Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras 2010 Poster

In case you didn’t have enough holiday events this past weekend (the Presidents, the Valentines, the Olympics, oh and did you forget about Chinese New Year?), we have one last party. And it’s our favorite of them all!

You may or may not realize that Bourbon & Canal is named for that famous intersection in New Orleans, where visitors staying in the hotels of the Central Business District walk into the French Quarter – at Bourbon Street and Canal Street. So of course we love Mardi Gras. Just for kicks, here’s a couple of pictures of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras past:

View down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras

Women We Don't Know -- Collecting Lots of Beads

A Sea of People on Bourbon Street

Two things are obvious from these pictures:

1. If you go to Mardi Gras, it’s important to get a spot on a balcony!

2. Everyone always has a drink in their hand!

While we can’t bring you a Bourbon Street crowd or a balcony, we can help you with the drinks.

By far the most popular Mardi Gras drink is the Hurricane. It’s a signature New Orleans choice, and would be great for your own celebration at home. We suggest that you make things easy for yourself and pick up some pre-mixed, ready-to-drink Hurricanes at our place. For the more ambitious, we also have powdered Hurricane mix you can tinker with at home, adding as much alcohol as you want, with or without a blender and ice.

The other thing you commonly find in New Orleans is Bourbon and rum-based drinks. New Orleans’ heritage as a port city settled by the French explains the rum part – the French ships would go to the French colonies in the Bahamas and further South on trading missions, and bring back rum – which was made from the sugar cane in the tropics.

The Bourbon tradition is not so obvious. One guess might be that boats brought Bourbon from Kentucky down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the port of New Orleans. But that would be wrong. In fact, New Orleans was settled years before anyone in Kentucky ever thought about making whiskey.

What actually happened is that the French settlers and trading ships would come to New Orleans with stashes of their beloved Cognac from back home in France, and this became a staple in New Orleans and was the basis for lots of their traditional recipes. Later on, when Americans learned how to make whiskey and started selling good quality product up and down the river, then bartenders in New Orleans started substituting the less-costly American whiskey in place of expensive Cognac in their drinks. And a tradition was born that continues today.

One other piece of trivia: Absinthe was originally brought to America by the French settlers also, and is used in several old-school New Orleans cocktails, for example the Sazerac which includes Bourbon, Absinthe and bitters (also originally from New Orleans!). Absinthe is legal in the U.S. again, and we have several to choose from if you’d like to try it.

That concludes our history lesson for today! Live it up on Fat Tuesday, and stop by Bourbon & Canal to get everything you need for a great Mardi Gras party.

Cheers!

Saturday Tastings

Just a quick note to let you know what we’ll be pouring for our Saturday Tastings tomorrow:

Yali Sauvignon Blanc: a tasty white wine from Chile that we’ve just added to our collection, and a great buy at only 8.99

Absolut Acai Berry flavored vodka: you may remember last year’s Absolut L.A. limited edition…it was so popular they’ve made it a permanent item in their lineup. And, we’ll have it on sale for $2.00 off during tomorrow’s tasting.

Boulevard Irish Ale – an early Spring release that’s a red ale like Killian’s, but with a more robust taste.

Stop in Saturday for our free tastings, and get your special Valentine’s gifts as well. Hope to see you then!

Cheers!

Valentine’s Gift Ideas

Yes, Valentine’s Day is this weekend!

Flowers or chocolate are kind of predictable, don’t you think? How about a nice bottle of something delicious and fun to celebrate with your someone special? Here are some ideas:

1.  Rare Scotch.

Laphroaig 30 year scotch

How about a nice bottle of Scotch? People who drink Scotch are thrilled when they receive a really nice, unusual bottle. Something to treasure, sip and savor, and share with special friends who appreciate it.

Our best Scotch suggestion right now is Laphroaig 30 year, which we have on sale for only $150 (reg. $225). It’s extraordinarily smooth and rich, with the expected peaty flavor that Laphroaig is known for, but in spades. It also has a hint of sweetness that helps balance out the sea air that you find in older scotches, making it one of the better rare blends.

We also have many, many other common and rare scotch whiskies to choose from – by far the most anywhere around, so you’ll have plenty of choices across price ranges and even regions within Scotland.

2. Champagne!

Nothing says Romance like a bottle of Bubbly!

It’s true that nothing says Romance like a bottle of the Bubbly. It’s a great thing to share on Valentine’s evening, maybe after dinner as a nightcap?

If you like the sweeter varieties of Bubbly, we have a wide range of Moscatos and other sweeter bubblies that will hit the spot.

If you like the classic dry type, we’ve got plenty of Bruts and Extra Drys to choose from.

For the in-between choice, we suggest a Prosecco from Italy. We can show you a couple of nice bottles here, too.

To splurge, we suggest either the Armand de Brignac, which is made in only one small cellar with crazy obsessive attention to detail, or the classic Dom Perignon.

Whatever you prefer, we’ve got well over 60 different choices of Bubbly to make your day special.

3.  A Barrel of Bourbon

Home Whiskey-Making Kit

This is a fun gift for any whiskey-loving guy.

With this kit, you get to make your own whiskey at home. It includes 2 bottles of the “white dog” spirit, the barrel to age it in, and thorough instructions.

Also available, a home-size barrel that comes free with a 1.75L bottle of Jim Beam Black, built so that you can serve the whiskey from the barrel tap. Slick.

4.  Rare and Small Batch Bourbons

Small Batch Bourbon Collection

We have the largest collection of rare and small batch bourbons you’ll find anywhere around.

Pictured here is a collection of the 4 small batch bourbons made by the company that does Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. They come in a beautiful hardwood display case that looks great on any mantle, bar or cabinet.

We also have some left of the sought-after annual releases of the small batch collection that includes the Pappy Van Winkles and George T. Stagg, among others.

And, we have a bunch of other unusual and hard-to-find but very nicely made bourbons.

5. A nice bottle of Cabernet. (Or Pinot Noir, or Chardonnay, or whatever your honey loves…)

How About A Nice Bottle of Wine?

There are lots of choices here, but giving a nice bottle of wine to someone who really appreciates wine – or just someone who enjoys a nice glass once in a while – makes for a great evening.

Whether it’s to be aged for years as a commemoration of your relationship, or enjoyed with dinner or as a nightcap, wine hits the spot.

We have tons and tons of choices for you, across all price ranges, and our team can ask you a few questions to help you decide on just the right bottle.

6. Great Cigars

Great Cigars

Our fine cigar collection is one of the best kept secrets in town. We have two large humidors that hold a broad range of cigars at exactly the right humidity until you select them.

We have cigars of all different types and price ranges, including sampler packs, gift packs, and some of the top-rated cigars in the most recent Cigar Afficionado rankings.

And, we have knowledgeable people on staff that can help you know what to choose for the person you’re giving it to.

Hope that helps you with some interesting Valentine’s Ideas. If there is something unusual and special that you’re looking for and by some chance we don’t already have it on hand, be sure to get to us by 4pm Thursday with any special orders so that we can have what you want in time for the weekend.

Cheers!

Weekend Sales & Saturday Tastings

Forecast: Snow in Indiana, Victory in Miami!

Here are some special Super Bowl weekend sales to give you a head start on your party prep:

• Domestic Beer (Bud/Miller/Coors) 18-pack bottles or cans, on sale for 12.99 (reg 14.99). And of course as always you never pay extra to get it cold at Bourbon & Canal.
• Your choice in spirits, all $4 off (18.99, reg 22.99): Admiral Nelson 1.75L, all flavors of Three Olives vodka 750ml, Absolut Citron 750 with bonus free cranberry juice.
• Pre-mixed cocktails, ready to drink: Sauza margaritas both original and strawberry, and Cruzan mojitos. 1.75L fridge-friendly box, on sale for 9.99 (reg 14.99)

And, we have some new arrivals this week:

• Ciroc coconut vodka
• Ciroc red berry vodka
• Bee Creek brewery (right here in Brazil) has a new Coffee Stout
• Two new wines from Chile that we think are great choices for the money: Yali sauvignon blanc and Ventisquero Reserve pinot noir
• And, Jim Beam Red Stag is (finally) now available in half gallons (for the big party) and pints (for on-the-go).

This Saturday’s tastings feature some of our new arrivals:

• Ventisquero Reserve pinot noir
• Sauza margaritas and Cruzan mojitos
• Bee Creek Coffee Stout

Hope you have a great and safe weekend and Super Bowl Sunday. Stop by to see us Saturday for tastings and to stock up for your party!

Cheers!

Superbowl Party Tips & Keg Specials

If you’re like us, you’ll buy into almost any excuse to throw a party. But with the Colts set to win another Super Bowl this weekend, everyone has a reason for a serious party! And of course we’re ready to help…

5 Tips for Throwing a Great Super Bowl Party….

1.  Do NOT run out of beer!

This may sound obvious, but in our experience party guests tend to consume more beer than you think they will. And because it’s a Sunday, you can’t just run out and get more. To be on the safe side, if your guests are a beer-drinking kind of crowd plan for 12 beers per person. You’ll have some left over, but better safe than sorry.  If you are getting a keg, know that one full-size keg equals 165 12oz beers, and should serve 15 to 20 people without a problem. (Read more below on our keg specials for this weekend.)

Note: Keg reservations are due by 4pm Thursday! We will have some extra kegs on hand, but to be sure you get the kind you want, we strongly suggest you pre-order. Call us at 812.232.4222.

2.  Have a nicer beer to offer, too.

While almost everyone will drink a domestic like Bud Light if that’s all you have, some people much prefer a more robust or specialty beer. Sam Adams Boston Lager can be a good default choice, but there are lots of others. You could get a half-keg of this to go alongside a full-size keg of domestic, for example. Or if you’re serving bottles or cans, get one case of the “special” beer for every 3 or 4 cases of the “basic” beer.

3.  Throw in some Spirits.

Some people would rather drink a mixed drink than beer, or may switch back and forth, whether for carbs, calories, taste reasons, or just to cut down on bathroom breaks. But keep it simple – you don’t want to be mixing special cocktails all night. The easiest way to go is to have a bottle each of whiskey, rum, vodka, and tequila, and some basic mixers like cokes, tonic, club soda and juices. Just set them out and let people mix their own.

If you want to have nicer cocktails, we suggest you choose one or two drinks that can be mixed ahead of time in pitchers then served quickly. Examples might include martinis or Cosmopolitans, or Margaritas. Also read our blog posting from last week for great ideas for Blue drinks you can serve this way.

4.  Where there’s beer, there should be wine.

This is a no-brainer if you’re expecting a number of women at the party. We’re not stereotyping here – companies have actually researched this.  More than half of women at Super Bowl parties would rather have wine than beer. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just get a moderate quality white (e.g. Chardonnay) and a red (e.g. Pinot Noir or Merlot) and have on average a bottle per person  to be sure you don’t run out of either type.

5.  Great snacks are required, of course.

We want to put in a plug here for Sally’s Kitchen…if you’ve been to any of our holiday tastings you know they make great dishes. You can order delicious snack foods for your party, and pick them up at Bourbon & Canal Saturday. Their Super Bowl menu includes cheesecakes, canapés, sausage rolls, cheeseballs, and more; call 812-239-7184 no later than Friday morning for details and to place your order.

That’s our top tips for a great Super Bowl Sunday. If you’re reserving a keg, know that we have two specials running: Busch Light at our new everyday low price of just $58, and Rogue Mayerfest is on clearance for $54, regular $175. Remember reservations are due by 4pm Thursday!

Tomorrow we’ll send you an update on everything else that’s on sale for this weekend and what our Saturday tastings will be.

Cheers!

Saturday Samplings, New Arrivals, & Special Savings

Yeah Colts! We’re thrilled to see the Colts move on to the Super Bowl as we’re sure you are too. Early next week we’ll put out an email with tips and ideas for how to throw a great Super Bowl party.

But first, for this weekend, we are sampling some tasty drinks:

The Absolut Citron Cosmo

It’s an easy cocktail to make at home, and Absolut Citron is a good vodka choice for a robust flavor. We’ll be sampling it Saturday, and if you like it we’ll give you $4.00 off a 750ml bottle of Absolut Citron.

Rojo Mojo

A Spanish red wine that’s grown in the very, very hot LaMancha region. The heat gives the grapes an intense flavor and ripeness that makes for a juicy thought not ‘sweet’ taste. At less than $10 it’s a good buy.

JW Dundee Festive Ale

This is a nice winter style beer, a rich drink with subtle flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, orange, etc.

And, if you like it we’ll be offering it at only 4.00 per six-pack (reg. $6.29) while our supply lasts.

Other recent new arrivals include:

• Shakka kiwi liqueur
• Michter’s small batch bourbon
• Svedka cherry vodka
• Svedka vanilla vodka.

That’s a quick update on the news here. Hope we get to see you this weekend, and watch for our Super Bowl party planning email early next week.

Cheers!

Cheer the Colts with Blue drinks!

Greetings! We hope your New Year is a happy one!

This weekend is an important one for the Colts, and we think everyone should be drinking something blue to show their spirit. So we have some suggestions for you, and of course the largest selection of blue drinks you’ll find anywhere around. Here’s a list of suggestions:

• UV Blue vodka
• UV Blue Lemonade (ready to drink cocktail)
• Tarantula Azul blue tequila
• Tarantula pre-mixed margaritas
• Tarantula blue margarita mix
• Blue Curacao
• Blue Maui fruit punch liqueur
• Island Blue Puckers
• Bacardi ready to drink Hurricane
• Yukon Jack Perma-Frost (shots)

Some of these are ready to drink -  just pour and serve. Others are cocktail ingredients, and our staff can help you out with easy recipes for tasty drinks to serve.

Also this weekend, we’ll have 1.75L of Admiral Nelson spiced rum on sale for 18.99 ($4.00 off), and kegs of Busch Light at our new low-low price of just 58.00.

Saturday Sampling (always free, all day long) will include:

• UV Blue vodka
• Stump Jump Australian Grenache – a juicy new wine we’ve just added to our collection.
• Mike’s Hard cocktails – ready-to-drink margaritas, etc.

Stop by Saturday for a taste and pick up your party supplies for the Colts game. See you then!

Cheers!

New Year’s Bubblies. And a Flying Pig.

We hope you are having a great Holiday Season so far!

Tomorrow being New Year’s Eve, it’s the #1 occasion of the year for sparkling wine. And, since the majority of people only drink the bubbly once a year, it’s a good time for us to give a little “Champagne 101″ refresher course. (and read on to the bottom….we have some great deals for New Year’s!)

Rule #1. Not all sparkling wines are “Champagne.” (But it doesn’t matter.)

“Champagne” is simply sparkling wine that is made in the Champagne region of France, using the methods required by their association and government.

However, there are lots of other great sparkling wines out there.  Spain’s is traditionally called Cava, and the Italians are known for Moscato d’Asti and/or Spumante. In most other parts of the world, including California, it is simply labeled “sparkling wine”.

To avoid confusion, you will often hear us call the whole category “Bubbly”.

Rule #2. Ignore the hype. It’s not that big of a deal.

The French Champagne makers have done great marketing over the years, creating an aura of prestige and luxury. This also creates a problem, though – the vast majority of people are under the impression that Bubbly is expensive, only for special occasions, and has all kinds of rules about how to open it, serve it, and drink it.

We say: Relax. Just drink the one(s) you like, whenever you want, however you want. We can help you understand all the finer points to become a connoisseur if you want, but in the meantime just enjoy it.

Rule #3. Drink what you enjoy.

The connoisseurs would have you believe that Brut is the only way to go, and the drier the better. However, we think that is limiting, and keeps a lot of people from enjoying sparkling wine more often.

Over the past few years, we have introduced lots and lots of our shoppers to the Italian style of Bubbly: Moscato (d’Asti or Spumante). It tends to be a notch or two sweeter, and has more crisp fruit flavor than dry Champagne. And, it’s a lot less expensive!

Whether you want dry, off-dry, moderately sweet, or whatever, we can help you pick the right one. We just encourage you to drink it often, and proudly.

Rule #4. Buy your Bubbly at Bourbon & Canal.

We couldn’t resist throwing that in! But seriously, we do have by far the largest selection of Bubblies in the area (55 to choose from!), and the knowledge to help you make the choice that’s best for you. Plus great prices to boot.

So…with all that in mind, here’s our featured Bubbly for New Year’s:

San Giulio Moscato d'Asti, only 9.99!

We are suggesting a Moscato d’Asti for a couple of reasons. First, most parties use a dry Champagne for the midnight toast. Problem is most people don’t actually enjoy it. So we like a Moscato because it’s a bit sweeter, and everyone can enjoy it – not just for the toast but all through the night. And, in this economy there is no reason to spend big bucks for proper French Champagne unless you’re a connoisseur. So a $10 Moscato is more affordable and just all-around better.

We’ll be sampling it all through the day on New Year’s Eve so you can taste it before you buy it.

Also for New Year’s, we’re able to repeat the crazy deal on Crown Royal Cask No. 16:

Crown Royal Cask No. 16, $40 off for New Year's Eve.

We’ve gotten some more cases of it and were able to get the low price again like we had the weekend before Christmas. It usually retails for $100, tomorrow it will be only $60 while it lasts. This would be a nice treat for a small New Year’s party.

In addition, we have a flying pig!

Full size kegs of Rogue Mayerfest (an amber lager) that are usually $175 are on sale for only $58. If you’re having a big New Year’s party, this would be a great beer to serve – plus it’s the cheapest keg you can get!

That’s all the news from here…we hope to see you tomorrow (New Year’s Eve) to pick up all your party supplies. We’ll be open til midnight!

Cheers!

PS: For those with strong livers, we’ll also be open New Year’s Day from 3-11pm.

Stocking Stuffers They’ll Love

Stocking Stuffers are supposed to be fun, tasty treats, right? Well, that sounds good to us, and we have lots of ‘em. Here are some ideas:

Share a couple drinks of something special with someone special. Johnnie Walker 200ml Gold Label ($29.99) and Blue Label (64.99)

Miniature (50ml) bottles of Patron - one each of Silver, Reposado and Anejo. $19.99.

Maker's Mark Cigars - seasoned with real bourbon. $6.99.

A sample-size bottle of the Connoisseur's Cognac, Remy Martin XO. $16.99.

Sampler pack with Glenfiddich 12 year, 15 year, and 18 year Scotch. A serious bargain at $12.99!

"The Rabbit" wine opener...makes opening a bottle of wine super-easy. A great gift for wine drinkers. $54.99.

50ml sample bottle of Chambord. Add a splash to a glass of Champagne for a tasty treat. $3.99.

How about a individual-size bottle of something sassy and tasty for New Year's? (or anytime) $3.99.

10 Last-Minute Gifts – something for everyone.

It’s down to the wire…!

In our experience, the hard-to-buy-for people on your list are the ones you haven’t found anything for yet. And we would suggest that *everyone* likes a nice bottle of something to drink as a gift. So, Bourbon & Canal is your ideal last-minute shopping destination — get it all done in one shot.

This morning we pretended we were you and went around the store snapping pictures of some ideas. Even if these specific ones don’t work, we do have something for everyone. Take a look….

1. Jim Beam Black on tap:

Jim Beam Black on Tap (1.75L $49.99)

Jim Beam Black half gallon goes inside the barrel, and the tap screws onto the top of the bottles so you can serve your bourbon straight from the barrel tap. Comes with everything you see and instructions. Pretty cool.

2. Home Whiskey-Making Kit:

Home Whiskey-Making Kit ($99.99)

Comes with two 750ml bottles of “white dog”, the high-proof spirit you pour into your whiskey barrel then let it age however long you want.

3. A box of cigars, or an assortment of cigars:

Choose a box of cigars, a custom assortment, or a cigar gift pack.

4. Personalized Wine Gift Basket

Personalized Gift Baskets with any wines you choose.

5. Rare Whiskey

Canadian Club 30 Year - a one-time collectible bottling. Reg. $200, now $75 off this week only.

We have by far the largest assortment of rare whiskies and scotches in the area, on hand for your last-minute solution. Many come in beautiful boxes, leather carriers, etc.

6. Traditional Holiday Gift Packs

We still have a wide variety (50+) of holiday Gift Packs in stock. We can even wrap it for you!

7. Riedel crystal wine glasses:

For anyone who loves wine, you can’t go wrong here….

Riedel crystal wine glasses are handmade with a unique shape for each type of wine. The choice of wine connoisseurs worldwide, in a variety of price points.

8. Whiskey Sampler Packs:

We have several different whiskey and scotch sampler packs like this one.  They make great gifts for anyone – whether they know much about whiskey or not, everyone enjoys a little adventure….

Sampler bottles of whiskies from 5 different countries around the world. Only $14.99.

9. Dom Perignon:

Nothing says “classy” like a bottle of Dom. Regarded around the world as the gold standard of Champagne, everyone will be impressed with a gift of Dom. We have the 2000 vintage box set, which includes crystal flutes to enjoy it from.

2000 Vintage box set, Dom Perignon plus crystal flutes. $132.

10. Small Batch Bourbon Collection

This makes an elegant addition to any home bar or a great fireplace mantle display.

Small Batch Bourbon Collection: Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Booker's, Baker's. In an elegant dark wood display case. $210.

And of course we’re open late this week – til 11pm Mon-Wed, and at least til 8pm Christmas Eve. Look forward to seeing you!

Cheers!