SPIRITS

Hotel Starlino Vermouth and Apertivos Arrive in USA

Vermouth was actually invented in Turin, Italy, the Northern Italian town better known for Fiat cars and Juventus Football Club. The Hotel Starlino Distillery produces three varieties, a red Vermouth, Starlino Rose and Starlino Arancione, the latter two being wine based aperitifs. Vermouth was originally considered only good for medicinal purposes, but over time it started popping up in the fashionable Turin cafes and eventually came to age in the Royal Court of Turin. They also produce Maraschino Cherries which are de-stoned and made from Italian Marasaca Cherries. They are the garnish of choice for Manhattans or Negronis and make an exciting dessert when drizzled over ice cream or cheesecake. More>>>

Dano’s Tequila Wins Best in Class at San Francisco 2020

A new tequila came across our desk the other day and Dano’s Tequila is one you will be hearing about a lot in the future. They recently won the Best in Class Anejo at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, They are interesting because they only use agave and volcanic spring water in their handcrafted tequila, along with an infusion of those two ingredients plus pineapples and jalapenos. No flavoring or coloring is used which is kind of unusual anyway, and the blue weber agave has to be at least eight years old. The pinas are then slow steamed for 26 hours in a hornos oven, milled with a giant grinding wheel and then double distilled in copper stills. More>>>

Seersucker Southern-Style Gin Adds New Variations

Gin continues to grow in popularity and one of the latest versions to come across our desk hails from San Antonio, Texas, and goes by
the catchy name of Seersucker Southern Style Gin. It is the first line of gin blended with natural juice and we can state from personal experience that it really packs a nice punch. The gin at Seersucker is distilled in small batches in a hand-hammered copper pot just like the English gin makers, and aside from juniper uses botanicals that can be found in Texas and the South.

Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Wine

Gloria Ferrer is a sparkling wine you can always trust, and with prices between $22-$37 the value is also exceptional so here is a reminder of the available wines from a company we have always liked a lot. They are still a young company having only been around since 1982, but now command a lot of respect within the industry.

Food pairings with sparkling Wine are usually always a challenge of sorts, but the Ferrer people have been holding competions for chef’s all year, and here is a sampling of the best sparkling wine/food combinations. One Texas chef called Chera Little came up with a delicious sounding morsel of Miso-Maple Glazed Cod Wonton Cho’s as a nice pairing with the Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut. This popular wine has apple/lemon aromas and has a nice long finish despite... more

Camus Cognac Seeking to Expand American Presence

The Cognac market worldwide is dominated by Hennessy and Martell and sometimes it is harder for the smaller brands to breakthrough in the United States at the same level they are at in Europe or even Asia. One of those brands is the family owned Camus, and we got the chance to meet with representatives of the brand and also the Master Blender at the ultra-trendy Barton G restaurant in Hollywood.

The current president of the 153 year old company is Cyril Camus from the fifth generation Camus family, but for personal reasons he could not make the trip so Master... more

Santana, Tequila and Philanthropy

Named No. 15 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” winner of 10 Grammy awards, recipient of the 2009 Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree, Carlos Santana is most certainly music royalty.

Fresh off of receiving his Kennedy Center Honors Award in December, Santana took the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime event performing at Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico, joined by some of Latin music’s biggest and brightest stars including Gloria Estefan, Lila Downs, Juanes, Miguel, Niña Pastori, Romeo Santos... more

The Perfect Spring Cocktail

Massa Juniper Cocktail

Spring entertaining should be easy, with cocktails that are delicious, refreshing and ultimately require very little effort. The best warm weather drinks are full of flavor — this one is sweet, tangy and quite simply delicious! Celebrate spring by enjoying this addictive libation at parties, weekend cookouts, or while hanging out with friends. More>>>

Angel's Envy Bourbon

Designed by veteran master distiller Lincoln Henderson, the former Brown Forman master distiller and creator of Woodford Reserve, this is one spectacular product! The effect of the port barrel finish is evident and the complexity of flavors is perfectly balanced.

Aged up to 6 years in charred white oak barrels and transferred into 60-gallon Ruby Port barrels shipped directly from Portugal, Angel’s Envy is then finished for 3-6 months.

A spectacularly designed bottle such as this should only hold a product that is of equal measure and Angel's Envy does not fall short. Richly textured, silky and well-rounded, with ripe berries, tangerine, toffee, maple, luxurious vanilla and hints of soft spices. Smooth, silky finish and oh so drinkable! More>>>

Lotus White Vodka Hits The Market

With about three new Vodka brands launched every day, it has now become our mission to try and inform our readers of those brands we think deserve more attention. White Lotus Vodka falls into that category, and this brand new entrant into the very crowded and competitive market place looks like a winner to this writer. Unfortunately, the vodka is only currently available in California , and another refreshing trend is that they are not relying in celebrity tie-ins to promote the drink. The San Francisco based company has employed the talents of some of the top mixologists in the city to come More>>>

Rangpur Gin - Latest From Tanqueray

Rangpur, the latest gin from Tanqueray is distilled with rare Rangpur limes for a gin taste more subtle than the usual variety. Expect an aggressive advertising campaign featuring the rather smarmy English bon vivant Tony Sinclair, which is appropriate considering that the English learned to smooth the edges of their gin with a squeeze of fresh Rangpur lime during their time colonizing India. The limes are native to India and resemble a tangerine in color, shape and size, but characterized by the juiciness of an orange with a zestiness of the lime.

It is a pretty smooth gin that is also enhanced by the addition of juniper,coriander,bay leaf and ginger in the distilling process, and only the freshest of juniper berries are selected by More>>>

Jose Cuervo Launches Family Secrets Platino Tequila

The already crowded shelves stocking super premium tequila will have to make way for a new interloper with massive brand recognition and the marketing clout to match. Jose Cuervo has just launched their Platino label this past September. The new sixty dollar 750 milliliter bottle contains is a rich silver tequila that up to now was reserved for the Cuervo family’s private enjoyment. The hand numbered bottle all done individually comes with hand dipped wax seals, and is presented in a classy looking blue wooden box, which seems a shame to open. But you will have to try the drink, which is also very good on the rocks with lime, as a margarita or in other tequila-based cocktails. More>>>

Right Gin Set To Launch in L.A.

Right Gin is a relatively high end drink imported from Sweden that is now set to launch in Los Angeles and Miami this month. Priced at $40 a bottle, the drink was created by W.L.Lyons Brown, a descendant of the family that owns Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort. The brand launched in 2007 big time at the Gwen Stefani concert after party in Las Vegas, and is being clearly marketed at the under-30 crowd, not a group that you can really associate with Gin. Gin has always had that old timer stigma partly because of the association of the drink with people like the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret who both used to like to down a few, but after a hard day at the office or elsewhere there is nothing quite like a good old gin and tonic. More>>>

Karlssons Gold Vodka from Sweden

In the never ending quest to find new Vodka’s to try, I was lucky to come across Karlssons Vodka from Sweden , and although the price of $40 might turn a few people off, it warrants checking out. The vodka has a smooth peppery taste, and is of obvious quality, and one that I think is a must try despite the lofty price to the average consumer. Karlssons Gold is made from virgin potato, and the taste indicates a touch of More>>>

Johnnie Walker Unveils New Ultra Deluxe Whisky

Encouraged by the world wide success of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky that has become the whisky of choice for the corporate gift set; the company has just announced the launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V Edition. The blend celebrates the coveted Royal Warrant that was issued to the company in 1934, which also happened to be during the reign of King George V (1910-1936). Royal Warrants are not handed out to just anybody, and even today, a company that has the warrant can expect to have a major increase in sales due More>>>

Snow Queen Vodka Arrives In Atlantic

A highly touted Vodka from Kazakhstan which is distilled five times has arrived to the States. Snow Queen Vodka was recently awarded the Top Vodka medal at the recent 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country by land area in the world, and the sixth largest producer of grain.

Snow Queen uses organic wheat and artisan spring water, and employs a five time distillation process using Kazakh birch charcoal. No flavoring is used in this Vodka, because Vodka is drunk neat all over Kazakhstan . In fact, this Vodka is so classy that it has its own ice bucket to keep it ice cold. In the refining process, all water impurities like calcium and magnesium salts are removed, followed by a reverse sand filtering process ending up with a smooth clear water-base. More>>>

Asombroso Pushes The Edge In Tequila

If the design of the Tequila bottle was a major factor in winning gold medals at Tequila events, then Asombroso would be one of the top contenders every time. Luckily the tequila itself is very worthy, and for the second year in a row, the judges from the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition have singled out Asombroso. The 11 year old Anejo this year won the “Top Tequila” award, and the Rick Gamarra created brand has had the experts enthused. Naturally the celebrities were quick to jump on the Asombroso bandwagon, with the likes of P.Diddy, Sugar Ray and Paris Hilton all cavorting at Hollywood insider parties, and the trendy drink has also made appearances in the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,. and trendsetting HBO show Entourage. More>>>

Square One Vodka

Here is a new product from Square One Vodka in Novato , California , that has pure Organic Vodka and Cucumber infused Organic Vodka. Even though the vodka market is saturated by new products, there is a touch of originality about this entrant, and it may stand a chance to make an impact of sorts. I expect that creative mixologists will have a lot of fun with this one, and we can absolutely advise readers to try Square One for themselves. The cucumber innovation is a recent one, and it is quite a surprise that it took so long for a vodka with cucumber to hit the market. Allison Evanow, a former Jose Cuervo executive and the brains behind Square One had quite a tough time More>>>

V.S.O.P. Remy Martin

Cognac drinkers in the USA are in for a treat with the launch of the 1989 vintage in September at the RRP of $300 per bottle. I tasted a sample recently of this very potent vintage blend, with a hint of figs and other fruits. At 45% alcohol by volume, you will love this superb Remy Martin Cognac , either neat or on ice. Suggested foods to enjoy with this treat are canapés and tapas, or creamy desserts such as buttermilk or Panna Cotta. For those on a tighter budget, V.S.O.P. Remy Martin has come out with a limited edition bottle created by photographer David LaChapelle to reinterpret the famous green-frosted bottle. Only 150,000 of these bottles have been produced with the top selling Cognac in More>>>

Puriste Vodka From Austria About To Launch In USA

This is a Vodka that hails from Austria, and at press time it had not even hit the shelves in the USA. It should start showing up around January 2009 in the hippest and trendiest of bars and restaurants, where even jaded bartenders and mixologists who have seen and tasted everything are likely to be impressed.

Our prediction however is that it will be a smash hit, as it is so smooth, and that comes partly from the six times distillation process. The water in the Austrian Alps has to be one of the reasons this Vodka is outstanding, and that combined with the finest quality wheat, low sugar level and slight increase of alcohol content is the key. More>>>

Whitley Neill London Dry Gin

The word is out on Whitley Neill London dry Gin, and as soon as I heard about it I had to get my hands on a bottle. I was not disappointed, as this is a top class sipping gin that includes two African botanicals that gives it its vibrancy. There are 7 other botanicals used in the process to a lesser extent, the most prominent being coriander seeds and juniper berry. The smooth taste lingers in the mouth quite a while, and the tastes include citrus, exotic spices, herbs, cocoa and candied lemon peels.

The distillery is located in Warrington in England, a Northern Industrial town More>>>

Tommy Guns Vodka From Chicago

This is an unusual idea to write about Vodka and Tequila in the same article, but in the case of Tommy Guns, we are making an exception. If you thought Al Capone was dead then think again, he is alive and well in the spirit of these two drinks out of Chicago emanating from Al Capone’s Hideaway and Steakhouse.

Actually, the home of this unique marketing concept is St. Charles, Illinois, a suburb about 35 miles west of Chicago. The brainchild of entrepreneur Bill Brooks, a graduate of NIU, the concept of Tommy Guns took three years of planning to bring to fruition. Most of that time must have been spent figuring out how to get the bottle which is 19’’ tall manufactured. A glass foundry was found in Italy, and the results are spectacular. More>>>

Oregon Gets Into The Gin Business

The development of small distilleries in Oregon is an interesting trend and we will start with one of the newest called ORGANIC NATION. They started out with organic vodka in 2008, and have recently launched O-N Organic Gin, a surprisingly good organic gin that is made special by having 12 Oregon botanicals giving it a fresh citrus savory taste.

It is one of only 4 organic gins in the world, and just shows that with a bit of planning, hard work and some spare capital, it is possible for the small time operator More>>>

Milagro Tequila

Milagro Tequila has been around since 1977, but now that Scottish distillery William Grant & Sons have muscled in with their distribution know-how, look for Milagro (miracle in Spanish) more and more. Founded by two college students passionate about Tequila, there are now six different versions to choose from, the Super Premium Line and the high end Select Barrel Reserve Silver, Reposado and Anejo.

The Select Barrel Reserve varieties enjoy their lengthy aging and mellowing in French Oak Barrels, equaling the quality of the hand blown glass bottles, countered around the outline of an agave plant.

All Milagro Tequilas are produced in small batches up in the highlands of Jalisco More>>>

Heavy Water Vodka

Heavy Water Vodka, a fairly new contender in the US premium liquor market, has already received five international medals as well as being rated the number one vodka by the New York Post. Its name is derived from the rare isotope D20, which scientists call “heavy water”. For every 6,000 parts of water, there is only one part that is “heavy water”.

Heavy Water Vodka is produced at the Bloomberg estate near the small More>>>

Zacapa Rum

Rum is a great drink that I have kind of re-introduced myself to lately, and one of the reasons is the increased exposure of Zacapa Rum from Guatemala into the USA market late last year. They have signed a distribution deal with the mighty Diageo, so look for a lot more exposure for this dark and heavy rum. The prime reason that this rum is different and a bit of a standout from the Bacardi’s and Captain Morgan’s of this world is the fact that it does not use molasses in the production, but uses only the first pressing of sugar cane juice, also known as “virgin sugar cane honey.” More>>>

Corzo Tequila

When the bottle arrived eagerly I opened up the package and loved the sleek look of the bottle which has been designed by Fabien Baron. Would the tequila inside be as classy I thought, and I was not disappointed. After a bit of research I discovered that each bottle of Corzo takes 7 ½ years to make, and they also use twice the agave that most tequila brands utilize from the Los Altos region of Jalisco. This comes from the Tequilana Weber plants in the area, and being one mile above sea level, they are sweeter and more succulent than other plants in the immediate area. More>>>

The Joy of Sake

On September 24th, I ventured down to Webster Hall in Greenwich Village to experience The Joy of Sake, an event celebrating the world’s greatest sakes. This function featured all entries from the 2009 U.S. National Sake Appraisal which was held in Honolulu on August 19th. A total of 124 breweries submitted a variety of sakes for this rigorous blind tasting conducted under the auspices of the Japan National Research Institute of Brewing. A team of ten judges, five from Japan and five from the U.S., participated in this years appraisal. The judging method is based on procedures followed at the Japan National Sake More>>>

Kahlua Coffee Cream - Limited Edition

As I type this I am lucky enough to be enjoying a glass of Kahlua Coffee Cream, a new limited edition premium coffee liqueur product that is due to hit shelves in the next few weeks. In my opinion, this will give Bailey’s Irish Cream a run for its money -- and deservedly so. It is the perfect liqueur for the holiday season and in my experience, completely addictive. I am sadly watching my glass get lower as the condensation drips onto my desktop. Thankfully, the 750 ML bottle is far from empty.

Perfect on the rocks, Kahlua Coffee Cream combines natural cream with the bold flavor of Kahlua’s Mexican coffee liqueur. Vanilla and cane rum are key components in creating Kahlua's unique flavor, and the rich cream adds another dimension to the liqueur, enhancing Kahlua's signature notes of vanilla, caramel and hints of dark chocolate. Made from hand picked 100% Arabica beans which are shade-grown in the Vera Cruz region of Mexico, Kahlua More>>>

Kahlua - Not a One Trick Pony

I am gazing at a beautifully aligned row of Kahlua products that I've established as an inspiration for this piece. I ask myself, fairly enough, what do they all have in common? The answer -- the finest Arabica coffee beans available anywhere.

Originating deep in the Yucatan, in the area founded by Conquistador Francisco de Montejo, amidst Mayan realm and mystery, Kahlua’s legend has grown alongside ripening coffee beans in the mountains of Veracruz, since 1962. With a flavor as rich and distinct as this region, Kahlua’s dark liqueur cradles delicate notes of rum, vanilla and caramel, wrapped in roasted coffee flavor from hand-picked Arabica beans. More>>>

Herradura Tequila

Herradura Tequila has been around on the market since 1964, and today the company claims to be the largest holder of barrels in all of Mexico and one of the leading marketers of aged tequilas in the world. The company has five different brands of tequila, ranging from the Herradura Silver (aged for 40 days and perfect for margaritas), up to the Herradura Hacienda del Cristero (pure blanco and exceptionally smooth).

Herradura Reposado (silky and creamy Tequila aged for 10 months) recently won a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco spirits festival, as did the More>>>

Plymouth Gin

Gin is finally making a belated comeback after spending years in the doldrums following the emergence of Vodka as the drink of choice, and the Martini craze has helped fuel the revival. The history of the cocktail dates back to 1896 when gin was used in the original Dry Martini recipe. One particular Gin looking to benefit from this revival is Plymouth Gin from England, that dates back to 1793, and that More>>>

Ciroc Vodka

Ciroc Snap Frost Vodka stands out from the pack in my opinion, and although there are obviously technical reasons for this, it is just the taste that makes it for me. True there are other top notch Vodka’s out there such as Grey Goose and Idol, but Ciroc certainly stands out at a price of $29.99, so I did some of my own research. First launched in 2003 in the USA in Atlanta and Miami , the brand was aimed at a sophisticated urban crowd and the marketing seems to have worked. However, this is one product that matches the hype.

I know that Ciroc is imported from France and is made from Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes, but what is the secret of the sweet, crisp and clean taste, making Ciroc perfect for martinis as well. Most or all vodkas are made from wheat or potatoes , but since More>>>

Espolón Tequila

Espolón, a tequila brand from the Jalisco Highlands, is making waves amongst tequila connoisseurs from New York to California. Packaged with wild, "Dance of the Dead" inspired imagery, these 100% agave tequilas are offered in both blanco and reposado expressions and lay claim to a longer agave roasting process and a longer distilling time than other manufacturers. Both “Gold Medal” and “Best Spirit” award winners, these tequilas are worthy of a try and are sure to become a favorite of the tequila enthusiast, as well as the connoisseur. More>>>

Trago Tequila

I have recently come across a new tequila that is really different and superb that I predict will have people talking about it for some time to come. Trago Tequila is brand new on the market, but already it has made inroads into the competitive world of expensive liquor that seems to be taking over the liquor industry. Distilled initially through copper and then through stainless steel, Trego. Trago means “taste” or “sip” in Spanish, and is distilled at Los Alambiques by Felipe Camarena, son of Don Felipe, widely known as the “Father of Tequila.” Los Alambiques is currently producing 100% Webber blue agave tequila with superb consistency, thanks to the quality of the soil in the “Altos de Jalisco” region of Mexico. More>>>

Chivas Whiskey Launches Their Ultra - Premium Whiskey 25

Premium Whiskies are starting to hit thick and fast in the market, and the latest is Chivas Regal Original 25, created by Master Blender Colin Scott, a thirty year veteran of the industry. Scott was in America recently to launch the brand, and was so passionate about this whiskey, that $299 a bottle seemed a bargain. The launch party in Los Angeles that I attended was far more low key than the one they put on in New York a few days earlier, an event reputedly that cost a small fortune. Diana Krall provided the entertainment, and 400 VIP guests and celebrities were the lucky ones trying this whiskey for the first time. More>>>

Boomerang Vodka Hits the Target

What do kangaroos, Ayers rock and Foster’s beer, and Chris Williams have in common? They are all from Australia of course. Who might you say is Chris Williams? He is from the land “down under” and owner of the Wattle Creek Winery where he has developed a new fresh tasting vodka from a special blend of grapes grown in Sonoma, California Boomerang Vodka is a light clear refreshing vodka distributed through Foster’s Wine Estates. With the boomerang lightly clipping the leaves of a tree whose branches house birds, releasing the birds to fly toward the thrower; drinkers are migrating toward bartenders as they make an apple and pomegranate martinis from Boomerang. Boomerang is good alone with splash of vermouth or mixed with various fruit elixirs for the softer palette. More>>>

A Tale Of Two Vodkas: Level & Absolut 100

Here are two vodkas from the Absolut Family in Sweden that are so different in taste and texture, that it is hard to believe they come from the same family. Absolut started out shipping their Vodka to the United States during the reign of Abba in 1979, and just like the supergroup, they believe in creating new boundaries and taking some risks along the way. They have been in existence since 1879, and are now the world’s third largest Vodka firm. The advertising campaign for LEVEL VODKA indicates something that is smooth, sophisticated and sexy. Level hired the photographer David Brandt for their campaign, and it has proved to be highly effective. In all honesty, the vodka is excellent, and in fact once you have tried it, could very well become your top choice. It is certainly giving some of the other brands in the same price range a real run for their money. A nice sweet taste of citrus comes through after More>>>

Don Tepo Anejo Tequila Making Its Mark

Here is yet another new entrant to the premium Tequila market, and judging by the packaging of Don Tepo they are going for the traditional tequila market. Even the production methods are old school with the agave methodically placed and slow baked in earthen ovens to ensure that the distinct agave flavor is retained. The old school packaging is augmented by the hand blown bottles, and the hand fitted wood corks. Although Don Tepo is only currently available in California and Washington DC, there are plans to launch soon in Nevada, Florida and Texas. They have got off to a good start with the experts with a Double Gold Award for the Anejo at the San Francisco Spirits show in 2008, and more recently a gold for the Anejo and Blanco at the San Diego Spirits of Mexico show. More>>>

Redcliff Liqueur Makes A Stand For The Americans

There is a new liqueur on the block and looking to make a name for itself in the watering holes of America. Redcliff claims to be America’s “first premium liqueur”, and since it is predominately cola based, with a touch of vanilla and about 15 secret spices, that is not an unreasonable claim. Redcliff joins such other national treasures like Baileys Irish Cream (Ireland), Amaretto, Limoncello (Italy), Kahlua (Mexico) and Pimms (England) as the flagship liqueur of a country. It is 65 proof (32.5% Alc/Vol) and is particularly More>>>

Fair Quinoa Vodka Launches New Bottle and Label

Fair Vodka has recently given their look a makeover with a redesigned the bottle and a new label, giving the Vodka a better profile in a better marketplace. With the pace of new launches apparently not slowing down at all, the thinking is to promote Fair as an artisan craft, purity of product and a dedication to sustainability.

To be perfectly honest, the label which was designed in Paris by Piaton et Associates looks fairly plain, but according to Jack Bays who is responsible for the production, sales and marketing of the drink, “The goal of the new More>>>

Jacques Cardin Cognac

H. Mounier joined forces with Sidney Frank, the American marketing and alcohol magnate, H. Mounier joined forces with Sidney Frank, the American marketing and alcohol magnate, to launch Jacques Cardin VSOP cognac to the American market. Jacques Cardin, or JC Cognac, comes in a sexy, angular bottle, custom-made especially for Jacques Cardin. The luxurious bottle is topped with a stunning silver top, richly engraved with “JC”. The back of the bottle sports a rendering of the Fleur de Lys, or “Lily of France,” which represents purity, royalty, and immortality and is visible from the front through the amber hue of the cognac.

Created in Cognac, France, JC is made with a selection of Ugni-Blanc More>>