That’s not a typo. It’s really spelled VDKA, and it launched in early 2014. VDKA 6100 hails from New Zealand, and it has the unique distinction of being distilled from whey. You can distill vodka from most anything with fermentable…
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I begin writing, as usual, with a full glass. I’m fond of doing so. I pour a glass of whisky and do not begin writing until after first enjoying a dram unsullied by the pressures of a blank page. The pressures to write something worthy of the casual reader’s attention as he browses his newsfeed…read more →
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Auchentoshan American Oak is a new addition to the Auchentoshan Scotch Whisky portfolio. This expression is a triple distilled single malt that’s been aged in first fill American oak barrels that previously held bourbon. With each filling, less and less…
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Rhum agricole is the French term for a style of rum that’s distilled from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice, rather than molasses, which is a byproduct of refining sugar. And perhaps no place in the world is better suited to producing…
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Pouring the hot water into whisky, the fragrance suddenly rises in the light of a cold white morning. Lines from a poem by Japanese naturalist Bokusui Wakayama, reflecting on his oyuwari–a drink akin to a hot toddy–as he enjoyed it one cold winter morning. It struck me… read more →
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Awhile back, we received an intriguing wooden crate from Vietnam. One that was nailed shut, required a crow bar to open and, much to our delight, contained six liqueurs that were heretofore unknown to us. Turns out, Son Tinh is…
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Old Pulteney produces a range of single malt scotch whiskies, from the introductory 12 Year to the just-released 35 Year. And occasionally, the brand puts out limited edition offerings, like this bottle of Old Pulteney Navigator that hit the market…
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At the beginning of this series, I mentioned receiving a bottle of Hakushu 12 from Cocktail Enthusiast two years ago. Below is the review I wrote. I think it deserves to be revisited, not only because I have revisited the spirit myself, but also to reflect on the context of the time it was written… read more →
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The newest gin to cross our desk is called Brockmans, and it’s billed as an “intensely smooth, premium gin” that’s made with a unique blend of botanicals. Now, if “intensely smooth” sounds confusing and somewhat contradictory, well, we agree. But…
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Author Mack McConnell is a Paris-based contributing writer for Cocktail Enthusiast. He also runs a Whiskey of the Month Club. In addition to its lineup of fine whiskies — Glenmorangie Signet included — The Glenmorangie Distillery’s real contribution to the…
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Real Gusto is a recently-launched tequila that’s producing three expressions — blanco, reposado and anejo. Though it’s new to the United States market, the origins of Real Gusto date back to 1948. It’s produced in Amacueca, Jalisco, where the entire…
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The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Sherry Cask is a newly-released addition to The Balvenie portfolio. It will replace the traditional oak-matured 15 Year Old Single Barrel — a fine dram, to be sure, but nothing quite as interesting…
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Last week, Captain Morgan announced a limited-time addition to its rum portfolio: 1671 Commemorative Blend Spiced Rum, which is finished with Spanish oak. The new offering pays tribute to Captain Henry Morgan and his 1671 raid of Panama City, in…
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Blue Nectar Tequila is the latest agave spirit to cross our desk and a relative newcomer to the market. It launched near the end of 2011 in the tequila hotbed that is… Michigan, and since then it’s expanded to a…
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Phraya Rum hails from Thailand, which probably isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to rum. But with its tropical climate and favorable growing conditions, Southeast Asia is rich in sugarcane. Rum is most abundantly consumed in…
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Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila is a new offering from the spirits maker, and one that’s billing itself as “whiskey-like.” That’s because the 18-month-aged 100% agave tequila undergoes a maturation process that utilizes heavily toasted oak barrels to impart the caramelized…
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Citadelle Gin comes from the House of Cognac Ferrand, one of those more innovative distilleries and the makers of Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Plantation Rum, Citadelle Gin and a handful of other spirits. Proprietor Alexandre Gabriel has been experimenting with aged…
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The Husky Vodka bottle is embossed with a paw print, and the label states “distilled and bottle in Siberia.” That’s a quick way to garner attention, and it worked on us. Because while we’ve had plenty of Russian vodkas, we’ve…
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The Fat Trout Blended Scotch Whisky hails from the Speyside Region of Scotland, where it’s produced by Ian Macleod Distillers. The three year old spirit is comprised of about 30 different single malts from Speyside, Islay and Highlands. The whisky…
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Cruz Tequila is a relatively new operation that got its start in 2005 when three friends in Arizona decided to enter the tequila business. Their distillery is based in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, and they produce three 100% blue…
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