brouhaha (broo·hä·hä) noun 1. Excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational event. 2. Hullabaloo.The Brouhaha

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If you’ve been in the store lately, you may have noticed our new collection of spirits, mixers, bitters, and barware! We’ve searched high and

low to find unique, small batch handmade mixers and bitters that reflect New Pioneer’s vision of supporting fair trade, small, and organic. You won’t find everything in our aisle however… many spirits and mixers use artificial colors and flavors, and we check those products at the door! Here at New Pi, we value authenticity. We want the real deal in our cocktail! Here’s to keepin’ it real since 1971.

– Melissa Arp, Specialties Coordinator

Sensational Beer, Wine, & Cheese at New Pioneer

Illahe Botrytis Riesling Listen kids, don’t let anyone tell you that the world doesn’t have magic in it. This wine is more bewitching than anything you could conjure up under a full moon with a voodoo doll and a handful of pins. Reticent on the nose at first and then we all leaned in... what was that aroma? Tea! Or more precisely, wet tea leaves after the pour-over, along with hints of confit and jam.

It’s made with late harvested grapes with Botrytis (noble rot), but it is actually quite dry in the mouth – it reminds me of a lovely halb-trocken (half dry) Spätlese from Germany. It’s lively in the mouth with piquant acidity and a mélange of savory and fruit-forward flavors. This wine is only available at the winery and New Pi. Roughly 40 cases produced. Under $25 for a bottle of this elixir? Truly magical.

– Tom Caufield, Coralville Wine Guy

Secco2Go!I’m a girl that loves her bubbles! This single- serve can of Prosecco is one of my favorite things to introduce to sparkling wine fans. Beyond being a delectable Italian fizzy, it’s perfectly packable, and super cute! I love it straight outta the can, but you can pour it in your favorite flute, or pair it with Sunday morning O.J. for a proper start to a lazy late-summer day. Reg. $4.49, sale $3.99

– Miss Nik, Iowa City Mistress of Wine & Cheese

Pala i Fiori Vermentino di SardegnaMercedes recommended this wine to me, and I’m grateful for her tip! The white wine grape of Vermentino has a unique Mediterranean spirit, and the Pala i Fiori Vermentino tastes like bottled sun. Sourced from the island of Sardinia, it’s medium-sweet and full of ripe fruit flavors, finishing with a rich nuttiness I’ve never experienced in a white wine before. It’s perfect as a “not-too-sweet” white. This would be incredible paired with deep-fried seafood or tempura-battered squash blossoms.

– Kathleen, Iowa City & Coralville

Evil Twin - CowboyThis smoked pilsner pours a dark hazy copper-gold with very light lacing. On the nose it gives a spectacular combination of smoke, citrus, and spice. While I was expecting to be overwhelmed by its smokiness, I was pleasantly surprised to find it not at all overpowering, but perfectly accentuating its juicy fruit and malt! I will definitely revisit this year-round, as it suits all seasons and occasions.

– Megan, Iowa City & Coralville

22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City, IA 52240 • (319) 338-9441 • open daily 7am–10pm 1101 2nd St., Coralville, IA 52241 • (319) 358-5513 • open daily 7am–10pmwww.newpi.coop

Broadside - Printer’s Alley 2009, Paso Robles, CaliforniaAt 5 years of aging, this knockout Cabernet puts forward dry, unforgiving tannins, clean edges, and a powerful message. Broadside’s wines are carefully crafted to retain “varietal character void of manipulation,” per the winery. They harvest their fruit – which sees little to no new oak – at lower sugar levels and ferment with native yeasts. $21.99.It got a 90-point rating from one of those glossy wine mags.

– Mercedes, Coralville

Summer Harvest InfusionsDon’t miss out on the end of the harvest season here in Iowa. At New Pioneer, you won’t find artificially flavored marshmallow vodka, or cinnamon whisky. Don’t let that idea get you down. With a quick trip through the store, you can pick up everything you need to add real flavor to those bottles in your liquor cabinet for in-house flavor. How about peach infused tequila? Or gin infused with strawberries and rhubarb? Don’t skip the amazing local produce … why not infuse vodka with vegetables, garlic, and peppers for the perfect Bloody Mary?

Here’s how:

You’ll need clean mason jars and lids. The average bottle of liquor is 25 ounces, so two pint jars should do it.

• Fill each jar with chopped or cubed clean fruit or vegetables. Do not pack it full. (peel and remove any inedible skin first, such as on a pineapple or melon)

• Pour the liquor of your choice into the jar to the top, covering the fruit or vegetables. Tighten the lid securely and store in a cool, dry place for 4-5 days.

• Strain spirits through a sieve or colander lined with several layers of cheesecloth, then funnel into a clean bottle. Enjoy over the next 6 months!

A few of our favorite liquors perfect for summer harvest infusion:

• El Mayor Blanco Tequila ($20.99) + Missouri peaches

• Tito’s Vodka ($18.99) + garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro

• Bulldog Gin ($24.99) + strawberries and fennel

• George Dickel Whisky ($25.99) + blackberries and ginger

Bittermilk’s No. 3: Smoked Honey Whiskey SourI say this without exaggeration, and with hopes that I do not offend our many skilled and friendly bartenders… Bittermilk’s Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour mix is responsible for THE BEST whiskey sour I’ve ever had!

Combine equal parts sour mix and your favorite bourbon (or rye) in a shaker filled generously with ice. Shake, and the ambrosia that pours forth is tasty almost beyond description: a flood of flavor with sweet and savory notes of citrus. It’s just incredible.

Per Bittermilk: “We’ve revived this old classic by smoking honey over bourbon barrel staves. Bitter orange peel and lemon make for a slightly tart and smoky cocktail. Honey adds a nice frothy head when shaken vigorously. Mixes best with bourbon but swap it out for tequila to make a slightly smoky Honey Margarita.”

I made my whiskey sour with Short’s Whiskey, made by our friends at Cedar Ridge Distillery (Swisher, IA). It’s a bourbon mash whiskey aged with Iowa bur oak staves. It makes a perfect vehicle for cocktails – or savor it on its own.

Bittermilk Smoked Honey $14.99 Short’s Whiskey $26.99

– Joseph, Iowa City

Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry (Blanc)Since we’ve added Dolin vermouths to our shelves at New Pi, my cooking game has been elevated. I love this French producer’s unique style, gained from their age-old recipe: it’s a “Blanc” vermouth aromatized with real Alpine herbs and botanicals. Its subtle and ethereal flavor is fruitier than the Dolin Dry, but makes for an excellent deglazing agent, cocktail mixer, or is delicious simply over ice with a slice of ripe Missouri Peach..

– Kathleen, Iowa City & Coralville