Review: Reserva del Senor Almendrado
Mexico’s answer to Amaretto (and no, I didn’t know there was a challenge that needed answering either) is Almendrado, a tequila-based liqueur flavored strongly with almonds and bottled at 60 proof. Reserva del Señor Almendrado Review If you’re the type of person who can handle Amaretto on the rocks after dinner, you’ll have no trouble…
New Menu: Bong Su, Cocktails 2008
The lovely people at San Francisco’s Bong Su (upscale Vietnamese, South of Market) hosted a small gathering to show off their new cocktail menu, devised with the exotic Southeast Asian food menu in mind. We rolled through all five unique concoctions (each paired with an appetizer to match). All in all, very good libations, but…
Review: Swan’s Neck Vodka
More proof to my theory that grapes make the best base for vodka arrives in the form of Swan’s Neck Vodka, an artisan spirit from French grapes distilled in copper pots and named for part of the alembic still used to make it. Swan’s Neck is a very sedate vodka, smooth and silky, offering flavors…
Review: Grey Goose Vodka (2008)
It’s easy to see why Grey Goose has become one of the most successful new liquor brands in recent years. This is a fantastic vodka, smooth and lightly sweet, with a nutty nose and aftertaste that works well in cocktails and adds an interesting complexity when served straight. Grey Goose is very mild, quite neutral…
Tasting Report: Napa Valley with Altitude, April 2008
Rather than focus on a specific grape varietal, this event had the unique idea to get the word out about three small parts of Napa Valley, specifically, the mountain regions of Spring Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Diamond Mountain, which run one after another along the valley in the Mayacamas mountain range that makes up Napa’s…
Original Recipe: Nilla Wafer
Once again, it’s dessert drink time at Drinkhacker. This one’s inspired by the eponymous cookie. Nilla Wafer 1 1/2 oz. vodka 1/2 oz. white chocolate liqueur (I use Godiva White) 1/2 oz. Navan vanilla liqueur 1/4 oz. Damiana liqueur (a Mexican herbal liqueur) Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a cocktail…
Review: On the Rocks Spring Water Ice
Yes, this is a review of a bag of ice. No, it’s not ice made out of diamonds and pixie dust, it’s just ice. From water. And yes, I was skeptical too. Premium ice? At $4 a bag, On the Rocks is about four times as pricey as your average supermarket ice. But the company…
Review: O2 Sparkling Vodka
Yeah, you read that right: Vodka, sparkling. The idea of carbonated vodka is either genius or stupid. I mean, you can pour your vodka into a little soda and it’s got plenty of carbonation right there, doesn’t it? Well, maybe you don’t want soda… maybe you just want sparkling vodka. Great idea! I think. Those…