Cocktail ingredients Utah update – April 2011

In spite of closures of profitable state stores forced by the Utah state legislature, business is still being transacted at the Utah DABC State Liquor Stores, although the number of special price allowance (SPA) items seems lower than in March.  Single Malt Scotch afficionados might want to stock up on Bowmore® 12 Year Single Malt with a hefty 20% discount from $50 to $40; the Utah Mixologist may have to try this one.  This month there is a pretty decent Brandy from E&J marked down: the VSOP is only $11, and will do good duty in a Sidecar (or any other cocktail) and hurt your wallet far less than your favorite Cognac.  (Check out the Tastings.com Brandy ratings  here.) 

If you’re a Tequila lover, Herradura Añejo® is marked down 10% from $51 to $46 and, for the second month in a row, El Jimador Reposado® is reduced, but this time it’s the 1.75L bottle.  Several other Tequilas are on SPA at smaller discounts.  Clever Martini lovers read this blog last month and stocked up; in April there is only one Gin marked down, the 1.75L bottle of New Amsterdam® (a good economy Gin).  There are no real sipping Rums on sale this month, although a pair of Appleton Estates® medium priced Rums are marked down.  Whiskey lovers will shed some tears this month because of the miniscule or missing discounts on US and Canadian Whiskies.

As to any other sale or clearance items, if you see anything good at your local state store, post a response to this article.  See the following list “Suggested by the author” for information on how to use the Utah DABC website.  You can check out what else is on sale (e.g. the wines etc.) by clicking through to the “SPA Product List” to open a price book in PDF format that shows all of the markdowns for the current month.