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

It’s the coldest winter of the century here in Greater Cincinnati, but we can easily keep warm with a selection of fine Scotch. Here are my picks for some of the best everyday whiskies on the shelf, from best blends to peat bombs to world classic single malts.

Best Everyday Blend:

Teacher’s Highland Cream is one of the few well-known brands of blended Scotch still bottled at a full-bodied 43% abv. The extra proof carries more flavor on the palate. Every critic, from Jim Murray to Paul Pacult to the late Michael Jackson agrees: Teacher’s will school you on how to blend a scrumptious Scotch. It’s a real shame it’s not better known in the US, because it puts to shame lots of 12-year-age-statement whiskies of far more renown and price. Price: just $16.99 a 750 ml.

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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…

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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.

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Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Jay Erisman
$20.00

So many Glens to choose from in Scotland—Glenlivet, Glen Grant, Glenlossie. You could drink ‘til forever and never run out of Glens. While Scotland’s Glens are scattered all over the country, in tonight’s tasting, you’ll be able to taste a variety of single malts from different regions without having to leave the country. And they all come from a Glen Get beyond Glenfiddich!

Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Sharon Owen
$20.00

Join Balvenie Ambassador Sharon Owen for a complete tasting of this fine single malt Scotch. Balvenie is highly regarded as top class malt by blenders, and is one of the few distilleries which retains a floor maltings—they even grow their own barley! Don’t miss this tasting of lusciously smooth Balvenie, from ten to twenty-one years old and more.

Class Type: Tasting
Instructor: Ed Kohl
$20.00

Edradour ranks as Scotland’s smallest distillery, tucked away in a beautiful hollow in the middle of the country. Edradour’s future was secured when they were purchased several years ago by independent bottler Signatory. Happily, this means in one tasting you can sample both a very wee distillery and a range of custom bottlings from Signatory. Mr. Ed Kohl is on hand tonight to tell you about Edradour and the excellent private bottlings of Signatory.