I’m usually an easy mark for novel spirit bottles, but Engine Organic Gin is probably my favorite design to date. The bold red, blue, and white immediately stood out, and I knew I had to try it. Paolo Dalla Mora, fashion and spirit entrepreneur, was inspired by both racing aesthetics from the 1970’s and 80’s, and Rosolios, a traditional Italian sweet liqueur. Rosolios is a popular digestive in Piedmont, the region where Engine is produced, and is commonly made using lemon and sage. With Italian traditions being a big inspiration for Engine, most of the ingredients are sourced from across Italy. The gin is made using lemons from Sicily, licorice roots from Calabria, sage and damask rose […]
Desert Door Texas Sotol is produced at Desert Door Distillery in Driftwood, Texas. Desert Door aims to celebrate the history and legacy of Sotol – a unique spirit made by the natives of what is now west Texas. As a brand, they also engage in conservation efforts through their nonprofit, Wild Spirit Wild Places – including projects such as pollinator conservation, controlled burns, and more. Similar to agave, the sotol plant is a grass-like shrub native to the Chihuahua Desert. Desert Door harvests their sotol wild, selecting plants that are between 10-15 years old. The heart is then cooked in steam, pressed individually, and fermented […]
I think this is the first time I’ve seen a label that makes me think of public transportation. But this simple and striking design successfully drew me in and made me excited to try Do the Rye Thing from Hudson Whisky NY.
Whiskey hadn’t been distilled in New York since prohibition until Ralph Erenzo decided to establish a distillery in 2003. A gristmill sitting on 36 acres of land in the Hudson River Valley became what is now Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery. To lean into their New York pride, Hudson sources their grains from local farms. Hudson are now fully owned by the Scottish company, William Grant & Sons. BOTTLE SPECS ❖ Spirit: […]
Azteca Azul Reposado Tequila is produced by Tequila Supremo, a tequila distillery located in Arandas, Jalisco. Founded in 1938, Tequila Supremo produces a variety of different tequila brands using 100% environmentally friendly methods. This particular bottle of Reposado Tequila is created with 100% pure agave, which is cooked in traditional ovens. It is distilled twice in stainless steel stills, before being aged for 6 months in American Oak barrels. BOTTLE SPECS ❖ ABV: 40% ❖ Distillery: Tequila Supremo, S.A. de C.V. ❖ Aging: 6 months ❖ Price Point: lower moderate price TASTING NOTES Nose: ❖ oak ❖ cooked agave ❖ honey ❖ vanilla ❖ nuts […]
As I became more interested in spirits in the past few years, I noticed a steady increase in pre-made cocktails for pretty much any classic cocktail. I didn’t pay too much attention to these products while I focused on making cocktails, until I came across Batch & Bottle Scotch Manhattan. There are currently four cocktails from Batch & Bottle, all featuring spirits from the William Grant & Sons portfolio: Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan, Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, Hendrick’s Gin Martini and Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned. I’ve previously reviewed and enjoyed three out of the four base spirits for these cocktails, so the Scotch […]