The Bar Towel

Ruelas Reserva Red 2019 Here is a Portugese red for 11.95. Three grapes, Tinto Roriz (the famed Tempranillo grape of Rioja Spain) plus Touriga Nacional and the Syrah / Shiraz grape originating in the Rhone, France. Good solid dark and red fruit, touch of toasty oak. Touch of mocha, spice, tobacco, ...

1.5 ounces of Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye 3/4 can of Zevia Sugar-Free Ginger Ale 2 ice cubes Makes for a nicely balanced, dry and spicy rye and ginger Have you tried a rye cocktail made with simply brewed ginger (grated, thrown in a pot of freshly boiled water often with a touch of honey / lem...

Château Calon 2008 Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion A mature Bordeaux red with mainly Merlot plus with some Cabernet Sauvignon in there. I just went for it. The 2008 Calon is now medium-light body and dry, with the blackberry fruit more thin and restrained under the tannin and herbals. A little fading o...

Arnaud de Villeneuve Ambré 20-Year-Old Grande Reserve Rivesaltes (Fortified Wine) A rich, sherry-like French wine (of white grapes) that has been fortified and extensively aged. Has a great pale sherry color. Tastes of apricot, raisiny pale fruits, has poised honey-like sweetness balanced with acid...

beerstodiscover wrote:IIRC LCBO got 570 bottles of BCBS total this year.

That's actually funny, for all of Ontario? The world's largest buyer of alcoholic beverages that totally controls its market gets only 570 single units?

One person could drink that many beers in a year... Ontario has 13 million people.

It seemed Bourbon County had more bourbon barrel character in 2007 or so when I first tried it.

That first small bottle was so intense, I had to share it. Can still remember the flavor impressions.

C. da Silva Dalva Colheita Red 2017 A Douro, Portugal red of Touriga Nacional and other grapes. Seems like a €2 red the LCBO has in its shameless avarice decided to latch onto the success of & unironically price this humble table wine well beyond ten dollars instead of the $7-8 it's probably wo...

I've been in the LCBO twice - first time was early on where they limited the number of people allowed in the store. An LCBO employee screamed at these two customers to put their basket down and get out of the store. The two people were apparently too close to each other. They calmly tried to explai...

JaseWescott wrote: picked up... IPA No. 15 by Collective Arts (re-release of the very popular IPA No. 5)

Mmh! Pretty unbeatable stuff. Even after a few Godspeed brews which for me are pretty much the altamira of brews in the GTA. The #15 has an amazing citrus note and a perfect body.

Château Recougne 2017 Bordeaux Supérieur (Merlot + 2 Cab Blend) Moderate to good value, easy-going and mostly Merlot Bordeaux red. I like the bit of cedar / tobacco / herbal character over the smooth dark and red berry fruit, cherry, some light wool and warm sandalwoody spice. Only a hint of green ...

Amastuola Primitivo 2016 (Puglia) A hot seller just in, so had to try. Fairly easy palate with blueberry / red berry richness, black plum and warm spicy herbals. Some lip-smacking tannins and acidity, but far from drying. With some air & a bit cooled down, this presents the lithe structure and ...

Having a 2009 St-Ambroise Stout Impériale Russe , also in remarkably fine shape at 7.5 years of age. Also has bold and rich flavors of winey dark fruit, chocolate ganache torte and a dry hint of coffee liqueur. Solid creamy palate is supported by a remainder of bittering hop, ALL the rough edges ar...

From the Spadina Front store - Birra B2O Venusa Ambrata.. 75 cl bottle. Not even listed in the LC system, From the Venetian islands, sorta interesting. A basic fruity Vienna Lager style with some Belgian Ale spice and pear overtones, bottle-conditioned. A high fermentation amber beer, unpasteurized ...

Bobsy wrote:... which means Tempest is on deck for after dinner.

Thanks, reminds me I have a Double Tempest from a few years back.

Also the excellent Cigar City Marshal Zhukov BARIS is just $15 at Spadina and Front store.
I guess they've given up selling this beast for $20-30? YVW.

sofakingdrunk wrote:Saison DuPont has bee general listed for about a year or so now.

That one's a beaut.

If all I had to survive on for a year was Dupont (BE) and De La Meuse (Ont), those two Saisons cover a lot of ground for me.