Review: Praga Vodka
This new vodka brand comes to us from — wait for it — Prague, where it is distilled from winter wheat. It’s a sweeter style of vodka, though it isn’t blown out as some other new world vodkas tend to be. You get the sugar on the nose, along with a gentle graininess and a…
Review: Bloomery SweetShine Liqueurs
West Virginia-based Bloomery takes a unique, yet wholly appropriate, approach to creating its 10 liqueurs: Rather than using a grain neutral spirit for its base, Bloomery uses moonshine — at least that’s how the story goes. Starting with 190 proof ‘shine, cane sugar, and local water, Bloomery’s SweetShine concoctions are flavored with local fruits, roots,…
Review: The Pogues Irish Whiskey
They may have the second most famous name in Irish rock ‘n’ roll, but The Pogues are certainly the most notorious. Known for their hard-partying lifestyle in the ‘80s and ‘90s – many of their songs are specifically about drinking – it only makes sense that The Pogues would get their own Irish whiskey brand.…
Review: James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Barrel Proof
It’s been three years since we’ve heard of anything new from the James E. Pepper 1776 line of bourbons and ryes, but now the Georgetown Trading Company is back with a new addition to its rye, a cask strength expression. The 15 year old expressions of 1776 are also bottled at cask strength, but this…
Review: Skyy Infusions Coastal Cranberry Vodka
Cranberry flavor is one of the simplest mixers to add to anything — cranberry juice doesn’t even have to be refrigerated when you buy it — so why both adding it to a vodka as a flavoring agent? The increasingly vast Skyy Infusions lineup now includes this flavor — not just regular cranberry, Coastal Cranberry…
Review: Coldcock American Herbal Flavored Whiskey
Coldcock is the first product from Rick and Sarah Zeiler, marketing veterans of Sidney Frank, the company that made Jagermeister a hit. For their first trick, the Zeilers have gone with a tried-and-true formula: The twentysomething shooter, a category they know a little something about. Alas, many have tried and only one has succeeded at dethroning…
Review: Booth’s Recipe No. 1 Finest Dry Gin Cask Mellowed
Booth’s is a British gin brand that dates back to the 1740s — so venerable it is considered the oldest brand in continuous production. The company calls it “The King of Gins.” While Booth’s standard edition bottling is laregely seen as a budget brand, the company has revived this barrel-mellowed version as a push upmarket,…
Review: BG Reynolds Tiki Cocktail Mixers
Tiki drinks are some of the most iconic cocktails anywhere, but they’re so complicated to make that few people bother at home. The typical Mai Tai has five or six ingredients. The Zombie: More than 10. I never make these drinks myself, and it’s my job. So, how about a shortcut, courtesy of syrup-maker BG…
