Ya Know Free Rangers,
I don’t always handle things so well. No, it’s true. Just look at this. I shred every non-fiction writer I see for using too many ‘I’s, and here are four in two lines, and one right at the freakin’ front. There’s always a better way to convey the idea without announcing the self repeatedly. Not everything needs to be a personal essay. It’s just lazy. You deserve better, but some days, like this one, I’m not certain that I do. Pushing 50 over here, but perpetually going on 13. It’s not a great look, most of the time, unless you’re one of those “own it” folks in which case it’s the only fashion in your closet. This particular 13 year old however does not escape his own indictments. Today (this past Thursday by the time you’re reading it) a kid came in (clearly into his 20s, but definitely not 30) asking for tequila. He was shown the clear spirits shelf, it was explained that each blanco has a corresponding reposado and anejo behind, and he appeared immediately deflated. “That’s all you have?” A glimmer of hope returned when it was revealed that smaller bottles live behind the counter. But like so many, he was only looking for Espolon or some other big name crap, and we had only Cimarron to offer. “I can’t mess with that, never tried it.” I get how many people have been indoctrinated by the overwhelming maelstrom of multi-million dollar marketing campaigns, but the logic (or lack there of) is tough to swallow, knowing full well that we make less money to run a cooler shop. Clearly at some point, he hadn’t tried Espolon or Casamigos either. And the words required to spark reconsideration sit on quick-draw in my hip pocket. But already feeling froggy, the mechanism had to be halted from barking, “So you’re never going to taste anything new for the rest of your life?!” Luckily I was not in the conversation and managed to remain that way. Then he just stood there in front of the counter looking at his phone, and I opened the door, stepped outside and howled at least one expletive and one blaspheme into the endless grey evening. It wasn’t the kid so much as the grim meat hook reality that we’d have fewer conversations like this and pull more receipts if we had Veuve ads plastered across our windows and pushed flasks of Georgi and lottery tickets to the most vulnerable folks in our fair borough. But the door was still open when I barked up toward the moonless expanse, and the kid caught it from inside, and is most likely to never to return, causing disservice to us both. My bad, fella who is not reading this.
Speaking of enjoying smaller producers and un-boxed intent, this week we’ll be featuring All Points West, a tiny distillery in NJ who produce solid grain and malt based whiskeys with a Japanese sensibility and one of the tastiest and unique gins to cross our palates in the last decade. This Thursday, 1/18 (5-7pm), please join us for FREE tastes of two All Points West whiskeys, as well as their high proof Bone Black Vodka (which is clear), and their not to be missed Cat House Pink Pepper Gin (w/ hibiscus and pink peppercorn). Enjoy 10% OFF all of these ONLINE all week, and in-store on tasting day. Hit the link below for full descriptions of each bottle and sale pricing.
(!) Click here for hidden sale page (!)
** Online only! **
** This week only! **
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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