Review: Absolut Hibiskus Vodka
Hibiscus flowers are the improbable Next Big Thing in spirits flavoring, and now Absolut is getting into the business with this new vodka, continuing the succession of equally improbably-spelled liquors. Absolut Hibiskus is infused not just with hibiscus flower but also with pomegranate, a wise choice that gives this vodka some much-needed sweetness. Absolut’s flavored…
Review: Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey
Angel’s Envy is one of the best affordable Bourbons on the market, and now its mad master distiller, Lincoln Henderson, is raising expectations again with Angel’s Envy Rye, one of the best rye whiskeys on the market. The mashbill will likely sound familiar to regular readers — 95% rye and 5% malted barley — the…
Review: Three Olives “Loopy” Vodka
Not getting enough froot in your diet? Now you can up your intake with one of the nuttiest vodka flavors to hit the market yet: Three Olives’ “Loopy” Vodka. Designed specifically to taste (and look) like a certain breakfast cereal, Loopy is unmistakable when you crack open the bottle. The aroma of sugared, berry-flavored cereal…
Review: Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
Sammy Hagar conquered rock music. Then he conquered tequila. Then Mexican food. Now: Rum. The liquor mogul is expanding into the rum business courtesy of this tropics-friendly bottling, a white rum made from first-press Hawaiian sugar cane that is pot-distilled in small batches. It’s aged for two years, then filtered to remove color. Since it’s…
Review: Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon
This year’s Single Barrel release from Four Roses trots out the OBSK (high-rye) recipe at 13 big years of age. Slightly older than the usual Single Barrel bottlings (typically 11 or 12 years old), this release is a monster whiskey. If you’ve been waiting for something incredibly bold from Four Roses, wait no longer. Four…
Review: Belaya Rus Vodka
This Belarusian vodka dates back to 1993, and hails from a 100-year-old distillery in Minsk. Distilled six times “for your pleasure” from a blend of 75% rye and 25% winter wheat, this budget brand offers lots of quality plus Eastern European street cred. Belaya Rus (literally “White Russian”) is surprisingly easy, especially considering its birth…
Review: Stone Enjoy By 4.20.13 IPA
For those beer drinkers who can’t get enough hops, there’s nothing worse than opening an India Pale Ale and finding out that the bottle you just bought is several months old. Unlike some beer styles that can improve and mature with age, IPAs and other hop-forward beers are notorious for dropping off quickly because the…
Review: Admiral Rodney Extra Old St. Lucia Rum
This bottle was given to me as a gift, brought back directly from St. Lucia. Bottled by St. Lucia Distillers, it is named after Admiral Georges Rodney, a British seaman who fought against the French in the 18th century. This rum is continuous column distilled, then aged for an average of 12 years in American…
