Review: Spirit Works Old Tom Gin

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Free sample bottle received as a gift from 3rd party.

AT A GLANCE

• Distilled & Owned by: Spirit Works Distillery in Sebastopol, California

• Still Type: Hybrid Still

• Spirit Type: Old Tom Gin

• Strength: 44.9% ABV

• Price: $32 (375ml)

Founded by Timo and Ashby Marshall, Spirit Works Distillery is a grain-to-glass distillery situated in downtown Sebastopol, California that specializes in a variety of whiskeys and gins. For more than five years, Timo and Ashby have been leading a dedicated team producing some of the best spirits in the state.

Their new distillery exclusive is Old Tom Gin. According to gin expert David T. Smith, in his Forgotten Spirits & Long Lost Liqueurs, old tom gins were invented during England’s 18th century “Gin Craze” as a means to hide the poor quality of the base spirit with sugar or with more intense botanicals. Today, quality neutral spirit to make gin is not an issue, but old tom gin has made a resurgence in part because it works very well in a number of classic cocktails.

Spirit Works’ Old Tom began as the brain child of Timo and starts with the classic gin botanicals of juniper, coriander, angelica root, cardamom, lemon and orange zest, rounded out with the addition of orris and licorice root. After distillation, the gin is rested for a three months in used wheat whiskey barrels and then sweetened with a little bit of local organic honey. This rest period gives the gin a light amber color and with the honey creates a nice round mouthfeel.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: The nose is lovely and inviting with notes of lemon and juniper followed with just a touch of honey and vanilla. Underneath the top aromas there is an interesting earthy aroma like toasted bread and a hint of spice that is reminiscent of citrus, juniper and rye.

Palate: On the palate the gin starts with a little heat but that quickly subsides into welcoming flavors of juniper, honey, and citrus that are slightly mellowed with a little woodiness. The honey gives the gin a very subtle sweetness, but it is balanced just perfectly, with no cloying sugar coating the palate, just nice and clean.

Finish: The finish is long with light notes of honey followed by warm oak character and just a touch of bitterness from the juniper.

Conclusion: Spirit Works Old Tom is a delicious example of the category and it is extremely versatile. Despite its near 90 proof bottling strength, the gin is easy to sip neat, and works well stirred on ice and served up with a twist. This old tom also work extremely well in classic gin cocktails like the Martinez and the Negroni. With this distillery exclusive, Spirit Works has once again demonstrated their incredible skill, and gives gin fan yet another reason to make the trek to Sebastopol and stock up on this fantastic spirit.

Review: Ketel One Vodka

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Free sample bottle received as a gift from 3rd party.

AT A GLANCE

• Brand Owner: Diageo

• Distilled by: Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, the Netherlands

• Still Type: Column & Pot Stills

• Spirit Type: Vodka - Neutral Character

• Strength: 40% ABV

• Price: $23

Made at the Nolet Distillery Schiedam, the Netherlands, Ketel One Vodka was first sold in 1984. The Nolet family has been making spirits in the Netherlands since 1691, when Joanness Nolet built his distillery out side Rotterdam. In 1902, the Nolet family built a second distillery in Baltimore, Maryland however, their American expansion was short lived when the distillery was forced to close due to US Prohibition. In the early 1980s, Carolus Nolet explored the US cocktail scene and witness vodka's dominance first hand. Believing his family could make a superior product, Carolus returned to the Netherlands and formulated Ketal One. The Vodka starts with a fermented mash 100% European-grown Winter Wheat, which is then column distilled to 96% ABV. Then a portion of this high proof wheat spirit is re-distilled in ten pot stills, and the center heats cuts are individually filtered and blended together. Then a portion of the column distillate and the pot still distillates are blended together and proofed to create Ketel One Vodka.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: The nose has a nice round and clean aroma of slate and wet stone with just a hint of alcohol at the back.

Palate: The palate has a very round and smooth body that simultaneously gives the impression of sweetness and spice like cinnamon or rye bread.

Finish: The finish is slightly warm and clean. Flavors of slate with just a hint of lime zest linger on the palate and then ends with a slightly fruity note reminiscent of green table grapes.

Conclusion: While I am not a frequent vodka drinker, this is a good example of a well made large volume vodka that has a good body and clarity. It’s slight sweetness and spice will work well with a variety of mixers and will please drinkers out of the freezer or if you are using in cocktails like the Bloody Mary or vodka soda.

Review: El Rey Anejo Tequila

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Free sample bottled provided by El Rey.

AT A GLANCE

• Owned by: Citryve International

• Distilled by: Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123), El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico

• Agave: Tequilana Azul

• Cooking: Brick Ovens

• Crush: Roller Mill

• Fermentation: Stainless Steel Tanks

• Still Type: Stainless Steel Pot Still with Copper Coils

• Spirit Type: 100% Agave Añejo Tequila

• Strength: 40%

• Price: $50

Tequila El Rey Añejo is a 100% agave tequila from Tequila Cascahuin NOM 1123, in the lowland valleys of Jalisco. Tequila Cascahuin was founded in 1904 by Salvador Rosales Briseno and they allow at least two percent of their agaves to flower. While this is a good start, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Universidad Autónoma de Mexico have suggested that a minimum of 5% of agaves (about 200 per hecter) should be allowed to flower to maintain both a healthy bat population and enough genetic diversity in the plans.

According to the brand, 8 year old blue agaves are harvested from the lowlands surrounding Mount Cascahuín outside the town of El Arenal. The agave piñas are halved and then cooked for 72 hours in brick ovens. The cooked piñas are then shredded and pressed with a roller mill and the juice is pumped into large open top fermentors made of stainless steel. The must is allowed to ferment with the ambient yeast in the distillery before it is double distilled in stainless steel pot still that have an internal copper coil. The coil serves the dual purpose of heating the contents of the still and helps remove any sulfur from the spirit that might taint the flavor. After distillation, the añejois allowed to mature for 14 months in both toasted and charred American oak barrels. After aging, the tequila is filtered and bottled at 40% ABV.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: On the nose there are nice aromas of black pepper followed by barrel notes of caramel and vanilla which is to be expected with an añejo tequila. As the tequila sits in the glass more of the green agave notes start to show through.

Palate: On the palate the tequila is very smooth with zero alcohol burn. The añejo draws a nice sweetness from the barrel which presents as flavors of caramel and vanilla, which then blends nicely with spice flavors of cinnamon, black pepper, layered with citrus and cooked agave.

Finish: On the finish the spirit lingers with beautiful flavors of orange marmalade and roasted garnet yam.

Conclusion: The El Rey Añejo is simply delicious and a fantastic value at $50. The tequila strikes a perfect balanced between the underling agave character and the barrel notes picked up during maturation. This is an excellent añejo which should be enjoyed neat, or used to make a decadent Oaxacan Old Fashioned or even a standard Tequila Old Fashioned.

El Rey Anejo Tequila Review | Tequila Aficionado Sipping off the Cuff

Review: El Rey Reposado Tequila

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Free sample bottled provided by El Rey.

AT A GLANCE

• Owned by: Citryve International

• Distilled by: Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123), El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico

• Agave: Tequilana Azul

• Cooking: Brick Ovens

• Crush: Roller Mill

• Fermentation: Stainless Steel Tanks

• Still Type: Stainless Steel Pot Still with Copper Coils

• Spirit Type: 100% Agave Reposado Tequila

• Strength: 40%

• Price: $39

Tequila El Rey Reposado is a 100% agave tequila from Tequila Cascahuin NOM 1123, in the lowland valleys of Jalisco. Tequila Cascahuin was founded in 1904 by Salvador Rosales Briseno and they allow at least two percent of their agaves to flower. While this is a good start, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Universidad Autónoma de Mexico have suggested that a minimum of 5% of agaves (about 200 per hecter) should be allowed to flower to maintain both a healthy bat population and enough genetic diversity in the plans.

According to the brand, 8 year old blue agaves are harvested from the lowlands surrounding Mount Cascahuín outside the town of El Arenal. The agave piñas are halved and then cooked for 72 hours in brick ovens. The cooked piñas are then shredded and pressed with a roller mill and the juice is pumped into large open top fermentors made of stainless steel. The must is allowed to ferment with the ambient yeast in the distillery before it is double distilled in stainless steel pot still that have an internal copper coil. The coil serves the dual purpose of heating the contents of the still and helps remove any sulfur from the spirit that might taint the flavor. After distillation, the reposado is allowed to mature for 6 months in both toasted and charred American oak barrels. After aging, the tequila is filtered and bottled at 40% ABV.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: The nose is very light with just a hint of orange peal, wood character and a little bit of alcohol.

Palate: On the palate the flavors, like the aromas are muted with soft flavors of orange zest, pepper, vanilla, and oak with a slight alcohol burn on the tongue.

Finish: On the finish, flavors of black pepper and roasted agave softly fade away.

Conclusion: El Ray Reposado is a nice spirit but fans of the El Rey Silver should know up front that this is very different. This repo is very soft and light and will likely please those who enjoy more orange and vanilla flavors in their tequila. At $39 per bottle, the El Rey repo is not a bad deal but it is also not likely to blow anyone away. That being said, this reposado will show well in a tequila daiquiri or even in a Paloma.

El Rey Reposado Tequila Review | Tequila Aficionado Sipping off the Cuff

Review: El Rey Silver Tequila

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Free sample bottled provided by El Rey.

AT A GLANCE

• Owned by: Citryve International

• Distilled by: Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123), El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico

• Agave: Tequilana Azul

• Cooking: Brick Ovens

• Crush: Roller Mill

• Fermentation: Stainless Steel Tanks

• Still Type: Stainless Steel Pot Still with Copper Coils

• Spirit Type: 100% Agave Blanco Tequila

• Strength: 40%

• Price: $35

Tequila El Rey Silver is a 100% agave tequila from Tequila Cascahuin NOM 1123, in the lowland valleys of Jalisco. Tequila Cascahuin was founded in 1904 by Salvador Rosales Briseno and they allow at least two percent of their agaves to flower. While this is a good start, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Universidad Autónoma de Mexico have suggested that a minimum of 5% of agaves (about 200 per hecter) should be allowed to flower to maintain both a healthy bat population and enough genetic diversity in the plans.

According to the brand, 8 year old blue agaves are harvested from the lowlands surrounding Mount Cascahuín outside the town of El Arenal. The agave piñas are halved and then cooked for 72 hours in brick ovens. The Cooked piñas are then shredded and pressed with a roller mill and the juice is pumped into large open top fermentors made of stainless steel. The must is allowed to ferment with the ambient yeast in the distillery before it is double distilled in stainless steel pot still that have an internal copper coil. The coil serves the dual purpose of heating the contents of the still and helps remove any sulfur from the spirit that might taint the flavor. After distillation the silver tequila is allowed to rest for 3 months before it is filtered and bottled at 40% ABV.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: The nose is wonderfully bright and inviting. It comes right out of the glass to great you with classic aromas of tropical fruit and bright green vegetal notes. There is no alcohol character, just pure aromatic essence.

Palate: The tequila is really pretty and a joy to drink. On the palate citrus flavors come trough and are nicely balanced with a touch of pepper, which gives the tequila a little warmth but without any burn. All of this is supported with underlying flavors of green vegetal notes, giving the tequila great character and complexity.

Finish: The finish is clean and fresh with lovely soft notes of citrus and a slight greenness.

Conclusion: Despite some odd design choices with the stopper, El Rey Silver is a fantastic example of classic tequila and is wonderful to drink neat. If you are inclined towards cocktails a tequila daiquiri would be great. The bright citrus notes in the tequila are strong enough to not really need the orange liqueur call for in margarita recipes. In the summer, the silver would also work well in a tall drink like a tequila and soda or tequila and tonic with a lime wheel garnish. If you like blanco tequila El Rey Silver is a must try.

El Rey Blanco Tequila Review | Tequila Aficionado Sipping off the Cuff