One of my personal goals this year is to try more spirits from other countries and cultures. And it seems like Emmeline was on a similar wavelength, since she gifted me this bottle of Hassaku Sake during the holidays. Hassaku Sake is produced in Wakayama, a Southern prefecture in Japan that borders Osaka. Wakayama is famous for the citrus fruit hassaku, a fruit similar in taste to an orange but the size of a grapefruit. While it’s branded as a sake on the bottle, Hassaku Sake might be closer to a liqueur in taste and proof. But the base spirit is high quality sake produced by Sekai Itto Co. and then blended with locally sourced hassaku […]
Xplorer Potato Vodka is produced by Kilimanjaro Distillery, a family-owned craft distillery in Allentown Pensylvania. Founded by a Tanzanian-American father daughter team in 2015, Kilimanjaro produces several spirits including vodka, gin, whiskey, and specialty products. As a brand, Xplorer is inspired by global travel and the power of bringing people together. The company aims to do good for the community, donating a percentage of their profits to clean water efforts and their local Meals on Wheels. Kilimanjaro Distillery products are made using a mixture of locally grown and globally sourced ingredients. Their vodkas are distilled 12 […]
Despite reviewing plenty of affordable bourbons, there is still a few popular brands I’ve never tried before. And I thought the new year was a perfect time to try out a Four Roses product with Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. The history of the Four Roses brand begins around 1888, when the name was trademarked by whiskey producer Paul Jones Jr. The whiskey’s production continued in Louisville, Kentucky until its purchase by the Seagram company in 1943. The Four Roses brand was then discontinued in the US in the 1950’s, but its sale continued in Europe and Asia. It was made available in the United States again in 2002 when Kirin Brewery […]
Buckeye Amaretto Liqueur is produced by Buckeye Distillery, a family-owned distillery located in Tipp City, Ohio. Founded in 2009, Buckeye creates a variety of spirits including vodka, wine, and liqueurs. When I first stumbled upon this brand online, I was immediately excited to try at least one of their liqueurs. With The Ohio State University being my alma mater, the Buckeye spirit holds a special place in my heart. Since Amaretto is so versatile, I knew I had to try out the Buckeye Amaretto. Although not much of the production process is disclosed, we do know that this particular bottle of amaretto liqueur is made using almonds […]
I’ve been on a big gin kick for past few months, so I’ve been keeping an eye out for some new and interesting bottles, especially ones from smaller distilleries. And, when I came across Jewell Gin, I was immediately intrigued by the elegant label and high proof. The family-owned Jewell Distillery is located in Blue Lake, California, a small city in Humboldt county in northern California. The owners, Michael and Barbara Jewell, use their vintage still from the prohibition era to make small batch gins. Their flagship, Jewell Gin, begins with a spirit made from organic Italian wheat that’s vapor infused with 13 different botanicals. These […]