Patron holds a unique reputation in the cocktail world. It’s a popular call at bars, a marketing darling and a tequila that’s highly-regarded by the drinking public. But it gets less love from the craft bartending community. In an age…
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Laphroaig Select is the latest salvo from a brand that doesn’t shy away from innovation. In recent years, Laphroaig supplemented its portfolio with the release of Laphroaig Triple Wood and, more recently, Laphroaig Cairdeas Port Wood Edition. Now, the Islay-based…
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Clyde May’s Whiskey hails from Alabama, where it can trace its root back to a gentleman named… you guessed it, Clyde May. Old Clyde was a craft distiller in an age of moonshiners, and while he flouted the law making…
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According to the barrage of press releases hitting our inbox, August 16th is National Rum Day. Oh, who are we kidding… it’s been marked on our calendar for months. So now seems like a good time to pull out these…
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Many, many years ago, Bowmore 12 Year was our first introduction to Islay scotch. And it proved to be quite the intro, quickly cementing our love for Islay whiskies and their rich, smoky qualities. Just recently, Bowmore announced a new…
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Single malt whiskey typically conjures images of Scotland and rolling fields of heather. And while Scotland continues to produce the vast majority of single malts, more American distillers are getting into the game. Balcones and St. George are a couple…
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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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I’ve never been a huge fan of monkeys, little troublemakers that they are. But fortunately, in the drinks world, monkey is becoming code for delicious. At least, it was on Wednesday when I had the pleasure of sipping a Monkey…
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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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