Cocktail ingredients Utah update – September 2012

This Martini service will keep your cocktail icy cold.

Utah cocktailians can thank their stars that the August doldrums are officially over and the Utah DABC State Liquor Stores have finally loosened the purse strings.  The number of items on SPA (Special Price Adjustment) this month has doubled from a mere 156 in August to 312 in September, so it’s time to get ready for cold weather cocktails by stocking your bar with September bargains.  So as the nights grow cooler and the late summer days grow noticeably shorter, here are some cocktail ideas that, combined with some sale items, can save you money.

There are a number of Bourbons on price adjustment this month; Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey is available for $23 (8% off) and makes a great BLT.  There are also single-barrel Bourbons from Eagle Rare (10% off) and Evan Williams (7% off).  All of these Bourbons are in the $20-30 price range.

In case you’re looking for liqueurs to accompany the key ingredient of your cocktail, or even be the main ingredient, you might want to try one of the following.  E&J VSOP is a pretty decent Brandy for mixing; it’s marked down 21% to $11, can do good duty in a Sidecar (or any other cocktail), and will hurt your wallet far less than mixing with your favorite Cognac.  If Tiki-style cocktails are your thing, why not try a Tanqueray Taj?  Midori Melon Liqueur is marked down 15% to $17 and is used as a flavoring in many other cocktails.  A favorite Triple-Sec substitute (if you’re still using that $10 Triple Sec, why not treat yourself? If you do, you may never go back...) is Gran Gala Orange Liqueur, marked down 13% to $19.  It’s cheaper than Grand Marnier, but almost as good.

There are some nice Plata Tequilas on sale this month.  Three you might like to try in a variety of price ranges are Sauza Hornitos (12% to $22), Milagro Silver (7% to $27) and Herradura Blanco (12% to $38).  Any of these will make a dynamite Margarita.  Why not mix them with Gran Gala Orange Liqueur (see preceding paragraph)?  There is also a nice selection of Reposados marked down this month, check them out at your local store.

If you like Rum, the state has limited markdowns to dark ones this month.  There’s a trio of Bacardis along with the Cruzan Dark.  If you like your Rum Barbados, however, large bottles of Mount Gay Eclipse® Barbados Rum are marked down over 18% to $28.  Finally, Martini lovers will be pleased to know that they don’t have to go thirsty this month.  Hendricks Gin (6% to $32) and Bombay Sapphire Gin (11% to $24) both make excellent Classic Martinis, so this may be the time to stock up on your favorite Gin.