Editor’s note: We’re republishing this review from May 2006 as part of a reorganization of the site’s content.

New gins on the market- hoorah! Compared to vodka, gins are so few! So, here we have two gins by Martin Miller. Now, how’s this for multiculturalism: Martin Miller’s gins are distilled in London, blended and bottled in Iceland, and imported to the USA by Cantina Italiana LLC of Hollywood, Florida.  It reminds us of that old song line, “I met a German girl in England who was going to school in France…”

So, the first of these two gins is 80 proof, the second (the Westbourne Strength) is 90.4 proof. In the former version, the citrus note outshines the juniper one, and it’s hard to detect the other botanicals.  On the whole, this gin is quite soft.  One wonders if this is an effort to do what Baffert and Reval tried to do—produce a gin that would appeal to the vodka lover.  Regardless, this is clearly gin, and is enjoyable. (Rating ****)

The Westbourne Strength version is much the same, only the extra alcohol actually makes it taste better.  It has more crackle to it, a characteristic that gin lovers seek. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you MILLER’S, click SHOP FOR MILLER’S. Type “MILLER” in the search engine and click the SEARCH button. Last we checked, they carried both of these gins. Otherwise, surf to http://www.MartinMillersGin.com/.

Editor’s note: We’re republishing this review from June 2006 as part of a reorganization of the site’s content.

What a delicious rum! It’s a robust (92 proof), deep copper colored, and oozes flavor….Lots of vanilla and berries.  It is a wonderful product— it shows what rum can be.  Sip small amounts of this rum neat so that you can appreciate the viscosity and the full range of flavors.

Bourbon lovers may well enjoy this rum’s robust flavor and vanilla note.  And those with a taste for kitsch will dig the packaging. (Rating ****3/4)

To see if our retailer can sell you SAILOR JERRY, click SHOP FOR SAILOR JERRY RUM. Otherwise, surf to http://www.sailorjerry.com/.

What Is Brandy/Cognac/Armagnac?
Brandy is distilled from grapes or other fruit. Think of it as wine that has been boiled so that the alcohol within turns to vapor and is caught, aged, and bottled.  Cognac and Armagnac are specific types of Brandy.  Cognac comes from the Cognac region of France. It is made from white wine and must be aged in barrels made from oak taken from the forests of Limousin or Troncais.  Armagnac is distilled slightly differently (single distillation in continuous stills vs. Cognac’s double distillation in copper stills). It too is made from white wine and is aged in black oak from Monzelun forest.  Grappa, meanwhile, is a brandy distilled from pomace (grapes pressed for wine). See The Simon and Schuster Pocket Guide to Cognac and Other Brandies for further information.

What Is Gin?
Gin is a  spirit  distilled from grain that is flavored with juniper and other herbs. For further details, please consult Gin: A Global History.

What Is Mezcal?
Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from the maguey plant, a type of agave. Mezcal often is confused with tequila. For an entertaining introduction to mezcal, have a look at The Tequila Lover’s Guide to Mexico and Mezcal.

What Is Rum?
Rum is distilled from sugar cane juice and/or molasses. Sometimes it is aged in barrels to impart additional flavors. You may learn much more from the classic text, The Complete Guide to Rum.

What Is Tequila?
Tequila is a spirit aged made from the blue agave plant.  The types of tequila are based upon the time it spend in barrel. Blanco or plata (white) tequila is unaged, reposado tequila is aged 2-12 months, and anejo tequila is aged one to three years. For further information, please see Tequila: A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails, and Bites.

What Is Vodka?
Vodka is a spirit distilled usually from one of the following: corn, wheat, rye or potatoes. Vodka is distiled multiple times at a high proof so as to reduce its flavor. It is usually clear, but some times it is tinted (e.g., by fruit or herbal additives). But vodka always is clear—never cloudy. Vodka is not barrel-aged. You can learn more from The Book of Gins and Vodkas.

What is Whisky/Whiskey?
Whiskey is a spirit distilled from cereal grains and barrel-aged. Varieties include Bourbon, Corn, Irish, Scotch, blended, and single malt. “Whisky” tends to be the preferred spelling for Canadian, Japanese, and Scotch versions of this spirit, and “whiskey” usually is used with all other types. For a fun introduction to whiskeys of all types, please check out Whiskey: A Global History.

If you have further question, please feel free to post them below in the comments section.

by Jacob

Over the summer, I took a trip to Rodman’s in Washington, DC to pick up some white wines. I mostly bought Sauvignon Blanc with the intention of drinking them within six months.  The other night, we had a friend over for dinner and opened the last bottle to pair with salmon.  Much to my surprise, this wine was not Sauvignon Blanc, but made from a grape named Picpoul de Pinet or Piquepoul and made in Languedoc in France.  This is not a grape with which I am familiar, but I always love to try new varietals.

Bottled in a Riesling-style bottle (think green, tall, and narrow), the 2010 LaChapelle De La Bastide Picpol de Pinet had a nose of green apple and light citrus (lemon, maybe tangerine) and was a light straw color.  On the palate, the wine continues the nose of green apple and combines it with pineapple and some floral notes in the taste and moderate alcohol at 12.5%.

After tasting the wine, I would place the Picpoul de Pinet grape somewhere between Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.  This wine had earthy qualities found in Sauvignon Blanc and the effervescent and sweet notes found in Riesling.  (Rating ***1/2)

Anyhoo, one of our fellow guests was Becky Harris, the distiller at Catoctin Creek.  A chemical engineer by training, she aptly described whiskey-making as an art employing science.  She also shared with us samples—the most tasty of which was Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye.

This 100% rye is USDA certified organic.  And it is a unique spirit.  At a whiskey tasting party we attended a year ago, three ryes were set out and this one was preferred by most tipplers. That is because most ryes tend to be peppery, which makes them a bit intense for many drinkers.  Roundstone Rye (80 proof), meanwhile, is oily of body, and slightly sour. It offers up notes of caramel, butterscotch, and barrel.  With a little water this whiskey takes on a creamy texture.  We are glad to have the acquaintance of this spirit, and its maker.  (Rating ****)

To learn more about it or acquire a bottle, surf to http://CatoctinCreekDistilling.com/.

Woodford Reserve’s appeal is not difficult to understand.  It comes packaged in a lovely perfume- or apothecary-like bottle.  The color of the whiskey is gorgeous.

And the flavor is big–this Bourbon is 90.4 proof and oozes toffee, tobacco, and spicy rye.  It definitely a Bourbon to be taken neat or with minimal water.  Woodford Reserve is worth the $30-$35 a bottle price tag.  (Rating ****1/2)

You may read more at http://www.woodfordreserve.com/, and you can order a bottle online from this retailer.

We mention all this history because we were quite surprised some months back when we received a sample of Johnnie Walker Black and a new iteration—Johnnie Walker Double Black.  ”What?” we thought. “Are they trying to out-do classic Black?”

Perhaps—Double Black (80 proof) sells for about $10 more per bottle. It is pitched as the “bold, brash relative” of standard Black. Clearly, it is a different animal. Where as Black Label is loaded with delicate flavors but a sure whisky spine, Double Black is much peatier and has a distinct burnt/char note.  It is less floral but a bit fruitier.  Those who find Black label a bit too gentle may well enjoy this; we, though, found it a bit less sophisticated.  Of course, we would not turn down a glass offered, and the sample bottle we received is nearly empty. (Rating ****1/4)

You can read more about Double Black and the other Johnnie blends at http://www.JohnnieWalker.com/, and you may order a bottle of Double Black here.

Nope—this is a new brand of Bourbon being sold by Vision Wine & Spirits, LLC of Secaucus, New Jersey.  It is being produced under contract by a Kentucky distillery—-hence, the label reads “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey,” not “New Jersey Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

John B. Stetson weighs in at 84 proof and can be found for $27 or so in retail shops. It is made from a mashbill of corn, barley, rye, and wheat, and is aged four years.

Stetson is a good, Bourbon, and a gentle one.  It has a slightly light body, and mild vanilla, pear, and char notes. It is best sipped neat or with just a little water or a single ice cube. (Rating ****)

If we had one suggestion, it would be this–consider bringing out a pricier bottling of this same whiskey at 90 or 94 proof. The extra proof would appeal to tipplers who prefer big whiskeys.

For further information, surf to http://www.StetsonBourbon.com. And if you would like to order a bottle online, contact our retailer.

by Jacob

On a business trip last year, I had the chance to sample one of the many microbreweries in Seattle. Located next to the famed Pike Place Market, the Pike Brewing Company is an cool space that overlooks the water and offers a number of excellent beers. The night I was there, I sampled several, but one stood out for me, the Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale.  After having it at the brewpub, I figured I wouldn’t get a chance to drink a Monk’s Uncle again unless I was back in Seattle.

by Jacob

IPAs, especially West Coast IPAs, have been all the rage in the craft beer community. Because of the popularity, many breweries are looking for ways to make one (or more) of their IPAs stand out in an increasingly crowded field. Recently, I found an IPA that is different, both in how it was made and in how it tastes.