Other Spirits

Cruzan Aged Light Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Cruzan Aged Light Rum
40% ABV/80 Proof
$10
Website

What the Distillery Says:
As with all rums, the Cruzan Aged Light Rum is aged in American oak casks. After the ageing, though, the light rum goes thru a closely monitored filtration process that reduces color as well as oak and vanilla character.

This process also brings out the full-bodied, smooth taste that makes Cruzan Aged Light the delicate rum it really, really is.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fresh grass, rubbing alcohol, vanilla, and coconut.
Palate: Lightly sweet with a very clean flavor.
Finish: Smooth and delicate with finishing notes of white pepper.
Comments: This is a white rum not a sipping rum so I’m not grading it as such. This is a great choice if you are looking for a clean supporting role in pina coladas or rum and Cokes.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank the folks at DBC PR & New Media for sending a sample bottle to review.

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National Rum Day

/ / Other Spirits, Richard's Blog

Did you know that August 16th is National Rum Day? I didn’t either until the people at the PR firm representing Cruzan Rum told me. They were also kind enough to send me a bottle to review and and few recipes. The review will follow shortly. For now, check out their suggested celebration drinks….

CRUZAN® “DON’T HURRY” CANE

Ingredients:
1 part Cruzan® Vanilla Rum
2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
1 tsp Sugar
3 Lime Wedges
Method: Combine 2 of the lime wedges, sugar & Cruzan Vanilla Rum in a tumbler and lightly muddle for ten seconds. Add Cruzan Aged Light Rum and a scoop of ice and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled Hurricane glass and garnish with the final lime wedge.

CRUZAN® TAKE 9

Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Cruzan® 9 Spiced Rum
3/4 part Dry Vermouth
1/4 part Curacao
1/2 tsp Grenadine
Orange Twist
Method: Combine all ingredients over ice in a tumbler and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.

CRUZAN® COCONUT OLD FASHIONED

Ingredients:
2 parts Cruzan® Single Barrel Rum
1/2 part Rich Simple Syrup
3 dashes of Bitters
Coconut Water Ice Cubes (see additional recipe below)
Method: Cut a wide swath of orange peel and lightly press it in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add rum, syrup and bitters. Now drop in a few Coconut Water Ice Cubes and stir gently.

Coconut Water Ice Cubes Recipe: Pour a can of Coconut Water (strain the pulp out first, if needed) in an ice cube tray – the bigger the cube try the better – and freeze for several hours.

Enjoy!

Richard

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Clement Premiere Canne

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Clement Premiere Canne Rhum Agricole
40% ABV/80 Proof
$30
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Produced using selected varieties of sugarcane from Habitation Clément, Première Canne is unique white rum created from fresh pressed sugarcane juice, which spontaneously ferments into an extremely aromatic and flavorful sugarcane wine; and then softly distilled only once to capture the natural aromas and flavors of the tropical appellation of Habitation Clément, following our time-honored tradition passed down from Homère Clément. Première Canne rests for just over nine months in a stainless steel vat and is slowly reduced over time with distilled volcanic spring water, which results in a well-balanced, smooth, super clean, white Rhum Agricole, loaded with character and flavor unlike any other rum in the world.

Volcanic terroir and Clément’s tropical appellation lend Première Canne its exotic bouquet and a sensational palate entry with flavors of cocoa bean, bittersweet chocolate, black tea, and unrefined sugar. The mid-palate brings elements of fresh grass and beans preceding a graceful finish with subtle notes of caramelized sugar.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Raw pre-appellation. It reminds me of a slightly sweet whiskey mash in the washback mixed with a nice merlot red wine. Very funky but not necessarily off putting.
Palate: Very floral and grassy. Very little sweetness for a white rum.
Finish: Dry and vegetal.
Comments: This is my first experience with a rhum agricole, much less one from Martinique. It’s not what I expected at all. It’s like a cross between corn whiskey, white rum, and artisan vodka.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank Shannon Fischer with Handcrafted PR for sending over a bottle for review.

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Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry
35% ABV/70 Proof
$16.99
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Southern Comfort was created by New Orleans bartender, Martin Wilkes (M.W.) Heron in 1874. After experimenting with a variety of fruits, spices and other spirits, Heron struck on the perfect combination creating a one-of-a-kind blend of whiskey, fruit, and spice flavors. The new Bold Black Cherry product carries on Southern Comfort’s heritage as the leader in the flavored spirit category. The combination of dark fruits with Southern Comfort is perfectly served with cola to enhance the rich, complex flavor.

“The launch of Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry continues the brand’s innovation with new flavors which began with Southern Comfort Lime in 2010 and continued with Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper last fall,” said Mark Bacon, VP, Managing Director, Southern Comfort. “We feel Bold Black Cherry will recruit new consumers into the Southern Comfort franchise who enjoy a distinctive flavor profile in their cocktails.”

Infused with natural cherry to deliver an authentic taste that’s smooth and invigorating, Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry has been designed to appeal to a broad age range and meet consumer demand for great tasting flavors that are unique. The brand is confident the new expression will continue to increase relevancy amongst younger drinkers, offering a bolder drink that’s ideal for high energy occasions.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Classic SoCo with a black cherry Halls cough drop dropped into it.
Palate: Creamy, rich, and very sweet. It’s classic SoCo (cherries, vanilla, cloves) with the cherry kicked up.
Finish: Short and sweet
Comments: I like SoCo and I like cherries so inevitably I like this. The cherry they add is a nice riff on classic SoCo. It’s not that sickly overpowering cherry you find in a lot of the recent cherry-whiskey liqueurs. Brown Forman recommends this over ice with Coke Zero. That actually makes a nice “adult” cherry Coke.
Rating: Stands Out

SoCo Bold Black Cherry & Cola
2 oz. Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry
4 oz. Cola
Lemon Wedge
Fill a glass with cubed ice. Pour in Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry. Add Cola and
garnish with lemon wedge.

I would like to thank Brown Forman for sending over a bottle for review.

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Innis & Gunn Independence Day 2012

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Innis & Gunn Independence Day 2012 Oak Aged Beer
7% ABV
$12.99/4 Pack
Website

What the Brewer Says:
We are delighted to present this Limited Edition Innis & Gunn beer which has been brewed, matured and bottled to mark American Independence Day, the 4th of July 2012.

Scottish and American culture has been celebrated throughout the centuries, and has helped to shape the modern world. From the Declaration of Independence, which was influenced by our nations’ shared dedication to liberty and freedom, to modern day musicians, explorers and pioneers.

One of America’s National Symbols, ‘Uncle Sam’ is a real man of Scots decent. Samuel Wilson’s parents sailed to America from Greenock, Scotland. Samuel supplied the army with meat in barrels during the War of 1812-15. The barrels were prominently labelled “U.S.” for the United States, but the soldiers joked that the letters stood for “Uncle Sam.”

This beer, then, celebrates the Heritage, the Spirit and the Character of the people of America and the people of Scotland. It is a great collaboration of full-flavoured Scottish malted barley and mouth-watering, zesty American hops, all slowly matured in our brewery in Scotland.

Above all though, it celebrates our shared love of great beer!

Nose: Apple
Colour: Golden
Palate: Big hits of biscuit malt and citrus hops. Vanilla and oak come through, and become more pronounced as the beer warms.
Finish: An unusual balance of refreshment and complexity. Malty sweet with lingering fruit and oak.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Malty and fruity. It has some of that classic oak aged smell.
Palate: A round creamy vanilla sweetness jumps in first and then is chased out by a savory beef broth woody note.
Finish: A little fruity sweetness balances with oak but it’s surprisingly clean and short on the finish.
Comments: Admittedly, I’m not much of a beer guy. Most of my focus is in the realm of distilled spirits. That said, I really like this beer. I’m most pissed that it’s a limited edition. If I could find it regularly I’d be having these year round.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank Shannon Fischer with Handcrafted PR for sending a few of these beauties over for review. I’ll also be passing some along to our designated Whisk(e)y Apostle Beer Guru Sam the next time I’m in Atlanta. When I hear back from Sam I will post his thoughts too.

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