Just before the holiday, Chris picked up a 4 pack of Orange Smash by Devil's Backbone. They're based on the Orange Crush, which is a drink that originated in the 90s in Ocean City, MD.
Mystique: 1-10 points Score: 5 - no real mystique, though the crab on the front is cute.
Color: 1-10 points Score: 10 - looks exactly what a proper Orange Crush should look like in the glass.
Scent: 1-10 points Score: 8 - very very light citrus scent.
Initial impression: 1-10 points Score: 9 - light on the palate, with a fresh burst of citrus. Doesn't seem to have any artificial flavorings.
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 10 - LIGHT.
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 40 - delicious, very drinkable. My non-drinker self consumed two in an evening. For me to drink two, it has to be delicious.
Raw Score: 82 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points Score: 6 - these are NOT cheap at around $13 for a 4 pack.
Total Score: 88 points
Friends. These canned delights are ABSOLUTELY worth your funds and attention. They're 10% ABV, so for a lightweight like me they'll clobber the drinker. They sneak up fast and taste amazing while they do it. They're as good as one can make, and half the price of one at the local bar.
And in These Unprecedented Times, that's important.
Initial impression: 1-10 points
Score: 7 inexpensive, taste is smooth, not bad
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points
Score: 9 good, not too oily, little burn
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 32 Smokey, smooth a little peat/oak hint of sugary sweet
Raw Score: 54 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points
Score: 10 $18 at my local store very inexpensive for 12yr old scotch
Total Score: 64 points
So I must start by saying I'm not a Scotch drinker, but I was checking some out with some friends and I decided to pick one up. We were drinking some Johnny Walker Black and rail stuff so all I was really basing my purchase on was to get something blended, 12yr old and inexpensive. I happened upon what was a new product at my local store, Sir Edwards. It fit the bill and hey it's got a Scottish gentleman on it so there ya go. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this purchase it tasted smooth, had little burn and not too much oak and peat aftertaste. It has enough there to know it's Scotch, but it's not overpowering. Mixed in a Perfect Rob Roy it gets a little lost to the Vermouth. There's still a little smoke and peat but it almost completely blends out the taste. It's a very smooth cocktail, but with no more bite than a traditional Manhattan. I didn't get the sudden urge to play golf or schedule a high power business lunch, but I did find a pleasant to drink, inexpensive alternative for that after work un-winder, when the Scotch mood hits me.
I haven't run away yet, just got kinda busy and didn't feel like blogging, but I have some holiday cheer for you, and I figured I'd better get this up so there's still time to buy some ingredients.
I was thinking of some holiday cocktails, and when I went looking I saw lots of the same old stuff. If you go looking you'll find lots of recipe's for traditional drinks like mead or very heavy and sweet dessert cocktails and coffee. This was all well and good when you need something warming and stout, but most of us will be flitting to office and house parties where it's plenty warm and there's plenty of food. We don't need anything nearly that heavy, so here's some suggestions for some lighter cocktails that still give you some Christmas color or flavor.
1.) Looking for something tasty and elegant? Try a French 75. This sparkling cocktail is light to drink and full of flavor.
3 oz Dry Champagne 3 oz London Gin (that's right I said put the gin in your champagne) 1 oz Lemon juice 1/2 - 1 Tsp of powdered sugar Add a twist of lemon or drop a cherry in it
This drink works best if you mix the gin, lemon juice and sugar in a shaker and pour it into the Champagne then stir. Serve in a Collins glass
2.) Planters Punch (Red) A simple classic you can adjust up to make party size punch.
3 oz Dark Rum 1 oz Lemon Juice 1 oz Grenadine Club Soda
To give it a little mystery flavor add some Orgeat Syrup.
Mix in a shaker and top with club soda
3.) The Grasshopper (Green) This classic cocktail has fallen out of favor as of late, but if you like mint chocolate chip anything you'll probably like it. It's creamy but not nearly as heavy as many of those eggnog concoctions.
1.5 oz Creme DE Cacao (white) 1.5 oz Creme DE Menthe (green) 3 oz Fresh Cream
Mix in a shaker and serve in a martini glass garnish with sprig of mint.
5.) The Dark and Stormy (Winter Solstice) It's dark and mysterious looking but pretty light on your stomach.
3-6 oz Dark or Black Rum (Did someone say Goslings?) 12 oz Ginger Beer (Find it, do not use ginger ale it will ruin it, it needs the snap) Dash of Lime Juice and a Lime wedge garnish.
Mix in a Collins Glass. Just fill it up with Rum and add the ginger beer as you drink it ;)
Bonus 6.) The Alligator (Green) (I can only find this listed as an Alligator in one location, but I altered it. I'd call it a Ten-Forward as it looks like something served in that Famous Star Trek lounge. It's Tiki Drink Style, A little sweet, Smooth, Easy to Drink and Lots of Alcohol.)
3 oz Vodka 3 oz Melon Liqueur 1 oz Triple Sec 1 oz Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp powered Sugar 6 oz Orange Juice
Mix in a shaker and pour into a Collins Glass.
Cheers to You! I hope Your Holidays will be Merry!
Anyone who knows me knows I love my Jack Daniels products - particularly Single Barrel and Gentleman's Jack. Now, I've got even more reason to buy their stuff.
It turns out they're donating a tidy sum to bring soldiers home for the holidays. If you're a JD fan, now's the time to spring for the big bottle...or one of their higher-quality offerings. Me? I'm going to pick up another bottle of Gentleman's after payday.
I'm also impressed with the folks who check the "contact us" messages - apparently they send real responses, rather than form letters. Who does that anymore?
Initial impression: 1-10 points
Score: 10 so far seems quite excellent
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points
Score: 9 thicker than regular gin then disappears
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 36 pepper, cucumber, orange, lemon, rose, clean taste, fast burn then gone
Raw Score: 83 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points
Score: 9 $34 a bottle, right in line with other premium gins
Total Score: 92 points
An interesting gin. I could really leave it at that and do it justice, but It doesn't really tell you about it now does it. This gin is like one of your friends relationships when you're wondering how that happened and they say well it's complicated and leave it at that. As if you're some 6 yr old that won't understand grown up things. Although the description will fit I'm not about to treat you that way. Hendrick's Gin doesn't think you should be treated that way either and they're pleased to tell you all about this gin of theirs and why it's different. The website is rather amusing and looks like a Terry Gilliam segment of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Hendrick's is a Scottish gin. Hell you say? No Really it is. It's a pleasant, smooth gin that's not too juniper and has an interesting aftertaste. I came to learn while drinking Hendrick's that my tongue associates cucumbers with salt. That's the big difference, a very slight taste of cool cucumbers. I kept thinking it was a salty flavor, but there's no salt in it. Hence my discovery. It's not cucumber infused and doesn't taste like cucumbers, it's very slight and you might miss it. If you make it in a gin and tonic with a cucumber slice it becomes more prevalent. It and the rose petal aroma are very, very, ethereal. You only notice them like a ghost walked into the room. What was that! A strange encounter. You will not mistake this for something else. It's flavor is Gin. Juniper and Botanicals. If you like Tanq 10 or Bombay Sapphire this is worth a try. A light almost refreshing gin that has become my top shelf favorite.
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 9 tingly on the tongue, slightly oily
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 40 smooth, tart, oily, big molasses, no burn
Raw Score: 89 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points Score: 6 $65 a bottle, spendy, received as a gift
Total Score: 95 points
Here's some booty for you. It comes packed in a box that looks like Indiana Jones himself absconded with it from that fabled secret warehouse. Rum that's kept under glass, well Plexiglas. A flat black bottle, sealed with wax, that's apparently hand numbered. Marketing gimmick aside, this Rum deserves it's special treatment. Goslings has been making high quality Bermuda Rum since 1860. According to their website they have had their base store in Bermuda for 157 years and this Rum is proof that they know what they're doing (Not that Black Seal wasn't enough). It's sipping rum, like fine bourbon or scotch. Please don't mix it in a cocktail. Unwinding with a little on the rocks is all you need. The flavor is smooth and complex, it's got those nuances that you can tell it's carefully crafted. A tingle on the tongue, smokey molasses, with a hint of spice, oak and citrus. Balance is the word that comes to mind and the quality of flavor doesn't make me think of pirates like rum usually does, but perhaps a formal dinner at the governor's mansion. There's nothing rough and tumble about this. It's refined and almost proper. It makes me want to do this I must admit Gosling's Black Seal is my favorite rum and this seems to be the ultimate it could become if cared for and aged to completion.
I received it as a gift and as a gift it fits the bill perfectly. It has great presentation factor and most people have not tasted rum this good. It will be a new experience for most, and I must thank my friend Dave again for a present I probably wouldn't buy for myself.
GET OVER HERE! Not for a FATALITY, but a great way to beat the summer heat. Summertime is the time for classic Tiki Style tropical cocktails, they're fun, they're tasty and they usually pack a whallop. The Scorpion is no different. I know, I know, these type cocktails are too sweet you say and they wind up being syrupy and not thirst quenching. That's not true if you do them correctly. Most bars operate on profit margins so thin they cut costs where ever they can, and unfortunately that usually means watered down drinks with lots of fruit juice and little of anything else. Check out the classic scorpion recipe.
1 oz light rum 1 oz brandy 1 oz orange juice 1.5 oz or half a lime juice 1/2 oz Orgeat Syrup
Some recipes call for powdered sugar or simple syrup, but I've found that if you're using a commercial Orgeat syrup like the great stuff from Torani it's sweet enough not to need it.
Shake and serve over ice in a high ball glass. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and paper umbrella.
The drink is light, thirst quenching, and easy to drink many of. Do not confuse the classic Scorpion with that abomination called The Scorpion Bowl that's usually served at your favorite Japanese steak house show bar. You know the one that comes in a bucket with 5 straws. This is not it. The Scorpion and the Scorpion Bowl usually get concocted with more fruit juice, sour mix, amaretto, and all manner of things. This makes it syrupy and way too sweet. Try the classic Scorpion, but Watch out for that sting.
Initial impression: 1-10 points Score: 9 looks good, smells great
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 7 good, coats the mouth, stays on the tongue, feels thick
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 32 caramel, slow burn, complete, with ice opened up beautifully burn gone just peppery, a little sweet, smooth.
Raw Score: 76 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points Score: 9 great price point 23.95 a fifth
Total Score: 85 points
So they tell me this is the THE STUFF! It's one of the oldest Rye whiskies bottled and most reviewers use it to measure all new Rye's they try. It's a benchmark if you will. I think most of these reviewers are bourbon and scotch drinkers and that's why this Rye seems magic in a bottle to them. You can't blame them it's very good. Rye isn't that popular and it's very hard to find in some areas. This one in particular is difficult to find even in this area where Rye never truly went away. This is actually the first bottle of it I had ever seen and I was eager to try it. So what's all the fuss about? Flavor. It's got burn, it's complex and it's peppery. 3 things you don't necessarily get in bourbon or scotch. These reviewers seem in awe of it because they are very used to having a flat tasting bourbon or scotch at this price point. I don't know if it's the marketing machine or the fact that there are so many bourbons and scotch's out there, but to get a good one you usually have to spend a decent amount of money. Maybe they're snobs and they don't think anything inexpensive can taste good. If you think that way too you'd be very wrong.
Rittenhouse Rye is the taste standard for Pennsylvania style rye whiskey. Oh wait do I sound like one of those other reviewers? No. What do I mean? Hey what's Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey supposed to taste like? Here, taste this (hands you a glass), that. That is what it's supposed to taste like. It can be better or worse, but that's generally what you are supposed to get. It's the nature of Rye that it tastes so different from bourbon and scotch. It inherently has more flavors going on and it's not always going to taste as complete or smooth. I guarantee you will not like this whiskey if you drink it neat, very soon after you pour a glass. It's burny, it's got too much muddled mish mash of flavor going on. You might equate it to a Michael Bay action sequence. POW! BANG! jump cut, EXPLOSION! Holy shit! This stuff is awful. Exciting, but awful. Let's try this again. Pour it on the rocks, or add a little water. Let it sit a minute or two, now try it. Eh? what did I tell you. The profile completely changes. It's smoother, the burn is almost gone, there's flavors you can pick out. Pepper, spices, caramel, sugary, vanilla, fruit and it got smooth. What's going on here? I was watching Transformers and you switched it to Blade Runner. That's the nature of Rye whiskey.
Mystique: 1-10 points Score: 8 - Totally new, totally unexpected. I hadn't seen any sort of advertising and had read no reviews before finding this at the store. Label is definitely Jack Daniels, but a different color and gold text sets it apart.
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 36 - Even burn from start to finish, honey flavor really comes out in the end. Minimal aftertaste. Light hint of banana and amaretto coffee.
Raw Score: 71
Bonus: Value points 1-10 points Score: 8 - Under $25 makes it a good buy. ----------------------- Final Score: 79
We found this liquor in the store yesterday, and I knew nothing of it - I knew it was brand new (so new, in fact, that it lacks a real website - instead, the company has set up a Facebook page), and I was intrigued. Chris told me his friend's mother regularly drinks it in her unsweetened iced tea, which intrigued me further. Had Jack Daniels finally come up with something sweet?
I wasn't sure, but I wanted to find out.
We picked up the bottle this evening, and I immediately set it in the freezer to chill. The bottle actually instructs drinkers to enjoy it chilled - the first instruction I've seen on any Jack Daniels bottle. About a half hour later it was ready, and for once I had a room full of testers to give it a go. At the end of this review, I will post some audio from the group test. My guest testers are MaryBeth and Parker, and both Chris and I make appearances on the recording.
Upon first impressions, the bottle is similar to JD Black Label, but the label is distinctly different. The background color is cream, the text and embossing is gold, and a bee graces the front of the bottle. My immediate thought is this bottle just FEELS feminine...it's certainly appealing to my female co-tester and myself. This might be JD's entry to those women who prefer sweet drinks...the same folks who generally shy away from whiskey.
When poured in a glass, the liquor is golden and thick...not quite as thick as a cordial, but it easily coats the glass. When sniffed, it's incredibly sweet and completely unlike regular black label Jack (but gives a slight hint of Single Barrel's sweetness). There are definite honey tones, as well as a light hint of the signature flavor of Jack Daniels.
The taste...well. It floored me. I've never had any sort of honey-based liquor other than mead before tonight, and I'm blown away at its flavor. At first taste, I noticed there was a light burn that hit immediately and stayed throughout, and there were hints of both banana and amaretto coffee. At the end, the honey flavor comes in very strong and sticks through the finish. There is almost no aftertaste, and I really feel this might be a good introductary whiskey for non-whiskey-drinkers. It's nicely sweet and doesn't turn the drinker off from it. Mixed in something like unsweetened iced tea, this would make an excellent summer drink.
I would highly recommend this to either a friend who has never had whiskey and wants to give them a try, or someone who already likes sweeter drinks and JD and wants to try something new. I also see this might have some use as a glaze for poultry.
Here's the audio from our tasting - apologies for the extra talking, Chris seemed to forget I was recording like 20 seconds into the tasting. ;)
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 9 slick and oily with a tingle
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 36 smokey, peppery on the front, flowery on the back
Raw Score: 77 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points Score: 8 good price point 21.95 a fifth
Total Score: 85 points
I realized as we get closer to July 4th that even though I must have 8 different bottles of Rye Whiskey in my liquor cabinet I haven't posted about a single one. It's my favorite whiskey with a long American traditon. Unfortunately unless you live on the East Coast you've probably never seen it until recently. Fortunately it's enjoying it's own rebirth and revolution. Thanks to this, there are several good American Ryes with nationwide distribution now availible.
Why does rye go with July 4th? Because until prohibition it was the America's whiskey. Enjoyed and produced in the colonies. When you ordered a whiskey while debating life liberty and the pursuit of happiness you got a glass of rye. American Rye is produced using a majority of rye grain in the mash. By law it has to be 51% rye. This makes a whiskey that's peppery yet smooth. Like bourbon it's aged in charred oak barrels. Straight Rye is aged at least 2 yrs. During and after prohibiton American Rye became confused with Canadian Rye whiskey which was referred to as just Rye Whiskey and the name became forever muddled and confusing. Canadian Rye Whiskey can be 90% corn and only 10% rye and has a completely different flavor profile than it's American counterpart. I'll touch on a true Canadian Rye in another review. American Rye Whiskey is further broken down into 2 styles. The Pennsylvanian style, which is more dry and peppery and the Maryland Style whis is just a little sweeter and less peppery. Luckily of the surviving brands there was 1 example of each, Old Overlholt (Pennsylvania) and Pikesville Rye (Maryland) so you could still see the difference.
Now getting back to Bulleit Rye, it's the first example of an American Rye whiskey that's right in the middle of the two styles that I have tried. Of the new offerings in rye, they seem to lean one way or the other, but Bulleit nailed it right down the center. It's got some peppery burn in the beginning and a sweeter finish in the end. This is why I recommend that if you're new to rye, try this one first. It's a tasty and even introduction. Straight out of glass it's got a slow burn like the idea of the American Revolution. Like the colonists it's got that charred oaky ruggedness, but somehow seems a little green at the same time. It's rough pepper and fiesty yet somehow refined and smooth by the time it hits your stomach. If you add ice or a little water it opens up a bit of sophistication. Plum and flowers are hiding in that glass. At it's 90 proof bottling it allows more hints of flavor and complexity without the distiller having to water it down to the standard 80. Bulleit is well crafted, smooth and tasty, a fine exapmle of American Rye Whiskey. Try it in a classic cocktail that originally called for rye like The Sazarec, The Manhattan, or even the Mint Julep. As rye got more scarce and the American palate craved the sweeter bourbon these cocktails had their main ingredient replaced. They're very good with bourbon, but different with rye. No other spirit gives the flavor of America like rye. It's bold and brash while complex, crafted and a little naive all at the same time. Try a glass of history while celebrating our nations birth and think of how the spirit in your glass tastes a bit like freedom.
Initial impression: 1-10 points Score: 9 looks great hope its not a letdown
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 9 slick and oily as expected
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 36 Caramel, molasses, big pepper burn but goes away quick
Raw Score: 83 points
Bonus: Value 1-10 points Score: 8 good price point 19.95 a fifth
Total Score: 91 points
Like the cryptozoological monster from the deep, The Kracken broke the surface with a lot of noise and a unique look. With a 2 jug-handled bottle and a pirate map like label It looks different, but is it up to snuff? A true black rum, dark with a mysterious exotic flavor? That's what the huge marketing campaign for this new product promised. Did they deliver? Absolutely. The Kracken is on par with Gosling's Black Seal and Cruzan Black Strap. It's a real Navy Rum. Black as it's namesake's ink with a flavor that's big molasses, caramel and spices. The pepper taste is strong, but disappears into the briny deep leaving an oily slick. It doesn't quite have the flavor depth of the competition, but it's bolder up front and doesn't disappear in a mixed drink. It's great as a flavor addition to other rums in a variety of cocktails, Like adding just a tiny bit of chili pepper to spice up a meal. It's future may not be in standing on it's own, but as one of those mixers you can't do without. Either they made this rum while thinking of the name or the name came first and they tried to embody it in rum, either way it's spot on, and a welcome addition to my collection of Black Rums. It gives us a little more choice in this small niche. Hunt The Kracken!
As I was preparing my Singapore Sling yesterday I realized the number of ingredients required may be more that some of you have in your liquor cabinet. Today I give you another classic cocktail to beat the heat. One with less ingredients and more simplicity, The Gimlet. This cocktail gets it's name from: Gimlet-a hand tool used to drill small holes. That sounds appropriate to me. While the cocktail is artistically simple in taste like many other classic cocktails there is no Highlander. There can't be only one. It's recipe is debated and even the types of ingredients are argued about across the internet, by cocktail drinkers and in books. The simple recipe is:
Combine in a shaker.
2oz GIN (Dry, Plymouth or Old Tom) 2oz Rose's Lime Juice (Rose's is specified) 1 TSP powdered sugar or simple syrup
Shake thouroughly and pour into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime round.
That's it. Simple, right? Not so fast. For classical cocktail argument there's debate about the lime juice. Use Rose's or Fresh. Which Gin? Dry, Plymouth or the sweeter Old Tom. Top with club soda? If you do that you have made a different drink, The Gin Rickey. For new fangled recipe tinkerers, there's substitute Vodka for the Gin, add mint, or add cucumber or other vegtable or fruit. The list goes on. Connor and Kurgan will fight indefinitely. As a spectator to the epic battle I can say that as far as I'm concerned the above recipe IS the Gimlet. If you alter the recipe to something you like better please call it something else, the (whatever you add) Gimlet. If you alter it so far that your drink doesn't capture the spirit of the Gimlet then make up a new name. This is a simple cocktail. It's flavor is balanced and refreshing. It dosen't need complication. I do encourage you to try the original Gimlet to get the jist of the drink, but please alter away to make it something you like. I like my drinks more sour, so I'll add less sugar and more lime, Laura prefers sweeter drinks so she'll add a dash of Cherry Heering or fresh cherries. Try it, then make it your own, but try and guage when and if you lose the spirit of the flavor of the the original. Whatever you come up with based on this cocktail It will be a great way to beat the heat.
In honor of the current 98 degree temperature here I think we'll need a refreshing cocktail. A classic tropical drink should fit the bill nicely. How about a refreshing Singapore Sling. A slightly different tropical drink based with gin that has a complex flavor and doesn't just taste like the fruit juice they used as a mixer. This drink was invented at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. It has some mystery about it, as it's original recipe is up for debate. The currently accepted and far superior recipe is as follows:
1.5oz Gin .5oz Cherry Heering .25oz Cointreau .5oz Benedictine .5oz Lime Juice 2.0oz Pineapple Juice Dash of Angostura Bitters Few Dashes Grenadine
Shake with Ice and pour straight up or over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a flag.
Using this recipe it's really not a classic sling anymore, but it's refreshing and it's flavor is complex enough to make you think of an exotic location like Singapore.
A little history and the opportunity to watch master bartender Chris McMillian in this video that's part of a series presented by the City of New Orleans. New Orleans Best Cocktail
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 36 little burn, pepper, vanilla, wood short aftertaste
Raw total Score: 80 points
Bonus: Value: 1-10 points Score: 10 dollar more than Evan Williams and its better
Total Score: 90 points
Part of this endeavor was to get us trying new things and after assessing my bourbon consumption I realized I was stuck in a rut. I don't have unlimited funds and when I buy something new my money usually goes to whatever shiny bottle of Rye Whiskey I haven't tried yet. I have not tried many of the high end Bourbons and with the sort of renaissance that it's enjoying there are plenty. I decided to find a really decent one in the middle, a best bang for the buck. Could another mid price bourbon dethrone Evan Williams as my old stand by? I'd been aware of Ezra Brooks as my grandfather had a bottle of Old Ezra behind his bar that came in its own coffin. A little wooden box with a bottle in it. I remember looking looking at it when I was a kid and thinking why would you want to drink something that comes in its own coffin. I saw my grandfather drinking it one day and asked him. He said it wasn't a coffin, it was a treasure chest. He was right, but I was never able to find that particular treasure again after I became of legal drinking age. Lucky for me, I spotted regular Ezra Brooks bourbon hidden among all those black labeled square bottles on the shelf. Once again, note to bourbon makers GET SOME NEW BOTTLES AND LABEL DESIGNS. I wasn't sure what to think. It's was priced right and was new to me. That made it perfect to try. The color was very good, just a little red tinge to the amber and when I poured it in the glass I was surprised to smell all those different aromas out of such a reasonably priced bottle. Sipped neat I experienced a smooth, peppery burn with a vanilla and woody flavor that didn't stick around too long. Very pleasant for such a reasonable price. My bourbon of choice is Wild Turkey which is a little on the peppery side so this was similar in experience and suited to my taste. I tried it on the rocks, in an old fashioned and a mint julep. It was great. I think the higher proofing really brings out that extra flavor and adds a contrast between the flavors and the burn. I found out Ezra Brooks Bourbon is made for the owner by the Evan Williams people and that it might even start from the same mash ball. How the rest of it's birth differs I am not sure and was unable to find out. I am assuming it's aged a little longer to obtain the higher proofing. This was a great find for me. I like it a bit better than Evan Williams for everyday use and have made it my new house Bourbon at home. If you like Wild Turkey or Evan Williams I think you'll like this. At a very reasonable price I can safely say this is a best bang for the buck
Mystique: 1-10 points Score: 7 its actually called fever tree
Color: 1-10 points Score: 9 perfectly clear and bubbly
Scent: 1-10 Points Score: 9 Excellent Quinine and Botanical Citrus
Initial Impression: 1-10 points Score: 9 This doesn’t seem like ordinary tonic water
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 10 bubbly, coating and crafted
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 40 this is the best tonic water I have ever tasted. Botanical citrus, fresh quinine without chemical aftertaste
Raw total score: 84 points
Bonus Points: Value 1-10 Score: 8 About $5.00 4pk 8oz bottles, but its worth every penny.
Total Score: 92 points
It’s summer and I loves me some Gin and Tonic. It’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Not too sweet and not too dry, perfect! Generally, that means your favorite gin with the usual mixer and the flavor you’re expecting. This year, is going to be different, we’re going to have some craft mixers. Finally, someone thought there was a market for them. My beer drinking friends get to drink all manner of weird and delicious local and regional brews, hand crafted and built with love. Stuff that I can’t always try without paying for my curiousity dearly in a few hours. I like beer, but beer doesn’t like me, no, what I get to do is I get to match my awesome booze with either scratch made mixers of my own concoction or mass produced things of which I have no idea what they’re supposed to taste like. Not any more. While fighting off hipsters and granola munchin, tree hugger types at the new local organic food store, I spied on the shelf an unassuming 4 pack of Fever Tree tonic. Holy Shit that stuff is expensive! I decide to treat myself, so I dodged a smug, but cute face and a tattoo sleeve and grabbed a 4 pack. I’ve heard there’s a new crop of craft made mixers floating around. An extension of the craft soda and beer market. I had been looking to try some, and now I have my chance. I think I’ll even pick up some organic limes to go with it. I made my first G&T today as we went right into summer, temps in the high 90’s and I need something to cool off. I pop the bottle and immediately it smells different, there’s botanical citrus and something that smells like the quinine I’m used to, but better. It’s very fizzy, and I can’t get over the smell, it’s different. I try it straight. WOW! It’s perfectly balanced with a flavor profile I have honestly never tasted before. It tastes familiar, but totally different than the tonic I’m used to. It has a wallop of flavor. Citrus, quinine, and some other root I cant put my finger on. I’m in uncharted territory. This flavor is totally new to me. Just thinking about saying that is making me wonder how many other things I eat and drink that taste similar, but are not really what their supposed to be. What have they done. This stuff mixes so perfectly with gin I think I’m ruined forever. Just to make sure, I make another one when I’m finished with my old stand by, Seagram's tonic. Yea, Its totally different. There’s an aftertaste, not a clean finish. There’s a chemical taste. This is not the same at all. It’s just not as good. It’s not as clean and refreshing. Go buy some Fever Tree. Just try it. I guarantee it will be like nothing you’ve had. If you like gin and tonics as much as I do, you merely have to ask yourself if the price is worth it. Is it worth mating to my expensive gin. I think it is, and I fear I’m ruined or enlightened forever.
A new cocktail from Excells At Nothing. It sounds quite interesting and refreshing. Can you help name it?
Update! I tried it when I got home from work. She did an excellent job. It's not too sweet and quite refreshing. I had to use angostura bitters in place of the fresh herbs but it worked great. I'll try with some other bitters in my collection. I even made a variant with cointreau/curacao which made it very smooth.
2 shots black rum 1 shot Cointreau/Curacao 4 dashes Angustura bitters 4 dashes lime juice 1 sugar cube splash of water top with tonic
Mix in a shaker and top with tonic. Stir. An excellent summer drink.
Mystique: 1-10 points Score: 8 always heard it was good
Color: 1-10 points Score: 9 nice red maroon
Scent: 1-10 points Score: 7 grapes, wine, flowers
Initial Impression: 1-10 points Score: 9
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 9 nice and light no coating
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 36 fruity/grape light tannin, pleasant
Raw Score Total: 78
Bonus Points: Value 1-10 points Score: 9 9.99 a bottle
TOTAL SCORE: 87 points
I certainly am not pretending to be a wine connoisseur, but I drink wine fairly often, usually with meals and I do know what I like. I liked this wine. I purchased it to have with dinner and guests that didn't really like red wine. I don't often subscribe to the this goes with red, that goes with white as I feel you should really drink what you like, but I was trying to give them a choice. I was in search of a lighter red that they might actually drink. After a bit of searching on "the google" I found that Beaujolais is usually called into service for just this function. It has a nice history about being the first wine of the year and being raced to market every November from France to points all over the world. A tradition, that was made more public by the Georges DuBoeuf winery and their reputation. Hence my choice. The wine is a nice maroon color and looks like a real red wine not like one of those rose colored things they try to pass off to non red drinkers. It nose is very floral and grapes. So far so good. It felt light on the tongue like a white and was very fruity and just pleasant in general with just a hint of tanin. It has a clean finish and dosen't stick with you very long. It's a very nice light red. I was surprised as were my guests that they were even considering and enjoying a red wine. It went with the beautifully cooked steaks I prepared and accented the pasta. A great choice for dinner and at 10 bucks what's not to like. Keep it in mind if you don't like red wine or you are looking for an alternative to offer guests.
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.
Lately I've been giving Chris various reprints of old bar books (and by reprints, I mean someone dismantled the old books and scanned, then printed them) for birthdays and Christmas. Occasionally I'll dig through them to find something interesting. My most recent discovery was the Chinese, so named for its color - it looks like traditional red Chinese lacquer. It's not overly sweet, but is very balanced, and it's all booze...so drink carefully!
(Chris's Note) The Jamaica Rum that this recipe calls for is a style of rum, not necessarily rum from Jamaica. Unfortunately, like many old liquors and liqueurs that are no longer produced we're not really sure what it tasted like. The best approximation we can deduce is a dark Navy rum (Cruzan Black Strap, Goslings Black Seal, Kracken) mixed with a gold rum. In order to achieve this easily I would increase the Rum to 1/1 oz pour. You may need to adjust the triple sec, bitters, and Maraschino accordingly by teaspoon to balance the rum you chose to use. The finished product should taste completely smooth and balanced when it hits the tongue like a fine Chinese Lacquer finish.
2 oz of Gold Tequila 4 oz of Ginger ale Twist of lime
In a highball glass pour 2oz tequila then top with ginger ale and stir. Add your twist. Yea I know not the most elaborate, but if you order it, a bartender will look at you funny, because not too many people drink tequila this way. Just tilt your head and give 'em and Aye Matey! Picked it up in the West Indies. As usual the higher quality tequila you use the better it will taste.
Scent: 1-10 Points Score: 8 very little slight alcohol
Initial Impression: 1-10 points Score: 8 decent not really sure
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points Score: 5 really none not good or bad
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points Score: 32 no real taste clean smooth
Raw total score: 67 points
Bonus Points: Value 1-10 Score: 8 $12.99 a 1.75 in my area
Total Score: 75 points
There's not much to say about this. Gordon's web page is all about their gin and no mention of the vodka. No one else seems to have much to say about it either. A few mentions here and there about it's low price and that's about it. I'm not a heavy vodka drinker. Vodka is the one liquor that is judged by it's lack of flavor and smell. This neutral-ness indicates higher quality. In order to market that nothingness they've come up with fancy bottles and names. Making a swing through the vodka section is a treat for me to look at all the pretty glass. Gordon's gives up the pretty to give you a good value. A plain bottle almost exactly the same as the gin with different colors on the label. The smell is OK, and not overpowering, the taste is almost non existent there's no oily aftertaste either. there's something there, but it's definitely not like some of the even cheaper vodka's that make you think of rubbing alcohol or brake fluid. Now I wouldn't want to drink it straight or on the rocks, but it makes a fine mixer and is a perfect candidate for making your own infusions. Gordon did a good job at making a inexpensive neutral spirit, perfect for a rail standard issue. Good job Mr. Gordon.
