Haskell’s just named 2019 Retailer of the Year by Market Watch Leaders!

That means a lot to us here at Haskell’s, but let's give credit where credit is due. It's because we have the best customers that we’re able to do what we love: offer you the right wine, beer, and spirits for just the right occasion. 

To Be Farrell  

Benny and Fritzi Haskell started their eponymous company in 1934 — not even a year after Prohibition — as a French wine importing business. Jack Farrell (my dad) bought it in 1970. With his commitment to customer service, quality, and serious wine bona fides, the company has expanded from its flagship location in downtown Minneapolis to 11 stores serving the Twin Cities metro. Currently, the Farrell family has owned the company almost 50 years, about 14 years longer than the Haskell's; but, rest assured, the name on the outside will never change because, honestly, without the Haskell's, there would be no Haskell's. 

Jack currently serves as CEO and chairman, running the company with his four sons: Ted (president), Brian (chief operating officer), John (vice president of sales), and Beau (vice president of e-commerce—that's me!).

It’s no longer news to say that Minnesota has risen to the ranks of serious wine and craft beer contenders. The people who work in the tasty beverages industry serve up so many great drinks with expansive knowledge that it can feel overwhelming to choose where to go and what drink to try.

Take the guesswork out of your beverage adventures by going to events that feature variety and offer some of the best things to fill your glass.

What’s happening around the Twin Cities while the weather is oh-so Minnesota nice? Mark your calendars with your favorites from these fine options for events big and small this summer and fall.

All aboard! Imagine a leisurely cruise along the stunning St. Croix River on a beautiful charter boat while sipping from an array of specially curated wines and beers. You can do this, by attending one of Haskell's Summer Boat Cruises!

The results are in—it's a good time to buy liquor in Minnesota. Thanks to Total Wine's entrance into the Minnesota liquor market, the effect has caused a price war among Twin Cities liquor vendors. 

So what does this mean for Haskell's shoppers? Cheap booze, of course.

Celebrating the Spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey 

Everyone is a wee bit Irish this time of year. That’s a good thing, because when it comes to Irish drink, one libation stands tall: Irish whiskey. It once held court as the most popular spirit in the world. Even the word itself, whiskey, is rooted in Gaelic – uisge beatha, meaning water of life. But the beverage we think about most around St. Patrick’s Day has a strong Minnesota connection.

Kieran Folliard

A well-known, local businessman and restaurateur has helped rebrand Irish whiskey for a whole new generation: Kieran Folliard. Actually, Folliard’s Celtic roots extend throughout the Twin Cities (recognize any of the restaurants he founded: Kieran’s, The Local, The Liffey, for instance). But it’s the drink we are interested in -- the wildly popular 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey – once sold exclusively here in Minnesota – has now gained a national audience (and he sold the company to Beam).

Cocktails to Celebrate New Orleans Style 

The celebration of Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is steeped with tradition. Known as Carnival in other parts of the world, its roots are entwined in the Catholic calendar, with the party signifying the “last hurrah” before Lent
begins. That’s why revelry in New Orleans reaches a fever pitch before the army of street sweepers makes their way through the city at the stroke of midnight. Party now and prepare to fast come Ash Wednesday.

You don’t have to travel to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras style. You just need a few good recipes, some choice ingredients, and some friends to share in the fun. Here are our suggestions:

Escape to a Favorite Wine Destination 

It’s a New Year and time for a new adventure. Doesn’t a little California dreaming sound good right around this time (and temperature)? So, sit back and take an armchair tour of the birthplace of the California wine industry - Sonoma County - and perhaps you’ll consider joining us on a Sonoma Wine Country Getaway in April. After all, by then you’ll want to escape those April showers and come back to May flowers. 

Sonoma County is just north of San Francisco, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Mayacamas Mountains and is home to more than 400 wineries and 16 distinct appellations with more than 50 grape varieties grown. You’ll find exemplary Chardonnay and Pinot grapes, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot throughout the region – just to name a few.

Let’s look at some of the wineries on the April tour and what you can expect to sip, savor and experience. 

80 Years and Counting

Dear friends of Haskell’s,

We take this opportunity to thank you for your loyalty over these past 80 years. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the needs of this great community. Who would have imagined back in 1934 that Haskell’s would endure for so many decades, but our penchant for service and the wide variety of wine, spirits, and beers has served all the people of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest very well.