Guides
TJ's Guides explain wine and spirits from T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor in Brandon, Mississippi, with direct answers about styles, labels, serving and quantities.
wine
wine
Rosé is not just a summer wine
Dry rosé is a real wine with a real season that lasts twelve months. How it is made and what to eat with it.
wine
Red blends explained
Why blending exists, what the common combinations taste like, and how to read a bottle that names no grape.
wine
Champagne vs prosecco vs cava
Three sparkling wines, three methods, three prices. What changes in the glass and which one suits the night.
wine
Oaked vs unoaked chardonnay
Oak is a seasoning, not a grape. Here is what it does to chardonnay and how to tell before you buy.
wine
Sauvignon blanc vs pinot grigio
Two dry whites that get bought interchangeably. They are not the same, and the difference is easy to taste.
wine
Cabernet vs pinot noir
Two red wines, two very different experiences. How they are grown, how they taste and which dinner suits which.
spirits
spirits
Scotch for bourbon drinkers
If you like bourbon, here is how to move across to Scotch without buying something you will not finish.
spirits
Cognac basics: VS, VSOP and XO
VS, VSOP and XO are age rules, not quality grades. Here is what each one means and when to pour it.
spirits
How to choose a vodka
Distillation, base grain, filtration and flavour: what actually changes between one vodka and the next.
spirits
Gin styles explained
London dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, navy strength and contemporary gin: what changes and which drink each suits.
entertaining
entertaining
Building a home bar from scratch
The six bottles that cover most cocktails, plus the mixers, tools and bitters that matter more than the bottles.
entertaining
How to buy wine for a wedding
Volume, styles and timing. How to buy wedding wine that pleases a wide room and arrives in one delivery.
entertaining
Mixers: the other half of the drink
Tonic, ginger, citrus and syrup do half the work in every drink. Here is how to buy the half most people ignore.
entertaining
How much wine do I need for a party?
Bottles per head, red versus white, and how to buy for a party without ending up with twelve leftovers.
tequila
gift
pairing
bourbon
Common questions
- What do TJ's Guides cover?
- TJ's Guides explain wine and spirit categories, label terms, serving, food pairing and quantity planning. They focus on styles, grapes, regions and production terms rather than recommending or characterizing individual brands.
- Do the guides show prices or live inventory?
- No. The guides are educational and do not show prices or current bottle inventory. The Brands page lists names the store carries, and the store phone is the way to confirm a specific bottle.
- Where can I start if I do not know the category?
- Start with Shop by occasion for dinner, gifts, celebrations, tailgates, holidays or weddings. Each occasion page points to useful wine or spirit categories, and each guide begins with a short direct answer.