Winter 2014 Highball by ABC Fine Wine

Highball S P I R I T S

T H E E N D OF A FEUD:

Whiskey from the Hatfield & McCoy families GIFT SUGGESTI O NS

for your hostess with the mostest

A NEW HIGH-END TEQUILA

FROM PATRÓN

M A G A Z I N E

•

W I N T E R

2 0 1 4

Highball is a quarterly publication of ABC Fine

sip it or gift it

A selection of spirits you may not want to share

Not all products are available in all stores. If the product you’re looking for isn’t available, ask us

to order it for you!

Hannah Grantz

Editor hannahg@abcfws.com

Meghan Guarino Contributing Editor meghang@abcfws.com

THEY’VE BEEN FEUDING FOR OVER 100 YEARS

The Hatfields and McCoys have been brought together to create a whiskey

FOR THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST Daniel has go-to spirits to please all (or at least most)

A NEW HIGH-END TEQUILA ON THE BLOCK The gift of Roca Patrón would make anyone smile

GLEN MORAY 12 YEAR Scotch for you, or Scotch for a lucky someone

A 94-POINT RATING FROM WINE ENTHUSIAST Taste the complexity of Mount Gay Black Barrel rum

Lorena Streeter Contributing Editor lorenas@abcfws.com In this issue: An article from our in-store specialist, Daniel Eddy (Gainesville).

Are you an at-home mixologist? Find us on Instagram (@abcfinewinespirits) and tag your crafty concoctions using #abcbyob!

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Winner’s recipe will be featured on our Facebook page and added to abcfws.com’s cocktail recipe page!

W H I S K E Y :

BRINGING FA M I L I E S TO G E T H E R HANNAH GRANTZ From L-R: Monsell Darville, Jim McCoy, ABC CEO Charles Bailes III and John T. Hatfield at the grand opening of ABC’s new Panama City Beach store

It really is a tale as old as time—only this one is

that both the Hatfields and the McCoys had been

They were almost in “stunned silence” when they

not exactly a fairytale. Though it does, as it turns

making “on opposite sides of the Tug River for all

realized the opportunity that could be in the future

out, have a happy ending. The story of the feuding

these years.” He asked Jim and John if they thought

for their families.

Hatfield and McCoy families is one most of us are

it would be possible to create one whiskey, under

familiar with, especially after The History Channel’s

“For me, it was pretty darn exciting because I suddenly realized as it all began to come together

mini-series on the clans. The rivalry between the

that I was in the middle of a really amazing piece

Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of

of American history. To act as an arbitrator, I was

Kentucky runs deeper than the river that separates

thinking at first, ‘Oh, this is fascinating… but

them, but all that might just be behind them now.

probably not going to happen,’” Monsell told me.

Thanks to whiskey.

But it happened. “I was the peacemaker—in literal

The Legendary Hatfield & McCoy Family Brand

terms” he added, “I took great pride in that and still

whiskey is a blend of ingredients combined from

do to this day now that it’s live and real.”

the recipe books of both families. For those whose

It took about six months of back and forth before

ancestors once murdered the other’s, and vice

any family members would consider sharing their

versa, that’s kind of a big deal. Perhaps no one

recipe. But once they did and the “secrets” of in-

knows this better than Monsell Darville, the man

gredients and measurements were out on the table,

who got the two families to agree to come together

for the most part it wasn’t difficult to marry the

(and actually be in the same room for the first time)

two. “After everything we tasted, we eventually got

to make a whiskey. The “peacemaker” between the

to the point when Jim and John tasted a combined

two clans, Monsell sat down with direct descen-

whiskey blend. They put it to their lips and said,

dants John T. Hatfield and Jim McCoy to see if this

‘You know what? We’re good with this.’” And that

idea could really come to life:

is what we now know as The Legendary Hatfield &

The big day of actually bringing them together in

McCoy Family Brand whiskey.

the same room—I know that sounds like it’s not a

With light vanilla, wet stone and hints of green

big deal to a lot of people, but it was a very big deal

grass on the complex, yet balanced nose, the

to have these families sit across from each other.

Hatfield & McCoy whiskey blend has a medium

And for someone to discuss the concept of them

body, light black pepper, smoke, layers of dried

coming together in a business venture…well, they

apricot and black walnut on the palate. It finishes

were—“dubious” is being kind—but they eventually

clean and balanced, with hints of vanilla, caramel

agreed and understood that we wanted to get to

and butter. Sip it straight, add a little water, or mix

an agreement they were both happy with. So we developed a friendship and a fellowship that started from there. Once they could keep the peace, then it was time to talk about this “lovely liquid,” as Monsell called it,

it in your favorite crafted cocktail. both of their names, as the beginning of a long

And know that when you’re drinking it, you’re

term enterprise: “Not just a whiskey; we’d love to

not just drinking good whiskey. You’re drinking

make a bourbon and we’d love to make a rye—a

American history.

whole portfolio of brands under the family names.”

The Perfect Holiday Hostess Gift D A N I E L E D D Y, A B C F I N E W I N E & S P I R I T S G A I N E S V I L L E

The holidays are here, and if you’re like me, your mom trained you to always bring a hostess gift to any event. For most of the year my go-to gift is

3. Bailey’s Irish cream 4. Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch

And I can’t help but mention new trends. In my 25 years in the celebrating business, I’ve seen many spirit trends. So what is “It” this year?

a bottle of wine or bubbly, but it’s nice to up the

5. Maker’s Mark bourbon

Here are my top 5 trendy offerings to impress

ante during the holidays and provide something

I find that any of these gifts will be happily received.

your host:

special for past, present and future Christmas

Grab a gift bag and you’re done. Easy peasy. But if

carols. There are certain tried-and-true liquors that

you want to keep to the theme, yet step outside of

1. Fireball Cinnamon whisky—there’s a whole

always make a great gift, but then each year there

the box, we can come up with some fun alterna-

are new trends, and gifting what’s just become hot

tives that still fulfill the tried-and-true category.

is pretty cool. If you are visiting good friends, then

Perhaps Wiser’s Canadian whisky, using the

perhaps something a little bigger is in order—and

“original” Crown Royal recipe, would be a novel

2. Horchata cream liqueur, like Cayman Reef

custom gift baskets can make the perfect hostess

option. Motif is another charcoal-filtered, smooth

horchata—similar to Irish cream, but with

gift. You can even give them a complete cocktail in

flavored French vodka that can be an interesting

cinnamon, almond and vanilla flavors, depending

a basket, with everything required for them to play

alternative to “l’Oie Gris.” Perhaps we can consider

on its Latin American country of origin.

barkeep. Consumables make great gifts for every

one of my new trend items and choose a rum

hostess with the mostest.

cream instead of Bailey’s, and El Dorado rum

“What’s the perfect holiday gift?” When it comes to spirits, we can get in the spirit with tried-andtrue gift offerings. Here are my branded, reliable, top 5: 1. Crown Royal Canadian whisky 2. Grey Goose vodka

makes a delicious cream liqueur at a reasonable price. For the darker spirits, branch out from blended Scotches to a Highland or Speyside single malt.

have just saturated the market to appeal more to ladies.

3. Moonshine, like Ghost Tree, Midnight Moon and Ole Smokey—yes, legal moonshine is a trend, especially versions like apple pie or blueberry (with real blueberries!).

Deanston Virgin Oak Highland Scotch is delicate

4. Bowman Brothers Virginia Straight Bourbon

and aromatic, therefore the perfect first foray

whiskey—with a history going back to the end of

into the big bad world of single malts. Instead of

Prohibition, this Virginia bourbon has all the flavor

Maker’s Mark, think Cooper’s Mark Small Batch,

of its Kentucky neighbors and a novel story to tell.

a similarly soft-styled bourbon, with hints of spice and a delicate, almost feminine touch.

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line of flavored bourbons and whiskies that

5. Viniq Shimmery liqueur—proof that we first “taste” with our eyes, because this stuff looks like it’s from Star Trek back in the 60s. It’s perfectly safe; the swirls come from an ingredient in jellybeans and a little bottle jiggling. Though it looks delightfully unnatural, the sweet, grapey flavors from Moscato wine make it very popular. When it comes to hostess gift baskets, the theme can be very small or pretty darn big; it’s all up to you. I love the idea of a themed cocktail gift basket that might also be your holiday gift. From something simple like a classic Martini kit (including gin or vodka, dry vermouth, olives, a cocktail shaker and maybe a couple of martini glasses) to our “Margaritas for Two” basket (often readymade in most of our ABC stores), one can create a theme based on any cocktail. Try “The Manhattan” basket, or even better, an “Around the World Too” basket (including three past trends, St. Germain, Hendrick’s gin and Pama pomegranate liqueur, plus agave nectar and Yuzu juice). You can even create your own signature cocktail gift basket. Most of our larger ABC stores can make your custom gift basket, and we’re happy to include your personal mementos as well as all the fixings for some great celebrations.

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BAH RUMBUG:

A Spirit for the Holidays M E G H A N G UA R I N O

When you consider high-end spirits, your mind

find in every sip, because that’s what this rum is:

jumps to beautifully bottled Scotches, rare bourbons

a sipping spirit. Best described by Wine Enthusiast,

and expensive Cognacs. Rarely are summer sippers

“Finished in ‘deeply toasted and charred’ bourbon

like vodka and rum in the running for hostess gifts

casks, this mouthwatering small-batch rum skews to

or holiday party cocktails. But why not? They’re

the sweeter side, offering bold notes of cola, allspice

crowd pleasers, sure, but every once in a while, an

and vanilla, finishing brisk and spicy. Sip straight

exceptionally well-made spirit comes along inching

or mix for the ultimate rum and cola.”

its way into the world of high-end libations. One such spirit is Mount Gay Black Barrel rum. Touting a 94-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, it’s hard to see this rum as anything other than top-shelf.

Before you reach for the Coke, we suggest enjoying this spirit the way it should be—on its own, as a high-end libation, showcasing each of its complex aromas and characteristics. And once you’ve

Mount Gay’s Barbados distillery was established

discovered the eloquence of this rum, take it to

in 1703, making it the oldest rum distillery in

a classic Manhattan:

the world with over 300 years of rum-making

2 oz Mount Gay Black Barrel rum

And while that’s an impressive statistic, there are two

½ oz sweet vermouth

other noteworthy facts about their craft that add

2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters

Maraschino cherry

experience backing their smooth Caribbean spirit.

a uniqueness to their product: One, each of their five rums is made with local ingredients. The water is naturally filtered through the coral limestone that

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with

makes up the island; it is then filtered three more

ice. Stir well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish

times for the purest possible water. And two, every

with a maraschino cherry.

batch is distilled in traditional double copper pot stills, adding a boldness to the rums’ character. The combination of their locally sourced ingredients, age-old distillation process and precise blending technique come together in the charred white oak barrels for aging. But here’s the thing: You won’t see an age stamp on any of their bottles. Master distiller Allen Smith believes a rum is ready when it is mature, and that may not necessarily be accomplished on a specific timeline. Mount Gay rums can be aged anywhere from six months to seven years. And that brings us back to their Black Barrel rum. This golden elixir is aged for a second time to achieve the smooth mouthfeel and balance you

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Barbados

RO CA PAT RÓ N HANNAH GRANTZ

Tahona stone

You know the bottle, you know the taste, you know

what’s the tahona method, you might be wondering?

14 months. Roca Silver is unaged and bottled

the tequila. But now the iconic, high-end Patrón

Because I sure was. To create Roca tequilas, Patrón

immediately after distillation. Each also has a higher

spirit that we’re familiar with has added a new label

replicated the production process from more than

proof than their traditional Patrón counterparts.

to its line of tequilas: Roca. Antonio Rodriguez,

500 years ago, using a two-ton volcanic stone wheel,

Roca Silver is 90 proof, with Roca Reposado

production manager for Patrón’s distillery in Jalisco,

aka “tahona,” to crush cooked agave, squeezing out

coming in at 84 proof and Añejo at 88 proof.

Mexico, assures us that Roca is not meant to replace

the agave juice. Then both the juice and agave fibers

All three of the Roca Patrón tequilas are sweeter,

traditional Patrón: “It is not a substitution; it’s an

are put in wooden fermentation vats for 72 hours.

earthier and more vegetal than Patrón’s line of

addition.” An addition, Rodriquez added, with

While traditional Patrón is partially made up of

traditional tequilas.

an entirely different flavor profile thanks to its

tahona process tequila, Roca is their first line to be

production process.

created entirely in tahona method—making it

Roca, meaning “rock” in Spanish, refers to the stone

perhaps the purest, most traditional tequila out there.

And how does their taste measure up? Rodriquez can personally vouch for their quality. As Production Manager, he says he “makes sure every single

of the tahona process for which this new tequila

And at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, you can find

batch is made consistently and we achieve the

from Patrón has become known for. “There’s a lot

all three offerings of this tahona-only tequila.

quality we’re looking for. I make sure everything

of excitement about Roca because it is innovation

Roca Reposado and Roca Añejo are both aged in

is done according to our standards at Patrón,”

based on the history of tequila. All Rocas are made

single-use American bourbon barrels—Reposado

which includes tasting the tequila. “It’s a really

in 100% tahona method,” Rodriquez told me. And

for about five months, while Añejo is aged around

hard job to take… but somebody has got to do it.”

Hacienda Patrón

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8989 South Orange Ave. Orlando, Florida 32824

S PIRIT

THE

S I P:

NOSE :

Sweet, fruity and floral TA S TE :

Highland toffee, brambles and ginger marmalade WELL-ROUNDED AND BALANCED

Glen Moray 12 Year Scotch FI N I SH :

Blackcurrants, toffee and a hint of licorice CO L O R :

Mid-Golden

P R O O F :

80Ë&#x161;

RE GI O N :

SPEYSIDE