This a part of the Famous Grouse line of Scotch's and delivers terrific flavors and unique character in each sip. The nose starts with notes of smoked peat, dried orange zest and hints of oak, all of with carry over to the taste perfectly. Once it hits the mouth sweet earthy peat and smokiness are balanced perfectly with a citrus layer. The finish is long, allowing the smokiness to dissipate and the spice and fruit notes to linger. Overall a very nice blend with great complexity, a perfect alternative or addition to any scotch lovers collection.

In the past couple of years there has been an explosion of flavored vodka to hit the market. They are usually true to the flavor or have an artificial taste, and we have seen bacon to all types of cakes, fruit punch and cotton candy flavors and everything in between. This vodka falls into true to the flavor category for a great price. Everything from the smell to the taste screams red hots candy. A perfect balance of spice and cinnamon in each sip making for a smooth drinking experience. This vodka would be an easy drink on the rocks during a winter night around a fire, or blended with other classics to create a new signature holiday drink.

This is a powerhouse wine for the money, delivering structure, flavor, and style. Starting with a dark rich nose of blackberry jam and cocoa powder, that floats out of the bottle as soon as you pull the cork. The flavors are out of this world, starting with ripe juicy blue and black berries, hints of white pepper, and chocolate covered cherry richness. The finish allows some vanilla cream and oak to blend with the dark red fruit flavors. It would pair perfectly with sliced skillet steak, rib eyes or even hamburgers. This is a terrific wine for a wonderful price, I can remember this wine selling for over $25 years back, and it is nice to see that it is at the price point now that everyone can drink like a king without paying the price.

The Liberated line of wines from Carmel road are fermented in stainless steel, seeing no oak, which gives the wine a cleaner fruit forward feel. This is also important for people who do not like oak or buttery flavors in their chardonnay or have allergies to oak in wine. starting with layers of bright citrus and apples that flow perfectly into perfectly balanced treasure of fruit and acidity in each sip. The fruit notes are complimented with a subtle floral aroma and a layer of minerality that provides a perfect structure. A great wine for people that want to taste what chardonnay is like without any oak influence for a reasonable price. Pairs perfectly with seafood for Caribbean foods.

There are allot of flavored vodkas on the market and it is always fun to try the new ones and mix them together for exciting drinks, and this one was terrific. From the name you can guess what the flavor is, but it has a terrific depth and smoothness that makes it perfect for sipping while enjoying dessert. The aromas were butterscotch with a creamy note, that flowed into the mouth where, you can guess the main flavor was, peanut butter. But in addition to the obvious there was a subtle chocolate and coffee note. It is smooth and sweet, making for a very dangerous combination that can sneak up on you quickly. Terrific chilled on the rocks, or with a chocolate liquor for a pent butter cup cocktail or with grape vodka in a martini glass for a PB and J martini. Right now it is only being sold in South Carolina and makes a great gift for out of town visitors.

14 Hands has announced the national
retail launch of its varietal tier of wines which includes Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling. The wines began shipping
nationally in August 2011 and are available for the suggested retail price
of $12.

14 Hands wines are inspired by the spirit of the wild horses that once
roamed the arid, open landscape of eastern Washington. It was here that
these horses â€" measuring a scant "14 hands" tall â€" developed their
legendary endurance, strength, and tenacious spirit. Today, this landscape
provides the perfect conditions for grape growing. Sunny days, cool nights
and loamy-sand and gravel soils produce the premium quality fruit that
allows Winemaker Keith Kenison to craft bold, complex reds and crisp,
fruit-forward whites.

"I take a practical approach to winemaking and let the fruit express
itself," Kenison explains. "I guide the wine to its final destination with
as few manipulations as possible, making every decision by taste because,
ultimately, that's what matters to the person buying a bottle of 14 Hands.”

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, great food, a relaxing day with friends and family, and lots of leftovers. I have cooked and been cooked for each year and always enjoy tasting the different touches that are added by each family tradition to the traditional meal. One of the biggest challenges is choosing wine that will satisfy everyones differing likes and tastes. Recently I sat down and reviewed tasting notes for the past year, reopened some of the wines and tried some new ones to see what would be a terrific crowd pleaser and excellent food wines for Thanksgiving.

White wine is always a staple at our celebrations, and the wine that works best with turkey, stuffing and all of the other flavors is a Gewurtztraminer, Pacific Rim from Washington $11, is one of the best bang for the buck ones we have seen this year. Layering notes of allspice and pear, with a delicate floral and fruit nose, great acidity and a touch of sweetness. A perfectly balanced wine that will bring out the flavors of the turkey and stuffing along with desserts. If you prefer something a little more full bodied and less sweet, Carmel Road Monterey Chardonnay $18 is a perfect choice, showing notes of pear, vanilla and creamy lemon bar notes. This is a full bodied chardonnay, with loads of finesse and elegance, it would work well with turkey, but would also stand up to quail and other game birds. If a real mixed bag of guests are coming by and you need something that will keep everyone happy, Kendall-Jackson's Summation white $17, which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Chardonnay along with five other white grapes. The blend has notes of tropical fruit, stone fruit, and a touch of floral. It is a terrific wine that delivers loads of quality for the price, and would work perfectly with almost any Thanksgiving feast.

Red wines can be more tricky, you will have some that love the big, deep, dark cabernets and others that will want a lighter red to go with turkey. The wine that always says to me we have started the holidays is Beaujolais Nouveau. It is always released the 3rd Thursday of November, and becomes a staple at our holiday gatherings. The one that is consistently delicious and affordable is Georges Duboeuf Beaujolias Nouveau 2011 $10. This wine is full of ripe strawberries and cherries, also some notes of spice and acidity, but this wine has all of the freshness and style of a perfect food and everyday get together wine. You will be hard pressed to find another wine that makes everyone happy and goes with a Thanksgiving meal as well as this one. If you are serving beef or venison along with turkey, you might want to also have a more full bodied red, Franciscan Merlot $23 is terrific choice, waves of black plums, dark chocolate, black berries and a touch of oak, fill out each sip and would pair perfectly with more full bodied meals that a cabernet may overpower. If you are going to want to have a big cabernet, Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $105 would be a show stopper, big lush dark fruit notes along with hints of leathery earthiness, and creamy jam like feel on the finish. This is a big gun for a serious meal. If this is the wine you decide on, make sure you decant it at least an hour or two before you plan on serving it or find an older vintage.

Another part of the meal that you can have some fun with wine is the beginning and ending of the meal, but don't take me wrong, any of these wines could be enjoyed throughout the whole feast. Champagne and Sparkling wine is a perfect start to any celebration, with the popping of the cork and clinking of the glasses, you know it is time to start enjoying. Our neighbor in North Carolina, Biltmore Estate is producing a Blanc de Blancs Brut $32, made from 100% chardonnay grapes grown at their estate, it has layers of delicate citrus zest and pineapple notes in each dry and refreshing sip. Another winner is J Sparkling Rose $28, with notes of strawberries, rose petals, and a delicate dryness, this is a personal favorite that we always keep in the fridge and will look for any excuse to open a bottle. A new sparkling wine is Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Brut $10, delivering nice apple, creamy ripe pears and a zip of citrus zest on the finish. A terrific value sparkling wine for any occasion. All of the sparkling wines pair perfectly with seafood, especially shellfish in addition to fruit dishes. For dessert you might want to think about a port, especially if you are serving chocolate or nutty dishes. Cockburn's Special Reserve Port $16 delivers a concentrated dark plum and blackberry nose, and a velvety red berry sweetness in each sip.

You might want to to try a couple bottle of each kind and make it a culinary wine adventure this year. Be sure to stay safe and drink responsibly. Cheers!

This is a terrific wine for the price, delivering flavor, style and structure for just over $10. The nose starts out with hints of violets, smoky oak, and vanilla bean and a dose of jammy dark fruit. These follow into the taste seamlessly. Once in the mouth mouth the wine delivers flavors of wild strawberries, cherry preserves, oak, and spice, along with some of the aromas introducing themselves as flavors. The finish has a nice acidity that give the wine a terrific lift and keeps each sip fresh and lively. Tis wine delivers allot more than what it is priced at, a definite deal. Would pair terrifically with grilled salmon, pork, or duck.

Nothing lights up a holiday get together like a little shine, moonshine that is. Catdaddy is triple distilled to remove any of the harsh flavors you may associate with no label mason jar varieties that were snuck to you in the past. On the nose there is almost an eggnog and cinnamon note that resonates from the crystal clear moonshine. Once it hits the mouth warm notes of anise, sweet creamy nutmeg, vanilla bean and caramel coat the taste buds and linger perfectly. The flavors are soft and smooth, making this a perfect compliment to any cocktail, or on the rocks. We enjoyed our in a holiday martini with Catdaddy Moonshine, eggnog, and a splash of Godiva white chocolate liquor, all of the flavors paired perfectly and was the hit o the party.

This is a terrific vodka for mixing and martinis that will not break the bank. Smooth and clean, it is distilled 5 times. Subtle aromas of creamy citrus zest dissipates quickly, and the vodka delivers a clean bold flavor with a touch of pepper and alcohol that does not linger. Terrific in any of your favorite vodka drinks.