**Editor’s Note: Please welcome Ian Reilly — bartender, writer and new Cocktail Enthusiast contributor. For his first post, we threw him into the fire. With Akvavit.** Let me start by addressing the uninitiated akvavit/aquavit drinker: this is one bizarre tipple….
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Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co. is a new operation based in Fort Worth, TX. The enterprising gents behind the eponymous label started the distillery in 2010 and have been hard at work ever since. They’ve got a bourbon (North Texas’…
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Knockeen Hills Heather Gin is dubbed a “super premium” London Cut Dry Gin. It hails from England, but it’s produced with Irish whey distillate. And, it’s distilled five times. That’s nothing for vodka, but unusual for gin. More fun facts…
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Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky is a bottle that’s caught our attention recently. Partly because of the odd name, and partly because it’s an interesting blend of three Speyside malts — Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kinivie. Those malts are individually matured in…
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Crown Royal recently unveiled the latest Crown Royal Extra Rare Whisky. The original Crown Royal XR was introduced in 2005, and its selling point was the inclusion of rare whiskey stocks from the now-defunct Waterloo Distillery. The new Crown Royal…
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Tequila Revolucion makes a full line of 100% agave tequilas, including a silver, reposado, anejo, extra anejo and 100 proof expression. The brand traces its roots back to El Arenal, Jalisco, where the distillery was established in 1994. Tequila Revolucion’s…
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In what’s been a busy year for the whiskey brand, Wild Turkey recently introduced Wild Turkey 81 Rye Whiskey, an 81-proof spirit that joins Wild Turkey’s flagship 101-proof rye. This follows last year’s release of Wild Turkey 81 Proof Bourbon,…
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Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum launched in April 2012 with a lot of fanfare. In addition to the very visible advertising campaign, the “darker, bolder” rum sports a higher proof and a more sophisticated package for an overall grownup feel….
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Z Tequila is the product of Jose “Pepe” Zevada. As the story goes, he spent his career in the spirits industry working with brands like Jack Daniels, Sauza and Espolon Tequila, among others. It was during this time that, as…
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Of all the bourbons we’ve been drinking this past year – for the record, there’s a lot of them – Bulleit bottles might be drained the quickest. For a number of reasons: 1) it’s good; 2) it’s moderately priced; and…
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One of the biggest product splashes of the past two weeks was the introduction of Captain Morgan Black – a higher proof, bolder take on Captain Morgan’s flagship spiced rum. Spiced rum is a popular market segment, mostly due to…
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Rum is a fun category. Aside from the differences between aged and unaged, there are spiced rums as well as designations to denote from what the spirit is distilled. Rum is usually, but not always, distilled from molasses, which is…
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Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon is a 10-year-old straight bourbon from Kentucky. It is distilled and distributed by Buffalo Trace. Eagle Rare first hit the market in 1975 as a 101 proof straight bourbon, and since its inception has changed…
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Malibu Red is the latest product from Malibu Rum, whose flavored rum portfolio includes the original coconut, plus line extensions like mango, pineapple and banana. But rather than another flavor, Malibu Red adds silver tequila to the rum and coconut…
Read MoreA lot goes into producing Clase Azul Plata Tequila. First, the agave: the plants are matured for at least nine years before being harvested for distillation. From there, the agave hearts are slow cooked for 72 hours in traditional ovens…
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Nolet’s Silver Dry Gin is crafted in Holland by the same family that brought us Ketel One Vodka. But the Nolet’s are not newcomers to the category, as the Nolet family has been producing gin since 1691. Nolet’s Silver is…
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Greenhook Ginsmiths Distillery is a new Brooklyn-based outfit headed by gin aficionado, Steven DeAngelo. The company launched an American Dry Gin in February and will eventually be releasing a full line of small-batch, handcrafted gins. Greenhook Ginsmiths hopes to offer…
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Caorunn Gin (pronounced ka-roon) is a small batch Scottish Gin produced at the Balmenach Distillery in Scotland’s Spey Valley. Caorunn builds on the standard gin botanicals – like juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root and citrus peels – with five…
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Founded in 1992, Knob Creek is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. And to commemorate the occasion, Knob Creek has introduced its first rye whiskey, a 100 proof spirit that pays homage to America’s favorite pre-prohibition drink. Aside from a…
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Bushmills Irish Honey is the newest addition to the Bushmills range. It’s a blend of Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey with honey, which follows the template introduced by Wild Turkey American Honey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey. Bushmills is one of…
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