Please note we can seldom accommodate same-day tour requests. These happenings include the New England Beer Fest and the Funk Fest, which features farmhouse and sour beers, pungent cheeses, and funky-flavored wines and spirits. As you may know, from my recent Valentines Day post, Im a fan of Four Roses limited edition bottlings. Many attendees are members of Julios Loch & K(e)y Society. Online pre-orders can be made here.

bottle of Yellow Tail Chardonnay to $524.99 for the E. Guigal La Landonne Cte Rtie. The Grand Dram tasting will feature over 400 whiskies from around the world, all available for guests to taste for free. If it has to do with alcohol, Im their expert, he says. The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes, including samples of our award-winning spirits. Tastings are offered for free, with an option to buy products after the event. In addition, Maloney writes a column in the Sturbridge, Massachusettsbased magazine Foodies of New England, and he cohosts a two-hour radio show called Its the Liquor Talking with local aficionado Randall Bird.

bottles of specialty labels and ciders, and numerous coolers filled with craft brews. Whisk(e)y Weekend. Maloney wants the store to look completely different from the competition. Those who want to indulge in a cigar can find a wide selection in the Vigilant Smoke Shop located near the front of the store, as well as a specialty food section featuring a range of hot saucesincluding a few that require buyers to sign a waiver because theyre so spicy. The space has long tables facing a bar for serving and demonstrations, as well as a television screen for multimedia presentations. Below the main retail floor is the Metro Station, which is decorated to look like a train station. You Say Tornado, I Say Whiskey: E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon. Both of these whiskies are relatively young (due to the nature of aging in Bangalore, India) with high proofs, but they come across sophisticated and well balanced, and 100% delicious. The Shriners Pipe and Drum Corps returned the favor with spirited and momentous musical sets, filling the store with the glorious wail of bagpipes and tight, precise snap of snare drums.\r\rIn the video, we meet up with Ryan Maloney, the owner of Julio's Liquors, who led the Grand Tasting with his own hand picked whiskey blend, as well as several other distillers and whiskey distributors at the event including those from Laphroaig, Edradour, Four Roses, Dewars, Deanston, and Carriage House.\r\rBe sure to watch through to the end of the segment, where we capture Sir Jeremy Bell from Glenlivet Distillery celebrating the close of the weekend by sabering a bottle of Champagne! AmrutArdmoreBunnahabhainFour RosesLaphroaigMassachusettsWhisky Events, Whisky Advocates New World Whisky of the Year Award. There were absolutely some stand outs of the night. Reservations can be made here. The owner of Julios Liquors in Westborough, Massachusetts, aspires to a try before you buy philosophy and works closely with his staff to create that experience for shoppers. Burlington, VT 05401 People often come to Julios events to discover something new, but Maloney aims to expand customer palates even further with a series of cross-promotional events.

bottle), although whiskies are growing fast and Julios has developed a reputation as a whisk(e)y destination. Now in its eighth year, Julio's Liquors Grand Whiskey Tasting is one of the largest and the most comprehensive whiskey tasting events in New England and beyond. Ive said this before and Ill say it again, there arent enough good whisk(e)y events in the US especially here in New England. We want customers to take pride in being Julios shoppers, Maloney explains. We're featured in the 2022 Vermont Weddings Gift Guide! Another key to the strategy is providing access to knowledgeable staff. (802) 496-6973 Craft beer is king at Julios, with local products proving particularly popular. The seminar lineup this year was pretty rock star. Check it out here. Whisk(e)y Weekend, which is typically held in February and attended by 1,200 people. One customer joked that its the most expensive free class he ever took, Maloney says. If it has to do with alcohol, I'm their expert. Northborough/Southborough Updates Mad River Distillers is a craft producer of whiskey, rum and brandy in the heart of Vermonts Mad River Valley. Thats what everybody else does.. People said that was the wrong way to do it, but I disagree, Maloney says. Attended by 30 to 40 guests, the events pair small plates with spirits, wine or beer from the nights sponsor. With some bigger players moving in, were looking to expand, he notes. Retail sales only on Tuesdays. The stores email distribution list contains about 10,000 addresses.

That will then be followed by a Springbank Single Malt tasting event on Thursday and a Whisky Dinner on Friday that will honor Laphroaigs Master Ambassador, Simon Brooking. A big thanks to Julios for making this event happen. 802-496-3165 If you can't make it Friday, check out Julio's many other tasting events, including "Cocktails with WhistlePig" rye whiskey at 1 p.m. Feb. 29. bottle). Midnight Cellars is a great smaller producer that offers wine at a quality level above its price point, Maloney says.

ogy. According to Maloney, the emails have an open rate of 30 percent to 40 percent, well above the industry standard. The 20,000-square-foot retail space has high ceil, promoting Bulldog gin to repurposed Bourbon barrels show, In all, Julios boasts more than 3,000 spirits SKUs, ranging from$6.99 a 750-ml. The store offers more than 3,500 wine SKUs, ranging in price from $6.99 a 750-ml. For more information call Julios Liquors at 508- 366-1942. Julios focus on try before you buy is most evident in the wine section. We train the department heads, and they train the staff in what theyre selling., Maloney wants customers to feel comfortable bringing their questions to Julios. Wine and beer geeks battled it out to see who could do the best job at pairing, Maloney explains. I, unfortunately, wasnt able to make it to the Grand Tasting on Sunday. Email arts editor Nancy Olesin at nolesin@wickedlocal.com. Westborough Updates. Shoppers want only what theyre interested in. When the Framingham, Massachusettsbased Jacks Abby Craft Lagers introduced 12-packs of Hoponius Union in October 2015, that SKU took second place. The closest WhiskyFest is in New York.

Julios offers more than 2,500 beer SKUs, ranging from $1.29 a 12-ounce bottle of Budweiser to $249.99 for a 6-liter bottle of St. Bernardus Abt 12 quadrupel from Belgium. The companys Gin Rummy tasting event showcases gin and rum products and draws enthusiasts of both categories. Its all about establishing the store as a resource. As he looks toward the future, Maloney aims to grow the business beyond Westborough.

Marlborough/Hudson Updates 802-489-5501 Its used for special events, brand launches, pairing dinners and tasting classes. The Laphroaig is sweet and peaty, with toffee, cocoa and citrus mixing beautifully with an earthy smoke that comes off fiery and delicious. Amruts line had some really impressive selections that Ive been dying to try. The top-selling spirit is Titos Handmade vodka ($19.99 a 750-ml. Saturdays from 9am-1pm

They can also rate each in-store tasting and reserve bottles for purchase. High Wests David Perkins uses white whiskey to educate on the components of distillation.

Maloney says other local beers from such producers as, evening and most Saturdaysfrom 2 to 5 p.m. Juliostop-. Attended by 30 to 40 guests, the events pair small plates with spirits, wine or beer from the nights sponsor. The small space feels like a private club, with high-end bottles of whisk(e)y on display in back-lit cases. Destination Chile: Casablanca Valleys Boutique Wineries, Drinking New Orleans, Part I: Wine Hot Spots in the Big Easy. bottle of Colonial Club Amaretto liqueur to $15,000 for the 50-year-old Glen Grant single malt Scotch whisky. But we do have something else, hidden up our sleeve, which perhaps you can be a little jealous of.

We see people copying what were doing, Maloney says. Our slogan for the club is, Theres never a bad day for good whisk(e)y, Maloney says. WESTBOROUGH - Join Holly Zeller at Julio's Liquors, 140 Turnpike Road, at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 for a taste of cocktails made with The English Whisky Co.'s Original and Smokey Single Malts. A staff member then gets in touch with the customer and either reserves the requested item for pick-up orif its not in stocklets the shopper know that Julios will look into getting it. For over a decade, the action packed five day event has attracted people from all over the nation, hobbyists and experts alike. It closes out Julios five-day Go! Customers can sign up for events through the app, which lists Julios full schedule. Midnight Cellars is a great smaller producer that offers wine at a quality level above its price point, Maloney says. Its another way for people to get engaged with Julios, Maloney notes. The Mad River Taste Place is open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6 pm. Especially considering that all events were free. Were not just aiming to put stacks in a case cart, he says.

Attendees at last years event celebrate the GO! Which Newsletter Would You Like to Receive: On Saturday evening, a Meet & Greet will be held from 7-9 p.m. for event attendees to taste whiskey and talk to representatives from over 20 different distilleries. Julios differentiates itself by offering products and experiences customers cant find elsewhere. And I was also excited to try the new Bunnahabhain Toiteach a peated whisky that adds a healthy dosing of campfire and salty ocean to the traditional Bunnahabhain profile. I look forward to the 9th annual, 2013 Go Whisk(e)y weekend. There are several places to find Julios on Facebook as well. We encourage our employees, their questions to Julios. Julios recently started partnering with local restaurants and producers to offer food pairings and intimate dinners, such as its Dinner Under the Stairs series. Kentucky Bourbon Festival is in, well, Kentucky. Okay, we do have The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza which is a terrific event (check out their website for this years schedule coming to Boston on October 11). Whisk(e)y Weekend, https://juliosliquors.com/online/index.php/go-whiskey-weekend, Westboroughs Regal Cinemas property generates development interest, UPDATE: Heat advisories in place as temperatures climb across region, Quick Removal Service values dependability and pride of workmanship, Juniper Hill Golf Course is the perfect setting for the very social sport of golf, Firefighters respond to house fire in Northborough, Westborough seeks members for Master Plan Implementation Committee, Northborough selects consultant to market White Cliffs property, Grafton High School grad receives scholarship from Teamsters Local 25, Shrewsbury kicks off community feedback sessions for strategic plan, Hudson Police arrest man in break-in case. Its much more sweet, dessert and wood spice than their younger bottlings, mixed with tropical fruit and toasted mocha a warm and spicy whisky that was a pleasure to taste. Im being patient and looking for opportunities., Haskells Uses Its Website To Boost The Bottom Line, 2016 Market Watch Best New Beer/RTD Brand: Not Your Fathers Root Beer, Impact Databank: U.S. Wine Market Projected To Slip By Volume, Rise By Value This Year, Craft Brewing and Distilling News for July 20, 2022, Wine Spectator: Canned Wine Moves Up The Pricing Ladder, Uniform Law Commission Takes Aim At Direct-Shipping. A general page promotes the stores offerings, events and sales, and specialty pages target beer, wine, spirits and whisk(e)y customers directly. All rights reserved. Julios hosts larger store-wide events about four times a year. We encourage our employees to take classes and attend events so they can learn more about these products, Maloney says. Id had their Fusion release before, which Im quite fond of, but the Two Continents release which just won Whisky Advocates New World Whisky of the Year Award and the Intermediate Sherry were terrific. The seminars were hosted in Julios new 3,000 square foot addition downstairs. For a full event schedule and to register, go to https://juliosliquors.com/online/index.php/go-whiskey-weekend. We have it und, Heres a drink to help you celebrate Cinco de Ma, We're thrilled to be featured as a favorite New En, othing says #classyandcool like a cocktail at an a, Head over to @stonecorralbrewery now through 5/1 f. Meet our Massachusetts Sales Representative, Cara! We're so excited to be a part, Were teaming up with @ao_glass for a Spring Giv, There is perhaps no better drink to feature in the, Not that you need an excuse to enjoy a good whiske, Bring me a shrubbery! Jacks Abby Hoponius Union ($9.99 a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles) has been the top-selling beer SKU for the last three years. And, I was quite happy to get a preview of the upcoming 2012 Limited Edition Single Barrel release at this event. Visit https://www.juliosliquors.com/ to sign up and more information about all their tasting events. Please email info@madriverdistillers.com with your party size and preferred date. A Stout and Port event also seeks to get wine into the hands of beer drinkers and vice versa. The whisk(e)y-focused club offers opportunities for special tastings such as the annual Ardbeg Day and also gives members a chance to earn points by posting reviews on the groups website. The Jim Beam Cold Storage Warehouse hosts tastings and private events that are popular with loyal whisk(e)y customers. The Ardmore is smooth, silky and floral with many layered sweet notes of cocoa, bourbon and toffee. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Points can then be redeemed for glassware, hats, bottle openers and other accessories. And, yes, there is the Whisky Guild Classic, if you dont mind doing your tasting on water. If it has to do with alcohol, Im their expert, he says.

And, I know I was not alone when I say that I learned a lot. Im being patient and looking for opportunities., yan Maloney believes the key to retail success is treating the people who visit his store not just as customers, but as fans. The programwhich focuses on beer, wine and spiritsis broadcast on a local AM station every Saturday and is released as a podcast on the stores website the following Monday. Julios Liquors is located at 140 Turnpike Rd., Westborough. Go Whisk(e)y weekend is on its 8th year (or, shall I say just wrapped up its 8th year). We also work with them to get further training outside the store. Gin Rummy is now the premier event for gin and rum in New England, Maloney says. Join Mad River Distillers on 12/10 at Julios Liquors. Even one of the old guys in a Scottish Kilt who seemed to know everything about whisky admitted that he had been schooled. Customers can sample wine using the stores Enomatic machines during regular operating hours and at its tasting events, which are held several times a week. The ingredients for the spirits are sourced regionally from non-GMO, fair trade and organic suppliers and the mashing, fermenting, distilling and aging occur on site at the distillery in Warren, Vermont. Seriously, people fly in for this thing. We cover a wide variety of breaking news, municipal issues, human interest features and sports stories. 137 St. Paul St. The most recent Go! The highlight of GO! Maloney has shifted Julios marketing strategy away from traditional media and toward digital and emerging technology. Walk-ins okay! Maloney says customers are encouraged to mix six-packs so they can try whats new. I actually had these two side by side at last years Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza, and loved both of them then, just as I did now. Maloney says other local beers from such producers as Night Shift Brewing in Everett, Massachusetts, also sell well.

For Advertising Inquiries: [emailprotected], For editorial inquiries:[emailprotected]. There will be complimentary tastings and bottles available for purchase. Our wine director, Toni Deluca, is a certified sommelier. To top it off, the majority of the events and tastings at the conference are free, while VIP tickets are available for those looking to make the most of their experience. The Julios mobile app further connects staff and customers. The weekend-long event attracts people from all over (New England and beyond). For just $15, about 150 guests were treated to a low key and relaxed tasting with about a dozen distributors, importers and brand ambassadors representing about two dozen distilleries including: Amrut, Ardmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, Auchentoshan, Four Roses, Bulleit and Kilchoman. Whisk(e)y Weekend, the Loch & K(e)y Societys Grand Dram Tasting will take place Sunday, Feb. 25 from 1-4 p.m. At the free tasting, a variety of over 400 Drams from around the world will be available for guests to taste. Whisk(e)y Weekend included a range of ticketed activities, from a tasting of rare whiskies with Skinner Auctioneers to a private dinner with Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe. Im not going to lie. Kilchomans John MacLellan, former Distillery Manager at Bunnahabhain, joins me for a picture. My first round at Julios 2012 Go Whisk(e)y Weekend. I hear its truly a great experience. A recent evening matched a variety of Grand Marnier products with such dishes as cocoa-dusted short rib, served by Peppers Fine Catering in Northborough, Massachusetts. Pre-orders are highly encouraged and you can do so online here.

This year's event capped off Julio's Go Whisk(e)y Weekend, a three-day extravaganza of seminars, limited release tastings,and meetings with some of the top distillers in the world.\r\rThe grand tasting featured over 275 whiskies from around the world and attracted nearly 800 enthusiasts to the Westborough liquor store. Wine and beer geeks battled it out to see who could do the best job at pairing, Maloney explains. The day started with an Amrut tasting at 11am, then a fantastically educational and entertaining Morrison Bowmore seminar with Iain McCallum (of which Ill review later), a virtual distillation hour with Dave Perkins proprietor of High West and to wrap it up, a seminar on the importance of independent bottling with Douglas Laing & Co. Julios recently started partnering with local restaurants and producers to offer food pairings and intimate dinners, such as its Dinner Under the Stairs series. The stores email distribution list contains about 10,000 addresses. Got an idea for Bits & Bites? The current line includes two flagship whiskies and 3 limited release whiskey offerings, 2 cocktail rums and 3 aged rums, and an apple brandy. We think what the Kn, Calling all history buffs! A Stout and Port event also seeks to get wine into the hands of beer drinkers and vice versa. In addition, Maloney writes a column in the Sturbridge, Massachusettsbased magazine, access to knowledgeable staff. Its a cant miss. The 20,000-square-foot retail space has high ceilings and a number of eye-catching displaysfrom a motorcycle promoting Bulldog gin to repurposed Bourbon barrels showing off the hottest products from Kentucky.

Its like Pandora for spirits, Maloney says, although the app goes far beyond tracking customers tastes. The weekend will come to a close Sunday, Feb. 25, from 1-4 p.m. with the most popular event of the weekend, the Grand Dram. I tell my staff to just make sure the competition doesn't do it better. Julios also hosts New Englands largest annual whisk(e)y festival, and it offers a mobile application that allows people to snap a picture of the bottle theyre drinking and order it from Juliosliquors.com with just a few clicks. They carry our full line of products. All Rights Reserved. Julios recently hosted a Beer vs. Wine food-pairing contest. It has char and smoke and packs a punch that lights up your night.

The conference will kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. with a free preview mini tasting of some of the hundreds of whiskies that will be available to taste over the course of the weekend. When you, Who wants to see The Head and the Heart this, Memorial Day is a somber reminder of the sacrifice, Warm weather entertaining often entails serving up, Mark your calendars!

According to Maloney, the emails have an open rate of 30 percent to 40 percent, well above the industry standard. The Meet & Greet tasting kicked off at 7pm. Im looking forward to seeing this one on the shelves. Recently, author Adam, On World Cocktail Day, were featuring the cockt, Today, we wanted to take a moment to congratulate, Coupe Rocks Flute Collins There are so, Why should fathers get all the fun? Distillery tours by prior appointment only. It's all about establishing the store as a resource. Join us by showing your pride this month. The event doubled as a fundraiser for the Shriners, with Julio's raising $6,200 for the charitable organization. Both of these whiskies are an incredible treat. All other days, shop retail and enjoy tastings and cocktails.

Bunnahabhain was another stand out. People often come to Julios events to discover something new, but Maloney aims to expand customer palates even further with a series of cross-promotional events. Look out for this one because its really good a spicy monster with all of that dancing Four Roses flavor that youd expect, hand-selected by Jim Rutledge. Ou. Waitsfield, VT 05673 How can the Community Advocate help you promote your business? We see people copying what we're doing. Were going to let you in on a little secret. A typical event draws around 400 people, but the companys largest undertaking is the free Grand Dram walk-around tasting. Ryan Maloney believes the key to retail success is treating the people who visit his store not just as customers, but as fans. Julios faces some of the toughest competition, with nine beverage alcohol retailers located in a five-mile radius, including popular chains like, Julios.