Tag Archives: tastings

A Little Taste, Please

Posted on December 8, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I stopped in for the tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer on Saturday and enjoyed some Bailey’s.  I used to never miss a tasting at Valley; my friend Kim and I used to start our weekends there every Friday.  Am I slowing down in my older years?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  Be that as it may, Saturday I was out for a walk and my footsteps took me to South Caroline Street, so I stopped in.

I should have tried to get more Christmas decorations in the picture.

Katheryn, the woman pouring, was very nice.  We talked about how good Bailey’s was in coffee or hot chocolate.  I declared the Salted Caramel delicious, just to make a change from my usual accolade of “yummy.” The Espresso Cream was also very nice.  The Chocolate was my favorite.  I wrote down “Yummy!” but observed that it would be dangerous, because I would love to down a big old glass of it, as if it was chocolate milk.  Bailey’s also offers a non dairy flavor, but they were not sampling it Saturday.

I see that Valley Wine and Liquor is offering a number of tastings between now and Christmas.  You can check it out at shopvalleywine.com.

 

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Jim Beaming

Posted on October 12, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I often go to the weekly tastings at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY but have not made a blog post about them in a while.  Yesterday (Friday; yes I am making my Friday post late, but for once I hope it will not be Lame) I had a nice time sipping Jim Beam and chatting, so I thought I would make a blog post about it.

I was actually out for a walk, bringing a notebook and adventure book with me, because I did not know where I might end up. I had vague thoughts of stopping by Valley but since I did not want to purchase anything heavy I would have to carry, I hesitated. I stopped at Cliff’s to get some cash out of the ATM.  Could I cross the street to the liquid store (as a niece referred to such stores when she was four)?  A car stopped and waved me across.  What else could I do?

She was great!

Caroline, the pourer, was happy to see me, remembering me from other tastings.  She likes that I take notes about what I taste.  I always chat up the person pouring; it is one of the sociable things I enjoy.

I started with a mixture Caroline had made with 1 1/2 parts Honey Jim Beam, 4 parts lemonade, a splash of club soda and lime.  It was very tasty and refreshing.  It would make a good punch to serve at a party.  I moved on to tasking the flavored product straight.

The Jim Beam Fire was not as hot as I had expected but flavorful with a cinnamon taste.  The Jim Beam Vanilla was delightful.  Caroline said that was everybody’s favorite.  The Jim Beam Sunshine Blend tasted more like a straight whiskey to me; if you prefer unflavored spirits, this would be the one for you.  The Jim Beam Apple was, well, apple-y.

For anybody tsk-tsking me because I got free tastes but didn’t purchase anything, I intend to return the Valley Wine and Liquor today and buy something.  Will I get there at the time of the Saturday tasting?  Perhaps I will.

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-867-5800.

 

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A Fine Start to the Weekend

Posted on April 13, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t always go to the tastings at Valley Wine and Liquors in Herkimer, NY, but I had to go yesterday, when they were sampling F%&*(ing Good Wine (they spell out the word on the bottle).  Who could resist?  I have also been inconsistent in making blog posts about the tastings I have attended.  However, in chatting with Dave, the pourer (is there a technical term for that person?  I think there is, but I do not know it), I mentioned my blog, and he seemed so impressed that I feel almost obligated to write this post.

He was very cool.

Alas, he had only one wine to sample, Pinot Grigio, but I liked that quite a bit.  Pinot Grigios tend to be  almost middle of the road to me, even semi-sweet at times.  This one was dry and tasty. I purchased a bottle, for future consumption with my sister who also likes dry wine.

Luckily for me, Dave was also pouring samples of Talk House canned cocktails.  Talk House is a bar on Long Island, actually more than a bar but also a venue for music and events.  A female entrepreneur wanted to bring the taste of Talk House to the world.  I remarked how canned cocktails are a wonderful thing for going to the beach, on picnics, etc.  Cans are safer than bottles, and the cocktails are already mixed.

I tried Blood Orange and Grapefruit Tequila, the latter earning my ultimate accolade of Yummy.  Although I am not big on vodka, I also tried Cranberry, Lime, and Hampton Mule Vodka.  Dave also mixed a little of the Lime with the Hampton Mule, because that is the way he likes it.  My favorite was the Hampton Mule, but it was not something I would crave.  I purchased a four-pack of the Grapefruit Tequila.  If it gets warm enough for porch sitting next week, I am all set (this weekend is predicted to be cold and rainy).

As I paid for my purchases, I chatted with the cashiers, saying how this was a fun way to start the weekend.  I like to try something new, but even more I enjoy chatting with the pourers, who are always friendly and often full of stories about the products they sell.

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-867-5800.  They have tastings most Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

 

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Fun Friday

Posted on April 8, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a late Friday post that is not lame?  At least it will not be admittedly lame, as it includes two Mohawk Valley Adventures and  couple seasonal pictures.

My friend Kim and I started our evening with a cocktail tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  Felicia, one out our favourite pourers, was giving samples of pre-mixed drinks in cans.

I had to get a picture of the Eastery display.

Kim especially liked the sign:  “EVERY HOUR IS HAPPY HOUR.”  I was taken with the bunny butts.  The drinks were made with vodka or tequila with real fruit juice and no added sugar.  They were pretty tasty, but not really my thing.

From the liquor store we went to Yetty’s for supper.  We were happy to find seats at the bar.  We had not been there in a while, but the bartender remembered us and greeted us warmly.  The first thing I noticed was that the head that graces the shelf behind the bar was dressed for the holiday.

It was perhaps a little dark, but you can see the bunny ears.

We both had fish and chips.  Kim had mayonnaise with hers; I got tartar sauce.  It was quite yummy.  We had a very fun evening, and I got a real blog post out of it (or do I flatter myself?).

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at  326 S. Caroline St.  Yetty’s is at 109 Mohawk St.  Both are in Herkimer, NY.  For more information,  you can visit their Facebook pages.

 

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Tastes Like a Non-Sequitur Thursday to Me!

Posted on February 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I did not make a Wuss-Out Wednesday post and now it is late (for me) on Non-Sequitur Thursday (and my predictive text function seems to have forgotten everything I have ever typed in, what’s that all about?).   I thought I might try a Throw Not Very Far Back Thursday and share a couple of pictures of tastings we recently attended in the area.

He was nice, the cider was nice, we liked it!

This is a picture from a 1911 Hard Cider tasting at Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion.  Unfortunately,  I cannot find my notes from the tasting.  I know we tried three kinds, liked them all, and purchased one.  We hope to visit 1911 in Lafayette, NY (don’t ask me how I remembered that) sometime in the future.

Aren’t they pretty?

Here are Elisha and Danielle, pouring Beringer Wine at a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  Danielle is a regular rep at these things, and Elisha was a new trainee.  We were happy to see Danielle again and to meet Elisha.  The wine was pretty good, too.  We bought a bottle of Red Blend Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Facebook pages usually keep us up to date on local tastings.  I just love to try before I buy.

Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverages is located at  70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY.   Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer.  You can find both on Facebook.

So I guess I haven’t said much about the tastings or the businesses. I hope nonetheless this will be an acceptable post.  And tomorrow is Lame Post Friday!  Won’t that be nice?

 

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