Stefano Selections

08/16/2021

It's National Rum Day! Why not try a taste of India with OLD MONK RUM?
Old Monk was first introduced in India in the 1960s. Colonel Ved Mohan, brother of Kapil Mohan, had been inspired by the serene life of Benedictine monks and the drinks they brewed as they led their ascetic life in the mountains where they lived in content. And hence, the drink got its name. Before Old Monk, there was Hercules rum distilled exclusively for the armed forces. Superior in taste and perhaps even in quality to Hercules (as loyalists believe), the brand soon became one of the leading dark rums in the world and perhaps the most popular brand in the country. We carry 3 types in DC and Maryland:
###, a 7 year old vatted blend of dark molasses based rum, a rich Naval style
Supreme, a 12 year old lighter style, smooth and complex in a Monk-shaped bottle
Legend, in a one-liter sculpted bottle designed to look like the distillery's founder the very aged rum is world class

If you don't see them at your favorite store or bad, tell them to call Stefano!

08/14/2021

Two chances to try Dr. Stoner's Herb Flavored Spirits this afternoon, in Harford county at Ronnies Beverage Warehouse or Anne Arundel county at Nursery Road Liquors. Enjoy!

08/06/2021

Stop in to Bel Air Liquors to try Dr. Stoner's Herb Flavored Spirits!

08/03/2021

Don't let all the recent whisky & spirits posts fool you, we have great wine too!
Here we are last Friday at Colonial Liquors with Chilean wines from Agustinos and Rhanleigh wines from AMGO Beverages South Africa.
Ask your salesperson about our wine selection!

08/02/2021

A little peek at this past Saturday's Indian Whisky tasting at The Toasted Foot Lounge with Radico Khaitan, Antiquity India, Mohan Meakin Ltd, Solan Brewery, Solan, H.P., and Rampursinglemalt.

07/29/2021

We saved the best for last! Check out the final whisky for this Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event, from Rampursinglemalt.
See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge, and don't forget these will all be on sale locally at The Beer Cave. If you're looking for them elsewhere in Md or DC and your favorite shop doesn't have them, tell them to call us.

Last but not least in the list of whiskies for this Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event we have the jewel in our Whisky crown!
Rampursinglemalt Asava Single Malt
Matured in American Bourbon barrels and meticulously perfected in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks for the first time in History resulting in a unique expression with an impeccable balance.
Creating history yet again with a royal marriage that is beautifully made in heaven. We have taken the Indus route and perfected this golden nectar in Indian red wine casks.
Tasting Notes
Nose:
Typical tropical fruity note of Rampur with added notes of apricot, blackberry & plum followed with a faint hint of to***co and spices.
Palate:
Velvety, manuka honey sweetness highlighted by spicy oak, vanilla and balanced with dryness from Indian red wine.
Finish:
The Indian trail lingers with a medium finish.
(James' note: This is simply one of the finest whiskies I've ever tasted. I've traveled with a bottle to share with friends. The whisky itself is rich and complex, but the maturation in Cabernet casks lends a dark color and velvety fruit quality that just has no compare. Must experience.)

Folks local to The Toasted Foot Lounge can purchase all these spirits at The Beer Cave. Anywhere else in Md or DC if you don't see it on the self tell them to call Stefano Selections to get some.
See you Saturday!

07/28/2021

Next Indian Whisky in the list for this Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event, the exceptional Rampursinglemalt Double cask.

Next Whisky in the list for Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event:
Rampursinglemalt Double Cask Single Malt
The newest jewel in the collection is the Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky Non-Chill Filtered.
This beautiful expression is crafted by maturation in handpicked American Bourbon barrels & European Oak sherry casks.
Delicate balsamic vanilla notes from the American white oak compliment the full-bodied aroma; Rich caramel, dried dark fruits and spicy tonality from European oak add to the depth.
Tasting Notes
Nose:
Full-bodied aroma of tropical fruits, smooth malty tones and oaky notes from double oak-wood barrels create an aurora of flavors.
Palate:
Lustful elegance of sweet fruits; riding on rich sherry for a blissful nirvana.
Finish:
Tantalizingly long, lingering and generous.
(James' note: Radico Khaitan's answer to Balvenie's Double Wood. The Bourbon barrels lend a richness American whiskey lovers love, and the hint of sweetness from the Sherry makes a perfect cigar match.)

See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge Saturday! If you're in the neighborhood and looking for any of these whiskies, The Beer Cave has them all in stock. Anywhere else in Md or DC if you can’t find them contact Stefano Selections.

07/27/2021

Next whisky in the lineup for this Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge tasting!
The Beer Cave will have all the tasting whiskies available for sale in the neighborhood, anywhere else in Md or DC if they're not on the shelf tell them to call us.
See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge!

Here's the next Indian Whisky on the list for Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event:
Solan Gold Single Malt from Mohan Meakin Ltd, Solan Brewery, Solan, H.P.
Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)
Gold at the 2016 International Spirits Challenge
Solan Gold Malt Whisky is produced by Mohan Meakin Limited at the Kasauli Distillery which is found in the Himalayan Highlands at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. (The town of Kasauli in located in the Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India.) The distillery was founded in the late 1820s by Edward Dyer who apparently chose this location because the climate in this area of India was quite similar to his native Scotland, (and because the British troops in the nearby Punjab had a taste for Scottish style whisky). It is blended with mature Malt Spirits produced using traditional Scottish methods of malting, kneading, and distillation on vintage copper pot stills and aged in oak casks. This is a true Single Malt in a very Highland style.
Nose – Fruity, Toffee
Palate – Sweet woody, oaky, apples, dry spice, pleasant and memorable
Finish – Warm spice burn
(James' note: This is straddling the line between an Irish single malt like Tyrconnell and an easy drinking Highland single malt like Glenmorangie, but with no peat and very light smoke.)

See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge Saturday!
Don't forget The Beer Cave will have all of the event whiskies for sale locally, and if you're looking for them anywhere else in Md or DC tell your favorite shop to call Stefano Selections.

07/26/2021

Here's the next item from our Indian whisky selection that James will be pouring this Saturday at The Toasted Foot Lounge!

Whisky #2 that will be featured at this Saturday's Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event! Today we're covering Antiquity Blue from the good people at Eastern Liquors USA:
A blend of Indian malt whisky and imported Scotch whiskies, first created by Shaw Wallace (now United Spirits) in 1992. Made of the finest Indian malts and rare Scotch carefully blended with premium grain spirit, it is painstakingly distilled in copper pot stills, matured and mellowed in imported white oak casks and fused with premium Scotch. The pronounced malt and rich wood aroma, with a whiff of peat and heather supplements the fantasy while its subtle nuances come from the choicest components of the blend, giving it a full smooth flavor and a bouquet that proclaims its royal pedigree.
It has all the flavors that you will find in a fine Scotch like Malt, Peat, Smoke, Wood, Honey, Fruit, and Caramel.
(James' note: about 80/20 Scotch to Indian whisky, the Scotch is heavily from Islay. This one's for the peat lovers, it's the smokiest of the lot.)

See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge to try these, and if you're in the neighborhood and want to snag a bottle The Beer Cave is partnering to make the tasting items available! Anywhere else in MD or DC if you're looking for these fine Indian spirits reach out to Stefano Selections.

07/23/2021

Check out one of the 5 great Indian whiskies being featured next week at the Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event!
Looking for this brand anywhere in MD or DC? Reach out and we'll make sure it gets to your favorite store or bar!

We're going to do a set of posts featuring the whiskies we're tasting next Saturday (7/30/2021) at our Indian Whisky at the Toasted Foot Lounge event! Let's start off with After Dark from Radico Khaitan:
A 100% grain whisky first created by Radico Khaitan at their Rampur distillery, designed as a step up in quality from typical blended Indian whiskies that use a mix of grain and neutral spirits. After Dark Whisky was rewarded with the Silver Medal at the Monde Selection Quality Award, 2011. Blended with special matured malts creates a character that's smoky and distinct. Medium body, sweet and slight smoky character that lingers at the back of the tongue, with a balanced medium finish.
(James's note, similar style/comparison would be a quality Irish or Canadian item like Crown Royal or Bushmills)

See you at The Toasted Foot Lounge to try these, and if you're in the neighborhood and want to snag a bottle The Beer Cave is partnering to make the tasting items available! Anywhere else in MD or DC if you're looking for these fine Indian spirits reach out to Stefano Selections.

07/21/2021

Check out these upcoming Dr. Stoner's Herb Flavored Spirits events with Spirits Maven!
Don't see them at your favorite store? We service all of Md and DC for the brand, tell them to give us a call.

Dr. Stoner's Herb Flavored Spirits coming to Bel Air Liquors and Wine World Abingdon next week. 1.) Top selling VA craft spirit by far in MD, VA and NC!! 2.) Our Tequila Madura got the highest rating in the World Spirits Competition and 35 Tequila Sommeliers gave it the best rating unanimously. See why for yourself. Want this at your store? Let us know or let them know. Cheers!
Friendship Wine & Liquor

07/14/2021

Celebrate Bastille Day with some amazing French Gin XII! Ask for it at your favorite shop and tell them Stefano sent you.
(Bonus: It's made of beets, so 100% gluten free!)

It's Bastille Day, AKA French Day, and the good folks at BroadwayWorld are featuring three great French spirits from Distilleries de Provence UK : Pastis Henri Bardouin, Absente Absinthe Refined, and the brand new Gin XII.
Why not toast the day with a fabulous Cocktail Pink Henry by Julien Masson of the Mama Shelter Marseille:
Ingredients
-30 ml Pastis Henri Bardouin
-20 ml Lemon juice
-10 ml Cane sugar syrup
-30 ml Strawberry nectar
-60 to 80 ml Cranberry juice
Method: Put first the lemon juice, then the cane sugar syrup, the strawberry nectar and the Pastis Henri Bardouin in the glass, then lengthen with the cranberry juice. Mix with a spoon. Add 3 ice cubes. Garnish with some cranberries or a strawberry.
Photo Credit: Cocktail Pink Henry by Riccardo Piazza

And be sure to check out the full article for a delicious Absente cocktail and more details on these beautiful French spirits:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwfood-wine/article/FRENCH-DAY-on-714-Our-Recommendations-for-Celebratory-Spirits-20210712

Pastis Henri Bardouin and Absente Absinthe Refined available in the mid-Atlantic from Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. Gin XII available in Maryland and DC from Stefano Selections

05/13/2021

Looking for this in MD or DC? Tell your favorite shop or bar to call us, we will get it to them.
Also available as a whiskey cream!

You know something is remarkable when it can stand alone!
Sensationally smooth ✨ and unique flavors of sweet pecan praline and strong aromas make it one of the most standout whisky's on the market! 🥃

Visit our website to find a retailer near you 🔜
www.selectclubwhisky.com.

05/05/2021

We have a wide range of premium Tequilas from great importers like MEXCOR to toast Cinco de Mayo, including the amazing Dina Celia line. Looking for them in DC or MD? Give us a shout!

Let's make a toast today! Have fun and drink responsibly. Happy #5deMayo from all of us at Doña Celia Tequila. 🥳😍🇲🇽

05/03/2021

Great review of our new Rampursinglemalt Indian whiskies from Radico Khaitan! These are available to shops and bars/restaurants in Maryland and DC in limited quantities, the stunning Cabernet Sauvignon cask aged Asava should be back in stock this week.
These, plus several other items from RK, are just a part of our extensive offerings of fine spirits and beers from India, please reach out if you'd like to know more.

Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky 🥃 Asava + Double Cask is here and very limited! Asava is firstly matured for an undisclosed number of years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in Indian red wine casks which were previously seasoned with Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Rampur tried to introduce dark and robust notes from the wine to their single malt. Rampur's Double Cask impressed me a lot with its balance and showcase of both barrels' qualities. Let's check how red wine casks treated this single malt
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#nowavailable #newarrival #indianwhisky #rampurwhisky #verylimited #bowiemd #crescentwineandspirits

04/05/2021

We're building a strong worldwide craft Gin portfolio here at Stefano Selections, check out our newest addition: Gin XII from the folks at Distilleries de Provence UK! Tell your favorite shop or bar to give us a call if they don't have it.

Spring has begun, with warmer days and sunshine finally returning. And that means it's Gin & tonic season! We're celebrating this year with a fantastic new item from our friends at Distilleries de Provence UK, Gin XII! This beautiful craft Gin is made from beets, so it's 100% gluten-free and has a unique herbal palette. From the distillery:
"Gin XII is craft distilled from twelve plants and spices in a plate column still, creating a subtle range of aromas. Gin XII owes its name to the twelve plants and spices that go into its creation. It is characterised by fresh, minty, floral, slightly spicy notes and a beautifully lingering finish. A dry gin with a rich, authentic taste, born of a long period of research and reflection. Gin XII takes full advantage of its Haute-Provence terroir and its subtle blend of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, basil, eucalyptus, sweet almond and mint, which join forces with small juniper berries to express the aromatic intensity of a stroll through the garrigue!"
Gin XII is available for on & off premise in DC and MD via our partners at Stefano Selections. Ask for a bottle at your favorite shop and try it!

03/15/2021

Want to try this cool cocktail for St Patrick's Day but don't have any Barbancourt Rhum White on your bar? Tell the folks at your local store here in Maryland to give us a call and we'll get it to them!
(MoCo too, available for special order!)

Why not add a "French twist" to your St. Patrick's Day celebration with a Green Crush, featuring Absinthe Absente from our friends at Distilleries de Provence UK rounded out with a little Barbancourt Rhum!

Recipe courtesy of Bar Business Magazine
https://www.barbizmag.com/recipes-2/holidays/st-patricks-day-cocktail-recipes/

03/12/2021

Have you tried the fantastic Tequilas from women-owned Fino? They're the newest member of the Stefano family! Ask for them at your favorite store or bar.

What better way to gear up for the weekend than by snagging up drink plans with your fav tequila? 😋⁣
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Did you know that FINO is made with 100% Agave Azul? The piñas have been hand harvested by Mexico’s family-owned distillery for generations in the highlands— making for the richest, smoothest tasting tequila around. Cheers 🥂⁣
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#FINO #sweet #natural #failureisnotanoption #yournewfavoriteFword #tequilatime #tequilakindaday #finogetsnashty #tequila #smooth #chicago #nashville #dc #march #wednesday #midweek #sippingtequila #cocktails #tequilalover #womanowned #womanownedbusiness #distillery #cocktails #family #friends #funtimes #enjoy #greattaste⁣ #mexico #highlands #piñas