Liquor-articles 2049

Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye takes home the top rating for American Whiskey

If it seems like every week there’s a new competition out there revealing its list of the best boozes on the planet…Well, there is. The lucrative enterprise has blossomed into a full-fledged cottage industry. And consumers, thirsty for more knowledge on how to direct their spending, are forever eager for the guidance that this industry promises to provide.

But for the folks at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, this isn’t any sort of novel utility. IWSC has been judging its namesake liquids since 1969. That makes them among the oldest such organizations on earth. Every year its prestigious panel of judges convene in London, and the trade eagerly awaits its anointments.

Now the 2024 results are in. The trusted pros of IWSC have tasted through thousands of spirits—hailing from over 90 countries across the globe—to reveal the top rated tipples currently on shelves. Today we take a look at the highest-rated American whiskey from these evaluations: out of a possible 100 points, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old recorded an astounding 98.

What makes this supremely allocated spirit so special? Well, it comes from Buffalo Trace, which might be the most awarded distillery on earth. However, those accolades are typically amassed by its bourbon labels; EH Taylor, George T. Stagg, WL Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, and Eagle Rare, to name a few recent examples.

Sometimes overlooked is this 18-year-old rye, which has been a pillar of the venerated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection since its inception in 2000. It enjoyed a brief moment of glory back in 2005 when a prominent spirits publication dubbed it the “Whiskey of the Year.” Shortly thereafter, the distillery emptied this prized stock into steel tanks to preserve it and—between 2006 through 2015—this was the juice that entered glass each year.

Fresh-from-the-barrel Sazerac 18 returned to the collection in 2016 and has taken some time to win over connoisseurs. By many standards, the first standout release from the 2.0 era didn’t emerge until 2022; a spry juice driven by clove and anise aromatics and finishing poignantly with menthol and eucalyptus.

The tasting panel at IWSC, which included legendary malt maker Dr. Bill Lumsden, had this to say about the prize-winning liquid: “Juicy fruits, beautiful balance, and outstanding clarity of flavors. Oranges, leather, and toasted bread with a touch of cloves. The finish is classic and easy drinking, bottled at a good ABV.”

It’s true, the 90-proof bottling is an ideal delivery vehicle for this specific flavor profile. It amplifies the earthier elements of rye grain without drowning out its subtleties in a wash of heat. The only real drawback of this dram is how complicated it is to actually procure it. Despite the fact that it’s rarely accused of being the star of any annual BTAC release, it remains an ultra-aged whiskey from Buffalo Trace.

Translation: you’re never going to get it for anywhere near its listed retail price, which here ought to be around $125. The 2023 release is currently fetching upwards of $1580 per bottle on the secondary market.

We wish we could offer you some cost-cutting workaround. The best we can suggest, however, is to keep a careful lookout for this year’s edition of Sazerac 18 when it goes to market in November—aka “BTAC Season.” Perhaps by that time the majority of whiskey fans will be dreaming instead of Sazerac’s bourbon brethren. But you’ll know better than to sleep on a rye like this.

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Despite its humble Eastern European origin, vodka is the best-selling spirit in the U.S. and one of the most popular alcoholic drinks globally. The popularity is not surprising; it is easy to make and can be distilled from virtually anything, which means production is accessible and not region-specific. The final product is a crystal clear and pristine spirit without intrusive flavors and aromas, which most people prefer. As a bonus, its uncomplicated character makes this clear spirit the ideal addition to cocktails and mixed drinks.

Regardless of how much we like to drink vodka, we still haven’t figured out the best way to taste and experience this legendary spirit, and it seems we’ve made many mistakes along the way. That’s why we got a few expert opinions to point out the problems and define the best ways to get the most out of it. We talked to Thomas Gibson, president of Blue Ice Vodka, Tina Karras, owner and founder of Tina’s Vodka, and Leah van Deventer, a WSET Spirits Educator and spirits professional. All three experts discussed the mistakes we’re making when consuming vodka and offered valuable advice on the best vodka-drinking practices.

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

As one of the most consumed spirits in the world, it’s surprising that some facts about vodka are still not familiar or communicated, leading to common misconceptions, such as the popular myth that it’s only made from potatoes. Similarly, Gibson claims the biggest mistake people make is overlooking the amazing variety of high-quality vodka brands.

“Most people who consume vodka don’t have a deep understanding of the different brands, and what makes them different from each other,” explains Gibson. He believes that the approach of buying brands you’re familiar with or labels you’ve seen other people purchase is preventing you from exploring the variety on the market. More importantly, this method means you’re missing out on the high-quality offerings that get overshadowed by big names.

If you don’t know where to start or you come across a tempting label you’re not familiar with, Karras suggests an easy solution to get the full picture: “Since we all have smart phones now, I would do a quick search online for reviews, thewebsite and the story behind the brand, and what the brand does to give back to the environment.”

When choosing which vodka bottle to purchase, our experts suggest reading the back label. Gibson claims the back label and ingredient list can tell you much more about the spirit than the brand name and logo. He looks for potatoes in the ingredient list, explaining, “potatoes, when made well, give vodka a smooth, velvety texture.” He mentions that cheaper versions might use corn as the base which makes for a sweeter product, while wheat is a good option if you’re looking for a bready quality.

Karras agrees and suggests, “if there isn’t [an ingredient list], look for things like Organic or non-GMO.” If possible, she also recommends pouring a few drops on your hands. If it leaves a sticky film, it means there is probably syrup, sugar, or another additive in the mix.

Van Deventer claims the worst mistake people make when drinking vodka is thinking “it’s the ‘cleanest’ or ‘healthiest’ liquor available.” She emphasizes that in the U.S., sugar and citric acid can be added post distillation. Avoid nasty surprises by taking the time to check the back label to get a rough idea of what’s in the bottle.

Chilling vodka in the freezer has become something of a standard, so an ice-cold glass is ready any time you want. As it turns out, the practice is not generally recommended. As this is a high-proof spirit with 40% ABV, it won’t freeze in a standard home freezer, but the cold temperature will affect its texture and alter the taste and aroma.

“Vodka should be kept in the refrigerator and served around 35 degrees, not the freezer,” argues Gibson. He claims that serving it straight from the freezer kills all its character. This is especially troublesome if you have a nuanced version with subtle characteristics that you want to come through on the nose and on the palate. For more generic expressions, using the freezer method should not be particularly problematic.

Gibson also offers a solution for room-temperature vodka, suggesting a quick shake over ice to chill it and bring it to the right drinking temperature.

Price is a common factor when choosing which vodka to purchase. Though it carries some weight, your decision should never be made solely on the price as it’s not a consistent indication of quality.

Gibson is unambiguous, claiming that “Price doesn’t matter — price is based on marketing budgets!” Some brands want to project a specific image that relates to luxury, which can include exclusive collaborations that justify the high price. This means an expensive label does not guarantee quality, nor does an affordable bottle necessarily mean you’re going to get a throat-burning spirit.

Also, make sure not to fall for some common marketing labels declaring the number of times the spirit has been distilled or highlighting words such as premium or limited edition that might want to justify the price. Use research tools to get to know other brands, read the back labels, and perhaps only then consider the price and whether it fits your budget.

There are many good ways to drink vodka, but chugging it down too fast to appreciate its qualities is one to avoid. Karras is on board with this statement and claims the biggest mistake we make when drinking vodka is “Shooting it and drinking it too fast.” Instead, enjoy the process and the drink without the unnecessary rush.

Ideally, don’t serve this potent spirit in short and narrow shot glasses. Opt for a wide-rim glassware or a tumbler that will allow more aromas to come through. Before going straight to drinking, Van Deventer recommends to “smell the spirit with short sniffs.” When you’re ready to taste it, hold and swirl the drink in your mouth for a couple of seconds. This method will allow your palate to uncover all the nuanced flavors. Van Deventer explains, “While both the aroma and flavor should be fairly neutral, there are characterful vodkas, where the raw material may come through, or the texture may be pronounced.”

When serving vodka, you should also reconsider how much liquid to pour in the glass. We often see it filled to the brim, but if you want to be more sophisticated and not seem like an overzealous college kid, stick to filling the glass halfway.

Whether you’re serving your vodka neat or in a cocktail, garnishes are always welcome, but don’t make the mistake of smothering the spirit with robust and powerful add-ons or using low-quality options that will change its whole character.

Pair your vodka with garnishes that will accentuate its subtle flavor and aroma. Van Deventer recommends lemon as a suitable partner and adds, “lime and cucumber work well too.” Most citrus fruits go well with it, whether you want to add a wheel, wedge, or just the rind, as they impart a lot of freshness. Cucumber has the same qualities, but it also creates a subtle herbal background that matches well with vodka. Fresh fruit such as berries or more subtle herbs would also be good options, but avoid sugar-coated rims or smoky notes that would clash with its clean character.

Karras also mentions that using low-quality garnishes is another common problem, especially when choosing olives for a classic martini. She mentions that many producers pack olives with chemicals and that it’s best to avoid these altogether. “Many actually leave a chemical film floating in the drink. Look for organic and non-GMO olives that have only one or two ingredients like olives and salt brine,” she recommends. Remember that neutral spirits can’t mask faults, so make sure only to pair vodka with top-notch garnishes.

The best way to taste vodka to determine its aroma, flavor, and quality is to serve it neat, but our experts suggest adding ice or a splash of water for an upgraded experience. This is not an unusual practice, especially for spirits packed with complex aromas. For vodka, it may not yet be thoroughly adopted, but it’s high time we rethink our habits and add a splash of water or ice cubes.

Karras and Gibson advocate the idea of serving it on the rocks. Gibson argues it’s the best way to judge the quality of the spirit, while Karras claims that “tasting a vodka with one ice cube is the best.” Van Deventer is a fan of adding water to the glass, and claims it will “reduce the proof and make the flavors easier to identify.” For a bubbly alternative, she also suggests pairing the drink with soda water, ice, and a slice of lemon.

When mixing vodka with ice or water, you should think about their quality too. The liquor will only highlight the other flavors, so make sure you don’t use old ice that has soaked freezer aromas or anything other than high-quality water.

In Eastern European tradition, vodka originated as a spirit intended for drinking neat and was traditionally only paired with some light snacks on the side. Only in the mid-20th century did mixologists start prominently using it as a cocktail ingredient. Still, it took a long time for vodka to build its reputation as it was considered too subtle and neutral to create complex drinks, and bartenders often ignored the whole spectrum of varieties and brands that could showcase different qualities. Now we know that this strong spirit is a must for any reputable bar and that it makes some of the best cocktails in the world.

Because it is so subtle, vodka provides a perfect base to play with different flavors. Van Deventer explains that a good vodka cocktail will depend on the other ingredients that are added to the mix. “Some of my preferred vodka cocktails are a Vodka Martini, White Russian, Lemon Drop and Espresso Martini,” she states. Some other must-tries are the legendary Bloody Mary or a zesty Moscow Mule that pairs it with ginger beer. Cosmopolitans, Mudslides, and Greyhounds are other classics worth exploring, proving the spirit does not have to dominate. Rather, it can act as the perfect partner to amp up other ingredients and create balanced and enjoyable cocktails.

Using vodka in cocktails and mixed drinks is highly encouraged, but our experts warn about combining skillfully crafted bottles with cheap, sugar-laden, subpar mixers, as the neutral liquor can’t mask bad flavors. Additionally, these mixers tend to be too powerful, completely smothering the vodka’s taste and failing to allow its sharp and clean profile to come through.

Karras believes that combining vodka with low-quality mixers is one of the most common mistakes people make when adding the spirit to cocktails. She explains that she opts for non-GMO ingredients, real cane sugar, and mixers without any suspicious ingredients. “What’s the point of a spirit being clean if your mixers are dirty?” asks Karras.

Gibson feels the same way about sugary mixers. He claims that sugar-packed elements will take over the whole drink. Worse, he notes that sugar is one of the culprits for the headache that usually appears the day after sipping a colorful vodka-based drink.

During the global vodka expansion, the tradition of serving the liquor with some nibbles on the side was somehow lost, but it’s high time we go back to the roots and start thinking of it as a worthy food companion. Traditionally, this regional spirit was served with zakuski, which could be translated as Russian tapas, as it incorporates hot and cold dishes, usually arranged on small plates. Typical dishes like veggie and meat preserves, such as pickles and sausages, canned fish, caviar, or aspic are included in the selection. But you should not limit yourself to traditional food pairings.

Karras is delighted with the idea of having vodka as a food chaser and claims it is a versatile food partner, specifying that her favorite pairing is “a nice piece of wild caught salmon with lemon.” Van Deventer stays in a similar domain, suggesting serving it with “pickles, caviar, sushi, sardines, salmon, and smoked sausages.” Gibson offers a different perspective, claiming that vodka can go with anything, depending on how you serve it. “I like it shaken with a twist of lemon with a great steak,” he recommends and adds, “I drink potato vodka, and I like to say it’s my potatoes with my steak.” Alternatively, he says, “Drinking vodka chilled neat with sushi is also very good.”

Flavored vodka has long been labeled as the infamous variety that should be avoided at all costs. Once recognized by the vibrant liquid and colorful, kitschy labels that usually hid a foul-tasting, sugary drink that had nothing to do with pure, high-quality spirits, things have changed. Nowadays, it seems the market includes many flavored vodkas worth exploring.

Gibson and Van Deventer agree there are some well-crafted options. “Flavored vodka can be great, as long as the taste isn’t hidden behind a lot of sugar,” claims Gibson. He’s a fan of Ketel One infused with botanicals and the new Double Espresso and Huckleberry from Blue Ice. Van Deventer emphasizes that the quality of flavored spirit will be determined by the quality of the add-ins. “I like Absolut Citron, Ketel One Cucumber and Mint, and Finlandia Cranberry,” she says.

Avoid labels with suspiciously vibrant-looking liquids. This is usually not a good sign, and these varieties are most likely packed with sugar, artificial flavorings and aromas, and coloring agents, resulting in a cloying drink that is not pleasant to drink neat or in cocktails. Karras generally avoids these bottles and notes, “I would recommend finding a mixer, syrup, or bitters and add flavors yourself.”

Though flavored vodka has become a standard these days, if you can’t find one you like then consider making creative home infusions. Van Deventer is a fan and says, “try adding berries, spices, herbs, or even sweets to your vodka and see what works.” You can opt for a single flavor, or if you feel confident enough, try pairing different but complementary flavors in the same batch.

Everyone can make these infusions at home. First, you’ll need the base spirit for your infusion; you don’t have to go with the most expensive bottle, but it’s best to go with high-quality varieties, as the base will dictate the quality of the final product. Of course, make sure to use unflavored vodka without any additions. The infusion is best assembled in wide-rim jars so you can easily add the ingredients. If you plan to use fruit or veggies, clean them well beforehand. Then, just add the ingredients to the jar, close the lid, and wait for the liquor to soak up all the flavors.

The recommended infusion period is three to five days, but it’s best to taste and check. When the time is up, strain the spirit and your infusion is ready. You can drink these infusions neat or play with different garnishes to make creative cocktails and mixed drinks.

Read the original article on Mashed.

Rum is an excellent substitute for vanilla extract when baking and wonderful to use to make cocktails. Did you know, however, that rum is also lovely to sip neat or on the rocks? For beginners, it’s important to figure out which rum is the best to sip. To help you on your rum sipping journey, we sat down with an expert, Molly Horn, Chief Mixologist and Spirits Educator for Total Wine & More, and asked her to recommend the best sipping rum for beginners to try.

Her answer was quite definitive. Horn stated, “My recommendation is an aged rum, particularly those from Barbados … Barbadian rums are known for being rich, nuanced, and somewhat sweeter than other styles.” She listed her personal favorites from Barbados: Kaniche XO and Plantation OFTD.

Aged rums are one of 13 types of rum we’ve explained in the past and are ideal for beginners to sip on the rocks or neat. When you sip aged rum by itself, it’s delicious, and you get to appreciate all of its flavors, tasting notes, and the time spent aging the spirit. Sometimes, it takes years for all those flavors to develop. Aged rum goes down smoothly, so you don’t need a chaser or mixer.

Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have

Additionally, Molly Horn recommended that beginners sip aged rum from Guatemala, with her favorites being Ron Zacapa and El Pasador de Oro. She explained, “Guatemalan rums are full-bodied with deep, robust flavors.” If you’re looking to appreciate bolder flavors, sip a Guatemalan aged rum. But if it’s sweetness you’re looking for, choose a Barbadian aged rum.

Horn added, “The approachability and depth of flavors in these styles of rum, as well as the characteristics of oak aging that add flavors similar to Bourbon, make them an excellent entry point for those new to rum!” Bourbon has nine common tasting notes, including smoke, spices, vanilla, wood, and nuts. Since Bourbon is also a spirit people often sip neat or on the rocks, it feels good to know aged rum shares Bourbon’s characteristics.

After you try sipping an aged rum for the first time and become a fan, you can start expanding your horizons and consider these top 15 sipping rums to enjoy in 2024. Additionally, check out why some people drink rum with a splash of water added to open up all of its flavors.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye takes home the top rating for American Whiskey

If it seems like every week there’s a new competition out there revealing its list of the best boozes on the planet…Well, there is. The lucrative enterprise has blossomed into a full-fledged cottage industry. And consumers, thirsty for more knowledge on how to direct their spending, are forever eager for the guidance that this industry promises to provide.

But for the folks at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, this isn’t any sort of novel utility. IWSC has been judging its namesake liquids since 1969. That makes them among the oldest such organizations on earth. Every year its prestigious panel of judges convene in London, and the trade eagerly awaits its anointments.

Now the 2024 results are in. The trusted pros of IWSC have tasted through thousands of spirits—hailing from over 90 countries across the globe—to reveal the top rated tipples currently on shelves. Today we take a look at the highest-rated American whiskey from these evaluations: out of a possible 100 points, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old recorded an astounding 98.

What makes this supremely allocated spirit so darn special? Well, it comes from Buffalo Trace, of course, which very well might be the most awarded distillery on earth at this point. But those accolades are typically amassed by its bourbon labels; EH Taylor, George T. Stagg, WL Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, to name a few recent examples.

Sometimes overlooked is this 18-year-old rye, which has been a pillar of the venerated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection since its inception in 2000. It enjoyed a brief moment of glory all the way back in 2005, when a prominent spirits publication dubbed it the “Whiskey of the Year.” Shortly thereafter, the distillery emptied this prized stock into steel tanks in order to preserve it and—between the years of 2006 through 2015—this was the juice that entered glass each year.

Fresh-from-the-barrel Sazerac 18 returned to the collection in 2016 and has taken some time to win over connoisseurs. By many standards, the first standout release from the 2.0 era didn’t emerge until 2022; a spry juice driven by clove and anise aromatics and finishing poignantly with menthol and eucalyptus.

The tasting panel at IWSC, which included legendary malt maker, Dr. Bill Lumsden, had this to say about the prize winning liquid: “Juicy fruits, beautiful balance, and outstanding clarity of flavours. Oranges, leather, and toasted bread with a touch of cloves. The finish is classic and easy drinking, bottled at a good ABV.”

It’s true, the 90-proof bottling is an ideal delivery vehicle for this specific flavor profile. It amplifies the earthier elements of rye grain without drowning out its subtleties in a wash of heat. The only real drawback of this dram is how complicated it is to actually procure it. Despite the fact that it’s rarely accused of being the star of any annual BTAC release, it remains an ultra-aged whiskey from Buffalo Trace.

Translation: you’re never going to get it for anywhere near its listed retail price, which here ought to be around $125. The 2023 release is currently fetching upwards of $1800 per bottle on the secondary.

We wish we could offer you some cost-cutting workaround. The best we can suggest, however, is to keep a careful lookout for this year’s edition of Sazerac 18 when it goes to market in November—aka “BTAC Season.” Perhaps by that time the majority of whiskey fans will be dreaming instead of Sazerac’s bourbon brethren. But you’ll know better than to sleep on a rye like this.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 24: Event partner Buffalo Trace Distillery product at the ACM Party … [+] For A Cause at Ascend Amphitheater on August 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ACM)

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

So, how can you be a power user?

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.

Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye takes home the top rating for American Whiskey

If it seems like every week there’s a new competition out there revealing its list of the best boozes on the planet… Well, there is. The lucrative enterprise has blossomed into a full-fledged cottage industry. And consumers, thirsty for more knowledge on how to direct their spending, are forever eager for the guidance that this industry promises to provide.

But for the folks at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, this isn’t any sort of novel utility. IWSC has been judging its namesake liquids since 1969. That makes them among the oldest such organizations on earth. Every year its prestigious panel of judges convene in London, and the trade eagerly awaits its anointments.

Now the 2024 results are in. The trusted pros of IWSC have tasted through thousands of spirits—hailing from over 90 countries across the globe—to reveal the top rated tipples currently on shelves. Today we take a look at the highest-rated American whiskey from these evaluations: out of a possible 100 points, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old recorded an astounding 98.

What makes this supremely allocated spirit so darn special? Well, it comes from Buffalo Trace, of course, which very well might be the most awarded distillery on earth at this point. But those accolades are typically amassed by its bourbon labels; EH Taylor, George T. Stagg, WL Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, to name a few recent examples.

Sometimes overlooked is this 18-year-old rye, which has been a pillar of the venerated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection since its inception in 2000. It enjoyed a brief moment of glory all the way back in 2005, when a prominent spirits publication dubbed it the “Whiskey of the Year.” Shortly thereafter, the distillery emptied this prized stock into steel tanks in order to preserve it and—between the years of 2006 through 2015—this was the juice that entered glass each year.

Fresh-from-the-barrel Sazerac 18 returned to the collection in 2016 and has taken some time to win over connoisseurs. By many standards, the first standout release from the 2.0 era didn’t emerge until 2022; a spry juice driven by clove and anise aromatics and finishing poignantly with menthol and eucalyptus.

The tasting panel at IWSC, which included legendary malt maker, Dr. Bill Lumsden, had this to say about the prize winning liquid: “Juicy fruits, beautiful balance, and outstanding clarity of flavours. Oranges, leather, and toasted bread with a touch of cloves. The finish is classic and easy drinking, bottled at a good ABV.”

It’s true, the 90-proof bottling is an ideal delivery vehicle for this specific flavor profile. It amplifies the earthier elements of rye grain without drowning out its subtleties in a wash of heat. The only real drawback of this dram is how complicated it is to actually procure it. Despite the fact that it’s rarely accused of being the star of any annual BTAC release, it remains an ultra-aged whiskey from Buffalo Trace.

Translation: you’re never going to get it for anywhere near its listed retail price, which here ought to be around $125. The 2023 release is currently fetching upwards of $1800 per bottle on the secondary.

We wish we could offer you some cost-cutting workaround. The best we can suggest, however, is to keep a careful lookout for this year’s edition of Sazerac 18 when it goes to market in November—aka “BTAC Season.” Perhaps by that time the majority of whiskey fans will be dreaming instead of Sazerac’s bourbon brethren. But you’ll know better than to sleep on a rye like this.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 24: Event partner Buffalo Trace Distillery product at the ACM Party For A Cause at Ascend Amphitheater on August 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ACM)

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

So, how can you be a power user?

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.

By Andrew Paul

Posted on Jun 15, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

3 minute read

Earth is bombarded by an estimated 48.5 tons of meteors and meteorites every day—and while (most) of that material luckily burns away as it hurtles through the atmosphere, smaller chunks of ancient space rock still occasionally end their multi-billion-year journeys by slamming into the planet. Of the roughly 82,000 meteorites found on Earth so far, there’s a very solid chance that only one has ever made it into liquor bottles.

Earlier this year, Pegasus Distillerie announced Shooting Star Vodka, a limited run of vodka infused with an “ordinary chondrite” meteorite. Recovered in 1977 in Nebraska, experts believe the 22.5-pound “Huntsman (b)” space rock actually arrived on Earth back in 1910, when a meteorite of the same composition was found about three miles away from its sibling—leading astronomers to theorize the two originally belonged to a larger piece that broke up upon entering the atmosphere around that time.

But regardless of its arrival time, Huntsman (b) eventually found its way into the hands of Pegasus founder, Maxime Girardin, through an Arizona intermediary. While an heir to a multigenerational family of winemakers from the Burgundy region of France, Girardin wanted to pursue a different direction for his new company by experimenting not just with terrestrial ingredients, but ingredients originating in the depths of outer space.

But creativity only goes so far if your drink ends up tasting like moon dust. Luckily for Pegasus, that’s far from the case: the official Popular Science verdict is that Shooting Star Vodka is very good, actually.

[Related: Watch a meteor’s incredible light show above Spain and Portugal.]

The boutique alcohol has been rigorously assessed (multiple times) by the author of this piece, who confidently concludes the spirit is a unique variation on classic wheat vodka. There’s certainly a note of spring water in the nose for Shooting Star, and although there is still a bit of bite to it compared with similar vodkas, the surprisingly sweet flavor profile cuts through any burn to deliver a satisfying, refreshing overall taste—but as Girardin explained earlier this month, given that vodka contains no sugar, it’s unclear how the meteorite infusion accomplished this. There even might be the slightest of effervescence to the liquor.

Before you can infuse vodka, however, you need some actual alcohol. Pegasus’ distillation process relies on organic, locally sourced French wheat and barley, as well as spring water collected from an underground river that passes through limestone layers roughly 150-meters (about 492-feet) below the company’s Burgundy distillery. Once the vodka is made, then it’s time to mix in the meteorites.

Infusing drinks dates back thousands of years and follows a relatively straightforward process of osmotic diffusion, in which alcohol permeates an added substance’s cell walls and takes on some of the chemical properties responsible for flavor. Rarely do alcohol infusions involve mineral material like stones and space rock—but there’s surprisingly a lot of organic matter in them to influence the flavor properties of a liquor like the Shooting Star vodka.

In the case of Shooting Star’s up-to-18-month infusion process, its reliance on amphoras further help enhance the unique flavor. Thanks to their porosity, the terracotta pots allow oxygen to pass through the exterior and act as a binder between the vodka and dissolving meteorite minerals.

[Related: Mars might have an asteroid problem.]

Of course, it’s easy for imaginations to run wild about potential unintended consequences of consuming liquor made from space rock exposed to billions of years’ worth of interstellar radiation. But if it makes any hesitant taste testers feel better—everything around us, including ourselves, is at least slightly radioactive.

All matter is composed of star stuff, after all, and you’re likely to register more radiation on your kitchen countertop than a hunk of meteorite here on Earth. Similarly, any radioactive elements in space rocks decay pretty fast after landing on Earth—if anything, the “vodka” part of Shooting Star Vodka is arguably the most unhealthy ingredient.

As for whether or not Shooting Star is worth paying $200 to try, that really comes down to just how badly a drinker wants to taste the cosmos—but that just may be the meteorite talking.

Finding a business with substantial growth potential isn’t easy, but it’s achievable by examining a few key financial metrics. Firstly, it’s essential to see an increasing return on capital employed (ROCE) and, secondly, an expanding capital employed base. This indicates a company that continually reinvests its earnings back into the business to generate higher returns. With that in mind, we’ve noticed promising trends at Rocky Mountain Liquor (CVE:RUM), so let’s delve deeper.

For those unfamiliar, ROCE measures a company’s yearly pre-tax profit (its return) relative to the capital employed in the business. Here’s the formula to calculate this metric for Rocky Mountain Liquor:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets – Current Liabilities)

0.057 = CA$1.1m ÷ (CA$24m – CA$4.8m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

Therefore, Rocky Mountain Liquor has an ROCE of 5.7%. In absolute terms, that’s a low return and it also under-performs the Consumer Retailing industry average of 12%.

View our latest analysis for Rocky Mountain Liquor

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you’d like to look at how Rocky Mountain Liquor has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of Rocky Mountain Liquor’s past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Rocky Mountain Liquor’s ROCE growth is quite impressive. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 114% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company’s efficiencies. On that front, things are looking good so it’s worth exploring what management has said about growth plans going forward.

On a related note, the company’s ratio of current liabilities to total assets has decreased to 20%, which basically reduces its funding from the likes of short-term creditors or suppliers. Therefore, we can rest assured that the growth in ROCE is a result of the business’ fundamental improvements, rather than a cooking class featuring this company’s books.

In summary, we’re delighted to see that Rocky Mountain Liquor has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. And since the stock has fallen 31% over the last five years, there might be an opportunity here. So researching this company further and determining whether or not these trends will continue seems justified.

If you’d like to know about the risks facing Rocky Mountain Liquor, we’ve discovered 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.

While Rocky Mountain Liquor isn’t earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

MOSCOW — Palouse Habitat for Humanity set a monthly sales record in May by earning $20,000 through its Moscow retail store.

University of Idaho football coach Jason Eck knew for a while that he was sticking around, but on Wednesday it became official.

June 7 passed largely without notice. And yet, on that day in 1965, a very different Supreme Court from that which overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago struck down a Connecticut law enacted in 1879. Drafted by state legislator P.T. Barnum, the law forbade married couples access to contraception.

A worker looks back to check the line of fire he is starting for a controlled burn Friday in a field south of Lewiston.

Thinly sliced beef, shrimp, lotus root, and noodles are among more than 30 ingredients on the menu at Everhot Mongolian Hot Pot, a restaurant where diners cook their meals at their tables.

Steve McGehee

June 7 passed largely without notice. And yet, on that day in 1965, a very different Supreme Court from that which overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago struck down a Connecticut law enacted in 1879. Drafted by state legislator P.T. Barnum, the law forbade married couples access to contraception.

As readers may remember from a previous column (and the Old Testament leaves no doubt), sexual congress between consenting couples have one sanctioned purpose and that is childbirth. To do otherwise is to violate God’s commandments and practices such as coitus interruptus is punished by death administered by no less a personage than the Big Guy himself.

After 1965, the law of the land finally allowed married couples to have physical knowledge of each other for mutually affirming reasons having little or nothing to do with populating the earth. The rights guaranteed under the Griswold v. Connecticut ruling were, in 1972, extended to unmarried couples as well in Eisenstadt v. Baird.

The Connecticut statute in question was enacted in the aftermath of the federal law passed by Congress in 1873, the Comstock Act. This law had made provision of contraception into a federal crime. As expected, real-world consequences soon followed, with 24 states passing their own laws restricting access to contraception.

In 1916, Margaret Sanger, believing that reproductive free choice was foundational for the liberation of women from poverty and subservience, defied New York law, opened the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn and served 30 days in prison for her crime. She went on to found Planned Parenthood.

Around the same time, activist firebrand Emma Goldman was arrested twice for violating the same New York prohibition. She, too, was imprisoned in 1916 for the crime of disseminating information about birth control.

Time moves on and with it, attitudes toward a lot of once controversial things. The dam broke with Griswold and, by 1973, the High Court defended in Roe v. Wade the principle that the Constitution protected a woman’s right to control her own reproductive freedom. Even barriers to homosexuality soon came crashing down. In 2003, in a pivotal case, Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment protected even gay women and men. They could henceforth have sex without fear of government watchdogs peering through their bedroom curtains. Then, in 2015, in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision, same-sex couples were finally allowed to marry.

Winds shifted again on the Court and, for the first time in Constitutional history, a right of citizenship once guaranteed was taken away. The Dobbs decision, just like the Comstock Act before it, opened the floodgates and, what was once sanctioned nationwide, was left up to the state legislatures.

The assault by evangelicals on sexual freedom hasn’t stopped with Dobbs. Anyone believing that making abortion nearly impossible to obtain would satisfy the lust for vengeance of those for whom sex is a dirty word hasn’t read the Old Testament.

Or read Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion on Dobbs where he wrote that the Supreme Court should “reconsider all of the courts sustainable due process precedents including Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell.”

For heterosexual adults of reproductive age and anyone gay or lesbian should sit up and take notice. In the ruling which guaranteed marital rights to same-sex couples, there were four dissenters. Thomas, Roberts, Alito and Scalia. Three still sit on the High Court and Scalia’s replacement and two others were nominated by Donald Trump to cement his hold on the religious extremists which make up his most loyal base of support.

Assume you’re a hetero adult and view sexuality as a healthy component of human existence with no necessary connection to adding more children to an already overcrowded world. Griswold hangs by a thread. Or perhaps you’re part of a gay married couple and thought your rights were guaranteed. Just this week, Senate Democrats introduced a bill in Congress codifying citizens’ rights to contraception. With but two dissenters, both women, Republican senators in lockstep voted the bill down.

Think your rights under the Constitution are inviolable? Better think again before voting Republican for any officeholder at the state or federal levels.

McGehee, a lifelong activist, settled here in 1973 and lives in Palouse with his wife, Katherine. His work life has varied from bartender to university instructor to wrecking yard owner.

Steve McGehee

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In a press release today, Newport Craft Distilling announced the acquisition of Newport, Rhode Island-based KEEL Vodka.

KEEL Vodka, founded in 2011 by Bill Dessel, Tom McGowan, and Matt Light in Newport, Rhode Island, is considered by the company as the first premium light spirit. “It is a product of unparalleled smoothness and drinkability so you can stay balanced and be present to enjoy the now and the later.”

“This strategic move will see Keel Vodka join Newport Craft’s award-winning portfolio, which includes White Squall Vodka & Gin, Sea Fog Whiskeys, and Thomas Tew Rums,” Newport Craft Distilling shared.

Newport Craft Distilling shared some of the following key highlights about the acquisition;

“The KEEL team has found the perfect partner in Newport Craft to help take KEEL to the next level. It has always been a dream of ours to produce our product, that was conceived in Rhode Island, in our home state. With this transaction we can finally accomplish that dream. I am excited to get to work alongside the team at Newport Craft, in continuing to spread the KEEL story to new consumers looking to have a more balanced social life,” says Bill Dessel Founder of KEEL Vodka in a statement.

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“We’re thrilled to welcome KEEL Vodka into the Newport Craft family,” says Newport Craft CEO Brendan O’Donnell in a statement, “This acquisition represents a powerful synergy of passion, expertise, and a shared love for exceptional spirits. The combination of these brands will meaningfully enhance the efforts of both companies and we can’t wait to see what Bill and KEEL can do in partnership with Newport Craft.”

For more information, visit www.newportcraft.com.

The market for whisky has been sliding since 2022, but is this cause for alarm or just an impact of the wider economic climate?

For whisky investors, it can feel like the current market is all gloom. Multiple indexes and reports suggest the downturn in auction prices is continuing. Whisky retailers are also finding sales slowing as well. Does this all signal the end of the secondary whisky market? Was it all just a bubble that has finally burst?

“We have seen a noticeable downturn in the sales of what you could call the premium end of the whisky market in the early months of this year,” explained Richard Hawley, director of online whisky shop The Whisky Vault, over an email with me to discuss the market. But it is not all gloom and negativity.

Market cycles are all part of a maturing market and can offer opportunities as well. “There have been some green shoots of recovery in the past weeks, and it could be seen as an optimum time for savvy buyers to snap up some vintage legends that are at a lower price than they have been for a few years.”

As a broker and consultant dealing with multiple parts of the whisky and antiques markets, I have seen significant changes over the last decade. My opinion is that the falls we are seeing are all part of the normal cycle of investing. These cycles can even be seen as a sign that the whisky market is maturing. It is a rollercoaster that we had all better get used to riding in the years and decades to come.

You might wonder why the market is faltering right now, and while there are some very specific reasons that are not helping. Bid fatigue when bidding against unrealistic reserves caused by a shift in market but not expectation is one obvious reason. As is the sheer number of online auctions that have appeared. However, the core issue is much bigger than the secondary whisky market—it’s the global economy.

While the market may be slow, there is still value to be found, especially in bottles that were released prior to the boom in 2015.

Cast your mind back to 2021 and 2022—the glory years of whisky investing when it felt like no matter what bottle you bought you would make money within days. At every auction, the prices achieved were better than the one before, and everyone was trying to get their hands on the next new release.

Your average person felt pretty flush thanks to Covid lockdowns. People had saved thousands thanks to no holidays and social events being limited to a walk with a take away coffee. We emerged with money in the bank into a hiring crisis that meant people felt confident enough to ask for pay rises and shop around for a higher salary. Savings rates were low while the high potential returns of alternative investments were pushed through targeted adverts. Whisky investment was introduced to the masses, which only increased competition for bottles at auction.

At the same time the very wealthy were frustrated with their more traditional investments. The uptick in share values after the vaccine breakthrough was a distant memory. Now there was the prospect of interest rates rising—never good for share values—massive supply chain issues and a war in Ukraine causing an energy crisis. Share values plunged and when traditional investments falter, alternative investments start to look more appealing. Cryptocurrency stole the headlines, but there was also an unmistakable buzz around whisky amongst the wealthy.

In contrast, we are all uncomfortably aware of where the economy stands in 2024:

In short, the economic climate could not be more different to when bottle prices were booming. The average person is feeling much less secure in their job and has far less disposable income. Many people are keeping savings for emergencies and sadly, in some cases, even using them for day to day living. This has resulted in a systematic drop in volume and value of whisky bottles at auction by 30% and 36% respectively for January to April 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 (Noble & Co Whisky Intelligence Report 2024 Q2).

The Noble & Co report found that the £100 to £1,000 price bracket accounted for 90.4% of volumes… [+] traded, with significant declines observed in higher price brackets, particularly the £1,000 to £10,000 range.

The impacts on the market are compounded by the fact that it is both the purchasers of lower and higher value bottles that are feeling the effects of current global economic changes.

Your whisky investor on an average income has found themselves in a cost of living crisis. Easy access savings have rallied and suddenly the security of a 5% bank savings account is more appealing than volatile alternative assets, which also take time to release the money when you need it.

Nobel and Co report that £100 to £1,000 bottles account for 90.4% of the volumes traded but 45% of value. The squeeze on the disposable income of the patrons driving 90% of the market is going to have a significant impact on the market as a whole. A lot of the bottles in this sector have been flipping bottles, ‘lower value’ mass market NAS bottles like the Folio and Concept series, and the drops in value for these bottles are, in my opinion, proof that the lower end consumer is feeling the squeeze.

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“Flipping has been a profitable market for many buyers, but the days of making a quick buck turnaround, whilst not numbered, are becoming less frequent and straightforward to predict.” Commented Hawley on the prevalence of NAS bottles at auction.

At the same time the wealthiest patrons, who make up over 50% of the value of the secondary whisky market in 2024 are returning to their well tested, traditional and regulated investments. Interest rates on cash savings are high and shares are rallying in the expectation that rates will soon start to fall in the UK (and indeed are already doing so in Europe and the USA).

A fall in appetite among the wealthy for high value bottles was recently demonstrated by the failure of the Macallan 1928 50-year-old to meet its £50,000 reserve at Bonhams. Then the Dalmore Luminary No.2 barely made its reserve at Sothebys when it sold for $117,400 (£93,750). The Luminary was the second in a three part series from Dalmore. The stunningly designed collaboration between Dalmore and Melodie Leung to raise money for the V&A Dundee followed on from the first edition which collaborated with Kengo Kuma, and sold for $151,000 (£118,750) in November 2022. The record setting 2023 Distiller’s One Of One charity auction also saw 17 new records set. To me these changes in achieved values indicate a shift in the appetite amongst buyers in this sector of the market.

It is important to note that whisky is not the only alternative investment suffering in this climate. There has been such a downturn in the art market that Sotheby’s are making redundancies and those who previously raved about NFTs have gone rather quiet.

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If you are wondering what to do, unfortunately there is no one size fits all approach. If you want to keep investing in whisky then now is the time to buy. There are certainly good deals to be had at the moment and my sentiment is shared by Richard Hawley, “Look out for vintage rarities and indie bottlings, whilst using respected review sites to understand quality and prestige.”

If you have had enough and want to get out then my advice would be to hold tight if you can. Selling at the bottom of the cycle is not ideal and indicators for the global economy do suggest more positive times ahead. No matter how turbulent the ride, a rollercoaster is usually safe enough if you get on and off at the right time!

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