Hey Free Rangers,
Can’t even get into it this week. There’s an eerie calm about these days that any enjoyer of classic cinema knows is a ________ (wrong answers only). Some days it’s okay to just do your thing, enjoy the sunshine, and plow forth with whatever vigor you have in your pocket. So, we’ll be here doing that if you need us. And there are some very fun happenings ahead this week, in our little corner of the world. And this is the first Monday e-mail to go out on a Monday in weeks, so a pinch of grace please. Wait, what time is it? A barrel is on its way right now.
So, we bought another barrel of Dry Rye gin from St. George Spirits. They make a number of lovely gins, one of which employs a neutral grain spirit of 100% pot-distilled rye, essential crafting the gin flavor and aromatics profile over an un-aged whiskey. They also then barrel some of that gin, turning it at least halfway back into whiskey. Then there are the single barrels, which are generally quite a bit longer aged, and most definitely significantly higher proof. Our last barrel from them was running low (and yes, they are no longer at intro price), so we tasted what was available from the distillery and selected one that had done about two and half years in a second fill red wine barrel, and clocks in very near 120°.
Our good buddy, Rob from St George Spirits will be in the shop for this week’s FREE in-store tasting, where he’ll pour FREE tastes of said new St George Free Range Barrel Aged Dry Rye Gin and a bunch of other fun bottled delights. Please join us this Thursday, April 2nd (5-7pm). Also pouring at the event are St George California Shochu, St George NOLA Coffee Liqueur, St George Aqua Perfect Basil Eau de Vie, and very likely a player to be named later (or two).
And it is also that time of year again. Step right this way. Magical Mystery packs are back! For those of you who have not been with us for one of the these, this is a fairly unique opportunity to pick up some old and rare wine (in some cases, irreplaceable) at well below market value. These 6-packs are drawn from bottles lost and found in the considerable depths of our cellar, and from my unruly personal collection (and past auction purchases), randomly packed in Free Range bottle carriers. These bottles could be literally anything.
You can expect fair market value to significantly exceed your per bottle price, but many of these are so rare, in these vintages, that it’s difficult to corroborate value with none available at retail anywhere on Earth. All wines are at least a few years since harvest, and many are 20+ years in bottle. These bottles are almost entirely red, and lean toward new world fruit sources (OR, CA, WA), though not always new world styles. Vintages range from 1991 to 2021. Absolutely none of these are cast-offs, and the vast majority were originally purchased with personal consumption in mind, but as we’ve discussed, I own far more wine than one could ever possibly consume.
If you would like to include one white wine, one whiskey, and/or one dessert wine (instead of 6 bottles of red by default), please check the applicable boxes when selecting your pack(s) below. *** Also, this round, we’ve adde a 3-pack option for OR PN lovers, who might want to see what these packs are about without committing to 6 bottles.
A Just a Taste of Magic 3-pack includes OR Pinot Noir 1999-2021. They will be delicious. Yes, have some.
$89/3-pack – $120 min retail value ($40/btl avg)
The Where to Begin 6-pack is our intro level, which much like a mediocre Radiohead record is still an impressive thing compared to many other’s best ever efforts.
$199/6-pack – $330 min retail value ($55/btl avg)
The Heavy Hitters 6-pack looks like a who’s who of top shelf back wall type fare. Old stalwarts, and up ’n’ comers alike, your average bottle here is a fairly special thing.
$389/6-pack – $594 min retail value ($99/btl avg)
Myths & Legends (6-pack) is not hyperbole. You will find here some of the finest and rarest wines of which we are aware in the world. Most will be significantly lauded, though some are too rare to be well known commodities. American originals, best in class producers, and very highly rated bottles only.
$579/6-pack – $810 min retail value ($135/btl avg)
(!) Click here for Magical Mystery Sale Page (!)
*** Limit: 1 of each pack per household
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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