July 30 – Paletas frozen treats

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Guy

My first geust is Fany Gerson with her new book “Paletas – Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & aguas Frescas.”  I knew it would no doubt still be HOT, but never thought it would be this hot!  This book has some great recipes for frozen treats to beat the heat, join us and get a copy this Saturday.

From the pure, radiant flavors of classic Blackberry and Spicy Pineapple to unexpectedly enchanting combinations such as Sour Cream, Cherry and Tequila, or Strawberry-Horchata, Paletas is an engaging and delicious guide to Mexico’s traditional—and some not-so-traditional—frozen treats.  Collected and developed by celebrated pastry chef Fany Gerson, this sweet little cookbook showcases her favorite recipes for paletas, those flavor-packed ice pops made from an enormous variety of fruits, nuts, flowers, and even spices; plus shaved ice (raspados) and aguas frescas—the delightful Mexican drinks featuring whole fruit and exotic ingredients like tamarind and hibiscus flowers.

Whether you’re drawn to a simple burst of fresh fruit—as in the Coconut, Watermelon, or Cantaloupe pops—or prefer adventurous flavors like Mezcal-Orange, Mexican Chocolate, Hibiscus-Raspberry, or Lime Pie, Paletas is an inviting, refreshing guide guaranteed to help you beat the heat.  Learn more about Fany and order your copy today!

In the second half I’ll be talking to Kevin Egan, Brand Manager for Blue Ice Vodka about this stellar product and what you can do with it to beat the heat of summer!  www.blueicevodka.com

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2010 First Drop “The White One” – A fun wine for summer!

84% Arneis, 16% Chardonnay
The 2010, just released, is fruit salad in a bottle with a pale yellow color and a soft pretty bouquet. The winemakers at First Drop are passionate about their wine and strive to make every sip memorable from the first drop to the last.

“First Drop is about passion….for life, fun and flavor!…a lifelong commitment to making kick arse booze….wines with flavor and texture, and a splash of funk….eclectic varieties from unique vineyards in the great regions of the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale….wines to drink, not just appreciate.”

Getchasum at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road  🙂

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July 23 – Leopold Brothers Distillery

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Guy

This week it’s all about Whiskey from Denver Colorado with Scott Leopold from Leopold Brothers Distillery – www.leopoldbros.com

Leopold Bros. is a family owned and operated small batch distillery located in Denver, Colorado.

Todd Leopold got his start in distilling after he received his Diploma in Malting and Brewing from the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1996. After graduation, he trained at the Doemens School in Munich, focusing on the production of lager beers. He then apprenticed at several breweries and distilleries throughout Germany.

Scott Leopold began his career in manufacturing after receiving a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He spent the early part of his career engineering environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes for Fortune 500 companies, as well as designing wastewater treatment systems for both industry and municipalities.

Together, the Leopold Brothers designed and developed a unique distillery in which environmental sustainability is a daily practice, and the art and science of fermentation and distillation is practiced at the highest possible level.

These guys are making some great products; Small Batch Gin, Silver Tree Vodka, Fruit Whiskey, all kinds of super quality cordials with the finest fruit and a new American Absinthe Verte.  The products are new here in Kansas and if you don’t find them on the shelf ask your retailer to stock them!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2009 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
The 2009 vintage of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with an intriguing interplay of lively citrus and subtle toasted oak, laced with just a kiss of butterscotch. The palate is round and nutty, with flavors of yellow apple and orange adding lushness, while well-balanced acidity creates a lovely vibrancy. Hints of vanilla and caramel add richness and texture to a long, fresh finish.  www.lacrema.com

“Rich and unctuous, with a viscous, glyceriney texture holding deep, opulent flavors of pineapples, lime custard, clover, honey, Mandarin orange and cinnamon spice. Lees treatment brings a creamy, slightly sourdough tang. Good price for a Chardonnay of this quality.”  93 Points Wine Enthusiast

Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange today and beat the heat with this killer chardonnay!  🙂

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July 16 – WTSO & Great Vodka

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Guy

Like Wine?  Have you heard of Wines Till Sold Out or WTSO?  You need to!  Tune in this Saturday, I’ll be talking to WTSO CEO Joe Arking and we will tell you everything you need to know about this nifty wine buying web site.  It’s easy, it’s fun, there are some great deals and they ship to Kansas.

WTSO.com is an online store that focuses on selling wine at 30%-70% off store and internet site prices. It started as an in-store department of the parent company that will remain nameless so we can continue to get these great wines at ridiculous prices and pass them on to you!  One wine at a time, Fine Wines, Great Prices…

www.winestillsoldout.com

In the second half I’ll be talking to Kevin Egan, Brand Manager for Blue Ice Vodka about this stellar product and what you can do with it to beat the heat of summer!  www.blueicevodka.com

21st Century Spirits started its first offering with the creation  of Blue Ice Vodka, America’s finest potato vodka from–Idaho–home to the luscious Russet Burbank Potato. Idaho is the  true birthplace of Blue Ice Vodka; it is where the people  behind the brand come from and live, where the natural  ingredients are sourced and where the product is made.

Since then, 21st Century Spirits mission has been to create  a family of spirits that are carefully selected to represent the  best offering available in its category. Bolstering a consistent  stream of innovative products such as Blue Ice Organic  Wheat vodka, 21st Century Spirits is sure to continue as one  of America’s premier spirits providers for centuries to come.

Also talking to Kevin Egan from Make-A-Wish about a cool event on Saturday July 30th from 6-9p.m. at Grace Hill Winery.  www.gracehillwinery.com/uncorkawish

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2009 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay  www.napacellars.com

The fruit for our 2009 Napa Cellars Chardonnay was sourced from select vineyards in prime Chardonnay locations including South Napa, Oakville and Atlas Peak. The cool weather influences in the southern part of the valley enabled an extended growing season resulting in wonderful bright fruit flavors and crisp acidity while the milder climate of Oakville allowed the fruit to develop rich, ripe, classic Chardonnay characteristics.  Tantalizing aromas of vanilla, white peach and shortbread integrate seamlessly into luscious flavors of crème brulèe, pear cobbler and toasted marshmallow. This creamy Chardonnay is soft up-front while nuances of green apple and lemon custard linger on the balanced finish.

Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and join us…

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July 9 – Four Roses: The Return of a Whiskey Legend

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Guy

My guest is Four Roses Brand Ambassador Al Young, we’ll be talking about “Four Roses: The Return of a Whiskey Legend.”

As with the story of just about any American icon, the legendary story of the highly acclaimed, award-winning Four Roses brand is filled with folklore and adventure, family feuds and romance, with a cast of colorful characters any fiction writer would die for. A father and son enamored of the Southern cause during the American Civil War; another son, a Confederate Colonel, who dies defending Atlanta; and his sons who would successfully turn the family business into one of the last family-owned whiskey brands in the United States; a whiskey magnate from Canada who would alter the brand’s composition within the United States and drive it to be a “bottom shelf” brand; and, finally, a passionate and determined master distiller who would never give in until Four Roses regained the prominence it once had with the American public.

Historian and Four Roses brand ambassador Al Young puts his storytelling talents to good use in this masterfully told history of what was once the most popular and best-selling bourbon in America, a brand so revered that it took its rightful place at the top of Times Square in New York, along with other beloved brands such as Coke and General Electric.

It is a story of this international brand’s humble beginnings, and perhaps the startling truth behind how the brand actually got its name — contrary to legend; how the label was almost driven out of existence in the United States just a few decades ago; and how it rose from the ashes to its current place and stature in the world, which includes such countries as Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and, of course, once again the United States.

If the Four Roses story is familiar to you, you will find this book a fascinating and long overdue journey with a trusted old friend. But if this is your first taste of the brand and its history, you might want to pour yourself a sip or two, relax and get ready to savor every moment.

Join us as we taste and talk about some of the great Blourbons from Four Roses, including the Yellow Label available at Jocob Liquor Exchange.

 

 

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July 2 – Homemade Ice Cream, Starmont Chardonnay

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Guy

So, today is my birthday!  With that in mind, we are going to talk about one of my favorite major food groups…ICE CREAM

My guest is Jeni Britton Bauer with her new book “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home – More than 100 Addictively good artisanal Recipes.”
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home is the essential resource for making smooth, scoopable ice creams, yogurts, and sorbets in your own kitchen. The cookbook includes more than 100 of Jeni’s signature recipes — from Salty Caramel to Queen City Cayenne — along with color photographs and helpful tips on ingredients and techniques. Jeni tested every recipe in the book with a Cuisinart ice cream maker to ensure that they are foolproof for the average cook and home kitchen.

Check out www.jenisicecreams.com Click here to get a copy!

ABOUT JENI BRITTON BAUER

Jeni Britton Bauer and her husband, Charly Bauer, founded Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in 2002. There are currently seven stores in Columbus, Ohio, and one scheduled to open in Cleveland in 2011. The ice cream is also available in fine restaurants and stores throughout the country, and via mail order. Devotees who scan Jeni’s Web site, blog, Facebook, and Twitter feed daily cause a veritable run on new flavors. Jeni and her ice cream have been featured in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Departures, and The Atlantic, among others.

Starmont winemaker Sean Foster joins us in the second half to talk about the winery, vineyards and the stunning 2009 Starmont Chardonnay…this week’s featured wine.  Pick up a bottle at Jacob liquor Exchange and join us for a live tasting with the winemaker 🙂

 

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week:
2009 Starmont Chardonnay
The fruit for Starmont Chardonnay is grown in our favorite cooler areas of the Napa Valley, including Oak Knoll District and Carneros, where the maritime influence keeps the focus on crisp, vibrant fruit. The fruit was carefully sorted and whole cluster pressed to preserve freshness. The light oak treatment gives a round mouth feel and improved complexity, while highlighting the fruit driven focus of the wine.  The wine shows intense aromas of mandarin orange, fresh pear, melon, apple butter, spice and honey. The mouthfeel is soft, round and fleshy with a long layered finish.

BEST NEW WORLD CHARDONNAY / BEST OF VARIETAL / BEST OF CLASS / PLATINUM MEDAL – Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition 2011

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