By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov
And so, our big weekend that includes Summer Solstice as well as Father’s Day—all good reasons to take advantage of the longest day of sunshine and travel far and wide—for the most of us remains in a no-fly zone this year.
The least we can do is celebrate June holidays in style. Here’s a brief guide to Father’s Day gifts, as stylish and delicious as they are endlessly more accessible comparing to our thwarted overseas escapades.
Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
Barceló brand is associated with a variety of rums happily consumed throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas. Founded by Julian Barceló in 1930 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, today this silky-smooth amber-colored spirit tops the list of all exported dark rums in the world, and continues to enjoy its well-deserved popularity in 70 countries.
Impeccably bottled and packaged, Barceló Imperial makes an enviable Father’s Day gift, and is as delightful on the rocks as it is in various cocktails. Here’s one, easy to make at home:
Cucumber Rumtini:
Ingredients:
2 oz Ron Barceló Dark Series
1 oz Aloe Vera juice
½ oz fresh cucumber water
4 slices muddled cucumber
Preparation:
Muddle cucumbers in a shaker
Add ice and remaining ingredients
Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass
Garnish with a cucumber slice or jalapeno slice without the seeds for a touch of spice
Learn more at: https://ronbarcelousa.com/home/
Distiller’s Select Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Distillery, located in Versailles, Kentucky, has a status of a National Historic Landmark and takes pride in its historic heritage (since 1812!) enhanced with modern practices of fine bourbon making. A single gorgeous bottle of Woodford Reserve, of elegant form and honey color, contains hundreds of distinguishable flavor notes, from grain and wood to sweet aromatics, fruit, spice, and florals.
With 90.4 proof, Distiller’s Select Woodford Reserve is rich with dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges dusted with cocoa, and faint vanilla and tobacco on the nose; chewy, rounded and smooth taste with complex citrus, cinnamon, toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice, silky smooth, almost creamy finish, with a long warm satisfying tail. Look it up at: www.woodfordreserve.com
Fabrique Délices Artisanal Charcuterie
This gourmet meats company has two unfailing principles— consistently outstanding quality and unique, eye catching presentations. Fabrique Délices was founded by a French national Jean Claude Augé in California in 1985 as the United States subsidiary of SAPAR, a producer of world-renowned French pâtés and mousses, used in the highest-rank shops and restaurants around the world.
Now, the Hayward-based company boasts an extensive line of various artisanal sausages, duck confit and smoked duck products, country pâtés, and truffled mousses, to the tune of over 3,000 pounds of deliciousness artfully produced on any given day.
Even in the current situation, with many upscale restaurants closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fabrique Délices continues to serve its customers, offering delivery of their excellent French charcuterie artisanal products and ready to eat meals.
“We realize that our products are essential and critical to you and we take this responsibility very seriously,” says Sébastien Espinasse, President of Fabrique Délices. “Our people and customers are our top priority and we are doing all we can to support you during this period.”
Inspected by the USDA, the FDA, and the local health authorities, the company fully complies with the guidelines put in place by these agencies and the CDC regarding the best practices for food processing facilities during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, there are no cases of the disease on the premises at press time.
With the sanitary measures taken care of, the signature high quality and gift-giving content and appearance of Fabrique Délices bountiful products, made traditionally by hand, and with plenty of love and dedication, remains unchanged. Go ahead, indulge—on Father’s Day, or any other day!
Order from: https://fabriquedelices.com/
Ledson Vin De L’Amour
The famed Ledson’s “Wine of Love” especially created by the proprietor, Steve Noble Ledson, for his wedding day back in 2009, is making an appearance these days in its new incarnation as 2017 Sonoma Valley ‘Estate Vineyard’ Vin De L’Amour.
For a perfect gift of love, don’t miss this chance when the pre-release special sale is going on through Sunday, June 7, 2020. (Price $42.00/btl; $38.00/btl by the case through 06/07/20. Release price as of 06/08/20 $46/btl. Club members receive an additional 5% off).
“A Rhône-style blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache with a touch of Counoise, resulting in the perfect blend, just like Amy and I,” says Steve Noble Ledson, referring to his wine, his wife, and their 10-year happy marriage that became the reason for the “Wine of Love.”
He characterizes this Sonoma blend as “classy with balanced elegance and a distinctive personality,” deep purple tint, fresh raspberry and red plum on the nose, blackberry and ripe cherry on the palate, and with a balanced, full-bodied texture.
“A kiss of chocolate, cherry, and a touch of spice all wrapped into a long finish” should be a no-brainer gift to a loved one for any occasion, not just a wedding anniversary.
Vin De L’Amour is obviously very special and therefore very limited. Hurry up to get yours at: https://ledson.com/
Raymond Vineyards’ “Winemaker for a Day”
Here’s a great idea for a Father’s Day gift!
Raymond Vineyards of Boisset Collection transported its most popular guest activity, a wine blending session, called “Winemaker for a Day” into the virtual realm of our sheltered in place world.
Now you can create a proprietary bottle of wine, pick or design a label graphic and a name for it, and even acquire an entire case of your own signature cuvée (well, composed of the Raymond’s high quality well-balanced and expertly produced wines).
That’s how it works. A Raymond Vineyards wine-blending kit is shipped out from the winery to your home, and perhaps to some other homes for a group video session. The kit contains four 750-ml bottles of the Raymond wines used for blending — in this case, an unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cabernet with new oak, Cabernet Franc and Merlot — as well as four graduated cylinders, four pipettes, blending worksheets and an instruction booklet.
After buying a kit for $200 (shipping included), you can schedule a private virtual wine blending session with one of Raymond’s wine educators. Better yet, you can join a video blending exercise in a group, led by Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection.
The next “Winemaker for a Day, at home with Jean-Charles Boisset” is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2020 from 2 to 3 p.m., and will be transmitted via Facebook.
During this public event, hosted by Raymond Vineyards, you’ll learn the art of blending your own Napa Valley Bordeaux-style red wine. After you determine the exact percentage of Raymond varietals in your custom blend, you will design your own label that will be dutifully reproduced by the winery on your personal bottle. They will cork it and send it to your home.
Then you can order your favorite blend, complete with the name and label image you picked, for $50 per bottle ($40 for club members) with a 6-bottle minimum, shipping included. Father’s Day happy memories will last longer!
Learn more at: https://raymondvineyards.com/experience/winemaker-for-a-day/
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