We have reviewed a number of whiskeys in NeuFutur, but Gentleman Jack has always been elusive. We were luck enough to receive a bottle for review, and are pleased to report that it is perhaps the best value for price that one can find at a liquor store. Gentleman Jack is extremely versatile, and it is this “everything for everyone” attitude that gives it such worth. The spirit will work…
Snarling Badger is a “Berliner Weisse” in Grand Teton’s Cellar Reserve Series. The yellow / orange initial pour opens up to a thick white head. The beer itself straddles the line between fruit and wheat, with a little bit of peach and lemon to be had at the nose. The decision to place the ABV at 7.5% allows for a much more complex beer than many of its ilk.…
There are a number of different flavors that work well with rum. However, I was unaware that a black raspberry flavor would fit with the spices and hints of molasses that come through with each sip. Bacardi has released their Black Razz flavor, which marries the two disparate styles. What results is something ultimately drinkable and incredibly versatile. The subtle hints of raspberry go far beyond the flavoring that…
Cane and Abe is one of the finest rums that we have had the chance to review this year. The bouquet of Cane and Abe is very floral and will draw individuals in to the spirit. There is a complexity to this Freshwater Rum that will have imbibers finding something new each time they take a sip. Hints of brown sugar mix in nicely with a slight burn going…
Berry Horny (Summer Berry) / Horny Goat Brewing / http://www.hornygoatbrewing.com When a beer is touted to have a fruit flavor in its profile, I typically expect to have an inoffensive beer with little more than a touch of the fruit it contains. This usually creates an inoffensive brew that is forgettable soon after one finishes it up. This is not what Berry Horny does. Rather, the beer is able to…
I love the fact that independent and micro-breweries have been able to move their beers to cans. The costs can decrease considerably, while the transportation of cans allows for a wider distribution than would normally be necessary. Abita Brewery is one of the companies that have moved towards the inclusion of cans, and I believe that they have succeeded in getting their name out to a wider audience than…
Anytime that an individual goes into the liquor store, they are faced with a hard choice. With about 100 different vodka products available for sale at any one point, there are a range of tastes and qualities available. In terms of the super-premium side of things, the outlay can be substantial. Ultimat Vodka, created in Poland and distributed by the Patron Spirits Company, is the perfect blend of value and…
Newcastle’s unique flavor is something that has to be present in any seasonal effects from the brewery. This IPA variant is able to build off of this unique mantra and provide imbibers with an experience that is unparalleled. Newcastle has provided individuals with a blend of Super Styrian and Styrian Goldings hops. This has the effect of inserting a little bite to the subtle smoothness that exists. This is assertive…
It is hard for a beer company to continually innovate. This is made all the more difficult when it feels that may beer companies are utterly complacent with the beers that they are currently releasing. Samuel Adams is one of the few breweries that are actively changing their efforts in a meaningful way, and this is a great amount of the reason why I find myself picking up a sixer…
In the last few months, we at NeuFutur have received a number of efforts that have been plain boring. This is true even with the independent breweries that are on the map – it just feels as if there is a collective malaise in brewing. Flying Dog shatters that aura of complacency with their Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout. While I was expecting a dark, biting, and coffee-heavy effort, the brewery…
I have no idea how they keep doing it, but spirits manufacturers are able to key in to a specific set of flavors and impeccably create a spirit that tastes like it should. Hiram Walker has made a Caramel Apple Liqueur that fits into this perfectly. At 15% ABV, one should not be afraid that a few shots will put them under the table. Keeping some alcohol burn to the…
With each passing year, I feel that the world gets more interconnected. This spirit was previously only available at different duty-free stores, and its brisk sales since its introduction has made it smart to introduce to American markets. But why exactly has this Johnny Walker effort been the talk of the town? I contend that there is such a unique feel and flair to this spirit that even those that…
It is rare to receive a whiskey that differentiates itself from the status quo. Triple Smoke, one of Corsair’s newest offerings, does just that. This extremely small-run whiskey has such a unique taste and smoothness on one’s palette that any fan of spirits, whiskey or not, should search out a bottle at the earliest opportunity. This is because Triple Smoke has such an assertive nose and finish to it that…
The different Simply Naked Wines represent an interesting presence – they are not given any time in oak, which provides imbibers with a much different flavor profile than they would normally expect from these different varietals. What results with the different Simply Naked Wines are efforts that put much more of a focus on the fruit flavors, rather than the woodsy or smoking hints that are typically present in a…
I believe that this is the first time that we have had a Pineapple-infused (or even flavored) vodka. The genesis of our receiving this bottle came in a get-tgoether that we hosted. Where we have a number of different vodkas on our shelves, the one attendee asked us if we had a bottle fo pineapple vodka. Since we were not aware that this flavor existed, we simply had to try…
There are a number of problems that I have noticed with the different Amber Ales that are on the market. If they are something like Killian’s, they may have a decent flavor but possess no (or incredibly little of a) bite. However, those that are a little too happy when it comes to including hops may make something that is much too bitter to properly appreciate. Breckenridge’s Avalanche Ale is…
Old Forester is one of those whiskies that are likely on the shelves at every single liquor store and a great deal of the bars that are currently operating. However, there is not the same publicity present for this spirit that there is for Jack Daniels or other similar types of efforts. What results is a spirit that is simply fantastic but that few actually order when they are looking…
360 Concord Grape Vodka is one of the first vodkas that we have received that looks to go beyond a simple grape designation and move into specific varietals of the fruit. What results in the 360 Concord Grape Vodka is something that is fresh and interesting tasting, all while providing imbibers with the same high quality that has been present in all 360 Vodka efforts. The spirit has a solid…
Grape is one of the most common vodka flavors and is quite possibly the easiest one to screw up. We reviewed the Pucker Vodka take on Green Apple a couple months ago, and wanted to see how they did on their take of Grape. The great thing about the Pucker Grape Gone Wild is that it contains all sides of grape flavoring, tying together wine and the fruit’s flavor along…
I feel that a great number of the microbreweries that are currently in operation make beer that is ultimately forgettable. However, there are a few intrepid breweries that are able to push forward and create unique beers that should be checked out. Yards Brewing Company has done just that in their Philadelphia Pale Ale. There is a nuanced taste to the beer that will be tremendously compelling to those that…