2/2008 GRAN GALA LIQUEUR
GRAN GALA is marketed as "Italy's answer to Grand Marnier." It is a good answer. We really enjoyed this orange brandy liqueur. The burnt orange flavor, the silky mouthfeel... It's quite nice as an after dinner drink. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.GranGala.com/.

Labels: Gran Gala, Italy, Liqueur

 

12/2007 MANGUIN N1 LIQUEUR AUX PLANTES D'ABSINTHE
We sipped this liqueur straight and found it extremely smooth. Our eyes popped when we saw it was 55% alcohol --110 proof-- and designed to be consumed the same way as absinthe, cut with 5 to 6 parts of water. Wow, if you like black licorice, you'll likely love this. Nicely done. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer carries MANGUIN, click SHOP and type "MANGUIN" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Alternatively, you may surf to http://www.Manguin.com/absinthe.php.

Labels: France, Liqueur, Manguin

 

12/2007 BERENTZEN APFEL KORN (APPLE SCHNAPPS) LIQUEUR
Schnapps- wow, that brings back hazy memories of ill-spent youth. Fuzzy navels- the head snaps side to side at the mere thought. BERENTZEN APFEL KORN is a mere 40 proof, making it, in our view, a real schnapps. How now? Well, the point of schnapps, as we see it, isn't to disguise raw spirit in gooey fruit flavors, which folks then shoot down their gullets one after another. Rather, schnapps is to be taken in a small serving after a meal; it's a dessert drink. BERENTZEN offers a sour apple note, then slips down your throat with nary a burn. Simple, elegant. (Rating ****1/4)

To see if our retailer carries BERENTZEN, click SHOP and type "BERENTZEN" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Alternatively, you may surf to http://www.Berentzen.de/ and practice your German translation skills.

Labels: Berentzen, Germany, Liqueur, Schnapps

 

7/2007 T&W LEMONELLA LIQUEUR
I can't say that we've tasted many lemon liqueurs that were much good. What puts us off most frequently is the faux lemon aroma and the super sugary taste. You won't find these characteristics in T&W LEMONELLA LIQUEUR. It's made from Meyer Lemons by Empire Distillery in New Port Richey, Florida, and is quite tasty. In balmy weather, we drink a couple of big shots over crushed ice. It's a booze Slushie of sorts, and very refreshing. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can get you a bottle by clicking SHOP, typing "EMPIRE" in the search engine, and clicking the magnifying glass. Otherwise, for more information, surf to http://www.empirewineryanddistillery.com/.

Labels: Florida, Liqueur, TandW

 

2/2007 PALLINI LIMONCELLO LIQUEUR
This is a solid lemoncello; keep it in the fridge, serve it straight up, and take your small pours in a few gulps. Its sweet and lemony but not, unlike some lemoncellos, overwhelming. Dare we call it pleasant? Yes. (Rating***3/4)

To see if our retailer can send you PALLINI, click SHOP and type "PALLINI" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, check with the importer http://www.CastleBrandsInc.com/ or the folks at http://www.Pallini.us/.

Labels: Italy, Liqueur, Pallini

 

5/2006 AMARULA MARULA FRUIT CREAM liqueur
We had no idea what to expect- it's not like we grew up eating Marula fruits in Ohio. We poured AMARULA into a rocks glass and it looked a bit like milk spiked with Hershey's syrup. Most perplexing. Waving it under our noses our eyes popped- it was boisterous with a berry note of some sort. Now we were really confounded. Into the hatch it went and the berry note gave way to a cocoa or toffee flavor. Wow- unusual, but we've no doubt that lots of people will go absolutely bananas for this 34 proof cream liqueur. Take it straight or on ice. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you AMARULA, click SHOP FOR AMARULA. Otherwise, surf to http://www.amarula.com/.

5/2006 MARTIN MILLER'S REFORMED LONDON DRY GIN AND REFORMED LONDON DRY GIN WESTBOURNE STRENGTH
New gins on the market- hoorah! Compared to vodka, gins are so few! So, here we have two gins by Martin Miller. Now, how's this for multiculturalism: Martin Miller's gins are distilled in London, Blended and bottled in iceland, and imported to the USA by Cantina Italiana LLC of Hollywood, Florida. It reminds us of that old song line, "I met a German girl in England who was going to school in France..."

So, the first of these two gins is 80 proof, the second (the Westbourne Strength) is 90.4 proof. In the former version, the citrus note outshines the juniper one, and it's hard to detect the other botanicals. On the whole, this gin is quite soft. One wonders if this is an effort to do what Baffert's and Reval tried doing- making a gin that would appeal to the vodka lover. Regardless, this is clearly gin, and is enjoyable. (Rating ****) The Westbourne Strength version is much the same, only the extra alcohol actually makes it taste better. It has more crackle to it, a characteristic that gin drinkers seek. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you MILLER'S, click SHOP FOR MILLER'S. Type "MILLER" in the search engine and click the SEARCH button. Last we checked, they carried both of these gins. Otherwise, surf to http://www.millersgin.com/.


5/2006 CARNIVO XO
Gadzooks- a green colored liqueur made from "an award winning XO Cognac, premium French Vodka, a luscious tropical fruit juices"! This amalgam just makes no sense to us- why have both vodka and cognac? And how can you have both but only end up with a 40 proof liqueur? And how can the aforementioned ingredients make this stuff taste SO SUGARY? Baffling. It tastes a bit like spiked Gatorade. We're not too fond of this syrupy stuff. Maybe those who like super sweet stuff will want to quaff this on ice. Not us, though. (Rating **1/2)


5/2006 OLD FETTERCAIRN SINGLE HIGHLAND SCOTCH MALT WHISKY 10 YEAR
Although this whisky is only 80 proof, it carries itself like a sturdier malt. It's viscous and gold in color and packs a full punch of white pepper, peat, and pear. It's simple, direct, and enjoyable. (Rating ****)

To see if our retailer can sell you OLD FETTERCAIRN, click SHOP FOR OLD FETTERCAIRN.


5/2006 LOCH LOMOND HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Ho-hum. We hadn't tried this malt before; though our hopes were not high, they were, nonetheless, disappointed. This straw tinged with gold malt offers light honey, berry, and barley notes to the nose. In the mouth its limp and its fruity flavor departs quickly. Perhaps a nice place to start for those who fear the robustness of scotch whisky, but all others should take a pass. (Rating ****)


5/2006 DALWHINNIE SINGLE MALT HIGHLAND WHISKY 15 YEAR
This 86 proof malt was rather impressive. It offers up a little honey, pear, and toffee. It's slightly spicy but not especially intense. Well done. (Rating ****)

To see if our retailer can sell you DALWHINNIE, click SHOP FOR DALWHINNIE.


6/2006 SAILOR JERRY SPICED NAVY RUM
What a delicious rum! It's a robust (92 proof), deep copper colored, and oozes flavor....Lots of vanilla and berries. A wonderful product- it shows what rum can be. Bourbon lovers would likely enjoy this rum (Rating ****3/4)

To see if our retailer can sell you SAILOR JERRY, click SHOP FOR SAILOR JERRY RUM. Otherwise, surf to http://www.sailorjerry.com/.

Labels: England, Gin, Liqueur, Rum, Scotch - Single Malt, Scotland, South Africa