Templeton Rye is Back in Stock

During the 1920s, Al Capone and his gang referred to the rye whiskey coming out of Templeton, Iowa as simply “The Good Stuff.” Townspeople of Templeton secretly produced hundreds of casks a month for illegal distribution throughout the country. While initially intended to be a makeshift whiskey fix, rye ended up garnering quite the following.

After the repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, the popularity of rye began to decline; corn-based bourbon was less expensive to make and its sweeter taste appealed to a larger audience. Newly founded distilleries hopped aboard the bourbon bandwagon and the once-popular rye was all but forgotten.

Over the past few years, however, nostalgic cocktail conjurers and spirit producers have resurrected rye whiskey from a dusty afterthought to a highly-curated and collected crown jewel. Many of the country’s largest distilleries are even redirecting bourbon resources back to the making of rye.

The first legal batch of “The Good Stuff” was released in 2006, created using the same Prohibition-era recipe, handed down on a scrap of napkin by the son of the whiskey’s creator, Alphonse Kerkhoff. A limited amount of Templeton Rye is now distributed in 12 states.

The H&F Bottle Shop is allocated a small amount of this storied whiskey and when it arrives, it doesn’t last long. After selling out before the holidays, we are happy to announce that Templeton Rye is back on our shelves. Made up of more than 90% rye grains, we love to use Templeton in many classic cocktails, especially the Manhattan. Its assertive citrus flavors and peppery bite stand bravely against the tempering sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters, truly elevating this cocktail. 

Cheers - Maggie

H&F Bottle Shop is located at 2357 Peachtree Rd. Atlanta, GA 30305.  Hours are 10am-10pm Mon-Sat. Open Sunday 12:30pm-6:00pm. (404) 841-4070

H&F Bottle Shop

Walking through the door of H&F Bottle Shop

The Below Deck

The Below Deck (A Great Summer Cocktail!)

1 1/2 ounces Banks 5-Island white rum
3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/4 ounce French dry vermouth
1/4 ounce crème de cacao
1/4 ounce simple syrup (1 part sugar, 1 part water)
2 dashes The Bitter Truth Original Celery Bitters
Fernet-Branca for garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a few drops of Fernet-Branca across the surface of the drink.

Hemingway Daiquiri

Hemingway Daiquiri

Ice
2 oz.  White Rum
3/4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz. Maraschino Liqueur
1 Lime Wheel for Garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the lime wheel and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with the lime wheel.
Recipe taken from Food & Wine.

The Moscow Mule

With summer nipping at our heels, we just might have found the perfect cocktail to sip on through the season. The Moscow Mule is a vodka based cocktail that, when served in a copper mug, will take any weight of the southern heat right off your shoulders.

The Moscow Mule is thought to have started the vodka craze in the United States. Vodka did not make its way to the United States until after World War II and sales of vodka did not reach their peak until the introduction of the Moscow Mule. A refreshing mixture of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. The copper mug which holds the coldness in and is yet another reason we rank it high on the list for summer sipping.

This cocktail originated in the late 1940's and is a classic "Buck Cocktail," which simply refers to a historic family of cocktails incorporating ginger beer and any type of liquor as the base and in the case of the Moscow Mule that liquor is vodka. David Wondrich notes, "The Moscow Mule is not, by the way, the first silly vodka drink. That distinction belongs to the Blue Monday, first printed in the English Savoy bar book in 1930. "

  
The origin of the copper mug as the vessel of preference is not really known. Some reports claim that it was purely a gimmick, while others report benefits such as age prevention, absorption of iron, increased energy and anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce symptoms of arthritis.

If you are looking to serve something a little different at your next cocktail party or if you just want to cool down, the Moscow Mule is by far one of the most easiest drinking cocktails you will have all summer.

Here is our favorite recipe:

Moscow Mule
Jack Morgan
Cock & Bull Tavern
Los Angeles CA, ca. 1940

2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Lime Juice
Ginger Beer
Garnish Lime Wedge

Combine Vodka & Lime juice in a Moscow Mule Mug, available at the Bottleshop; top with ice and ginger beer, stir. Squeeze lime wedge over drink, drop it in, serve.

If you don't want to spring for the copper mug it is perfectly acceptable to server in a low ball glass.

Enjoy!

Pink is not a bad word...

With less than a month to go, Summer is right around the corner. Ah, Summer! A time for family beach trips, backyard BBQ's and old fashioned get-togethers on the porch, all of which call for refreshments and almost nothing is more refreshing than Rose.

Some may turn their noses up at the notion of a pink wine mainly because it has been confused with White Zinfandel but Rose has been slowly making a comeback for several years.

Rose has a crisp freshness that is perfect for sipping in the summer sunshine. It pairs with just about any type of food you can think of from grilled salmon to a great big burger and is best served chilled and with copious amounts of friends.

Stop by the H&F Bottle Shop today to pick up your next favorite wine: the Commanderie de la Bargemon (Aix en Provence, France)

This is a classic beauty of a Rose from Provence. It is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet.

The KING: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This week we're featuring special pricing on several of our favorite cabernets. 

2010 Sean Minor Cabernet Sauvignon

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby in color and displays aromas of raspberry, cassis and cigar box. Once in your mouth, the wine’s silky raspberry fruit flavors and the combination of oak and tannin nuances create a well balanced, rich and full bodied wine that draws you in for more. Give this Cabernet a brief decanting. After that, the aromas and flavors match up in cherries, blackberries and cassis, with a savory coating of sweet oak.

2007 Salva Tierra Cabernet Sauvignon

The calling card of this great vintage is the depth and richness of the wines, while still maintaining a smooth and silky texture, without being too extracted or overripe. The wines balance the luscious Napa Valley fruit and the elegance of a wine with intense history. The wine is full of depth and complexity with typical Napa Valley Cabernet characteristics. The aroma is very fruit forward dominated by the blackberry notes, and underlying cassis and anise. The mouthfeel is deep and rich with plenty of big tannins for cellaring.

2008 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon

The Wine Spectator gave this wine 91 points and said it was, “firm and well-structured, delivering a tight, focused core of mineral, dried berry, spicy mocha, cedar and oak. But what's most impressive is the balance of texture, flavor and weight.” We couldn’t agree more and thought it has Black cherry and blueberry fruit with hints of exotic spices are perfectly balanced by sweet oak. The palate is full and rich with moderate tannins and a long finish.

2008 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is made from organically grown fruit sourced from the Rock Cairn vineyard in Oakville, one of the Napa Valley's top sub-appellations. Yields were low in 2008 because of funky weather through the growing season, but that just adds to the concentration of this powerful Cab. This vintage smells like rose petals, tobacco and Asian spices mingled with cassis and cherry, and the aromas follow seamlessly to the palate, where there's just a hint of bittersweet chocolate and a squeeze of citrus that brightens everything up. Full-bodied with supple tannins, the finish is long, with lingering spice and roasted coffee bean notes.

E-mail mixologist@hfbottleshop.com for more information.