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| Try an Aviation cocktail made with Aviation Gin |
There are over 600 items on Special Price Adjustments (SPA)
for the December holidays, so when
Utahans walk into the Utah DABC State Liquor Stores
this month, they will expect to hear Santa chuckling. These deals are great for gifts (given or
received), or for stocking your bar.
(Note: later in the month there will be a separate post on pre-New
Year’s price adjustments (actually available all December) on sparkling
wines.) Need a Christmas gift for Dad (or Mom)? Don’t forget to look at the gift
items that are often found on the top shelf of the Utah State Stores. These
gift packages usually contain a bottle of liquor and items like glasses or a
shaker for about the same price as the bottle without the gift. Some of them
are pretty nice, others might be a little tacky. Shop early in the month for a better
selection and buy one for a lazy relative to give you for Christmas.
First: great news for Gin lovers: the DABC is now stocking
Aviation Gin (CS 400413, $30). This highly
rated American Gin makes a great Martini or Aviation
cocktail. Give it a try (call
ahead to see if your local store carries it).
This month there is a variety of Gins marked down, most of the good ones
around 10%, plus or minus. Gins with
price adjustments include offerings from Bombay Sapphire®, Tanqueray®,
Beefeater®, and even the surprisingly good, bargain Gin: New Amsterdam (1750ml for
$24). While you’re picking up a nice
bottle of Gin, pick up a bottle of Campari
(on SPA this month) and try one of my favorite Gin cocktails, a Negroni. You can look up all of the prices for
yourself 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; then search on “gin” or the product of your choice. Oh, and there are 24 non-flavored Vodkas marked down this month too, if
that’s your thing.
Now for the Whiskeys: There are 70 Whiskeys on SPA this
month, so it’s a great opportunity to stock up. 18 different Bourbons: Most of the major brands are represented; try
Buffalo Trace ($22), and there are single barrel offerings from Blanton, Eagle
Rare, and Evan Williams. Four Irish that normally retail around $25
are marked down around 10%. Kick back on Christmas Eve and enjoy a nice
Bourbon Manhattan. There are 23 Single Malt and Blended Scotches marked down, including 10
twelve year olds and Glenlivet French Oak 15 year. This is your big chance to cheer up and impress your old man with a gift he’ll
enjoy.
Now is your chance to stock up on your favorite Liqueurs or buy them as gifts; 30 are
on SPA this month. Try Di Saronno
Amaretto ($23) over ice, or a favorite for cocktails: Amaretto Di Amore ($11);
both are marked down. Godiva Chocolate
Liqueur ($27) and Kahlua Coffee Liqueur ($16) are on SPA, along with a variety
of Irish Cream Liqueurs (great gifts for light drinkers) and Liqueurs like
Alize and Midori. A favorite Triple Sec
substitute: Gran Gala Orange Liqueur ($20) is on SPA, or feel free to go
upscale with Cointreau ($34.3). There
are only 10 (non-spiced) Rums on
sale this month. Appleton Estates VX
Jamaica Rum is the best of the bunch, or you can try Bacardi 8 for $16. Sadly there are no high-end premium Rums to put
under your tree.
As to any other sale or clearance items, if you see anything
at your local state store that other cocktailians might enjoy, 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.
