The Gift of a Gift

It’s become somewhat rote, but the old adage applies when it comes to the holidays: “’Tis better to give than to receive.”  The reasons for this are many, but perhaps the most important is to show those you care about that you recognize and appreciate what they bring to your world.  This can be especially true in the professional realm, where you’ve hustled all year to make your numbers, spent hours building rapport with your clients, and worked hand-in-hand with your team to ensure that you can be the best at what you do.  With the end of the year looming, don’t overlook an opportunity to leave a lasting impression. Take that additional step to cement your reputation in the minds of your clients, prospects and colleagues. A gift with gratitude is often the difference between respected world-class professionals and everyone else.  Show your customers and fellow corporate comrades your appreciation this season.

Afraid you don’t have enough time to choose that perfect present?  That’s where a seasoned gifting professional like a Bounty Hunter Wine Scout comes in.  We call upon decades of experience catering to our corporate clientele, combined with deep wine and spirits expertise, to find the perfect gift for everyone—at any budget.

Here’s our protocol:

•               The Wine Scout works with the client to hammer out a budget and a list of recipients and addresses.

•               We respond with a proposed package of wines or spirits for the budget that create maximum impact for the recipient.

•               The client provides a gift message, which we print on an elegant card, or they can provide individualized gift cards of their own, which we insert into the top of the box to ensure that the message is received precisely the way it was intended.

•               The order is sent to our warehouse, into which no product is accepted - nor does anything ship out - if it’s not perfect. Our staff opens every case and performs a detailed QC process on every bottle before giving it a literal seal of approval. This practice includes a visual inspection of the bottle looking for any defects, label or foil damage, and checking for leakage. We have a check and balance system that means that every shipment is checked no less than 3 times. Therefore our clients and their recipients never receive anything less than a perfect unboxing experience.

•               Once the shipments are deployed, managing expectations is essential. Our Wine Scouts review the UPS tracking list of recipients to see if there have been any delays in the package deliveries, and inform the client of any problems and a timeline for resolution. It’s like having your own personal assistant running interference for you, even contacting your recipients directly when necessary.

Bounty Hunter’s fanatical emphasis on customer service and satisfaction requires that we consider the customer’s needs on multiple levels during the holiday season.

So this year, ask yourself, “Will this gift be treasured and memorable or just add another layer of stress to my already hectic holiday season? Does the gift enhance my own personal reputation or my company’s brand? Have I maximized my budget to come up with a gift that my clients and colleagues will savor and remember?”

If all of these considerations are important to you, reach out to us here at Bounty Hunter, and we’ll handle the rest!

From all of us here in the Napa Valley, we wish you a Happy Holidays!

Japanese Whisky

Suntory has always led the charge, and was the first Japanese Whisky registered in the United States, beginning in 1961. Since then, there have been massive billboards in Times Square, and Suntory’s classic “jug” style bottle was a staple on liquor store shelves through the 1970s. There was a bit of a decline, as whiskey sales in the US lost ground to Vodka in the late-1970s and through the mid-1990s. 

In 2003 began an unparalleled surge in popularity thanks to the film Lost in Translation. Bill Murray’s dead-pan, stoic performance has been revered, but that fictional tale is not the first to feature actors and celebrities from the UK and US endorsing these fine drams. Now the brand is omnipresent, be it the legend that is Yamazaki 18 year old or the subtlety found in Hibiki Harmony, you likely know something about Japanese whisky.

Sofia Coppola likely found inspiration from her famous director father and his series of ads for Suntory extolling the virtues of whisky and friendship with another film legend, Akira Kurosawa. Perhaps seeing Sean Connery go from disheveled to perfectly pressed after a glass of Suntory Crest was the muse for Mr. Murray’s performance.

Humorous ads such as the one featuring a cartoon, bobblehead-like Duran Duran singing “The Reflex” might spark your interest. Perhaps a little ad-lib by the incomparable Sammy Davis Jr. would prove Suntory Whisky is of your class. Maybe a glass of Suntory on the rocks drunk to the jazz jams of my man, Ron Carter, on the bass, is your ideal soundtrack for relaxing times.

We have our hands on a few great Japanese Whiskys, click here and check it out for yourself. 

Humbly Authentic

There’s something about authenticity that sets certain products and people apart. Authenticity greets you like your puppy at the door when you come home, it embraces you like a warm blanket.  At Bounty Hunter we are drawn to authentic personalities: originators, rebels, those who think outside the box. It’s part of what has set us apart in what we do. We always look beyond the surface, to the story behind the story. That’s one of the reasons we’ve always been fans of Wild Turkey Distillery.

Wild Turkey is humbly authentic… and that starts with the people: the Russell family, and their patriarch, Jimmy. A man who will proudly tell you he has been making his way to the distillery every day for 62 years. He’ll be the first person to greet you and shake hands at the visitor’s center, and for those occasions possible, he’ll lead you into a barrel warehouse to sample individual barrels of bourbon. He’s a natural storyteller and at 82 he is as quick-witted and sharp as anyone 60 years his junior. He, along with son Eddie and grandson Bruce, still run the day-to-day at the distillery, overseeing its production and quality control.

It’s funny to watch this video, introducing Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey as the new “Creative Director” for the distillery, and see him ask Eddie Russell if there was a time his dad said “Here you go, son” and hand over the reins. Eddie replies “it hasn’t happened yet”. It’s a moment that ends in laughter, and is a reminder this is a brand that IS truly authentic. An icon that has been built over the last six-plus decades on the backs of hard work, dedication to craft, and holding oneself to the highest standards possible.  At the end McConaughey says “we’re not for everyone, and that’s okay”. We can get behind that!

Gin O'clock

Usually gin evokes thoughts of summertime… 

G&Ts by the pool, greyhounds at the beach, cookouts, maybe a taste on the back nine… We think the fresh pine, spice and mint aromas can also dream up snow days, ice-skating and a relaxing game night by the fire. 

Gin truly is a year ‘round spirit!

We’ve got some fantastic gins in stock whether you lean toward the citrus-forward style (like our spirits buyer), or a juniper-bomb take a look at our selection, you’ll find something great! 

We are also working on a couple of things that will hopefully come to fruition later this year, so stay tuned! 

Here are a few of our favorite Gins that can be bought right here at Bounty Hunter Wine & Spirits:

FEW Breakfast Gin Illinois

Made from midwest grain, and distilled with Earl Grey tea, which perfectly complements the juniper and citrus notes, the Breakfast Gin will liven up any martini!

Brooklyn Gin New York

Hand-crafted in small batches in a small copper still that produces about 300 bottles per 3-day run, this citrus-forward London style with a heart of juniper is dry, crisp and well balanced.

Botanica Gin

Herbaceous juniper, fresh grapefruit and coriander pop on the nose, while bergamot and spicy cassia dominate the palate. This is the ultimate cocktail gin, perfect with tonic or as a classic martini. 

Try out your bartending skills with these fun cocktails:

Rosemary Gin & Tonic 

courtesy of PUNCH 

Gin Spritz

courtesy of FOOD52

The Harrier

courtesy of Food & Wine

E N J O Y! 

- The Bounty Hunter Team 

Cheers to the Graduating Class of 2016!

The gown is on, the cap fits just right, cameras are flashing, flowers are being carried and the excitement is all around.

College Graduation, a day to celebrate the culmination of years of lectures, essays, projects, and of course late night cramming sessions.

A proud moment for a parent and child, each taking a step back and sighing with relief as they look towards the future.

"WE DID IT!"

Wine and Spirits are a great way to celebrate the efforts of our graduates and gift them something to remember! 

Our Wine Scouts have put together a list of bottles that are sure to excite your graduate. Let’s clink those glasses together and celebrate their hard work. 

2012 Schramsberg Brut Rose North Coast

Bubbles to toast the grads! Schramsberg is a Napa Valley institution and a wine many believe to be our Valley’s first foray in to competing for bubble-supremacy with our Champagne counterparts across the pond.  I can’t think of a better way to celebrate graduation than to gift a bottle of bubbles made in a traditional method but which finds itself in a new world."

 - Alan Lewis, Wine Scout 

NV Krug Grand Cuvee

"Charles Krug was the very first winery to produce commercially in the Napa Valley and has primarily been owned and operated by the Mondavi family for nearly a century; having been passed down from one generation to the next. It’s a wine that exemplifies family tradition here in Napa and would be very appropriate to commemorate your own family tradition. I recommend gifting one bottle to celebrate the graduation and one bottle to open when they get their first job!!"

- Lee Reinsimar, Wine Scout 

2012 Pursuit Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

"This is one of those wines that should be enjoyed with family and then left on the mantle of a graduate as a constant reminder to always chase down their dreams and a wish from the parents that all their future Pursuits be successful!" 

- Chelsea Slody, Wine Scout

Aberfeldy 12 year Single Malt Whisky Highland

"The golden dram!" 

"I like to go Single Malt or Armagnac/Cognac on these. It gives a new grad an introduction to drinking beyond what they’re used to in collegiate partying.  A gift that says; “Welcome to the World!”

- Micah Rochelle, Spirits Buyer

Delord 25 year Bas-Armagnac

"Imagine your college’s library in a glass and you’ll be circling around the spirit of this Spirit! Rich with well-developed flavors and aromas of leather fig and toffee, this is a complex spirit that is a great introduction to the world of brandy. Celebrate the next step in life with a “next level” spirit!"

- Micah Rochelle, Spirits Buyer

Hazelburn 12yr Single Malt Whisky Campbeltown

"Age and experience, but still a playful exuberance.  What could be a better whisky for a newly-minted graduate? From the incredible Springbank distillery in Campbeltown comes this approachable, easy drinking 12 year old Irish whisky. The exploration into the finest things in life is just starting. They might as well get off on the right foot!" 

- Micah Rochelle, Spirits Buyer

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 2016 GRADUATES!

Introducing Bounty Hunter Rare Wine &... Spirits?

Yes, it’s true. We’ve changed our name from Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions to Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Spirits. As fans (and consumers) of high-proof goods, we know how hard it is to find a trusted source for some of the world’s best bourbons, scotch, tequila, etc. That’s why in 2009 we started working with distilleries, importers and distributors – both in our back yard and around the world – to provide a selection of spirits to compliment our wine program. Much to our surprise it was a pretty big success and has grown to be a large part of the offerings in our catalog and on our website. We thought it fitting that the name of the company should mirror our selections, thus a name change was in order.

Just Released: Bounty Hunter
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
(now available on our website)

I took on the project of acquiring the rare spirits, and for the last four years I have to admit it’s been a lot of fun. However, with success came more work than one person can handle. So, last year we welcomed Justin Moulton, an accomplished Wine Industry Professional and card-carrying Whiskey Geek, to the Bounty Hunter team. As our Spirits Manager, Justin will help take our spirits program to new heights. As such, you can expect Justin to regularly post here on the blog, presenting new products, sharing progress on new projects, and discussing the latest news in the spirits world.

Along with the name change, we’ve also updated our website to feature our spirits program, showcasing many of the rare, limited and exclusive spirits we have to offer. From pre-WWII Armagnac to Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons to Limited Edition Single Malts from distilleries that no longer exist, you can find these and many more highly sought-after gems in the Rarest of the Rare section of our website. And, just like with our wine program, we also teamed up with some of the top distilleries world-wide, to create custom blends and single-cask selections from the most esteemed rickhouses in the world. Our Bounty Hunter Spirits Selections are carefully crafted by some of the greatest in the business and all wear the Bounty Hunter moniker as our endorsement of their exceptional quality.

Exclusive bottlings for Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Spirits

Even though the name changed a bit, the core values of the company have not. Honesty, integrity, trust, good living and plain talk are and will always be the cornerstone of Bounty Hunter. We invite you to take a look at our spirits on the website or read through the spirits section in our upcoming spring catalog and rest assured, “if it’s not great, we don’t sell it.” 

--Stefan Matulich, Sales Director & Spirits Buyer