Mix it up with The Kraken Black Spiced Rum The Kraken rum takes its name from the mythical sea beast. The story goes that many years ago The Kraken wreaked havoc on tall ships and rum-running vessels. It is said that a ship loaded with dark rum disappeared, allegedly attacked by the sea monster. This […]
The spirits world is often associated with sex. Not surprising. At the beginning there was X-Rated, then Kinky, and now OR-G liqueur. Or-G caters to young adults and is marketed as ‘the official spirit of the female entourage‘. OR-G is a modern liqueur with a provocative name to suit the bar scene. OR-G liqueur is […]
Ratafia Even after Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, fruit brandies, and liqueurs in endless varieties, France still offers the dedicated imbibers an array of other drinks such as Ratafia. In some grape-growing areas of France, local aperitifs are made by fortifying, and sometimes slightly sweetening, young red or white wine. The name allegedly comes from Roman Latin […]
Previously published in 2014 I discovered the Mandarine Napoléon for the first time while working at a Swiss/French restaurant in the 1980s. The Mandarine Napoléon is an exquisite orange liqueur, a blend of mandarins and 10 year old Cognac. It is made with all natural ingredients and the mandarins are sourced from Sicily and Corsica, […]
ABSINTHE SUBSTITUTES (re-posting from the archive) Absinthe is an old, traditional herbal liqueur that has a strong licorice flavour from anise seeds. The drink was in vogue in the late 19th century, and is the ancestor of today’s anise liqueurs. This legendary liqueur is featured in many classic cocktails such as the Death In The […]
Cachaça (pronounced ka-sha-sah) is a Brazilian spirit. Cachaça is distilled from fermented juice of fresh sugar cane. It is the third most widely consumed spirit in the world, and over 1.5 billion liters of Cachaça are produced each year, mainly for domestic consumption. The drink is thought to have originated from Portuguese settlers around the […]
Vana Tallinn Rum-Based Liqueur (originally posted in 2015) A while back doing research, I read about this premium liqueur Vana Tallinn. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to taste it at a liquor industry product tasting event. I really liked it at my first sip, I found it flavourful, smooth, well-balanced, and elegant. […]
The Exotic Jaan Liqueur Updated May 2019 Jaan \ˈjän\ – It is an Hindi/Urdu word with many meanings, the most common being life and love. This exotic liqueur offers the mystic flavours and aromas of Paan which has been enjoyed in the East for thousands of years. Paan is a betel leaf wrap containing various exotic […]
How To Make Simple Syrup Simple syrup is simply a mixture of granulated sugar and water. It is a must in any well-stocked bar. Granulated sugar will not dissolve easily in alcohol but simple syrup will. It is used for drinks that require a sweetener ingredient, such as a Daiquiri. You use simple syrup […]
Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur Family Of Flavours Bailey’s Irish Cream is one of the best selling liqueurs in the world. Bailey’s Original was created by Gilbeys company from Ireland, and now the brand is owned by Diageo. Bailey’s was introduced in 1974 as the first Irish Cream on the market. Bailey’s is the combination […]