Tastes
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For cocktails calling for pisco, this is the bottle I typically reach for (either this or BarSol). It has just enough character to stand up in cocktails, while not being overpowering or too harsh. The nose is fairly faint with a bit of citrus and pepper. The palate has a very light feel to it, but you get olives, licorice and some sweetness, followed by a touch of bitterness. The finish is quick, with only a hint of burn. I wouldn't say this is a great pisco neat, but the real value is in its use in cocktails. I haven't found a recipe where this did not shine, so for the price it's hard to beat. Neat I would grade this closer to a 2.5, which is still solid, just not great. However, the use in cocktails bumps this up to a 3.25.0 USD per Bottle
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There are three cognac's that I always keep around my bar and that's this, Pierre Ferrand Ambre and Pierre Ferrand 1840. The H by Hine VSOP is probably the one I turn to the most when I'm making cocktails, unless the drink is calling for a higher proof cognac (in which case I go with Pierre Ferrand 1840). I believe the 1840 is my favorite of the three, but it's pretty close either way. For the value though, the H by Hine VSOP is probably the best bang for your buck, assuming you can get it for $35-40. The nose is definitely fruity, with apples, orange peel and pears. The oak and vanilla, which is also present on the nose, hits you with the first sip. Neither is overpowering and it quickly gives way to leather and green grapes. The finish is not that long but has little burn and has a nice sweetness to it. H by Hine VSOP will not blow you away but it's very solid. It kind of reminds me of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, easy to like but maybe not all that complex. The real value comes with its versatility, as any cocktail that calls for cognac, you can pretty much guarantee that this can handle it. At $35, it's a steal and while I would probably rate this a 3 if you were to drink this neat, it's multiple uses and value give it a bump up to a 3.5.35.0 USD per Bottle
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Last Ward 2009 is an aged rum from Frank Ward, that was triple distilled at the Mount Gay distillery for the since acquired brand Mount Gilboa. Habitation Velier rums are pretty hard to come by where I live, so when I get the chance, I always try to snatch up a bottle. Rum was the first spirit category that I got into, mainly because you could get quality rum for a pretty cheap price. This is one such bottle where I would venture to say if this were a scotch or bourbon it would go for three times the price. Mount Gay rums are typically aged and blended, so a pot still rum is a rarity. I usually drink spirits neat, but this is one of those high ABV rums where you may want to add water if you are not used to the high proof. If you do drink it neat without water, I would recommend letting it sit for at least 15 minutes, ideally 30 minutes. On the nose the caramel and vanilla hit you along with bread like notes. I didn't notice a hint of heat which was surprising at this ABV. The palate, while hot if you didn't give it time to rest, jumps from cherries and dried fruit to leather and oak. I even get some faint smoke. The finish is incredibly long, with some spice and sweetness. Overall, this is an outstanding rum. It goes to show you don't need to age a rum 20 plus years for it to be great. If you are able to wait at least 15 minutes, you will be in for a treat. The high proof may scare off a few people that just enjoy a nice sweet dram of rum, but if you are up for the challenge and have the patience this rum will reward you. If you can find it, buy it.100.0 USD per Bottle
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I had very low expectations for this liqueur so giving it a 2 is probably being too generous. The banana flavoring is completely overpowering and the alcohol burns on the way down. It's not so bad that you can't drink it, but it's nowhere near as good as some of the better banana liqueurs out there. I would stick to Giffard Banane du Bresil or Tempus Fugit Creme de Banane. Both are superior to this in every way. If you do have this and want to use it in cocktails (I would not advise drinking this neat), then I would probably go with half the amount you plan to use. Frankly, anything more than 0.25oz is probably too much.12.0 USD per Bottle
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All I have to say is yikes, this is bad. It's cheap and artificial tasting. I would include notes, but there really isn't a point. It's sweetness on top of sweetness with cheap artificial flavoring. I would avoid this at all costs, even though it literally costs almost nothing. Stick to Bols Blue Curacao or Giffard if you want to make cocktails that call for blue curacao.8.0 USD per Bottle
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Siembra Valles Blanco Tequila
Tequila Blanco — Tequila Valley, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed December 15, 2022I was wrong, there is another blanco tequila that deserves to be mentioned with Ocho, El Tesoro and Siembra Azul. Siembra Valles is not only amazing, but it's cheaper than the other three mentioned. At least in my area, it is also the hardest to find, but it's well worth getting if you see it. The nose is full agave with some citrus. On the palate I get a bit of spice, cooked agave and earthy notes. It's very well balanced. The finish is pretty long and has a bit of sweetness to it. There is almost no burn. For the price (if you can find it), it's hard to pass this up. They also have a high proof blanco and an ancestral tequila which apparently are both great. As you can imagine, this is amazing in a margarita and pretty much all cocktails you throw at it. If cost isn't an issue, then I would consider this on par with the El Tesoro and Siembra Azul. I'm giving it a slightly higher rating because it's a bit cheaper than the others, but you can't go wrong with any of them.40.0 USD per Bottle -
I think I know why nobody has reviewed this one yet. Advocaat is not what I would call popular in the US. Although I believe there is more of a following in Europe. Either way, I'm not sure I understand why anybody would really drink this neat, but I did and all I can say is stick to cocktails. The nose is bland, with a bit of egg but not exactly fresh, along with ethanol. The palate is worse, but it starts very creamy and silky until it turns quickly to artificial industrial ethanol. The finish leaves an unwanted and cheap metallic taste in your mouth. If I were just rating this on drinking it neat, it would be a 1 or less. However, it does actually make decent cocktails and brings some nice creamy and silky texture to a number of cocktails I tried. I will say though, if it's the main feature of the drink, there needs to be something that can keep it in check. As an accent or working in tandem with another spirit, it actually works pretty well. I'm not sure I would go out of my way to seek it out, but that is the only reason I rated it a 1.5.23.0 USD per Bottle
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Oddly enough I like this less than the ordinary Bols genever. It's probably because I expected a bit more complexity and felt a bit let down. There are a few cocktails that call for the aged version of genever, but not that many and with the $10 plus dollar increase in price, I'm not sure it's worth that. On the nose I get bread and malt. The palate is heavy on the oak and cherry, with rye bread taking over. The juniper is barely noticeable. The finish is a bit smoother than the original, but still not all that memorable. If this cost a bit less or had more use in cocktails I would probably give it the same score as the regular version. This may be one though for people who like whiskey and are unsure about genever. This has the flavor profile that matches that of whiskey drinkers than the regular version. I still don't think it's all that great for the price, but if cost doesn't really play a factor, then I would go with this for the whiskey drinker and for all others the regular Gols genever.45.0 USD per Bottle
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This is the bottle I turn to when cocktails call for genever. There are definitely better genevers out there, but this one is reliable and works great in every cocktail that I use it in. The nose features malt and hay, while the palate is heavy on the grain and pepper. There is a touch of sweetness and the juniper makes an appearance but it's definitely more in the background. The finish has decent length, with some earthy notes and a little burn. I think this is better in cocktails than neat, but either way it's solid. It kind of reminds me of a white whiskey but with a touch more character. Neat I would give this a 3/3.25, but its use and value in cocktails boosts this up to a 3.5.35.0 USD per Bottle
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I consider Sombra one of the better mixing mezcals out there and even neat it's not that bad. I think it's considerably better than Ilegal joven and in line with El Buho and Del Maguey Vida (but probably slightly better than Vida too). The nose is fruity, with pineapple leading the way. The palate has some heat, along with pepper, apples, smoke and a touch of sweetness. The finish is relatively long, especially in comparison to Ilegal joven, with a touch of burn. I tried this in a clay copita and glass and neither really differentiated itself. Considering the cost, which is the same as the Ilegal joven, I would buy this every time. It doesn't have the complexity or uniqueness of many of the more expensive artisanal mezcals out there, but it gets the job done and works great in cocktails.40.0 USD per Bottle
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