Photo: Emily Rentsch
Adding winter twists to cocktails is a fun way to keep the drink rotation unique and fresh, whether it's for your home bar or your next cocktail party.
By following these simple recipes based on tried-and-true classics, you'll enjoy drinks with loads of layers, complexitity, and notable winter flavors like cinnamon, allspice, and coffee, that will surely delight you and your guests. All ingredients are available at Sip Better's flagship shop in Minneapolis!
BITTER, SWEET COFFEE
A coffee cocktail is perfect in the winter to not only stave off the early sunsets but to add roasted notes of chocolate and vanilla bean to stirred cocktails. Bitter, Sweet Coffee is a cocktail that uses the structure of an Old Pal cocktail with the added twist of Two James Coffee Liqueur and St. Agrestis Brooklyn Amaro for an additional layer of complexity.
1.5 oz Dampfwerk London Dry Gin
0.75 oz Bordiga Apertivo
0.75 oz St. Agrestis Amaro
1 oz Two James Coffee Liqueur
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a...
'Tis the season to feel frightened!
One of our team's favorite movie genres is Horror, so October is practically like Christmas here at Sip Better. Below, we've paired wine to a few of our favorite horror films (though it was agony trying to choose just six!). Now grab your wine, some salty snacks, and settle in with someone who will squeeze your hand during the creepy parts.
Happy Halloween!
What's the '90s greatest contribution to pop culture? The Scream franchise, of course! Besides the teenage eye candy and delicious jump scares, we love that each film in the series gives dedicated space to POPCORN. In fact, if Drew Barrymore's character hadn't gotten that fateful phone call in the very first scene of the very first movie, she'd be kicking back with a perpetual bowl of buttery Jiffy Pop. Our favorite thing to drink with popcorn and a scary movie is this luscious Chardonnay laced with notes of creamy lemon curd, baked apple, and tropical fruits.
...
Our flagship wine shop in Minneapolis is one year old today!
We've come a long way from our IndieGoGo fundraiser in 2022 and we wanted to share a quick update on how The Sip Better Wine Club has grown:
— Club membership has grown by 25%
— Overall sales have grown by 30%
— We have expanded our portfolio with 140 new wines
— We introduced our members to 30 new family owned international wineries
— We have hosted over 50 events + wine tastings in our private event space at Sip Better and inside of our shop with winemakers + wine representatives worldwide
— We have been introduced to countless new enthusiastic neighbors + friends -- thank you!!
As ever, we are so grateful to our club members, local patrons, and to our
IndieGoGo fundraiser supporters for galvanizing the work we do. We are so happy to continue sharing healthy, international, family-owned wine growers with YOU!
This is part of an ongoing series called Become A Better Taster! Each post will illustrate the essential aromas and tasting notes associated with a specific grape varietal. Use this post as a baseline when tasting your next Cabernet!
What do you smell and taste when you're swirling a dark red Cabernet Sauvignon in your glass? Not sure?
Below is a handy visual guide to the classic aromas and tasting notes you might find in any Cabernet Sauvignon. There will be differences and nuances in texture and flavor depending on the origin of the wine, how it was grown, fermented, and stored (more on that below). Did you know, by the way, that Cabernet Saugivnon is a product of crossing two popular grapes: Cabernet Franc + Sauvignon Blanc? Cabernet Sauvignon carries a touch of both grapes aromatically and on the palate - due to its parentage.
Here are a few more basics to help you find your footing when exploring a new-to-you Cabernet. Clink, clink!
SOME NUANCES YOU MIGHT TASTE
• Old World...
Photo: Leslee Miller, César Fonseca, Walther Cardona Gabriela
Looking to take a break + embark on a journey through picturesque vineyards and sip exquisite wines amidst wine country? This summer, a few from the Sip Better team took a whirlwind trip to the Finger Lakes wine region in upsate New York. Not only are we sharing a treasure trove of tips for enjoying the FLX region via Leslee's Amusée blog (Finding the Finger Lakes), but share a few insider tips and tricks for an unforgettable experience as you explore the winemaking regions of the U.S. and beyond.
Grab a glass and come along with us!
PLAN AHEAD FOR THE PERFECT TRIP
• Research the region: Whether it be stateside or far away making sure that you've made plans for all the things you want to accomplish with wine and other leisure activities is important. Often times, folks do not realize how far regions are from one another (IE: the Napa + Sonoma Valleys -- they are not as close as you think). Plan for what makes the most sense for the amt. of time you have. If you have 2-3...
