May I Suggest...
By Barbara Kozlowski (12/12/08)
For the Village Wine Rack

December 5th was the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. I forgot to mention this fact last week, so raise a glass to those who realized that for the 13 years of is existence, Prohibition didn’t work. It fact the industry went underground and did not shut down. Many of the ‘speakeasys’ fronted other businesses and were able to protect their customers and themselves when the ‘feds’ arrived to shut them down. Many of the old ‘speakeasys’ are still in existence today, operating as legal sellers of alcoholic beverages.

Something we can look for in the very near future is Craft Brewers moving to cans. One of the high-profile converts is New Belgium Brewing Co. It has put its Fat Tire Amber Ale in cans and nearly 25 other Craft Brewers now offer their beer in cans as well. The Brewers Association estimates at least 30,000 brands of Craft beer will be packaged in cans this year out of 8 million barrels total. Packaging Craft brews in cans protects against light, keeps beer fresh and reduces shipping costs. Look for some our local Craft Brewers to do the same.

In the world of Canadian whiskey, Crown Royal is still the leader. This due to a steady consumer interest and up market products like Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and Crown Royal XR. Crown has always been a great seller along with Wiser’s 18 yr old. These outsell the more traditional brands like Black Velvet, Canadian Mist and Seagram’s VO to name a few.

AND MAY I SUGGEST. . . As we move closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, keep in mind the champagne and sparkling wine you want for these occasions. I try to keep several bottles on hand and chilled, ready for company and for my own pleasure. As I have previously mentioned, I prefer Spanish sparkling wine. I also like to recommend Italian Prosecco. I have nothing against French champagne, this is just my personal preference.

Have a great week and remember to drive safely as you prepare for the upcoming holidays. BON APETIT & SKAAL!!!!