Hola Free Rangers,
Loyal readers will likely remember, when we first moved to the new spot there was a rash of people “concerned” about flower planters on the windowsills upstairs. I believe this specific brand of neighborhood absurdity was the subject- at least fleetingly so- of two (maybe three) previous e-mails, but you can read the original post here (Apologies that the sale on that one is long expired): Will the Real Ron Swanson Please Stand Up?
Fast forward to this last Saturday, a trying one- even by late summer aimless tourists standards. My contempt has been wearing itself among the deepest furrows of this particular brow. Somewhere in the longest middle of a flavorless Jello kind of day, we noticed a random couple (let’s call them BF and GF) looking intently at the building, walking around the corner and back again, looking up, taking pictures, examining very closely the signs in our windows, franticly fingering their phones. Early in this uncomfortable inspection, Pasquale noticed the pair in the Hoyt Street window, and thinking they were friends and/or fans, he waved to them which elicited no reaction. Eventually BF opens the front door, pokes his head in and asks in a very concerned tone if we know who lives upstairs because those flowers could really hurt someone. Pasquale quickly and evenly tells him that we don’t know who lives upstairs. BF remains holding open the front door looking around as if he wants more, so without looking up from the computer halfway across the room I say a little too loudly, and with a molasses layer of condescension, “Thanks for your concern, we’re all good here.” BF looks a bit stunned and returns to hang out at the curb, next to the garbage can and GF, looking toward the building, both continue poking at the their phones. So, I go outside, and without a word, raise my phone and click a pic of them. As I turn to go back inside, BF asks, “Why do you have to be an asshole?” Yup. These sour-faced freaks creepily creeped around us for 20 minutes, held the door open (letting out our AC), and asked that we stop our work day to embark on their personal Karen Project, but apparently silently walking outside and taking a picture of them right back was more than they could handle (but at least they left). I don’t like that blue dude.
This week’s FREE in-store tasting welcomes back to the shop our buddy, Rob, from St. George Spirits, the finest oldest micro distiller in America. I’ve written so much about these guys and their best-in-show bottles that I never know where to begin anymore. So, here are two tales from shortly after my visit to the distillery in Alameda (apologies for any overlap):
*** St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA, 2021 ***
*** St. George Spirits 2022 ***
So, this Thursday, September 5th (5-7pm), please join us for FREE tastes of St. George’s latest regular release, Valley Gin, a light citrusy take on the theme, alongside our exclusive single barrel of St. George Free Range Dry Rye Reposado Gin, which spent almost 5 years in a second fill red CA wine barrel, and clocks in at just shy of 120°. We can absolutely guarantee that you’ve never tasted anything like it, and that it is available nowhere else in the world! As an added bonus, we’re also showing St. George Single Malt Whiskey Lot 23 and St. George Baller Single Malt. And whether or not you can make the party, click below for 10% off these delicious elixirs all week online!
(!) Click here for St George Spirits sale page (!)
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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