Arak is a traditional Middle Eastern liqueur originally distilled from fermented date palm sap. Now a days, it is most often distilled from grapes, and sometimes plums or figs, and water. At first taste, it is reminiscent of a French pastis or sambuca due to the presence of aniseed; however, pastis (and sambuca) is made using grain-based alcohol and sugar.…
It is quite rare to find, in any period in time, a space where all the elements come together, and an absolute star winemaker comes to rise within their respective region. With the exception of the multi-generational antique houses that spatter the old world, every now and then, a master of the likes of Didier Dagueneau and Heidi Barrett will…
Legend has it that a Spanish alchemist believed he’d created a healing liquid – in the 14th Century, it was easy to believe such things. Folks believed this potion helped stave off age and disease, in other words, it gave spirit to people. This rugged and unrefined distillate has since been manipulated by people for the last roughly seven hundred…
Last week we showed you New World Tempranillo, but the Fableist has another Spanish varietal to share with you. There is no resisting the temptation of the newest addition from the Field Recordings book – Albarino! Indigenous to the Northwest of Spain and Portugal, Albarino is typically characterized by its maritime and coastal influences. While hearty and round, it is often a…
If you’ve had a chance to check out our new digs, then you’ve seen our spirits section. Let’s be real – it’s dope. But, our cordials (a.k.a. liqueurs) are especially on fire. Basically, a cordial is a sweetened and flavored (and usually lower proofed) spirit that begs to be had. Some are fruity, some are grassy, some are sharp, some…
The first sip on Elbling… It is the oldest cultivated grape in Germany, yes older than its more famous cousin, Riesling. The Romans drank it, and LOVED it. It’s grown in the Upper-Mosel region of Germany in Kimmeridgian limestone soil, similar to that of Chablis in France. Unlike Riesling, Elbling is decidedly dry in style, every time. There are only a few people…
