Learn more about why we’re going to Trinidad at our premium spirits site, HandSelectedSpirits.com

It looks like I’m taking a trip to Trinidad. Why? Because if Joe – the owner here at Main Party – doesn’t take me along when he goes. I’m quitting. And why is he going? Because back in December, he met a couple of gentleman from Infinium Spirits, the purveyors of Zaya Rum, and fell in love. With the rum that is, not the gentlemen from Zaya. For them, he developed an instant respect for their passion for creating a fine spirit. Enough respect that he not only decided to carry the rum in the store, but he also decided to add it to the exclusive selections at our premium wine & spirits site HandSelectedSpirits.com, which means taking a trip to Trinidad, where this exceptional rum is made. If you’re already a rum aficionado, you will either like Zaya for what it is or not, but there is no argument about whether it is one of the finer rums in the world. If you’re not particularly into rum, you may still have it in your head that rum only exists to make a rum and coke, and have some vague memories left over from a wild night out on a tropical vacation that it’s also used for Daiquiris and Mai Tais. Or perhaps you recently discovered the Mojito. If you fall into the latter camp, it’s time to study up! And what kind of studying is more interesting than “studying” an interesting new fine spirit? Rum has a fascinating and rich history that extends back to the American Revolution and beyond, as we explain in our History of Rum over at HandSelectedSpirits.com. And for many, the modern perception was shaped almost entirely by the dominant white rums and the handful of dark rums that were the only ones available for decades. The fact is that saying “I don’t like rum” is like saying “I don’t like red wine”. While one is certainly entitled to not like something, that’s a pretty sweeping statement. Much like other spirits, rum begins with a fairly simple base that gives it part of its character. What sets rum apart is that this base is sugar, or in the case of Zaya, blackstrap molasses. After the original distilling – much like whiskey or brandy – the art is in carefully selecting the right barrels for aging, and as the rum ages, applying master blending skills to create a world-class spirit. Which is what Zaya Rum is. To learn more about Zaya, visit our specialty site and find out more about how it’s made, the history of rum in general, and even the colorful history of Trinidad , which is as rich and complex as Zaya. We even included ideas for how best to enjoy Zaya, below:

Zaya Cocktail Recipe

3 oz. of Zaya Rum
Served in a snifter.
Garnish frowned upon.

Just having some fun; while this  probably is the best way to enjoy it, Zaya’s mellow character also makes it a perfect component of a lot of classic cocktails, so we’ve included a full list of Zaya’s cocktail suggestions here.

Mi Amore from Northern Italy - a versatile choice with a charmingly romantic label.

If your number one priority this Valentine’s Day is picking the perfect wine, or getting the best table at the most expensive restaurant, your priorities may be a little out of order. Like the accomplished romance artist and crooner Dean Martin said, “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore”. A romantic Valentine’s Day should be about the love, and all the other things that express it – some flowers, a simple gift, some sensual food, some levity, and the look in the eyes. Not the price tag and the Robert Parker score. That’s why we’ve picked some versatile, accessible, and affordable bubblies and table wines for your consideration. Italy and Spain are sort of legendary for expertise in the romance department, which might explain the fun sexiness of the wines here. And we especially focused on wines that have a romantic hue, or in the case of the Mi Amore, a romantic label. The producers themselves say that the “two doves kissing represent peace, harmony and passion”. What more do you want out of Valentine’s Day. We’ve suggested some wine, the rest is up to you. (more…)

Golf and wine have at least a couple of things in common. One is that they both involve a pursuit of perfection that mostly ends up falling short, but results in a very enjoyable experience. Enjoyable, that is, if you like golf or wine! Another is that a big part of what makes both enjoyable is based on companionship and storytelling. Can you imagine truly enjoying a wine if you couldn’t share it with a friend, and talk about where it came from, how it was made, or the unique story of the vineyard owner or winemaker? And likewise with golf – if it was all about perfecting your game, there would hardly be any reason to have a bar back at the club, now *would there. And these are the sorts of things that make these special Ben Hogan wines we’re featuring worth a look, and probably a great gift idea for Father’s Day, or for the golfer in your life, regardless of gender. The wines themselves are not exceptional wines, but they’re actually pretty good. And pretty good is usually more than enough when it comes to wine or golf. As a woman we know who is both a wine rep AND a golfer said, “who cares about 90+ ratings when the juice is good, and you have good company!” And you’re in pretty good company in this case; if you know anything about golf, you know who Ben Hogan is. And if you don’t, there’s Wikipedia. And the story of how this wine happened is a fun story in itself. Especially the little details like how when the California vineyard’s owner Matthew Talbert – who is Australian – printed his newly hired (and award winning) winemaker Chris Cameron’s business cards with his name upside down. Get it? Talbert is from “down under”. The wines are in fact made in partnership with Ben Hogan products, so if you’re thinking about gifting, you might want to check out Ben Hogan apparel and golf gear to accompany the wine. Oh yeah. Back to the wine itself! We have a limited number of the collector’s sets, finished with each bottling matching numerically (only 500 were produced), individually wrapped, and containing a Certificate of Authenticity. We also have a few of the three and two bottle packages, and a lot of individual “Tribute” series wines listed below. These wines are a good value anyway, but the numbered collections are a steal. We got a good deal, and are passing it on to you. Remember:

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.
~ Ben Hogan

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You might find a little traffic jam in the center aisle near the front of the store this weekend, and then again the week of February 14. That’s because that’s where most of our champagne and sparkling wine is found. But don’t let that stop you from making your way to the cellar in the back, which is where the two exceptional vintage champagnes featured below can be found! Last year we pointed out that “Too Much Champagne” Is An Oxymoron, highlighting how “quantity has a quality all its own”, and just how affordable a good sparkling wine can be. We also talked about hosting and toasting and the origin of the old line Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends, observing that we have over 150 sparklers on hand to help make any celebration a success. It’s probably more like 200 this year! And amongst all those sparkling wines and champagnes, this year we have some excellent prices on the two late 90′s champagnes below. These two are both in the middle of their peak, and will probably drink well until 2015-2020. So break out some remarkable bubbly without breaking the budget. And this New Year, be the best host or guest you can be, be happy, and most of all, be safe! Happy 2012!

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Have you ever heard of the Christmas 5 Pack? According to Urban Dictionary, this is the term that describes those times when you buy that new seasonal beer that you’ve never tried for your friend as a Christmas gift, and by the time you actually get to your friend’s house, he ends up with – you guessed it -  the Christmas 5 pack. If you’ve ever experienced a Michigan winter, you know that the same conditions that inspired the hearty and flamboyant winter brews in northern Europe are just around the corner by the time December arrives, which is why we’re highlighting a few of the couple dozen winter and Christmas beers we have on hand. We went into more depth last year, but the fact is that the average craft beer lover these days is well studied enough that we won’t be telling them anything they don’t already know, so we won’t bore you. Suffice to say that ever since the Santa’s Butt Scandal of a few years ago, beer makers have all the freedom they want to have fun with their winter brews, and they exercise it. As well as the established names in winter and Christmas beers, we usually have any smaller production holiday craft beer that’s available in Michigan. Call us if you’re looking for something special, many of these craft brewery specialties are sold out almost the day they come in, so we don’t torture our valued customers by listing them! (more…)