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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $87.78 $92.40
This Bourbon shows a fantastically complex bouquet combining traditional notes of peanut candy, sweet apple, and...
12 FREE
UBC
95
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $87.78 $92.40
The caramel color sets the stage for notes of slight sweetness akin to toffee, brown sugar, candied nuts and dried...
12 FREE
UBC
93
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $87.78 $92.40
This is a dense, bold whiskey at high proof with bombastic aromas of vanilla custard, grilled pear, smoked paprika,...
12 FREE
UBC
91
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $29.64 $31.99
Alluring aromas of dark-skinned berry, exotic spice and an earthy note of tilled soil come together in the glass. The...
WE
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $87.99
6 bottles: $86.23
Like all great wines, Barbera too has its own crus. In certain areas and vineyards where it reaches the highest of...
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $46.63 $49.08
6 bottles: $45.52
This delicious spirit combines award-winning Beacon Bourbon and organic cold brew Sumatran roast coffee from Trax...
12 FREE
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.89 $21.60
The nose develops an intensity of violet and wild berries aromas. The mousse is fair and creamy, with a dry yet full...
Case only
Spirits
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $37.11
Pleasantly saccharine on the nose, promising flavors of caramel, toffee, and hazelnut. Follows through on the palate...
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $33.95 $35.74
6 bottles: $28.88
Soft, buttery aromas open up this classic wheated whiskey, with undertones of red apple skin, cherry blossom, and...
UBC
95
WE
94
Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $89.94
This extension to the Bernheim brand means you can now enjoy a premium Wheat Whiskey at full barrel proof. Like the...
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Sake/Fruit Wine
1.8Ltr
Bottle: $71.25 $75.00
A sake of remarkable clarity, with a soft approach, light, spritzy citrus finish. Typically drier and lighter than...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
720ml
Bottle: $35.34 $37.20
A sake of remarkable clarity, with a soft approach, light, spritzy citrus finish. Typically drier and lighter than...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
720ml
Bottle: $75.24 $79.20
A sake of remarkable clarity, with a soft approach, light, spritzy citrus finish. Typically drier and lighter than...
12 FREE
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
720ml
Bottle: $23.94 $25.20
Chalky texture, notes of muscat grapes and tart, underripe melon. Very dry, lip smacking finish. Suggested Food...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
1.8Ltr
Bottle: $41.61 $43.80
6 bottles: $40.80
Defined and precise, the Bijofu Junmai is a sake with zip, spice and drinkability. Not a heavy or earthy Junmai, this...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
300ml
Bottle: $11.40 $12.00
Defined and precise, the Bijofu Junmai is a sake with zip, spice and drinkability. Not a heavy or earthy Junmai, this...
Sake/Fruit Wine
720ml
Bottle: $18.00
12 bottles: $17.10
Defined and precise, the Bijofu Junmai is a sake with zip, spice and drinkability. Not a heavy or earthy Junmai, this...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
500ml
Bottle: $15.44 $16.25
“Schwa!” is the sound of bubbles or fizz in Japanese, and Bijofu’s sparkling sake shares all the clarity and...
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $20.52 $21.60
6 bottles: $20.40
Color: Golden Amber. Nose: Ripe, fresh apples. Body: Succulent apple flavors combine for a savory, smooth experience....
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $20.52 $21.60
6 bottles: $20.40
Color: Golden-Reddish Amber. Nose: Delightful, dark fruit. Body: Traditional caramel and vanilla notes combine with...

American Whiskey Barbera Lambrusco Sake

The United States of America is a country of great cultural diversity, influenced by migrating nations from across the world. As such, its whiskey industry is a fascinating and complex one, which represents the range of regional differences found there.

The Irish were the original pioneers of American whiskey, and when they emigrated in their thousands from the old country, they brought their skills, knowledge and distillation techniques with them, to give them something to remind each other of home in the New World. This is why American whiskey goes by the Irish spelling, with the additional ‘e’, and why many traditional American whiskies closely resemble the original Irish style.

Today, there are several different types of American whiskey, and the styles and production techniques are now set out in US federal law, cementing a set of characteristics and production methods to preserve and protect the industry.

Corn whiskey, which is made from a minimum 80% corn in the mash and aged for a short period, is probably the most historic of the American whiskey styles, but others like rye whiskey, which is made from a minimum of 51% rye and aged in charred barrels, are growing in popularity among a new generation of drinkers looking for something unique, interesting and independently produced. Alongside these styles, we find Tennessee whiskey, which uses maple charcoal for sweeter notes, the softer wheat whiskies, the world-dominating Bourbon whiskies, and others which are peculiar to specific states and regions.

For centuries now, the beautiful red grapes of the Barbera varietal have been grown in Italy, where they are prized for their unusual high acid content and low tannins, brought about by their thin skins. The Barbera grape varietal thrives in warmer climates, and has had some success overseas in the new world, where its strongly aromatic flavors of intense hedgerow fruits make it a favorite with wineries and wine drinkers looking for a grape which offers plenty of interesting characteristics. Interestingly, the differences between young and aged wines made from this varietal are quite significant, with younger bottles holding a plethora of berry flavors, including blueberry and raspberry notes, and oak aged wines made from the Barbera grape being much loved for their ability to become extremely complex and spicy, and picking up vanilla flavors from the wood they are barreled in.

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.