Review: t1 Tequila, Complete Lineup
t1, aka Tequila Uno, is a new brand of Highlands-grown, 100% blue agave tequila brought to us by the master distiller of the well-regarded Chinaco Tequila line, German Gonzalez. Gonzalez’s twist on the spirit? For some of his varieties, instead of aging in Bourbon casks for his reposado and anejo, he uses ex-Scotch barrels (which…
Review: Mathilde Poire and Framboise Liqueurs (2012)
These 100 percent natural liqueurs from France are staples of many a cocktail bar. We recently tasted two of the company’s five available varieties. Mathilde Poire Liqueur (2012) is a mild on the nose, and quite sweet on first sip. Pear isn’t particularly predominant except on the first rush of flavor. That sweetness grows and grows,…
Review: Yazi Ginger Flavored Vodka
Who would’ve thought this vodka, flavored with ginger and sporting a giant dragon on its trapezoidal bottle, hailed from Hood River, Oregon? Flavored not just with ginger but also with lemon, orange, cayenne, and red pepper (not sure what the difference between that and cayenne is), Yazi presents a sweet, moderately ginger-fueled, and quite citrus-flavored…
Review: VuQo Vodka
VuQo is distilled from coconut nectar. It is not coconut flavored vodka. Distilled in the Philippines (that’s two firsts!) using updated methods used to make a sort of Filipino coconut tequila, this vodka is quite neutral and, unfortunately, a bit less exciting than the story behind it. The nose hints at sweetness, perhaps with tropical…
Review: Kappa Pisco
Just when you thought it was safe to put the old Pisco Wars to rest (you were fighting in the Pisco Wars, weren’t you?), Kappa comes along and dredges it back up again. You see, unlike the vast majority of modern Piscos, Kappa hails from Chile, not Peru, the latter of which has long claimed…
Review: 2010 Ricossa Moscato D’Asti
This Italian wine may look like any old bottle of vino from the exterior, but if you pick it up blind, you’ll be in for a real surprise once you crack it open. For starters, like most Moscato D’Asti, the wine is lightly sparkling — though it is bottled with a traditional, corkscrew-pulled cork. It’s…
Review: NV Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco
This classic Prosecco from Valdobbiadene won’t exactly shock you. Light in body and nose, it offers flavors of peaches, apricots, and fresh lemon juice. But something on the finish is a bit odd — yeast-like flavors usually reserved for vintage Champagne. It’s not overdone, really, but it’s an oddity in an otherwise classic, nonvintage sparkler.…
Review: He’Brew Genesis 15:15
Serving as the next installment of Shmaltz’ fifteenth anniversary series, Genesis 15:15, this robust barleywine stands at 13.4% abv and has two distinct characteristics that immediately make it pop amidst the competition: firstly, it’s aged for over 8 months in Sazerac 6 Year Old Rye whiskey barrels, and secondly, juice from pomegranates, figs, dates, and…
