urban_grape

news_title

A Season of Gifts!

 

   candy cane

 

 

Watch out world, The Urban Grape has a serious case of Holiday Spirit. Maybe it's the new merchandise we have at both stores - like Whiskey Disks and aerators and UG t-shirts - that will help us build better gifts for you to give. Maybe it's the grab-and-go gift packs like our own Urban Sampler, or those from Ommegang and Bully Boy Distillers. Maybe it's the holiday magnums of bubbles like Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Maybe it's the incredible staff we've assembled that's focused not on selling you the most expensive product, but on selling you exactly the right product. Whatever it is, we're going into the holidays with the best selection of products we've ever offered and two great locations filled to the brim with wine, beer, spirits, sake and so much more. Please check the UG blog daily for that day's UG gift suggestion - we're calling it "A Season of Gifts!" 

 

On behalf of the entire UG staff, Happy Holidays and cheers to a healthy and fulfilling New Year!

 

TJ and Hadley Douglas


Urban Tastings

 

Be sure to join us on Thursday and Friday nights from 5-8 and Saturdays from 3-6 for our regular tastings. Below is just a small sampling of the tastings we have this month. This December, we will be featuring "Twelve Nights of Tastings" leading up to Christmas

 

Thursday, December 6, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Join Danielle from Moet Hennessey for a tasting of Glenmorangie and Ardberg Scotches while Marissa from Mayflower Brewing pours a selection of their local beer. 

 

Saturday, December 8, 3-6 PM at UGCH: We love Ryan and Woods, a local distillery on the North Shore. Come taste their vodka, gin, rum and rye whiskey!   

 

Sunday, December 9, 1-5 PM Eat Boutique Holiday Market at Artists for Humanity in Fort Point: Join UG at Eat Boutique's Holiday Market, held at the AFH Building in Fort Point. Sample the wares of over 40 food and drink makers and place your beverage orders with UG for pick-up or delivery. It's one stop small batch and artisan holiday shopping! Tickets available for purchase here

 

Monday, December 10, 5-8 PM at UGSE: A very special FREE event featuring the 12, 15, 18 and 21 year Macallan scotches! Pick up a bottle for yourself or a loved one and then have it engraved on the spot! This is a fabulous gift idea!

 

Wednesday, December 12,  5-8 PM at UGSE and UGCH: Both stores kick off their Twelve Nights of Holiday Tastings with special Wednesday night wine tastings featuring Kevin from Ideal at UGCH and Frank from Carolina at UGSE. On the twelfth day of Christmas, what will your true love bring to you?

 

Thursday, December 13,  5-8 PM at UGSE: Whistle Pig has definitely rocketed to the top of America's favorite whiskeys. Come taste and see why. (Whistle Pig will be tasting at UGCH on 12/20)

 

Friday, December 14, 5-8 PM at UGCH: The Bitter Truth makes fantastic bitters that warm the hearts of novice and experienced mixologists alike. And they make the perfect stocking stuffer. Stop by to learn more about them and to stock up! (You can also taste Bitter Truth Bitters at UGSE on 12/21)

 

Saturday, December 15, 3-6 PM at UGCH: Sons of Liberty spirits - whiskey, vodka, and seasonal specialties - are new to UG. Come check them out and gift a bottle for the rebel on your list. 

 

Sunday, December 16, 3-6 PM at UGSE: Join John for this very special Sunday tasting featuring high-end wines such as Laurent-Perrier and Patz & Hall. We LOVE Laurent-Perrier Champagne! (John will be at UGCH on 12/29 pouring the same wines for NYE!)

 

Wednesday, December 19, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Catherine will be at UGSE pouring Famous Grouse and Highland Park Scotches for you to slip under the Christmas Tree (Catherine is also pouring at UGCH on 12/13)

 

Thursday, December 20, 5-8 PM at UGCH: Joining the Whistle Pig tasting will be Danielle, pouring Krug and Ruinart - two amazing Champagne producers that are special wines for any day, but especially the holidays.

 

Saturday, December 22, 3-6 PM at UGCH: Local boys from Grand Ten Distilling will be on hand to pour their gin and vodka, as well as their new cordials! 

 

Sunday, December 23, 3-6 PM at UGSE: James from Casa Dragones is like Santa Claus a few days early - he'll be pouring this incredibly smooth sipping tequila, the perfect last minute holiday gift.  

 

Saturday, December 29, 3-6 PM at UGSE: Join Shirlee for a tasting of high-end Champagnes that are perfect for ringing in the new year! 

 

 

As always, check the events page on our website for our full event listing and newly added tastings!


Spotlight Wine: 2008 Chateau Monbousquant Grand Cru Classe St. Emilion (Bordeaux, FR)

monbousquet

Here's how we know a wine is fantastic - when it gets delivered the week before it's supposed to go be our spotlight, half of it gets bought by wine salesmen before we can even move it back into storage. This is a really spectacular wine that is hard to get around here. 

Chateau Monbousquant has been producing wine since 1540. For generations it was merely passable wine, as the terroir of the vineyards is a difficult mix of sand, clay and gravel. But when it was bought in 1993 by Chantal and Gerard Perse, they reworked the land and cut the yield drastically. The result was an immediate skyrocketing in the quality of the wine, to its status today as one of the premiere Bordeaux houses. 

This 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon blend is a beautiful expression of what people love about Bordeaux wines. It's brimming with character - with both aromas and nuances of chocolate, spice and big black fruit. It's aged for 20 months in new oak, rounding out the experience to something luscious, with sweet tannins. 

We don't always agree with Parker, but here we do. He gave this wine a 94, said it has a remarkable purity, and drinks beautifully at this young age, while evolving for well over the next decade. This is a real treat for any Bordeaux lover.

 

Regular Price: $75

 

15% Bottle Discount: $63.75

 

25% 6-Bottle Discount: $337.50 (a savings of $112.50, at $56.25 a bottle)

 

 

  


Tuesday Tweets

 

schlumberger  

 

2010 Domaine Schlumberger Pinot Gris "Les Princes Abbes" (Alsace, FR)

This wonderful wine has all the nuances of the season - quince, baked apples and honey. Despite the rich aromas, the flavor remains fresh. Try with terrines this holiday season!

 

Regular Price: $23

 

Tuesday Tweet Price: $18.40

 

 

  antonelli

 

2007 Antonelli Montefalco Rosso (Umbria, IT)

Sangiovese at its best. Deep ruby red in color, the bouquet abounds with wild berries, cherries and plums. A warm and balanced red wine to pair with risotto, ravioli and roasted meats!

 

Regular Price: $20

 

Tuesday Tweet Price: $16

                                   

 



The Grinch Stole My Punch!

punch

Sunday night, we hosted a seriously fun Holiday party at UGSE, where two of our favorite bartenders, Josh Childs and Beau Sturm of Trina's Starlite Lounge, taught us to make holiday drinks to warm any Grinch-y heart.     


Beau's "The Grinch Stole My Punch" was so popular, we just had to share the recipe. Pull this out at any holiday party this season and you will wow your guests!  

1.5 liters of Bully Boy American Straight Whiskey (our suggestion, bourbon works too!)
1 bottle (750 ml) Belle de Brillet (pear cognac)
peels of 6 lemons
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup superfine sugar
1 bottle (750 ml) dry Prosecco (cheap is fine!)

- muddle lemon peels and sugar together* and let stand one day
- stir lemon juice with *oleo saccharum until sugar is completely dissolved 
- add all the booze and lemon peel mixture
- stir vigorously
- add ice (beau suggests freezing water in a tupperware and using the result as a big ice cube, or you can make an ice ring!)   

- top with 1 bottle (750 ml) Prosecco

- garnish with thin pear and lemon slices  

Serve in punch glasses, or on the rocks!
 



ub_samler




What action, if any, do you want your members to take? Add a "Find out more" link to additional information that you may have hosted on your website.