Review: Tillen Farms Garnishes
At long last high-quality Grenadine is widely available. (If you’re buying Rose’s — which is just red corn syrup — you’re missing out.) But who mourns the death of the Maraschino cherry? Once a reference to a Croatian marasca cherry preserved in maraschino liqueur, Maraschino cherries are now chemical-laden monstrosities that remain a staple of…
Review: Daron Calvados Fine Pays D’Auge
We don’t drink much apple brandy round these parts, either domestic or foreign. Daron is the Calvados brand you’re probably most likely to encounter in the wild. There’s not a lot of information about the brandy’s provenance available (it’s Daron’s entry-level spirit), but it comes from the Pays d’Auge region of France, which is widely…
Review: Glacier Potato Vodka
If you’re making booze in Idaho, chances are it’s vodka made from potatoes. Who can blame you? Glacier is a brand that has recently relaunched, using Idaho Russet potatoes and Rocky Mountain water to produce a very traditional vodka that is nonetheless distinctly American. The packaging is updated, but inside the spirit is the same,…
Review: Magellan Iris Flavored Gin
It is natural to wonder what irises taste like. The famous blue flower is reportedly used as a digestive aid in some parts of the world. Here, it gives Magellan a distinctly blue tint (the bottle is clear)… along with, ahem, a dose of “certified color.” Magellan, distilled in France, contains 11 botanicals. Aside from…
Review: Patron XO Cafe Dark Cocoa Liqueur
Patron already makes a coffee-flavored liqueur, XO Cafe, and now it extends that line with XO Cafe Dark Cocoa, which adds Mexican Criollo chocolate to the mix of Patron silver and coffee flavors. All the components are there. Chocolate with a touch of cinnamon hits you first on the nose. Take a sip and that…
Review: Newcastle Founders’ Ale
Newcastle has been on a tear lately with limited edition releases. A whopping four more are on the way for 2012. Here’s the first: Newcastle Founders’ Ale. This English-style ale is light in body, in keeping with the Newcastle house style. Designed for Spring drinking (on sale through April), it is lightly sweet and lightly…