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Showing posts from 2018

Cheers to the Holidays

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The holidays are often a time for me to try some interesting spirits, new and old. This year is no different. Rumchata options… Rumchata has been a favorite of mine since it first hit the market. I love cordials that you don’t have to get too creative with if you aren’t in the mood. I love it straight over ice, but you can mix it with just about anything. They even sell a gift box that includes shot glasses so you can measure perfectly. One of the options for Rumchata is to put it in your coffee and the company has no made that even easier with Rumchata Creamer. This is not a flavored creamer, it has the real liquor in it and it will make your coffee into a major treat. Another cordial to enjoy… I wasn’t sure what to expect from Tippy Cow Peppermint Bark , but it was a perfect mix of sweet, creamy and minty, without too much of any of those.  My friends devoured the mini bottles (great for picnics) chilled. I managed to put one aside to have with...

The Start of Holiday Food & Spirits

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It’s the start of the holiday season and I’ve been receiving some interesting spirits to enjoy during your celebrations. Eggnog Vodka? Worth a try… I was a bit leery when I heard about Eggnog Vodka from Three Olives, but I agreed to give it a try. As expected, it did nothing for me as a straight shot. I decided to bring it down to my clubhouse, where the bartender, Lionel, played around with it a bit. Lionel loves creative challenges when it comes to spirits. His first thought was a hot chocolate, with a bit of half and half and a shot of Three Olives Eggnog Vodka. It was quite delicious, but the big hit was this: Eggnog Vodka Martini: 2 ounces Three Olives Eggnog Vodka ½ ounce amaretto ½ ounce Whipped cream vodka Splash of half & half Sprinkle of nutmeg Pour ingredients into a mixing gup filled with ice. Strain into a martini glass. For another twist on Eggnog… shout out to Sugarland’s Distilling Company, who sent me another bottle of thei...

Fun and Tasty Treats for Halloween Month

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Halloween isn’t the only thing fun this month. I got to try some new products, that included a kitchen creation. Black Box Spirits… I’ve had mixed feelings about Black Box wines. I thought a few were good, but when my local bar replaced their pinot grigio with Black Box, I switched to another blend. I can’t say anything bad about the Black Box whiskey, vodka, and tequila. They were all fantastic, and so easy to put out at a party. I especially had my doubts about the whiskey (whiskey in a box?), but it had nice vanilla notes and blended well in the cocktails we made. Speaking of Wine… Just the Wine   is for people like me who are sensitive to sulfites, a compound used in food to prevent browning (think about all those bright vegetables on the salad bar). spiritstraveler-20 Sulfites are most known for being in red wine, though they are there to a lesser extent in white wines. It’s sulfites that are responsible for “red wine headaches” in people who are...

Hello Kitty Makes Wine, and latest in Cruzan Rum and Pereg

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This month I have some tasty food to go with rum and wine, from an unexpected brand. Hello Kitty… I was too old to be enthralled in the Hello Kitty phenomenon, but my daughter wasn’t. Like many others her age, she is of age to enjoy wine. This fact was not overlooked by Sanrio. The makers of just about everything you can think of with a Hello Kitty logo has cashed in on its aging fans by producing a wine that carries the iconic name. The company came out with an entire line of wines and sent me the Hello Kitty 2018 Collection to check out. With the exception of the Pinot Noir, which I had a fan of the grape check out and enjoy, it’s a collection of what I like to drink. I have to say, they were all done well. The Sparkling Rose just has a touch of sweetness and is mostly fruit forward. If you want something even more flavorful, do the Sweet Pink Sparkling, which will give you more berry and less floral notes. The Hello Kitty Prosecco is another great bottle to ...

Get Ready for School Days

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It’s time to think Back-to-School. One of the issues that has come to light is the increase in awareness of severe childhood allergies. Nuts is the biggest culprit, but there are others. Check out these safer treats, as well as a dinner recipe with less allergens. Rulebreakers for Nearly Everyone If you are in a quandary trying to decide what to send your kids to school on to snack that’s safe, or bring to the office that won’t send someone to the hospital, or if you have allergies yourself, you’ll want to give Rule Breaker cookies a try. These treats eliminate nearly every allergen that produces anaphylactic reactions, including nuts, dairy, eggs, and soy. They are also vegan and gluten-free. The first ingredient is chickpeas and they also include healthy ingredients such as dates and brown rice syrup. So, how do they taste? I sampled Deep Chocolate Brownie, Birthday Cake, and Chocolate Chunk Blondie. I thought they were all pretty good (the chocolate brownie wa...

Sip and Taste

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It’s my favorite month of the year, which, of course, is because it’s my birthday! July 24 th also happens to be National Tequila Day and I’m always happy to celebrate that. Happy day with Suerte Tequila… This year, Suerte Tequilla sent me a selection of their spirits. Anyone who reads my stories and social media regularly knows that I prefer my spirits (and wine) not oaked, so I went for the Blanco first. Suerte Tequila Blanco does not disappoint. It’s very smooth and has that touch of honey sweetness you get when the agave is allowed to shine. The award-winning Reposado was also very good, with notes of butterscotch and vanilla, but no heavy oak. For those who do like their tequila aged, you’ll find the Anejo from Suerte a good option, with a more powerful presence. Sugarland’s latest creams… I tried Sugarlands Distilling Company Appalachian Sippin’ Cream in Pumpkin Spice Latte last year and loved it. It was just as good as I remembered and this time...

Summer Fruit and Healthy Recipes

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It’s summer time and fruit is ripening everywhere. I’m always ready for something fresh (and healthy) this time of year. Cinnamon for any fruit... Remember Fireball? If you’re over 30, chances are you haven’t (hopefully) been downing those sticky sweet cinnamon shots in a while. Heeet Vodka is the grownup version of Fireball. It’s not as sweet, definitely not as sticky, and you’ll want to enjoy it, not down it in a gulp. This all-natural vodka is distilled six times and made in small batches for ultimate flavor. I loved Heeet Vodka just on the rocks, but here’s a quick recipe that will give you a fruitier alternative to enjoy this summer. Tropical Heeet 4oz Pineapple Juice 11/2 oz HEEET 1 oz Ginger Ale Splash of grenadine Garnish with a slice of pineapple Fill a tall glass with ice and add the ingredients in order. Nothing like cherry cobbler… Cherries are my favorite summer fruit.   Oliver Winery has taken that semi-sweet fruit to a di...

Wine and Healthy Foods

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Wine and food are the perfect pairing. Which wine you put with which food is a matter of personal taste. In the summertime, I like to keep it healthy as much as possible. More from Pereg Gourmet… As I mentioned last month, Pereg Gourme t sent me a basketful of goodies to experiment with. I always enjoy cooking, baking, and creating, but it was a busy month. I asked my friend Betty if she’d like to give it a try with Kamut, an ancient grain. She did and the Creamy Kamut and Chicken Casserole was excellent . Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try for yourself.   I’m looking forward to trying out a few more of the Pereg products in June for some healthy, tasty treats.   Summer nights & New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc… It’s not a secret that my favorite wine is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I’ll never turn down the chance to taste one and I got two great options delivered this month. The Sisters is a little less grassy than the usual, with ...

Gift Options and Healthy Indulging

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It’s time to celebrate moms and get ready for bikini season. Yes, that’s an odd combination, but it seems to be the best way to describe some of the things I tried this month. Everything you can do with My Photo… My first thought when I was asked to try My Photo was that there are already a dozen great places online that do this: upload a photo and turn it into a gift, or something to hang on your wall. I promised I’d give it a try and it definitely has its unique points. My Photo is definitely the easiest service of it’s kind I have seen. All you need to do is email any picture to 123@MyPhoto.com . Within minutes, you’ll receive an email back showing your photo in different products! I did order Wall Clings. The good news is that the photo quality is the best I’ve seen on any of these services. The bad news is that I got the Wall Clings because their canvases and products are higher priced than most of the others. Bottom line: If you are looking for a really high ...

Satisfy your Hunger and Thirst with these New Products

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I loved the options that arrived on my doorstep this month and I think you will too. Stock your fridge with Muuna Cottage Cheese… It’s no secret that I tend to eat lots of extra calories when I’m traveling. Things are a lot different at home, where I’m looking for healthy options. Yogurt is usually may go to for packing protein in a quick cup. I’m always careful to pick the least amount of sugar too. Now, I have another option, Muuna Cottage Cheese . They sent me a case in plain, black cherry, and raspberry. They were all delicious, with fruit and little sugar, and only about 120 calories. A small container of Muuna Cottage Cheese is also loaded with   at least 15 grams of protein. In addition to the flavors I tried, it also now comes in peach, blueberry, strawberry, and mango. Check for it in your supermarket. An Instant Coffee find from Alpine Start... Alpine Start Instant Coffee sent me a box of their instant coffee, made from high altitude A...

Ginger Beer, Growlers and Tea Tree Oil

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The shortest month of the year is over, and it looks like we will have an early spring.  It’s time to try some healthy and refreshing items. Nothing like ginger… I love ginger beer. It’s my drink when I’m out and I am not drinking alcohol. Contrary to what people think, it’s nothing like beer and certainly not soda. A good ginger beer tastes like the best ginger ale you ever had, but without so many bubbles. Brooklyn Crafted got all that right. I really enjoyed the samples they sent. The Unfiltered Ginger Beer Earl Grey is made with lots of fresh ginger, and has a bit of the English black tea in it for substance (and some caffeine). I also tasted the Brooklyn Crafted Extra Spicy Ginger Beer. It’s got a nice kick to it with some ginger extract in addition to the ginger. It’s a very interesting mixer and will certainly take your Moscow Mule up a notch. Brooklyn Crafted also makes their ginger beers in Sugar Free. I’ll definitely be looking to try those. ...

Fun finds and Valentine’s Day ideas

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I have some really unique finds to suggest this month. I hope you like them as much as I did. Going wild for Beetology… This definitely qualifies as unique! When I was first approached by Beetology to test out their juices and make cocktails, I was a bit apprehensive. I love beets, but couldn’t imagine drinking them. Even borsht, a well-known Russian soup my father loved, was not my thing. I took the case of Beetology to my favorite bartender, Lionel, along with the recipes I was given. It was a cold night so there were just a half-dozen of us there. We did some experimenting with the juices, making the Beety Bloody Mary, Tropical Beet-a-colada, Berry-Beet-a-rita, Bourbon Beet-It, and the Beetology Zinger. A couple people liked the Berry-Beet-a-rita and Beetology Zinger, but we couldn’t say we’d go out of our way to make them again. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we all LOVED the juices on their own. They are very healthy, 100% natural juice with no add...