21 Jan The Sipping Point Radio 1/21: Sloop Betty Vodka & Wine Vinegar
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Sips of the Week
Sloop Betty Vodka, Maryland SLOOP BETTY is a hand crafted wheat vodka made in Maryland. Smooth, with a crisp undertone, the pure, natural ingredients of a small batch vodka come through as you savor every delicious drop. Designed with both vodka connoisseurs and those new to the pleasure of the cocktail hour, Sloop Betty can be enjoyed alone or mixed in a drink. Blackwater Distilling is working with the Maryland Organic Certification Program to obtain recognition from the state as an official organic handler, so you can be sure of Betty’s purity—plus, she’s certified kosher Try a Betty Cucumber Martini – The recipe is 2 oz of Sloop Betty, .25 oz of Dolin Dry Vermouth (or to taste) a cucumber slice I use a cocktail shaker with ice to chill the vodka and the vermouth and strain it into a glass with the cucumber. Easy! All the details on the sips of the week are available at Wells Discount Liquors check them out at www.WellsWine.com These wines and more are available at Wells Discount Liquors in Baltimore or at a retailer near you.
Featured Guests
Chris and Jon Cook, brothers and co-owners of Blackwater Distilling, grew up in and around Maryland. Right now, they live on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, and are committed to producing a full line of fine spirits, including Sloop Betty, using Maryland-grown ingredients. For the past five years we have been learning everything we can about craft distilling, the history of local spirits production and ways to introduce this product in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. For more visit www.SloopBetty.com
Wine Sandwich of the Week (aka Food Pairing)
Kevan Vetter, Corporate Executive Chef at McCormick and Company and manager of the Culinary Product Development department shared the 2012 Flavor Forecast. Want to see what flavor combinatuions are hot this year check out their report and the many recipes online for you to try!
Listener Question
Neoma Rohnman of Easton, MD asked: How do you make vinegar out of leftover wine? One of the most important things you’ll need to get is a vinegar starter or “mother” that has the specific bacteria that creates vinegar from wine. You’ll also need a container or vessel to make the vinegar in and you can choose glass or small oak containers. Then you need to add wine to the starter and at regular intervals keep adding wine. When you purchase the mother there will be instructions on how to do this. You can purchase the starters and containers at a local home brew store or online. Here are a few sites to check out: Local Harvest.org http://www.localharvest.org/o-b-s-homemade-mother-of-vinegar-from-meads-C10217 Oak Barrels Ltd. http://www.oakbarrelsltd.com/vinegar-barrels.html
Wine and Dine with Laurie & Michael:
In partnership with Crystal Cruises and French Wine Explorers, Michael and I will be hosting a group during the Romancing the Riviera Cruise July 25-August 6, 2012 on board the breathtaking Crystal Serenity. We’ll sail our way from Lisbon to Rome with stops in Lisbon, Gibraltar, Barcelona Palomos, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Florence and Rome. Along the way we’ll have exclusive activities for our group that center on our shared love of food and wine. Crystal Cruises is now an all inclusive cruise ship which means your fare includes everything–food, wine, cabin and YES, wine and alcohol are included!! Learn more by clicking here
Tune in next week:
Next week Hugh Chappelle from Quivira Vineyards will talk about his wines and explain biodynamic wine making. We’ll also talk to Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia Restaurant in Chicago about his role as Chef de Cuisine of the Naples Winter Wine Festival… and so much more!