As spring gives way to summer and wool sweaters are replaced by Bermuda shorts: our spirts preference swings toward lighter, fresher flavors like gin and vodka which provide great foundations for the creative mixologist.
Raspberry is often a difficult flavor to capture, but Belvedere delivers a beautiful interpretation with its Black Raspberry Vodka. It is an honest, natural and complex, a blend of ripe raspberries with floral notes of rose bud and honey blossoms. On the palate, there’s a touch of sweetness and it has a sensual, long, clean and dry finish. Belvedere stands on its own, or blends nicely in a fresh berry Caipiroska. (MHUSA)
A sip of Aperol Spritz transports you to somewhere on the Italian Riviera. The nose has floral notes, bitter and sweet oranges and a hint of rhubarb. It has a rich, full mouth feel that is sweet with a touch of bitterness. At a mere 11 percent alcohol by volume, Aperol is the ideal chilled over ice with prosecco. (Palm Bay International)
On a trip to Guadalajara, I discovered a wonderful drink called the Paloma, which contains Squirt soda, fresh lime juice and Tequila. Semental Reposado Tequila is the harmonious marriage of new oak and agave, with notes of cream soda, giving way to baked agave, roasted hazelnuts and candied orange rind. On the palate, it is earthy, spicy and vegetal. It presents toasted oak, vanilla and butterscotch with a touch of sweetness. (Vital Beverages)
On first contact with the aromas of Beefeater 24 there’s a beautiful balance of juniper with spicy notes of coriander, licorice and fresh citrus. The gin has notes on the palate of spicy white pepper, subdued juniper and sweet orange, giving way to a lingering finish and lends itself beautifully to use in a Tom Collins. (Pernod Ricard)
Produced in Sweden, Purity Vodka is distilled from wheat and barley, with the graininess showing on the nose with subtle prominence of lemon, grapefruit and a touch of floral. It has a rich, full mouth feel with good acidity and nice structure. Simply serve Purity in a tall glass with ice and soda with a slice of any citrus fruit. (Purity Vodka)
By far, one of the most unique gins out there of late is Oxley Classic English Dry Gin, because of its cold distillation process, it is a full, round and elegant gin in the mouth, with juniper giving in to floral angelica and herbal notes of cilantro, basil and lemon zest. It is rich like cream soda, with a voluptuous mouth feel and a tingle of vegetal spiciness. The richness of the gin marries well with the bitterness of the tonic. (Bacardi)
Matusalem’s 15-year-old Gran Reserva Rum has a nose that explodes with big oak notes of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel and toasted hazelnuts, giving way to the rich aromas of baked apple and spicy cloves. Matusalem is medium to full bodied. The finish leaves a wonderful memory of this glorious rum, which is delightful with ginger beer, a dash of Angostura and a wedge of fresh lime. (Skyy Spirits)
A unique opportunity to taste a vintage bottling of Tequila is the 2010 Single Estate Tequila Ocho Plata. The nose explodes with citrus, white pepper, green bell pepper, floral and earthy vegetal notes. Ocho is round, full and sultry on the palate with a touch of sweetness and a mellow spiciness. It coats the mouth and is a delicious glass of Tequila that calls for a lime squeezer and a bottle of Cointreau! (Altamar Brands)
