Best Wines Under $10
The Best Wines for Under Ten Dollars
For those who don’t have much experience with wine, the idea of being responsible for a wine to go with a specially prepared meal can be almost panic-inducing: everyone knows good wine is incredibly difficult to select and good wine is expensive. If a dinner guest has been told by the host or hostess to bring along a bottle of wine for everyone to share, the pressure is on and for a wine beginner or novice, selecting the wine can become a painful experience.
This does not necessarily have to be the case. In this article we will show how a person with a small budget and no wine experience whatsoever will be able to select a wine that will be able to accomplish something almost miraculous: please both the wine experts and new wine drinkers at the same time and not break the bank. We will highlight the top three wines which never fail to impress, and we will also show how to select a good, inexpensive wine with confidence if one cannot find one of our three wines at his or her local wine shop. First however, come our favourite three wines which are all under ten dollars, but taste like wines that could easily cost in the $25-$35 range.
Red Wine: Torres Sangre de Toro
Grape Varietal: Garnacha and Cariñena blend
Country: Spain
Price Range: $9-$11 depending on shop location
Sangre de Toro, a blended red wine from Spain could easily be our favourite red wine; the fact that it’s inexpensive actually has nothing to do with it. What makes this wine so great is that it is consistent year after year, making it an almost fool-proof choice as a wine to present to guests. Sangre de Toro has a dark ruby color, is leggy, balanced, lush from oak, and is medium bodied, supple, and most importantly, is smooth with no hint of the sourness that some cheap wines present. Furthermore, it doesn’t have the bizarre, heavy, almost sweet clove flavour that other inexpensive red wines seem to have. The wine has some bright raspberry and cherry notes at the end, but what makes this wine stand out from the rest of the pack is the little punch of peppery spice that one feels after swallowing a sip, making this wine great to drink by itself or as an accompaniment to any type of food. Sangre de Toro is a great all-rounder and is easy to recognize at the shop: it’s the bottle which proudly has a little plastic black bull attached to the cap.
Red Wine: Jose Maria da Fonseca Periquita
Grape Varietal: Castelão (75%), Trinadeira (15%), and Aragonez (10%)
Country: Portugal
Price Range: $8-$10 depending on shop location
Periquita is one of Portugal’s most famous exports; having been in production since 1850, it is highly regarded as a very good product from Fonseca’s line. While at first price was what got our attention several years ago, we now select this wine simply because it’s good, even though we can afford more expensive wines. Periquita has a lovely deep ruby hue and smells divine with aromas of figs, plums, raspberries and interestingly, blackberries. This wine is fruity without being sweet, isn’t too light tasting or too heavy tasting, and finds the perfect balance providing a long, smooth finish. Periquita is terrific to drink on its own, but is especially good when paired with cured cheeses, turkey, and can very easily hold up to and enhance a meal when red meat is served.
White Wine: Casal Garcia Vinho Verde
Grape Varietal: Trajadura, loureiro, arinto, azal
Country: Portugal
Price Range: $9-$10, depending on shop location
Inexpensive, reminiscent of summer and bright, Casal Garcia Vinho Verde (translates literally to “green wine”) is one of the very few wines that makes it into serious wine critics “top ten wines under fifty dollars” lists year after year. Even the biggest wine snobs will break into happy smiles when they hear Casal Garcia will be served; it’s another wine that most have tried when their budgets were microscopic but continue to drink because it’s great. Making Vinho Verde unique is that although it is not a sparkling wine, it has a refreshing “pop” to it which makes it an ideal wine to bring along to the beach or pool party or anywhere it’s hot. While technically not a complicated wine, it has a clean, lemon-lime aroma and has a bit of fizz with a citrus flavour that can brighten anyone’s day. Best of all, due to its relative simplicity, it’s easy to pair with food with some saying it is the best wine to serve with sushi or fresh, cold dishes.
Selecting a wine when our selections are not available
The problem with many suggested Top Ten wine lists is that whether they are expensive or cheap, the recommended wines may not be available. Here’s what to look for if our three wines are not available at your local wine shop.
First of all, keep in mind the food that you will be eating. If your meal will be a heavy, buttery or creamy dish, select a Chardonnay white wine. Chardonnay means the name of the grape that was used to make the wine; different grapes have different characteristics, and chardonnay tends to go well with buttery, cheesy or creamy meals.
If you will be eating something spicy, then select a Gewurztraminer white wine which is a little bit sweet.
If eating red meat, a heavier wine will be good, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, a Malbec red wine, or a Merlot red wine.
If eating fish or seafood, a crowd-pleasing choice will be a Rosé wine, which is pink in color and a little bit sweeter than red or white wines but not as sweet as a Gewurztraminer white.
After selecting the type of wine, select the country of production. Good wine producing countries are France, Spain, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Italy and South Africa, while Germany produces the best Gewurztraminer wines. All of these wine producing countries have great selections available for under $15 and to get the best value for money, don’t be afraid to ask the shop employee for help choosing.
#BestWines
Top 10 Drinks with Vodka
Vodka is one of the most versatile spirits available on the market and is unique in that a truly astounding variety of mixed drinks can be made with it; cocktails can be sweet, sour, salty, or dry, served neat, on the rocks or served blended with ice. In fact, an entire catalog can be made of drinks that are vodka-based and there will be at least one or two cocktails that will please even the fussiest of party-goers. Here’s our Top Ten list of the best vodka drinks.
#1. Caesar
As the name implies, this cocktail rules supreme in Canada and is very similar to the Bloody Mary cocktail familiar to Americans. This salty drink is perfect to drink as an aperitif or when one is having a fun night out. To make a Bloody Mary, simply use plain tomato juice instead of Clamato.
Caesar
1 Highball glass rimmed with celery salt, full of ice cubes
1.5 oz vodka
1 squeeze fresh lime juice, not syrup
Clamato juice
3-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2-3 drops Tabasco sauce
celery stick (if available) or Matt and Steve’s Extreme Beans
Pour vodka over ice cubes. Add lime juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce, stir. Fill glass with Clamato juice, stir again. Add some salt and pepper. Garnish with a lime slice and celery stick.
#2. Martini
An old-time classic drink that never gets old. This is the perfect cocktail for those who don’t like sweet or salty beverages and enjoy a very dry sipping experience. This can also be made with gin.
Vodka martini
1 chilled cocktail or martini glass
2oz vodka
¼ oz dry white vermouth
Pour the vodka and vermouth in a shaker full of ice cubes. STIR with a long spoon for approximately thirty seconds and do NOT shake. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or 3 olives on a toothpick. To make the martini even drier, only use two drops of vermouth, and add a tiny drop of a blended scotch whisky.
#3. Paralyzer
This is another classic North American cocktail that’s finding its way across the world; whether it’s summer or winter, this drink is sure to be a hit.
Paralyzer
1 Highball glass, full of ice cubes
1 oz crème de café
1 oz vodka
Coca-cola
Milk or half-and-half cream
Pour crème de café and vodka over ice cubes; fill glass almost to the top with coca cola. Top with milk. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
#4. The Chi-Chi
For those who love Piña Coladas but don’t like the taste of rum, a Chi-Chi is basically the same drink, only milder tasting.
Chi-Chi
1 Cocktail or wine glass or Highball glass
1 cup crushed ice
¼ cup coconut milk
1/3 cup pineapple juice
1 Tablespoon sugar syrup
1.5 oz vodka
Pour vodka into glass. Put ice, coconut milk, pineapple juice and sugar syrup into blender or shaker. Shake well, do not strain. Pour into glass. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.
To make a strawberry Chi-Chi, simply add a handful of strawberries to the ingredients and blend well.
#5 and # 6. The Russians
These two are standard cocktails the world over and although they are simple, both men and women will emphatically state “Da!” when either a Black or White Russian is offered.
Black Russian
1 Old Fashioned glass, full of ice cubes
1oz crème de café
1oz vodka
Pour the crème de café and vodka over the ice cubes. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
White Russian
1 Old Fashioned glass, full of ice cubes
1oz crème de café
1oz vodka
Milk
Pour vodka and crème de café over ice cubes, top with milk. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
#7. Sea Breeze
Absolutely delightful to drink during the hot summer days and evenings, and is particularly nice to drink if one happens to be close to the ocean.
Sea Breeze
1 Old Fashioned glass, filled with ice cubes
1.5 oz vodka
grapefruit juice
cranberry juice
lime wedge for garnish
Pour vodka over the ice cubes, and fill the glass with equal parts grapefruit juice and cranberry juice. Garnish with a wedge of lime.
#8. Salty Dog/Greyhound
This standard drink is great for those who want something a little sour, a little bitter, and a little bit salty and don’t want the heaviness of a clamato-based Caesar.
Salty Dog
1 Old Fashioned or highball glass, rimmed with salt and NO ice
1.5-2 oz vodka
grapefruit juice
some ice for the cocktail strainer
Place a good amount of ice, the vodka and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously. Strain and pour into a glass with a salted rim. Do not put ice into the glass.
To make a Greyhound, simply omit the salted rim on the serving glass.
#9. Cape Codder/Crantini
A highly refreshing cocktail which is great when the weather is hot, or can be made into a sophisticated evening drink for a fancy soiree in elegant surroundings.
Cape Codder
1 Highball or Old Fashioned glass filled with ice
1.5 oz vodka
cranberry juice
squeeze of lime
lime wedge for garnish
Pour the vodka over the ice cubes and fill the remainder of the glass with cranberry juice. Add a squeeze of lime, and garnish with the lime wedge. To make a crantini, use a martini glass, and pour all the ingredients except the garnish over ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Stir for about 30 seconds, strain and pour. Use the lime wedge as garnish. Remember that a crantini is neat, meaning it is not served with ice.
#10. Hazelnut Chocolate Martini
A favourite on special occasions, this sweet martini is crystal-clear and tastes very rich and smooth with a hint of hazelnut from the Frangelico liqueur.
Chocolate martini
1 chilled cocktail or martini glass
1 oz vodka
1 oz white crème de cacao
¼ oz hazelnut liqueur or amaretto (optional)
Pour vodka, crème de cacao and Frangelico into a cocktail strainer with plenty of ice. Stir with a long spoon for approximately 30 seconds. Strain into glass. No garnish.
Most Expensive Whisky
The World’s Most Expensive Scotch Whisky
A good single-malt scotch whisky will always be sought after by aficionados; the smoky, peaty flavour of the clear to amber liquid can turn anyone into a devotee. Correspondingly, fans of Scotland’s most famous product are willing to pay heavily for the opportunity to own a bottle of and perhaps even taste the rarest and oldest whiskies in the world.
It is a fact that the longer a whisky is aged in an oak cask, the more complex and smooth its flavours will become. Scottish regulations require that anything labelled as “Scotch” must be aged for a minimum of three years and must be distilled in Scotland; scotch connoisseurs say that the spirit goes from good to great after it has been aged for at least ten years.
There are two single-malt whiskies that are in the competition for being considered the world’s most expensive: in 2010 a bottle of The Macallan 64-year-old single malt, housed in a specially-made “Lalique: Cire Perdue” crystal decanter sold at auction for a staggering $460,000 US, making it the most expensive whisky ever sold. On October 10, 2012, a bottle of 54-year-old Bowmore was expected to fetch $240,675 USD; however the whisky failed to sell as buyers were not prepared to meet the minimum asking price. Therefore, the bottle of 1957 Bowmore is considered to be the whisky with the world’s highest asking price.
The Macallan: Most expensive ever sold
The Macallan brand of whisky is distilled in the Speyside region of Scotland and is labelled according to Scottish regulations as a Highland Single Malt. Speyside whiskies are distilled in Strathspey, the region around the River Spey in north eastern Scotland, and are known to be the lightest and sweetest of the single malts. This is due to Speyside lacking the peat that is present in regions such as Islay, which gives some single malts their heavy, smoky notes, and also due to the lack of salinity and ozone which is characteristic of single malts which come from the coastal areas. Speyside whiskies further distinguish themselves by not having the floral, dry aromas and taste hints that are typical of Lowland whiskies. When Speyside whiskies are aged in sherry oak barrels, they become quite powerful and incredibly complex with subtle notes that many whisky lovers all over the world will willingly spend a fortune for.
Speyside is home to the world’s three top-selling single-malts: Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and The Macallan all call the region home, and year after year, all brands of The Macallan, from the 12-year aged whisky to older variants, are deemed to be the world’s best. In fact, The Macallan is known for being the “gold standard” of scotch.
The 64-year-old The Macallan whisky which is in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the most expensive ever sold is available for those who’d like to try it: for a mere $64,000, one can have “a wee dram” at the £10, a bar at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel. The amount paid is then given to the charity of the buyer’s choice.
1957 Bowmore: The whisky with the world’s highest asking price
The 1957 Bowmore, which failed to sell on October 10 is expected to sell for more than its asking price the next time it is offered at auction; Bowmore is another single malt that is more than well-respected in whisky aficionado circles and has extraordinary tasting features that are preferred by those who enjoy a darker, smokier, and almost medicinal tasting dram.
The Bowmore distillery is found on Islay, an Inner Hebrides island off the west coast of Scotland. Having been in operation since 1779, older whiskies from this company are highly prized. Although Islay whiskies are known for being heavily peated and smoky with notes of seaweed, iodine and salt due to the distilleries being on the ocean’s shoreline, but Bowmore produces a more balanced product using only a medium-heavy peating process (25 ppm) and aging the whiskey in sherry casks. Other famed Islay single malt whiskies include Laphroaig which is the favourite beverage of fictional Edinburgh detective Rebus, Ardbeg, an award-winning scotch, and Lagavulin.
The 1957 Bowmore, which was bottled in 2011, is only one of a dozen bottles that are in existence. A second bottle is scheduled to go to auction in the United States on October 28 this year. According to whiskey specialist Martin Green of Bonhams, the auction house responsible for the attempted sale of the special bottle of Bowmore, “the skill and patience that has gone into the production of this product has not been appreciated by the market.”
The single malt was presented in a visually stunning hand-blown decanter encrusted with platinum, and according to the tasting notes given to the potential buyers at the auction, the primary flavours hinted of blueberries, figs, cassis, eucalyptus and sea salt with secondary flavours of dark chocolate and grapefruit. Aftertastes of star anise and bergamot were also noted. Bowmore stated that the proceeds of the sale were to go to five Scottish charities.
While The Macallan and Bowmore make the most expensive whiskies in the world, a whiskey lover need not despair if he or she cannot afford the asking price for the exquisite variants mentioned in our article; the Speyside distillery and the Islay company produce the world’s best entry-level 12 –year-old whiskies which are also deemed as outstanding by experts. Fortunately for those of us who enjoy a drop of whiskey in the evening after dinner, these younger single malts are an affordable luxury and can give us an authentic taste of the high life.
Difference Between Tequila & Mezcal
Mezcal and Tequila: The Facts You Need to Know
A mistake many in the beverage industry make is that of confusing tequila and mezcal, two types of alcoholic spirits that are made from cactus plants in Mexico. Some will claim that mezcal is a stronger, more potent version of tequila. However, tequila and mezcal, while both are indeed made from agave cactus hearts, they are made from two very different types of agave cactus that give very distinct flavours and aromas that cannot be confused once tasted.
Mezcal
Mezcal has its origins in a very old pre-Hispanic fermented drink called pulque, which was made from the juices of the roasted maguey agave cactus, which grows primarily in the Mexican state of Oaxaca but also grows in the semi-arid regions of Guerrero, Guanajuato, San Luís Potosí, and Tamaulipas. After the Spanish Conquest of the area, colonists discovered that the maguey heart mash could be distilled into a very potent liquor.
Mezcal has changed very little over the centuries; even in present-day distilleries mezcal is only distilled once and the only major change has been the addition of the iconic “worms” in the bottles which occurred in the 1940’s as a possible marketing ploy. While the rumour exists that the worms, which are actually moth larvae, contain mescaline, this is nonsense. The larvae, which may or may not add flavour to the alcohol, do not contain any hallucinogenic substances at all.
Mezcal is very smoky, and to some first-time drinkers, it is disagreeable. Mezcal has a flavour which is very strong and generally will not mix well in cocktails; therefore, mezcal is traditionally taken “neat”, with no ice, water or other liquid added to it. The most traditional or “authentic” way to drink mezcal is to sip it slowly from a shot glass, after first placing a pinch of sal de gusano on one’s lips. Sal de gusano is the fried larvae, ground into a powder, mixed with chillies and salt with some fresh lime squeezed over it.
Mezcal is generally mass produced, but according to Mexican laws governing the name mezcal, a product sold as “mezcal” must contain at least 60% distilled maguey spirits. Some producers sell flavoured mezcal; however mezcal purists and aficionados claim that unadulterated, 100% distilled maguey spirits are best.
The best mezcal, according to some experts, is one that has been distilled at someone’s home or in a micro-distillery. While these are not available on the market, if one gets the chance to visit Oaxaca, the opportunity to taste a smooth, home-made mezcal should not be missed. However, there are very good mezcals with relative degrees of smoothness to be enjoyed. A person who wishes to try mezcal should look for an añejado or aged mezcal which has been aged for at least three years and is 100% pure maguey agave-based.
Tequila
Tequila, the more famous of the two spirits, is one of the most well-known and beloved drinks in the world. Made from the highly unique blue agave cactus, it is distilled twice, unlike mezcal which is only distilled once. Mass production of tequila began in 1608, and Mexico has since claimed exclusive right to use the word “tequila” internationally.
Tequila made from blue agave harvested in the highlands surrounding the city of Tequila in Jalisco state is considered to be of the highest quality; the spirits produced will be sweeter and fruitier in taste and aroma. Tequila from other regions such as Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas will have an herbal, earthy smell and flavour.
While mezcal is rumoured to be “stronger” in alcoholic content than tequila, in reality both are about the same when it comes to potency; tequila often has an alcohol content of 38 to 40 percent, which translates to 76-80 proof, but can come in a stronger version with an alcohol content up to 55 percent, which roughly translates to 110 proof. Mezcal is also available in the exact same potencies.
Tequila seems to be a bit more regulated than mezcal, and comes in two basic categories; mixtos which must contain at least 51% blue agave and some sort of sweetener such as sugar making up the remainder, and 100% pure agave. After, tequila is then sorted into five groups; blanco or plata meaning white or silver and signifies the tequila is unaged, bottled immediately after the distilling process; joven or oro meaning young or gold, and is the term used when blanco tequila is mixed with reposado tequila; reposado or rested, and is for tequila that has been stored in oak barrels for over two months but less than a year; añejo or vintage, aged for more than a year but less than three years in oak barrels; and extra añejo or extra vintage, which is the designation for a tequila that has been aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels.
With 100% agave tequilas, the more they are aged, the smoother and more complex they will become; however the flavour that most characterizes tequila is that of agave and makes tequila a more complex spirit than other distilled spirits available on the market.
A bottle of tequila, unlike some mezcal products, should never contain a worm, and furthermore, unlike mezcal which can only be drunk “neat”, tequila, while delicious by itself with no mixers added, can also be an ideal mixing drink and is actually the base ingredient for two of the world’s most famous cocktails, the margarita and the tequila sunrise.
When it comes to spirits, Mexico produces two which are among the world’s most highly rated. Mezcal and tequila, although both are Mexican and both are made from agave cactus, are separate entities with their own qualities but are both equally delicious.
Top 10 Drinks with Tequila
Top 10 Drinks with Tequila, Best Tequila Drink Recipes
Tequila is one of the most versatile spirits in the world; made from the Blue Agave plant in Mexico, its earthy, potent yet highly agreeable flavour make it a favourite for drinking neat or blended with other ingredients into a tasty and appetizing cocktail. While many tequila novices may believe that tequila is only taken in shot format with some lime and salt or is only blended with sub-standard “sweet’n’sour” prefabricated drink mixes for chain-restaurant margaritas, the truth is that tequila, when properly paired with good-quality mixers, can make for some mind-blowing drinks. Here is our list of the top ten drinks with tequila.
1. The Margarita
When prepared with fresh ingredients and made with care, this drink is the Queen of All Cocktails. Bars and restaurants that serve premixed, slushy margaritas do a grave disservice to cocktail lovers the world over; a proper margarita highlights the subtleties of the tequila and is so flavourful that a person drinking one should feel like dancing with joy.
Margarita La Reina
1 cocktail or wine glass with SALTED rim
1 cup crushed ice
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1.5 oz tequila (use silver, 100% pure agave tequila)
½ oz cointreau
Put all the ingredients into a blender or a cocktail shaker and either blend or shake well. Do not strain, pour into glass. Garnish with lime slice.
Variation: Fruit Margaritas
Instead of using a glass with a salted rim, fruit margaritas have a sugared rim. Prepare the margarita in the exact same fashion; if using a cocktail shaker add a fruit flavoured syrup, but if using a blender fresh fruit can be added with the rest of the ingredients. Fruits that work best are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and mangoes. Garnish with a slice of orange.
2. The Paloma
This simple yet incredibly tasty drink should be the national drink of Mexico due to its huge popularity south of the U.S. border. Try the classic version or the spicy version called the Paloma Pícara.
Paloma
1 tall glass, filled with ice cubes
2 oz silver tequila
grapefruit-flavoured soda like Fresca or Squirt
squeeze of lime juice
Pour the tequila over the ice cubes and fill the glass to the top with the grapefruit-flavoured soda. Add the squeeze of lime juice, give a quick stir, and serve.
Paloma Pícara
Made exactly the same way as above, but with an added dash of Tabasco sauce and once crushed mint leaf.
3. Tequila Sunrise
This is the cocktail that people sing songs and make movies about, it is so good. Try it out and you will see why.
Tequila Sunrise
1 tall glass filled with ice cubes
2 oz silver tequila
4 oz good quality orange juice
2 tbs grenadine
1 orange slice
1 maraschino cherry
Pour the tequila and orange juice over the ice cubes, and stir. Add the grenadine by slowly pouring it down the inner edge of the glass; this will make it sink to the bottom. Garnish with the slice of orange and cherry.
4. Tequila Sunset
The lesser known cousin of the Tequila Sunrise is equally delicious.
Tequila Sunset
1 tall glass, chilled beforehand
2 oz gold tequila
2 oz good quality orange juice
2 oz lime juice
2 tbs liquid honey
Pour the tequila, orange and lime juices in the empty, chilled glass and stir well. Add the honey, and afterwards fill the glass with ice cubes.
5. Matador
In this cocktail, pineapple and tequila complement each other to make a “killer” drink.
El Matador
1 cocktail glass
2 oz silver tequila
4 oz pineapple juice
1 squeeze of lime juice
ice
Blend the tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice and ice in a blender until everything is slushy. Pour into the cocktail glass.
6. Bloody María/Mexican César
Not all drinks with tequila need to be sweet; tequila provides a lovely twist for the classic Bloody Mary and Caesar cocktails.
Bloody María
1 tall glass rimmed with celery salt and filled with ice cubes
some Tabasco sauce
some Worcestershire sauce
dash of lime juice
tomato juice
celery stick for garnish
lime wedge for garnish
crushed black pepper
2 oz silver tequila
Pour all the ingredients except the garnish ingredients and black pepper over the ice cubes. Stir, place the celery stick in the drink and garnish with the lime wedge. To make a Mexican César, replace the tomato juice with clamato juice or add some clam juice to the tomato juice.
7. Long Island Iced Tea
This is a beloved American cocktail that people in many countries also enjoy.
Long Island Iced Tea
1 tall glass filled with ice cubes
½ oz vodka
½ oz tequila
½ oz rum
½ oz gin
½ oz cointreau or triple sec
½ oz lime juice
Coca-cola
Pour all ingredients over ice, and fill the remainder of the class with Coca-cola, stir and serve.
8. Submarine
A simple drink enjoyed by party-goers; it is simply a shot-glass of silver tequila dropped into a ¾ full mug of beer and drunk quickly. Do not pour the tequila into the beer; drop it in, shot glass and all.
9. Black Mexican
A perfect after-dinner drink and is the feistier version of the Black Russian cocktail.
Black Mexican
1 short glass, filled with ice cubes
1 oz silver tequila
1 oz Kahlua or other high quality coffee liqueur
Pour the ingredients over the ice cubes, stir and serve.
10. Tequila with Sangrita Chaser
Although it’s at number 10 on our list, tequila purists declare that this is the best way to enjoy a high-quality tequila. The tequila is poured into a shot glass and gently sipped; after each sip a small sip of sangrita is taken to highlight the flavour.
Sangrita
1 short glass
2 oz tomato juice
1.5 oz orange juice
½ oz lime juice
generous dashes Tabasco sauce
pinch of salt
Pour all ingredients in the glass and stir, add ice if desired.
The days of thinking that tequila is only good for shots or sickly-sweet margaritas are over once these recipes are tried. Tequila is the King of Spirits and a taste of one of our top ten choices will have even the most skeptical tequila critic convinced.
#tequiladrinks
Top 10 Expensive Wines in The World
Top 10 Most Interesting, Expensive Wines In The World
When talking about the most expensive wines in the world, it is a little hard to be precise about prices. Bottle sizes can be wildly different, and even non-standard for very old vintages, like the 1787 Château Lafite bottle initialed by Thomas Jefferson.
Collectors of high-priced wines seem to pursue them mostly for the delight of owning them, not so much for drinking them. It reminds you of other collectors (of stamps, for instance) and the way they treat their prizes. It’s the rarity and perceived interest value that makes the prices so high, even when the original drinking value is long gone, again as with Jefferson’s Château Lafite.
We were going to tell you all about the most expensive wines, but we had too much difficulty in comparing prices and resolving discrepancies in reported values. So instead, here are ten of the most interesting super-expensive wines. Get ready for your eyes to pop and your jaw to hit the floor, sometimes at the prices, other times at the stories. We begin with Jefferson’s Château Lafite.
1787 Château Lafite: $160,000
Thomas Jefferson traveled in France in 1787, and over a five-day period toured the major vineyards in Bordeaux. A little-known result of his intelligence was a selection of the four wines most likely to achieve excellence in the future. It turns out that all four of his picks were correct, and one of them was the Château Lafite. He took some bottles back home with him and became a lifelong customer, and after he died his collection still contained at least one bottle of Lafite, engraved with his initials.
Almost 200 years later, that bottle together with others of his collection was discovered behind a basement wall. Put up for auction in 1985, the Château Lafite fetched $160,000 (at least $315,000 after inflation now) and went to Malcolm Forbes. The next stage in the bottle’s history then ensued. It was already doubtful whether the wine was drinkable any more, but that question soon became moot. Displayed under bright lights, the cork heated up and dried out, and the resulting shrinkage allowed it to slip into the wine. At that point, it became extremely important that the bottle had been purchased as a collector’s item and not for consumption.
That fact is fortunate because it’s the only reason that the Jefferson 1787 Château Lafite is still one of the world’s most expensive wines, regardless of the nature of its contents.
1787 Château Margaux: $519,750
Actually, that price is one of the more interesting points about this wine. The fact is that nobody ever paid that amount. The 1787 Château Margaux was another one of the wines from Jefferson’s collection, and had been presented to the New York wine merchant William Sokolin. While coming up with a value for it he happened to see a dilapidated stool that was priced at over $200,000, and on impulse decided that he might as well set a wild price for his wine. He also insured it for $225,000 in 1989 dollars, or $390,000 now, after inflation.
Soon after pricing the bottle, Sokolin was attending a dinner at the Four Seasons restaurant at which the guests of honor were the actual owners of Château Margaux. He suddenly had the idea of showing them his bottle, so he ran home and came back with it, and then rammed it into either a table or a chair arm. The bottle somehow survived without shattering, but even so it was holed. The wine inside began running out, and then Sokolin began running out. He did save part of the wine in his freezer at home, but the value of the bottle nevertheless dropped precipitately. At least he recouped the insurance value.
1907 Piper Heidsieck Monopole: $275,000
There is a certain amount of romance behind the story of this wine. One of the last shipments of wine to the Tsar’s family, including bottles of 1907 Heidsieck, was in the cargo of the ship Jonkoping bound for Finland. The Jonkoping encountered a German submarine and was sunk on November 3, 1916, taking with it the wine shipment. It was soon forgotten and lay on the seabed for 80 years until it was discovered in 1997.
When the wines were found, there was instant interest. Nobody was much surprised to find that the burgundies and cognacs had not survived. Against the odds, however, the Heidsieck champagne was still drinkable. In fact, it had fully matured and was delicious. The Moscow Ritz Carlton quickly procured a number of the bottles of Heidsieck and announced that ten were for sale. You sometimes find their price listed as given above. That price would be wrong, though. The real price is $35,000. According to a hotel representative, there was some miscommunication outside of the hotel’s control.
$35,000 is still a hefty sum for a bottle of even Imperial champagne, you may be thinking. It’s true: the value is partly in the legend behind the bottles’ preservation, like a time capsule from an earlier world. We are clearly not just hard-nosed buyers and sellers – we do like a bit of sentiment as well.
1869 Château Lafite: $233,972
What makes the 1869 Château Lafite so valuable is a combination of four factors: the basic quality of the wine, its provenance traceable back directly to the château, the fact that it is a rare vintage predating the phylloxera epidemic that decimated European vines, and last but not least a mania for Château Lafite in eastern Asia. When an auction house in Hong Kong included the bottle in its sale, everyone expected it to bring perhaps $8000.
Much to their surprise, the bidding continued until it was knocked down for $233,972 to a phone bidder. Unlike most of the wines in our list, this price was for a modern standard-sized bottle of only 750 ml. The auction house owner herself thought the price was “ridiculous”, but didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Given the popularity of Château Lafite in East Asia, who knows what pricing surprises the future holds?
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac: around $1300
Just as a note of interest, we thought we’d share how Château Lafite, whose name keeps appearing whenever expensive wines are mentioned, got to be so classy. “Classy”, it turns out, is exactly the word you need to describe it. It seems that the French statesman Maréchal de Richelieu was being sent on a mission abroad, and had a doctor’s examination before leaving. The prescription was for a health tonic, namely (you guessed it) Château Lafite!
Richelieu dutifully indulged, and next time he was in the royal palace, King Louis XV exclaimed, “You look 25 years younger than last time I saw you!” To which Richelieu replied, “I have discovered a drink as fine as the ambrosia of Olympus!” The King took up the tonic himself, and Château Lafite thenceforward was known as the “King’s wine”. Pretty high-class, no?
Lafite was managed by the Ségur family from the 17th century, but in the 1800s it passed through several hands, among them a man named Jean Goll de Franckenstein. In 1868, it was purchased by the Rothschild family (yes, the rich one), which is now memorialized in the name. World War II saw some depletion of the ancient holdings in the cellars due to a German garrison stationed there. Since that time, things have been better, and the label maintains its mystique.
1947 Château Cheval Blanc: $304,375
If there is any proof needed for the notion that chance plays a big part in success, you will find it here. After World War II was over, from 1945 to 1949, French wines experienced several amazing vintages. The best of all is probably the 1947 Château Cheval Blanc.
1947 was a terribly hot year. It killed vines, reduced yields, and in many cases even stopped fermentation in the normally-cool cellars. The maker of the Cheval Blanc saw his fermentation about to be “stuck” and ruined, so he added ice to the tanks, trading off some dilution for the chance to save his wine. His numbers were not good: 3 grams per liter of sugar, high acidity, and 14.4% alcohol. By all conventional wisdom, the wine should have turned out almost undrinkable.
Instead it developed into a unique and wonderful taste. It is as sweet as port, thick as oil, profound and miraculous. All critics agree it is perfect or so close that we can’t tell the difference. Yet it came about through impossible weather and cellar conditions, sporting what should have been fatal defects. Some oenologists conclude that they should reconsider everything they know. Others attempt to explain it away. We think that it just proves that we don’t know everything we think we do.
2004 Block 42: $168,000
We thought this wine’s packaging was amazing enough to warrant including in the list. The most expensive wine in the world that is sold straight from the winery, 2004 Block 42 is presented in a large sealed glass ampoule with no cork or mouth. The ampoule is once again encased in a glass sculpture, itself set in an artistically-designed box with double doors. If you do manage to scrape together the $168,000 to purchase this one, you will be given a private opening ceremony including special glass-cutting instruments to make sure your wine has no shards of the glass ampoule when it’s time to take your first sip. In addition, you get the cachet of a designer name on the glass sculpture that the wine came in.
1811 Château d’Yquem: $117,000
Now for a touch of outer space. 1811 was the Year of the Comet, when the Flaugergues Comet passed close to the Earth. The vintages of that year are sometimes known as the Comet Vintages. This is one of them.
That is not the only special point about this wine. It is a Château d’Yquem, which enjoys a combination of residual sugar and high acidity that help to preserve it and enable it, unlike almost all white wines, to age forever but keep its quality. The 1811 vintage is still drinkable.
The third thing that makes this wine special is the price which a bottle of it fetched when it was sold to Christian Vanneque, a former sommelier, for $117,000. He has good taste, because it is said to be one of the best wines ever made, rated 100 by more than one critic.
Mr. Vanneque is very clear about his reason for buying the 1811 Château d’Yquem. Whereas most collectors think of their collections as akin to a treasure hoard, he actually intends to drink this particular wine. His plan is to open it in 2017, the 50th year of his career. We think he has good taste for more than one reason.
Romanée Conti 1945: $123,900
Another pre-phylloxera wine, the Romanée Conti 1945 was produced during World War II. It’s very rare, as only 600 bottles were ever made. That might help explain the amazing price it brought – the highest price ever at auction for a standard-sized 750 ml Burgundy. Or perhaps it’s the knowledge that it was the last harvest ever from vines unaffected by phylloxera. Every vine in the vineyard was uprooted during 1946, marking the end of centuries of tradition. It was not until 1952 that the vineyard produced wine again.
Massandra 1775: $43,500
Hailing from the Ukraine, before the 1920’s Massandra wines were justly famous, dating back many generations. Massandra is the Ukraine’s oldest winery, and is located in a protected area surrounded by mountains but blessed with a warm climate that has led to many excellent vintages. The Massandra 1775 Sherry sold at Sotheby’s is the oldest bottle from Massandra so far.
Traditionally, the winery keeps one or more bottles of each wine that it produces, making it a treasure-house of centuries of wines. In addition, when the Soviets conquered the Crimea, Stalin ordered the winery to be left untouched. Later he had the Tsar’s wine collections transported to the Massandra cellars. Together with the unusual architecture of the cellars, this fabulous trove of more than a million wines is a draw for wine-wise tourists in the know.
—————-
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this little tour. If your wine doesn’t have quite the pedigree of some of these, don’t worry. Most of the older wines are undrinkable, anyway.
Furthermore, as one wine writer discovered on tasting the 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, sometimes it’s better not to experience perfection. He said that from now on, all other wines will seem inferior.
Perhaps these wines should always stay out of reach for most of us, a kind of pole star to keep us moving but never to be attained. You’ll have to decide that question for yourself.
Meanwhile, enjoy the wines you do have!
#Expensivewine
Be sure to RACK your Wines properly!
Top 5 Pre-gaming Essentials
Top 10 Drinking Pre-game Essentials
What is pre-game? According to Urban Dictionary: To drink alcoholic beverages prior to a social engagement to make it more enjoyable.
We think that describes it pretty well. Also in these tough economical times, pre-gaming can go a long way in saving you money at the bar/club later on in the night. Whether you’re social engagement is a night on the town, wedding, or some other random event. The pre-game will almost always consist of standard essentials. We’re going to list our favorite essentials, and hope this essential list contributes to making any pre-game you attend more enjoyable.
1. Music – Build a Playlist
Every pre-game should include a solid list of tunes. The genre of music and playlist is up to you, but these tools can help:
2. Beer/Liquor – Plan accordingly
No one wants to slam down crappy beer, or take shots of bottom shelf liquor. Plan accordingly and include refreshments that will make the pre-game a success. Success can be defined by the attendees having a good time and smiling, not cringing at the thought of your refreshments.
3. Drinkware – Obvious?
This isn’t as obvious as you would think. If you plan on having ten people over, then make sure you have ten shot glasses on hand.
4. Drinking Games – These include supplies.
Drinking games and pre-game should be synonymous. Whether you’re doing a power hour or partaking in beer pong. Drinking games are the heart of every pre-game. You will need supplies to play them. Some of our favorite Drinking games:
5. The right crowd – Shun creepy people
So you we’re brilliant enough to invite over the woman you’ve had your eye on for months. What you didn’t account for is you invited your buddy and he brought along creepy dave and now he’s made her entire group of friends uncomfortable, which has resulted in them leaving your pregame.
Did we leave any out? Let us know!
#Pre-game
Top 10 Wine Brands
Top 10 Wines and Best Wine
We keep hearing about people being unsure of which wines are the best, so we wanted to share some research we’ve done. We did some reconnaissance of both the Old World and the New, seeking wines that have caught the attention of reviewers and tasters. There are so many that it’s hard to narrow them down. In the end, we just made an executive decision and picked! Here is an unranked list of ten of the best wines in the world for your own browsing enjoyment.
1. Alain Graillot’s Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude 2009
La Guiraude is made from all-Syrah grapes grown on the Crozes plateau and harvested by hand in the Northern Rhône region of France. Organically-produced and aged in one to three year old oak barrels, this red wine consistently earns scores in the 90s. It is strongly structured but inviting even when young, offering aromas of cherries and blackberries as well as tastes of red berries mixed with licorice, tannin, and minerality. The finish is spicy and long. It’s not easy to find since the 650-case vintage is sold out, but we saw it listed for $416 per bottle from a store in Germany. 13% ABV.
2. Domaine de la Tourmaline 2010 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie
Next we have the white Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie from Domaine de la Tourmaline in the Loire valley in France. Muscadets are not made from Muscat grapes, but from the Melon de Bourgogne varietal instead. This is a light wine aged on lees for half a year (“sur lie”), giving it a creamy feel. On the nose you can find apple and citrus mixed with a suggestion of pepper, while the taste is dry and crisp, finely acidic over a minerality owing to the chalky soils. It has been listed at around $15. 12% ABV.
3. Ribera del Duero Resalte Crianza 2005 From Bodegas Resalte De Peñafiel
Not all great wines come from France. Bodegas Resalte De Peñafiel in Spain produces the next one, a red wine from the Ribera del Duero region from 100% Tempranillo grapes. The wine’s brand name is Resalte, and the type is Crianza, which means it is aged about one year in oak barrels. Earning 94 points from Wine Spectator magazine, Resalte Crianza is complex on the nose with notes of cherries and blackberries and a hint of coffee and vanilla. On the palate it carries the vanilla forward along with cloves, more fruits, and herbs and spices, as well as a balanced acidity, definite oakiness, and strong tannin which are already improving with age. Typical price is around $30. ABV 15%.
4. Dehlinger Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008
Now for a California wine. A rosé, Dehlinger’s 2008 Pinot Noir won fifth place in the Top 100 Wines of 2011, with high points from Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Somewhere between deep plum and ruby red, on the nose are definite notes of plum, blackberries, black cherries, mixed with the sense of a forest with spice and flowers in the air. The palate continues the plum and berries, adding some bitter cherry into a medium structure of fine acidity and smooth tannin that is not too oaky. The finish is sweeter but still strong and floral. It sells for about $50 and contains 14.9% alcohol by volume.
5. Tarantas Sparkling Rosé
Hailing from Valencia, Spain, this sparkling rosé is produced from all organically-grown Bobal grapes certified by both the EU and the USDA with a historical pedigree dating back to 1335 in the form of a written grant by King Pedro I of Castilla. No oak is used in aging. This wine contains some of the highest levels measured of the natural antioxidant Resveratrol, partly due to its monovarietal (single grape) source. It announces itself with an aroma of dried strawberries which continue into the palate along with a taste of red currants. The finish is gentle but dry and can stand up to strong flavors like grilled chicken or fish. The price is $10. ABV 12.5%.
6. Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2008
The Douro Valley in Portugal is famous as the home of port, but it is lately becoming known for its red wines as well. This one is a dark purple-ruby color and is aged for 16 months in both new and old French oak. Like the Tarantas, it is made from a single variety, in this case the Touriga Nacional. Nicely concentrated, the nose suggests black and sour cherries and other dark fruits, a touch of charcoal, with violets and spices. In the mouth the concentration continues as the firm tannic structure supports the strong notes of plums and berries, cherries, more dark fruits, vanilla, and wood, with a ferrous, mineral edge. In the long finish, the dark fruit persists, still backed up by the tannins, along with spicy mocha. The vintage is sold out, so you will need luck to find this one. Prices start around $60-$70. ABV 12.5%.
7. Sauska 2010 Villányi Rosé
For a change of pace, the next entry comes from Hungary. An excellent dry rosé, Sauska is produced all through the Villány region just north of the Croatian border. It is made from a remarkable blend of varietals: 35% Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Syrah, and 7% Pinot Noir. The grapes grow in a mix of limestone, clay, loam, and loess. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 1-4 months. Sporting a cranberry aroma, Sauska is dry and fresh in the mouth, with a balance of strawberries, wildflowers, sour cherries, and more cranberries. With medium body and pleasing acidity, it manages spicy foods well. It runs about $20 and has 12.5% ABV.
8. Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009
Grown and produced in Sonoma County, California with about a year in new oak, this bright red Pinot Noir comes to us from winemakers with no formal training. Dan Kosta and Michael Browne saved their money and found their way by trial and error to their current high level of excellence. Since 2002, 66 of their wines have won over 90 points. Remarkably, they own no vines and they rent their facilities. Their grapes come from three vineyards: Gap’s Crown, Terra de Promissio, and Walala Vineyard. The 2009 has a nose of raspberries, pepper, candied licorice, violets, herbs, and oak. The palate is full-bodied with black cherries, wild berries, and raspberries. The concentrated flavor and solid structure provides a lasting, mild tannic finish that covers the palate and leaves a hint of licorice. This one is available for $190 or so. 14.5% ABV.
9. Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella’s Garden 2008
Time to give the other side of the world a peek. Australian company Two Hands, co-owned by Michael Twelftree, made this Shiraz which has garnered high scores and praise. Dark red, almost black, it has a complex nose with dark red fruits and berries, as well as plums, cinnamon, and violets with a touch of chocolate. The tight palate continues strong and rich with red fruits and plums spiced with chocolate. The 2008 gifts you with a long finish of smooth balanced tannins and refreshing acidity. It can be yours for around $65. 16% ABV.
10. Domaine Huët Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Première Trie 2009
Returning to France, last and far from least is a wine that almost seems beyond awards and ratings. Huët’s Moelleux, a white dessert wine made from Chenin Blanc grapes grown in the Clos du Bourg vineyard outside the town of Vouvray near Tours in the Loire Valley in France, is ranked as Première Trie. Its color is medium yellow and its nose offers notes of figs, peach, spice, honey, and pear as well as chalk. The honey carries forward into the palate to mix with tastes of caramel, ripe fruit, ginger, and tea. The strong acidity compensates perfectly for the moderate sweetness and makes possible a very long finish of over a minute and a half. The same acidity will enable this wine to age and improve for as much as 30 more years. Going for about $70, it contains 12% alcohol by volume.
Conclusion
There you have it. Feel free to reel off information from this list to impress your friends and dismay your enemies. Better yet, buy one or two of the wines and share it with them so they’ll become friends too! In the face of this kind of quality, all other considerations go out the window. In any case, enjoy!
Discuss!! #bestwine
Top 10 Belgian Beer Brands
Top 10 Belgian Beer Brands and Best Belgian Beer
If it wasn’t for Germany being next door, Belgium would be at the top in world beer rankings. It’s right up there anyway, though! Belgium’s over 700 beers range from rare delicacies reminiscent of fine wine to hearty party drinks. Where do you start? Well, here is our current top 10 list to get you started. After you read it, we advise you to jump in and do your own taste-testing.
1. Westvleteren 12
ABV: 10.2%
Brewed at St Sixtus abbey in Flanders, Westvleteren is often touted as the best beer in Belgium and sometimes even in the world. Judging from its taste, it really could be. It’s dark and rich, bringing tastes of chocolate and cream as well as dates, raisins, peaches, figs, and wine, among others. It defines the class of abbey ales. Since this is a very small-capacity brewery, Westvleteren is often hard to get. You may actually have to phone ahead and drive to the abbey in person just for the chance to buy the maximum allowed per car – a single case with only 6 bottles!
2. Chimay White
ABV:7%-9%
Trappist monks at Forges-les-Chimay present another candidate for one of the world’s best beers. Several beers are brewed there, and all of them are well-known, though not all are easy to find. The taste is deep, strong, and laden with fruit and a little nutmeg and thyme.
3. Westmalle Triple
ABV:9.5%
Another Trappist beer, this one from monks at Westmalle, near Antwerp. The brew comes with claims by the monks that it can improve your appetite, reduce stress, and even cure insomnia! It may be just the excellent taste, or it might really be true. Either way, it’s a really good beer that goes down smooth and tastes great along the way!
4. Duvel
ABV:8-8.5%
Duvel is an abbey beer, but not one made by Trappist monks. The name “Duvel” means “Devil”, after a Flemish customer’s exclamation “Nen echte duvel!” (“A real devil!”). Its fruity aroma complements a dry taste with a slightly sweet overtone and scent of hops.
5. St Bernardus Abt
ABV:12 – 10.5%
Yet another Trappist beer, this one is brewed in the abbey at Watou under the brand name of St. Bernardus. The taste is rich, containing licorice, plum, cherry, peppermint, and raisins and chocolate. Some even detect gingerbread. You barely notice the alcohol under the fruity flavors.
6. Corsendonk Pater Noster
ABV:5.6%
Taking the name of a priory that existed from 1398 to 1784, this is rich red-brown beer that some say is even more refreshing than Duvel. The Pater is considered the best of the Corsendonk brews, with a fruity and bready aroma and a candy plus fruit taste mixed with malt. Be careful, this one also hides the alcohol very well.
7. Cantillon Gueuze
ABV:5% or a little more
Gueuze is a type of beer, not a brand. It’s a mix of lambics of different ages, refermented and bottled. Somewhat sweet and full-bodied, the traditional brews are not sweet and light like commercial versions – instead you get a sharp, flowery taste with hops, and a dry finish.
8. Rochefort
ABV:10 – 11.3%
Brewed by Trappist monks in the Ardennes, this beer is deep red-brown and fruity. You may taste raspberry, raisins, coffee, even prunes and grapefruit, as well as chocolate. Once again, the delicious taste conceals the alcohol very well, making this beer dangerous in the opinion of some tasters.
9. Karmeliet Tripel
ABV:8.4%
From Bosteels brewery, Karmeliet Tripel is pale yellow with a sweet fruity taste. Some say this is a feminine beer because you can’t detect the alcohol for the sweet flavor. You can taste banana, honey, orange blossom, and green apple for tartness, along with malt and a slightly dry aftertaste. Why are all these beers so good? You just don’t want to stop!
10. Orval
ABV:6.2%
We finish up this list with yet another Trappist beer, this one from the Abbaye d’Orval in the Ardennes. Orval is a little spicy, brown colored and memorable with a strong flavor of hops running from a bitter yet sweet flowery start to an emphatic hops finish. Overall a refreshing drink.
Now you have a starting point for your own exploration. One last word – these beers are so good you may overdo it without knowing it! Before you embark on a tour of these amazing Belgian treats, make sure you have a way to get home so you can enjoy without second thoughts!
Discuss! #belgianbeer
Top 10 Strongest Beers
Top 10 Strongest Beers and Strongest Beer in the World
So you’re a beer drinker huh? I bet you pride yourself on being able to decipher the tastes and also being able to handle a ton of it right? What man can’t handle a 24 pack of beer right? Or gal for that matter. Well we’re about to bring you a list of beers that demolish the 24 pack. May I present to you, the world’s strongest beers.
1. Start the Future
This beer is brewed in Holland by the brewery ‘t Koelschip, Start the Future is actually one of the cheaper bottles on the list at only $45 a piece. Maybe its because ‘t Koelschip knows that you’ll get more drunk with that $45 on this bottle than you would with that much worth of liquor. Start the Future has a 60% ABV which equates to 120 proof. Thats enough to knock a linebacker on his butt. To be drank from a small glass and NOT from the bottle, this is the next step in a brewery war to provide the masses with the highest ABV beer ever. After trying this, your liver will be praying all other breweries wave the white flag.
2. Schorschbock 57% finis coronat opus
Another beer that caught up in the war, Germany brewer Schorschbrau created this beer after its previous attempt (the 43%) was taken over. As you can see, at 57% ABV makes it number two on the list and as you can imagine, makes itself known right out of the gate. Open a bottle of Schorschbock and you’re nostrils will work overtime to alert your brain of impending doom. While this beer is intense, you’d be surprised at the slight sweet flavor you’ll receive. While you will taste a smokey and nutty flavor, your palette will certainly struggle with the massive amount of alcohol. This beer is about being on the list and quite honestly, nothing more.
3. End of History
This is the previous champion in the war for highest proof beer before our number 1 took it over. But you’ll find that this beer, even at second, still is more than your average joe can handle. End of History is a 55% ABV beer brewed in Scotland by BrewDog. A shock beer, the brewers warn that it tastes more like a whisky than a normal beer and that while it tastes good (orangey and American hops flavor), the amount of alcohol in this beer will make you feel as though you’ve injected it straight to your veins. What makes this beer unique is that the bottle comes in an actual dead animal. Also the price is substantial at $765/bottle, but when you’re getting a strong beer AND an awesome squirrel. Sounds worth it to me.
4. Sink the Bismarck
The guys from BrewDog strike again with a beer on this list. At 41% ABV, this quadruple IPA checks in at $100/bottle which is a slight bit more reasonable. The name is meant to reference sinking the German battleship, which is appropriate since it took the reign of the World’s Strongest Beer years ago from a German brewery. Yep, this battle is intense. Sink the Bismarck is a thicker beer, frozen four times after receiving 4x the hops to reach this height of ABV. Spicy, fruity and incredibly smooth, this beer lets you enjoy it while you’re getting drunk off it.
5. Struise Black Damnation VI – Messy
Brewed by Des Struise Brouwers in Belgium, Black Damnation sort of gives away the ending right there in its title since too many of these will leave you blacked out praying for help through this damnation that is called a hangover. At least you’ll get there enjoying yourself though, as this beer might be the only one on this list that has a medium head in the glass. Like the others though, because of its 39% ABV, the taste is whole, filling your mouth with deep coffee, liquorice flavor. The malty taste is actually accentuated by the taste of alcohol. A black color, Damnation certainly lives up to its name. If you have a sensitive nose, you’ll catch the alcohol aroma early, but the drink-ability of a beer with this high of a ABV is impressive and delicious.
6. Tactical Nuclear Penguin
This Brewdog concoction weighs in at a respectable 32% ABV but certainly brings it when it comes to taste. At $55 a bottle, even you can twist the cap of this beer which was aged in both spayside and smokehead casks, providing you with a deep fruit, smokey filling beverage. Once opened, you’ll get a whiff of the alcohol in this beer, but you won’t mind it as you begin sipping its slightly thicker body. In some batches you’ll get more toffee, in others, more smoke, but all barrels will provide you with little head and a kick in the rump.
7. Mikkeller (Heavy Black)
This imperial stout brewed out of Denmark bellies up to the bar at 31.1% ABV and can be described rather simply; like delicious engine oil. With the higher ABV, it can be described as though its burnt but rich, providing you with a dark and deep mouthfeelof nuts, coffee and chocolate. Pours black and like many of these other beers, has no head. The best thing about this beer other than its flavor is the fact that you’ll be taking your time to get through its dark, thick taste that you won’t get drunk too quick. But stay alert, this beer reminds me of my African uncle; black as night, intensely intriguing, but sneaks up on you at night like you’re prey. You know, because thats what all Africans do right?
8. Hair of the Dog Dave
This beer might be lower on the list at only 28%, but it is certainly one of the best tasting beers here. Brewed in the United States in Portland, OR, Dave has since been retired, but is a Barley Wine Beer that was a standout. Pours an outstanding deep color with a reddish tint, Dave is a compilation of alcohol, deep aromatics of fruits, leather and caramel malt, with a mouthfill that hides the high ABV. While this beer is easier to drink because of its rich flavor, it will slowly creep up on you towards the end as its full body fills you up. Maybe not a true contender in the race for high alcohol content any longer, but rivals Utopias in enjoyability.
9. Hakusekikan Eisbock
Another beer at 28% ABV, this Eisbock out of Japan isn’t well known, but doesn’t want to be forgotten. Hakusekikan pours just lighter than the rest of the beers on this list and once you dive into it you’ll forget that its a big beer…until you’re halfway through and you realize that this is indeed a beer worth its weight. While the color is less opaque than the others, it still doesn’t produce much head, but pushes out an aroma that hits you hard. The smell of sugar is obvious before your lips even taste the glass. Rather thick, but less complex than you might think, you’ll take in caramel, malt, sugar and fruit as you sip this beer. Mouthfeel is definitive as your taste buds wonder what this rummy, dark sugar beverage is. The high ABV will warm you up, so this beer might be absolutely perfect for those cooler months. But no matter what, this Eisbock shouldn’t be counted out just because its lower on the list.
10. Sam Adams Utopias
A previous contender in this game, Utopias falls way down on the list at only 27% ABV. But don’t let this smaller percentage mess with you, Sam Adams Utopias makes up in taste what it lacks in history making contention. Utopias is a traditional beer and is described as having a fiery taste, which makes it appropriate for this list. What makes this beer special, apart from its $100/bottle pricetag, is that it has been aged in various casks. Sam Adams brews only 3,000 bottles of this stuff, some of them aging for up to 15 years in cognac casks, some in bourbon casks, some in sherry. All this means is that this beer can provide your night with a very warm tummy and your taste buds cheering. Whats the point of drinking beer if you can’t enjoy it?