John DeKuyper & Sons – Crave

If you are looking for that perfect gift for the holidays or just want to create an exceptional party for your guests, Beam Inc. is launching John DeKuyper & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Liqueurs featuring three tempting flavors – Chocolate Cherry, Chocolate Mint and Chocolate Chili.

With a suggested retail price of $17.99 per 750 mL bottle, this premium line of chocolate liqueurs offers a delectable and enjoyable experience just in time for the upcoming fall and holiday season.

DeKuyper is the #1-selling line of domestic cordials showcasing nearly 60 mixable and versatile flavors of cordials, liqueurs, crèmes, brandies and schnapps.  DeKuyper was founded in Holland in 1695 by Johannes DeKuyper & Son and for more than 300 years has been the brand to turn to for refreshing and unique liqueurs.

The Fuzzy Navel was inspired and created by DeKuyper® Peachtree® Schnapps in the mid-80’s and  DeKuyper® Pucker® Sour Apple Schnapps inspired the creation of the Appletini in the mid-90’s.

JDK & Sons™ Crave balances chocolate with natural flavors fulfilling your desire for the enchanting taste of chocolate and pairing it with three distinct flavors to create a mouthwatering liquer.

• Crave Chocolate Cherry Liqueur delivers a smooth, rich tasting experience similar to that of the classic cherry cordial. The taste of sweet cherries takes center stage and is complimented by hints of cocoa. It leaves a sweet finish on the palate with notes of fruit, vanilla and bittersweet chocolate.
• Crave Chocolate Mint Liqueur is ideal for peppermint lovers. The experience begins with the tastes of sweet chocolate and vanilla, which gradually introduces peppermint to the palate and finishes with an intriguing and pleasant cooling effect.
• Crave Chocolate Chili Liqueur offers a delicious and surprising twist with its hint of heat. The sweet flavor of milk chocolate, which is enhanced with notes of vanilla and caramel, slowly gives way to the tingly warmth of chili peppers and offers the perfect balance of sweetness with a subtle kick.

“Launching just in time for the holiday entertaining season, JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Liqueurs provide chocolate lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike with a new way to delight their senses during one of the most indulgent times of the year,” said Gary Ross, Director of Cordials and Rums for Beam Inc. “Whether treating yourself to a decadent cocktail or looking to create a memorable experience at your next holiday party, each distinctive flavor delivers the rich taste of chocolate paired with a unique flavor for an enticing way to satisfy your cravings.”

JDK & Sons™ Crave is by the same token superb when served over ice or as a distinct addition to any cocktail.  Several cocktail recipes are listed below.  Additional recipes and information can be found at http://www.dekuyperusa.com/crave.

Crave Cherry Macaroon Martini

1 part JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Cherry Liqueur

1 part Cruzan® Coconut Rum

Splash of Soda

Method: Shake all ingredients (except soda) with ice. Strain into a martini glass and top with a splash of soda. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.

Crave Luscious Mint Russian

1 part JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Mint Liqueur

1 part EFFEN® Vodka

Splash of Milk

Method: Build ingredients over ice in an old fashioned glass. Add a splash of milk to make it even more luscious.

Crave Grown-Up Chili Hot Chocolate

2-3 parts JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Chili Liqueur

Hot Chocolate

Method: Pour Liqueur in a warmed coffee mug and add hot chocolate to taste.  Top with whipped cream.

Beam is proud to be one of the world’s leading first-rate spirits companies, and focuses on delivering high-class performance with its matchless combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth.

To learn more about all their products by visiting: www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com

Get pampered with one-of-a-kind vinotherapy treatments at the SOMMA Wine Spa, located at the luxurious Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos.

It’s the perfect combination of natural healing and the truly rejuvenating power of grapes from Baja California’s up-and-coming wine country – the Valle de Guadalupe.

The 249-room Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort offers guests a luxurious getaway featuring panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez. The luxurious accommodations provide oceanfront views and for golf lovers, you get exclusive access to the Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean and Cabo del Sol Desert golf courses.

Guests at Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos can experience a relaxing vinotherapy treatment using wine-infused products and post-massage wine pairings to relax and unwind from our busy lives.

SOMMA Wine Spa cleverly infuses wine into all aspects of its spa treatment and massage therapy, from soothing merlot and chardonnay creams to a post-massage wine pairing.

SOMMA is proud to be the first spa in Mexico to introduce this unique concept of vinotherapy, by utilizing the healing and rejuvenating power of wine. Research on the grape has found excellent exfoliating properties and powerful antioxidants within its skin, seven times richer in phenols than vitamin E, which
forms the basis for the development of the chardonnay and merlot amenity lines of spa treatment products.

Wine Spa coordinator Francisco Gutierrez was quotes, “Wine is a symbol of celebration and we want our spa concept to speak to that same idea.”

The SOMMA Wine Spa’s vinotherapy treatments were created to seamlessly integrates both the health and celebratory traits of wine. The result is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos

Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos resort’s signature spa specializes in a relaxing mind & body spa experience. Each treatment cleverly pairs a glass of wine not only for its antioxidants, but for the wine’s ability to produce feelings of both relaxation and youthfulness.

For an authentic experience, SOMMA Wine Spa employs a select group of sommeliers to assist guests in selecting the best treatment for their skin needs and therapy preferences. As an extension of their treatment, the spa provides private pairing sessions for its patrons that offer special selections from the resort’s expansive wine list matched along with a variety of delicious gourmet appetizers.

For additional information or booking a reservation at Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos in Mexico or experiencing a vinotherapy treatment at SOMMA Wine Spa, please contact us at:

As cooler weather begins to set in with the arrival of autumn, there’s nothing better than a sip from a hot cup of tea.

Have you ever thought of hosting your own tea party? It’s a great reason to gather with friends and family and enjoy the great taste of tea.

Dawn Bryan who is the founder of The Qualipedia (www.qualipedia.com), has put together top tips for a terrific tea party. Make your tea party a wonderful and memorable event!

TEA PARTY THEMES:
There are a variety of ways to throw a tea party. You could go the classic English tea party route, or you could throw all the rules out the window and host a memorable tea party, which does not have to adhere to any of the traditional rules and leaves a lasting impression on your guests. Non-traditional tea soirées can be anything you choose: formal, informal, for a few guests or a hundred. Consider a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with hat decorating elements, or a fall hat exchange, or chill out with guests and have a yoga instruction followed by a traditional Zen tea ceremony.

TEA TIPS:
· Choose from many different teas including white, green, herbal, Darjeeling, and oolong among them
· Check instructions for selected tea, as teas vary in their brewing time
· Start all teas with cold fresh water
· Place 2 or 3 tea bags into pot of hot water to steep
· Cover the pot or cup while tea is steeping
· Remove loose leaf tea leaves immediately after steeping or if using tea bags squeezing the tea bag after putting it directly into a cup is a no-no, allow it to drip briefly into cup while removing.

TEA BITES:
Most tea foods are bite-size fingers foods. However, you can update the three course tradition with your favorite mini foods. Consider a gorgeous spread of nuts and dried fruits, kabobs, cheese plates, filo puffs or yummy Spanish tapas instead of the traditional small sandwiches and scones.

CONDIMENTS:
Many tea drinkers prefer their tea served plain; however, you should have sugar and other sweeteners, various milks and lemons available for your guests. Tip: Milk goes best with black teas and traditional English teas, and lemon with Chinese.

So amaze your friends and family by hosting a fun tea party. Make it one of the more enjoyable parties of the season with delicious recipes and great tasting tea!

Craggy Range

It’s easy to understand why a great tasting Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand would get all the attention from wine lovers. But please don’t forget about the “other” white wine – Chardonnay.

Wine season is well underway even thought temperatures are retreating from the summer highs.

Craggy Range Kidnappers Chardonnay 2010 from New Zealand is a delicious tasting wine. This new white wine offers a more Chablis like expression.

New Zealand’s shallow, warm clay loam soils allows the development of very pure, cool Chardonnay flavors
in brand’s grapes. This white wine features aromas of ripe, zesty citrus fruits, in addition to a slight taste of banana.

It’s juicy zesty core and the acidity and freshness comes from its coastal location in New Zealand.

Craggy Range Kidnappers Vineyard Hawke’s Bay 2010 has a suggested retail price of only $21.99

Liebherr

Germany-based Liebherr Corporation is the worldwide leader in luxury refrigeration. The refrigeration company just launched a new wine storage cabinet – the latest model in Vinidor Line of wine units.

The refrigeration company is well respected and known for its innovation and characterized by sophisticated and elegant design.

The new WS 17800 by Liebherr is a three-zone freestanding wine cabinet that will hold 178 wine bottles.

The WS 17800 wine rack is targeted at wine drinkers of all levels. It features a stunning stainless steel surround and elegant design detail allows it be a perfect fit in any dining or recreation room.

The new Liebherr freestanding wine cabinet is perfect for the wine connoisseur who may not have enough space in their home for a cellar. The cabinet’s third temperature zone produces the perfect beverage storage temperature of 55º F plus a drinking temperature for white wines (41º F) and red wines (64º F).

Each of the three temperature zones can be adjusted separately from the other zones to adhere to the owners’ specific preferences.

Additional major features by Liebherr ensures successful wine maturity, such as:
• Constant, high air-quality, with re-circulated cooling and fresh air supplied through an activated charcoal filter
• Exact digital temperature controls in each of the three zones
• Wooden pull-out shelves on smooth telescopic rails that make selecting a bottle convenient
• Digital ventilation control to precisely maintain desired humidity between 50% and 80%
• Quiet storage, due to specially developed vibration-free compressors that keep bottles still
• Energy efficient LED lighting for an attractive display without adding any heat or UV light into the storage cabinet

Learn more about the WS 17800 wine cabinet by visiting www.liebherr-appliances.com. It will also be available at fine and specialty appliance retailers across the U.S. and Canada beginning November 2012 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $4,899 USD.

The incredible Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris was built in 1928. This luxury hotel is the only Parisian Palace to offer such an incredible wine cellar.

This beautiful wine cellar has a long history, dating back to World War II. To protect its bottle collection, the wine cellar was walled up from being accessed by the enemy.

The historic wine cellar named La Cave is used on special occasions and events for hotel guests.

To view a video of the La Cave wine cellar at the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris …..

You’ve all heard of the mile-high club, well now for something a little more sophisticated – try a dinner party in the clouds.

The G.H. Mumm hot air-balloon will soar above the stunning grounds of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England. Two lucky foodies will able to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.

G.H. Mumm is sponsoring a contest for two people to have a fine dining experience like no other. The G.H. Mumm hot air-balloon will be piloted by David Hempleman-Adams and tethered high above the luxury Royal Crescent.

It’s the ultimate dinner in the sky. The dinner party includes a three course champagne paired meal, provided by talented chef, Adam Byatt.

Don’t miss a chance like this. To enter, purchase a bottle of G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge in selected Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stores in England. You can also visit mummgastronomy.co.uk for additional contest details.

Cruzan Rum

August 16th is designated as National Rum Day. Rum has long been a popular alcohol for mixing party cocktails.

The historic Cruzan Rum Distillery is located in the heart of St. Croix on the U.S. Virgin Islands. For many decades, Cruzan Rum has been internationally recognized as one of the world’s great rums.

To celebrate National Rum Day, Jesse Card is a Cruzan mixologist from the island of St. Croix. Jesse has recipes of three delicious rum cocktails using great tasting Cruzan Rum.

The Cruzan rum tribe embodies the phrase “Don’t Hurry.” So try these great tasting rum cocktails and enjoy life.

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CRUZAN® “DON’T HURRY” CANE
Ingredients:
1 part Cruzan® Vanilla Rum
2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
1 tsp Sugar
3 Lime Wedges

Method: Combine 2 of the lime wedges, sugar & Cruzan Vanilla Rum in a tumbler and lightly muddle for ten seconds. Add Cruzan Aged Light Rum and a scoop of ice and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled Hurricane glass and garnish with the final lime wedge.

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CRUZAN® TAKE 9
Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Cruzan® 9 Spiced Rum
3/4 part Dry Vermouth
1/4 part Curacao
1/2 tsp Grenadine
Orange Twist

Method: Combine all ingredients over ice in a tumbler and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.

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CRUZAN® COCONUT OLD FASHIONED
Ingredients:
2 parts Cruzan® Single Barrel Rum
1/2 part Rich Simple Syrup
3 dashes of Bitters
Coconut Water Ice Cubes (see additional recipe below)

Method: Cut a wide swath of orange peel and lightly press it in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add rum, syrup and bitters. Now drop in a few Coconut Water Ice Cubes and stir gently.
Coconut Water Ice Cubes Recipe: Pour a can of Coconut Water (strain the pulp out first, if needed) in an ice cube tray – the bigger the cube try the better – and freeze for several hours.

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Odette Estate

A new winery has opened in the beautiful Napa Valley of California. The new addition is Stag’s Leap winery, Odette Estate.

Odette Estate is located on the former Steltzner Vineyards property in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District.

Opening this month is a redesigned tasting room at Odette Estate. The tasting room is planned to feature PlumpJack and CADE wines in addition to a new line named Adaptation. The Odette Estate tasting room will offer a selection of wines focusing on the Napa Valley appellation.

Additional information about Odette Estate in Napa:

* Owned by PlumpJack Group partners Gordon Getty, Gavin Newsom, and John Conover, Odette Estate is a new winery in Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap District

* The re-designed Odette tasting room will be open daily from 10am – 4pm

* The winery’s name Odette was chosen for its representation of femininity, strength and power, all of which characterize the wines of Stag’s Leap District. Odette has also been a pivotal character, not only in the literary works such as those penned by Shakespeare and Proust, but also in Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake. In the wine world, Odette was the name of one of the French judges of the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 in which a red wine from Stags Leap District beat out the French competition to take top honors.

* The property, built on the celebrated former Stelzner Vineyards estate, includes a historic 36‐acre vineyard and a 5,000-square‐foot winery with 18,000 square feet of caves (one of the first modern caves built in Napa Valley)

* The new winery will be designed by renowned young Hispanic architect Juancarlos Fernandez, who designed CADE Winery

* The vineyards are being re-planted and are currently undergoing conversion to 100 percent organic farming (in accordance with the PlumpJack Group’s continued commitment to organic viticulture)

* The new winery will be LEED certified

* Jeff Owens, who has been with the PlumpJack Group since 2006, working as assistant winemaker at CADE, will serve as winemaker for Odette Estate

* Construction of the new winery will be completed in 2013

* 2011 will mark the first vintage of Odette Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and will be released in 2013. The winery’s Adaptation line of wines will be available in the tasting room at Odette Estate, in addition to CADE wines.

Odette Estate can be found at 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa, California 94558. Reach Odette Estate by calling (707) 224-7533.

A common question for foodies is how to pair wine with food? The old adage that white wine pairs well with fish while red wine works with meat, serves as good advice to begin.

Wine expert Brandon Walsh is the president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting and offers the following wine tips:

– Try to match the weights of the wine with the food being served.
– Wines should always be served at their optimal serving temperatures, as well.

Try these suggested wine and food pairings for a great tasting meal:

– Lighter-bodied white wines include reisling and pinot grigio.
– Medium-bodied wines include sauvignon blanc while chardonnay is a fuller, heavier-bodied wine.
– Lighter-bodied wines go well with salads, as well as light fish, such as sushi.
– Medium-bodied wines works well with light and flakey fish as well as poultry.
– Heavier-bodied whites, such as chardonnay, pair very well with salmon or swordfish.

Perrier Jouet – Makoto Azuma Shiinoki Shunsuke

Perrier-Jouët is a very exclusive House of Champagne and has been crafting fine wine since 1811. Earlier this month, Perrier-Jouët unveiled “Belle Epoque Florale Edition by Makoto Azuma” in Japan.

The international unveiling of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Florale Edition by Makoto Azuma is a major event since it’s the first designed Limited Edition of cuvee Belle Epoque, since the creation of its iconic anemones by Emile Gallé in 1902.

Originally inspired by Japanese art culture, the design has become the iconic image of Perrier-Jouët artistic heritage through its prestige cuvee.

Makoto Azuma is a renowned floral Japanese artist created a unique combined artwork, by combining a single delicate botanical arabesque dotted with white Japanese anemones. The Japanese anemones recall the original 1902 design, further expressed with a handcrafted motif of golden flowers on the bottle of Belle Epoque 2004.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Florale Edition will be available only in very limited quantities worldwide from September onwards. They can be found only in the most exclusive outlets in Perrier-Jouët main distribution markets at an average suggested retail price of 300 euros.