Applejack: America's Native Spirit

When you think of the quintessential American spirit, you probably think of Kentucky bourbon, right?  What if we told you that our Founding Fathers were imbibing a spirit sourced further North long before the stills were running in the South?

The native spirit of the Red, White and Blue is actually applejack; a delicious distilled beverage made from, you guessed it, apples! POTUS #1, George Washington, was so enamored with the apple cider hued liquor that his men often gifted him bottles of spirit. Legend has it that our nation’s first distillery, Laird and Co. (continuously operating since 1780) gave Washington the recipe so he could make his own.

Applejack is a spirit fermented from regular orchard apples which are pressed whole, their juice distilled, and then aged in American Oak barrels (not unlike their bourbon kin). It can run the gamut from light-bodied to slightly viscous and has notes of fall spices, vanilla, clove and of, course, apple!

So, what happened to this beloved spirit enjoyed by great American Presidents and authors alike (Hemingway wrote about it in The Sun Also Rises)?  Well, as is the case in most businesses, it became a question of scalability.  As grain-based spirits took off and became more economical to produce, the labor and source-intensive applejack fell out of favor among our country’s distillers.

Luckily, the spirit’s flagship producer, Laird and Co., still cranks out the good stuff as well as a small but proud collective of craft distillers like Arkansas Black.  In fact, for a limited time, we have partnered with Shaker and Spoon to offer you a 15% discount on bottles of Arkansas Black’s Straight Applejack when you use the promo code “AppleShaker” at checkout.

It’s perfect for these cold December evenings where you can enjoy it straight or on the rocks; served hot and mixed in with your favorite apple cider; or try this excellent recipe from Shaker and Spoon: the Applejack of My Eye!

We hope learning about our country’s founding spirit inspires you to make it part of your winter imbibing. As always, if you want to learn more about applejack or any of the other great wines and spirits that the Bounty Hunter offers, reach out to a Wine Scout!

Happy Holidays from the Bounty Hunter!

The Only 5 Wines You Need for Thanksgiving, According to Chef Duskie Estes

If you’re a bacon lover, then you probably know Duskie Estes as the Princess du Porc – her half of the title when she and  husband John Stewart won Cochon 555 at Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Or if you live in Sonoma’s wine country, you may have visited Zazu Kitchen + Farm, the couple’s Sebastopol restaurant and tasted their artisan Black Pig Bacon from pigs they raise.

Though she cooks farm-to-table with classic roots, Estes has a playful and quirky style that comes out in everything she does, whether in her appearances on Food Network Shows (like Next Iron Chef or Guy’s Grocery Games, airing Nov. 19), or entertaining for holidays.

“Our Thanksgiving is kind of weird. We do bacon, lettuce, turkey and avocado (BLAT) sandwiches on Thanksgiving for our family,” says Estes, who has two daughters. “We have like 20 bags of chips that we say no to most of the year and have a chip party with our BLATS. ” The grownups wash down their sandwiches with sparkling wine or German Riesling.

The real Thanksgiving dinner happens the day before the holiday, so restaurant staff can relax with their families. Estes, a wine aficionado, shares her five go-to styles of wine and varietals for pairing with a traditional – or slightly offbeat -- turkey dinner.

Bubbles – “Bubbles work with everything from oysters to barbecue. They have such great acid and they make everyone happy all the time. I don’t know a food that I don’t think bubbles go with,” she says.

Our wine pick: NV Lanson "Black Label" Brut Champagne, $34.95

Rosé  - “I would have rosé with the turkey myself,” says Estes. “But it depends on the gravy. We do a gravy that’s more orange juice and lemon juice, so it’s tangier rather than heavy.”  She also finds that the tart and astringent flavors of cranberries, found in a cranberry-apple chutney, are delicious with dry rosé.

Our wine pick: 2016 Château La Calisse Rosé, Provence Costeaux Varois, $34.95

Rhône white - Rhône whites (think a blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier) are often a chef favorite when it comes to food pairing.  “The wines tend to have some weight, less acid and a little more body, and floral notes,” says Estes.

That combo of characteristics makes Rhône whites perfect with all your side dishes, from Brussels sprouts with bacon or yams to pureed parsnips or mashed potatoes. Estes can’t wait to match it with her winter white cauliflower soup with apple chips and curry oil or the turkey brined in maple, ginger, allspice and black pepper.

Our wine pick: 2015 The Prisoner “Blindfold” White Blend, California, $19.95

Pinot Noir - “It has such a broad range it would go great with the earthy vegetables, the bird, yams and anything with mushrooms,” says Estes. Pinot is also a classic pairing with her favorite group – pork – as in this Bovolo Bacon Macaroni and Cheese she created for Food Network Challenge. Since her restaurant is in the Russian River, she’s fond of that earthy yet fruit-forward style.  

Our wine pick: 2014 Westside Crossing Pinot Noir, Sonoma Russian River Valley, $27.95

Zinfandel – The bold berry flavors, spice notes and smooth tannins in Zinfandel, a quintessentially American wine, make it a great match for dark meat turkey, pork roast and foods with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, says Estes. And it’s more creative than just pulling out a big Cabernet Sauvignon. She loves all Zin, but is especially fond of Zinfandels from Sonoma’s Dry Creek and Russian River, which are considered some of the best in the world. “Those areas could use the support right now [post wildfires] and they make rocking Zin!” she says.

Our wine pick: 2015 Ridge “Pagani Ranch” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley, $34.95

A Revivalist Spirits Experience

The summer is waning, but we’re still entrenched in all its sunny glory. In these warmer climes (and sometimes when there’s a chill in the air) when we want something crisp and invigorating, with a little kick, we reach for a bottle of gin, and hope many of you do the same. There has been a major surge in the spirit’s popularity and the byproduct of that surge is a rise in small, craft production. Which means more opportunities for us to try something new and great! Recently we had the chance to taste the gins of a small producer, not available outside of their home state of Pennsylvania (save for a few select retailers and restaurants in nearby states like your friendly neighborhood Bounty Hunter!) We took little time to reach out to the distillery and ask a few questions and gain some insight into their new venture.

Brandywine Branch Distillers is in Elverson, PA and was founded by brothers Don and Scott Avellino just a couple of years ago. They purchased an eight acre farm in 2014 and they began transforming its old, run down, stone barn into a distillery in 2015. The barn dates to the 19^th century and was part of a much larger farm. Known locally as “the hippie barn” for its colorful denizens of the 1960s and 70s era when squatters used it for shelter. The hippies left some colorful psychedelic designs on the beams that the Avellino brothers have been sure to preserve.

Don & Scott decided early in their planning that using the finest quality equipment would be of paramount importance. Their fermentation tanks are built from Douglas Fir by a century-old, local Philadelphia company who have built many of the water towers visible from the New York City skyline. They elected to purchase an alembic still from renowned German manufacturer CARL, who are known for their long family history, quality, and reliability. Choosing an alembic still, most commonly used in brandy distillation, allows a versatility that they might not get from a pot or column still, which is good news for us, as they’ll have the opportunity to experiment and produce a wide array of spirits. Once the renovation was completed they were ready to get to work. They finally fired up the still for the first time in February, 2016.

What has transpired for the brothers has been a fascinating journey. They grew up around machinery and equipment and found their way to the automotive repair business, a rewarding industry, but as Don says, “demanding in a way unlike some other industries; no one is ever happy about spending money to fix their car.” So, they set out to utilize another passion they shared, home brewing, and create a business that could be creative and offer an opportunity to build a brand with products they could be proud of that people would be happy to spend their hard-earned money on. After doing some market research they settled on the distilling business. They knew they wanted to make rye whiskey, in keeping with Pennsylvania heritage, but also realized that producing whiskey takes time and doesn’t generate immediate revenue, so they knew they’d need another spirit to keep the business operational while they lay down their whiskey stocks. Gin was the logical go-to for a spirit they could sell immediately that still showcases artisan craft and handmade production. While seeking to safeguard history, they’re also looking to “redefine how people view gin and attract new spirit lovers to the category.” To this end they’ve created a line of gins with distinct botanical mixes that are based on the seasons. These include a citrus-forward style for spring; a floral, grassy style for summer; warming spices for fall; and a gin finished in red wine barrels that has a kiss of ginger.

It’s our job to be a discerning eye, to look through many lenses at new products and this stuff passes all of the test! Our whole team was really impressed with the gins we tasted. We expect more greatness in the future from this small, family owned project. Cheers!

The Art of Japanese Whisky meets the Art of Advertising

We like to look to ads from yesteryear for inspiration as we are working with new (and old) products. Often these are just print ads from magazines from the 40s on, but when it comes to video some of the best are from several thousand miles east of our Napa HQ… and we found many for Suntory, the Japanese distillery responsible for some of the most sought after whisky in the world today. So we put this little feature about the distillery together. Click the links for some great ads from days gone by.

Suntory distillery was founded in the early 1920s, but was not well-known here in the United States until 2003 when their whiskies began an unparalleled surge in popularity thanks to the film Lost in Translation. Bill Murray’s (who happens to be near our home base for “Festival Napa Valley” right now) 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.

Speaking of “on the rocks,” check out these incredible ice cubes created by Tokyo Advertising Agency, TBWA/Hakuhodo for Suntory a couple of years ago! Icy works of art that pair with whisky works of art.

No matter which endorser you side with, bottles like Suntory’s ‘Toki’ or Hibiki Harmony are best enjoyed during these warm summer evenings the way the Japanese drink their whisky… on the rocks.

Why Whisper for Wine When You Can Wrangle?

We caught this article in Bloomberg last week, extolling the virtues of hiring a “wine whisperer.” It’s a business model we know all too well. While the author makes it sound like this is a fairly new trend in the world of wine, the truth is, we’ve been enthusiastic wine-country consultants for our customers since 1994.

While Bloomberg’s cast of Cab-rustlers charge exorbitant fees or annual retainers for their services only available to the ultra-wealthy, we’ve been providing the “inside line” at no extra charge for all these years. We believe you should spend your hard-earned dollar buying the wine you want, not on the staff that goes to fetch it.

And why not? We believe that putting those sought-after bottles and new discoveries into our customers’ hands is what we do better than just about anybody. We don’t charge for the service because we know that once a new customer sees that not only do we provide 100-point wines but have 100-point service to match, we’ll become their go-to resource for life. It’s what’s taken us from a simple one-man operation to a staff of over one hundred today.

So the next time you hear that someone out there will charge you for the pleasure of their wine-hunting services, just remember that you’ve already got a Bounty Hunter riding at your side.

New around these parts? Here are some of the services we provide to our customers every single day which have been setting us apart for over two decades:

ª      Need a rare, “mailing-list only” bottle? We’ve been building relationships in Napa and beyond for over 23 years. If we can’t get it, it likely can’t be gotten. 

ª      Are you going to miss Auction Napa Valley this June? Not to worry. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve raised a paddle on behalf of a client and scored them a truly one-of-a-kind, bespoke auction Cabernet. 

ª      Hosting a party or event and need some professional guidance, or maybe just out for dinner and not sure what to order? You’ve always got a personal Wine Scout on speed dial. Our Scouts are wine industry veterans, from multiple tiers in the business, so you know that you’ve always got a straight shooter who knows precisely what they’re talking about. 

ª      Building a cellar and need help taking inventory, or maybe just some advice about how to round it out? It’s not uncommon for us to fly our Scouts all over the country for just that purpose. Helping to curate our clients’ cellars is an honor, and fully utilizes the level of skill and experience that our team of wine professionals have to offer. 

The Bucket List: Derby Style

The first Saturday in May- aka- Derby Day- is one of the most romantic traditions in the sporting world. 

Here, at Bounty Hunter, we were lucky enough to get the full scoop on the best things to do in Kentucky leading up to the fun weekend from our Wine Scout Ilse Chun, who has deep Southern roots from growing up in Charleston S.C. and attending high school and college in Louisville, KY. 

When it came down to writing a blog post, it was a no-brainer to invite Ilse to be a guest and write about the love she has for the Kentucky Derby. 

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The very first Derby race was run in 1875, and in later years was nicknamed “The Run for the Roses”- referring to the Churchill Downs race track founder’s proclivity for decorating his parties with copious quantities of rose garlands and bouquets. For locals, Derby is a weeklong celebration that begins on the Saturday prior to the race, and really hits its stride on Oaks Day- the Friday before Derby. Attending Derby and the events leading up to it, is one of the great pleasures of life, and after logging many hours of Derby revelry over the years, here is an insider’s list to maximizing your Derby experience.

For ladies and gents, procuring the perfect hat, will maximize your Derby experience, so a one of a kind, handmade chapeau from Olivia Griffin of Louisville’s The Mysterious Rack, is the savvy place to start. (558 S 4^th Street, Louisville, KY.)

Oaks Day is all about the ladies- featuring 3 year old phillies racing around the Churchill Downs track. Junior Leaguers and equine enthusiasts alike, deck out in head-to-toe pink attire, to raise money and awareness for breast and ovarian cancer survivors.  Some locals, hoping to avoid the mayhem and hoopla of Derby, will opt to attend the Oaks, in lieu of the Derby.

Working in fine dining in Louisville for many years, I giddily looked forward to seeing the trainers and jockeys in my restaurant for dinner on Oaks and Derby Day. Beloved trainer Bob Baffert materialized like clockwork each year, sipping his Diet Coke and charming everyone- including the staff. Guests imbibed Single Barrel Bourbon flights like the one below and Manhattans, and service was always smooth and filled with colorful fashion and Southern gentility.

If you are planning to make the Derby pilgrimage you’ll want to book your hotel and restaurant reservations at least a year in advance. Everybody who is anybody already has a standing table, so it’s on you to plan ahead. The pinnacle of all that is right and good in food, wine, and service is at Jack Fry’s Restaurant on Bardstown Road. Founded by a bootlegger and his wife in the 1930’s, and known mainly to locals, Jack Fry’s is famous for their herb-encrusted pork chops and their expertly-curated bar. Bartender Nick Owens has a few favorites for this festive time of year, including Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Caribbean Rum Cask Finish served with an ice cube, and The Bluegrass Mule- an invigorating update on the more touristy Mint Julip: with mint-tea-infused ginger syrup, shaken with Makers Mark Whiskey (try our exclusive BH Maker’s Mark bottling), orchard peach liquor, a kiss of lemon, and a fresh mint garnish. After sipping one of Nick’s classic cocktails, humidity and high heels will no longer be a factor.

After a busy day of selecting your horses and screaming your head off, you will crave the 4 Diamond luxury of Louisville’s finest and most historic hotel, The Seelbach.

Boasting a virtual who’s who of guests, from Gatsby’s F. Scott Fitzerald himself, to John F Kennedy, I make a point to stay here for at least one night, every time I return to Louisville. The hotel’s historic Old Seelbach Bar is renowned for its monumental Bourbon list and for its signature classic:

The Seelbach Cocktail:

1 oz Bourbon (We love the Old Forester BH Selection #3 Single Barrel)

.5 oz Mandarin Napoleon Liqueur 

4 dashes of Angostura bitters 

3 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters

Pour in cold Champagne 

Finish with a long orange twist

Before you fly home, it is customary to ingest Louisville’s most legendary recipe: The Kentucky Hot Brown. Chef Fred Schmidt, (interestingly, the father of my first restaurant boss, Fred Schmidt Jr.), conceived of this decadent dish, sensing that diners craved more than a simple omelet. With layers of thickly sliced turkey breast, nestled between Roma tomatoes, bacon, Texas toast, and Pecorino Romano cheese, this is the key to your Derby recovery.

Old Forester 'Bounty Hunter Selection #3' Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey 

Elijah Craig 'Bounty Hunter Private Selection' Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey 

Bounty Hunter '10 year Cask Strength Barrel #5' Single Barrel Whiskey 

The Manhattan Project Cocktail Pack

With the right ingredients and a few simple instructions, you will create classic cocktails from the comforts of your kitchen. Here's our recipe for The Manhattan, featuring some famous bartender 'secrets' along with all the ingredients you'll need to become a Manhattan master. You’ll receive one bottle of each ingredient listed below along with the recipe and instructions.

Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey

After much lauded success with the Angel's Envy Bourbon, the Hendersons have put their hat into the rye whiskey game for a few years now. Following the same principles as with their bourbon, this is finished in Caribbean Rum casks. A spicy rye that is bolstered with unctuous notes of blackstrap molasses, cocoa and mouthfuls of honey. A rye unlike anything else, this is not to be missed. Limited availability.

Maker's Mark 'Bounty Hunter Private Selection' Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Kentucky

Perhaps the most unique of all barrel selection experiences, we were enthralled to come up with this "stave finished" whiskey. It's a whiskey that envelops your senses with robust aromas of barrel spice, caramel, toffee and vanilla, and a lingering trace of campfire in the background. The palate has a Cognac-like elegance, and the cask-strength bottling packs just the right punch to leave you wanting more. Our first trip to Loretto is one you’ll want to savor!

Toast the Ghost

Standing in a cemetery across from a distillery doesn't really sound like the type of tour introduction one might expect, but that's exactly how our recent visit to The Glenrothes began. Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director, stood amidst the headstones memorializing denizens of the village of Rothes and told us a ghost story.

The distillery was founded in 1879, and the building that now houses the big-bellied pot stills producing this magical elixir was once its malting floor. That malt house was converted to house the stills in 1979.

At the turn of the 20th century, an orphan boy named Biawa "Byeway" Makalaga was found under a bush in Africa by Colonel Grant of Rothes. Grant brought "Byeway" back to Scotland to be raised in his hometown. The young man grew up to be the Colonel's helper and a well-known figure in the village, playing on the local football team. "Byeway" passed away in 1972, seven years later when the former malting floor was renovated and the new stills installed there were two reports of his ghost appearing in the still house.

The distillery brought in a local professor to investigate, he found a disruption in an energy line that was caused by the new stills installation, this led him to walk to a specific gravestone across the road, 70+ yards from the still house, and after a brief moment of conversation he returned and said the situation had been resolved amicably. The gravestone was that of Biawa "Byeway" Makalaga, and his ghost was not seen again.

The legend of The Glenrothes continues, and why not pick up a couple of bottles so that next time you want a fine Scotch Whisky you can raise your glass and "toast the ghost", in the tradition of Rothes, Scotland.

Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside

Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside

1999 Signatory 'Glenrothes' 16yr Single Malt Whisky