Yup, it’s mid-winter, and there is yet another snowstorm on its way! Are you excited or dreading yet another driveway to shovel?  We have mixed feelings but can say our February cocktail of the month is sure to help you beat those mid-winter blues. It’s refreshing, tangy, and reminds us of warmer weather.  Give it a try – you’ll love it!

Recipe:

  • 3 ounces of premium vodka
  • 1-ounce fresh grapefruit juice
  • 1-ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1-ounce of lemonade
  • Bitters
  • Rosemary for garnish

Make:

  • Pour vodka, lemonade, grapefruit juice, and lime juice over ice
  • Add bitters – we did about 3 dashes
  • Mix and top with rosemary

We find winter is a lot more fun if you have an outdoor activity you love and a good cocktail in hand!  We hope this easy-to-make and delicious cocktail brings you a happy moment.

Stay safe out there!

Thanks for reading along, Your friends at Mystic Wine Shoppe

 The snow is falling, the fire is roaring and you’ve got a delicious vanilla espresso in hand! Yup, it’s winter in New England and the only way to get through it, is well, with fancy cocktails of course.

The first thing you need for a good vanilla espresso martini is all the ingredients (and good music doesn’t hurt either).

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce of Deliciously Light Bailey’s (All the deliciousness of Baileys, with 40% fewer calories and 40% less sugar than Baileys Original Irish Cream.)
  • 1.5 ounces of Kahlúa
  • 1 ounce of Coffee Liquor
  • 1.5 ounces of Stoli Vanilla Vodka

Make:

  • Shake together in a shaker with ice
  • Strain into a fancy martini glass
  • Option to add foamed milk

 

This is a tasty blend with delicious hints of vanilla and coffee… it’s a sure crowd-pleaser!

Let us know how you like your espresso martini?

One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic is that because people are working from home, animal shelters around the country are reporting record numbers of adoptions. I was lucky to find a “pandemic pup” of my own at Shultz’s Guest House in Dedham. A mix of terrier, hound, and adorableness, I named him “Bernie” and in the two months that I’ve had him, he’s mastered housetraining, sleeping through the night, and a few basic commands.
I figured we were ready to be houseguests.


My friend Beate, owns a farmhouse in New Hampshire with plenty of space to social distance, lots of land, open fields, and room to run. It’s a puppy paradise. So, Bernie and I hit the road. We packed a box of dog biscuits (also, puppy chow, his bed, chew toys, leash, and harness and poop bags) as well as a big pot of black bean soup (recipe below) and a couple of bottles of Mulderbosch Faithful Hound red wine. It’s a blend— kind of like Bernie.


As soon as we hit Route 101 North, the landscape changed from brown to white. An hour later, Bernie was romping in the snowy field burning off his abundant puppy energy and I was heating up soup and uncorking a bottle of wine.

Mulderbosh’s Faithful Hound 2015, is from Stellenbosch, the most famous wine-producing area in South Africa. The region is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which are used to create Bordeaux blends, like the bottle I was pouring.


The wine is a beautiful color—swirl it in the glass and it’s dark ruby red. Take a sniff and it bears a hint of vanilla, cedar, and berry. Sip it and you’ll taste the earthy, fruity deliciousness that paired beautifully with the smoky citrus of the black bean soup.

We ate, we drank, we played with the puppy and then we looked out the window. The snow was coming down at a furious clip. It was clear that Bernie and I had to spend the night. And the next night, too. Fortunately, I had brought plenty of kibbles and an extra bottle of Faithful Hound.

The next day, we hiked through the woods, we played board games and at night, we ate more soup and drank the second bottle of wine. In the morning, I watched the snowplow clear the dirt road and knew it was time to pack up and, like a good dog, go home.

SNOWED-IN SOUP
4 cups dried black beans – rinsed
1 large ham hock (optional)
2 Tsp. olive oil
1 sweet onion chopped
3 garlic cloves smashed and minced
4 carrots sliced into half coins
4 cups (approx.) Chicken stock or water or a combination of both
I cup chopped tomatoes (canned or boxed)
3 bay leaves
2 tsp. rosemary
1 tsp. thyme
4 Tsp. cumin
black pepper to taste
salt
2 Tsp. brown sugar
1 large orange

In a large stockpot, heat olive oil. Add onions and garlic, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and cumin. Cook until tender. Add black beans, tomatoes, ham hock and enough liquid to submerge ham hock. Add carrots. Grate orange. Retain zest, cut orange in half and add to pot with brown sugar. Cover and simmer until beans are tender. Add orange zest and continue to simmer. Remove meat from bone, chop and return to soup. Add more liquid and more seasoning as needed. Serve with chopped cilantro, a lime wedge and a dollop of sour cream.

Not sure what to pair with those tasty holiday dishes this year? We can help with these pairing suggestions for veggies, red meat, and turkey!

Veggies:

  • Trimbach Riesling (Alsace) Its delicate bouquet, the fine balance between its dry personality, its distinguished fruitiness and its natural vitality contribute to its exceptional richness. $21.99
  • St. Michael-Eppan Sauvignon Blanc (Italy) Gooseberry nose with grapefruit hints. Medium structure but nicely fresh and juicy, Off-dry, $16.99
  • Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino (Sardegna Italy) Costamolino is produced with the Mediterranean table in mind. Vermentino’s herbal flavor can also highlight vegetables such as fava beans or fennel. $14.99

Red Meat:

  • Torbreck Shiraz: A dark cherry, the central core of fruit gives way to an intense textural mid-palate full of blueberry, cocoa, spice, and dark chocolate. $19.99
  • Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc (France) Winery notes. Multilayered, elegant nose. Lovely Structure on the palate with fleshy tannins and a long finish. $24.99
  • Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) Supple tannins, and vibrant black cherry, candied blackberry, and spices. A hint of coffee and dark chocolate create a lingering and delightful finish. $23.99

Turkey:

  • Boen Pinot Noir (California) The first sip of this tri-appellation Pinot Noir envelopes the mouth with a velvety richness. Flavors of bright cherry, dried herbs, and hints of vanilla, is supple and sumptuous, to the finish. $19.99
  • Argyle Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley Oregon) Red and dark fruit with savory spice and delicate floral notes. A lively, fresh middle palate along with classic Argyle silky texture and persistent length. $22.99
  • Frederic Esmonin Les Genevrieres Pinot Noir (France) Sumptuous aromas of red berries and cherry are supported by light notes of wildflower. On the palate, there are flavors of red fruit, spice, and floral accents. The tannins and acidity provide a delightful structure. $15.99

Beer and the blues go together like face masks and hand sanitizer. So, when my band, Bees Deluxe, was invited to play outdoors, on a socially-distanced stage at the Newburyport Brewing Company, we jumped at the chance. Especially since, along with being paid, the brewery promised us free beer and a six-pack to take home.

Chris Webb, owner of NPBC gave us a choice of dates. We picked the earliest one, betting on sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. Good thing we are musicians and not professional gamblers because when we pulled into the parking lot at the brewery, the sky was steely gray and Weather.com said it was 45 degrees in Newburyport. 

“No one is going to come to sit in the cold, drink beer and listen to us, “ I grumbled as I positioned the tip bucket at  front of the stage.

I was wrong. People started filling in seats at the well-spaced picnic tables. The brewery staff pulled out propane heaters and fired them up. People wrapped up in blankets. And people drank beer. Anchor Pizza’s truck pulled up and slices of gooey, hot pizza were passed around. 

The crowd was great. They left their blanket cocoons and got up to dance. They bought CDs. They wore their masks!  They tipped! We made new friends, saw a few familiar faces, and, after the first set, decided to sample some beer.

I’ve been a big fan of the NPBC’s Greenhead IPA— it’s my go-to where ever it’s on tap. Hoppy and bright, without being too grapefruity, Greenhead delivers a delightful bite.  Plus I like the name.  So, I was delighted to discover that they carry it, and several other NPBC brews, at Mystic Wine Shoppe. And, fresh from the tap, just feet from where it’s brewed,  the Greenhead didn’t disappoint. Sitting under the heater, with the fragments blowing in the breeze behind me, I felt almost transported to a summer day on Plum Island. Almost. Paul, the drummer, and bass-player, Aldo, both chose the hazy Plum Island Belgian White. 

The Belgian White has hints of coriander and citrus. It won a Bronze medal at the 2016 World Beer Cup. The guys concurred that it was award-worthy. Our lead man, Conrad, went with the Joppa Grande Stout. A hardy coffee stout that pours dark with a tan head,  it impressed even our resident Brit.

It was hard for us to put down the beers, go back on stage and pick up our guitars and harmonicas, but the crowd was ready for more music and we aim to please.

We played for two more hours and were surprised that most everyone there stayed for the entire show. Maybe they were grateful for the rare chance to hear live music or maybe… it was the beer.  

You don’t have to travel all the way to Newburyport or brave the cold to sample their beer or hear great acid blues, you can pick up Newburyport Brewing Company beers at Mystic Wine Shoppe — including my favorite, NPBC’s Greenhead IPA and for music to go with the beer, check out www.beesdeluxe.com.

Thanks for reading!

Carol, your MWS beer & wine enthusiast

With the holidays coming up and everyone spending more time at home with less travel, we thought a bloody mary recipe was just what everyone needed! No?!

There are so many variations you can make of a bloody mary, but making sure you have the right flavor and toppings are crucial to getting it just right!

We made a variation of this recipe and loved it –

Bloody Mary Mix: For 6 ppl

  • 1 48 ounce can of tomato juice or about 6 cups
  • 3 tablespoons prepared creamy hot horseradish
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons celery salt
  • 3 teaspoons garlic salt
  • Tabasco sauce (to taste)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Titos Vodka

Make it: Mix all ingredients together and add 2-ounces of vodka per drink

Garnish: We used olives, bacon, celery, and pickles to make this more than a drink but a tasty snack!

 

Let us know what your go-to Bloody Mary Recipe is?

Thanks for reading, Mystic Wine Shoppe

 

These days, I try to find any opportunity to feel normal. So when a day of working at home, washing my hand, and sitting in Zoom meetings gave way to an unseasonably warm evening and an invitation to eat hotdogs with friends, I jumped at the chance.


Good friends don’t have to impress each other. Good friends don’t need a formal invitation or fancy food. They can get together at the last-minute and make hotdogs for dinner. Because with good friends, it’s not about what’s on the table, it’s about who’s around the table. It’s the company and the conversation that matters. Of course, the wine matters, too.

That’s why, when I hung up the phone, I grabbed a pack of Hebrew National all-beef hot dogs and a couple of bottles of my new favorite red wine: Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red, 2018, walked over, and settled into my friend’s backyard.


As the hot dogs came off the grill, I opened both bottles, poured (into disposable plastic) glasses for my friends, slipped off my mask, and took a sip.

From Sonoma Valley, Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, and Malbec. Founded in 2014, Angels & Cowboys is a collaboration between Yoav Gilat, founder of Cannonball Wines, and Michael Schwab, a graphic designer from Northern California. Maybe that’s why the label is so simple and appealing. Out of the bottle, the wine is a beautiful deep garnet color and tastes like autumn in a glass. I sniffed, I sipped, and immediately detected a tangle of berry and plum flavor with spicy notes of cardamom and mineral creating earthy robustness that I welcomed after a summer of drinking chilled whites, rosés, and fruity pinot noirs.


This was my first taste of the 2018 Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red. Since that evening, I’ve shared bottles with friends from the neighborhood and beyond and enjoyed I’ve it at home with my family and with the presidential candidates during the debate. It’s my new house wine and because it’s less than $20 a bottle, I can afford to drink it with a roast of lamb, as the winemaker suggests, or pair it with hotdogs. It goes perfectly with both.

By Carol Band, our Wine Connoisseur

With November right around the corner, you may be starting to think of your menu for Thanksgiving Day. The thing about turkey is, it pairs well with most wines, so do not stress! We’re here to help you find the perfect wine(s) that will go with your Thanksgiving menu.

Not sure what to get? Read through some of the wine characteristics that all pair well with a typical Thanksgiving dinner!

  • Pinot Noir:  Most pinots are dry, light- to medium-bodied with flavors that include cherry, forest floor, and notes of vanilla. It’s light yet has personality, making it perfect for any thanksgiving day meal!
  • Chardonnay: You can’t go wrong with pairing Chardonnay with your Thanksgiving dinner. Although the grape’s expressions vary worldwide, the wine’s crisp acidity, mineral undertones, and fruit-forward nature bring out the best that turkey has to offer.
  • Sauvignon Blanc: Known for its refreshing crispness, due to its high levels of acidity and low amounts of sugar, Sauvignon Blanc is a pairing for turkey.
  • Rosé: It’s light, refreshing, and fun, making it a great wine to serve as guests are arriving.
  • Zinfandel: It’s delicious fruity undertones go very well with the rich flavors of a Thanksgiving meal.
  • Chenin Blanc: A later harvest Chenin blanc is an excellent choice for a dessert wine (especially for pies!) Or try it with milder meats and flavors during your Thanksgiving meal.

Here are a few wines we are loving for Thanksgiving 2020!

Thanks for reading!

Your friends at Mystic Wine Shoppe