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BourbonBlog.com suggests the following spirits for your holiday gift, celebration to begin 2011 and beyond. We’ve drank a lot that we’ve enjoyed in 2010, but these particularly impressed us and we’re including some video below too for you to enjoy in this year in review as we review the spirits and whiskeys

Four Roses
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch

The hand numberd Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch includes three of Four Roses’ 10 recipes, which we learned all about from Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge. This particular Bourbon features teh OBSV aged 15 years, OBSK aged 11 years, and OESK aged 10 years all at barrel strength to creating a rich, complex spirit defined by soft oak, caramel and honeysuckle aromas. Subtle flavors of cherries, apricot, light spice, honey and raspberries are present giving it a creamy, smooth and mellow finish!

Heaven Hill Distilleries

Evan Williams Single Barrel 2001 Vintage Bourbon ReviewLook for what remains from the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2000 on shelves now and in the beginning of January 2011, look for Vintage 2001. This World’s only Vintage Dated Bourbon gets better every year thanks to the talent of Master Distillers Parker Beam and Craig Beam.. We were among the first to taste and review this new vintage straight from the barrel during their annual Evan Williams Single Barrel unveiling sneak peak for the Bardstown Whiskey Louisville’s famed Derby Museum at Churchill Downs back in November. See our initial review, tasting notes and story all in the video below. This release marks the 16th annual release of the series.

The Dalmore
The Dalmore King Alexander IIIMeeting Master Blender Richard Paterson of Whyte & Mackay at Tales of the Cocktail was a life changing experience for us at BourbonBlog.com. Richard has unlimited passion, talent and gave us a tasting of The Dalmore that we’ll never forget and we’re sharing it in the video below.

We recommend The Dalmore King Alexander III. This remarkable spirit aged 20 years in a variety of different barrels along it’s way to full maturity including: French wine barriques, Madeira drums, sherry butts from Jerez, Sicilian Marsala barrels, port pipes from the Douro and Knob Creek Bourbon barrels from Kentucky.

The complexity of this single malt made us more of a fan of Scotch that we’ve ever been. Aromas of orange, tangerine, chocolate, buttery taste of chocolate, Christmas cake, a citric spice…we could go on, just watch the video below.

Casa Noble Tequila

Casa Noble TequilaCasa Noble Tequila, among the best tequila in the world. We wouldn’t shoot this tequila for anything because this precious, delicious and a trip to Mexico in your mouth. Buy any or all of the collection including Casa Noble Crystal, Reposado, and Añejo Tequilas. Watch our interview with Casa Noble Tequila CEO Jose Hermosillo at Tales of the Cocktail 2010 in the video below.

Filmed at the Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Sazerac Rye 18 Year, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 2010 Antique Collection. The anticipated annual collection once again features five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs including Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac. If you see one or all, make sure it doesn’t leave your sight because these go quick! If you somehow miss these, we recommend the original Buffalo Trace Bourbon and here is a fun pairing video from Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2010 below..


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HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur

HARLEM SHOTSHARLEM is asimilar to Jägermeister, but goes deep with flavor bringing something new to the market. While the recommended way of consuming HARLEM is an ice cold shot, it is delicious straight or used to create cocktails.

BourbonBlog.com is a fan of all HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur as we recently spent some time with HARLEM in Las Vegas, Nevada at the HARLEM Shot Showcase, we’re including video below, which includes our interview with he 11th generation distiller Carl Nolet, Jr. He is the man that was responsible for bringing Ketel One to the U.S. back in 1990.

Wild Turkey

Russell's Reserve 10 Year old Bourbon by Wild Turkey. Wild Turkey. Wild Turkey Bourbon
Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell has told BourbonBlog.com in numerous interview that Russell’s Reserve Bourbon is what he drinks for pleasure most regularly. We don’t need a better reason that, with flavors of vanilla, caramel and pecan pie, this luscious and mildly sweet whiskey is also our favorite from Wild Turkey. Or are we just agreeing with Jimmy?

Maker’s Mark

Maker's 46 ReviewBourbonBlog.com was the first media outlet to give a video report on Maker’s 46 while doing a tasting with Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith. Many months before it was released, we gave you a taste of Maker’s 46. If you haven’t tasted it yet in real life, you must! If you have tasted it, pout some more and watch this video.

Historic Tom Moore Distillery – 1792

1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon With 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon’s unique flavor distilled from a recipe that includes more rye than most, this Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey adds layers for flavor to any classic cocktail. We love this Bourbon named for the year Kentucky became a state. Be a state of flavor, get you some 1792!

Jim Beam

Small Batch Collection Jim Beam Basil Hayde's Knob Creek Baker's Booker'sThe Small Batch Bourbon Collection by Jim Beam originally created by the late Booker Noe has stood the test of time. Small Batch Collection Jim Beam Basil Hayde’s Knob Creek Baker’s Booker’s, we will let Master Distiller Fred Noe do the speaking on this one..

Woordford Reserve

Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Maple Wood Finish ReviewWe love the original, but for the last several years, Woodford has treated us to a new expression. This year it was the Maple Wood Finish and we were among the first to review it the world on this link. This is the Bourbon industry’s first bourbon to be finish aged in barrels made from sugar maple wood.
Maple syrup hits on the front palette followed by a slightly spicey sweetness.

The syrup feel on this is distinct but light and flows into backnotes of warm berries and honey, almost as though they have been spread on a pastry. This is all rounded by a touch of nuttiness. It’s the Woodford Reserve Bourbon flavors you know and love with the added bonus in this creation by Master Distiller Chris Morris.

Buck Bourbon

Buck Bourbon ReviewBuck Bourbon is a Small Batch Bourbon that entered the market in ’09. It is uniquely rich and bold. With a “Western” type theme, this Kentucky Bourbon says it is “Ranch Hand-Certified.”

We certify that it is worthy of some major praise. Available for purchase online and look for it in the following states: HAWAII, MASSACHUSETTS, NEVADA, ILLINOIS, ARIZONA, WISCONSIN, FLORIDA, INDIANA, IDAHO, NEW YORK, TEXAS, MONTANA, OREGON, GEORGIA, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON.

Bulleit Bourbon

Bulleit BourbonBulleit Bourbon we would not leave you off any list! This the real “Frontier Whiskey.” Now, let’s watch Hollis Bulleit the “Whiskey Chick,” great-great-great granddaughter of Augustus Bulleit, the founder of Bulleit Bourbon, AND the daughter of Tom Bulleit, also featured here..

Flor de Caña

Flor de Cana 7 Year Old Rum reviewBourbonBlog.com is equal opportunity on the spirits we love and when it comes to Rum, Flor de Caña takes the award on this list! Not surprising that Flor de Caña best award-winning rums in Nicaragua! A round entry of burnt caramel, straw, and peppery spice aromas finishing with toasted nuts and a dry toasted coconut fade.

Check out their complete collection on Flordecana.com/

Here are a few recent recipes we have featured..


New Years Eve Sparkling Cocktails

Rum Sandwich

Black Friday Cocktails

Sexiest Men and Cocktail Pairing

Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky – The Copper Fox Distillery

Wasmund's Single Malt Whiksy reviewCopper Fox of Sperryville, VA is the only distillery in the world that flavors their malt with fruitwood smoke and only the distillery in North America malts their own barley. A flavor like none other, a mix between a Bourbon, a Scotch and a real trip for whisky lovers.

Rick Wasmund’s creation improves with every batch. Listen to BourbonBlog.com‘s podcast with Rick Wasmund below and on this link.

TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS – Gardiner, NY

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey ReviewHudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey all their line of Bourbons show that Kentucky isn’t the only state that makes amazing Bourbon. This Manhattan rye is the perfect rye to make the Manhattan cocktail or to simply enjoy the fruity, rich floral and smooth, with a distinct flavor that is a trademark of all the whiskeys from enjoyed from Tuthilltown Spirits.

Each bottle is hand filled, capped, waxed and numbered and most are 375 ml bottles. This small craft distillery is New York’s first since prohibition and will keep you hoping that we never see prohibition again.

AGWA de Bolivia

AGWA de bolivia Review World’s Premiere Coca Leaf LiquorCoca leaves have been chewed by South American Indians for thousands of years to induce a mild and long-lasting euphoria. As the world’s first and only spirit derived from the historical South American coca leaf, BourbonBlog.com tastes AGWA de Bolivia to see we experience a unique “oxygen buzz” which is said to be the “AGWA Buzz.” While all very scientific, apparently the coca leaf alkaloids are activated with lime in AGWA to mimic the effect when chewing coca leaves or drinking coca-leaf tea at high altitude in the Andes.

The taste is in a class all it’s own with an entry of citrus which becomes botanicals, aloe, and mint. Smooth mouthfeel and the tongue feels a distinct warmness to it just before the swallow with tingles. It is almost like the adventure of pop rocks in the mouth, but nothing is popping quite yet.

Tres Leches Liqueur – Western Spirits

Tres Leches Triple Cream Liqueur ReviewTres Leches Triple Cream Liqueur with intense ttextural and flavor depth, and a finish that is one of the longest we have ever seen from any spirit. It is a crème liqueur, similar to Bailey’s. Bailey’s it is not, though. This is a much bigger, badder beast. It is the undisputed champion in this category.

Read our full review here

Blanton’s Bourbon – Frankfort, Kentucky
Blanton's Gold Edition BourbonAre you lucky enough to live in a country where you can buy Blanton’s Gold Edition (as pictured to the left) or Sliver Edition, in Japan, Australia etc.?

If you reside in the U.S.A. and only have access to the Original Blanton’s, you’re still quite thankful indeed as this truly is “The Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey” and it is a favorite among BourbonBlog.com followers on Facebook, Twitter and us too!

Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Firefly Distillery – Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina

Ok, so if you are county, we are at 22 but we had to fit this one in. So whether it is the Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, Sweet Tea Bourbon, or even their Lemonade, we’ll end with this video that was captured using the facebook webcam app and, well, here you go…


Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon, Firefly Iced Tea Bar, Tales of the Cocktail, Hotel Monteleone

 

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