The Dinosaur room at Sydney’s Australian Museum is set to come alive on the 17th of July as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society presents the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship 2010. The details below will have whisky lovers salivating at what is sure to one splendid evening
Feb 18
Every day when I come home from work I gravitate toward my selection of various brands of gin to cleanse out all of my work related thoughts. I firmly believe that there is no better staple drink than a good G&T. Not too much ice and not too little. Lemon or lime depends on the brand? A generous dose of whichever bottle has caught my eye, and a good measure of tonic to complete the magical elixir. BUT, every now and then I look for something different (I ran out of tonic) and it is because of this need for something different [read more...]
Nov 25
If you asked a random person where the oldest operating distillery in the New World was, very few would know it was Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados. Operating since 1703 it is also one of the oldest operating in the world.
With this in mind we wanted to review a wonderful expression from this distillery. Mount Gay Extra Old, or XO as it is more commonly known, is a rich, warm, translucent, caramel colour. The nose has typical Caribbean scents of citrus & banana and more complex oak characters.
The palate backs up your initial assumptions of quality and style. The same [read more...]
Nov 20
Waitersfriend want to put a little focus on rum over the next year or so as the spirit itself is deservingly gathering some traction around the world. Stereo-typed by pirates and fist fights in pubs & bars across the world, the spirit itself has a far more interesting background than many give it credit for. We have previously reviewed Ron Zacapa 25yo and will continue to show you good examples of not only fine rums but accessible every-day rums.
Rum is probably the least understood of all the 5 main spirit types, even though white rum has been one of the biggest sellers of [read more...]
Nov 11
The first things that come to mind when I hear the word Chartreuse is; shots, vomiting and hangover! I don’t know if it’s our Australian way to just slam down anything that requires understanding and appreciation, like Tequila, Sambuca or Raki to name a few, or whether it is just best drunk that way, but Chartreuse certainly doesn’t get the credit it’s due.
Still, in this day & age only 2 monks know the recipe, ingredients and production process of the magical green elixir, ‘The Elixir of Long Life’. The recipe dates back to 1605AD in Paris, but was only produced in [read more...]
Nov 10
This luxury handcrafted vodka is produced in small batches & distilled 4 times to ensure that the flavor and mouth feel are unchallenged for their quality.
There is much debate in the world of vodka as to who holds the higher ground with fierce competition between brands such as the iconic Grey Goose, new kids on the block 42 Below and other key players like Kettle 1, Armadale and Jewel of Russia.
For a spirit that has such a neutral taste, the competition is more focused at production and key ingredients than that of more distinct flavored spirits like scotch or rum. [read more...]
Nov 9
Campari is a bright, translucent, blood red aperitif with an alcohol content of 21% and is typically served with soda or orange and an orange slice for garnish. It is also industry standard to serve a 45-60ml pour.
Campari is infused with over 60 herbs and its 150 year old recipe is still a very closely guarded secret. What is known is that the red color originates from pigments in ladybugs, a dye considered exotic due to very limited availability in the Mediterranean.
Campari was first sold to the general market in the 1860’s, Gaspare Campari’s creation has become iconic and a [read more...]
Jul 19
The name says it all; 43 different ingredients & it’s a liqueur. Ingredients include fruit, herbs, & citrus all selected from the prime mediterranean basin.
I am currently setting up a cocktail lounge bar so I am blessed with the opportunity to try a number of products while I am piecing together the list. I came across Licor 43 the other day. I have seen it on shelves but never taken the step of ordering one or asking what it is. Well, I can now safely say that I know what it is.
Licor 43 is a Spanish premium liqueur dating back [read more...]
Jul 11
A few weeks ago I came across the most alluring of spirits, it was at a tasting with the Diagio Spirit Company, its spicy warmth stayed with me, and I felt compelled to track down a bottle and get to the bottom of its mysterious ways.
I think it was because I was expecting something else in a rum that it had such a profound effect on me, but really, it was just that incredible. I must have consumed about 70mls neat just trying to get my head around it and I can easily say that I have never before felt so [read more...]
Jun 25
Clontarf is a unique single malt whisky. Irish oak is slow burned to produce charcoal. The pure spirit is passed through this Irish charcoal prior to racking in charred first fill bourbon barrels. The result is nothing short of stunning, according to Jim Murray in his latest whisky bible.
This is classified as:
“A superstar whisky that gives us all a reason to live”.
“Irish most excellent”
“Outstanding blood orange clinging to the sharp barley edges; soft spices buzz and juiciness intensifies. Long with a myriad wave of fruit barley of varying intensity sometimes bringing cocoa and mocha”.
The official tasting notes from the producers [read more...]
You are currently browsing the archives for the Spirits and Liqueurs category.
