Review: Highland Park Valhalla Collection – Loki
The second release of Highland Park’s Norse God-inspired Valhalla Collection is upon us, this one inspired by the master of mischief, Loki. While lighter in proof than the massive Thor, the 97.4 proof, 15 year old Loki is immediately hot and fiery. Even the nose brings a bit of a burn to the nostrils, offering…
Review: Real Russian Vodka
I once heard a story about a guy who had trademarked “Ice Cold” Vodka. Ice Cold was the brand name. Makes sense. Basically the same thing Miller did with the Lite brand. Real Russian Vodka is either brilliant branding or incredibly misleading or both. It is made from an “authentic family recipe born over 100…
Review: Hotel California Tequila, Complete Lineup
Never mind the goofy name and goofier bottles. This is good, 100% agave, Highlands tequila that has partnered with the famous Baja hotel for its name and branding. These are unusual bottles, to say the least. Mind the intriguing-looking yet wholly dysfunctional stoppers. The only thing harder than getting them out of the bottle (that…
Review: Don Quixote Blue Corn Bourbon Whiskey
I am Don Quixote, a booze of La Mancha! Chip Tate at Texas’s Balcones Distilling isn’t the only guy on the cob that’s using exotic blue corn to make Bourbon. Said to be especially difficult to work with due to its high oil content, blue corn makes for unique and memorable whiskey. Made in New…
The Drinkhacker Shopping List – 04.05.2013
Another Friday, another round of ye olde Drinkhacker Shopping List! A printable, full color compendium of the latest and greatest reviews of beverages we’ve reviewed on the site this week. Before you read on any further, just a quick reminder that the deadlines are closing fast to enter for some of these fantastic competitions we’ve…
Review: Gosling’s Family Reserve “Old Rum”
There’s not much pomp and circumstance attached to a product called “Old Rum,” so at $70 a bottle, you better hope Gosling’s has saved its investment for what’s inside the bottle. There’s no hint at how old Old Rum actually is. Bermuda-based Gosling’s produces this by taking the standard Black Seal and aging it in…
Review: The Macallan “The Flask Edition” 22 Years Old
To obtain this unique Macallan expression you’ll have to buy the flask that it comes with. Designed by Oakley, it is made from food-grade steel, then wrapped in a carbon fiber composite “treated to an intensive passivation and electro-polishing procedure to ensure perfection.” At last it is clad in “black anodized 5-axis machined aerospace grade…
Review: Fresh Origins Herb Crystals and Flower Crystals
Bacon salt rim? Boring. How about a basil rim on your cocktail? Or fennel? Fresh Origins, a micro-greens and edible flowers creator, is launching Herb and Flower Crystals, a sort of freeze-dried herb-meets-sugar idea that results in colorful, exotic, and wholly unique crystals that can be used as cocktail garnishes. Two sizes of the crunchy…