January 10th Weekly Selections

Wine of the Week
 Stella Rosa
From the beautiful village of Santo Stefano Belbo in Piedmont comes our delicious Stella Rosa. A refreshing red wine to be served chilled and accompanied by fresh fruit and cheese. Tasting notes: Very floral on the nose with what seems to me like roses. Also cranberry and grape jam coming through. Carmel initially on the palate and then the cranberry and roses showing on the midpalate. Carmel comes through again on the finish. Sweet and very slightly frizante. (Review from Cellar Tracker)

Beer of the Week

Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock
Its back! The leinenkugel’s 1888 bock features a robust head that seizes the rich aroma of toasted and carmel malts. This full-bodied brew has a smooth, toasted malt flavor. This was a big seller last year.
 Tasting notes: 1888 Bock pours a clear, dark golden brown color with a medium-height tan head. The beer’s aroma is of slightly sweet malt with some caramel malt and floral hop hints. This beer’s flavor starts dry, with some slightly grainy, bready malt notes. There is a relatively substantial (considering the beer’s not-overwhelming malt profile) floral hop bitterness at the back and sides of the tongue. 1888 Bock is listed as being brewed with Cluster hops and is 18 international bitterness units.Modest amounts of dark fruit flavors show at mid tongue. Also appearing at mid tongue is a bit of a sourdough-ish tang that I found a tad out of place.1888 Bock’s finish is dry with a bready, malty flavor that finally ends on a slightly astringent floral hop bitterness. (Review by Tim Hynds (Sioux City Journal)

Spirit of the Week

 Most Wanted Vodka
Seth Fox takes pride in the fact that his vodka is made from Kansas grain. “The best grain in the world,” he says. In fact, the best grain in the world grows right around the corner from his home; Fox buys all the grain used for production from his neighbor. Every component of Most Wanted Vodka is produced either right here in Kansas, or in the United States.His best seller, Most Wanted vodka, is a hit at local liquor stores. His ultra-premium brand, Fox vodka, is served at some of the finest restaurants in his region. "Customers like that it's from right here," said Dustin Hundley, owner of the Metropolitan Steak House in nearby Leavenworth. "We did a taste test against some of the better-known brands and it was just as clean and crisp, if not better. We run out of it." Mr. Fox's sales are driven mostly by word-of-mouth locally, and beyond the state through a network of microdistilling aficionados. "I get calls from all across the nation asking, Where can I buy your vodka?" Mr. Fox said. "I say, You've got to come to Kansas. Who grows the best grain in the world?"

Cocktail of the Week  This starts the beginning of our Valentine’s day cocktail theme.
 Flirtini 

• 2 pieces fresh pineapple
• ½ oz Cointreau
• ½ oz Vodka
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• 3 oz Champagne
• Maraschino cherry for garnish

 Muddle the pineapple pieces and Cointreau in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the vodka and pineapple juice. Stir well. Strain in to a chilled cocktail glass. Top with champange and garnish with the maraschino cherry.