We have a very special treat for you this week! We will be highlighting not one, not two, but THREE items! The first of these is the Black Forest Decadent Red Wine by Cupcake, followed by the Captain Morgan Jack O Blast, and last but not least, Ballast Point Pumpkin Down.
That’s right, we’re going seasonal people.
With temperatures dropping and the days growing shorter, we must turn to alcohol. KIDDING! But it does help to have something delicious to focus out attention on. From pairings to drink recipes, the avenues are endless when these three items get together. I know you’re all getting antsy for me to get to our products for this week, so let’s get down to it!
Wine, oh sweet, delicious, red wine. There is no better time for this (in my very biased opinion) than during these chilly months. We say goodbye to the summer days of zinfandel and sunrises, and hello to cozy sweaters, crackling fires, and savory red wine. Now that is an evening that I’d be fine spending snowed in!
This particular wine is sweeter than most reds, I mean, the label is Cupcake so we can’t expect anything too dry. I personally welcome this sweetness, I mean we’re approaching Halloween for goodness sakes. Adults can have a sweet tooth too, right? Well I say adults deserve to have fun, and if that means pouring a tall glass of liquid sunsets then sign me up! Especially if the dark crimson color matches your vampire lipstick on October first, hello, no need to reapply!! I can definitely get behind that one.
Let’s stay on topic, we have THREE products to get through.
The color, like I said, is a perfect inky, crimson. Deep and inviting at first sight, its scent is even better (hard to believe, I know!). This wine is a blend, and when I say blend, I mean BLEND. It is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel (hey summer), Petite Verdot, and Petite Sirah. See? Told you it was a blend. It may sound like someone got mad at their liquor cabinet and blender at the same time, but I promise that Cupcake is genius for this combination.
Now, back to our senses. The smell is dark berry, perfect for a chilly October night. The blackberries and rich raspberries provide a luscious cushion in your first sip between the Zinfandel and Cabernet. The floral aroma is evident on your second whiff, it is easy to miss so be sure to pay attention to this siren’s call. She pulls you in with nothing short of a drowning devotion to her smooth and smoky power.
Captain Jack O Blast on the other hand provides the friendly and familiar smell and taste of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. This limited edition treat is filled to the brim with every delicious part that rum has to offer, mixed in with just the right amount of seasonal sweetness we all crave during fall. The taste lies somewhere between the spices of cinnamon in a pumpkin drink and the spices of rum we all know and love. The smell is pungent in the best way possible, imagine a liquefied pumpkin pie. A heavy mahogany laced with the sweet and delicate aroma of vanilla and nutmeg. With its amber, honey color, the taste is reflective of that warmth which makes it a welcome addition to any liquor cabinet. Mix it with a little coffee for a perfect cozy treat for any chilly night.
Now, beer and pumpkin, that isn’t a combination as easy to make successful. But, Ballast Point’s Pumpkin Down knocked this one out of the park. “A pumpkin ale that bucks the trend” is what they had to say on this product and it could not be more accurate. This is no attempt at a pumpkin pie beer, no no no. This is roasted pumpkin with a caramel and toffee backsplash. It feels like they made it for those who would rather spend their October nights by the bonfire instead of the fireplace. You can taste the malt and earth in it, softened with the slightest hint of spice that you would want in any good beer. You taste ale with every sip, but this heavy flavor is brought up in the most loving way to reflect the romance of the fall season by culminating a trusting relationship between the hops, cinnamon, and roasted pumpkin flavor. We want to recommend to you that you save this one for a night of risotto with butternut squash or a French onion soup with French bread. Don’t waste this ale, friends, savor it.
All three of these products are available at your favorite Payless. Be sure to reserve yours soon or your fall will be a bit less magical without these liquid autumn concoctions!