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The Prime Barrel Single Barrel Picks

Note: The blog was written by the good folks of The Prime Barrel

We are pleased to announce not one but two fantastic picks to close out the month of September (for those who are counting, this brings our total to three this month).

We were super stoked about having a chance to pick a High West barrel for several reasons. First, we are huge fans of the brand, with both Yippe Ki Yay and Midwinter's Night Dram being staples in our collective bars. Second, it's not often that the opportunity to pick the High West barrel comes along in the NY market. So imagine our surprise when our rep showed up with not one but an opportunity to pick two barrels at once!

Still, we were not going to pick two just for the sake of picking. However, after tasting through available barrels, we were blown away by the two we ultimately selected. Big kudos to High West for being flexible and allowing this to happen - which means that now you get a shot at two fantastic bottles as well.

On to the picks then. Both expressions - those being American Prairie and Double Rye! - were additionally finished in other barrels. The bourbon was finished in Aquavit barrel for additional 13 months, while the Double Rye got 16 months treatment of Pineau de Charentes barrel. 

Aquavit is a Scandinavian spirit distilled from grain and potatoes and is flavored with various herbs. Pineau de Charentes, in turn, is a regional aperitif of western France, made in the départements of Charente, Charente-Maritime, and (to a lesser extent) Dordogne. While popular within its production region, it is less well known in other areas of France and somewhat uncommon abroad. It is a fortified wine (mistelle or vin de liqueur), made from either fresh, unfermented grape juice or a blend of lightly fermented grape must to which a Cognac eau-de-vie is added and then matured.

You can taste the traditional notes of finishing spirits in both whiskeys. Still, they do not overpower the conventional signature of High West bourbon and their double rye. They are still predominantly bourbon and rye, respectively - just with a unique twist which we instantly gravitated towards. 

With bourbon, you can expect to taste aniseed, fennel, caraway (classic tasting notes of aquavit), subtle juniper, and citrus. The expression comes in at 101.2 proof.

With double rye, you can expect enhanced sweetness and mouthfeel (that's coming from Pineau des Charentes influence) combined with notes of dark fruits and berries. The expression comes in at 102.8 proof.

We think you will enjoy these. Keep in mind that the yield on the rye was significantly lower, so if you are planning to get the duo, act swiftly.

As always, part of the proceeds from the sale of these selections will go towards supporting a charity. We've asked many of you in our IG stories which charity you'd like to see supported and received a lot of great (and worthy) suggestions. For this round, we settled on a couple of charities supporting our veterans:
  1. Proceeds from sales of American Prairie Bourbon will support Mission 22 charity. Donations will go towards healing America's veterans when they need it most — right now. They offer treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury and all of the issues veterans face today.
  2. Proceeds from sales of Double Rye! will support Home For Troops. Donations will go towards building and donating specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives.
To see your favorite charity supported with our upcoming selections, feel free to fill out this 1-question survey.

We sincerely hope you enjoy these, cheers!

Top Selling Products of 2020

Dear 2020,

You were a year history books will be written about. You were filled with pain, solitude, hardships, violence and chaos. But just like anything difficult in life, you brought us so much clarity, appreciation, love, patience and strength. You taught us that we don’t need much in life, with exception to health, toilet paper, and - oh, yea - lots of alcohol!

Below are the top 10 whiskeys, wines, and tequilas that were bought by you, our loyal customers, over the course of the year to make it more bearable.

Bring on 2021!!! 

Read more

7 Great Choices for Thanksgiving Wines

This year there’s lots to be thankful for, particularly for the exceptional recent vintages that offer a spectacular selection of wines to pair with your Thanksgiving feast. We’d like to introduce you to some classic wine choices for Thanksgiving as well as a few new intriguing options that you might not have considered.

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings (and why they work):

If you’re wondering why the following wines were chosen as ideal Thanksgiving matches, let’s take into account what these wines share in common. Each of the following red wines were chosen for their bold, red fruit flavors, subtle earthiness, light tannin, and moderate acidity. Why? Because these traits beautifully complement a traditional Thanksgiving menu and here’s how:
  • Red fruit flavors mimic the tartness of cranberry sauce and match well with autumn spices such as clove, allspice, and cinnamon.
  • Light tannin and moderate acidity pair perfectly with the texture and intensity of turkey.
  • Subtle earthiness complements the earthy, umami-rich flavor of the gravy.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel could very well be the #1 All-American Thanksgiving wine choice given that it was once the most planted variety in California (prior to the Prohibition era). Here’s how this wine will behave when paired with food:
  • It will amplify Thanksgiving spices such as clove, cinnamon, and allspice.
  • It often adds a touch of smokiness to the taste profile.
  • It’s typically bolder and richer (higher alcohol) and thus, pairs well with dark meat turkey.

Here is a great American Zin to get your mouth watering:

2011 Easton Wines Fiddletown Zinfandel (California, USA; $20)

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the fine-wine lover’s #1 pick for Thanksgiving, which is due (in large part) to the grape’s prestigious pedigree tracing back to Burgundy, France.
  • A great pick for classic Thanksgiving dishes with simple spicing (salt + pepper) or cream-based dishes like creamy mashed potatoes or casserole.
  • Pinot works well with both dark and white meat turkey.
  • It will do great to accentuate cranberry-like flavors.

The following wines highlight Pinot Noir’s brilliant red fruit and spice flavors:

2016 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County, CA; $25)
2014 Bacchus GingerS Cuvee Pinot Noir (California; $13)
2014 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley, CA; $30)

Beaujolais

Beaujolais is the Francophiles #1 choice for Thanksgiving wines due to the perfectly timed arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. This wine is made with 100% Gamay, which has a lot of similarities to Pinot Noir, except with way more bang-for-the-buck. Here’s why:
  • It pairs exceptionally well with wild rice, salads, roasted squash, and cranberries.
  • It balances Thanksgiving dinners that have a high sweetness factor (yams, etc.) with Bojo’s savory and earthy quality.
  • Its lighter, less tannic style works well with white meat turkey.

Here is our staff favorite:

2017 Domaine de la Madone Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau (Burgundy, France; $12)

GSM/Rhône Blends

This is the wine collector’s top pick for Thanksgiving because bottles are usually best served after aging (anywhere from 4–10 years). A GSM Blend contains Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre as its main ingredients.
  • The bolder blending varieties of Mourvèdre and Syrah make this wine pair well with smoked turkey.
  • The tertiary flavors of fig or dried berries from a properly aged GSM Blend match well with roasted squash and stuffing.
  • The earthy and meaty quality of the wine accentuates the savory quality of turkey gravy.

A few examples of Rhône Blends from all over the world include:

2014 Domaine de la Graveirette Cotes du Rhone Rouge (Rhone Valley, France; $16)
2014 Domaine Andezon Cotes du Rhone (Rhone Valley, France; $16)

Rosé or Blanc de Noirs Champagne

This is a sommelier’s must-have wine for Thanksgiving because, for a somm, you can’t really start a meal without a splash of something sparkling wine. Here’s why:
  • It’s a great choice for a pre-Thanksgiving aperitif.
  • It’s bold enough to pair alongside dinner (for Champagne pairing with the main course).
  • Its strawberry, white currant and white raspberry flavors accentuate the cranberry flavors in the dish.
  • It acts as a palate cleanser to rich gravies and meats.

A few examples that are both awesome and affordable:

Val de Mer French Sparkling Brut Nature Rose (Burgundy, France; $20)
Mousse Fils Effusion Rose Brut Champagne (Marne River Valley, Champagne; $59)

Sancerre

If you feature brussels sprouts or green beans prevalently in your meal, consider a lean, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc as a highlight wine pairing. The 2015 vintage was exceptional in the Loire Valley and Sancerre is one of the international favorites of this region. Here’s why:
  • It pairs exceptionally well with green bean casserole, brussels sprouts, and roast asparagus.
  • It acts as a palate cleanser to rich gravies and meats.

A few examples include:

2016 Thomas-Labaille Les Monts Damnes Sancerre (Loire Valley, France; $30)
2015 Paul Bernier Silex Sancerre (Loire Valley, France; $29)
2016 Emile Balland 'Croq'caillotte' Sancerre (Loire Valley, France; $25)

 

Amarone della Valpolicella

If you’re featuring ham as your main dish this year, the rich dried-cherry and chocolately wines of Valpolicella are amazing. Here’s why:
  • Its redolent cherry flavors accentuate the sweetness of ham.
  • Its moderate acidity acts as a palate cleanser, which is ideal for complementing rich meats and gravies.
  • Its dried fruit aromas of fig and raisins add to the harvest taste palate.

Of course, Amarone della Valpolicella is an expensive wine due to its production process. Here are the best values we could find:

2011 Santi Amarone della Valpolicella DOC (Veneto, Italy; $45)

Most importantly, have a great Thanksgiving - from our table to yours!