Review: Brugal Siglo de Oro Rum
It isn’t every day that we’re treated to products that aren’t even sold in the U.S., but our good friends at Brugal sent this, Brugal‘s Siglo de Oro (“Golden Century”), for our consideration. It’s Brugal’s most prized rum, so rare it is produced only once a year and doesn’t even appear on Brugal’s website. Fortunately,…
Review: 2008 Chateau de Cosse Sauternes
This Sauternes comes from a holding of Chateau Rieussec, which is part of the Domaines Barons de Rothschild empire. This tiny property makes less than 5,000 cases of dessert wine each year, with prices kept low because it is aged only 16 to 18 months in used oak barrels. Grape varietals are 80 to 90%…
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…