Glup Naranjo
$29.99
An orange wine crafted from a premium selected vineyard parcel in the Valley of Itata. It's a true expression of terroir with a breathtaking intensity and elegance. Yellow in color with golden edges, the intense aromas are of white flowers, spices, and ripe fruit. The wine has big body, and lots of character and complexity.
The juice was fermented with the skins in a concrete tank, stay together for 6 months and then without the skins for 4 months in old french barrels. Minimal intervention, like the old men used to make wine, native yeast and no filtration.
El Maestro Oloroso
$79.99
El Maestro Sierra was founded in 1830 by master cooper José Antonio Sierra, who ran a prosperous barrel-building business called La Merced. Recognized as one of the top coopers in the area, he longed to become involved in the Sherry trade itself. Eventually, he set about building a small winery to make the best sherries possible. As the sherry business was, and remains to this day, dominated by aristocratic families, the idea of a humble worker joining their ranks was met with open disdain. After many hardships he was able to establish and grow his business, becoming one of the most respected almacenistas (stockholders) of high-quality sherry. It is still run by his descendants, located in a privileged part of Jerez on top of the hill, exposed to the cool Poniente winds which nourish the elegant wines. As a reminder of the bodega’s struggles, the labels depict a hunting scene with a hare being chased by the nobles, alluding to José Antonio Sierra’s struggles in founding the artisanal house in a social climate dominated by the aristocrats of his time.
El Maestro Sierra was passed down through the family and protected by the legendary Doña Pilar Pla Pechovierto from 1976 until her passing in 2020. She was a brave and resolute woman who inherited the business after the early death of her husband, Antonio Borrego. Pilar managed to drive the business forward despite the prevailing machismo of the time. El Maestro Sierra became the first and is still one of the few bodegas run entirely by women. When her husband passed away in 1976, she resisted the intense pressure to sell and kept the winery going through tough times by selling wines to the locals in jugs. In 1997, while the men were away from the Consejo Regulador, she was stealthily able to obtain the first bottling permit for an almacenista house, which was forbidden until that point. Pilar was an extraordinary individual with a singularity of purpose: to maintain the grand estate of El Maestro Sierra. Because the wines have remained virtually unmoved due to the slow business in the following decades, the stocks at El Maestro Sierra are some of the oldest and most undisturbed in Jerez.
The tradition is continued by Pilar’s daughter and current owner, Dr. Carmen Borrego Pla, and Capataza Ana Cabestrero; aided by long-time family friend and consultant master Capataz, Paco Salas. Dr. Borrego Pla, a historian and expert in the History of the Americas at the University of Seville, has published many books and papers relating to Andalucia’s role in this grand history and continues to be one of the region’s foremost cultural historians.
Cragganmore Distillers Edition
$109.99
This is Cragganmore draped in Port. Port-seasoned American Oak, that is. It lends a slightly jammier edge to one of Scotland's most iconic single malts.
40% abv
Whisky Sponge Highland Malt 1993 No.59A
$324.99
Distilled in 1993, this mystery Highland Single Malt as filled into a Refill Hogshead, where it matured 28 years before bottling at 44.7%. 87pts Whiskybase
Producer Description
"Made from a secret, ancient family recipe handed down since the primordial era, this delectable Cream Of Sponge features only natural highland ingredients, tinned fresh at unreduced strength without any additives or colouring. Full of vitamins, minerals, vegetable emojis and famed for the waxy residue it leaves on your tongue. Please sup your Cream Of Sponge responsibly, in the manner of an ancient, wizen Druid sooking it painstakingly by the thimbleful from a wooden spoon..."
Whisky Sponge Ardmore 1997 Ed.76
$469.99
This 1997 vintage Ardmore was matured 24 years in a Refill Bourbon Hogshead before bottling at 52.4%.
Producer Note
"Since the dawn of creation, conscious beings have been asking themselves one thing: why does Ardmore taste like the smelly matter you find in Scottish farmyard...? The answer to this question has eluded the greatest scientific minds in the cosmos. Mayans, Vulcans, Time Lords, Vogons and David Attenborough have all tried, and failed, to discover the pungent truth. All we can do is play Sponge scrabble and ruminate deeply and profoundly, on the sheer number of silly toilet-centric words you can invent in association with Ardmore and all its bum-scented glory. Please enjoy this extremely classical 25 year old Ardmore that has been matured full term in a withered old refill hogshead and bottled at natural cask strength, thus retaining its maximum dung-addled distillate potency."
Rum Sponge Barbados 2000 No.18
$324.99
Trigger warning... this Bajan rum is from the Foursquare Distillery... Distilled in 2000, and matured 22 years in a Refill Barrel before bottling at 47.6%.
Producer Note
"A single refill barrel of Barbados rum, distilled in 2000 and matured for 22 years before bottling at natural cask strength of 47.6%. The label for this edition celebrates the blissful joy that is Teams and Zoom meetings, which we have all discovered and come to love during the pandemic. It is also a helpful guide to identifying this rum's distillery of origin, given that the label is made up of four squares. This is a sibling cask to Rum Sponge edition 14 and, like that one, is decidedly easy and approachable while still displaying richness of character and depth. The nose is highly exotic with tinned tropical fruits in syrup, while the palate shows firm oak spices, medicines and fresh bread notes. Luscious, easy and super pleasurable! Why not pour a significant measure into a coffee cup and gently melt away over the course of a two hour virtual strategy meeting. Responsibly, of course."
Fruli Strawberry Beer Singles
$5.39
Producer Description
"Fruli is a high quality Strawberry Belgian fruit beer, produced at a craft brewery in Melle near Ghent in Belgium. It’s a 300 year old brewery called Huyghe which has been in the De Laet family for 100 years. It is a unique blend of white beer and strawberry juice. The juice complements the zestiness of the wheat beer and the result is a balanced and refreshing beer that is packed with strawberry fruit flavour."
Jura 14 Year Old
$84.99
A recent addition to the Jura range, this 14-year-old has been matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Rye barrels. Expect a bit of spice, salinity, and nuttiness on this one.
40% abv
Heartland Stickleback Red
$19.99
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Dolcetto are blended together to create a bright yet full-bodied wine that is perfect for everyday occasions. Each variety is individually fermented on the skins for 5 days before it is pressed to enhance the aromatics while softening the naturally present tannins. Maturation in 2–3-year-old oak barrels rounds out the rich and savoury character of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Dolcetto and a splash of Lagrein add spiciness and vibrant tannins that complete the wine. Perfect for your Sunday night roast dinners, grilled dishes, cured meats, and aged cheeses.