Drinks

The Balvenie Madeira Cask Review

I recently had the opportunity to try the new single malt offering from The Balvenie, one of Scotland’s famed Speyside distilleries.  The limited edition 17-year-old Balvenie Madeira Cask was aged in traditional American oak whiskey casks before being transferred to barrels that previously held fortified Madeira wine.

This isn’t the first Balvenie expression that matures in fortified wine barrels.  The 12-Year DoubleWood matures in sherry casks, while the 21-Year PortWood finishes, as the name implies, in port casks.  Being a fan of the latter, and anticipating a tasty harmony of fruit and spice, I was eager to try The Balvenie Madeira Cask.

Nose
Rich, deep and complex. Warm spice, including cinnamon and nutmeg, with hints of vanilla and soft dried fruit.

Taste
The first sip is oaky, sweet vanilla that gives way to deep spices and raisin, along with more dried fruit flavors.

Finish
Very long, somewhat soft finish that continues the pleasantly balanced trend of fruit and spice with a bit of sweetness.

All in all, The Balvenie 17-Year Madeira Cask is an exceptionally balanced expression rich in spice and dried fruit, with subtle notes of sweet, honeyed vanilla.  You can taste it’s maturation process, moving from American oak (sweet vanilla) to Madeira casks (spice, dried fruit), and neither overpowers the other.  At $120 a bottle, it’s not an everyday whiskey, but you could sure drink it like one.

Stats:
- 43% Alcohol by Volume
- $120

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Source: CocktailEnthusiast

Link to the original site

The Bronx Cocktail

While there’s always a place for intricate cocktails boasting fun ingredients like Benedictine, Orgeat or Maraschino liqueur, sometimes you just want to simplify your life and your drinks.

Comprised of five simple ingredients found in any reasonably stocked home bar, the Bronx Cocktail is basically a perfect martini with orange juice added.  It’s a classic, pre-prohibition cocktail that’s a bit fruity—but not overly sweet—and its base spirit, gin, is a good carrier for both the sweet and dry vermouth.

This innocuous looking cocktail packs quite a punch, and the addition of OJ makes it a healthy alternative to not drinking cocktails.

Ingredients:

2 ounces gin
1/4 oz sweet vermouth
1/4 oz dry vermouth
1 ounce orange juice
1 dash orange bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

For a visual on how to craft the Bronx Cocktail, here’s a quick instructional video from Dave Harrison of Lush Life Productions – The Bronx Cocktail in 12 Seconds.

Source: CocktailEnthusiast

Link to the original site

Introducing Triple Shot Espresso Vodka

I’m no fan of flavored vodkas, but I’ve long been a firm believer in combining vices.  Enter Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka, which allows the drinker to take the bite out of winter with some caffeinated booze.  From Three Olives –

With three shots of the finest Italian Espresso, Three-O brings coffee lovers the ultimate in espresso flavored vodka. Infused with a premium selection of imported roasted beans, the caffeinated cocktail also offers a hint of chocolate and caramel flavors. Three-O Triple Shot Espresso captures the essence of the ideal after dinner drink, perfect for a chilly night on the town or for cuddling up by the fireplace.

Though it’s been around for a couple years, I’ve yet to try Triple Shot Espresso Vodka.  And while I can’t imagine drinking this vodka—or any vodka—straight, it might have its place mixed into a coffee cocktail.  In fact, this could be the perfect workplace pick-me-up, as vodka doesn’t have the telling smell of other spirits.

For this purpose alone Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso might be worth a taste.  And after all, vodka has certainly been infused with things far weirder than espresso.

Here’s a Triple Shot Espresso cocktail from Three Olives to get you started –

Spiked Mocha

Ingredients:

2 ounces hot cocoa
1 ½ ounces Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka
½ ounces Amaretto liqueur

Top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

Source: CocktailEnthusiast

Link to the original site