Review: Thatcher’s Prickly Pear Liqueur
Let’s start with the obvious: What is a prickly pear, anyway? It’s the fruit of the paddle cactus, the iconic desert plant that sometimes grows little red bulbs on its ends. Thatcher’s makes a wide variety of oddly-flavored liqueurs (yumberry, anyone?), all of which are organic and most of which are at least intriguing. The…
Review: Red Eye Louie’s Vodquila
It’s another spirit mashup that I’m unclear who’s been clamoring for: Vodquila is… wait for it… vodka and tequila. That’s it. There’s nothing surprising in the construction here: The bright idea was to mix 100% agave Highlands tequila with premium, imported, grain-distilled vodka. And to be honest, the whole idea baffles me. If you like…
Recipes: 2013 New Year’s Eve Cocktail Ideas
While it’s already January 1st in some parts of the world, we’re still awaiting the stroke of midnight in our part of the world. Here are a few last minute cocktail recipe ideas for your gathering. Happy 2014, and may this coming year bring you every resolution accomplished! Electric Midnight 1 oz. Ciroc Red Berry…
Review: Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum
Imported by Anchor Distilling from that remote African island of Mauritius (where a handful of rums are made), Penny Blue is a limited edition rum from the oldest distillery on the island, built in 1926. The sugarcane is sourced from a single estate, and the rum is then matured for about seven years in a…
Review: Chicken Cock Flavored Whiskeys
Chicken Cock! I can’t do the origin story justice. Here it is in the distiller’s own words. Originally established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock quickly became a significant 19th century Bourbon brand. Forced to move production to Canada during Prohibition, Chicken Cock was smuggled across the border in tin cans, where it rose…
Tasting Red Sancerre Wines: La Croix du Roy and Jerome Gueneau, 2013 Releases
Sancerre is a lovely wine made in the Loire Valley, a crisp white made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc… except when it’s not. They also make red wine in Sancerre, from Pinot Noir grapes, in total comprising about 20% of the region’s production. Red Sancerre, or “Sancerre Rouge,” is virtually unheard-of in the U.S. due to…
Review: 2011 Ventisquero Grey Carmenere
Tying a Chilean Carmenere into the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon is a bit of a stretch, but damn the torpedoes, we’re charging ahead anyway. Grey is a newish label from mega-producer Ventisquero, with a number of varietals under its belt. One of the latest is this Maipo Valley-originated Carmenere — Chile’s unofficial official grape —…
Review: Cruzan Light Rum 5 Years Old, Dark Rum 5 Years Old, and Single Barrel Rum (2013)
Cruzan, based in St. Croix, is something of an underrated distillery in the world of rum. Now it’s moving ever so slightly upmarket, with the launch of three new premium rums, all part of the new Distiller’s Collection. All three of these rums start with the same base stock — a blend of rums from barrels…
