It’s getting close to one of our favorite holidays of the year here at The Gents Place: Thanksgiving. We are very much a company that gives thanks every day for the opportunity for men to look and feel their best every single day. But we also love to eat! Which is why we’ve given ideas in the past for favorite foods (rounds one and two). This year we want to complement those dishes with some drinks to wash them down with.
As with Thanksgiving meals and the turkey-coma days that follow, you are free to drink these in any order you wish: we’re just pairing them with courses to make it easy for you.
Starters
You can prepare for your meal with:
- Whistlepig The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve Don’t be scared off by the name of Vermont-based Whistlepig’s fifth in their Boss Hog series. Mauve was a beloved pig and this 13-year-aged straight rye whiskey is finished in calvados casks.
- Martell Blue Swift For those who love bourbon and are looking to try cognac, this might be perfect for you. Blue Swift is made by taking Martell VSOP cognac and finishing it in Kentucky bourbon casks. Once you’ve aged cognac in something that held a non-wine spirit, it cannot be called cognac so this is known as an “eau de vie.”
- Paul Cherrier Sancerre 2019 If either of the first two choices are two strong for you at the start of a meal, then a light, crisp, and fragrant wine from a family vineyard in the Loire Valley in France might be right for you.
Main Course
You’re working through your proteins of choice and potatoes and green bean casserole. Wash them down with:
- Victory Golden Monkey This Belgian-style golden strong ale is fruity and light (think orange, banana, and clove) but finishes with a hint of hops and spices.
- Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale If you want more than a hint of hops, this will be a good choice for you. A brown ale has the color of an American Brown, the caramel of a Scotch Ale, and the hops of an IPA. It’s brewed with barley and organic brown sugar.
- Domaine Cornu-Camus Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits 2019 Hey, you don’t need to pronounce it. Just show the name at your wine shop and they’ll take care of you. “Bourgogne” is what the French call the Burgundy region, and it’s home to some of the best wines in the world. This happens to be a great bottle at a good price.
- Southold Farm and Cellar Texas High Plains “Don’t Forget to Soar” White Wine Blend 2020 The proprietors started their winemaking life on Long Island and are now in Texas Hill Country. This is a blend of roussanne and gruner veltliner and is very much a taste of the Texas plains: earthy herbal and citrus flavors. Can you get more Texas for Thanksgiving than an in-state wine?
Desserts
If you’ve got room for dessert, you’ve got room to wash it down with something. You could do worse than:
- Beurer Wurttemberg Riesling Trocken 2020 This might be just as difficult to pronounce as the French wine from the main course section, but it’s just as worth looking for. It’s not an overly sweet riesling, but one that’s a bit more dry and savory even. A great finish to your meal.
- North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial This is going to have a roasted flavor with bitter chocolate and anise. Perfect with chocolate ice cream, biscotti, or pumpkin pie.
- Laird’s Straight Applejack 86 This first hit the scene in 2017 and is 100% apple brandy. Seventeen pounds of apples are needed to produce each bottle. If you don’t want to take it straight you can always use it to make your hot toddies.
Are there any beer, spirits, or wine you’d add to the list? Share with us in the comments.
