Spirits Archives - Page 10 of 16 - First Pour Cocktails

Bacardi Superior

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Nick

Bacardi always seemed like a step up in college. Compared to the questionably named brands hiding out on the bottom shelf, it had an air of quality to it. The more experience I had with rum, the more I learned that there were really two kinds of rum that Bacardi was invested in making. On one hand, they offered good quality, reasonably aged rums at (usually) reasonable prices for mixing with a couple of truly high end offerings mixed in. On the other hand, they offer mass marketed, entry level rums that are usually uninspired, and occasionally questionable in taste without a healthy dose of strongly flavored mixers to cover. At $8, Bacardi Superior fits squarely in the second category.

Bacardi Superior

Bacardi Superior is lightly aged in oak (no age statement), and filtered for color.

Sight: Clear.

Smell: There are notes of ethanol, rum ester, vanilla, and tropical fruits that lead off. Then the nose kind of stops evolving. What you smell on the first pass is pretty much where it stays.

Sip: The palate is thin and light, neither dry nor sweet. The note of ester and banana peel starts, with hints of alcohol and touches of vanilla extract and powdered sugar.

Savor: The ending is short, alcohol forward, and slightly dry. It lingers briefly, with just a touch of tropical fruit.

Bacardi Superior is presumably superior to something, but it’s not a first choice rum for us. As the price point implies, there should be low expectations going in, and from that standpoint, it delivers. It’s not offensive or aggressive, but it’s also not interesting. Rather, it does a lightly aged style of rum decently in a way you won’t overtly notice in Rum and Coke or similar mixed drink.

In Cocktails

The main problem with Bacardi Superior is that doesn’t add anything. In a Daiquiri you get plenty of lime and sweetness, but the rum is more an alcohol weight and slightly tropical flavor twist. Where it does best is hiding in something, like a Rum and Coke or spiking a punch. Again, the key here is not to expect much, and there’s not a lot to be disappointed in.

In Review – Bacardi Superior

If you had to buy a rum, and none of recommended rums are available, then Bacardi Superior isn’t the end of the world. From a flavor standpoint, it’s fine. From a price standpoint it’s good. It’s just not recommendable or memorable. Besides, Bacardi makes better things – like their Bacardi 8 – and used to make better lightly aged rums (like Bacardi Mastro de Ron).

Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon

Posted on September 20, 2021September 21, 2021 by Nick

As I previously mentioned, my first exposure to Ezra Brooks was the OHLQ store pick Distiller’s Collection bottle. The bottle so wowed me that I felt the need to explore at least one other Ezra Brooks product. While getting to 107 in there line up is no longer possible (without a store pick), they still offer both a 99 proof and barrel proof offering. To make an appropriate evaluation, I chose to take the smaller price different, and compare with the Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon (retailing for $24 at time of purchase – compared to $35 for the Distiller’s pick).

Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon

Sight: Deep copper bordering on sherry.

Smell: Notes of vanilla, caramel, and hints of ethanol lead off. The nose is sweet with touches of caramelized pome fruit and a hint of something bright (like pineapple?). Hay and grain notes add some backbone.

Sip: The sip starts off rather middling, neither smooth nor harsh. Notes of charred oak slowly creep in before ceding some space to vanilla and light caramel. Touches of peanuts and sweet pops of light brown sugar come out as well.

Savor: The ending leaves a bit of that sweetness and a lightly tannic charred oak finish.

Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is obviously younger just from a sight perspective, and the nose shortly after confirms this with a straightforward enjoyable bourbon characteristic. The sip doesn’t really change this, offering a nice amount of bourbon flavor without getting too complex or interesting. The finish is a bit more of the same, but with a bit more of an oak influence. Overall, it’s an acceptable sip that’s slightly sweet and wouldn’t be unpleasant on ice.

In Cocktails

Making a Manhattan with Ezra Brooks 99 makes a drink forward loaded on sweetness. The result is a Manhattan that naturally emphasizes caramel, brown sugar, brandied cherries, fruity red notes, and vanilla. Even with the use of Angostura bitters, there’s a bit of a turned down spice component here. While the vermouth is usually working over time to help bring out the bourbon’s characteristics, they almost seem to share the space as equals here. With that said, both elements seem to be adding caramel notes, making a very caramelized Manhattan.

Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon In Review

Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a pleasant bourbon that’s not particularly dominant. It’s sweet and friendly, but almost comes across as gentle. There’s something interesting to be said for making a gentler or sweeter drink with it, but it’s not going to appease drinkers of high rye, bold and brash bourbons. Most regrettable is the gulf between the Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon and Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon. At only $10, there’s a massive gulf of flavor. As a result, this is a recommendation to try or sample before committing to a full bottle.

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1

Posted on September 17, 2021September 21, 2021 by Nick

Allocated bourbon and store picks are exciting. They offer an opportunity to receive a single barrel selection at an equal or better price than the equivalent bottle. Theses picks are typically highly sought after and generally hard to find. They also have a significant amount of bottle to bottle and batch to batch variability. In some cases, it can even be dependent on the selector for the store or liquor authority. For these reasons, I generally don’t purchase these selections since they’re two variable to recommend as liquors for bases for cocktails. I generally follow this rule, but made an exception for Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1.

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1 has a 53.5% A.B.V. (107 Proof). It’s barrel number was 7015900, and the barrel was filled 2/23/15. I purchased the bottle in early January of 2021, shortly after it’s release. OHLQ provided the following information on the barrel:

Warehouse: 1
Floor: 5
Rick: 39
Tier: 3
Position: 17
Description: Warm caramel and vanilla, sweet.

Sight: Bordering on tawny.

Smell: The nose undoubtedly starts sweet, and instantly leans into vanilla and caramel. Touches of hay and wheat join in, with black cherries and black tea. A rough splash of clove joins in with touches of clove and tobacco.

Sip: The sip starts smooth and sweet, before opening up into vanilla, caramel, brandied cherries, and oversteeped spice tea. Pops of clove overwhelm the other spices, before allowing oak to come to the forefront. A hint of ethanol comes out too.

Savor: The finish gets tannic, pulling in notes of charred wood, strong clove, and a slight sour cherry.

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1 is sweet and spicy sip that doesn’t disappoint. The proof isn’t so high as to be difficult to drink, but it comes loaded with flavor. The texture is smooth with just a hint of burn. The complexity is in line with a $35 bottle, and opens up with more sweetness, especially after a sip of water.

In Cocktails

This particular bottle of Ezra Brooks is unbelievably great as a Manhattan. The caramel and vanilla notes come through with touches of black pepper and black tea. The weight feels perfect, just like liquid silk should. The play off the vermouth shows them sharing the space as equals, giving space for the fruity flavors of the vermouth and the sweetness and herbal notes in the bourbon.

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon – OHLQ Selection #1 in Review

Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Bourbon is honestly one of the standout bottles I’ve had in 2021. Upon sharing it with my father, he confirmed my bias to enjoy it. At $35, I picked this up as an impulse buy and found it punched well above it’s weight. Which led me to wonder whether or not the rest of Ezra Brook’s selection is anywhere near as good.

In short, I recommend Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection, but as a store pick or limited time offering, we won’t be adding it to any of our formal lists.

Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve

Posted on September 10, 2021September 1, 2021 by Nick

Calvados is a protected designation within France for apple brandies made within the region conforming to specification. Among the producers is Domaine Dupont, who offers an entry level Calvados at about $40. Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve is a two year aged calvados that features 80% bitter apples and 20% acid apples. It is fermented and after 6 months receives a secondary distillation. The aging occurs in at least 50% new oak. So is it worth the investment?

Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve

Sight: A moderate straw yellow.

Smell: Apples, pears, and notes that range between floral and industrial come through. The nose has a soil like earthiness about it. Touches of overly ripe, pressed apples pull through with a hint of vanilla and a light baked quality.

Sip: The mouthfeel is moderate, leaning into thin at points. Notes of apples pressed for cider, caramel, and touches of oak join in. There are light touches of earthiness that gradually grow, a slight heat.

Savor: The ending is more earthy than anything else, leaving slightly bitter fermenting apple note behind. A slightly tannic end.

I’d be hard pressed to sit for a long period of time enjoying Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve on its own. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it as Calvados goes, providing the old world earth qualities along side a well intentioned spectrum of apple flavors. Notes of vanilla and caramel are glancing and not the lead, but nor are the earthy elements that venture toward medicinal or farm like. Overall, it presents itself well as an expression for something other than sipping.

In Cocktails

In a Jack Rose, the fermented apple notes come to the surface and amplify the caramel and oaky notes. The lemon drags more of the earthiness out, only to cut through it. The sweetness from both Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve and the grenadine result in a wonderful balance elevating both past their original starting point. That said, if you feel the old world farm flavors are noticeable, you’re not going to seem them less here. They do take on a vanilla crème kind of note, but are clearly inclined toward slightly fermenting apple notes.

While the apple element is not overt in most cocktails, it is present. If you try to use this Calvados to drive an apple flavor you’re going to be disappointed. Rather, what it adds is a subtle oaked fruitiness with an earthiness that adds a rustic sort of complexity. Play within these bounds and you’ll find a reasonable Calvados for a reasonable price.

Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve In Review

Domaine Dupont Calvados Fine Reserve is a decent enough bottle at the $40 price point. While it lacks some refinement to enjoy it on it’s own, it’s going to add an old world style to cocktails calling for Calvados without breaking the bank. The experience with in the Jack Rose is convincing enough that it deserves at least a try, as it elevates to a level beyond standard expectations. While I’d still recommend against enjoying it on it’s own, I think you’ll be reasonably satisfied with the quality using it in a cocktail.

Dupont’s Website

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon

Posted on September 3, 2021September 1, 2021 by Nick

Perhaps no community in the alcohol world so fetishizes the amount of alcohol by volume as bourbon lovers. The thought process is simple, by cutting the proof of the whiskey from the barrel, you get a less flavorful product. If you spend time with these individuals, you’ll almost inevitably see that products bottled below 100 proof are looked down upon compared to their higher proof cousins. Barrel proof and cask strength rule the day, and demand high value. In the middle are many 100 proof offerings, such as Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon.

Coming in just above the 86 proof entry level offering, the 100 proof Old Forester actually has the longer lineage, dating back to the 1897 Bottled In Bond act that locked proof at 100 for bonded whiskeys. It actually wasn’t until well after World War II that the 86 proof offering was introduced (in 1959). In the low $20 price point it has both the heritage and proof to make it a compelling proposition, but is it any good?

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon

Sight: Russet muscat (a rich, but transparent brown)

Smell: Intense notes of caramel and baked bananas lead things off. A candied cherry note comes in with a bit of spice. A vanilla extract intercedes with a bit of toasted almond and a marzipan like note. There’s a distinctly fruity and sweet note to the nose.

Sip: The body is moderate and flavor is subtle in leading off. Notes of spice creep in first, followed by toasted oak and freshly cut cherry. There are more bready notes that start to come in with a similarity to crust. There’s also a nice sort of caramel and brown sugar note that runs through with a hint of banana or apple.

Savor: The ending is relatively simple, some additional caramelized sugars and hints of spice and oak linger.

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon is pretty easy going, and relatively robust. The most interesting (and usually love it or hate it) feature is the subtle note of banana that runs in and out. The nose has a lighter fruit character to it, and less spicing that allows the banana like note to come through. It doesn’t quite carry to the palate, but the flavor is also not stand out at 100 proof. That said, it’s very solid, and checks all the boxes for a bourbon.

In Cocktails

In an Old Fashioned, a cotton candy and candied apple element starts to present itself between the notes of oak and spice. The spice of the angostura seems to accentuate these fruity notes, and gives them a platform that leans into candied with the simple. In a certain way, it doesn’t seem to actually hold it’s own, despite getting spicier. In a Manhattan the spice notes are again dominate, but the cherry comes forward and an almond like note becomes present. On the finish, it hints at banana’s foster, toasted marshmallows, and charred oak.

In Review – Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon

The price point on Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon makes it really inviting (at only $20 in Ohio). The struggle with this bourbon is that it doesn’t quite do anything amazing. In cocktails it’s harmonious without standing out. If you’re into a more aggressive flavor profile, we recommend you try it in a smaller quantity before buying a handle or multiple bottles.

Stirrings Ginger Liqueur

Posted on August 27, 2021July 29, 2021 by Nick

Ginger liqueur is unlikely to be the sort of thing you need when starting your bar. In fact, when it comes to ginger beer, only the Moscow Mule and Dark and Stormy are obvious. We previously discussed that in some books, they recommend you actual make your own ginger syrup instead of using ginger beer. While ginger syrup can be delicious and fun to play with in make new drinks, it isn’t always practical to run out and juice fresh ginger. So how does something off the shelf, like Stirrings Ginger Liqueur, do in its place.

Stirrings Ginger Liqueur

Sight: A pale hay like color, just fringing on yellow [Caramel Color Added].

Smell: The nose has the essence of freshly cut ginger, mixed with a touch of caramelized sugar and some floral notes. With the predominance of sweet smelling ginger, it’s not far off the nose of ginger beer.

Sip: The sip starts out sweet but immediately gets somewhat spicy. Rather than getting hot from the alcohol (which is only 25% A.B.V.), the spice is driven from the ginger. In a way, it’s oddly reminiscent of fresh ginger in this regard. Other touches of woody notes and sugar compliment the ginger.

Savor: The ending is spice, and unsurprisingly, more ginger. A small amount of sugar is left cloyingly behind.

Stirrings Ginger Liqueur is spicy and cloying, but undeniably ginger forward. As it goes, it conveys the flavor of ginger well without adding in a lot of distracting elements. If there’s a flaw, it’s the amount of sugar needed to subdue the ginger spice. Still, this isn’t a deal breaker for this liqueur, where it can take the place of reduce the amount of simple syrup required.

In Cocktails

In a cocktail Stirrings Ginger Liqueur unmistakably adds the flavor of ginger. This is particularly useful in a pinch if you haven’t had time to make your own ginger syrup.

The problem is there aren’t a broad group of classic cocktails that call for ginger liqueur. While we like to keep it around for crafting reasons (it goes particularly well with strawberries and fall spiced apple cocktails), it isn’t an everyday thing and very few of our original recipes rely on it.

In Review – Stirrings Ginger Liqueur

This isn’t a long review, primarily because there isn’t much to say about adding the flavor of ginger to things with Stirrings Ginger Liqueur. At the $16 price point, this bottle should last you a reasonable amount of time, and won’t break the bank. Be aware it isn’t the most complex ginger flavor in the world, and isn’t as good as making your own. That said, it is a value level brand that performs like a workhorse – should you find the need for ginger liqueur in your bar.

Pernod

Posted on August 20, 2021July 29, 2021 by Nick

To understand Pernod, a Pastis, you must understand what happened to Absinthe.

Absinthe was banned after a spike in interest in France, causing a loss of business for French wine farmers (who has previously had to deal with phylloxera – which had killed off a large number of vines). Combined with the rumored hallucinogenic properties and some murders in France at the time, a decree was passed to outlaw all anise spirits. This lined up with similar movements in other countries. Absinthe wasn’t really bad (or worse than any other liquor), but it was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ended up being a casualty of the temperance movements.

When the ban was loosened in the 1930s, some producers were ready with a wormwood free version. This version, was a pastis, instead of an absinthe. The primary difference is the use of star anise as the principal flavoring, instead of using green anise, wormwood of fennel. The resulting liqueur is different in it’s flavor profile, but similarly enough that it can be used as a substitute to absinthe.

So with all that said, what does Pernod taste like, and is it any good?

Pernod

Sight: A bright translucent green. Turns cloudy with water.

Smell: Strong notes of anise mixed with touches of herbs. It moves toward a fresh fennel note as well.

Sip: The body is thick thanks to the sugar, but feels less so thank to the growing alcohol burn as it sits on the palate. A subtle sweetness holds throughout and build in complexity between anise and fennel. The notes of herbs grow gradually throughout but it never loses the predominately anise note.

Savor: Anise, licorice, and fennel linger predominately and extend for a significant period of time.

When cut, Pernod behaves more like a black jelly bean than a full on anise attack. It gets a lot softer with the addition of water, making it much more pliable. It also opens up some subtle herbal notes that are notice in the full proof version. Correspondingly, the same notes should come forward in cocktails, adding flavor if not complexity.

In Cocktails

There are very few cocktails that rely on absinthe or pastis to serve as the main liquor, so Pernod is most frequently tasked with playing a modifier. Most commonly used as a stand in for absinthe, you can use Pernod in classics such as the Corpse Reviver #2, the Sazerac, and Remember the Maine. One cocktail that prominently features either pastis or absinthe is Death In the Afternoon. Made by combining pastis or absinthe with sparkling wine, Pernod opens up and gives a more herbal, drier rendition of itself. The sweetness is instead replaced by brightness, and the a more licorice and green fennel notes becomes prominent.

In Review – Pernod

Pernod is a widely available and a well rounded pastis that can also substitute for absinthe. This makes it useful for both classic cocktails as well as Tiki drinks. While this isn’t a starter bottle, it’s a great choice once you’ve established your bar. It will also last a long time as most drinks require a rinse to a few drops. For these reasons, we suggest you give Pernod a shot if you can’t find an absinthe.

El Pasador de Oro XO

Posted on August 13, 2021July 29, 2021 by Nick

El Pasador de Oro XO is a Guatemalan rum, that’s bottled in France. While there is no displayed age statement, it should be aged around a minimum of 6 years (according to a variety of unofficial blogs all over the internet). In these cases, it’s normally best if the bottle produces some obscure web address. In this case, they don’t even provide that level of information. That said, like many products, sometimes there’s limited information, and all you can do is pop the bottle.

El Pasador de Oro

Sight: An amber-gold, almost honey like color.

Smell: There’s a toasty coconut and vanilla start to the nose. It gets a little nutty with some caramel and orange marmalade edges. There’s a hint of spun sugar, golden raisin, and burn of ethanol. The nose is somewhat subtle, and doesn’t open willingly.

Sip: The body is moderate, and a subtle sweetness pervades out over time. There’s a lot going on as it moves from vanilla to caramel to roasted coconut. Something gradual starts to happen where the sugary flavor profiles start to morph into stone fruit, brandy, and other unexpected flavors.

Savor: The ending get almost sauternes like, pulling out flavors of ice wine, stone fruit, and hints of tropical fruits. The finish lingers pleasantly with a hint of tannic nature.

El Pasador de Oro XO is something interesting and unusual. If what they say is true, then the character is really a molasses based rum that’s doing a fun morph into a cognac at the end. That said, it’s very pleasant to sip, and straddles a line that fans of rum and cognac might enjoy.

In Cocktails:

In a Daiquiri, the cognac runs in full effect – almost giving a perception of a split base. While it’s obviously rum forward, it also ends up extremely fruity – emphasizing a lot of the raisin like and orange flavors in addition to the lime. The sweetness plays well and it ends up making a super inviting Daiquiri. That said, applications may end up a bit trial and error trying to balance the extra finishing notes. In a Grog, the rum disappears a bit, instead giving off more tropical fruit and honey notes. The caramel and toasty coconut hang out at the end, and the tannic nature pulls through.

In Review – El Pasador de Oro XO

El Pasador de Oro XO is a very pretty rum to sit and sip, and it even plays well in Grog. It isn’t a powerful bruising rum, but rather something elegant and slight. This same characteristic can make is slip away in cocktails. While it offers great flavors to them, finding the rum is a little tricky. If you want an in your face rum, you might find better options, but this is a great choice at the price to sit and enjoy.

If you’re looking for a second opinion on this not so well covered rum, check out the Rum Howler’s take.

Benedictine D.O.M.

Posted on August 6, 2021July 29, 2021 by Nick

Developed by Alexandre Le Grand in 1863, Benedictine D.O.M is an herbal liqueur made with 27 herbs, spices, and other secrets. Made in the heart of France at the extravagant palace Le Palais Bénédictine, the liqueur actually starts as four different distillation recipes which are then aged in oak for 8 months. Once aged, these recipes are blended together, and saffron and honey are added. The blend is then heated, before being aged for another 4 months in a large oak tank. The result is a unique liqueur with a special sort of sweetness and flavor.

Benedictine D.O.M.

Sight: A coppery hue with a hint of gold. Plenty of viscous sugar is visible with the cling to the glass. There is a subtle amount of oily notes in the body of the liqueur. [Caramel color is added]

Smell: Beautiful notes of honey and baking spices mix immediately with a hit of mountainous herbs. The unmistakably floral note of saffron lays over the top, adding a complexity while the spices and herbs evolve.

Sip: Rich and thick like syrup, it immediately feels like thinned honey, and has an underlying honey like flavor that runs throughout. Floral notes kick of ranging from saffron to roses. Notes of pine resin, alpine herbs, and garigue join in to give a subtle earthiness. Spicing hints throughout, suggesting warm baking spices in small amounts, similar to the background flavor on mead.

Savor: The ending is a hint of herbs and baking spices with a honey like backbone. It lingers lazily but pleasantly.

Benedictine D.O.M. is a classic herbal liqueur that seamlessly sews together herbs, honey, and floral components. The net result is a silky smooth, if very sweet herbal liqueur. It isn’t exactly the kind of thing most people would want to sit around and crush a glass of, but in cocktails it’s a rockstar.

In Cocktails

Benedictine D.O.M has been around long enough that’s it’s managed to work it’s way into a number of classic cocktails. The most prominent of these is the Vieux Carre, a mix of rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters which you can still find on many prohibition style cocktail bar menus today. Lesser known, but equally great are the Preakness and Bobby Burns, but of which recipes can be found right here on First Pour Cocktails.

Benedictine D.O.M. has even crossed over to the world of Tiki, where you’ll find it in a Singapore Sling

In Review – Benedictine D.O.M.

Benedictine D.O.M is beautiful mix of honeyed flavors and herbal notes with just the right amount of floral touches. This complexity, combined with the refined balance and texture makes it a wonderful addition to your bar. This bottle is a great expansion choice as it can help make a number of classic drinks and will last you a decent amount of time.

Benedictine’s Website

Bulleit Bourbon

Posted on July 30, 2021July 19, 2021 by Nick

One of the most eye opening cocktails I had in my youth was the Clara Bow at Rye in New York City. Made with Bulleit Bourbon, grenadine, lemon, St. Germain, and mint, the cocktail was shaken and served in a coupe. The result was a bright, balanced, and complexly flavored cocktail that toed the line between dark spicy bourbon notes and bright fruity, floral ones. While Rye restaurant has since closed and Serious Eats removed the recipe for the cocktail from their site, Bulleit Bourbon still holds a special place in my heart, and I still believe it’s a good bourbon to add to your bar.

Bulleit Bourbon

Sight: Between burnished and sherry in color with a hint of muscat.

Smell: The nose starts with a candied cherry and berry sweetness before picking up elements of black pepper, vanilla, and candied apricot. Spices pick up as it opens and builds with touches of oak and chocolate.

Sip: The body is on the thinner side, and the start is packed with spices, clove, almond, and touches of preserved cherries. Notes of chocolate and black pepper mingle with a light berry like note, and a hint of charred oak. There’s a hint of heat present.

Savor: The ending continues with a 100% dark chocolate, spice, and a touch of cherry and charred oak.

Bulleit Bourbon is spicy, slightly fruity, and very earthy. While not the smoothest bourbon to sip on, it does provide some nice nutty and woodsy notes. The fruity flavors give it a little extra personality, although nothing that’s overly standout. There are better whiskeys to sip on, and Bulleit has better applications in drinks.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan, the chocolate and spice notes shine and allow the fruity flavors of the vermouth to come forward. The result is a well balanced Manhattan that flows smoothly between the various aspects of bourbon and fruit. This same pattern continues in a Clara Bow, where the acidity of lemon accentuates the spice and woodsy elements while giving the grenadine space to flex. In a simpler preparation like an Old Fashioned, the spice is amplified and some of the caramel notes are free to join in with more clove notes.

In Review – Bulleit Bourbon

Bulleit Bourbon is marketed as a mixing whiskey, and it’s a wonderful whiskey for that application. Even though it’s designed for mixing, it’s not a bad sipper either. The result is a whiskey that’s priced toward the middle of the pack, and is a reasonable stand in for a bourbon to choose when starting your home bar.

Cointreau

Posted on July 23, 2021July 19, 2021 by Nick

Perhaps few bottles of liqueur are as synonymous with the type of spirit they represent as Cointreau is. The square tawny bottle is found on almost every bar, and is the top shelf orange liqueur mixer for most establishments. With good reason, Cointreau is a key ingredient in drinks including the Cosmopolitan, the Sidecar, and the Margarita. So what makes it so special, and why is it worth the upcharge over Triple Sec?

Cointreau

Sight: Clear.

Smell: There’s a natural and fresh almost clementine-orange smell that leads off. A mix of zest and fruit is in the nose, with a just a hint of pithy bitterness.

Sip: A beautiful, complex orange leads off with notes ranging from candied orange peels to fresh tangerine segments. The orange is well complimented by a subtle, balanced sweetness. There’s a hint of heat, but nothing distracting.

Savor: The ending is a delicate mix of tropical oranges with just a hint of bitter pith.

Cointreau is simple, clean, and straightforward in it’s delivery of orange liqueur flavors. The sweetness is balanced, the alcohol is moderated, and the flavors are direct and enjoyable. It’s nice enough that it even works on its own, and can be served as a cordial. [If you can find dark chocolate shot glasses, we highly recommend trying Cointreau or Gran Marnier in them].

In Cocktails

The beauty of Cointreau is the balance that it achieves in a cocktail. It manages to simultaneously be present and providing orange flavor, while not throwing unnecessary additional flavors. A result that’s easy to see in a margarita. Some citrus beyond lime is clearly present, but not in a distracting way. The sweetness also doesn’t unbalance the drink or obscure the tequila. This is true in both a Cosmo and a Sidecar. Further, unlike some other curacaos and triple secs, there’s no additional chemical or artificial taste present.

In Review – Cointreau

Cointreau is an elegant orange liqueur that does its job admirably. While the price is higher than some competitors, the flavors are cleaner and more direct. For this reason, Cointreau is the orange liqueur we recommend for your bar. Due to the number of drinks it compliments, we recommend it for when you’re starting your bar as well.

Chivas Regal 12

Posted on July 16, 2021July 25, 2022 by Nick

Chivas Regal has a long history, dating back to the 1800’s. Operating out of Strathisla in the Highlands (the oldest such in the Highlands), the brand produces a variety of whiskies ranging from the 12 year aged to 25 year and a No Age Statement (NAS) offering that produced of only the best of the best. While you can blend your own (seriously, they apparently offer that), you’re most likely to reach for a bottle of base offering. So how well does Chivas Regal 12 work for cocktails?

Chivas Regal 12

Sight: A deep golden hue with a tint of orange.

Smell: Honey, heather, and apples come to the forefront with touches of rain soaked rocks. The nose leans toward the perfumed side of the spectrum.

Sip: Mild notes of heather and honey lead off, but bring in a hint of salinity and orchard fruit. The flavors progress toward nuttier notes, before ultimately pull in a slight amount of charred wood. The mouthfeel is moderate to full, if a little rough.

Savor: The finish is laced woodsy notes, pome fruits, and floral characteristics with a lightly tannic nature.

Chivas Regal 12 is a light, easy going scotch with a primarily floral and fruit forward character that picks up some mild wood and smoke notes. It’s a perfectly fine dram on it’s own, although it doesn’t particularly stand out in anyway. It’s not overly smooth, but isn’t quite refined either. The characteristics make it a decent choice for mixing, but it could survive on the rocks.

In Cocktails

In a Bobby Burns No. 2, Chivas Regal 12 added a good amount of caramelized nut notes and a little smokiness. The richness of the mouthfeel carries forward and leaves a very full bodied drink experience. That said, the drink becomes a bit less delicate than with a lighter scotch, and feels more direct in it’s character. In a Highball, the woodsy notes and nuttiness dominate, but the honey and heather aren’t far from flitting it. The weight remains very much, firm and almost oily.

Chivas Regal 12 In Review

Chivas Regal 12 is fine, giving a nice robust touch of scotch flavor while not breaking the bank. At issue, is the price point. Marching toward $40, you’re fringing into Glenlivet 12 territory, which feels to give a little more of everything compared to Chivas. Down $10 are Dewar’s White Label and Johnnie Walker Red, which are arguably not quite as refined, but aren’t going for on the rocks / in a Glencairn glass presentation either. The net result is that Chivas works fine, but might not be the best option to add to yourself depending on the price of competition.