You've undoubtedly heard the adage that
the only constant is change. It's especially true in the beverage industry,
where suppliers continually introduce new groovy products to capture the
drinking public's imagination. Often watching where the major shakers and
movers in our industry place their resources is an excellent indicator of
future trends.
On
the off chance that you might have missed the initial fanfare surrounding their
introduction, here are some of the most promising new spirits and liqueurs
introduced last year. Guaranteed they'll look great on your back bar.
• Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon is a spectacular, world-class whiskey,
the only one of its kind. The 1997 vintage of Evan Williams Single Barrel
offers whiskey enthusiasts a veritable extravaganza for the senses. It is
endowed with a voluminous bouquet of vanilla, cocoa, pipe tobacco and candied
fruit. The satiny palate is a lavish affair, a puckery offering of ripe
cherries, cereal grains and fruit. The finish is like an extended paid
vacation--delightful to the last moment. Remarkable bourbon.
• G'Vine Gin de
France is a quadruple
distilled in copper alembic stills from Ugni Blanc grapes of Cognac fame. The
neutral grape spirits are then infused with nine botanicals and fleur de
vigue, the distilled
oils of the Ugni Blanc grape flower. The gin has a generous bouquet of lightly
spiced, citrus and fresh floral aromas, a medium weight body and a voluptuous
mouth feel. The palate features a set of spicy, semi-sweet and floral flavors
with a rush of lime notes on the finish. A small batch gem.
• Idôl Vodka is
a French ultra-premium spirit handcrafted in small batches from noble Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay grapes from the vineyards of Burgundy. The vodka is bound
to cause a sensation, especially with consumers who appreciate fine wine and
the Burgundy terroir. It has a delectably fruity bouquet, plush, velveteen body
and a delicate, sun-drenched palate. Distilled seven times and filtered five,
Idôl is a laudable, top-shelf brand.
• Gran Centenario has extended its
world-class range of tequilas with the release of Leyenda Extra, a seductive añejo aged an average of four
years in French Limousin oak barrels, after which the Maestro Tequilero adds in
older reserves to complete the blend. The ultra-premium añejo is a masterful
achievement. It has a dark amber color with a satiny, medium weight body and a
vanilla, clove and oaky bouquet. The palate starts spicy and finishes long and
luxurious.
• Even
if you have no pulse you'll better drinking Zubrówka
Vodka, a traditional Polish spirit distilled entirely from rye
containing a slender blade of bison grass that's said to give one vitality and
strength. The essential oils in the aromatic, hand-harvested grass give the
tantalizing vodka a greenish tint and an assertive herbal nose. The palate is
spicy, peppery and reminiscent of a fine silver tequila. A European classic.
• Rittenhouse 21 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey is an exquisite and divinely inspired
single barrel spirit hand-selected from Heaven Hill's legendary reserves of
aging whiskey. It is not chill filtered and bottled in its natural state. The
whiskey has a generous, spicy bouquet, a seamless body and a huge initial
entry. It immediately fills the mouth with a magnificent array of delectable
fruity, peppery and toasted oak flavors. The finish is long and sublime. This
must be the whiskey they drink in heaven.
• Rhum Clément Vieux X.O. is handcrafted on Martinique, it is a
blend of well-aged rums, including those from the famed vintages of 1952, 1970
and 1976. Be prepared to be amazed. The amber/gold rhum is marvelously aromatic
with notes of honey and leather. Its palate is a layered affair of vanilla,
baking spice, almonds and brown sugar. The finish is genuinely world-class.
Rhum Clément Vieux X.O. is as elegant and luxurious of a spirit as has ever
been put into a bottle. Grab it while you can.
• The
growing fascination with cachaça is bound to get a tremendous boost from the
recent release of Cachaça Ypióca 160,
a special reserve distilled from fresh sugar cane juice, aged six years in oak
barrels. It also contains imported malt, which imbues the spirit with a singularly
delicious character. The cachaça has an amber hue, an oily, lightweight body
and a captivating bouquet of malt, cocoa and vanilla. It fills the mouth with
waves of dry, spicy flavors that persist long into the finish. Be prepared to
be wowed.
• Partida Añejo 100% Agave Tequila -- Highly
esteemed Partida Añejo is too magnificent to share with friends. It's matured
for 18 months in oak barrels previously used to age Jack Daniel's. During aging
the tequila acquires an alluring copper hue and generous aromas of ripe red
fruit, honey and cocoa. It has a lushly textured, satiny smooth body and waves
of pastry like flavors. The finish is top notch.
•
Ultra-premium Pyrat Cask 1623 is a
classic in the making, an assertive rum, brimming with high-ester character and
taste. It is crafted from a blend of nine, barrel-aged alembic rums distilled
in the Caribbean. Cask 1623 has a luminescent, deep amber hue and a bouquet
with the enticing aromas of vanilla, chocolate and oranges. The palate slowly
builds in intensity revealing layers of spicy flavors. Priced at an average
retail of $289, the rum is a glorious experience.
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