“I drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.”
~ Madame Lilly Bollinger

The Duck Blind in Santa Monica is “the place” for that special gift for Dad on Father’s Day. With the recent Bourbon boom, there are many fine crafted American Whiskey to choose from and we have them all, from iconic brands to the hard-to-find small distilleries. We have straight bourbon, rye, corn and wheat, all refined for the most discerning palate.

If whiskey is not Dad’s thing, The Duck Blind carries an incredible selection of craft beers. We have the hoppiest of IPA’s and special releases from the most sought after breweries. We bring you the world of imported beers in any category or style. We have beers from Belgium, Germany, England, Italy, Japan, Scotland, and Mexico.

Maybe Dad really knows and loves wine. We have wines from countries and regions. If it is red wines, white wines, champagnes or sweet dessert wines we have got them, not to mention enormous diversity of grapes varietals. Any of our well versed staff can point you in the right direction for the perfect wine gift.
The Duck Blind is local to Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. We offer free delivery and gift wrapping to make gift-giving a breeze!

Get your Dad something special for Father’s Day at the Duck Blind, Brentwood Fine Wine

Burgundy wine or as the French would call “vin de Bourgogne”, is produced in the Burgundy region of France where many famous wines are produced. The white wines are made from perfectly blended Chardonnay grapes. Unlike California Chardonnay, White Burgundy has no oak or buttery notes. It is typically a crisp, slightly more acidic, elegant wine.

The white wines of Burgundy are labeled on the bottle as:

• Grand Cru – These are the best of Burgundy wines from their best vineyards, only about 2% of all vineyards in Burgundy are reserved for this classification.
• Premiere Cru – These wines are also produced from stellar quality vineyards but of less quality than Grand Cru.
• Village Wines – These wines are produced from grapes that are grown from the only one of the 42 villages of Burgundy; the name of the village will be displayed on the bottle.
• Regional Wines- These wines are of the lowest classification. They are produced from a combination of vineyards from the different villages in Burgundy. Unlike the village wine, these wines are blended together from the 42 villages. Half of Burgundy wines are in this classification.

So if you want to relax from that busy office work in the evening, plan a picnic with your family, a party, a romantic dinner or even want to amuse your mother-in-law, the friendly knowledgeable crew at The Duck Blind can help you select the perfect wine. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a novice, you’ll enjoy browsing the thousands of wines we have available. Be sure to ask one of our staff to recommend a clean, crisp White Burgundy for your next occasion, or just for your pleasure. As always, we offer free delivery to Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades.

Cheers!

The Duck Blind Fine Wine Santa Monica, call us at (310) 394-6705

Most Rosés are meant to be enjoyed when young while their fresh flavor is at its peak. Rosés are refreshing on their own or pair well with foods like grilled seafood, any spicy foods, or cheeses.

Stop by and let our knowledgeable staff guide you to the perfect Rosé for your palate.

Cheers

Duck Blind – Fine Wine Santa Monica – Give us a call at (310) 394-6705

They say, “It’s the thought that counts”. When choosing a gift, think about the recipient, where they are from, what foods they like, places they have traveled… There will be a gift of wine, beer, liquor or champagne that will be sure to please, and demonstrate your thoughtfulness and care. If you’re attending a party, a gift of wine or champagne is almost always welcome. Do you know someone with a sweet-tooth? Consider an elegant bottle of dessert wine or port. If you know someone from Italy, Germany, France, Spain, or even Croatia we offer wines from around the world that can bring a taste of home. If you know what kind of food someone likes, we can help you find a wine that will go with it. If it’s a casual event or you know a beer-lover, we can help you put together a unique gift of craft-beer and microbrews.

At The Duck Blind, we have an incredible, distinctive collection of wine, champagne, craft-beer, whiskey, scotch, tequila and vodka. We have many of the brands you love, but we pride ourselves on our selection of things you cannot find at the supermarkets or big-box stores. During the holidays, we carry special gift editions of high-end liquor and champagne. If there is someone you’d like to impress, or you truly want a special gift, ask one of the crew about these gift-editions. They often contain rare releases and beautiful packaging.. We also carry beautiful wine bags, so you can pick up a bottle on your way, and arrive with a perfectly packaged gift. If you need something giftwrapped or delivered, we can do that too!

We at the Duck Blind wish you the happiest of holiday celebrations. If you need Brentwood Holiday Gift Ideas please stop on by!

Cheers!!

At The Duck Blind in Santa Monica we are proud to carry some of the prestigious and well-known single malt scotches, as well as the lesser known, yet sought after brands.  For your next gift or for your personal indulgence, come to The Duck Blind and explore our Scotch selection

Single Malt Scotch: Glenroths , Glenmorangie , Cragganmore , Dalwhinnie , Highland Park , Glen Dronach , Macallan , Caolila , Scapa , Balvenie , Glenfiddich , Glengrant , Dalmore , Old Pulteney , Talisker , Aberlour , Laphroaig , Auchentoshan , Lagavulin , Glen Livet , Glen Scotia , Glenkinchie , Bowmore , Oban , Isle Of Jura , Balblair

1. Personal Preference: Serve wine you would drink regardless of food.  If you don’t like the wine before dinner, you probably won’t like it with dinner.  If rich red wine doesn’t appeal to you or you dislike buttery, oaky Chardonnay, it doesn’t matter if you’re serving lamb chops or sea bass.
2. Flavor: Think about the strongest flavor in the dish. Is it rich and savory, peppery, citrus, sweet? Then think about the dominant flavor in the wine.  This is common sense: a rich, full-bodied wine (red or white) will likely go well with a rich, savory dish; a wine with peppery finish will compliment a spicy meal; a wine with a dry, acidic taste might make a dish with a light, citrus sauce sparkle.

Here are some examples of pairings… Red Wine Pairings:

• Slow-Cooked Rack of Lamb and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• Grilled Salmon with Olive Butter and Orzo and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
• Penne with Bacon, Swiss Chard, Jack Cheese and Pecans and Washington Syrah

Rose Wine Pairings:

• Tuna and Egg on a Baguette and Tavel Rose
• Vegetable Soup and Cotes de Provence
• Bouillabaisse with a Spanish Rose

White Wine Pairings:

• Chicken Tostadas and Vouvray
• Vietnamese Steak Salad and Gewurztraminer
• Avocado, Tomato and Spinach Crepes with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Pairings

• Smoked Salmon and Caviar and Brut Blanc de Blancs
• Chicken Liver Pate and Nonvintage Brut Rose Champagne
• Summer Melon Salad and Prosciutto and Prosecco

1. Balance: Consider the “weight” of both the food and the wine.  Again, this is common sense. “Heavy” wines are higher in alcohol; heavy foods are higher in fat.  Wines with lower alcohol are “lighter”, and pair well with light dishes. If the dish is in a thick, heavy sauce, a  light, low alcohol wine will be overwhelmed.  A light meal or Hollywood Bowl box will be complemented by a lower alcohol wine – whether red or white.  Meat in a rich heavy sauce, or even a salad with a heavy Roquefort dressing will stand up well to a robust Cabernet.

Examples of White Wines, from Light to Heavy: Light:

• Orvieto
• Pinot Grigio (e.g. Italy)
• Prosecco

Light to Medium

• Chenin Blanc, dry or off-dry
• Pinot Gris (e.g. Alsace, Oregon), dry or off-dry
• Vouvray, sec or demi-sec

Medium, with Herbal Notes

• Bordeaux, white
• Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé
• Sémillon

Medium with Mineral Notes

• Albariño
• Cava
• Champagne and other dry sparkling wines
• Chablis (or other unoaked Chardonnay)

Full / Heavy/ Creamy

• Burgundy whites, Côte d’Or
• Chardonnay (e.g. California or other New World, oaked)
• Rhône whites
• Viognier

Examples of Red Wines, from Light to Heavy Light

• Beaujolais (or other Gamay)
• Dolcetto
• Valpolicella (not Amarone)

Medium

• Barbera
• Cabernet Franc
• Côtes du Rhône
• Grenache
• Pinot Noir

Medium to Full

• Bordeaux
• Brunello di Montalcino
• Malbec (e.g. Argentina)
• Merlot
• Zinfandel (also Primitivo)

Full Bodied/Heavy

• Barolo and Barbaresco
• Cabernet Sauvignon (e.g. California, other New World)
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Shiraz/Syrah

Examples of Sweet Wines, Light and Heavy Lighter

• Gewürztraminer, late-harvest
• Moscato d’Asti
• Muscat
• Riesling, late-harvest
• Rosé, off-dry

Heavier

• Australian Muscat or Muscadelle Banyuls
• Madeira (Bual or Malmsey)
• Port

If you’re looking for Fine Wine Brentwood, come to the Duck Blind!

All American Whiskeys contain corn and malted barley, with the addition of either wheat or rye.  For example, Bourbon contains at least 51% corn, Straight Rye is (as its name suggests) is at least 51% Rye, Straight Wheat is at least 51% wheat, but Corn Whiskey (the only one with no aging requirements) is at least 80% corn.  Whiskeys containing wheat tend to be more mellow and smooth; rye whiskey tends to be spicy.  Single Barrel Whiskeys are premium whiskeys in which the whiskey from each barrel is bottled separately, with each bottle bearing the barrel number and in most cases the dates for the beginning and end of aging; none of the whiskey is blended, creating a unique flavor for each barrel.

Here are just a few of the American Whiskeys we carry at The Duck Blind in Santa Monica, the top destination of all Santa Monica Liquor Stores:

Wheat Whiskey: Bernheim Clyde May Conecuh Ridge Whiskey, Alabaman Recipe

Straight Bourbon: Breaking and Entering, Old Fitzgerald, Four Roses, Elijah Craig, Blanton

Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Hirsch, Lexington, Bookers, Angels Envy, Larceny, Fighting Cock

Rye Whiskey: Templeton, Ritten House, Whistle Pig, High West

Single Barrel Whiskey: Blanton

People often ask, “Why is it called the Duck Blind?” Sometimes they make guesses about a duck drinking itself blind. A duck blind is a camouflaged cover for hunters to hide behind while shooting ducks. Presumably, the hunters may have imbibed some beer or whiskey while waiting. The Duck Blind’s original bright yellow and hunter-green sign, complete with a neon mallard duck in flight, has been a landmark since the 1960’s, on the corner of Montana Ave. and 11th.

The first Duck Blind opened in the 1950’s across the street from its present location. In the early sixties it moved to its current location at 1102 Montana Ave. A second Duck Blind opened in Brentwood on San Vicente. Sadly, it’s now a bank. Sold in the 1970’s, the Duck Blind at that time was less of a “fine wine and spirits” shop, and more of convenience store. It gained unfortunate neighborhood notoriety in the wake of the 1994 earthquake, when the than owners charged a premium for essential and necessary items

Its current owner, Maurice, purchased the store in 1997 in the hopes of turning it into a premier destination for lovers of fine wine, beer, and spirits. Given the upscale nature of the famed Montana Avenue shopping district, it made sense. Purging the store of the adult-content magazines, focusing on improving its reputation in the neighborhood through excellent customer service and selection, Maurice began the rehabilitation process of this landmark store. In 2000, Maurice went to court to preserve the historic sign, which is one of the few remaining examples of “Googie Architecture” left in Santa Monica. His battle against conformity was successful, and the sign remains.

Maurice truly loves the world of wine and its rich links to history. He brings fine wine Santa Monica area. He loves to travel, although the wine, beer, and spirits business is never far from his mind. The Duck Blind is a reflection of his dedication to bringing the best the world has to offer to Santa Monica. If you look closely, you’ll see evidence of his love of the sea and world travel throughout the store. His “able crew” has worked for him for more than a decade. They welcome questions, and are happy to help customers make selections. In addition to wine, The Duck Blind carries an ever-expanding assortment of imported beer, craft beer, and microbrews as well as a surprisingly large variety of scotch, whiskey, vodka, tequila, etc. The finest cheeses, chocolates, and imported candies add to the temptations. The Duck Blind may look like just a small neighborhood store on the outside, but the entire world waits inside.

By “The Duck Blind” crewmember

If you are looking for Craft Beer Santa Monica you need to know what a beer geek is! A Beer Geek is more than a lover of beers. A Beer Geek is a person who has an extensive knowledge of – and a unique appreciation for – beers and those who make them. A Beer Geek knows that although Weihenstephan Brewery is the world’s oldest brewery, the Original Premium is as fresh and flavorful as the day they started brewing in 1040. A Beer Geek knows that while Russian River Brewing’s transformative “Pliny the Younger” Triple IPA is only available in pub draft, the equally marvelous “Pliny the Elder” Double IPA is available in delicious 16.9oz (500ml) bottles. Being a Beer Geek is more than knowing the difference between Stone Brewing’s “Arrogant Bastard Ale” and Coronado’s “Idiot IPA”; it’s recognizing the dedication and hard work that goes into the creation of either. Beer Geeks know they can find all of these, as well as many, many, others at The Duck Blind in Craft Beer Santa Monica. With over 250 Craft Beers and Microbrews to choose from, The Duck Blind salutes the Beer Geek in all of us!