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

Monday night’s “Taste of…” classes continue to be a customer favorite and last night was no different.  Chef Michelle Brown shared with us some delcious food and fantastic recipes from Jag’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant.  We ended the class with Amy Tobin’s favorite cafe au lait.  Log onto Amystable.com for the recipe.

Happy Sipping,

Connie Volker

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

One of the essentials in any well-stocked liquor cabinet is Italian maraschino liqueur. Not to be confused with the bright red American mara-SHEENO cherries, the liqueur is called mara-SKEENO and is nothing like the American product. Hailing originally from Dalmatia, it’s made with the marasca cherry, the real Italian cherry. Best of all, this classic spirit not only enlivens your cocktails but your dinner table as well. I am never without a bottle in my liquor closet.

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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…

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By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

By now the craft beer revolution in America is complete, as microbreweries and brewpubs have changed the way we think of beer. Now a similar movement is trickling along in distilled spirits. American craft distillers are producing a huge range of spirits, from maple syrup vodkas to tea liqueurs to wild whiskeys and brandies of every stripe. These small stills are truly “micro,” little start-up operations working out of barns and sheds, basements and old airplane hangars.

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by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Lots of great libations from Europe never make it across the pond to our shelves here in Greater Cincinnati. Some of these are never exported to America. (And I wish I had a nickel for every time someone asked me for “that tiny liqueur made by the Italian monks on top of the mountain in the middle of nowhere.”) Other drinks are, sadly, extinct. One such disappeared classic is Crème de Violette. That’s right: violet liqueur, made from the little purple flowers. Incredibly, no sooner had I started searching for this terrific sip than I found it, available now for sale in America.

A few phone calls later, and we had it here on our shelf. Our Crème de Violette comes from Austria, selected by Rothman and Winter and made for them by an artisanal distillery called Purkhart. The attractive, art deco label is just the beginning…

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