All reviews on this blog are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
| A Beverage-based Blog | |||||
|
Hi, this is a blog I put together quickly so that my girlfriend and I could post our thoughts on some of the things we drink. Right now, this is heavily centred around alcoholic beverages, but it might some day even encompass other beverages we enjoy, such as tea and coffee. Of course, the opinions expressed here are our own and may very significantly differ from yours (it's all a matter of taste, isn't it?), but, whether you agree or disagree with us, I hope it will be useful in some way, if only to introduce you to drinks or brands you didn't know existed. If you should have any comment on what you read here, please feel free to drop me a note at smassy at sdf dot lonestar dot org. For context's sake, know that we are currently living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where we arrived from Montreal in August 2005; hence, when we refer to something as local, it more or less means NS or, at its broadest, the Atlantic provinces. It also means that all prices reported here are in Canadian currency, unless otherwise specified. Price are also non-inclusive of taxes (15% in Canada), once again, unless otherwise specified. But that's boring stuff… Click on any category or subcategory to read entries more relevant to your interests and tastes. Happy drinking! Friday, August 25 2006 We apologise for the long silence but computer problems--- which among CHEERS! [/ANNOUNCEMENTS] permanent link
Bushmills 10 year old single malt Irish Whiskey
Bushmills is the Irish single malt Whisky most people know of, and, in fact, it is the only one I have seen in liquor stores so far, apart from Tyrconnell and Connemara. I was first introduced to this Whisky at Hurley's Irish Pub in Montreal and it is there that I have drunk it most, as the bottle I am currently reviewing from is only the second I have bought for home consumption. Not that it is very expensive; as a matter of fact, its price is more or less similar to some of the least expensive single malt Scotch, but its delicacy, along with the distinctiveness of its taste, have set it apart as a treat in my mind, a treat which one should only savour occasionally, so as to be able to appreciate its very nature best. Bushmills is amazingly fruity in the nose, as are most Irish Whiskies, but the predominance of peaches lends it an even fresher and sweeter scent than average, immediately causing the throat to be dry and the mouth to water; buried in the fruits are points of roasted barley and spice which serve to temper and yet highlight the aforementioned sweetness. The taste starts somewhat on the bitter side, in contrast to the expectations which the smell have conjured, tinged as it is with oak that gradually mellows into the organicity of malt; but once the first shock passes, the taste swiftly evolves in the mouth to become sweet and gentle, wreathed in honey and fruits, evocative of the fragrance of a land dampened by a mist in the dark of night. The aftertaste is definitely a salient point, as, from sweetness, we return once again to bitterness; however, this is no longer the starker bitterness of oak, but the bitterness of coffee and licorice quietly mingling together, as the flavours do at the end of a long night of gastronomical revelry. The whole experience could be summarised as eating fruits preserved in coffee liqueur wrapped in pure, dark chocolate, though it does this Whisky little justice. Bushmills is a very good Whisky, especially suited to the dusk of summer days or as a light digestive to help a long dinner last longer still. If you like this Whisky, don't forget to give its little half brother Black Bush a swirl, as it is essentially a half and half blend of this Whisky and grain spirits, hence offering a slightly rougher, though just as aesthetically pleasing, version of this drink for more "casual"--- or heavy-handed--- drinking nights. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link
Ardbeg is an Islay Scotch I picked up some eight months ago when my mother was coming for a visit and I wanted to buy something special for the occasion. The nice bottle comes in a sturdy, square cardboard box, rather than the more usual tube, but does not display the foppishness which some other Scotch, the good and the bad, sometimes flaunt. The product itself comes dressed in a delicious smell of smoke, orange peels, and some hints of banana and vanilla, all contributing to make the drinker feel at home before even the first sip. The taste starts light and mild, scented with malt and overlays of smoke, as well as perhaps a very slight touch of iron, giving the first encounter a blood-like quality which is to me not at all unpleasant. Past that point, the taste quickly expands and flourishes into a wide range of flavours, including the fruits and vanilla mentioned earlier in the smell as well as cinnamon and a hint of salt. As the draught is swallowed and the taste turns to aftertaste, all of these flavours subside into a pleasant blend of oak and peat, accompanied with some caressing sweetness and smoke. All of the above taken in at once makes of Ardbeg a very enjoyable Islay which, if you can afford it, will make your evenings most homely, most especially as the autumnal rain drums upon your roof and windows. [/Whisky/Scotch] permanent link
Cockspur Five Star Fine Amber Rum
Cockspur first attracted our attention while we were in quest of a decent, inexpensive Rum, while still steering clear of the Captain Morgans and Baccardis of this world. Our choice finally reluctantly settled on Cockspur, both because of its price and because of its Barbadian origin, a region which had yet to let us down. The choice proved good and the reluctance unfounded. Cockspur is a nicely behaved Rum, with a pleasantly light smell of cane, oak and apples. At first, the mouth is assailed with the taste of sugar cane before the oak is allowed to blossom out; there is a strong bitterness there, almost completely cancelling the sweetness out, a nice feature, as far as I'm concerned. The next pleasant surprise comes in the aftertaste, as the bitterness quickly dissipates to leave the floor to a lighter oaken taste, a taste which I would almost call airy, tinged as it is with hints of citrus and even lighter traces of vanilla. All of this, and its affordable price, makes of Cockspur a highly commendable Rum, one especially suited for those Rum drinkers who enjoy the liquor, but find Molasses-like Rums hard to stomach. Furthermore, its relative lightness and quality also lead one to wonder what surprises this Rum might have in store if it were but aged a few years more. |
||||