New (and some old) Goodies From Pac-Edge

My old buddy Rich from Pacific Edge—the Springbank of distributors (hence, why he's the importer and distributor for Springbank—both are independents going up against huge corporate giants)—stopped by last week to have lunch and remind me about all the new stuff he had coming in that week. I was super pumped about it. All that new stuff has now been delivered to us this week. Check out all this new booty! Plus, some old faces returning in new packages.

(I would have taken photos of all this stuff, but it's selling so fast there's no time!)

Willett 7 Year Old Single Barrel Rye Whiskey $89.99 (one bottle limit) – I haven’t had it, but it’s Willett single barrel rye, so what more do I need to tell you? Not much available. 60.4%

A.D. Rattray Cask Islay Blended Malt Whisky $52.99 – New packaging, a fancy new bottle, and a better product! This is a blend of various Islay casks, this malt is smoky, yet light, soft and easy-going. It tastes like a lighter version of Laphroaig.

Rattray's Selection 21 Year Old Batch No. 02 Cask Strength Blended Single Malt Scotch Whisky $129.99 – A marriage of 1989 Tamdhu, 1991 Strathmill, 1991 Cragganmore, and 1992 Mortlach Bourbon barrels put into Oloroso sherry butts and extra matured. 56.4% ABV

Stronachie 18 year old Single Malt Whisky $79.99 – Back in stock! This fabulous recreation of one of Scotland's closed distilleries used to be sourced from Benrinnes Distillery in Speyside. I think it still is, but I'll have to double check. The Morrisons of A.D. Rattray originally compared samples from the original Stronachie Distillery, distilled in 1904, to the Highland and Speyside's finest malts until they located a stylistic match. The 18 year is bottled in small batches, using both bourbon hogshead and sherry butts.Truly a great value from A.D. Rattray.

2002 Cadenhead's Guyanan 11 Year Old Rum $72.99 – Light, unsweetened, uncolored rum from DDL distillery in Guyana. Very pure and still bringing all the funk. Lovely. 46%

2004 Cadenhead's Haitian 9 Year Old Rum $72.99 – Unadulterated rum from Barbancourt. Really fruity and lively stuff; deceiving considering the incredibly pale color. It would be fantastic for lighter cocktails or rum-focused drinks where you really want the character to shine through with minimal ingredients.

Laird's Straight Bonded "Apple Jack" Brandy 100 proof $29.99 (two bottle limit) – Laird’s didn’t think they would have problems in the new era of whiskey shortages, but they were wrong. People are drinking their apple jack again like its Rittenhouse. Now we have shortages. This is the real deal and is 100% aged apple brandy, none of the neutral stuff. Apple Jack is America's Calvados. This is a necessity for anyone creating an authentic bar. And if you don't have what it takes to make a delicious Jack Rose cocktail, or a Calvados Cocktail, then you don't have an authentic bar. Laird's is the Rittenhouse Rye of apple distillates.

Elisir Novasalus Amaro $24.99 – Super bitter stuff, in the vein of the Varnelli Amari. Lots of gentian flavor, but not big or tannic or powerful on the palate. Just an incredibly bitter finish that goes on forever.

We’ve been slacking with the bitters and mixers section in Redwood City for the last few months, but we’re back on track now. More bitters and fun cocktail ingredients just landed:

Bittermilk #4 New Orleans Style Rouge 8.5 oz $15.99- Our Old Fashioned Rouge is strong and bittersweet packed with licorice and spice. Wormword, fennel, and gentian root imply flavors of absinthe and bitters. A traditional coloring technique using Cochineal, a red beetle from Peru gives this Old Fashioned it's "Rouge" naturally. Aged in Willet Family Reserve Rye Whiskey barrels. Add 1 part No.4 + 4 parts rye, stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Bittermilk #5 Charred Grapefruit 17 oz $15.99 - Not your typical tonic, the No.5 combines lime and lemon juice with cinchona bark, the source of quinine for tonic. We peel fresh grapefruits and char the skins to help bring out bitter yet refreshing notes. Just a bit of local Bulls Bay Saltworks sea salt helps pull savory caramel notes and rounds out flavor. Works well with any light spirit. Build over ice equal parts No.5 + vodka + soda water in a tall glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Scrappy's Bitters Classic Mini Gift Pack $18.99 - This is a sampler of 4 bitters.  Perfect for the home bartender.  Gift pack #1 includes 1/2 oz bottles of orange, lavender, aromatic, celery, as well as a recipe card.

Scrappy's Bitters Exotic Gift Pack $18.99 - Looking for a gift to give to your favorite home mixologist?  This gift pack from Scrappy's Bitters will get them fired up! It includes 2-ounce bottles of their grapefruit, cardamom, lime, chocolate bitters.

Rejoice in the sea of new booze!

-David Driscoll