That's really hilarious. But... I'm not sure if I want to drink it. There were a lot of words in there with negative associations, even though he says it's great. What a wonderful newsletter and store this sounds like.

This post made me so happy. Not only do I love Sancerre, but I always thought I was the only person who got inordinately excited about particular liquor stores. In NYC, I always went to Sherry-Lehman, the greatest wine store on earth with the best selection and most knowledgeable service. The ones where I live now... *sob*! I went in a couple of months ago to ask for Beaujolais Nouveau, and the guy behind the counter was like, "Is that a wine or a spirit?" *facepalm*

Having a nice liquor store really is great, isn't it? The sad part is that I only found this one a few years ago when I bought a house in a different neighborhood. They offer wine and liquor tastings too - I am hopeless at retaining info about wine judging, but at least I can pay $20, taste 15 wines, and come out with one or two wine names that I know I will like. They also had a Scotch tasting last year where the importer told hilarious stories about visiting Scottish distilleries while pouring us samples of 30-year-old single-malts.

My friends have found a liquor store in a suburban strip mall that they assumed was just an all-Budweiser soccer-mom place. But when they went in, they discovered it's run by an Indian couple who can answer any question about any kind of drink you can think of and who are always experimenting with getting weird things in the store. They took me in to show me the place and asked the husband if he had absinthe in stock yet. He answered, "Yes, and for you? Regular customer? I sell to you for $10 off." I love places like that.

Alcohol is like food: there are times when you're having people over to watch a hockey game or offering your male friends free beer if they'll paint your garage, and cheap stuff is just fine. But most of the time I want to sit back and drink something slowly and enjoy it. That's when I want to go hug all the staff at my local store for being awesome.

Absinthe is totally making a comeback. It's weird, isn't it? I haven't had a chance to try it out. Is it good?

This place I used to go to (I'm really just in denial that I am now forced to live in Cambridge, MA---blech), The Brandy Library, has scotch tastings like that. It's great. It's so exciting you've done one of those, too! No one really does Scotch tastings. It's fascinating!

Ugh, now you've made me thirsty, in addition to jealous. I've been woefully sober in the past few days. I need to rectify this situation. Maybe a few drinks will help break my writer's block on Mohinder/Elle.

I haven't actually had absinthe yet! My friend has been obsessed with it for years (mainly because it was illegal) and when the ban got lifted, he got a bottle within the first week. He's tried it once but he said it's kind of something that you only do on special occasions. (The fact that the bottle cost $75 probably also had something to do with that opinion...) I'm wanting to get some but there are just too many other things I need/want to buy in the next few weeks.

Heck, I've made myself thirsty now! Even worse: they've got a 20% off case sale going on right now. I'm not having writer's block, but...hmmm, Jericho is on tonight. Surely that's a good excuse to stop and pick up something... ;0)

I WANT THAT WINE!!!

lol! XD

A family friend owns a liquor store like that, with a quirky newsletter and periodic wine and beer tastings. My dad is a beer judge and microbrew *maniac*, my mom merely likes a nice glass of Merlot with dinner. And yet I almost never buy alcoholic drinks. For some reason, I just don't care about it.

I'd like to try that strawberry weasel death wine, though. :) I think I'll pass that review along to Uncle Al and ask if he's had it.

I just realized something: Strawberry Weasel Death Wine would make an excellent band name...