by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

It’s not very often that a classic comes along, particularly in the liqueur category. Most of the truly classic liqueurs have been around a long time, came from Europe, and often as not were created by monks–see Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Frangelico, and others. And sadly, too many new entrants in aisle 9B are poseurs, with some or another frou-frou ingredient backed with frenzied marketing. But every once in a while, an artisan with some vision and passion comes along that you just know will still be here in a century or two. The latest, and greatest, of these is Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur. Between its understated Asian lantern-style bottle, harmony of ingredients, and its effortless mixability, Canton is a future liqueur hall of famer.

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by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

The Party Source is not only one of America’s biggest and best liquor stores. We’re also one of the most patient. French Alpine elder trees only make so many flowers, and collecting the little buggers by bicycle is understandably time-consuming. So to those hordes of Greater Cincinnatians who requested St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur over the past 14 months, we shall attest your serenity in the face of a distinct lack of elderflower flavor. Now, the wait is over, and this shockingly good liqueur is available for your cocktails, your parties, your peace of mind. Someday, we will all remember where we were when we first tasted St-Germain.

From the heavy, cut glass Art Deco-inspired bottle to the carefully balanced drink within, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur is a future classic among the world’s liqueurs. The elderflower notes are fresh as a bouquet on your wedding day, the aroma lifting effortlessly from the glass. In the mouth the liqueur is light yet intensely flavored; the sweetness is never cloying. And what St-Germain does in cocktails is unbelievable. It makes a superb match with everything from rye whiskey to Tequila to smoky Scotch. Gin and sparkling wine is a natural with St-Germain; our bartender here in the EQ jay Dickerson likes it with cachaça . It’s hard to make a bad cocktail with this stuff.

St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur  $35.99

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.

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Ninet Viognier

$8.99, France Aisle 7B

The aromatics of this wine are as dazzling to the nose as the exciting fruit flavors are to the palate. Lemon zest, apricots and honey dew are pungent on both ends of the spectrum and finishes clean crisp and refreshing. This wine leaves the white wine lover satisfied and quenched. Ninet Viognier is my favorite white wine discovery under $10. 88 points Wine Advocate.
Food: Sushi, Oysters Rockefeller, ceviche.

-Danny Gold, Wine Expert at The Party Source

by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

I departed for France on Sunday, March 18. Direct flights like the one I had from CVG to Paris are overnight, so I arrived in Paris at 8:30 am. The plan was to go straight to Cognac—no rainy Parisian afternoons spent adjusting to jet lag, oh no, it was straight for the stills on this trip. I took a TGV (train grande vitesse, one of which recently set the world record for fastest train on rails) to Angoulème, and then a smaller and slower train to Cognac. These trains run like fine clockwork, with no waiting on the tarmac or “departing the gate just to say we did” whatsoever.

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Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Gary Boswell
$20.00 (includes $12.00 Party Source gift card)

Gary Boswell is well known in Cincinnati wine circles for his work as sommelier at top French restaurants, The Maisonette and Jean-Robert at Pigall’s. In today’s tasting you’ll get the low-down on the hippest French wines, from classic Burgundies and Champagnes to new wave wineries in the south of France.

Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Jay Erisman
$20.00 (includes $12.00 Party Source gift card)

France’s Loire River Valley makes an astonishingly diverse range of wines. From tangy whites to firm reds, sweeties and sparklers, everyday cheapies to long-lived classics, the Loire has it all. Across the board, these wines are food friendly and, owing to their relative obscurity in America, are great values given the quality in the bottle. Join Party Source wine educator, Jay Erisman, for a lazy summer tour down the Loire!

Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Stephen Gaucher
$20.00 (includes $12.00 Party Source gift card)

In this hip tasting, Steve will take you on a whirlwind tour of some of France’s most famous wines, showing you what a wine importer looks for when seeking new Champagne, Chateauneuf-du-Papes, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. Steve specializes in small family winemakers—hear and taste their story tonight!

Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Stephen Gaucher
$20.00 (includes $12.00 Party Source gift card)

This week we welcome back French wine importer Steve Gaucher. In tonight’s tasting, Steve will walk you through a range of wines from the dynamic vineyards of Southern France. Full-flavored and attractively rustic, these reds and whites are some of the best wine values around.