Many bars and restaurants around here fail to offer a wide assortment of Mexican alcohols. In fact, many locals maintain that Corona (ick) is the solution to many of life’s problems. I recently moved here from Southern California where I went to college. Without getting into much detail, I hold myself as somewhat of a connoisseur of the country’s proudest libations…with the exception of cheaper tequilas of course.

I had set out from my apartment near Downtown Nashua to meet up with a co-worker for a few cold ones. It was a breezy 28 degrees as I approached West Pearl, when I received a call from my inquiring co-worker. "Where are we going?", he said. I gave him the low-down. "Martha’s is a night-club, The Garden doesn’t serve Gin, Peddlers has a cover…," he interupted me. "Let’s go to Margarita’s!" It was settled.

As we sat, I quizzed the waitress on their beer selection. After she listed the typical, tiring list she gets to the good stuff, Pacifico. I immediatly interupted her because I knew in only a few minutes I was leaving the frozen tundra that is Southern New Hampshire and reconvening with good memories on the sand and in the surf. I plunged the lime and took my first, indulging sip. Never has Mexican beer tasted so delicious.

I highly recommend that you try Pacifico if you ever come across it. The Mexicans that brew it will be truely greatful and I run the possibility of having someone to enjoy it with by Springtime.

Just in case you’re a visual person like I am, here’s a photo. I like the big one.

Got an email from the state liquor store the other day announcing Spanish and German wines are one sale from Feb. 25 to March 30.  I’m always happy to see Spanish wine go on sale.  My absolute favorite value wine is Hoya de Cadenas — a fantastic tempranillo with a big, bold Spanish taste.  It goes well with everything (everything that’s not wimpy and pallid flavor-wise, anyhow, but who wants to eat something like that to begin with?) and  you can get it for under $10.  I brought some to a wine tasting party a few years back.  One of the activities was a blind price estimation - everybody had to guess and then the person who’d brought the wine revealed the name and price.  Nobody guessed under $20 on this one — and that was a few years back!  If you haven’t met tempranillo wines yet, you should, and this is a great introduction.  ¡Salud, amigos!