Monthly Archives: November 2011

Review: Zenify: The Live Stress Free Drink

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Christopher Null| Leave a comment

How stress-free to you get if you drink Zenify? So stress-free that you stop using capitalization. I swear — outside of the nutrition facts box, there’s not a capital letter to be found on this can of relaxation beverage. It’ll knock the shift right out of you!

Zenify is designed to “get you focused” by countering the effects of caffeine with “increased Alpha Waves,” and increasing the amount of seratonin and dopamine in the body. Zenify says it can even treat everything from anxiety to ADHD via its GABA component. Other ingredients include L-Theanine, Glycine, and vitamins C, Niacin, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, and Magnesium. It comes in a lightly yellow, lightly carbonated format, contained in a 12 oz. can.

As beverages go, this Stevia-sweetened (and 50-calorie) product doesn’t taste bad. It’s promoted (naturally) as a vodka mixer, but solo it is quite drinkable. Lemon/lime is the base, with some pineapple notes thrown in. Very easy to drink, with really light flavoring and a moderate, not cloying body.

Am I feeling relaxed? As always, I hate to make any snap judgments on issues like this, but my Alpha Waves aren’t complaining.

A- / $55 for 24 12-oz. cans / zenifyed.com

zenify Review: Zenify: The Live Stress Free Drink

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Posted in Mixers, Rated A-, Reviews

Review: Edinburgh Gin

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Christopher Null| 1 Comment

What a fool I am. Here’s yet another Scottish gin, with the name of a Scottish town right there in the branding. Don’t I feel smart?

Edinburgh Gin is distilled with classic gin botanicals, plus the addition of Scottish juniper, pine, heather, and milk thistle. The pine is a bit eyebrow-raising, and sure enough this is a very evergreen-forward gin. It’s interesting the different direction it takes from a more classic juniper spirit, though: Here the gin comes across as distinctly “of the forest,” more earthy, and almost like taking a long walk in the mountain woods. It’s what I expect most people wish their juniper-forward gins tasted like: Warming and just a touch rustic, full of character.

This does put a damper on secondary notes, to some extent. I get lemon and orange peel, and hints of coriander. The finish offers mild sweetness, not harsh at all. I expect the deco labeling will telegraph to drinkers that this is an ultra-modern, “progressive” gin, but the reality is that it’s old school in the best possible ways.

86 proof.

A- / $32 / spencerfieldspirit.com

Edinburgh Gin Review: Edinburgh Gin

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Posted in Gin, Rated A-, Reviews

Review: Germain-Robin Absinthe Superieure

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Christopher Null| 2 Comments

My, absinthe, what a long while it’s been!

Germain-Robin’s Absinthe Superieure (via Greenway Distillers) is a blanche (clear) spirit, distilled not up to a blazing 140 or so proof, but down to 90 proof, making it perhaps the least alcoholic absinthe I’ve ever sampled. The spirit is infused with wormwood, rose geranium, lemon balm, fennel, hyssop, lemon verbena, star anise, and lemon peel.

The result is an absinthe that you can practically drink straight, if you’re so inclined: Quite sweet (despite no added sugar), and fragrant with straight-up licorice notes. It burns, but it’s not a killer. Add water and sugar (but not too much of either… less than a full cube and a 2:1 or even 1:1 ratio of water is fine) and this absinthe becomes quite easy-drinking, offering a really lightly sweet, Pastis-like experience, with a lingering licorice finish. I don’t get much in the way of additional character. Maybe a little touch of tart citrus on the mid-body from the lemon ingredients, but otherwise a clean, easy, and really pleasant absinthe. Like Pastis, but with just a bit more kick to it.

A- / $44 / germain-robin.com

Germain Robin Absinthe Superieure Review: Germain Robin Absinthe Superieure

 

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Posted in Absinthe, Rated A-, Reviews

Review: Murray McDavid Mortlach 1997 13 Years Old Chateau d’Yquem Finish

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Christopher Null| 1 Comment

I’m currently so infatuated with Bruichladdich’s 16 Year Old Yquem-finished “Cuvee E” whisky that I recently did the unthinkable: I bought a bottle of it. Curing my search I also found another Sauternes-finished whisky, a 13-year-old Mortlach privately bottled by Murray McDavid… and less than half the price of the Bruichladdich. Certainly worth a try, I figured. So I bought two whiskys.

This Mortlach is different than the Bruichladdich, but still quite a delight. The body is much heavier and rounder, warming and full while the Bruichladdich is more delicately sweet. Still, it has that unmistakeable Sauternes character, lush, with honey, golden raisins, and figs. The finish is long and smooth, hinting tat this isn’t a wine but a malt whisky with a touch of grain on the finish.

I ultimately have a preference for the Bruichladdich but for a price like this, this Mortlach is hard to pass up. (Don’t get too confused if you click the link below: Murray McDavid now owns Bruichladdich, so there’s probably a little incest somewhere in here.)

1500 bottles made. 92 proof.

A- / $55 / lochindaal.com

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Posted in Rated A-, Reviews, Scotch, Whiskey

Review: Russian Standard Gold Vodka

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Christopher Null| 3 Comments

First there was Russian Standard and Russian Standard Imperia. Now there is Russian Standard Gold. Because that’s how Russia works.

The bottle design of this new vodka line extension is less imposing but still hangs on its Russian street cred, all Cyrillic lettering and Old World nostalgia. Inside, yep, it’s vodka, and while it’s unclear how the recipe differs from the other RS bottlings — literally no information is offered except it has the “finest Russian ingredients include carefully selected Siberian Golden Roots,” which I had to look up but which didn’t really help me at all.

Whatever it is, your 45 bones gets you some awfully good stuff. As vodka goes, this is a nuanced and unique spirit, loaded with vanilla and bearing a distinct chocolate finish. Frankly it’s better than most flavored dessert-style vodkas if you’re looking for that kind of sweetness, but the sugar’s not overpowering. Instead, it’s quite perfectly balanced with a seductive and sweet body, yet it’s still a burly vodka at heart and with a big finish that makes no bones about its true calling as a monster vodka.

This is a vodka with two heads, each of them in equal measure. That’s a rare feat in the vodka world, where things tend to veer either toward uber-medicinal rotgut or sugared candy bombs, and for that, Russian Standard Gold deserves high praise indeed.

You will, however, have to pay for that praise.

80 proof.

A / $45 / russianstandard.com

russian standard gold vodka Review: Russian Standard Gold Vodka

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Posted in Rated A-, Reviews, Vodka

Review: Wines of Bodegas Farina

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Christopher Null| Leave a comment

Bodegas Farina is one of the oldest family wineries in Toro, a poorly-known wine region in Spain that’s northwest of Madrid, near Salamanca and the northeast corner of Portugal. (Ribera del Duero is the best-known nearby region, off to the east.)

The bodega makes seven wines, most coming in at relatively low (13-14 percent) alcohol levels due to the early harvesting of grapes. How well does this work out? Notes on three of the wines, all under the Dama de Toro label, follow.

2010 Bodegas Farina Dama de Toro Malvasia – Funky, with lots of off herbal notes. Opens up with continued sipping, but not a lot. Some lemon on the finish, but not enough to add a lot of charm. Made from 100-year-old Malvasia vines. C / $11

2005 Bodegas Farina Dama de Toro Crianza - A simple and unchallenging red, fairly thin body, with mild, muted fruit character: Strawberry, a touch of plum. Really easy-drinking, but can’t stand up to food. Aged eight months; Tinta de Toro with 6% Garnacha. B / $17

2006 Bodegas Farina Gran Dama de Toro – Easily the most complicated of this trinity, with distinct tobacco, cedar, and evergreen notes. Long finish, though it turns a bit toward bitter. Could use more fruit in the body, but overall quite interesting and nice with a complementary meal. Spends 15 months in oak. From 80+ year old vines. 94% Tempranillo with 6% Garnacha. B+ / $45

damadetoro.com

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Posted in Rated B, Rated B+, Rated C, Reviews, Wine

Review: Black Dot Vodka

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Christopher Null| 3 Comments

The gaping black hole on the front of this new vodka brand’s bottle could suck your soul right out — and while its stark minimalism is controversial — the vodka itself is solid stuff.

Distilled in Madison, Wisconsin from yellow corn and local cherries (hmm!), this is a very clean and restrained vodka. The mild nose offers hints of a medicinal body with muted grain notes. On the palate, much the same: Classic medicinal notes balanced by light sweetness, with a short, pleasant, and cleansing finish. Not corny at all, and nothing hinting at cherries here, mind you — just generalized sweetness and a clean follow-up. Lovely straight and perfect in any sweeter cocktail.

I’m not sold on the big black dot, but the vodka inside is good stuff.

80 proof.

A- / $25 / blackdotvodka.com

black dot vodka Review: Black Dot Vodka

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Posted in Rated A-, Reviews, Vodka

Tasting Report: Wines of Argentina 2011

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Christopher Null| Leave a comment

Argentina continues to confuse me, showing off some excellent wines (at surprisingly high prices)… while the bulk of what I taste from this country is barely palatable. This round of Argentine wine was all over the map (literally, from all over the country), offering both lush Malbecs and plenty of over-jammed, tough, and green wines representing all manner of varietals. Very few of these wines are currently in distribution on the west coast; you may have better luck if you hunt for whatever piques your interest in New York. Thoughts follow.

Tasting Report: Argentine Wine Tasting 2011

2011 Ampakama Torrontes Tulum Valley $9 / B /

2010 Ampakama Intenso Malbec Tulum Valley $11 / C+ /

2009 Don Baltazar Petit Verdot Tulum Valley $15 / B- / very intense

2011 Cepas Andinas Pinot Gris $12 / C+ / awfully tart

2009 Tobiano Reserve Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon La Consulta Uco Valley $21 / B+ /

2008 Lobuno Grand Reserve Malbec-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon La Consulta $35 / B+ / lightly jammy, smoky finish

2008 Zaino Grand Reserve Malbec La Consulta $45 / A- / rich, intense

2008 Triana Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza $22 / A- / light body, smooth and easy

2009 Saurus Pinot Noir Patagonia $15 / B- /

2009 Saurus Malbec Patagonia $15 / B / quite tart

2009 Saurus Cabernet Sauvignon Patagonia $15 / B+ / easy, light body

2009 Saurus Barrel Fermented Pinot Noir Patagonia $25 / B /

2005 Familia Schroeder Pinot Noir/Malbec Pagatonia $50 / B- / the only Pinot/Malbec blend in the world, so they say; there’s a reason for that

2007 Familia Schroeder Malbec Patagonia $50 / C+ / menthol notes are huge, overwhelming

2009 Saurus Pinot Noir Select $17 / C+ /

2009 Saurus Malbec Select $17 / B /

2009 Taymente Malbec Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo $15 / B / tobacco character is huge

2008 Huarpe Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo $20 / B+ / jammier, more easygoing

2006 Guayquil Agrelo Lujan de Cuyo $30 / A- / one of the best of the day, good balance

2011 El Guardado Blend $44 / B+ / young, a bit unripe

2011 El Guardado Syrah $25 / B- / tough and unbalanced

2011 El Guardado Malbec $25 / B+ /

2011 La Noche de San Juan Malbec $18 / B /

2009 NINA Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon $40 / B- / lots of greenness

2008 NINA Petit Verdot Aminga Valley $40 / B- / overwhelming

2007 NINA Blend $30 / B / massive tannins

2010 Pulcu Argentina Malbec Lujan de Cuyo $25 / B+ / good sweetness, herbs

2010 Pulcu Argentina Cabernet Lujan de Cuyo $25 / A- / good balance, a solid Cab

2010 Pulcu Argentina Bonarda Lujan de Cuyo $25 / B / grilled meats, smoky finish

2009 Pulcu Argentina Reserve Selection Lujan de Cuyo $30 / B+ / tart

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Posted in Reviews, Wine

Review: The Bitter Truth Apricot and Violet Liqueurs

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Christopher Null| 3 Comments

The mad Germans at The Bitter Truth continue their march into odd liqueurs, this time with two new distillates: An apricot liqueur and a violet liqueur. Both are 44 proof.

The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur is based on a traditional German tipple, brought into the ’10s for a modern audience. The nose is intensely apricot, in keeping with the dark amber color. On the tongue, lots of sweet apricot jam character, a sort of earthier version of a peach, about as authentic as it gets. That said, apricot is kind of a funky flavor that really needs to be in a cocktail — as evidenced by so many classic cocktails that use apricot brandy in them — in order to fully appreciate its charms. B+

The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur is an homage to creme de violette, the long-dead and now-revived liqueur that is essential (in tiny quantities) to a handful of classic cocktail recipes (such as the one below). The spot-on violet-colored (artificial, I’m sad to say) is perfect, deep purple in the center and fading to blue at the edges. The nose is perfumy and floral, but the body is surprisingly mild and easy. A bit of blueberry fruit, light sweetness (much more so than the Apricot), and a pleasant finish. This one’s actually palatable on its own — though the nose is a bit too hefty — and, again, perfect in a cocktail. A-

$27 each / the-bitter-truth.com

The Aviation Cocktail
2 oz. gin
1/4 oz. violet liqueur
1/4 oz. Maraschino liqueur
1/4 oz. lemon juice

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

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Posted in Liqueurs, Rated A-, Rated B+, Reviews

Review: Drinkwel Multivitamins for Drinkers

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Christopher Null| 6 Comments

A reader asked me about this product and the company behind it was kind enough to send a sample. The idea is nothing like anything else I’ve experienced to date: Multivitamins designed for drinkers.

Makes sense: Hangover remedies are almost always stuffed with various vitamins, so why not just incorporate those into your daily vitamin routine and skip hangover meds altogether?

I tried Drinkwel for several weeks and here’s what I have to report.

The ingredients of Drinkwel are lengthy and resemble your typical multivitamin, including Vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and chromium. On top of this are over a dozen amino acids and herbs, including N-acetyl Cysteine, Taurine, L-Theanine, kudzu, milk thistle, rhodiola, artichoke leaf, green tea extract, acerola, bupleurum root (no idea), schisandra extract (ditto), acai, gogi berry, and betaine HCl. Whew!

You are supposed to take three of these capsules daily, plus another three if you drink. The sheer quantity of stuff you are supposed to consume is the main problem here. No one likes taking vitamins and I sure as hell don’t like taking six funky-smelling capsules every day. Besides, with 90 in a bottle, if you’re taking six a day, you’ll be out of stock in just 15 days. That’s a sizeable investment (though hopefully you aren’t drinking that much and can stick with the three-a-day regimen most of the time).

As for the results, I can’t report much. I switched from a regular B-centric multivitamin to Drinkwel for the test and didn’t really feel any different whether I was drinking that night or not. While I didn’t drink to excess and stuck with the three-a-day regimen, I didn’t really feel any better or worse at any point in the day than I did with my normal vitamin.

At about day 12, however, I found I began to get headaches in the afternoon. I stopped taking Drinkwel at that point and the headaches continued for a few more days, then they went away. I can’t blame Drinkwel for this based on such minimal evidence, of course, but it’s possible that I had an allergic reaction to one of the many unusual ingredients in the capsules. I am wondering, though, if anyone else has experienced anything similar.

Bottom line: If you’re not taking a multivitamin, Drinkwel probably isn’t a bad way to get into the habit, but I’m not sure your mileage will vary much vs. a typical OTC multi. Let me know if it does!

$40 for 90 capsules (15-30 days) / drinkwel.com

drinkwel bottle Review: Drinkwel Multivitamins for Drinkers

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Posted in Hangover, Reviews