alcohol

Whipped Lightning, The New Naughty Whipped Cream

If you've ever added a little bit of a liqueur to whipped cream you know how decadently delicious it can be. Now alcohol-infused whipped cream is available in a can so you can squirt it directly into your mouth, taking one of childhood's little naughty pleasures to an adult level. Whipped Lightning is a grain-alcohol–infused product with flavors like Cinnamon Whipahol, White Chocolate Raspberry Whipahol, Spiced Vanilla Whipahol and the Amaretto Whipahol shown above. The Whipped Lightning website FAQ contains all sorts of information like the fact that Whipped Lightning does not need to be refrigerated, can't be left in a hot car and is labeled as an alcoholic beverage not a food product. It sells for $10 per can.

Tags: alcohol, cocktails, cream, whipped lightning

Bacardi Debuts Torched Cherry Rum for Summer

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Bacardi flavored rums are unlike any other. In a lineup of unmarked bottles, Bacardi blends always stand out as being the most fragrant. Whether you're a Limon or a Dragon Berry type of rum drinker, your preferred flavor will fill the room with aroma. I attended a Bacardi-hosted event to determine just how they make their varietals so intensely flavorful. In correlation with the summer launch of their latest flavor, Torched Cherry, Barcardi invited journalists to come and mix their own cherry rums.

After learning about each of the various flavors that go into Torched Cherry, we were given a selection of infusions to experiment making our own. While we were given five flavors to come close to the Bacardi original, we weren't given the entire lot of flavors in the mix, thus protecting the prized recipe.

Tags: alcohol, bacardi, bacardi rum, cocktails, rum, spirits, torched cherry

Continue reading “Bacardi Debuts Torched Cherry Rum for Summer”

Rosangel Hibiscus-Flavored Tequila, A Cinco de Mayo Treat

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Sipping a margarita made with the hibiscus-infused Gran Centenario's Rosangel's Tequila took me back several decades to when I tasted my first flavored spirit. It was a Buffalo vodka and appropriately enough, it was served to me in the former USSR on the eve of May Day.

So here on the eve of celebrating Cinco de Mayo, it seemed only appropriate to try the fanciful combination of an hibiscus-infused tequila that debuted to market about a year ago. While not a frequent tequila drinker, I was curious about the hibiscus, which as a tea drink is consumed hot or cold all over the world. In Mexico, the hibiscus is known for its mild flavor, tanginess and color.

Rosangel is made of the "finest, sweetest, highest quality" 100% Highland blue agave, and only harvested after a decade or more. The hearts of the agave are baked for up to 72 hours in traditional clay ovens to "guarantee that even the subtlest flavors of the agave remain." After the resulting spirit is fermented and distilled, it rests in new French Limousin white oak barrels for a minimum of 10 months, then blended with a small amount of older tequila reserves for balance and character and then set to rest for another two months in port barrels.

Tags: alcohol, cinco de mayo, Gran Centenario, Gran Centenario Rosangel, spirits, tequila, tequila recipes, tequila tasting

Continue reading “Rosangel Hibiscus-Flavored Tequila, A Cinco de Mayo Treat”

Glenfiddich "Rich Oak" Released

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Glenfiddich has released a new expression, Glenfiddich Rich Oak 14-Year Old. Priced at around $50, the whiskey has been aged in second fill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 years, and finished in new American and Spanish oak.

The effect, as one would expect, is higher vanilla notes than is found normally in Glenfiddich, the number-one single-malt Scotch whiskey in the world. The notes of dried fruit and walnuts shine through as is the case with any Glenfiddich pour.

Tags: alcohol, Glenfiddich, liquor, new spirits, scotch, Scotch whiskey, single-malt whiskey, Speyside whiskey, spirits, whisky

How to Stock a Home Bar

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Those who enjoy having friends over and entertaining guests know that having a well stocked home bar is essential. There are no hard and fast rules for what to have in a home bar and most people simply build a collection based on what drinks they and their guests most often enjoy. But if you're starting from scratch and are looking to create a well-rounded bar ready for any occasion here's what you'll need to get started.

Equipment
Bottle opener
Wine Key
Cocktail/Martini Shaker
Ice Bucket
Jigger
Blender
Cutting board
Paring knife
Coasters
Napkins
Drink straws/stirrers
Dishtowels
Toothpicks

Glassware - How many to stock of each depends on usage and personal preference, but the list is generally ordered from most frequently used at the top to least frequently used at the bottom.
Highball glasses
Pint glasses
Rocks glasses
Wine glasses
Martini glasses
Brandy snifters
Shot glasses

Mixers - Most mixers are best stocked in small or single-serve sizes so they stay fresh for long periods and limit waste when you open one for a single drink.
Club soda
Tonic water
Cola
Diet Cola
Lemon/Lime soda
Orange juice
Tomato juice
Cranberry juice
Margarita mix
Bloody Mary mix

Tags: alcohol, bar, cocktails, drinks, entertaining, entertainment-pedia, home bar, main-pedia, mixing drinks, stocking a home bar

Continue reading “How to Stock a Home Bar”

Jasmine Cognac - Because Tea is for the Rabble

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

If you're a fan of jasmine tea, it will interest you to know that Jacques Cardin makes jasmine flavored cognac (pictured on the left). You can drink it neat or with ice, in a cocktail or, if you're fighting a cold, put it in your jasmine tea with honey for a clever hot toddy twist. We covered Jacques Cardin Cognac when it came out back in 2006, but as the days and nights get chillier, the Jasmin flavor sounds all the more enticing. One might call it "the tea drinker's cognac."

I spoke with Olivier Bugat, Vice President of Product Development at Sidney Frank Importing Company (who imports the JC cognac from France) about how Jacques Cardin Jasmin Cognac is made and why it's so special.

Luxist: How jasmine-flavored cognac made?

Olivier Bugat: Basically, it starts with the grapes. Once fermented, those grapes (now wine) are double distilled in copper pot stills. From there, the liquid is aged in French oak casks for a minimum of four years (because it is a VSOP). Finally, the master blender blends cognacs of different ages and crus to create the final product. The distillate of jasmin is added during the blending process.

L: What inspired it?

OB: After experimenting with various fruits, herbs, spices and flowers -- we, at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., ultimately looked for the distillate that best complimented the characteristics of the eau de vie.

L: How do you recommend serving it?

OB: JC Jasmin can be enjoyed straight, in simple cocktails such as tonic and ginger-ale but is also a wonderful addition to classic cocktails such as the sidecar. The subtle jasmine and fresh herb finish makes JC Jasmin a cognac that can be mixed or stand alone.

If you're interested in trying a bottle of JC Jasmin Cognac (or the Apple or original flavors), visit internetwines.com.

Tags: alcohol, cognac, jacques cardin, JacquesCardin, jasmine, olivier bugat, OlivierBugat, sidney frank, SidneyFrank, tea

Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, consumables are always a good bet. And when it comes to consuming tequila Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila is a great choice for more than one reason. Handmade in small batches using a special distillation technique that gives it a clean, extra soft flavor, each bottle is then hand finished by the Maestro Tequilero for the perfect balance of platinum tequila and hints of añejo. The result is so smooth it would be wasted as a mixer, with aromas of citrus and florals and flavor that includes notes of vanilla, undertones of spice, and a hint of pear. In addition, the tequila comes in an individually handcrafted pure lead-free crystal decanter that can be reused when the tequila is gone. $274.99

Source

Tags: alcohol, casa dragones, CasaDragones, drinks, liquor, tequila

Sparkling Shiraz, Anyone?

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Spirits, Wine

Nothing says summer like a nice cool glass of something sparkly. Well, now you can make anything bubbly!

The SodaStream is a DIY home carbonating machine with no electrical parts, nothing too tricky or messy, and a small splurge price of around $100. The Fountain Jet Start-Up Kit, with which I had the pleasure of experimenting, is currently on sale for $89.99 (normally $139.99) -- and it's perfect for both you and your dad for Father's Day.

How it works: You get the lightweight Fountain Jet, two BPA-free bottles, and a 110-liter Carbonator which makes approximately 110 liters of seltzer. You can select from a number of flavors for sparkling water, or buy their syrups in all kinds of varieties: cola, diet cola, root beer, orange soda, diet grapefruit, tonic, and more.

You put cold water in the bottle, then the bottle and the Carbonator in the Fountain Jet, and press the button on the top to infuse the water with seltzer. Like sparkling water? You're done. If you want soda pop, you add syrup -- which I can honestly recommend; it truly tastes like root beer, cola, or whatever it says -- and you have soda pop!

Not only is it fun to make yourself, but their syrups have no high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame, and you're also doing the planet a favor by not adding cans and bottles to landfills -- and the servings come out to pennies-per-glass.

So what's luxurious about this? You can use it on anything -- turn your whites and even reds to sparkling cocktails or make the most alcoholic gin and tonic ever (by mixing a little tonic syrup into sparkling gin). Look through the gallery to see, and click here to shop for a SodaStream.

Gallery: Carbonating Alcohol with the SodaStream

The first of the non-traditional fixings

Tags: alcohol, booze, carbonated, carbonation, cool summer, CoolSummer, fathers day, FathersDay, sparkling, wine

Tres Generaciones Tequila Gets a New Bottle

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Tres Generaciones tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave in Jalisco, Mexico. It's been around for awhile but it's now proud to have a new bottle design, with inspirations that cover everything from three medallions that represent the three family generations to the artisans rendition of beaten metal on the top of the bottle that represents traditional Mexican art and craftsmanship. The tequila itself is triple distilled and based on three generations of wisdom grown from running a family business, and it's said to be smooth and clean with a slightly spicy finish. The new bottle design is also clean and classic, and seems to perfectly showcase the three available flavors of Anejo, Plata, and Reposado.

Via acquire

Source

Tags: alcohol, liquor, spirits, tequila, tres generaciones, tres generaciones tequila, TresGeneraciones, TresGeneracionesTequila

SKORPPIO Vodka (& Other Scorpion Goodies)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Usually finding an insect in your drink is a bad thing, but in the case of SKORPPIO Vodka it's meant to be a special treat... like getting the worm from the bottom of a bottle of tequila. SKORPPIO is five times distilled single-grain vodka produced in England that has a special woody flavor that comes from the addition of food-grade edible, farm-raised scorpions.

Although eating a large, vodka-marinated insect isn't something I'm interested in, I can appreciate that it's a delicacy in some cultures and a unique experience I'm sure. Check out the gallery below for more edible scorpion treats.

Gallery: Scorpion Foodstuffs: Vodka, Chocolate, and Lollipops

Via Book of Joe

Source

Tags: alcohol, liquor, scorpion, SKORPPIO, vodka

Tabasco Tequila

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Fans of the hot stuff rejoice. Heaven Hill Distilleries is now making Tabasco brand Spicy Tequila. The new brand launches this month in five markets and sells for $21.99. The product website includes recipes for margaritas, versions of a Sea Breeze and a Tequila Sunrise and even a mojito with the spicy liquor. It would probably be great in a Bloody Maria and maybe a fun shot but I'm not so sure about mixing the Tabasco and the fruit juices behind the bar.

[via Brandweek]

Source

Tags: alcohol, spirits, tabasco tequila, TabascoTequila

Almost Alcohol-Free Wine from Spain

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I wavered on this post for a while but decided that although it's an inexpensive wine the fact that it is something new to Spain's wine market outweighs its less-than-luxurious price tag. So here it is -- a wine that may be appropriate for pregnant mothers, bad drunks, and the religiously-restricted. Miguel Torres recently launched Natureo which is Spain's first wine with only 0.5% alcohol! Sure we have heard of or tasted Martinelli's sparkling cider (a favorite in my family for the youngsters at holiday gatherings). But Natureo sounds a little more interesting to me -- it is a white wine made from the Muscat grape which may mean it is more of a sweet wine. The sales are limited to their own country for the time being and cost about $10 per bottle but I think it isn't such a bad idea. At least it is more akin to the real thing than sparkling apple juice.

Source

Tags: alcohol, low alcohol wine, LowAlcoholWine, miguel torres, MiguelTorres, Natureo, torres, wine

Mekhong, The Spirit of Thailand

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Mekhong is a golden spirt that has been available in Thailand since 1941 ad is now ready to compete for attention on the world stage. International Beverage Holdings Ltd.,is importing from Thailand and selling it in the U.S. Mekhong, named for Thailand's Mekhong River is made mostly from sugar cane and rice and infused with a blend of Thai herbs and spices. The Mekhong recipe was developed to complement the taste and flavor of Thai food and has hints of ginger, honey, toffee, vanilla, floral, herbs and citrus.

The most popular Mekhong cocktails are the Sabai Sabai, the Thai welcome drink, which seeks to compete with mojitos and margaritas in the U.S. Sabai Sabai calls for 1.5 shots of Mekhong, 1.5 shots fresh squeezed lemon juice, .75 shot simple sugar syrup, a finger pinch of sweet Thai basil and club soda. More Mekhong recipes and its history is available at the Mekhong website, The Spirit of Thailand.The importers are hoping that Mekhong might be the next cachaca.

Source

Tags: alcohol, mekhong, spirits

Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Maestro Dobel, just launched this month, is the first ever diamond tequila. What does that mean? Apparently it means that it's incredibly clear, incredibly strong, and incredibly expensive. It's a blend of 3 different types of tequila, and in keeping with the diamond theme the creators of Maestro Dobel measure its superiority according to 4 C's: clarity, complexity, crispness, and craftsmanship.

Look for Maestro Dobel starting this month in select establishments in Los Angeles, Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta with a suggested retail price of $74.99.

Gallery: How to Drink Maestro Dobel:

Source

Tags: alcohol, drink, drinks, liquor, maestro dobel, MaestroDobel, spirits, tequila

Three Olive Tomato Vodka

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

For a while it seemed that vodka flavors were stuck on the sweet. We saw just about every fruit under the sun get an infused vodka of it's own while the few savory flavors like Absolut Peppar became harder and harder to find. But lately thing seem to be shifting. Recently Square One came out with a cucumber vodka and now Three Olives has launched a tomato vodka. The vodka includes the tastes of tomatoes, pepper, horseradish and spices.

I haven't tasted it yet but the Intoxicologist tried it out and found that while it has heavy tomato flavor but is a flat and lacks proper support from the other infused flavors. If you love tomatoes though, this might be the one for you to try out.

Source

Tags: alcohol, three olives, ThreeOlives, tomato vodka, vodka

← Previous Page|Next Page →

alcohol

Featured Galleries

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Also on AOL