556 replies to this topic

[Sunny&Rummy]

tried this on a wen I first got the bottle. Did not do much for me and I usually love Tiare's crations

Cocktails are so funny that way. There are some classic cocktails I adore, and then others that just don't quite do it for me even when someone else thinks they are wonderful. Viva Diversity I guess.

With Tiare's Mayahuel, I was actually not entirely sold on it the very first time I mixed it up — some flavors that seemed to clash a bit on first sip. Still, the drink had enough going on in it that I revisited it and very soon became a huge fan of. And the cocktail kept getting better and better for me as I traded up from lowbrow Monte Alban to del Maguay Vida and then the crazy good del Maguey Santo Domingo Albarradas.

I had a very similar experience with the Coconaut from Grog Log. I liked coco cream well enough, and I think I single-handedly keep lime farmers in business with all the limes I squeeze into drinks. But the combination of those two strong flavors was totally jarring to me at first and I didn't really care for it. Again, though the combination started to grow on me and now it is probably my favorite Beachbum original drink.

[rmillman]

Drove to RI to buy some Thomas Tew Rum: what an amazing product.
Hats off to Newport Distillers

http://newportstorm....omastewrums.asp

[KD1191]

Replacing recently emptied bottles:

Rittenhouse 100
Cocchi Americano
Ransom Old Tom

Would it be terribly strange to pour the contents of my new bottle of Ransom into my old empty? I don't care for the redesigned bottle at all...

[mkayahara]

Would it be terribly strange to pour the contents of my new bottle of Ransom into my old empty? I don't care for the redesigned bottle at all...

You wouldn't be the first one to do something like that. Sometimes I wish I had an older Plymouth bottle still hanging around...

[Dan Perrigan]

Would it be terribly strange to pour the contents of my new bottle of Ransom into my old empty? I don't care for the redesigned bottle at all...

That's funny. I did exactly the same thing.

By the way, from what I heard, the original bottles had weak necks that would occasionally break off. They went with a different bottle company. I still use my original bottle, though, but I try not to hold it by the neck.

Dan

[brinza]

Went to the specialty store again today . . .

Don Cesar Pisco Puro (we finally have Pisco in PA!)
Rhum Barbancourt 5-Star rum
Appleton Estate Reserve
Cinzano Rosso (three bottles)
big-ass bottle of Tanqueray on sale for $38

[Steamtrain]

I went to Boston and went nuts in the liquor store.



These are all items I can't find in NH, except for the Calera.

[Tri2Cook]

After trying to obtain a bottle or two of St. Germain through my local store both times the LCBO brought it in recently without success, I decided to take a chance on the Chase Distillery version. Can't compare it to St. Germain since I've never had it but this one is pretty tasty to me. Fruity, cleanly floral (doesn't make me think of perfume) sweet without being syrupy. I'm happy with it. If anybody has tried both I wouldn't mind hearing how this one compares.

[Kerry Beal]

After trying to obtain a bottle or two of St. Germain through my local store both times the LCBO brought it in recently without success, I decided to take a chance on the Chase Distillery version. Can't compare it to St. Germain since I've never had it but this one is pretty tasty to me. Fruity, cleanly floral (doesn't make me think of perfume) sweet without being syrupy. I'm happy with it. If anybody has tried both I wouldn't mind hearing how this one compares.

Larry - what is the alcohol content on that?

[Tri2Cook]

20%

[Kerry Beal]

20%

So essentially the same as the St Germain - so I assume will oxidize over time as my first little bottle did.

[Tri2Cook]

Hopefully I won't let it stick around that long. I can think of a few dessert uses for it in addition to using it in drinks. If it was a little less sweet, I could probably just drink it.

[Tri2Cook]

I couldn't resist. I tried to resist but failed. Curiosity got the best of me. I grabbed a bottle of the Highwood Distillery White Owl White Whisky that just made it's first appearance in my local store. Reportedly, from what I could dig up, a 60/40 blend of 8 - 10 year aged wheat and rye spirits that have been carbon filtered to remove all color. It is indeed as clear as vodka. That's as far as I've got with it, I just brought it home this afternoon, but I read some favorable sounding reviews (including this one) leading up to the purchase without finding much negative being said about it. Feels like a gimmick, hopefully it will indeed have some character. Worst case, I'll park it next to the Luksusowa and call it a lesson learned.

[Moto]

Most recent purchases:

Restocked on the Wray and Nephew so more falernum is in order

The armagnac was a big disappointment. Tastes like an oversimplified cognac. If any one has recommendations for cocktails to create with it or other brands I am all ears

The chartreuse!! where has this stuff ben all my life. Truly incredible. Chartreuse swizzle ranks up there with the Mai Tai for me

Banks!? Not sure about this one. Tastes like a lower proof Wray and Nephew to me, hogo galore

Barbancourt - lovely buttery rum. Only one small sip so far, can't wait to explore it further.

ED 15 waiting for cold weather before I crack this sipper open

Attached Images

• 

[tanstaafl2]

Haven't got it yet but was just informed this morning that my bottle of Del Maguey Tobala along with a bottle of the Crema de Mezcal have just arrived. On my way to pick them up this evening if time permits!

Saturday night I managed to snag a bottle of Citadel Reserve 2010 gin and three bottles from the Buffalo Trace Single Oak project. I believe they are 61, 191 and one other that I can't recall at the moment. It will be my first foray into this little experiment. An expensive foray I must admit! Probably some content here about that project that I haven't had a chance to track down yet as a newbie.

Single Oak Project

Will likely use all of these new acquisitions to help celebrate the coming Labor Day weekend!

[tanstaafl2]

Haven't got it yet but was just informed this morning that my bottle of Del Maguey Tobala along with a bottle of the Crema de Mezcal have just arrived. On my way to pick them up this evening if time permits!

Saturday night I managed to snag a bottle of Citadel Reserve 2010 gin and three bottles from the Buffalo Trace Single Oak project. I believe they are 61, 191 and one other that I can't recall at the moment. It will be my first foray into this little experiment. An expensive foray I must admit! Probably some content here about that project that I haven't had a chance to track down yet as a newbie.

Single Oak Project

Will likely use all of these new acquisitions to help celebrate the coming Labor Day weekend!

Never followed up on these from a couple of weeks ago so here are a couple of pictures.


Won't spoil anything with my thoughts on the 3 Single Oak Project bottles (61, 93 and 125). But one bottle is a bit lower so that might be a clue!


Also picked up the Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal and the Tobala Mezcal. The Tobala is quite remarkable!


Finally I picked up two bottles of the Citadelle Reserve gin and am glad I did! While there I also got this bottle of Cold River blueberry vodka I had heard about. The aroma of blueberries is massive when the bottle is opened but it is not a syrupy sweet blueberry taste at all. Instead it is a remarkably dry bottle of vodka that is quiet pleasant to sip on the rocks. A bit like drinking a fresh blueberry muffin.

It has been a couple of weeks since my last trip so I am sure they are starting to miss me at the liquor store! All the talk on the forum the last couple of days on rum and aquavit lead me to head to the store to supplement my meager rum supply which consists of a bottle of Brugal, Myers dark and a half bottle of white Bacardi that could well be over 20 years old. Probably should use it to start my next fire in the fireplace!

Managed to pick up some rums that might be interesting to take for a test ride over the next couple of weeks; Rhum Barbancourt 8yo, El Dorado 15yo and Ron Zacapa Centenario 23yo.


While there I refreshed my Aperol supply since it was on sale along with a bottle of Cointreau that was also for sale. Couldn't resist trying a bottle of Cynar that comes up here in recipes so frequently. Also looked for aquavit and it turns out rlibkind was right. Both the Linie and the Aalborg taffel were readily available on the shelf today. Decided to pick up a bottle of the Linie to try for myself.


Already decided to try the Dark and Orangy tonight, probably using the Myers rum, so these latest acquisitions will have to wait for another evening.

So much liquor, so little time...

[tanstaafl2]

A recipe for the the mezcal?

2 oz La Vida
3/4 oz Campari
3/4 oz Carpano Antica
2 dashes Mole Bitters

stir, strain, up, flamed orange

Would a basic Blood & Sand with mezcal to replace the scotch be a good idea? Have a bottle of Sombra I could use for a bit of experimentation.

Guess I will have to give it a try and see. Seems like a natural with that whole bullfighting pedigree!

[Sohoskiracer]

Added to my growing Liquor Cabinet:
Dubonnet Rouge
Apricot Brandy (Meaghers...we dont have Marie Brizzard in BC)
Luxardo Maraschino
La Fee Absinthe
Disaronno
Cynar
Lillet
Boomsma Jonge Genever (all we have in DC for Genever really)
Jim Beam (standard replacement, its my go to if I've already made a few drinks)
Knob Creek Bourbon (Need to branch off from my habitual Makers/Bulleit habits)
Chartreusse (Never used the stuff, but working my way through Haigh's book so ima need it)
Aperol (out of campari at the store and at home and I wanted a negroni, so with some tinkering it worked)
Fernet Branca
Creme de Cacao
Fireball (don't judge me, my friends like to dirnk highballs and take shots...need something for when they're here)


Oh and Fee Brothers Orange Bitters and some Agave Syrup., and with that i am a member of the forums :p Nice to join yall

[haresfur]

Welcome Sohoskiracer. Sounds like you have a good bottle collection. No Bols Genever? Pity. I love the stuff in spite of the Australian prices. I often to use it in a genever Sazerac. Wonder how the jonge would work in that.

What's Desaronno?

[Boilerfood]

What's Desaronno?

Amaretto

[Tri2Cook]

What's Desaronno?

Amaretto

And so much less tasty than the Luxardo... but that's just my opinion.

[Sohoskiracer]

What's Desaronno?

Amaretto

And so much less tasty than the Luxardo... but that's just my opinion.

Yeah I was actually wondering what brand to use but they use Disaronno in the bar I work in so i kinda defaulted to it. We literally have this ONE genever at the Province Liquor stores, and the two private stores I visited were lacking and Oude Genever, I'm most likely going to pick up a bottle next time I'm at Astor Spirits in NY as that place is fantastic. I'm sure anyone else who lives in Canada knows how extremely limited out options are in regards to more specialty items.

EDIT: So as not to waste posts, in response to the poster below Im in BC, Vancouver specifically, although relatively new to shopping for liquor here so I have not by any means exhausted my options (that and I visit NY often enough to ferry back bottles that get too difficult...like lairds apple brandy etc )

Edited by Sohoskiracer, 22 September 2011 - 06:15 PM.

[Kerry Beal]

Yeah I was actually wondering what brand to use but they use Disaronno in the bar I work in so i kinda defaulted to it. We literally have this ONE genever at the Province Liquor stores, and the two private stores I visited were lacking and Oude Genever, I'm most likely going to pick up a bottle next time I'm at Astor Spirits in NY as that place is fantastic. I'm sure anyone else who lives in Canada knows how extremely limited out options are in regards to more specialty items.

Which province are you in?

[Kevin Liu]

I've made a few runs to Corridor Wine & Spirits near Baltimore, MD recently. The take:

Appleton Estate Reserve
Punt e Mes
Lillet Blanc
Jagermeister
Benedictine

And also to a Montgomery County Liquor Store:

Old Overholt Rye
Absolut Wild Tea Vodka
Laird's Applejack
Pimm's

Next up - DC...

[Boilerfood]

What's Desaronno?

Amaretto

And so much less tasty than the Luxardo... but that's just my opinion.

Agreed. Although, they are both too sweet for my liking.

[Tri2Cook]

Agreed. Although, they are both too sweet for my liking.

They are sweet, I couldn't just pour it in a glass and drink more than a few sips.

[Yojimbo]

What I DIDN'T get today: Whitley Neil gin. Went to Gotham wines because they had it listed on their website. Not only were they out, but a quick search discovered that it's no longer imported. I'm bummin'. The cape gooseberry and baobab added a dry, almost roasted citrus element that I totally went for.

What I will get tomorrow: more Casal Garcia vinho verde to keep up with my wife's total obsession with this wine, and a bottle of something for me to balance things out, probably Laird's BIB apple brandy.

[curls]

I've made a few runs to Corridor Wine & Spirits near Baltimore, MD recently. The take:

Appleton Estate Reserve
Punt e Mes
Lillet Blanc
Jagermeister
Benedictine

And also to a Montgomery County Liquor Store:

Old Overholt Rye
Absolut Wild Tea Vodka
Laird's Applejack
Pimm's

Next up - DC...

When you are in DC, I highly recommend that you check out ACE Beverage. They have an amazing selection and if you don't see something there, just ask, its probably in their storage room.

Edited by curls, 28 September 2011 - 04:49 AM.

[Sunny&Rummy]

Looking to purchase my first bottle of Creme de Violette. Drillaud or Rothman and Winter? Anyone here familiar with both brands and able to contrast them for me? Thanks.

[tanstaafl2]

Looking to purchase my first bottle of Creme de Violette. Drillaud or Rothman and Winter? Anyone here familiar with both brands and able to contrast them for me? Thanks.

I have the R&W CdV but don't have the Drillaud. I ended up also getting Creme Yvette for comparison to the CdV only to find that those two are kissin' cousins at best.