Review: Nooku Bourbon Cream
“Inspired by a Native American name for a white snowshoe rabbit,” Nooku is a new bourbon cream made with only two ingredients — bourbon and real cream. Both Nooku and the base bourbon come from Colorado-based Old Elk Distillery — the bourbon used being a two year old, made using a high-malt recipe. The cream…
Review: Ciroc Mango Vodka
Ciroc, the P. Diddy-endorsed vodka distilled in France from brandy, is out with its latest flavor: Mango, which is “infused with mango and other natural flavors.” This vodka is well-sweetened but not unpleasant, with aromas the run more toward peach than mango, but which, on the palate, offers a melange of mixed tropical flavor that…
Review: Ezra Brooks Straight Rye (2017)
Jumping on the rye bandwagon, Luxco’s Ezra Brooks has expanded to offer a rye — 95% rye, 5% barley, sourced from Indiana’s MGP and bottled at just two years old — er, “24 months” according to the back label. It’s bottled just a tad overproof at 45% abv. The nose doesn’t give too many hints…
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Review: Lavazza Coffees – Santa Marta, Kilimanjaro, and Intenso
With coffee cocktails all the rage now, having a good cup of java as the base for a great drink is more important than ever. Lavazza’s two single origin coffees and its Intenso dark roast all bring something different to the table, and each will make a great base for a different style of coffee…
Review: The Revivalist Botanical Gin Solstice Expression
The Revivalist is a gin brand that launched in 2016, produced in Elverson, Pennsylvania. Solstice is its “winter inspired expression” (apologies for the lateness of this review), the fourth gin in the company’s lineup. Like all its former expressions (none of which we’ve seen), it is available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan.…
Review: Cooper River Petty’s Island Rums and Cooper & Vine Brandy
Cooper River Distillers is the first legal distillery in Camden, NJ — ever! This outfit produced its first product, a rum, in 2014, and since then it’s been adding more rum expressions, brandy, and whiskey. We received a variety pack from the company — three rums and its brandy — and put them all to…
What Botanicals Are Used to Make Gin (and Why)?
Our recent martini taste test has lit a juniper-scented fire under us here at Drinkhacker HQ, so we’ve decided to once again explore gin, the most aromatic of spirits. Today we’ll be giving an overview of the different botanicals that go into your favorite gin; unlike wine, which can have aromas and flavors of a…
Review: 2014 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga
The latest release of Chateau Montelena’s signature cabernet is somewhat rocky, rather closed off on first blush, revealing tight, oaky tannins and some vegetal notes. Give this one some time or decant — I let it sit in glass for more than an hour before coming back to it — and the wine shows a bit…
