There’s a new cocktail recipe that I want to try.  One of the ingredients is fresh-squeezed lemon juice.  Can I use the bottled juice instead?

You can – one tablespoon of bottled lemon juice is equal to the juice from half a medium-sized lemon. But…

It’s not going to taste quite as good.  See, lemons contribute two specific flavors to a cocktail.  There’s the big, acidic tartness of the juice from the lemon’s fruit – that’s captured pretty well in the bottled juice. But there’s also the refreshing, zesty kick that comes from the oils in the lemon rind. Those flavors are VERY important to many vodka and gin cocktails. (In fact, drinks like the Cosmo are usually served with just a twist of lemon peel, to add in the subtle flavors of the lemon zest without the clumsy sour blast of the lemon juice.) We wrote about all the advantages of working with fresh lemons in this recipe for a Tom Collins.

Sadly, the flavor from lemon zest is nonexistent in the bottled juice you can buy at the supermarket.

That’s not to say I don’t use bottled lemon juice. I do – both at work and when I’m making drinks at home. There are plenty of advantages to the bottled stuff. It keeps forever, whereas lemons don’t have a shelf life of more than a week or two. It’s a lot less expensive than the equivalent amount of lemons you’d need to make that much juice.  I keep a bottle of it in my fridge, and it really helps to stretch out the cocktail menu you can put together with whatever’s in your home bar. And of course, you don’t have to squeeze lemons.  You’re just trading a bit of quality for a lot of convenience.

At work, when I’m busy, I’ll cheat – I make my drinks with bottled lemon juice, then throw a couple of real lemon wedges (with peel) into the cocktail shaker to add a bit of flavor from the lemon zest. I’d suggest something similar at home – go ahead and make your cocktails with bottled lemon juice, but squeeze in a bit of fresh lemon as well. You’ll get the best of both worlds.

This is all less of a concern for lime juice, since lime peels are thin and don’t give much flavor to cocktails at all. Feel free to use pre-squeezed, bottled lime juice with impunity. (Just make sure you’re using 100 percent lime juice, not Rose’s Lime Juice, which is a premade mixture of lime juice and simple syrup. Not bad stuff, but it’s a different ingredient.)

I may be the resident ‘beer guy’, but seeing how I am Italian, limoncello is within my jurisdiction.  Limoncello is a lemon-flavored liqueur hailing from Sorrento, Italy.  All limoncello, including Danny’s, is made in Sorrento, so you know it isn’t a knock off made in a bathtub.  Served ice cold, this thick looking shot goes down like candy.  It is the perfect after dinner drink and can calm your stomach if you feel kind of queasy.

Danny was scheduled to be there from 12-3, so we got there around 10:30 to ensure our place in line.  Remembering how it went down for Dan Aykroyd, we wanted to beat the crowd.  We waited and waited, then finally Danny showed up and began talking and signing autographs.  Samples of limocello were being handed out, and I had to partake.

He signed our bottles and a few DVD sleeves I had brought and then he signed my t-shirt.  The shirt was for a performance he had been in earlier in the week “The Nightman Cometh” which is an offshoot of the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  A friend bought the shirt for me, since I couldn’t make the show, and Danny offered to sign it.  I was happy he signed my shirt, but I also wanted to get it off quickly so I wouldn’t smudge the signature.  Trust me, I didn’t smudge a thing.

Once again Nashua scores big with another celebrity swinging by.  Keep your eyes open; you never know who will stop by next.

Aside from the obvious wine and beer, there were vendors from: Cozy Tea Cart (great tea), Tastefully Simple (with beer bread mix), Kettle to Keg (way better than Mr. Beer), The True Nut Company (awesome almonds) and other local vendors getting their names out about local products and services.

Ok, now to the alcohol.  While I am the ‘beer guy’ I did sample some great Mead from Piscassic Pond Winery, and wine from Silver Mountain Cider and Wine and Candia Vineyards.  All the wines were great.

I was impressed with the beer showing from Martha’s Exchange, their Octoberfest was good.  Long Trail’s Harvest Ale was a welcome to fall weather.  Widmer’s Drifter pale ale was a huge surprise; one I will have to keep on my radar.  Pennichuck Brewing had a solid showing with Big “O” and Halligan IPA.  Peak Organic’s Amber Ale always makes me happy.  Finally, Rapscallion Brewery, from western Massachusetts, proved their honey ale was very good indeed.

Not a bad afternoon to be walking around, enjoying the company of friends and getting some fresh air.  The souvenir glasses were a hot commodity, since a fraction of people who bought tickets beforehand got one, and, of course, my wine-drinking companion and I each got one.  Keep your eyes out for next year’s festival and check out all of these companies on the web at their respective sites.  Or visit them in person; I may be making house calls soon.

The North End Superette is located at the corner of Elm St and Fir St. One of my favorite spots, it is relatively close to Strangebrew and boasts one of the largest selections of beer in the state. The staff may not be able to point you to something suited to your taste, but there is plenty from which to choose. They offer ‘mix and match’ cases, along with keg specials. They carry many domestics and micros with a solid selection of imports and even a small wine area. For a very tiny store, it is a gem on Elm St to anyone looking to experiment.

Drinking Consultants, located right off Exit 6 on 93 North at Candia Rd, lives up to its name. This store might be my favorite.  The staff is very knowledgeable, and you can mix and match a six-pack for $8.99, depending on what you get. That part is crucial to any beer taster, why buy a whole six when you can try six different beers instead? A convenient location, these guys also boast a large beer selection, which they live up to. I completely recommend this store based on name alone. You certainly should consult them if you plan on trying anything out of your normal suds range. Plus, that blue awning is visible from the highway; you literally can see it a mile a way.

Jasper’s Homebrew and Wine Making Supply is right off Main Street, Nashua, on Temple Street. This place may look like a hole in the wall, but it is a treasure trove for the serious beer or wine enthusiast. It has an eclectic beer selection, consisting of many rare and limited brews. You can purchase by the six pack or individual bottles. They also supply all the goods you’d need to make your own beer or wine. Everything from bottles to barley they carry or can be ordered. Another cool tidbit is the 300 beer recipes to look through. Arranged by style of brew, this is a hot spot for me to talk with a very knowledgeable staff and try something new.

Next we have The Drink Shoppe in Hudson at 214 Central St. Set up like a warehouse, they have plenty of beer, some wine and tons of sodas and sports drinks from which to choose. Back to the beer, this is a good place to come, if you know what you want. With a great selection of local and import brews this is a fun place to check out. The Shoppe also shares residence with a butcher shop and every Friday, from 4-6, they host a beer and meat tasting. Each week they spotlight a different beer. Add some steak tips, and you have a good way to start your weekend.

I’m going to share some of my favorite beer spots. I visit these places to purchase and discuss different beers. Say it with me now: road trip! Let’s start this week with Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.

Wine Society, located at the Pond View Place Plaza, is just a little further south than the Pheasant Lane Mall. Wine Society does have a great selection of local, national and international wines. They also have a small beer selection. The beers consist mainly of European imports and hard to find domestics. One thing to note: since they are located in Massachusetts they can carry higher potency beers. You certainly can find some 9 percents and a few scary 12 pecents that I have yet to try. This is a good stop for the adventurous beer drinker. They have a satellite store in Nashua at the Greystone Plaza. Check in for their monthly beer and wine tastings, as well as specials.

The Liquor Store is located next to Trader Joe’s, by the Tyngsboro 12 AMC Theater. Judging by the name, you can figure this establishment carries more than beer. You can buy hard alcohol, browse through wines and check their beer selection. Couldn’t find what you wanted? Just ask at the register and they’ll order whatever it is your heart desires. My friend Mark ordered a case of Sawtooth Ale from Colorado’s Left Hand Brewery, and now this shop carries that beer. This is a great stop after you hit up Trader Joe’s for some granola,because you need something to wash it down.