Tastes
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Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum
Aged Rum — Jamaica
Reviewed April 1, 2020 (edited August 27, 2020)Deep, dark, rich, and funky. All good things! So I'm still new to rum. I just tried a bajan rum with Doorly's 12. Now, I'm venturing into Jamaican territory with Appleton 12. While Doorly's was sweet and creamy like vanilla butterscotch, Appleton 12 has darker notes like caramelized sugars and grilled fruits. I hear about the "Jamaican funk" and I think I can smell it on the nose. Its not overwhelming but its subtle on the nose and taste. On the nose, I get dark, almost blackstrap molasses and baked bananas. On the taste, its a rollercoaster of charred wood, spice, and roasted fruits. It finishes sweet and then dry. I like that there's no added sugar in this juice. Honestly, this is a fantastic introductory rum for a whiskey drinker like myself. You get those familiar barrel notes of vanilla and oak, but the rum still shines through without being too sweet. Its solid.32.0 USD per Bottle -
Review from a whiskey drinker: I wanted to take a break from whiskey and try a different spirit like rum. The only rums I tried were flavored rum (Malibu) and spiced rum (Captain Morgan/Sailor Jerry). I tried a sample of Kraken spiced rum a few weeks ago, and it was not to my liking. After some research, I found Doorly's 12. I liked that it doesn't have any added sugars, and it was fairly cheap. So I decided to give it a shot and buy a bottle. While drinking this neat in a glencairn, the nose did have a lot of similarities to a bourbon. Rich vanilla notes with some cherry and orange. These aromas were carried by a deep butterscotch smell. I liked it a lot. On the taste, I get hit with oak and some dryness on the palate. Then there's a nice buttery and syrupy taste with orange zest. Its very rich and coats the mouth like pancake syrup, but its not too sweet. There's also some heat on this which is surprising for 80 proof. The finish is decent with some oak. While I find many similarities to bourbon here, it is distinctly a rum. That rich syrup feel with butterscotch flavor is good. I like this a lot, especially as a dessert drink. I would love to revisit this after I've tried several other rums. Also, its cheaper ($26) compared to most whiskeys the same age which is a big plus in my book! Side Note: This rum came in a fairly nice box with some good graphics. However, on the back of the box, "Foursquare Rum Distillery" is misspelled. It says "Forsquare" instead. Also, a small printed sticker was placed on the back of the bottle. It was covering the old "imported by" info with new information. I found it quite odd and had me a bit worried about QC, especially when the distillery's name is misspelled. Luckily the juice inside is great!26.0 USD per Bottle
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Rich, dense, with a long vanilla and fruity sweetness. My go to cocktail is a Manhattan. Someone told me I should try using this as my sweet vermouth. Bought, tried it, loved it. It adds more nuances to the cocktail than my previous sweet vermouth. Next, I tried it in a Negroni. The Campari, a very bitter spirit, often overpowers most drinks. The Carpano holds its own. You get some fruitiness and vanilla in the Negroni which helps balance the bitterness of the Campari. Of course you pay a premium for this. $15 for 375 ml vs $8 for 750 ml of my other vermouth. I’d say it’s worth it!
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Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 27, 2020 (edited March 28, 2020)Reviewed from a 2 oz pour. On the nose, it has some honeyed scents with some berries. Maybe cherry. On the taste you get some strong vanilla, caramelized sugar, with some tartness on back of the tongue. There’s a steady burn throughout. It has a short finish with some oak. I compared it to another wheated bourbon I had on hand: Weller Special Reserve. Similar price points (at retail). I liked Weller a bit more due to its distinct apple flavor and long finish. Conclusion: Solid budget bourbon. Give it a chance if you’re looking for a cheap whiskey. At this price point (~$20), I’d probably buy something else. However, I wouldn’t turn it down if offered. Cheers! -
I’m expanding my knowledge on cocktails and bought this to make Black Manhattans. This amaro is rich, syrupy, and has lots of complex herbal notes. Someone described it as thick Coke syrup and I agree. My favorite Manhattan cocktail recipe has 1 part sweet vermouth, 2 parts rye whiskey, and a coupe dashes of angostura bitters. It’s fruity and sweet with some spice from the rye. The Black Manhattan replaces the vermouth with the amaro. It’s richer, nuttier, and more complex. I, also, use orange bitters to bring out more of the orange flavor in the amaro. I like it, but still prefer the regular Manhattan as my go-to cocktail. If you’re curious about black Manhattans, order one at a bar first before you drop money on a bottle. Cheers!
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Kirkland Tequila Añejo
Tequila Añejo — Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed March 26, 2020 (edited March 24, 2021)I don’t drink a lot of tequila, but this tastes very good compared to what I’ve tried. I use this in margaritas and bloody Maria’s. It’s sweet and has a great agave flavor when I drink it neat. Even my girlfriend, who rarely drinks tequila, keeps a bottle at her home because she loves the flavor and offers it to her guests. Solid value for $20.20.0 USD per Bottle
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