The Drunken Tomato Announces Annual Award Winners For Best Bloody Mary

April 15, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Seattle, WA – Cocktail lovers know the power of a properly mixed drink as well as any bartender. Always checking travel guides and online blogs, these aficionados are constantly searching for the best cocktail recipes and mixes around the world. For lovers of the popular tomato juice based Bloody Mary, The Drunken Tomato is the go to resource for the top international recipes, reviews, and merchandise. The Drunken Tomato has recently announced their list of award winners for their annual Bloody Mary competition. This year’s awards are the first given by the company.

“If you’re a drink aficionado, it can be tricky to know what the best mix options are,” says company Founder, Shelley Buchanan. “But for Bloody Mary lovers, the search for a guide to the best bloody mary mixes is over, thanks to The Drunken Tomato. We eat, sleep, and breathe all things Bloody Mary, and have compiled our handy blog to include relevant topics, recipes, and even merchandise. This year marks the first year that we are also tasting and awarding some of the best Bloody Mary mixes from around the world; the results of which can be found on our easy to use site.”

The Drunken Tomato Awards is a new annual international Bloody Mary competition that rewards the hard work and passion of industry manufacturers who produce superior Bloody Mary products. A blind taste testing by a panel of seven experienced industry judges, The Drunken Tomato Awards provides unbiased feedback on the latest bloody mary mixes. The objective behind the awards is to provide ratings and reviews that assist brands in marketing and product development, while also developing a method of providing annual quantitative research and analysis that can help develop the industry as a whole.

A medal from The Drunken Tomato denotes a high standard of achievement in the bloody mary community. The Drunken Tomato is known for its extensive industry experience, giving their medals real credit for the award winners. A Drunken Tomato award is an easy method for consumers and industry professionals to identify high quality products that fit their own tasting preferences. Forty-three medals were awarded across six categories: New Product, Liquid Seasoning, Hot & Spicy, Mild, Dry Seasoning, and Caesar. The Drunken Tomato Awards will continue to be a staple of the industry, providing unbiased reviews of commercially made bloody mary mixes in order to help consumers and those in the industry find a reliable resource to discover products based on their unique tastes.

The Drunken Tomato is located at 21108 Poplar Way in Lynnwood, Washington (98036). The company can be reached by phone at (917)710-0291.

To learn more about The Drunken Tomato Awards, or to find the top bloody mary mixes of 2018, visit https://www.drunkentomato.com.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/L9zluJAw88k?rel=0

New Rosé All Day Garden Announced

April 2, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB) – America’s most renowned wine and food festivals have four main ingredients—celebrity winemakers, top culinary talent, thought-provoking tasting seminars, and elements that highlight and celebrate current trends. The South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, April 26 – 29, combines these elements to create the ultimate wine weekend in Northwest Florida. Held in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin’s Town Center, the 2018 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will feature a dazzling roster of celebrity winemakers, distillers, chefs, brew masters and entertainers while introducing grand new features, including the Rosé All Day Garden, provocative seminars with industry leaders and culinary masters, aiming to please every palate.

“We’ve watched Rosés grow and grow in popularity, and wanted to replace Champagne Lane with something new,” said Chan Cox, founder of the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and owner for Wine World. “Inspired by New York City Rosé festivals, including La Nuit en Rosé and Pinknic, we believe the Rosé All Day Garden will beautifully complement our April weather.”

Presented by ResortQuest, the Rosé All Day Garden will feature Rosés from around the globe, including Italy, Spain, France, South America and from North America, California and Oregon. The entire Grand Park will be transformed into all things Rosé. From pink décor to machines whipping out Frosé, a popular frozen drink made with Hendrix Gin and Marques De Caceres Rioja Rosé, the Garden will be blooming pink. Rosé vodka, Rosé champagne, Rosé sparkling wines and Rosé wine from domestic and international vineyards will be among the hundred different tasting options. Attendees are invited to embrace the theme by donning their favorite pink, rose or blush colored attire. A photo booth and Rosé swag from ResortQuest give guests every opportunity to see and drink pink.

“Europeans have been drinking Rosés forever. However, in the last four or five years, Americans began discovering European Rosés, which are light in color with lots of flavor yet dry,” said Chan Cox, founder of the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and owner of Chan’s Wine World. “Dry rosés are so versatile. They go with anything and they are pleasant for warm summer enjoyment.”

Educational tasting seminars are another critical element of a world-class wine festival, and the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will once again feature highly-sought after winemakers and master distillers from around the world sharing their knowledge and love of producing fine wines and spirits.

On Saturday, April 28, Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russell of Hamilton Russell Vineyards as well as Southern Right and Ashbourne wineries will lead the first seminar beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Honoring one of the master distillers featured at the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam on Friday (4/27), Master Distiller with Maker’s Mark, Rob Samuels, will lead an educational tasting seminar on Saturday (4/28) from 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Among the master distillers at the 2018 Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and featured within Spirits Row at the Grand Tasting will be Master Distiller Dave Pickerell of WhistlePig.

On Sunday (4/29) from 1:30 – 2:15 p.m., Mathieu Pouchan of Salon Delamotte will lead a tasting seminar on the timeless classic, Champagne.

Oregon wine pioneer David Adelsheim’s Sunday tasting seminar will focus on the Pinot Noirs that put Oregon wines on the map. His seminar runs 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Finally, a grand wine festival deserves an exceptional culinary program, and the Savor South Walton Culinary Village is set to deliver delicacies that pair beautifully with the wines. Lead by the Culinary Director of Wine World’s The Wine Bar and The Craft Bar, Scott Plumley, the creative spread infuses local produce along with local meats from Heureux Beef just north of Defuniak Springs, Fla., and Coastal Blue Farms in Freeport, Fla. With distinct flavor profiles to blend acidity with bases and balance the wines, the menu includes: Alabama goat cheese fritters with San Marzano Tomato Sauce; avocado sourdough paired with marinated baby tomatoes and Aleppo pepper; Heureux Beef slider topped with aged gouda, tomato-bacon marmalade, and Coastal Blue Farms Micro Arugula; as well as Low Country Shrimp and Grits paired with Conecuh Sausage, Shellfish Nage and Collard Greens.

Award-winning cheeses will also be on the menu. Presented by Gourmet Foods International, world-renowned cheese expert and educator Michael Landis will present a sampling of the American Cheese Society’s Medal-winning cheeses.

The four-day celebration of wine also includes Craft Beer & Spirits Jam, Spirits Row, Nosh Pavilions, live entertainment and more than 800 wines poured by knowledgeable wine industry insiders.

Tickets are now on sale. Event details and tickets are available at http://www.sowalwine.com. To purchase tickets, visit https://sowal-wine.xorbia.com/.

Presented by Wine Enthusiast Media, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Visit South Walton, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. The Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the official lodging partner of the festival.

About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
This year’s annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will be held April 26-29, 2018 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines in the world. Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars. Visit the new Rosé All Day Garden, Spirits Row and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend. The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and Winemakers & Shakers events round out the extended festival weekend. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.SoWalWine.com.

Single Malt Whiskey by Alpine Distilling Named a Top American Malt Whiskey

March 21, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PARK CITY, Utah (PRWEB) – The Fifty Best, an online guide that rates the finest wines and spirits, recently hosted an American Malt Whiskey Tasting of 20 products evaluated for the distinguished “Best American Malt Whiskey” awards for 2018. Alpine Distilling’s Traveler’s Rest American Single Malt Whiskey was awarded a Double Gold medal, the highest honor. The Park City, Utah-based craft distillery was founded in 2016.

Mountain Ridges Behind Snowbird and Alta

Using professional criteria, the pre-qualified panel of judges blind-tasted the American malt whiskies and rated them individually on a 1 to 5 point scoring system with five being the best. After tallying the scores, medals were awarded based on the judges’ impressions.

“We are honored to have Traveler’s Rest Single Malt receive such high accolades from experts in various disciplines of the spirits industry,” says Rob Sergent, Alpine Distilling’s managing director. “Alpine Distilling is committed to producing the finest spirits using traditional distilling techniques to create distinctive flavor combinations.”

To create this rich, nutty single malt whiskey, North American high protein, high enzyme 100% malted barley is aged first in used Jack Daniels barrels and finished with new, toasted French Oak.

Additional, award-winning craft spirits from Alpine Distilling include Lafayette Spiced Flavored Whiskey, Preserve Liqueur, Persistent Vodka, and Spur Whiskey.

TheFiftyBest.com is a digital guide to wines and spirits, featuring rated listings from proprietary blind tastings judged by wine and spirits journalists, spirits professionals, retailers, mixologists, spirits consultants and connoisseurs. The Fifty Best achieves the highest standards of spirits evaluations by adhering to strict tasting rules and rigorous methodology.

ABOUT ALPINE DISTILLING

Founded in 2016, Alpine Distilling is an award-winning craft distillery based in Park City, Utah. We produce the highest quality premium spirits for the active, creative, and mindful individuals who are drawn to the mountain lifestyle. All products are certified Kosher. As a socially conscious brand, Alpine Distilling is pleased to donate a portion of proceeds to benefit local non-profits Park City Community Foundation and Swaner Nature Preserve. More information is available at http://www.alpinedistilling.com.

Alexander Valley Vineyards of Healdsburg, California Wins Top Honors

January 31, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

FORT WORTH, Texas (PRWEB) – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) is pleased to announce the winners in its 2018 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing competition. The platinum medal goes to Alexander Valley Vineyards (AVV) of Healdsburg, California, based on the winery’s on-going sustainable programs that address the three elements of sustainability: environmental, economic, social – and the Vineyard’s wine taste.

AVV is one of an elite group of wineries recognized as a Bay Area Green Business. They became a member of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2006 and achieved vineyard certification in 2014. AVV bottled their first wine produced from organic certified grapes in 2008, today the family organically farms over 30 acres and offers two wines from 100% California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) grapes. A second family vineyard will receive CCOF certification in June 2018. Other AVV sustainable initiatives include solar arrays that supply about half of the winery’s power; cover crop plantings to minimize pesticide use and control erosion; drip irrigation for precise water management; 25,000 square feet of underground, naturally cooled caves that reduce the winery’s carbon footprint; and installation of variable speed drives on all winery equipment to decrease energy waste.

The awarded wine was AVV’s, 2014 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, using certified organic grapes.

“Alexander Valley Vineyards’ strong list of sustainable programs and care in winemaking produced an unbeatable application,” said Ed Schneider, BRIT’s president and director. “During the taste portion of the competition, our judges especially noted that the 100% organic varietal was perfectly balanced with fruit and spice to the taste and a testament to the Wetzel’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and family farming.”

AVV is a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, on the historic property originally settled in the 19th century by Cyrus Alexander, the valley’s namesake. Since 1975 the Wetzel Family has been producing an array of estate wines that reflect the unique character of the property.

“We are honored to receive the BRIT award and the recognition of the practices we have implemented over the decades,” says Harry Wetzel. “As a family run operation, we all believe that it is our responsibility to make this an even better place for future generations.”

Additional BRIT sustainable awards went to:

Gold medals

E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, California. Submitted 2015 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon. Gallo receives special recognition for its corporate-wide, multi-brand sustainability programs and for the organization’s industry leadership.
Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina. Submitted 2014 Catena Malbec.

Silver medal

Franciscan Estates, St. Helena, California. Submitted 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bronze medal

Peach Creek Vineyards, College Station, Texas. Submitted Sassy Lassy, semi-sweet Texas table wine made with Noble grapes.

Competition for BRIT’s 2018 international award began May, 2017, when wineries submitted applications documenting their sustainable programs relating to environmental, economic, and social aspects of grape growing, and wine production along with their wine samples.

When submitting for the competition, wineries provide a self-assessment of their organization’s accomplishments in sustainable winegrowing, winemaking, and ecopreneural/social responsibility practices. They describe their organization’s conservation efforts in the field and in operations: how waste is avoided, how it is reclaimed, and how the winery extends conservation efforts to its customers and community. They also are required to submit a bottle of wine for a tasting by the judging committee.

Because the BRIT award is the only international award of its kind, it is of primary interest to wineries which care deeply about the environment and are taking a leading role in their community/region/country by implementing sustainable practices. Sustainable winegrowing programs are by nature, ongoing, so a key part of each program is its continual improvement process.

As a nonprofit, international plant research and knowledge sharing organization, BRIT offers this award to help raise interest and awareness of the value plants bring to our lives and the need for biodiversity.

Presentation of the platinum award to Alexander Valley Vineyards will be made in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 during BRIT’s Vine to Table dinner and auction fundraising event.

BRIT’s 2019 sustainable winegrowing competition begins May 1, 2018, with the competition’s Call for Entries news release and the 2019 application is posted on the BRIT website, http://www.BRIT.org/wineaward. The submission deadline is September 1, 2018.

Les Dauphins Named Rhone Winery Of The Year

October 11, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

New York, NY (PRWEB) – Les Dauphins, one of the world’s fastest growing Rhône Valley wine brands, is proud to announce a recent run of awards from some of America’s top wine competitions during the first half of 2017.

For the third year in a row, Les Dauphins has been named Rhône Winery of the Year, at the 7th Annual New York International Wine Competition. Les Dauphins’ wines were among the 1,300 submitted to the competition from over 23 countries around the world.

The New York International Wine Competition is the first major international wine competition judged by members of the wine trade and includes buyers from the top retail stores, sommeliers, restaurant owners, hotel beverage directors, distributors, and importers.

In addition to winning 2017 Rhône Winery of the Year, the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red 2015 was awarded a Gold Medal, with the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve White 2015 and Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2015 awarded Silver medals respectively.

Les Dauphins has quickly made an impact on the Rhône category in the U.S. since its launch in 2011. Replicating the incredible success of the brand in Europe, the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve, and newly released Côtes du Rhône Villages range of wines have helped with the recognition and quality of Rhône Valley wines in America, with a string of awards and medals elevating the most current releases.

“We are thrilled to continue our success in the U.S. market and be named 2017 Rhone Winery of the Year in addition to our individual award and medal wins,” said Aurelien Jousse, Area Export Director for Les Dauphins. “Les Dauphins is proud to represent Rhône Valley and help further enhance the recognition of the region.”

Recent accolades for the brand include:

The Ultimate Wine Challenge recognized the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red 2015 and Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2016 with scores of 91 Points (Excellent, Highly Recommended) and Great Value awards.
The Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2016 scored highly with the judges at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards with a Gold Medal, while the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red 2015, Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve White 2015 and the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Village Puyméras 2014 were presented with Bronze Medals.
The San Francisco International Wine Competition awarded a Gold Medal to the the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Village Puyméras 2014, a Silver Medal to Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2016, and Bronze Medals to the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red 2015 and Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve White 2015.
Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red 2015 received a Gold Medal at Sunset Magazine’s Sunset International Wine Competition and the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2016 was awarded a Silver Medal.
Decanter awarded the Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve White 2015 with a 91 Point score (Highly Recommended) in the recent July 2017 issue.

Les Dauphins wines come from some of the best vineyards throughout the Southern Rhône. Winemaker Guillaume Valli selects the best vineyard lots to blend together into Les Dauphins’ red, white and rosé wines.

About Les Dauphins http://www.lesdauphins-rhone.com
Les Dauphins is a wine made in France’s Rhône Valley that draws its inspiration from the joie de vivre mood of Paris in the roaring 1920s, a time when the wines of the Dauphiné region became popular. Several of the winegrower partnerships that currently make up Les Dauphins Winery were also founded in the 1920s. Today these wines are vibrant and versatile, and are created to once again inspire the joy that made 1920s Paris one of the most exciting and creative periods in history. Winemaker Guillaume Valli’s passion for Rhône varieties guides his winemaking style, where he lets the grapes and the terroir speak for themselves.

To learn more, visit http://www.lesdauphins-Rhone.us and follow Les Dauphins on Facebook (Les Dauphins US) and Twitter (@LesDauphins_US).

2017 Whiskies Of The World® Award Winners

October 2, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) – Whiskies of the World is delighted to announce the winners of the 2017 Whiskies of the World Awards. Whiskies of the World is known for its industry standard tasting events in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, San Francisco and San Jose. The Whisky Awards is an additional feature that provides brands marketing materials to promote their products. As only 23% of entrants receive gold medals, the results of these awards are extremely meaningful. Additionally, all judges’ notes are made available to each entrant as important data to develop the brand and determine best marketing strategy.

Whiskies are judged on a 100-point basis with a concentration on appearance, aromatics, flavor, mouthfeel and finish. Blind judging was performed by a panel of eighteen Texas tastemakers who are all influential figures in the state’s beverage industry. The panel included: David “Bart” Bartlett – Whisky Guru at Beverage World; Jeff Boley – Beverage Manager Townsend; Jeramy Campbell – Assistant Manager Seven Grand Whisky Bar; Carly Dunavant – Bartender; Aisling Gammill – Lead Bartender Whisler’s; Dennis Gobis – Co-Owner The Roosevelt Room and Eleanor; Mike Groener – CEO Genius Liquids; Jennifer Keyser – Beverage Director Holy Roller; Justin Lavenue – Co-owner The Roosevelt Room and Eleanor; Lana Lindsley – Bulleit Whiskey Ambassador; David Maguire – Co-owner The Austin Shaker; John McEntire – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Florian Minier – Bartender Small Victory; Adrian Montanez – Manager Twin Liquors; Purav Patel – Owner Village Liquors; Mike Raymond – Owner Reserve 101; Ken Seeber – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Kevin Stein – Regional Manager Twin Liquors

“The judges are extremely talented with sensitive palates and work hard to evaluate each product,” explains Douglas Smith, Whiskies of the World Event Director. “The evaluation of whiskies is taken very seriously. Our judges not only taste and make notes, but also discuss and consider many angles. We are proud that our awards reflect the experience and integrity of our excellent judging panel.”

Full results are listed on our website: Awards

The 2017 Best in Show Winner:
Gold: Glendronach 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

The 2017 Best in Class Winners:
American Single Malt: Westland American Single Malt Whiskey “American Oak”
Bourbon less than 2 years: Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon
Bourbon 2-5 years: Old Forester 1920
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Widow Jane 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon NAS: Old Forester Statesman
Canadian: Stalk & Barrel Red Blend
Corn greater than 2 years: Ironroot Hubris Corn Whiskey
Corn less than 2 years: Austonian Whiskey
Flavored Whiskey: R.M. Rose Fire On The Mountain Cinnamon Whiskey
Irish: Knockmore Irish Whiskey
Malt Unpeated: Glencadam 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish: Glendronach 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Malt Peated: Amrut Fusion
Malt Peated Finished: Five Lions Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Peatside
Rye greater than 2 years: Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey
Rye NAS: Rock Town Arkansas Rye Whiskey
Whiskey: Jim Beam Little Book “The Easy”

2017 Gold Recipients:
American Single Malt < 2 Years: Balcones ‘1′ Texas Single Malt
American Single Malt: Balcones Texas Single Malt Single Barrel
Bourbon 2-5 years:
Amador ‘Ten Barrels’
A.D. Laws Bottled In Bond 4 Grain Straight Bourbon
Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Amador Double Barrel
Irish: The Dubliner 10 year Old
Malt Peated: Amrut Cask Strength Peated
Malt Peated Finished: Amrut Kadhambam
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish: Chapter 7 19 Year Old Highland Blended Malt
Rye less than 2 Years: Lazy Guy 5th Article 1887 Rye Whiskey
Whiskey: Balcones Brimstone

2017 Silver Outstanding Recipients:
American Single Malt: Do Good Cherrywood Smoked Whisky
Bourbon less than 2 years: Giant Texas Bourbon 91 Proof
Bourbon 2-5 years:
West Wind Bourbon
Do Good California Bourbon
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Devils River Bourbon
Bourbon NAS: Rock Town Single Barrel Bourbon
Corn greater than 2 years:
Balcones True Blue 100
A.D. Laws Bottled In Bond Straight Corn Whiskey
Malt Peated:
English Whisky Peated Single Malt
Glenora Ghleann Dubh
Malt Peated Finished:
Kilchoman Sanaig
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish:
Glengoyne 18 Year Old
Glengoyne 21 Year Old
Glendronach 12 Year Old
Malt Unpeated:
Glencadam 10 Year Old
Tipperary Distillery: Watershed
Rye less than 2 Years: Alley 6 Rye Whiskey
Rye greater than 2 years:
A.D Laws BIB Secale Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 SRW -Sherry Cask Finish
Unaged: Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine

2017 Silver Recipients:
American Single Malt: Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey
American Single Malt less than 2 Years: Alley 6 Single Malt Whiskey
Bourbon less than 2 years:
Merica Bourbon Whiskey
Ironroot Harbinger Bourbon
Lazy Guy Side Track Bourbon
Giant Texas Bourbon
Bourbon 2-5 years:
Do Good Nighthawk Bourbon
A.D. Laws Four Grain Straight Bourbon
Breckenridge Sherry Cask Bourbon
R.M. Rose Single Barrel Brand
Bourbon greater than 5 years:
Ben Milam Single Barrel Bourbon
JR Ewing Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon NAS:
Rock Town Arkansas Bourbon
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Old Forester Classic 86 Proof
Canadian:
Stalk & Barrel Blue Blend
WYO Rodeo Whisky
Corn less than 2 years:
Balcones Baby Blue
Lazy Guy Threesome Whiskey
Irish:
The Dubliner Irish Whiskey
Egan’s Vintage Grain
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish:
Glengoyne 15 Year Old
Malt Unpeated:
Glencadam 13 Year Old
Rice:
Ohishi Sherry Cask
Rye greater than 2 years:
Old Potrero Special Cask Finish
Ben Milam Small Batch Rye Whiskey
Henry Clay Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Barrel Proof
Rye NAS:
Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey
Basil Hayden’s Rye Whiskey
Rock Town Single Barrel Rye Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Unaged: Lazy Guy Kennesaw Lightning
Corn greater than 2 years: Ironroot Icarus Corn Whiskey
Whiskey:
Alamo Craft Whiskey
Title 21 Whiskey
9 Banded Whiskey

The 2017 Bronze Recipients:
Bourbon less than 2 Years: Alamo Alamo Bourbon
Flavored: Do Good Hopped Flavored Whisky
Ole Smoky Mango Habanero Whiskey

Category Clarification:
Irish: Traditional Irish style which is triple distilled and a blend of Malt and grain whiskies. Malt whiskies from Ireland will not be in this category.
Cask Finished: Either matured in a non-bourbon cask, or finished in a non-bourbon cask or blended with a non-bourbon cask.
Join us for the upcoming Whiskies of the World Expos for a sixth time in Austin on Saturday, September 16th, in Houston on Thursday, September 14th and returning to Atlanta for a fifth time on Saturday, November 4th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com. Follow Whiskies of the World on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Whiskies of the World LLC: Whiskies of the World LLC, an IWSC Group North America event, began in San Francisco, CA in 1998. Under the direction of whisky enthusiast and event director, Douglas Smith, the event has expanded into Texas and Georgia. The IWSC Group is a global leader of alcoholic beverage events, including the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Vintage Eve Circa 1/14: High Desert Cellars Tasting with Chavez Cellars

August 22, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

After I tasted wines from the California High Desert AVA with Wine of the Month Club’s president Paul Kalemkiarian via YouTube, I got an email a few weeks later from another winery in the high desert, High Desert Cellars Chavez Vineyards. They wanted me to taste their award winning wines (see “From the Winery” below) and write up some tasting notes for you, our Dear Wine Friends.

Not one to turn down a bottle, err, I mean an opportunity to try a new bottle of wine, I readily agreed to the tasting. (If you want to try them they have a tasting room open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 3045 90^th Street West, Rosamond, CA, 93560, 661-256-6203.)

Tasting

2010 Tempranillo, 13.9% alcohol

Stewed mushroom, green bell peppers cooking in fajita seasonings, black pepper, leather, blackberry; lovely dark peppery fruit, juicy blackberry, black pepper again, good tannins. Pair with grilled steak or any meat-based dish in my humble opinion. Drink now.

2010 Zinfandel, 13.9% alcohol

Floral rose petals, plum, dark chocolate, leaves, wet earth and leather; red fruit, tannic, black pepper, smoke, bark. I could steadily sip this wine alone – and I did – or enjoy with food. Drink now or up to 5 years of down time. I liked the alcohol content and didn’t get any of the heat accompanied with high alcohol percentages. With that said, for a Zinfandel, it was fairly easy drinking with only a mild amount of pepper and spice.

2010 California Syrah, 15.6% alcohol

The color of seedless blackberry jam; dark fruit, plum, plump raisins, tobacco, milk chocolate, leather, mint; dried black fruits, juicy yet palate-drying on the finish, smoke, and firm tannins. Very pleasant, may be strong without food for some but not for me. Drink now or up to 5 to 7 years of down time. (Note from my Contributing Editor Michael Perlis: High Desert Cellars’ Syrah is from the same vineyard that was used for Golden Star’s.)

From the Winery

Three of our wines have won medals from the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Our 2010 Syrah won GOLD. Our 2010 Merlot won SILVER. And our Zinfandel won BRONZE. We are thrilled to receive this honor!

The 2014 SFCWC had a record number of 5,825 entries from over 1,500 wineries from 25 states in America – the largest competition of wines in America. The Public Tasting Event will be held at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on Saturday, February 15, beginning at 1:30PM, and we are making plans to attend and pour our wonderful wines.

Efren Chavez is the proud owner of High Desert Cellars – Chavez Vineyards and he has been in the grape growing business since 1978, starting in Sonoma County in the Russian River Appellation, Alexander Valley. In 1999 Efren started Chavez Vineyards on 20 acres located in east Palmdale, in the Antelope Valley of the California High Desert. Producing wine from grapes of uncompromised quality, including red varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Malbec, Barbera, Alicante Bouchet, and white varietals of Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier, Muscato, as well as rose wines of Merlot and Syrah. The first bottles of wine under the Chavez Cellars label were bottled in 2009.

Efren’s ambition of opening a tasting room for his wines became reality in June 2011 – High Desert Cellars Winery and Tasting Room held its grand opening. The beautiful tasting room offers fines wines for tasting, as well as beer, soda, water, snacks and unique gifts. Our wines can also be enjoyed in the outdoor garden area, along with a picnic lunch if desired.

MARTINI Vintage Prosecco scores 95+ at The Drinks Business Prosecco Masters

June 11, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Hamilton, Bermuda – MARTINI® Prosecco Vintage 2016 has achieved a top score of 95+ points at The Drinks Business Prosecco Masters 2017, beating strong competition from some of the world’s best loved Prosecco brands including Bisol, Bottega, Follador and Andreola.

The judging panel, comprising five Masters of Wine, also presented MARTINI Prosecco Vintage with one of six Master Medals, a testament to the exceptional quality of the wine.

MARTINI is the world’s best selling Italian sparkling wine brand and is driving growth worldwide through innovation. This multi-award winning wine was crafted by MARTINI’s Master Winemaker of the past 30 years, Franco Brezza. Made from 100% Glera grapes from the 2016 harvest, MARTINI Prosecco Vintage is pale gold in color with hints of emerald green and delicate bubbles. It offers delicate floral notes and fresh green apple and lime undertones.

Shane Hoyne, CMO Europe & North America, comments: “Premium Italian sparkling wine is experiencing tremendous growth, fuelled by consumers’ love of its light, refreshing style. Prosecco is the fastest growing category in the global sparkling wine industry, and we have created this exquisite tasting and beautifully packaged product to lead that growth and to knock on Champagne’s door with a strong quality statement”.

Franco Brezza, Master Winemaker says: “We have used all expertise and know-how to create a sparkling wine that offers a true alternative to champagne. The harmonic but delicate flavors make this the perfect style to enjoy as an aperitif.”

Instantly recognizable with a gold foil and stylish glass bottle, MARTINI Prosecco Vintage joins a selection of award-winning wines in the growing MARTINI Sparkling Wine portfolio including its sister wine, MARTINI Vintage Asti. Other wines in the range include MARTINI Prosecco, MARTINI Asti, MARTINI Rosé, MARTINI Brut, MARTINI Riesling, Alta Langa and Montelera.

The full results of The Drinks Business Prosecco Masters will be announced in the May issue of The Drinks Business, which will be distributed at the London Wine Fair at London’s Olympia from 22^nd – 26^th May.

About The Drinks Business Prosecco Awards
The Drinks Business Prosecco Awards is now in its fourth year and judged 135 Proseccos. This year’s international panel of experts included Alex Canneti, Anthony Foster MW, Jonathan Pedly MW, Roberto Della Pietra, Patrick Schmitt MW, Patricia Stefanowicz MW and Nick Tatham MW.

About MARTINI
One of the most iconic brands in the world, MARTINI® is the leading name in Italian winemaking and a purveyor of the highest quality aromatized and sparkling wines. The award-winning, vibrant and bittersweet taste of the MARTINI range is the result of secret blends of more than 40 botanicals sourced from the finest locations across the globe. The MARTINI portfolio includes: MARTINI Bianco, MARTINI Rosato, MARTINI Rosso, MARTINI Extra Dry, MARTINI Asti, MARTINI Moscato d’Asti, MARTINI Prosecco, MARTINI Rosé, MARTINI Brut and MARTINI Royale. Created in 1863 in Turin, Italy, the MARTINI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, and continues to be the market leader of the category. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Enjoy Martini Prosecco Responsibly

MARTINI and the ball and bar logo are trademarks.
For more information, please visit www.martini.com

TEXSOM International Wine Awards Announces 2017 Winners

April 16, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Dallas, Texas – TEXSOM Co-founders and Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks today announced the final results for the 2017 TEXSOM International Wine Awards. The Awards garnered 3,581 entries representing 29 countries and 19 U.S. States, a record for the competition.

Entries in the TEXSOM International Wine Awards were blind-tasted and judged by 71 internationally renowned industry influencers from 5 countries. Of these entries, the judges awarded 2,480 medals: 310 Gold medals, 901 Silver medals, and 1269 Bronze medals. Suggested retail pricing of medal-winning entries ranged from US $2.99 to over US $700.00. Vintages spanned 40 years, with the oldest being 1977.

Judges’ Selections winners, those wines that were judged best for their categories, were announced at a reception sponsored by Enterprise Greece during ProWein 2017 at the Greek national pavilion on Monday, March 20. The event was a culmination of a series of award announcements by both Texas Monthly and the TEXSOM social media channels of all the Award-winning wines. All winning wines are listed on the Texas Monthly website at http://www.texasmonthly.com/article/tiwa2017/. Texas Monthly was the presenting sponsor, and has been instrumental in promoting the competition.

Last year, Greek wines showed well at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, finishing 4th in medals received among the 25 countries entering wines. Enterprise Greece, the Greek government agency responsible for export promotion, is sponsoring some of Greece’s leading wineries at ProWein.

“We had a record year for the TEXSOM International Wine Awards,” said Tidwell. “That paired with the international recognition at ProWein, indicate that the TEXSOM International Wine Awards has become one of the most internationally influential competitions in the world. From the caliber of the judges to the quality of the entries, the Awards set the standard for what key tastemakers and industry influencers believe are the world’s top wines.”

Award entries were arranged by category of beverage, place of origin, and type. The final list of all winners includes: Judges’ Selections, Traditional Method Sparkling Wines, Other Sparkling Wines, Fortified (Dry and Sweet), Sake, White Wines, Rosé and Blush Wines, Red Wines, Ciders, and Fruit, Flavored and Honey Wines.

Wines chosen for Judges’ Selections were nominated by judging panels for specific categories, then blind-tasted by special panels to determine the winner of each Selection. Judges’ Selections demonstrate quality and unique character that are exceptional even amongst their medal-winning peers.

Unique among all other wine competitions, the TEXSOM International Wine Awards involved 42 rising-star sommeliers (separate from the judges) and three editors who have written detailed descriptions of a selection of medal winners. These notes will be highlighted for Featured Wines on the TEXSOM International Wine Awards website over the course of the year, and in the publication TEXSOM presents SOMMELIER. In addition to their duties in crafting notes for the selected award winners, the sommeliers participated in an educational retreat where each attended a series of seminars and observed judging by sitting with a judging panel, and also had the opportunity to receive direct instruction and feedback from a Master Sommelier or Master of Wine on blind tasting of wine.

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards was supported by 71 judges and more than 80 volunteers and staffers working together to make the competition happen. A list of judges may be found on the website at http://texsomiwa.com/.

ABOUT TEXSOM
Founded in 2005, TEXSOM was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today the conference draws more than 1,100 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. The TEXSOM group purchased the competition now known as the TEXSOM International Wine Awards in April 2014. One of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States, the competition was founded in 1985 by journalist and wine expert Rebecca Murphy.

Seed Wine wins gold for its inaugural Malbec vintage

February 19, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

First time’s a charm for Seed Wine, which brought home a Malbec gold medal in the prestigious 2016 Global Masters wine competition in London on November 21, 2016. Hosted by the Drinks Business, the Global Masters is a rigorous series of blind tasting competitions, attracting entries from every corner of the wine-making world.

The tasting notes for Seed’s 2014 Malbec include luscious steeped blackberries, marionberries, and dusky Italian plums. The fruits lie well beneath lighter, more enigmatic aromas of violets, dust, and dark chocolate shavings. Seed’s 2014 Malbec vintage is the inaugural release for the boutique wine label, and its owners are delighted with the results.

“The Global Masters has reputation for being the toughest panel in any blind tasting series, so this really is an outstanding result for us,” CEO Tony Hartl said. “Our 2014 Malbec is completely sold out, but don’t fret, we have just released our 2015 vintage, which is fully expected to surpass the 2014s in elegance and age-worthiness.”

Malbecs from around the world were included in the competition, and a 6-person panel of highly qualified Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers judged each entry. Winners are awarded medals bronze through gold, with “Master” reserved for the best of the best. With its 2015 Malbec vintage now available, Seed Wine has its sights set on even greater accomplishments in the future. You can learn more about the 2015 vintage here.

Beautifully delineated, the 2015 Seed Malbec is a small lot single-vineyard wine that is aged for 16 months in new French oak and has a long life ahead of it. At this stage in its development, the nose is quite primary and is heavily laden in fresh blackberries, plums, and macerated strawberries rendered more complex by attractive notes of sweet tobacco, bitter chocolate, and violets.

About Seed Wine: Launched after a serendipitous sojourn to South America, Seed Wine is the brainchild of Dallas entrepreneurs Tony Hartl and Alex Chang. The boutique Malbec is harvested with the world’s best winemaking techniques: hand-picked grapes, ancient canal irrigation, and 43-year-old vines.

Together with business partners Thomas DelMundo and winemaker Giuseppe Franceschini, Tony and Alex have the audacious goal of making the best Malbec in the world. But they aren’t stopping there. Every time a bottle of Seed Wine is purchased, a child in Mendoza receives a new schoolbook. It’s the tangible way that Tony, Alex, Tom and Giuseppe are planting seeds for the future in Argentina.