Jacket Optional, Shoes Required

You may have missed it if you were too busy figuring out which way to wrap your scarf that day, but the first day of Spring happened this week. Tell that to certain Massachusetts residents that received a few inches of snow a couple days ago. You may also get looks of skepticism from certain Northeastern residents who have been eagerly waiting for the mild to usher in and the cold to slide on out. However, fear not, the milder weather will be here before you know it which will then turn over into disturbingly hot weather which will have you seeking air conditioned temps rivaling the temps currently outside. The point is you have to deal, better times are ahead and good things come to those who wait.

Well what if I told you that the good times you seek are perhaps just a sip away? What if I prodded you with the reminder that whether its frigid or fired up outside, the comfort of a perfect cocktail makes the extreme cold and the excessive heat seem all the less intolerable. Then what if I went further and told you that I recently had the pleasure to discover a new vodka made from apples right here in New York State? That is exactly what Upstate Vodka is. Appropriately distinguishing itself from the infused and flavored vodkas, Upstate Vodka is the latest brilliant effort from the Sauvage Distillery in Oneonta, NY that has produced a clear and lively vodka made from New York State apples. The result produced a notable vodka experience marked by its clean refreshing color, faint & comforting apple aroma and a taste that starts with a slight jolt of fruit sweetness and then as the spirit expands across your tongue and down your throat, you're left with a warmth and almost herbaceous finish. What comes through here is that the root of this vodka is not traditional grain or potato. Upstate Vodka is quality-controlled by being expertly handcrafted in small batches to really allow this spirit to stand apart as a benchmark vodka. It's subtle in the enduring presence of the apple and has a definite depth with its 90 Proof, 45% Alc/vol rating which allows it to be a clean perfect sipper over ice and paired with clean foods like mild cheeses, roasted veggies and fish as they are light with delicate flavor.

So for the time being it would appear that New York State has still got its cold weather lingering, but it now also has a wonderful vodka birthed from the spoils of its own land with Upstate Vodka. Now while I highly suggest you sip it to experience the satisfying subtleties of the tenured apple and clean distillation, but I couldn't leave you without suggesting some cocktails to get your through your day. Check out these two martini recipes below using the pleasant Upstate Vodka:

Upstate Comfort Martini

3 ounces Upstate Vodka
2 ounces Carpano Dry Vermouth
6 Cardamom seed pods
8-10 Clover pods
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Apple skin sliver

Into a shaker place ice, vodka, vermouth, cardamom seed pods, clover pods and cinnamon sticks. Shake for about 20 seconds. Strain in a martini glass. Skewer garnish with one of the cinnamon sticks from inside the shaker and a sliver of apple skin.

What a lovely way to experience this vodka. The thinking was that it may lose to punch since the apple is delicate, but that is the loveliness to Upstate vodka. The pleasant apple essence of the vodka still held its own again the spiciness of the cardamom and cloves and the presence of the dry vermouth.

Almost Spring Martini

3 ounces Upstate Vodka
2 ounces Carpano Dry Vermouth
1/2 ounce St. Germain Liqueur
1 tbspn Fresh chopped ginger root
2 ounces   Fresh chopped apple
1   Flat slice of apple
1   Spring of rosemary

Place the apple and ginger into a cocktail shaker and muddle for 30 seconds. Add vodka, vermouth, St. Germain and ice. Shake for about 20 seconds. Strain over a martini glass. Garnish with the apple slice cut down the center. Lightly stir with the sprig of rosemary then lay it across the top of the glass.

This cocktail was inspired by the changing of the seasons. Again the Upstate Vodka held its clean and unique flavor profile against the heat of the ginger and was in a way amplified with the presence of the muddled apple. The sprig of rosemary was a nice verdant touch to symbolize Spring with some nice depth and heat from the ginger to remind you that warmer temps are ahead.

Upstate Vodka is now available at your finer wine and spirit retailers including Columbus Avenue Wine & Spirits, Ambassador Wine & Spirits and Cabrini Wine & Spirits in NYC in 50, 375 and 700ml bottles. Check with your local wine and spirits retailer and also click on the link below to see the growing number of locations Upstate Vodka is available at in New York State so you too can enjoy this new walk into a vodka with depth and flavor. Depending on how you look at it, it's something to warm you up for the Winter or cool you down for the Summer straight from the natural deliciousness of the Empire State.

www.DrinkSauvage.com

Dave White

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Have you ever thought about some of the labels that spirits receive? Tequila gets the blood boiling and can make you want to fight. Brown liquor gets your drunk quicker. Vodka makes the world and your head spin around. Well I say, if it's believed that those spirits can do all those things then I say that wines can put you in a mood too. Outside of all the hang-ups and notes about tannins and acidity, a great wine can put me in a good mood. That mood, particularly at the end of a hectic workday, is one of relaxation and a savory unwinding where problems slowly exit as the wine enters.

So how fittingly appropriate that at an event last week I discovered a trio of truly stellar rosés. Fitting since I love rosés and appropriate since the event came on the heels of a long and sensorily busy workday. Rosé serves as the light pink bit of grown and sexy grape that conspires to uplift your spirits and lighten your mood. So when I first tasted a rosé entitled Romance, it was almost a reminder that spring was right around the corner where love and newness bloom. It was one of three rosé wines highlighted from the esteemed Provence Rosé Group. Romance comes from the Chateau De Berne, Provence and has a fruity & fresh taste, peachy & floral aromatics and pale pink color with a bright and pleasant taste to seemingly evokes its namesake.

Then came a rosé with a stellar smoothness and a texturally silken quality that just flows clean enough to leave the mind free to be inspired. Inspiration, also from Chateau De Berne is a wonderful rosé that has aromatics from the garden with berries, flowers and herbs that are lovinglay balanced with a satisfyingly light sweetness and herbal freshness. Finally there was Ultimate Provence, a truly special rosé that reminds you how even while being light and airy, a wine can be bold and complex. This brightly colored rosé has notes that were kissed by the salty sea air and when paired with berry and spiced notes creates a nicely blended beautiful full-bodied wine.

These three rosé wines together have something for all rosé and wine connoisseurs. Each have the essential beauty of the Provencal grapes together with tenured methods from a renowned winemaking region. Then there's also the fact that the varieties of the trio offer relief for whatever kind of day you've had. At least some not so great days can have a rosy ending.