'Tis this season for flavorful, rich libations

By Hiren Patel, Shoregate Beverage & Liquor Store

As soon as the temperatures dip, so do our tastes in libations, which swing toward the rich and spicy, deep and complex flavors to perfectly pair with our longing for comfort food.

At Shoregate Beverage & Liquor Store, we like to stay in touch with the favorites of our customers in the neighborhood.

Here are a few trends we’re seeing this fall/winter:

• Pumpkin cider, ales, brews. Each fall, more types are introduced, and we bring them in, including 25 kinds of pumpkin beer, six pumpkin porters, three pumpkin stouts, three pumpkin ales and three pumpkin ciders. Other fall flavors pop up each year, like coffee pumpkin beer and maple pumpkin beer that we're now offering. Ask for a tasting of the new beers. We’d be happy to oblige.
• For the second year in a row, according to BevSpot, the biggest selling spirit alcohol was whiskey, accounting for 27% of sales, with vodka coming in second place with 23% of sales. The biggest surprise in the categories is tequila, which inched its way up to the #3 spot with 19% of sales. Many of our customers are asking to put together Tequila Tasting parties, and we can help with that.
• “Lower proof” and “lower sugar” are joining the lower carb trend in canned beverages such as White Claw, which is probably the most popular now. We offer 12 different brands of flavored spritzers, and brands of canned vodka and soda with just a hint of fruit juice are big sellers. For those looking for non-alcoholic options, we have plenty of those as well.
• Of course, this is the best time of year for hot cocktails, from hot buttered rum to warm mulled apple cider, spiked hot cocoa or hot sake. Special seasonal releases are abound, such as Jim Beam’s Hot Toddy served warm and Pennsylvania Dutch’s Pumpkin Cream Liqueur.
• We offer several types of egg nog with the perfect blend of liquor already in it, or you can whip up your own version, suited to your individual taste, and just blend your choice of liquor. While brandy, rum or whiskey are the classic preparations, why not try something a little different, like spiking it with peppermint schnapps or white chocolate liqueur?

Shoregate Beverage & Liquor Store is located at 30498 Lake Shore Boulevard in Willowick. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 440-944-2466 or visit ShoregateBeverage.com for more information.