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?
Discuss!! #strongestbeer
Top 10 Drinking Holidays
Top 10 Drinking Holidays and Best Drinking Holiday
People have been drinking alcoholic beverages since before history began, and there is archeology to prove it! Alcohol and many holidays are synonymous with each other, and no your uncle Larry getting housed on Thanksgiving doesn’t count. Here are some of the better-known drinking holidays as we have them now.
1. Oktoberfest
(observed in Germany)
Oktoberfest officially dates from October 12, 1810. On that date in Munich, Germany, the citizens celebrated the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In reality, a similar festival had already been celebrated at least as far back as the 15th and 16th centuries. The idea was to drink up last year’s beer stocks to make way for new beer to be brewed from the harvest.
Another harvest celebration held at around the same time was the traditional thanksgiving festival of Erntedankefest in the first half of October.
It’s reported that the locals liked the wedding festival so much that they decided to have another festival (minus the wedding) every year thereafter! Oktoberfest has since migrated into late September because it’s warmer and more enjoyable then. It’s the biggest folk festival in the world. And of course it’s all about drinking!
2. Carnival
(observed in Brazil, the rest of Latin America, the US, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Quebec, among other places)
Lent is a 40-day fast leading up to Easter. Right before it starts, people have always tended to pack in the food. Over the years, they packed in other things, too.
Now it’s a huge celebration right before Lent – the last party for 40 days. A big part of the celebrations in Brazil, aside from (nearly?) nude Carnival Queens and wild parades shutting down everything else in town, is drinking the delicious national drink caipirinha. It contains lime, sugar, and a traditional liquor called cachaca.
There has been some controversy recently over whether it’s okay to use vodka or sake in place of the native cachaca. There are voices on both sides. But however they make it, millions of Brazilians will drink it down just the same!
3. Mardi Gras
(Fat Tuesday)
Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday”. It’s really just another name for the Carnival celebration. The name refers to the indulgence in food and drink we mentioned that happens right before Lent.
Mardi Gras/Carnival is observed (and indulged) throughout countries with a historical Catholic background. Observances in some locales can begin as early as November and all of them run right up to Lent. It’s really more of a season than a holiday.
Wherever it’s celebrated, you’ll find parades, general cutting loose, and it almost goes without saying, drinking.
4. St. Patrick’s Day
(observed in the United States and Ireland)
On March 17, people here and in Ireland put on green clothes and drink a lot. This is St. Patrick’s Day, in honor of the monk who converted the Irish way back when.
People wear green thinking that it’s because of Patrick, but actually his color used to be blue. The green more likely comes from ideas like the “Emerald Isle”, green shamrocks, and the need to wear green to make yourself invisible to leprechauns so they won’t pinch you. They can’t see anything green. It’s like camouflage. Anti-leprechaun camouflage.
So, back to drinking. There’s a story that explains why people drink a lot on this day. It seems that a certain innkeeper once served St. Patrick a miserly portion of whiskey. Patrick pointed out that this was ungenerous of the innkeeper, and told him that there was a huge devil in the innkeeper’s cellar that was feeding on his dishonesty, and would eventually devour the innkeeper too!
This made such an impression on the innkeeper that forever after that, he gave lavish amounts to everyone. St. Patrick approved and in return, proclaimed that all the people should partake of spirits in celebration. The idea caught on, and here we are.
Now, you may the Irish drinking tradition as a stereotype or as a fact. Either way, it’s undeniably on the list!
5. New Year’s Eve
(observed in many, many countries)
Marking the end of the old year and the start of the new, this holiday may be descended from the Roman Saturnalia, when everybody could temporarily forget about the normal rules of society and go crazy for a little while. Need we mention that going crazy has virtually always included drinking?
All over the world, people either keep the ancient tradition going, or else they have adopted it, even when they already had their own New Year holiday! (The Chinese, for example.) Ranging from family get-togethers in some countries to national celebrations in capital cities of others, this may well be the most universal drinking holiday of all.
6. Cinco de Mayo
(observed more in the US than in Mexico)
In 1862, after years of turbulence, a smaller, poorly-equipped Mexican army faced a superior invading force at the Battle of Puebla, and prevailed against great odds. The celebration of that victory continues today, especially in Puebla and north of the border in the US.
Just to be clear, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. It’s more of a Victorious Underdog Day.
Nowadays in the US the holiday has morphed into more of a “culture day” like St. Patrick’s Day or Chinese New Year. It’s a chance to celebrate our neighbors’ heritage and have a good time together.
So why drink on Cinco de Mayo? Because that’s what people do! Just remember – the Margarita is NOT an official drink of Cinco de Mayo. But don’t let that stop you – if you like it, go for it!
7. Full moon party
(observed in Thailand)
Raging Thai parties on the full moon of every month. Do I need to say more? This tradition started in the 1980 and is known to bring in over 20,000 + people each month. The pictures, videos, and stories produced from Full Moon festivals are legend status. The only reason we decided to rank them so low on this list is because it’s not really a holiday and is celebrated every month and in Thailand.
We won’t argue with anyone claiming this could be #1 on this list, because you might be right.
8. Fourth of July
(mostly in United States)
Yet another opportunity to get together and party, this holiday owes its existence to certain ill-advised policies of a British administration some time ago regarding English interests in America, and the American people’s (yes, they really did already think of themselves that way) response.
These days, the two countries are good friends, but the holiday is still going strong.
One thing to watch out for on this quintessential American holiday is the driving. This is the deadliest drinking holiday in America due to its position in the middle of summer when people want to get away, take road trips, and drink.
Just be careful out there!
9. Super Bowl Sunday
(a football holiday in the United States)
Beer. Wings. Big Screen TVs. Football. Does it get any better than this? Super Sunday is a huge day in America not only for football fans, but also for fans to get their drink on. Only two teams play in the super bowl, so it’s safe to say the majority of the fans watching don’t have a horse in the race. They watch the game for entertainment, parties, and of course the commercials.
10. Thanksgiving Eve
(mostly in the United States)
Some people think that Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. In fact people all over the world have a similar holiday. That’s how Oktoberfest started out.
For Americans it’s a time to give thanks and eat truly harmful amounts of food, and where there’s indulgence in food, you know what comes with it.
The only reason Thanksgiving doesn’t beat out Fourth of July as the deadliest drinking holiday in America is because Thanksgiving is three days before everybody drives back home on Sunday. That allows people enough time to recover, unlike the Fourth.
All we can say about that is have a good time, but be safe too!
Honorable Mentions:
– Labor Day (celebrating labor unions and their contributions)
– Easter (United States style)
– La Tomatina (Spain)
– Purim (Israel, others)
– Queens Day (Netherlands)
– Australia Day (Australia)
– Christmas (sinners!)
– Halloween (U.S.)
– and Derby Day (a horseracing holiday in the United States)
Each holiday has its qualifying points.
Labor Day gives us a three-day weekend and the opportunity to party. And we do.
Easter is a holiday rivaling Christmas in the Christian calendar, although not as much is made of it in days off or commercialization. We still enjoy it fully.
Derby Day is sports-related and not as deeply traditional as the other holidays touched on here.
As for the Kentucky Derby, the race itself only lasts two minutes, but it’s an all-day affair. Therefore something else must be going on besides watching the actual race.
The official drink of the Derby is mint juleps, which are delicious and consumed to the tune of over 120,000 per year. Since the race is annual, that means that all those drinks are drunk on or near the day.
In conclusion, let us just say that holidays are part of what makes us human, and a big part of what make life enjoyable. Drinking is usually part of any enjoyable occasion. So get out there and have fun!
Discuss! #holidaywasted
Top 10 Liqueur Brands
Top 10 Liqueur Brands and Best Liqueur
What’s Liqueur?
Liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that’s usually flavored with assorted flavors. Liqueur is bottled with added sugar. This added sugar is what defines it.
You can’t simply go by a spirit being flavored to be classified as a liqueur because many spirts are flavored such as rum, vodka, etc. Like stated above, what really sets a liqueur apart from a spirit is that it contains the added sugar, which spirits do not.
Liqueurs usually range from 14% to 35%. Desset Wines are not liqueurs, while cordials have become synoumous with liquers.
1. Arran Gold Cream Liqueur
Winner of the World’s Best Whisky Liqueur back in 2007 so is deserved of being on this list. The color is a light brown that immediately makes a drinker think of chocolate which would be correct because one’s nose immediately carries that idea through the senses. Smelling of a chocolate milkshake, Arran Gold is great to mix with Whiskey because it is able to envelope the bold taste of the liquor and produce something both tasty and warming. If you try it on the rocks, you’ll realize just how creamy and smooth this treat is, but you’ll also be surprised to taste a hint of malt on the backend. Arran Gold finds a way to make a great Whiskey even smoother with its light body and full taste. Try it in: A glass with or without ice. Simple enough.
2. Chartreuse Yellow VEP liqueur
Chartreuse is undoubtedly the healthiest liqueur on the list. But don’t think it loses any of its tastiness. Chartreuse is made by French monks who have been working on the brand for over 500 years. Chartreuse is more bold than the others on the list, stepping it up at 42% alcohol by volume. Off the nose, you’ll gather mainly licorice and fennel, but don’t be surprised if you begin picking out one or two of the 130 herbs used for this drink. The only liqueur to use oak castes to age the product, Chartreuse will give your tongue a bit more floral taste, pushing some of its other herbs like sage, saffron and thyme. Chartreuse is a popular liqueur, but understand that this is something you should use sporadically or when you’re dying to impress. At $123 a liter, the VEP is a hefty drink with awesome taste. Cocktails include: April Shower, Yellow Bird and the Torii Toddy
3. Frangelico
First, can I just say this bottle reminds me of Aunt Jemima Syrup. Anyone else see it? It makes sense since the bottle is supposed to look like a monk in his habit. This Italian liqueur is popular already and I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Frangelico owns a light caramel coloring and is a hazelnut and herb flavored drink. When you open the bottle, wafts of hazelnut, vanilla and cinnamon enter your nose, giving you a dynamic and strong idea of what is to come. The body is more light weight then most liqueurs and also differs in the fact that while its smooth, it doesn’t leave that feeling of cream or syrup on your tongue after a swig. Its flavors sit on the tongue quickly, producing chocolate, hazelnut and spice to your taste buds. Again, the smell is so delicious that you’ll want to keep inhaling this drinks aromas, even while you’re pouring some down your throat. An easy finish, and its easy to see why Frangelico is such a popular liqueur. Here are the cocktails to try: Chocolate Cake Shooter, Friar Tuck #2 and Procrastinator Shot
4. Tia maria
Tia Maria is a liqueur made from Jamaica that encompasses two of my favorite things: Jamaican Rum and Blue Mountain Coffee. Ok, the Blue Mountain might be a stretch, but it actually is the finest coffee produced in Jamaica. Mix that with a rich Jamaican Rum and you have a thumbs up. The alcohol percentage is at 20% which makes this a great liqueur for adding to coco, coffee or sipping over the rocks. Tia Maria is a smoother blend with a hint of spice that can add a hint of something different to any drink you make it with and since it’s not made with cream, its perfect for those out there watching their caloric intake. Want to try it but not sure how? Here are a few options you can throw together at your next party to introduce everyone to an internationally known liqueur: Dark Indulgence Cocktail, Mike Tyson Cocktail and Ciel Recipe
5. Midori
Coming from the Japanese word for “green”, Midori is a must-have in any home bar. Its easy to see why this liqueur is popular to begin with. Most everyone enjoys something flashy and the bright green color of this liqueur is as aesthetically pleasing as it is aromatically and tasting wise. Again, a liqueur with a 20% alcohol by volume, its a drink that can easily mixed and added to practically any real liquor. When you open a bottle of Midori, you’ll be hit with the obvious scent of melons; but the smell of bananas and strawberries also follows. Midori on the rocks doesn’t disappoint either, with a slightly more fruity taste than some of the other liqueurs you’ll find on this list. Don’t worry though, Midori isn’t too sweet, but it certainly will ensure that you taste it throughout the entirety of your drink. Cocktails that everyone should try with Midori: Midori Berry Bliss, Carpet Licker and Frozen Midori Sour
6. Amarula
You might not know what Amarula is, but you should. Its best description could be simply this: a thinner and milkshake. I don’t know about you, but I will drink anything that reminds me of ice cream deliciousness. But I’m getting a touch ahead of myself. Lets start with how it smells. This African treat brings one word caramel into play. It smells, looks and tastes like a butterscotch dream, creating a slight layering on the glass and gently coating the tongue with each sip. While it can become a bit sweet, Amarula is a perfect after dinner sipper and can be added to drinks much the same way Baileys Irish Cream can. Amarula is quickly become a favorite for its taste, but you might also enjoy it for its aphrodisiac powers. The drinks to make with it: French Toast, Amarula Dusky Decadence (complicated but worth it) and Elephant Shake
7. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
This is a liqueur you need to try. It is hard to keep since it produced in small quantities and stores can go weeks without carrying it, but once you get your hands on a bottle of St. Germain, you’ll want to keep tabs on its delivery dates. A liqueur with a medium body, it is like our other liqueurs on the list with a 20% abv, making it great for drinking on the rocks for a great deal of time. Unlike the other liqueurs on this list, its coloring is lighter (and more normal than the green of Midori) with a golden hue. Its smell also differs because it doesn’t hold that punch of spicy or deep flavorfulness, but rather, introduces a citrusy and light aroma to the drinker. You’ll smell flowers and pears and you’ll receive slightly sweet mix with a slight tart. Ultimately an amazing mix. St. Germain Elderflower won’t overpower any cocktail you add it to, but it will bring about a freshness that would be perfect for this summer. Cocktails to try are: The St. Germain Cocktail, Sangria Flora and Cuzco Fizz
8. Aperol liqueur
This Italian liqueur is a good transition here, with an alcohol content of 11%. Aperol is a younger liqueur, only being around since 1919, but its found a way to differentiate itself rather quickly. Aperol looks simple, with a simple bottle and a simple label, but it certainly hold more complex contents. A mix of orange, rhubarb, gentian and other herbs, Aperol finds a way to mix all the above together for something that is surprisingly subtle and delightful. A refreshing liqueur, it is owned in almost every Italian home and is quickly making its way into most of America’s homes as well. Cocktails to try: Aperol Royal, Aperol Betty and Aperol Sour
9. Domaine de canton ginger liqueur
The name holds the main key to this awesomely tasty liqueur. Made in France, Domaine de Canton begins with baby Vietnamese ginger which is then macerated with various herbs. Hand made, it can be difficult to get your hands on a bottle of times due to its small quantities, but along with its awesome bottle…it proves to be a uniqueness you want on hand. Domaine de Canton Ginger also mixes with VSOP Cognac, Grand Champagne, vanilla and orange blossom honey to give it both an inviting and aromatic smell. Pop open the bottle and you’ll be intrigued by its vanilla and citrus smell. The body is medium with 28% abv and yields a golden coloring. On the tongue, you’ll certainly taste the ginger, but its evenly balanced with the subtleness of the cognac and champagne. Cocktails you should try include: El Diablo Martini, Ginger Cosmopolitan and The Gold Rush
10. Bols Advocaat
To understand how this liqueur is different, you need to understand what makes an advocaat different first. Made from eggs, sugar and brandy, Bols Advocaat is a decently simple receipe for a liqueur which proves to be versatile. Because of its simplicity, Bols has created a various array of liqueurs from Bols Watermelon to Bols Strawberry to garshdarn Bols Coconut. Each liqueur has its definitive characteristics. For example, the Bols Banana proves true to its name by pushing the banana taste into your mouth, but also follows up with vanilla and hints of almonds. The color is true to the name as well with its bright yellow liquid sitting in the clear glass bottle. While it would be great to try every one of these, it would be also incredibly difficult. So while you might want to start with some of the more moderate flavors, you have to admit the Bols Parfait Amour looks pretty inviting. Drinks to try for the Bols Banana: Bols Banana & Orange, Banana Banshee and a Banana Colada.
Discuss! #Bestliqueur
Top 10 German Beers
Top 10 German Beers and Best German Beer
Germany is one of the top 3 homelands of beer, surpassed only by Ireland and Czech Republic. You can find over 5000 brands of beer there, and each region produces one or more special types. Most are good, and some are just more excellent than the others. For your fine tasting and drinking pleasure, here are our top 10 favorites of the moment. With so many to pick from, the list is always changing, so don’t be surprised if next month brings up some different names!
1. Diebels Altbier
“Alt” means “old” in German, but when you taste this one you don’t care if it’s old or new. A nice substantial brown beer, it has a medium body and leaves you with just a hint of a bitter reminder.
2. St. Georgen Brau Pilsner Buttenheim
Pale gold with a white head, this beer is reminiscent of candied orange peel, with a touch of muscat and a rosy, spicy aroma.
3. Goesser Pilsner
Another light, crisp beer with a sweet pilsner malt taste. Sporting a medium golden white foamy head, this pils combines high carbonation with a medium bitter aftertaste.
4. Franken Brau Premium Pilsner
A fine drink bearing a definite muscat flavor. The aftertaste suggests a sense of wine mixed with the grain aromas.
5. Goller Art Pilsner
Given that 2/3 of German beers are pilsners, it’s no surprise that they’re so well represented here! You’ll find a combination of must, yeast, and almonds in the decidedly fruity flavor and bouquet. One of the drier beers.
6. Franziskaner Bock
A venerable member of the German family, you’ll experience a solid, rich beer with a full and satisfying taste. It compares to an old English stout.
7. Augustiner Helles
A delicious bottle from a top brewer, this very light beer bestows a characteristic caramel sweetness on your drinking experience. Not to be missed.
8. Heller-Trum Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
A dark and somewhat sweet beer that adds a smoky note as well, owing to the effects of the beechwood logs whose smoke gives it the unique flavor.
9. Warsteiner Pilsner or Dunkel
From the largest private brewery in Germany, you’ll enjoy whichever one of these you encounter first. Both the pilsner and the dunkel are top sellers with good reason.
10. Reissdorf Kölsch
Another beer that reminds you of a fruity, tart wine. Pale and moderately bitter, its dry aftertaste rounds out the composition leaving you with a well-quenched thirst but a desire for more.
Conclusion:
Is your appetite whetted? This is only a hint of what’s in store for you and your taste buds. You may have to travel a bit to find some of these fine beverages, but that only makes them taste better in the end!