Product Review
DNX Foods Grass-Fed Beef & Uncured Bacon Jalapeño Bar
The word bacon got my attention and jalapeno was the icing on the cake. Well, not a cake, but rather a new protein bar made with certified organic spices, grass-fed beef from New Zealand and Australia and uncured bacon. Those on a keto diet will be happy to know it has 14g of protein, 9g of healthy fats from high-quality animal sources, no sugar or sugar alcohol added and only 1g of carbs per bar. And, it’s vacuum-packed to stay fresh for a year without refrigeration, tastes great and has just enough jalapeño to give it a bit of a kick without being too spicy. Other bonuses are the fact it contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives, fillers, GMOs, MSG, dairy, soy, gluten, antibiotics or hormones.
dnxbar.com/grass-fed-beef-uncured-bacon-jalapeno-bar
Bumbu XO
Appreciation for aged rum is on the rise and I count myself as one of those enjoying this expanding segment of the market. My latest find is Bumbu XO. Named for the term used by sailors in the past to describe their rum when mixed with Caribbean fruits and spices to enhance its flavor, this small batch premium rum is aged up to 18 years in bourbon barrels and finished in white oak sherry barrels from Andalusia, Spain. It’s distilled and aged at a 120-year-old distillery in Panama and uses only local sugarcane and pure spring water. The 80 proof rum exhibits aromas of toffee, toasted oak and vanilla and on the palate presents notes of orange zest, peppery spice and a hint of coffee. Classy packaging is in a paperless glass bottle, with a striking matte black finish, silver and white details and a tarnished silver “X” medallion.
Hangover Recovery
I’m often leery of hangover recovery claims and in my unscientific experimentation the only prevention I’ve found to be at least partly effective is sobering up before going to bed. So, one that helps speed up that process, has some promising aspects. Such is the case for the Nilo Hangover Recovery, which is a natural blend of herbs engineered to help detox and prevent hangovers, by accelerating the breakdown of toxins in the liver released by drinking alcohol. While the mix is proprietary, it is advertised to have Hovenia Dulcis (DHM), a Japanese herb super antioxidant that boosts liver detoxification and minimizes the rebound effect alcohol has on your brain; milk thistle, which contains "Silymarin" that protects the liver against damage caused by toxins; and glutathione, a natural antioxidant that works to neutralize toxins released when drinking alcohol.
Redemption Rye
Rye was the preferred spirit and #1 seller in the US before Prohibition, and after nearly being forgotten, is now making a big comeback, so much so that in recent years American farmers have had to increase production to meet demand. To be an American Rye a whiskey must be aged in new charred oak barrels and contain at least 51% rye, the ingredient that provides its peppery bite and spicy splash of flavor. This Rye contains 5% barley malt and a whopping 95% rye, so it rocks the aforementioned spicy profile. The Redemption name was chosen to reflect the idea of Rye re-claiming its status. This Rye is sourced in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the old Seagram’s distillery founded in 1847, before being batched and barreled in Bardstown, Kentucky. The ageing and batching process is all done to taste insuring consistency bottle to bottle, the combination of high rye content allows the whiskey to gain significant flavor in new charred oak barrels with less ageing and each bottle is hand numbered to reflect the batch and bottle.
Schöfferhofer Pomegranate Bier
German Hefeweizens are an ideal drink when you want something refreshing or when you want a brew on the lighter side. This new US release from Radeberger Gruppe (Germany’s largest brewery group) is a follow up of its Schöfferhofer Grapefruit, with this version made of 50% unfiltered German Hefeweizen and 50% pomegranate juice. Although it reminds me more of a fruity soda than a beer, those that love the taste of pomegranate will appreciate it for what it is: a tasty, sweet drink with a hint of tartness in the aftertaste; and at only 2.5% ABV, it’s nearly a non-alcoholic beer.