You thought we’d skimp on a Thursday 3 this week? Never… {well, maybe next week, but that’s because we’ll be in a turkey coma}. That being said, you’ll need something to wash the stuffing goodness down, and we’ve got a few yummy and strong ways to do so even if you have no clue what kind of wine is good wine and when you think of a cupcake you don’t necessarily think of dessert first. Needless to say, I digress. Here are a few spirits that are bound to please this holiday season:
1. SomruS Indian Cream Liqueur:
I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with this beautifully showcased {just loveee the bottle!} SomruS Indian Cream Liqueur — from mixed drinks to their “kulficle” ice pops the company touts to be amazing {a must try for this summer!} which you can make using the liqueur. It is a rum-based liqueur derived from India, and it is deliciously creamy but light — I would say a great after-dinner drink or twist on a pumpkin pie shot recipe for T-Giv {albeit with a bit more cardamom and almond flavoring replacing the pumpkin cream liqueur}. So yum! Available at most liquor stores in NJ {$25} or purchase online.
My favorite SomruS recipe so far:
One shot of SomruS, one shot of Nespresso Caramelito, and one shot of milk. Deeeelicious.
2. Fifty Shades of Grey Red Satin 2010
I mean, with these names…you really can’t go wrong.
As you can tell by the titles of these wines, I’m totally sold on them and drank them with my ladies in the same night. The Fifty Shades of Grey wine is a Red Satin, and it retails for about $18. It’s a red blend of Petite Sirah and Syrah with flavors of black cherry, cocoa powder, creamy caramel and vanilla, leather and clove spice, aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels. You can get it online here. And I’m not just saying it’s good because of its title. It’s actually REALLY GOOD {and of course also a conversation starter at an awkward Thanksgiving gathering that you need an excuse to pop some bottles of vino stat}.
3. Downton Abbey Claret
Clearly I don’t need a photo of this wine since it’s featured above ^^ from our girls’ night. Both of these wines were quite smooth, but this claret red blend was a more elegant, dry wine made with grapes from the renowned Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”) region of Bordeaux, France. This wine has the scent of wild berries including blackberries, raspberries and black currants in the glass. The blend starts with Malbec which adds some additional spicy notes and some velvety tannins from the Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives added freshness, backbone and age-worthiness to this authentic Bordeaux bottling. Seriously some of my favorite vinos blended together! Retails for about $17 and can be bought here.
** Bonus: Since it’s Thanksgiving soon and we’re into giving, I’m going to give you another tidbit in the form of white wine that is sure to wow your family and friends:
If you’ve seen the top of this bottle before, consider yourself a few steps up from wine newbie.
Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay: This white wine, besides being in the coolest bottle ever {it’s in an opaque grey ceramic bottle with a metal wine cork} is absolutely delicious, and a perfect addition to any meal or spread requiring a white wine. I first had this wine in Chicago with my future sister-in-law {who loves wine!}, and since then was hooked. I recently bought it at the 9th street liquor store {corner of 9th and Madison Street, across from Shoprite, not the liquor store inside of Shoprite}. It retails for about $31 — but pleeease shop locally, don’t buy it AT the Shoprite {not even sure they have it, anyway}. Since I’ll definitely butcher the flavor and notes of the wine with my cupcake-loving self, we’ll bring the info from the website to bring some life to this wine:
Silver unites the crisp mineral essence of classic Chablis style with the tropical elements found in Chardonnay of the Pacific coastline. Using Chardonnay grown in special blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, we harvest the grapes when just fully ripe, their gold color hued with the green, expressing clean aromas of Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity. The wine is fermented and aged in small cement wine tanks imported from France, allowing for this varietal’s clean aromas to shine bright. We’re celebrating this process with a new ceramic bottle and cork finish.
Well there you have it — your Thursday Three in the form of alcohol + a bonus white wine.
What is your favorite drink to imbibe during the festivities of turkey-eating next week?
ENJOY!
