Siciliano's Market News, April 1 Edition

This week's list of new and returning products follows a few random thoughts about clothes

A well worn but good piece of apparel for the transition from winter to spring

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

I’ve never been much of a clothes hound but now that I’m a bit long in the tooth I've pretty much lost all interest in sartorial finery. My general indifference to my duds is actually quite liberating. It's freeing when you stop giving a hoot if your shirt and pants don't match and it's nice when you're able to slough it off when some schmuck points out that you're wearing mismatched socks. It’s similar to the sense of freedom I achieved when I stopped fretting about the bald spot on the top of my pate and when I was finally able to come to terms with the effects that aging has had on my drooping schnoz and my sagging ear lobes. It’s been said that clothes make the man but now that I'm smack dab in the autumn of my years I’ve chosen to live by a slight reiteration of Popeye's immortal catch phrase “I yam what I goddamn yam.”

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It’s probably good that we don’t have a strict dress code at the store because I’d probably be the biggest transgressor. We do have to abide by a few basic and common sense rules (no political statements, no obscenities, no pornographic images) and I once made a young male employee go home to change his unbelievably wrinkled shirt that rankled even my meager sartorial sensibilities. That’s the only time I took such an extreme measure with one of the staff but occasionally I get a kick out of jokingly telling our youngest employee, my Phish loving nephew Sam, that his favorite band's T-shirts are no longer appropriate work attire.

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I tend to wear my duds until they are quite literally disintegrating. Shopping for new clothes is a necessary evil that I put off for as long as I can. When I don a new article of clothing for the first time there's a good chance that I'll go out in public having failed to remove all the tags.

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A few days ago I rediscovered an old corduroy jacket hanging in the dark recesses of the basement. I can't recall the last time I wore it but finding it was akin to unearthing a nugget of gold. It's the perfect piece of clothing for the transition from winter to spring and I'm wearing it despite the frayed cuffs, the missing buttons, the big ink stain on the front and the gaping hole in the collar. At first when I came across it I thought it was the same jacket that I inadvertently burned a hole in many years ago after stowing my still smoldering pipe in the left breast pocket.

Featured Wines of the Week

Spartico, red blend, Spain, $12.49/750ml- The wine making process without the use of sulfur means that the hygienic conditions have to been extreme during harvest season. The grapes are harvested solely by hand in small crates. Every effort is made to avoid breakage and bacteria attacks. The wine deposits are filled very briefly so as not to delay the delicate fermentation process.

All elements that come in contact with this no sulfite added wine are subject to the most extreme hygienically conditions. Medium color. Aromas of strawberry, stewed plum, vanilla custard, and baking spice with a bright, dry light-to-medium body and an interesting, medium-long , prune, and bittersweet chocolate finish with well-integrated tannins. A well-balanced, fruit-forward Spanish blend. (Source)

Cavaliere D'oro, Primitivo, Italy, 2017, $11.69/750ml- Our Puglia has an attractive bouquet of acidic ripe cherries and plum, with pleasant sweeter notes of cocoa and vanilla. A velvety texture with notes of lush, ripe fruit. This wine offers a robust finish. (Source)

E. Guigal, Cotes Du Rhone, 2016, France, $16.29/750ml- The Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge offers tremendous warmth, spice and pleasure, but in a decidedly individual fashion. It is, unlike virtually every other Côtes du Rhône, based on Syrah, a Northern Rhône approach that lends greater aromatic intensity and structure, though is far more difficult and costly to produce in the Southern Rhône. The aging also goes far other wine in the appellation in its category, a minimum of two years in a combination of stainless steel and foudres, with a deliberate blending over the course of that time that results in a wine of remarkable harmony and complexity. It is an extraordinary value and a benchmark for the region from one of the world’s most lauded producers. Deep and dark red. On the nose intensely aromatic, with black fruits and spices. The palate is full, round and sexy. Round and smooth tannins present through the full bodied, ample wine. Overall a complete wine, with a long finish, with elegance and finesse accompanying the abundance of fruit and well-balanced tannins. (Source)

Buy three or more bottles of wine get 10 % off.

"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices

Featured Spirits of the Week

Angelisco, Reposado Tequila, Mexico, $38.59/750ml- Distilled to 55% ABV, brought to 42.5% ABV with NOM-1499 deep well water. ABV naturally mellows to 40% during barrel aging. Rested for 9 months in ex-bourbon barrels. Barrels are blended back together and allowed to rest in stainless steel tanks for two weeks before bottling.

Tasting Notes Velvety mouth-feel, vanilla, green peppercorn, slate Aroma Coconut, crème brulée, cooked peppers (Source)

R.L. Seale's finest Barbados rum, $52.59/750ml- Distilled and Blended at the Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados. Aged a minimum of 12 Years on-site at the distillery, under a tropical climate. Bottled at 46% ABV (92 Proof). No added flavors or sugars. An authentic aged Barbados Rum. Available year-round, nationwide, to all channels. (Source)

Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, Venezuela, $48.39/750ml- To commemorate the Hacienda’s bicentennial in 1996, Alberto Vollmer Herrera, member of the 4th generation of the family, challenged the company to develop a rum that could leverage all of its mastery learned in the first 200 years. Santa Teresa 1796 is a bold and elegant rum with blends up to 35 years aged in bourbon oak barrels, then further aged through the artisanal Solera method resulting in a dry, smooth and balanced rum.

Tasting notes: fruity aroma with notes of wood with unique tastes of nuts, leather, vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate, prunes, with hints of honey and pepper. (Source)

New and Returning Products

Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose, $2.19/12oz-Our Blood Orange Gose is a tart, refreshing wheat ale that is kettle-soured with lactobacillus and brewed with sea salt and coriander. However, unlike traditional versions of the style, ours features liberal additions of blood oranges during fermentation. This imparts tangy citrus notes that complement the champagne-like flavors, creating a complex and sessionable ale perfect for any occasion. (Source)

Brewery Vivant Tropical Saison, $3.79/16oz-Pineapple & Mango saison. A slightly spicy character, light effervescence, and the addition of real pineapple & mango juice make this beer perfect for a Michigan summer. Citra hops add to the clean finish. (Source)

Dark Horse Smells Like a Safety Meeting, $1.99/12oz-S.L.A.S.M. is our most Aromatic IPA. This India Pale Ale is very reminiscent of the hop’s cousin in the Mulberry family. Lots of hop aroma with just the right amount of bitterness as we like to keep balance around here. Between the secret blend of the most DANK hops we can get our hands on and a "more than healthy" dose of double dry hopping, this beer can be announced to the nose from across the room that someone is definitely having a Safety Meeting. (Source)

Dogfish Head Mango Smoovie, $$2.79/12oz-Inspired by the fruit-based Indian drink lassi, Mango Smoovie is a tart ale brewed with boatloads of mango and tangerine, lactose, vanilla, a touch rose water and yellow cardamom. The result is a fruit-forward libation with sweet mango and vanilla flavor on the front and a subtle, warm spice finish. (Source)

Epic Creamsicle IPA, $4.39/16oz-Double IPA brewed with Lactose & Orange

Founders All Day Vacay, $1.49/12oz-American Pale Wheat

Great Divide Maple Pecan Yeti, $12.79/19.2oz-Imperial Stout made with real Maple Syrup and Candied Pecans. (Source)

Great Divide Margarita Gose, $2.19/12oz-For this Tank Farm release, we captured the vibe of the poolside cabana and paired it with the refreshing characteristics of a traditional sour German ale. Partially aged in tequila barrels and enhanced with lime puree, makrut lime leaf and Himalayan pink salt, the end result is tart and dry with an abundance of citrus notes. (Source)

Great Divide Wood Works Golden, $11.99/16oz-To create this sour, fruity and funky golden sour ale, we aged three different Belgian-inspired Great Divide beers separately for a year in Pinot Noir barrels and spiked them with a blend of three unique souring agents. Those beers were then blended and left to rest directly on a bed of white grapes. Golden in hue, the end result is pleasantly sour with a rich, fruity bouquet of melon, grapes, pear and apricot. (Source)

Great Lakes Mexican Lager, $1.99/12oz-Find a sunny spot and lounge awhile with this golden Mexican-Style Lager, brewed with real lime peel and purée and flaked corn for a crisp and refreshing getaway. (Source)

Hop Valley Bubble Stash, $1.79/12oz-Our brewers reached into their secret stash of Mosaic cryo-hop resin to create a tropical dankness in this new age IPA. Take a hit of these bright sweet fruit notes in this easy drinking bubbler. You won’t want to pass this one! (Source)

Hop Valley Stash Pack, $16.69/12pk

Luddington Bay Summer Fling, $1.99/12oz-Straw yellow colored hybrid half of Ison brewed from the German yeast in American money creating banana and clothes labels with a slightly dry biscuit finish. (Source)

Mitten Brewing Peanuts and Cracker Jack, $2.99/12oz-Robust porter made with real roasted peanuts and peanut butter from Germack Pistachio Company. (Source)

Perrin 59-10, $1.89/12oz-59-10 IPA represents the roots of Perrin Brewing. These numbers stand for the home address of the brewery, the home of liquid craftsmanship, and the second home for our Brewers who pour their passion into crafting new beers. This beer is a reminder of why we fell in love with this industry and the mechanics behind crafting innovative styles. (Source)

Perrin Double Pay IPA, $2.39/12oz-Double the hops and specialty malts – this beer makes you feel like you're earning double pay. (Source)

Perrin Grapefruit IPA, $2.09/12oz-Our thirst quenching Grapefruit IPA has become Michigan's warm weather requisite for a balanced and refreshing craft beer. With aromas of citrus & tropical fruits, a delicate grapefruit tartness and a sweet malty backbone ending in a clean finish; this IPA is the first of its kind. Cheers to short sleeves and long days. (Source)

Schilling Boniface, $3.79/16oz-A medium-bodied, yet highly drinkable golden lager with gentle acidity traditionally brewed with an intentionally higher gravity and hop content for shipment out of country. Malt and hops are finely balanced resulting in an exceptionally quenching and clean profile. (Source)

Schilling Brucius, $3.79/16oz-Named for an esteemed and one-of-a-kind veterinarian from Michigan, this rich and toasty dark lager has aromas of sweet bread and caramel with flavors of light coffee and marshmallow. The finish is full-bodied and malty. (Source)

Schilling Landbier Dunkle, $3.79/16oz-A dark lager of Franconian origin utilizing local malts and a Bavarian yeast strain first piloted in N. America by Schilling. Characterized by chocolate notes and walnut-like richness. The finish is medium-bodied and velvety, with balanced bittering. (Source)

Schilling Landbier, $3.79/16oz-Agrarian-style lager of Franconian origin brewed with spelt—and for the first time in North America, by Schilling’s brewers—with nearly extinct strain of lager yeast just revived from the cellars of Weihenstephan in Munich. Notes of strawberry, and hay abound with a hazelnut-like dry finish. (Source)

Schilling Nordetor, $3.79/16oz-Floral and citrusy, this highly aromatic, crystalline pilsner is hopped with all German Saaz & Magnum hops, for a piquantly bitter flavor profile. (Source)

Shorts Soft Parade Shandy, $1.89/12oz-Soft Parade Shandy is a blend of Short’s flagship Fruit Rye Ale, Soft Parade, and Northwoods Soda & Syrup Co. Gourmet Lemonade. This beer is raspberry in color and smells like fresh berry lemonade. Soft Parade‘s signature berry flavor is enhanced by the addition of citrus. Soft Parade Shandy finishes with the faint taste of fruit candy. It is light in body and very refreshing.” (Source)

Transient Unspeakable Joy, $4.39/16oz-Double dry hopped IPA with Strata hops. Flavors of passionfruit and mango. (Source)

Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!