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Happy Hour: Canadian Club 30-Year Reserve Whiskey

partysugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:37 -0700

This Father's Day why not surprise dad with a premium, limited-edition bottle of whiskey by Canadian Club ($200)? In celebration of their 150th anniversary, Canadian Club has released a 30-year reserve whiskey in a special collector's bottle. I was lucky enough to get a bottle and was wonderfully surprised by the smooth, rich tasting spirit. It has a smoky nose with hints of honey, vanilla, and caramel on the tongue. Unlike other whiskeys, there is no biting aftertaste: the finish is lush and subtly spicy. This whiskey is very easy to drink and although I enjoyed it after dinner on the rocks, it would make a lovely Manhattan. Since my dad is a whiskey drinker, I plan on sharing the bottle with him. Do you drink whiskey? What's your favorite label?

Definition: Mezcal

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:00:50 -0700

Mezcal or Mescal
A Mexican distilled spirit that's made from the fermented juice of the agave plant's core. The core is roasted underground over pits of hot rocks. This technique gives mezcal a characteristic smokiness. The difference between mezcal and tequila is the plant (tequila is made from the blue agave only) and the roasting method (for tequila, the agave core is cooked in an oven). Although it's produced throughout Mexico, the Oaxacan region is best known for its production and consumption of the potent liquid.

Source

Happy Hour: Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:15:25 -0700

Though I enjoy the occasional Manhattan, I'm not usually a drinker of straight bourbon. Like scotch, the Kentucky libation always seemed more like a sippin' drink for old dudes. But lately, I've been acquainting myself with these potent brown liquors, and I have to say that neither scotch nor bourbon is anything to be afraid of. (That is, as long as you don't drink too much.)

Case in point: Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon, distilled in Frankfort, KY, has taught me that truly excellent bourbons go down easy - almost too easy - even without a mixer. I recently picked up a bottle of a batch made especially for a San Francisco spirits shop, but you can buy it online for about $50. From the waxed-sealed racehorse-adorned top to the hand-scrawled date, Blanton's is clearly a special-occasion bottle of hooch.

One sip and you'll understand what separates high-end bourbon from everyday booze like Jim Beam. The rich, caramel liquid has the decadent taste of toffee with a hint of woodsy, almost fiery flavor. It's best served over ice or just "neat" in a glass, but if you simply must dilute it, I recommend a bit of water. Have you gotten into high-end bourbons? If so, tell me your opinions below.

Pocket Shots: Love It Or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:18:31 -0700

I'm all about portable alcohol. I've been known to fill bottles of water with vodka, and slide a flask full of whiskey into my purse. But I'm not to sure about Pocket Shots, the "brand new way to enjoy your favorite hard liquor." These little babies are unbreakable, flexible, squishy packets that fit comfortably into a pocket allowing you to have a shot of alcohol anytime, anywhere. Do we really need a shot of liquor anytime, anywhere??? And are they really unbreakable? What if you drunkenly sit on the Pocket Shot in your back pocket?? I'm pretty skeptical about these, what do you guys think? Pocket shots, do you love them or hate them?

Source: Gizmodo

The Ultimate Bar: Vodka

partysugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:29:31 -0700

No matter how stocked a bar may be, if it doesn't have alcohol it's not really a bar. What's the use of a cocktail shaker, martini glass, and toothpick if there's no vodka? Having one bottle is a must, but if your budget allows for more purchase a variety of types. Select one high-end bottle for sipping on the rocks, one for mixing vodka heavy cocktails like martinis and cosmopolitans, and one lower- end for Bloody Marys and Red Bull Vodkas. Supplement the collection with flavored vodkas - vanilla, citrus, and berry are my faves - that are popular in mixology. Lastly, a nice bottle of organic vodka is a special way to treat eco-conscious guests. Take a look at some of my selections below.

Does America Need Its Own Liqueur?

partysugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:29:47 -0800

The French have Grand Marnier, Mexico has Kahlua, the Italian's have Amaretto, Germany's got Jagermeister, and the Irish, Baileys. When it comes to liqueurs, everyone seems to have one except America... until now! An ingenious businessman from Las Vegas, Frank Arcella, has taken it upon himself to give America what it didn't know it always lacked: an original liqueur, entitled Redcliff, the American Liqueur. This isn't any old sweet alcoholic beverage, it's one that captures an all-American, classic taste: coca-cola. Arcella spent two years testing over 500 variations until he found a perfect blend of ingredients such as cinnamon, lime, rum, vermouth, vodka, and vanilla bean. Although I have yet to taste Redcliff I'm a little skeptical, just because everyone else has one doesn't mean we need a liqueur that represents America. But then again Redcliff could taste absolutely wonderful and be used as a mixer to create cool cocktails. What do you guys think, does America need its own liqueur?

Definition: Amaretto

partysugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:29:01 -0800

Amaretto
A liqueur with the distinct flavor of almonds, though it's often made with apricot pit kernels. The original liqueur, Amaretto di Saronno, is from Saronno, Italy - although many American distilleries now produce their own amaretto. It is usually served straight, on the rocks, or mixed into a cocktail and is often an ingredient used to enhance baked goods or desserts (as seen in my recipe for Amaretto Mousse).

Beer Prices May Go Up

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:48:11 -0800

Quick! Run out and stock up on beer!
Pretty soon gas prices won't be the only reason to think twice about another beer run. Turns out that the cost of barley is rising fast and an increase in barley prices could translate to an increase in beer prices too.

It also doesn't help that production numbers were already down, energy prices already up, and the cost of raw material (like aluminum) also up. In fact, several breweries have already raised prices due to the raw material costs, however, you might not have noticed since distributors have been eating the cost.

Those price increases aren't always felt in consumers' pocketbooks. Distributors and retailers frequently eat the costs themselves. But with prices shooting up quickly, that could soon change.

Bernstein Research analyst Robert van Brugge forecast that this year's barley price increases will impact brewers' cost of goods sold - or the cost of the raw materials used in production - by 1 to 2 percent in 2007.

The analyst said he believes brewers will be forced to pass along some of that increase this year to consumers.

So run out and stock up! It's recommended that most canned beer should be consumed within 3 months of bottling. However some strong ales can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months. Now, I'm not saying you can't drink it after 3 months, but it's definitely going to taste better if you drink it before.

Source: Forbes

Gas Pump Liquor Dispenser: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 03:45:18 -0700

Yesterday I asked you what you thought of the pump drink dispenser and although over half of you loved it, user SouthernMom thought this Gas Pump Retro Liquor Dispenser was cooler. So what do you guys think?

Happy Hour: Rum Cocktail

partysugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:03:33 -0700

Last week I received a surprise bottle of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb Martinque. I had never heard of the orange liquor, but enjoyed the exotic-sounding name so much that I decided to try it in a cocktail. Not in the mood for anything overly sweet, I went with this recipe for a martini-style concoction with rum, orange liquor, and lime juice.

The drink was balanced, smooth, and delicious - the perfect aperitif for a Friday afternoon. Fresh-squeezed lime juice is imperative to the success of this cocktail, so don't substitute bottled. To take a look at the easy recipe, read more.

Rum Cocktail
Modified from the Complete World Bartender Guide

Ingredients

2/3 oz. dark rum (I used Bacardi)
1/3 oz. orange liqueur
3/4 oz. lime juice

Directions

Pour the rum, orange liquor, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice cubes.
Shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired, and serve.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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