By Andrew Kohn.
I’m an adventurous drinker. Just as any professional athlete is always looking to improve his game, I’ll sample almost anything. It’s with excitement that I look at the D.C. areas drinking rejuvenation. In a town where it’s all too easy to cater to the clientele with either expensive Scotch or cheap beer, I’m thrilled to know there are true artist in the city re-claiming the past and defining a future for often neglected and forgotten spirits. Perhaps a little too trendy at the moment, however, this too will settle and the spoils will remain for those original riders of the bandwagon.
Much has been written about the new drinking trends of the city. A recent Washingtonian detailed the 75 “best” bars in the area. I need not get into this. Not today – today I’m going to share three great wines with you that are inexpensive and versatile. We all love to go out drinking, but it can easily drain our bank accounts with expensive cocktails and buying drinks for certain people we would never do so for under normal circumstances. This is for the Tuesday night FUNctional alcoholic: home from work, musing over dinner, and looking for a simple glass to drink while opening the mail.
This one is for you!
THE RED: Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin 2006. I’m in love with this wine. Let me be the first to admit, I know very little about the science of wine tasting. But I’ve drunk enough over the years to know what tastes good and what doesn’t. This is, however, pure opinion. But, just so you know, I’m usually right. Give me a heavy red, a meaty red, a red with body! I don’t normally like being punched in the face, but I’ll allow it from this wine. Deliciously robust, this Zin let’s us know who he is from the opening sip. Described as having “heady layers of vanilla and chocolate” a Dixie Cup this is not!
And the best part is, you can get a bottle for about $9 from Safeway. Reduced in price for months, I’ve recently been stocking up, expecting at any moment for the price to shoot back up to $16. Courage my friends, get while the getting’s good!
THE WHITE: 365 Everyday Value® Diflora Pinot Grigio. That’s right, a Whole Foods Pinot Grigio. As the website says, at $11.99 per 1.5 liters, this wine works out to about .80 cents per glass (albeit small glasses). I like to think I’m an expert of the cheap Pinot Grigio. This is my water, my liquid diet. I wouldn’t have gotten through law school without my Fish Eye. Do I have a problem? Yes. I can spend more time in the 1.5 L section debating the merits of cheap wine then most people. But, because I’m a giver, you are now benefiting from my hours of extensive thought and labor.
I hold no grand illusion that this wine is phenomenal. But for the price and the quality, it far exceeds its competitors. Light, airy, and a nice color, this wine will be a staple at my summer extravaganzas from the back yard to Wolf Trap. Get out there and try it before Whole Foods realizes this delight is being offered at a Trader Joe’s price.
THE BUBBLY: Banfi Rosa Regale. I’ve saved the best for last. I went through a champagne period where I drank a bottle everyday – my Absolutely Fabulous era – sampling almost everything available. This red liquid ambrosia is beyond compare the best I’ve ever tasted. Champagne is a tricky game. Even the expensive stuff isn’t a guaranteed homerun. With this glass, rose petals and raspberries subdue your pallet. And I discovered it in Vermont! Who would’ve guessed?
This is not cheap; at about $18 it’s not something you’re going to buy everyday. But then again, how often do you drink something sparkling? Milliliter per milliliter, this is the best you’re going to find. And don’t dilute this gem with anything. It doesn’t need it. Find it where you can and get two bottles – one for now and one for later. I can think of no better accompaniment to celebrate a special occasion.
Please enjoy these bottles! It is possible to drink well while on a budget! Any one of the three bottles I’ve suggested should please even the toughest critic. And if not, remind them how much it costs and that you’re not picnicking somewhere in Chateauneuf du Pape. Grab your corkscrew and have a wonderful time!

Where will you be Wednesday night? At the Squishable.com launch party.
What’s a squishable, you ask? It’s a huge, fuzzy, squishable stuffed animal.
Why are we telling you this? Because we’re blatantly advertising them, that’s why. Haven’t you figured this out already?
Check out www.squishable.com to pick out your favorite squishable. (We’ll even deliver it to you at the launch party!)
Then come out Wednesday night to celebrate to launch of the new site. Uber-cool DJs Natalya and Melissa (Hej Hej), Your Favourite Asian, DJ Yum Yum (Crap DC) will be on hand spinning really good tunes. So join us at Felix, at 2406 18th St NW, 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18th.
Of course, you don’t have a buy a squishable to come to the launch party. In fact, we’ll have a bunch of them on hand if you’d rather just come by and hug one. Otherwise, you’re welcome to order one and we’ll deliver it to you Wednesday!
More adorable Squishable pictures after the jump.
See everyone Wednesday night.

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When the menu at your local beer-house proclaims: “Not available in Georgia [insert your home state/town/country here], but we got some,” with no further description, you kinda have to try it, especially at $5 a bottle.
The pretty bottle depicts members of Louis XIV’s Carugbab-Sallières regimen, presumably marching off to slaughter the Iroquois, but don’t let that detail put you off. Similarly, don’t let the thick black color of this brew put you off, if you’re not usually a dark-beer person (and don’t expect a “Dark” beer either). Unibroue’s Chambly Noire is surprisingly light in body and refreshing in flavor, despite its coloring.
The head is a wispy caramel, more like a crema than proper head, hinting at what’s below – a subtle caramel-coffee nose with hints of citrus and hops, followed by a beautiful, subtle, medium-bodied drink. The sweet caramel flavor dominates the palette at first, but dissolves soon to a citrusy flavor and a spicy, nutty finish.
A special treat for those who might never have tried it (“it’s not available in Georgia”), but for those in more civilized areas, it should be a delicious staple. Unibroue recommends drinking it with grilled fish or smoked meats, and it did go wonderfully with my burger!

A while back, Ray had posted an article about Voyant Chai Liqueur (the creator’s comments can be found here). Not too long ago, I found another good one to try.
Faretti Biscotti Famosi makes a liqueur that tastes like a mixture of Anisette and Frangelico, which gives it a perfect blend of hazelnut with fennel overtones, making it taste like an alcoholic version of biscotti. As such, it is very drinkable on its own, and it also pairs very well with coffee.
Unfortunately, I can’t find either a web site for this cordial, or a list of who carries it, but it’s definitely something worth keeping an eye out for!