by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Attention, cocktailian hounds, super shakers and any mixologists within earshot. There’s a new gun here in the Manhattan sweepstakes, and it ain’t no Bourbon. We’re pleased to offer what is, since 1786, probably the best vermouth ever: Carpano Antica Formula.

(more…)

by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Our newest Cognac line is not only gourmet, it’s Gourmel. As in Léopold Gourmel, a connoisseur house of Cognac owned by a passionate Cognac man and co-founder Olivier Blanc. Founded in 1972, the house was named after the founder’s grandfather, a saddle maker by trade, hence the horse head logo.

(more…)

by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine & Spirits Manager

The great Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, changed their name in 1999 from the George T. Stagg Distillery to Buffalo Trace. But in fact, for much of the 20th century they were popularly called the Ancient Age Distillery, due to their flagship brand. Ancient Age Bourbon is one of those old-school Bourbons that your grandfather drank, but it has always been excellent whiskey. The top of the line is Ancient Ancient Age, or “Triple-A” for short. It’s bottled at 10 years and 86 proof, and is not sold outside Kentucky. It’s long been a favorite of mine and many Bourbon lovers–writer Jim Murray is one noted adherent–but now there is possibly the best triple-A yet, available only at The Party Source. That would be our latest Private Barrel, the first ever Ancient Ancient Age single barrel bottling.

(more…)

Cypress Grove Chevre- Humboldt Fog Aged Goat Milk Cheese

This is one of the world’s great goat cheeses. It has a rich, long lasting flavor with vegetable ash outer layer, and stripe of ash through center. Try it paired with a French Sauvignon Blanc or a White Burgundy!
Happy Eating!
Michelle Wylie
EQ Assistant Culinary Director

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

The newest single malt Scotch on the shelf is an interesting dram, both in flavor and for what it says about the Scotch industry. For some years now, we have offered superb bottlings of Ardmore from several independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail, Duncan Taylor and Whisky Galore, and Signatory. Ardmore has never been available in America in an “official�? distillery edition; as with many rare malt distilleries, the only way to get any was the independent bottlers. But for the 110^th anniversary of the distillery, there is an official debut in America, called Ardmore Traditional Cask with a 46% abv, non-chill filtered version that happily promotes its “unique, Highland peat-smoke.�? Well, puff away…

(more…)

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Perhaps after this early heat wave, dear reader, you are ready for a summer cocktail. Last week we talked about Italian bitter liqueurs, and how refreshing they are in this Cincinnati heat. And Tequila margaritas and gin and tonics will surely hit the sun deck any day now. But don’t forget the other white spirit: rum. No other spirit—except our native Bourbon whiskey—is so closely connected with American history as rum. And nothing mixes up a summertime sip like great white rum. We have some terrific rums that stand out from the pack, imported for us by Mr. Ed Hamilton, the “Minister of Rum�. La Favorite and Neisson distilleries are rhums agricoles from the French island of Martinique. Protected by the same laws that govern French wine, these ultra-pure, small-batch rums are some of the best we’ve ever tasted.

(more…)

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine & Spirits Manager

With the thermometer soaring to a ridiculous 96 degrees this weekend, I know what I’ll be reaching for in the shade: a bottle of Aperol, Italy’s amazingly appetizing rhubarb bitter liqueur. Aperol claims that over three million Italians drink it every day. I think they’re on to something…

(more…)

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

We had our friends the Haltons over for dinner a while back. We of course enjoyed some nice wine with the free-form wild mushroom lasagna. All of us, that is, except Charles. Charles has a terrific job at a nice Baptist seminary. He loves his co-workers, but the job does require that he abstain from alcohol. Poor fellow. I wanted to serve Charles a non-alcoholic but grown-up cocktail, and came up with a bittered tonic. And it was Special.

(more…)

Master of Whisky Robert Sickler ventured from Ohio’s capitol city to our EQ cooking school for a spectacular Scotch tasting last Friday, May 16. Possibly there is no group of EQ students more devoted to their favorite product than our Scotch crowd, and they came out in force tonight for 8, count ‘em eight delicious and definitely classic single malts.

(more…)