Review: Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum
Cruzan is the latest rum maker to jump into the spiced rum game. Its “9” is rare in that it actually indicates what spices — nine of them, natch — are used to flavor the rum. They are: allspice, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, clove, mace, and juniper berry. This, by the way, is not…
Review: Diageo Classic Malts, 2010 Releases
Every year, Diageo, under its Classic Malts Selection endeavor, tracks down some rare whiskies from the distilleries it owns and presents them for sale, usually on very limited release (a few thousand bottles or less). This year, seven releases are being offered. We got the chance to review them all (plus a more commonly available…
Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon 2001 Vintage
Every year Evan Williams produces a single barrel version of its classy Bourbon. Incredibly affordable, these bottlings feature outstanding quality and are regularly snapped up soon after release. For 2001, Evan Williams a quieter whiskey than last year’s masterpiece, which, compared to this year’s expression, has a spicier backbone and a racier structure. Lots of…
Review: Adult Chocolate Milk
In its old-timey stoppered bottle featuring comforting, cartoony lettering, Adult Chocolate Milk is nothing if not enticing. The very name alone makes you want to guzzle the stuff. But then, well, you’d be sorry. Essentially a variation on Baileys, Adult Chocolate Milk is not particularly chocolaty nor milky. At 40 proof it’s a touch more…
Review: Distinguido Tequila, Complete Lineup
Tequila Distinguido (“distinguished”) is a relatively new tequila brand (stop me if you’ve heard that one before), now available largely in Texas and Illinois. As it rolls out further, we had the opportunity to sample the three traditional expressions. All are 100% agave, of course. All are 80 proof. Distinguido Silver Tequila – One of…
Review: Glenmorangie Finealta
Highland distillery Glenmorangie will release its latest expression in the U.S. in January 2011: Finealta. Finealta finds Glenmorangie, as many Scots distilleries are doing, experimenting with peat more and more, opening up new avenues for their malts beyond special wood finishes, which have dominated for a decade. Finealta is certainly a change of pace for…
Review: The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve (2010)
Honoring its recent expansion, The Glenlivet has released this very special, limited edition malt called Founder’s Reserve. Just 1824 bottles (an homage to the year the distillery was opened) were produced, encased in nifty wooden boxes, held shut with magnetic clasps embedded in the planks. The whisky is 21 years old, a special bottling crafted…
Review: Moon Mountain Vodka
This brand new vodka hails from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. It’s certified organic, and, somewhat more interestingly, is distilled in copper pots. The triple-distilled spirit is sourced from (unspecified) grains grown in Minnesota and Indiana. Bottles don’t look like much, but they are individually numbered. Moon Mountain has no fear of slapping you upside the head with…
