Liquor-articles 1864

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Arnel Hecimovic

Thu 28 Dec 2023 08.23 EST

Last modified on Fri 29 Dec 2023 04.11 EST

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Photograph: snapshot/Future Image/U Stamm/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Adrian Kraus/AP

Photograph: Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA

Photograph: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Davide Bonaldo/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Marco Trovati/AP

Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Some of the most memorable sights you’ll see on a distillery tour are the rickhouses stacked from floor to ceiling with huge oak barrels. Within each cask is whiskey in the making, slowly taking up the essences of the wood and the charcoal within to eventually emerge as the intricate, amber-hued liquor that it’s famously known as. Surely, though, as you look at those barrels, a question must’ve crossed your mind: “Just how many bottles can you make from just one of these gigantic barrels?”

You’ll be happy to know you’re not alone in wondering about this! Interestingly, while there are no regulations in the U.S. specifying the size of oak barrels distilleries must use, most distillers choose to use just a standardized barrel form factor called the American Standard Barrel (ASB.) ASB barrels can typically hold around 53 gallons of freshly-distilled whiskey.

If you were to bottle the contents of one of these barrels immediately, you’d end up with approximately 267 bottles of unaged whiskey, often referred to as “white dog,” “moonshine,” or “white whiskey.” When it comes to properly aged whiskey, however, the answer’s a bit more complicated.

Read more: The 25 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

As whiskey ages in an oak barrel, several things happen — some of which will ultimately impact the barrel’s yield once it’s fully matured. One important element is the “angels’ share,” a charming term for the whiskey that evaporates during aging. The longer whiskey ages, the more it loses to the angels (aka evaporation.) The extent of this loss depends on factors such as geographical location, climate, and conditions like temperature and humidity within the warehouses where the barrels are stored.

Another thing to consider is how whiskey is prepared for bottling. Unless it’s labeled as “cask strength” (meaning it’s not diluted), some bottles have whiskey mixed with water to lower the alcohol content (from 52-66% ABV in cask strength down to 40-46% ABV.) In such bottles, even if the label says it holds the standard 750 milliliters (about 25.3 fluid ounces), not all of it comes directly from the barrel. Barrels used for making cask-strength will yield fewer bottles than those that go toward making diluted whiskeys.

Because of these factors, it’s tough to predict the exact number of bottles a barrel will produce. Estimates vary, with some distillers suggesting an average of 200 to 300 standard 750-milliliter bottles per barrel. Depending on the actual yield, distillers will adjust their pricing accordingly. Older barrels that lose more liquid to evaporation are usually more expensive to recoup the loss.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Arnel Hecimovic

Thu 28 Dec 2023 08.23 EST

Last modified on Fri 29 Dec 2023 04.11 EST

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Photograph: snapshot/Future Image/U Stamm/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Adrian Kraus/AP

Photograph: Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA

Photograph: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Davide Bonaldo/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Marco Trovati/AP

Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Kástra Elión vodka is made from a blend of olives and wheat.

Vodka is often seen as flavorless and neutral, maintaining popularity despite this reputation. Many companies market the drink more for its lifestyle appeal than its taste or aroma. However, not all vodkas fall into this stereotype. Many brands now strive for rich flavors and textures in their products, with some venturing beyond the typical base ingredients of grains and potatoes.

Kástra Elión is one of these innovative vodkas. Originating from Greece, it is made from a combination of Greek olives and wheat. It has taken its name from an ancient castle that overlooks the hills and olive groves of Nafpaktos – the birthplace of the vodka and home to the family that developed it.

The vodka was created by master blender and certified flavor chemist, Frank Mihalopoulos. Frank has spent almost forty years working in product development for companies like Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts, and Kahlua, and has provided consultancy for spirits brands including Absolut and Stoli. He is joined by his son-in-law, Mike Camello, who is the president of the company.

“We were vodka enthusiasts and fascinated by some of the European vodkas manufactured from malted barley and rye, and those that were achieving excellent texture in their vodkas,” mentions Camello. The thought struck: Why not experiment with making a vodka from olives?

Mihalopoulos spent roughly a year to make it successful. He established a laboratory, purchased distillation apparatus, and initiated testing of olive varieties worldwide. “I intended not to be emotionally connected to the narrative, but we ended up choosing a blend of three varieties that coincidentally originate from the same region in Greece that’s my homeland.”

Kástra Martini |

The procedure is an artisan process, and the wastage is much higher compared with most vodka distillers witness, but Mihalopoulos clarifies that precise distillation cuts are required to eradicate all the heads and volatile compounds produced by the olives.

Olives contain minimal quantities of sugar, hence the source of ethanol is the grains. Mihalopoulos highlights that their role in the creation process of the vodka is essential, not from a flavor point of view, but in contributing to the distinctive smoothness and mouthfeel of the vodka. The final product is a harmonious blend of the distilled spirit and the spring water from the mineral-abundant Mount Taygetus in Greece.

The scent of Kástra Elión vodka is fresh and devoid of any unpleasant, harsh chemical or alcohol notes. The aromas are a delightful mix of sweet and savory, with dominant notes of vanilla and butterscotch. Upon tasting, subtle impressions of fruit, citrus and a touch of pepper unfold on the tongue, luring the salivary glands into action as the flavors slowly intensify, adding layers of butterscotch, vanilla and a hint of toasted bread.

Camello prefers savoring Kástra Elión with added olives, on the rocks. However, he understands that sipping vodka may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The good news is that it is also an excellent choice for Martinis. The brand recommends that bartenders keep their concoctions focused on the spirit, without overdoing the sugar. The idea is to allow the vodka with its unique mouthfeel to be the shining star, observes Camello.

Kástra Elión has recently introduced their olive brine and cocktail olives, available individually or in a kit along with a bottle of their premium vodka. These are designed for crafting the ultimate Dirty Martini. The brine and olives are native to the Nafpaktos region, the same place where their vodka is created. This enables one to enjoy a truly authentic and olive-centric Greek take on the traditional cocktail with the all-encompassing trio.

The main ingredient in a whiskey sour is a pretty involved assembly but the high-brow drink has cemented its place in the timeless cocktail oeuvre for a reason. It combines frothy egg white, freshly squeezed lemon juice, bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, water, plus orange wheels and maraschino cherries to garnish — delicious, but at this point, maybe a little predictable. If you’re ready to elevate your whiskey sour, look no further than bourbon, a little apricot, and the east coast.

The Baltimore Bang cocktail combines bourbon, apricot brandy, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. To assemble, the ingredients all get a wet shake and strained into an ice-filled old fashioned glass (bonus points if you make your own simple syrup). Garnish with a skewered Luxardo cherry and orange wheel. You could also serve this sophisticated bad boy in a chilled martini glass.

The Baltimore Bang is a mid to high-strength cocktail, clocking in at 21.95% ABV (talk about a bang!). For reference, an old fashioned totes a 32.9% ABV and a straight-up margarita rocks a comparable 22.92% ABV. Depending on your preference, you can swap the apricot brandy with cognac for a less sweet, even punchier profile. If you go this route, opt for a fruitier variety like Rémy Martin or Camus Intensely Aromatic VS.

Read more: The 25 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Despite what its name might suggest, apricot brandies are sometimes made with apricots macerated in vodka or another neutral spirit. It’s perhaps an unfamiliar ingredient, but provides a great opportunity to customize the profile of your drink. For example, Hiram Walker apricot brandy is bright and fruity while Leroux apricot brandy leans floral and heavy on the baking spices.

For an unforgettable after-dinner digestif, Luxardo Apricot albicocca liqueur is more complex and dessert-like with cinnamon and almond notes. Or, if you like it less sweet, Marie Brizard Apry offers a rich, slightly bitter, robust take on the liqueur while still packing deep apricot flavor. Keep in mind that you might need to adjust the amount of simple syrup you use in your Baltimore Bang based on the sweetness of your chosen apricot brandy.

The Baltimore Bang is all about smooth, fruity flavor — an apricot whiskey sour perhaps more approachable despite its boldness. With this in mind, opt for a bourbon that goes down wince-free. Woodford Reserve’s flagship Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey with honey, vanilla, and still some measurable heat can add a little more “bang” to your Baltimore Bang.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Arnel Hecimovic

Thu 28 Dec 2023 08.23 EST

Last modified on Fri 29 Dec 2023 04.11 EST

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Photograph: snapshot/Future Image/U Stamm/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Adrian Kraus/AP

Photograph: Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA

Photograph: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Davide Bonaldo/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Marco Trovati/AP

Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Kástra Elión vodka is made from a blend of olives and wheat.

Vodka has a reputation for being flavorless and neutral, and yet its popularity persists. Much of the marketing that drives the category is focused on lifestyle cachet, rather than aroma and taste. But this reputation is mostly outdated. Because while some brands, even a few of the best regarded, are distilled to the point of flavorlessness and lean into their neutrality, others are packing flavor and texture into each bottle. Some are even experimenting with base ingredients that go beyond the usual grains and potatoes.

Kástra Elión falls into this new crop of vodkas. It hails from Greece, where it’s made from a blend of Greek olives and wheat. It’s named for the ancient castle that stands guard over the hills and olive groves of Nafpaktos, the ancestral home to the vodka and the family that created it.

The brand was founded by master blender and certified flavor chemist Frank Mihalopoulos, who’s spent nearly four decades in product development for companies like Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts and Kahlua, and has also consulted for spirits brands including Absolut and Stoli. He’s joined by co-founder and son-in-law, Mike Camello, who serves as the company’s president.

“We were vodka drinkers and interested in some of the European vodkas concocted using malted barley and rye. Those who managed to attain an excellent texture in their vodkas intrigued us,” Camello narrates. The idea then struck them: why not attempt creating a vodka from olives?

The venture lasted about a year for Mihalopoulos to become adept. He initiated a lab, acquired distillation apparatus, and began exploring several olive varieties originating from across the globe. “Although I refrained from getting sentimentally connected to the narrative, we eventualized on a three-variety fusion that happens to be found in the same area of Greece that I hail from.”

Kástra Martini |

The process is artisanal, with the yield loss significantly higher than that experienced by most vodka distillers. However, Mihalopoulos emphasizes that meticulous distillation interventions are pivotal to the elimination of all the heads and mutable compounds introduced by the olives.

There’s not much sugar in olives, thus the ethanol comes from the grains. Mihalopoulos points out that the olives merely enhance what has already existed in the grain. The olives don’t contribute any flavor, and the company didn’t set out to make olive-flavored vodka. Instead, the olives give the vodka’s signature mouthfeel and smoothness. Prior to bottling, the distilled liquor is combined with spring water from Greece’s mineral-rich Mount Taygetus.

The aroma of Kástra Elión vodka is very pure, devoid of any off-putting chemical scents or over-emphasized alcohol burn. Aromas are a mix of sweet and savory, with vanilla and butterscotch taking the lead. The palate introduces subtle fruit notes, citrus, and a trace of pepper. It lingers on the tongue and stays with you, triggering the salivary glands as flavors build to more butterscotch and vanilla, rounded off by a hint of toasted bread.

Camello enjoys drinking Kástra Elión on the rocks with olives, but admits not everyone prefers sipping vodka. Luckily, it pairs perfectly with Martinis. When presenting the vodka to bartenders, the brand intends for them to maintain spirit-driven drinks, and not go overboard with sugar. “We want the vodka’s quality to be the highlight and maintain its mouthfeel,” Camello says.

Kástra Elión recently introduced its own olive brine and cocktail olives, available individually or in a kit along with a bottle of vodka, designed for the perfect Dirty Martini. The brine and olives are sourced from the same Nafpaktos region where the vodka is produced, allowing for a uniquely Greek, olive-centered take on the classic cocktail.

On a distillery tour, some of the most unforgettable views come from observing rickhouses filled from top to bottom with massive oak barrels. Each barrel houses whiskey in progress, gradually absorbing the attributes of the wood and interior charcoal to eventually deliver the famed complex, amber-colored spirit. However, a question inevitably arises: “How many bottles can be made from a single one of these enormous barrels?”

You’re not the only one curious about this! Intriguingly, even though the U.S. doesn’t have explicit regulations about the size of oak barrels distilleries need to utilize, most distillers opt for a standardized barrel size known as the American Standard Barrel (ASB.) These ASB barrels typically accommodate around 53 gallons of newly-distilled whiskey.

If you chose to bottle the contents of one of these barrels on the spot, you would yield approximately 267 bottles of unaged whiskey, also known as “white dog,” “moonshine,” or “white whiskey.” However, the calculation for quantity of properly aged whiskey derived from a barrel is a tad more intricate.

Read more: The 25 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

As whiskey ages in an oak barrel, several things happen — some of which will ultimately impact the barrel’s yield once it’s fully matured. One important element is the “angels’ share,” a charming term for the whiskey that evaporates during aging. The longer whiskey ages, the more it loses to the angels (aka evaporation.) The extent of this loss depends on factors such as geographical location, climate, and conditions like temperature and humidity within the warehouses where the barrels are stored.

Another thing to consider is how whiskey is prepared for bottling. Unless it’s labeled as “cask strength” (meaning it’s not diluted), some bottles have whiskey mixed with water to lower the alcohol content (from 52-66% ABV in cask strength down to 40-46% ABV.) In such bottles, even if the label says it holds the standard 750 milliliters (about 25.3 fluid ounces), not all of it comes directly from the barrel. Barrels used for making cask-strength will yield fewer bottles than those that go toward making diluted whiskeys.

Because of these factors, it’s tough to predict the exact number of bottles a barrel will produce. Estimates vary, with some distillers suggesting an average of 200 to 300 standard 750-milliliter bottles per barrel. Depending on the actual yield, distillers will adjust their pricing accordingly. Older barrels that lose more liquid to evaporation are usually more expensive to recoup the loss.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Arnel Hecimovic

Thu 28 Dec 2023 08.23 EST

Last modified on Thu 28 Dec 2023 14.44 EST

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Photograph: snapshot/Future Image/U Stamm/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Adrian Kraus/AP

Photograph: Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA

Photograph: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Davide Bonaldo/Rex/Shutterstock

Photograph: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Marco Trovati/AP

Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Photograph: Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

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Going purely on instinct, you likely wouldn’t think to use vodka, a decidedly un-Italian spirit, in a pasta dish. Yet somehow, these two seemingly disparate ingredients have been working hand-in-hand in penne alla vodka since it became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. However, if you too have wondered what role vodka plays when added to this popular pasta sauce, you are not alone.

It turns out, vodka is contributing something important to the sauce. Chef Stephen Cusato, who is a social media sensation, shares the reasoning on his popular YouTube channel. (Cusato cites Harold McGee, a well-known food science writer who covered the topic in his book “On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen”.)

“If you just add vodka to something, it’s going to overpower it,” Cusato explained. “But just like anything, when you reduce [the vodka] down, it’s going to enhance flavors that weren’t there to begin with” and will subsequently “work with the tomatoes to make them more ‘tomato-ey.'” Essentially, the vodka ensures the flavors from ingredients like tomato come out even stronger than they otherwise might have. Interesting. But there’s even more to know about the science behind penne alla vodka.

Read more: The Ultimate Vodka Brands, Ranked

There are two reasons why adding vodka can elevate your creamy tomato pasta sauce. First is that it acts as an emulsifier to smoothly combine the acidity of the tomatoes with the rich, fatty cream, which may otherwise separate when used together. Adding the spirit helps achieve the perfectly creamy texture of vodka sauce. At this point, you might be wondering whether other types of alcohol could be used for this purpose. While the answer is yes, vodka has a distinct advantage over other kinds when used in this application, as it has the least distinctive flavor profile.

The second reason is that when vodka is added in small amounts, the alcohol is known to unleash a bouquet of flavors in the tomatoes that often remain untapped. It is key to remember that smaller is better in this instance, as pointed out by Chef Stephen Cusato in his tutorial. So be sure not to overdo it with the vodka.

Chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt tested out various ways to incorporate vodka in vodka cream sauce to find the most delicious way possible. He tested versions of the sauce that ranged from 4% to 1% ABV (alcohol by volume), and he tried tasting the sauce at different points in the cooking process. He concluded in Serious Eats: “For the tastiest vodka sauce, add ¼ cup vodka per quart of sauce and let it simmer seven minutes.” Otherwise, the alcohol hasn’t dissipated and tastes too strong. Another tip recommended by chef Stephen Cusato in the YouTube video is to make sure you first reduce the tomatoes until they are highly concentrated (which takes about 30 minutes).

So while vodka does indeed add something to the sauce, keep in mind the most important rules: Don’t use too much, and let it cook long enough to develop the flavors and dissipate the alcohol.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.