing to a whole bottle

I received these products from Shots Box for review.  Shots Box is a subscription service that brings amazing craft spirits directly to your door.  They connect new brands to new individuals, letting people enjoy drinks that are different from their usual selections, while giving distillers a way to get exposure and gather feedback from new customers.  For $49.99/Month you will get 10 hand selected craft shots delivered to your door.  If you like what you tried, purchase the full bottle in their shop.

 
With a Shotsbox gift subscription the recipient will receive a monthly box of 10 sample size bottles of the unique spirits from the site.  This will give them the freedom to experiment and try varieties without wasting an entire full size bottle discovering which crafts they really love and want to build out their home bar with.  Take the guesswork out of choosing a new drink to enjoy.  Sign up for their monthly subscription of wide-ranging, expertly-curated array of craft spirits.   You can pay up-front for one month, three months, six months or even an entire year for someone you care about (even if that someone is you!).  My sample box included the following:

Adelaide's Dreamsicle Cream Liqueur Caramel Mocha Mojo Liqueur:  As its name suggests, the Pure line is created entirely from genuine ingredients, with no artificial flavoring.  Rich chocolate pieces, smooth nut butters and other decadent ingredients are combined to create luxurious alcoholic beverages.  Originality, honesty, and high quality; it's a purely luscious and creamy taste perfection to delight your taste buds.

 
Wild Rag Texas Torch Cinnamon Flavored Vodka:  This Vodka is full of savory notes of hot chili pepper & cinnamon.  It is carefully crafted with a perfect balance of heat and sweet, resulting in a pleasingly smooth-tasting, cinnamon flavored Vodka like no other.  People are raving over this Vodka.

MALFY Gin Originale:  MALFY is distilled in a stainless steel vacuum still so the fresh aromas of Italian juniper and citrus are retained.  A sip of MALFY Gin captures the perfect gin moment: sitting on a sunny terrace, enjoying the view, “Dolce far niente”, the sweet art of doing nothing…

Western Son Prickly Pear Vodka:  Made with juicy and lush, freshly picked cactus fruit that finishes semi-sweet and lightly tart with teases of wild strawberry, kiwi, and melon. 

Treecraft Distillery Lavender Hibiscus Gin:  This Lavender Hibiscus Gin is distilled from a honey based spirit.  Using lavender and hibiscus as the primary botanicals, gives it a one-of-a-kind, beautiful floral flavor profile.  This gin is delicious straight up or with a splash of tonic and a slice of lime. 

Young & Yonder Spirits Fellows & Foragers Absinth:  Fellows and Foragers combines a variety of classical absinthe herbs, including anise, fennel, and wormwood, as well as some unique attributes that draw out flavor and depth, such as ginger and tarragon.  Overall, there are eleven various botanicals in the recipe and they use over 75 pounds of these botanicals for each 50-gallon batch they create, resulting in a rich and flavorful spirit for your enjoyment.

Willie's Huckleberry Sweet Cream Liqueur:  Montana is known for its native, sweet & juicy Huckleberries.   Growing wild in sub-alpine regions and sought after by bears and birds alike, a bucket of huckleberries is always a hard-won prize for the not so faint of heart.  You're going to love this sweet cream liqueur. 

Nue Vodka:  This is a gluten free 6X Distilled, small batch Vodka that is made from corn.  The water used is reverse osmosis treated extracting mineral content and any impurities for cleaner smoother vodka. 

Suerte Blanco Tequila:  Crushed to perfection with a true tequila taste that is made better with Tahona.  A favorite with the founders, this Blanco offers such an incredibly smooth finish and distinct herbal notes that they love to sip it straight.  To those who prefer to mix, cocktails never had it so good. 

Crooked Water Spirits Old Hell Raising Bourbon:  Old Hell Roaring is a robust double barreled bourbon at its best.  The proprietary complex toasting and smoking process delivers an intense and beautiful experience; with rounded notes of deep vanilla, burnt caramel and a smoldering campfire.  The higher proof allows the discerning palate to be in control of one’s destiny.  Welcome to Old Hell Roaring, a labor of love.

Please drink responsibly.

Try these fun pairings of your favorite wines and candies

Halloween is almost here and Christmas isn't far behind it.  Many people will be throwing parties and enjoying the season.  And what are two things that you can find being served at almost every Halloween or Christmas party?  Good wine, like the delicious sweet wines from Castello del Poggio; and candy!  Why not pair them together?  Here are a few pairing ideas for you to try! 

‘Spooky Pleasures’  & Swedish Fish 

6oz. Castello del Poggio Moscato (SRP: $12.99)

2oz. Junmai Sake

.5oz. fresh blackberry puree

Our ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until blended and pour into a large wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with the plumpest Swedish Fish from the bag.

Not in the mood for a cocktail? We've got you covered with these ideas:

Castello del Poggio Sweet Red (SRP: $12.99) & Peanut M&Ms: 

The bright raspberry-violet with fruity notes of apricot and peach tastes best when chilled. Pair the Sweet Red with the saltiness of the pretzel M&Ms and you’re set for a delightful evening.

 

Castello del Poggio Sweet Rosé (SRP: $12.99) & Starburst: 

Juicy and refreshing when chilled.  Bright raspberry-violet in color, this vino frizzante is very fruity with notes of apricot and peach. Its full body, mineral notes, velvety tannin, and crisp, soft mouth feel are highlighted when chilled, and paired with your favorite Starburst (should be pink to match the drink, but to each their own).

Please be safe and drink responsibly.

Wine Insiders makes it easy to get great wine delivered right to your door!

I received these products from Wine Insiders for review.  Wine Insiders was created to avoid the frustrations of trying to buy a good wine at an affordable price.  They offer tasting notes and customer reviews to help you select the wine you want.  After you place your order, it will be delivered directly to your door or to a convenient pickup location.  And shipping is free on orders of 6+ bottles!  They affer 40 varieties from 15 top wine regions in the world.  They partner with esteemed wineries in prestigious regions, cutting out the markups to lower prices, and delivering favorite wines directly to you.  Here are some examples of their amazing selections, as well as a price comparison of the Traditional Retail Price vs. what you will pay with Wine Insiders. 

 

Scavi & Ray Ice Prestige Sparkling:  This is an exquisite pleasure, distinguished by its delicate fruity flavor, medium-dry feel, and exceptionally fine bubbles. Serve it ice cold for pure enjoyment.  The Traditional Retail Price is $23.99, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $15.99.

  
2016 Sierra Trails Lodi Tannat:  This Lodi, California red is big and dark like a summer storm. Decant this wine or at least open it early to let its dark atmosphere clear up and reveal flavors of cherry liqueur and strawberry licorice, rounded out by hints of rosemary and peppermint, and a soft finish as a rainbow at the end. This wine joins us from Lodi, California, the Wine Enthusiast 2015 Wine Region of the Year, which has “…grabbed international attention for the quality of the new wines made from its legendary old Zinfandel vines and a profusion of young, diverse grape varieties.”  The Traditional Retail Price is $29.99, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $24.99.

2016 Chateau Guillaume Blanc 1562 Bordeaux Superieur: 
Situated near Sainte Foy la Grande on the outskirts of the Gironde, the wines produced at this 16th century château enjoy a complex and unique terroir for their Cabernet and Merlot grapes. The domaine is Sustainable Agriculture certified and continues to manually prune their vines, and the result is elegant, rich and well-balanced wine with red fruit and sweet spice notes.  The Traditional Retail Price is $34.99, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $24.99.

2017 Cala De' Poeti Montepulciano D'Abruzzo D.O.C.:  Made from 100% Montepulciano grapes grown in a restricted territory on the picturesque central Italian hills, 2017 Cala de Poeti Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is dry and harmonious, with aromas of tobacco and leather. This medium-bodied red was aged in oak for six months, resulting in a robust, ruby-red wine that pairs perfectly with pizza, pasta, meat dishes, and any flavorful Mediterranean foods.  The Traditional Retail Price is $19.99, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $14.99. 

Roncalla Vino Bianco:  This floral white wine blend with notes of peach, honey and apricot hails from Sicily. It is ideal for salads and appetizers, so it is the perfect pour for your next cocktail hour.  The Traditional Retail Price is $19.49, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $12.99.

2018 Duck Point Sauvignon Blanc:  While New Zealand produces less than 1% of the world’s wine, its zesty Sauvignon Blanc has a passionate following around the world. Taste why when you pour vibrant 2018 Duck Point Sauvignon Blanc from the country’s sunny Marlborough region.  Fresh Duck Point Sauvignon Blanc is true to Marlborough’s incomparable style, with attention-grabbing aromas of ripe lime and freshly picked herbs. Big squeezes of grapefruit and lime burst across the juicy palate, landing in time to meet crisp green bell pepper on the finish.  In a rave review in Wine Orbit, Peter Saunders praised 2017 Duck Point Sauvignon Blanc’s “heaps of zest and energy.” Pair this wine with herbed fish, pork, soft cheese, and fresh green vegetables.  The Traditional Retail Price is $25.49, the Insider Price at Wine Insiders is $16.99.  

This is just a sampling of the many selections offered by Wine Insiders.  Visit their site to see them all. 

Please drink responsibly.

Fun Wine With A Fun Design!

I received these products for review.

FUN WINE is the leader in its category and liquid encapsulation of its lively hometown - Miami! It is a delicious, low-alcohol flavored wine for every and any enjoyable experience. Its three staple expressions will not only be the drinks of the hour, but easy on your wallet. The brand boasts award-winning packaging by renowned artist Miguel Paredes. Each expression is made with natural ingredients and has an ABV of 5.5%. The brand is available in two formats - 750 mL (SRP: $5.99) bottles and 250mL cans. FUN WINE® is what it says it is… It’s fun wine. Quite simply and literally; just chill it and enjoy!

Coconut Chardonnay: Experience the smoothness of Chadonnay with the exotic flavors of coconut and the unexpected hints of pineapple. This is what Miami tastes like!

Strawberry Rosé Moscato: Let the refreshing taste of strawberry and the crisp aroma of Rosé Moscato arouse your taste buds. This could be your new favorite drink.

Sangria: Fruity, flirty and inviting, with distinct characteristics of juicy fruit. Bold and refreshing, this is the perfect drink to launch summer (or to drink when dreaming of summer!). 

Serve all of these delicious drinks chilled and enjoy the fun wine with the fun design! 

Please drink responsibly.

Dixie Black Pepper Vodka

I received this product from Dixie Southern Vodka for review.

Dixie Southern Vodka is hand crafted in Charleston, South Carolina.  It is the largest premium craft vodka brand produced in the Southeast, and is the largest spirit brand produced in the state of South Carolina.  Black Pepper is just one of many delicious flavors that they offer.

 
The labeling on these bottles is amazing, clearly visible through the bottle and the crystal clear vodka.  It gives the bottle a truly premium feel.  The flavor of the Black Pepper Vodka is delicious.  The flavor is perfectly balanced by steeping Szechuan black peppercorns and Serrano peppers in the core Dixie Southern Vodka for two weeks.  This results in a perfect spirit for a truly Southern Bloody Mary or any other creative cocktail you can come up with. 

Dixie Black Pepper Southern Vodka was awarded the Best Flavored Vodka, beating out 46 other flavored vodka brands.  I also won one of only two awarded Double Gold Medals at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (one of the most respected international spirits competitions).  In April 2019, Dixie Black Pepper was awarded a Gold Medal in the Beverage Testing Institute’s “Bloody Mary Brawl,” with tasting notes calling out jalapeño, celery salt, and lemon pith.  It is Gluten free and 80 Proof.

Dixie Black Pepper would be excellent to serve during your holiday celebrations.  It mixes well in cocktails and the bottle looks elegant with the beautiful labeling.  

You can purchase Dixie Black Pepper Southern Vodka, and the other awesome flavors, directly from their website and have it delivered to your door.  The retail price is $22.99 for a 750 ML bottle.  

Please drink responsibly.