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They’re a big category for us,”said Gary Park of Gary’s Liquors in Chestnut Hill. Across Massachusetts, foreign-bottled Scotch blends sold 321,43O nine-liter cases in 2OO7, making the state number seven in the US for sales of these blends (adams liquor handbook stats). However, the category is really pretty much flat.... Read More

Curiosity is up, more Scotch brands have deployed brand ambassadors to host events, and mainstream and high-end publications seem to be covering rare releases more than ever. But the dollar is down on the global market, and people are skittish about spending, to say the least. Plus some are worried... Read More

In fact, some might say that the Westborough shop is enough of an interactive experience with such a broad international scope that it warrants comparisons to Epcot Center for northern epicureans. There are over a thousand beers at which to marvel and towards the back you’ll find the Angel Share,... Read More

Odd name Concha y Toro. It comes from the founder, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro (1834-1892), Chilean businessman, politician, and academic at the law school of the Universidad de Chile. With the help of the vineyard, brought to the marriage by his wife, Doña Emiliana Subercaseux y Vicuña, he... Read More

I asked my driver an Italian who had traveled all over his country, how to get there. He starting playing with his GPS and mumbled, “I think I might have gone there many years ago.” Valtellina is a valley that runs 45 kilometers, east to west, deep in the Alps,... Read More

You know it, because your customers are the ones who find that variety so interesting. These holiday beers aren’t just different, they’re like limited editions: they’re here now, and then they’ll be gone. That’s enticing. “There’s something to be said for a beer that’s only available once a year,” acknowledges... Read More

As you’re reading this your customers are probably already busy getting holiday plans in order and mapping out their gift-buying strategies.  As the holidays approach you begin to see people more and more frequently in the store, so now is a good chance to offer customers a few little extras.... Read More

Burgundy is the hardest wine. The effort to understand it, however, can be more than worthwhile, for it can be the most ethereal of wines. The effort requires concentration and firsthand application. As I previous quoted in these pages, in February 2OO7, “buying Burgundy is not a spectator sport, but... Read More