Cocktail ingredients Utah update – November 2011

Salt Lake City cocktailians will be disappointed to see that the Special Price Adjustment (SPA) list this month is about as lean as it was last month.  This should just be the pre-December doldrums, though; Santa Claus comes next month, and his SPA list is usually very generous in December.  If you’re looking for cocktail ingredients on clearance this month, there is one item of interest to cocktail lovers in the Utah DABC State Liquor Stores this month, DonQ® Cristal (CS# 043426) is a good quality Puerto Rican Rum that should work well in any cocktails that call for light Rum, like the El Presidente.  Interestingly, Esteban Ordoñez, Brand Ambassador for DonQ, spoke about their sustainability programs during Portland Cocktail Week.  The Cristal was $12 and is marked down almost 50% to $6.47.  This item is almost out of stock, residents of Heber, Vernal, and St. George have the best chance of scoring some.  Be sure to call ahead to check availability if that’s all you’re looking for.  There are also some wines on clearance, so check your store’s end cap displays.  If you see any other good items on clearance at your local state store, post a response to this article. 

My favorite “economy Gin”, New Amsterdam® (CS# 031475), is marked down 20% from $15 to $12 this month. Try it in a Tom Collins.  If you have an open bottle of sparkling wine but you’re in the mood for something a little stronger that a Champagne cocktail, try a French 75 – a reliable champagne (and gin) cocktail that is sure to have just the kick you need. 

The standout Tequila deals this month are a pair of El Jimadors®: the Reposado and the Blanco are both marked down from $20 to $17.  Regular readers will know that a good Silver (or Plata or Blanco) is an essential ingredient in the ever popular Margarita, but this Reposado also makes outstanding cocktails.  For those who love Vodka Martinis, this month it’s the one liter bottles of Ketel One® that are marked down.  There is also the usual large number of flavored Vodkas on SPA.

November is not a total desert in the cocktail arena, however.  If you’re into Bourbons, Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey® (CS# 017086) is available for $22 ($3 off) and makes a great BLT.  If you like something a little pricier, Jack Daniels® Single Barrel (CS# 026906) is available for $40 ($4 off).  Most of the Scotch Whiskies marked down this month are blends, so if you’re looking for something to put into your Rob Roy you can get some Chivas Regal®, Johnnie Walker® Red, or a large (1750 ml.) bottle of Dewars® White Label.