Product Review
Novo Fogo Sparkling Caipirinha
These days we can find nearly every drink packaged in a can, and the convenience and accessibility are proving to be a good thing for consumers. The award-winning Brazilian cachaça producer Novo Fogo has expanded its line of sparkling caipirinhas into canned versions, offering three flavors highlighting its Silver Cachaça: passion fruit-lime, mango-lime and original lime. Besides being extremely refreshing and tasting great, other pluses are its relatively low calories, carbs and alcohol (128-135 calories, 10-11 carbs and 8-8.5% ABV), the use of USDA-certified 100% organic sugarcane, all natural ingredients and that the distillery is a zero-waste facility.
www.novofogo.com/sparkling-caipirinha
Firestone Walker Napa Parabola
Firestone Walker is known for ageing its iconic Parabola Russian imperial stout in bourbon barrels, but in this latest version it added a twist by ageing it in French oak wine barrels that previously contained Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from some of Napa Valley’s finest wineries. The result is a marriage of Parabola’s signature notes of dark fruit, tobacco and chewy roasted malts with the oak barrels’ contribution of a satiny texture with notes of spice and toasted coconut, and residual wine character layers in flavors of cedar, clove, mocha, ripe berry and dried chili pepper. This is a very limited release, so if you find this gem, I suggest you grab it before it’s gone.
www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/parabola
Organika Vodka
Newly expanded to the US market, this premium vodka hails from the shores of Lake Baikal, Siberia, the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. The vodka is made from purified mineral water from Lake Baikal, fresh apples, Siberian larch (a coniferous tree) extract, is filtered through charcoal and is a 100% grain spirit distilled from wheat. Like red wine, the larch contains high quantities of naturally occurring antioxidants, and similar to grapevines, the tree absorbs the minerals and qualities in the water, climate and soil in which it grows. The taste is creamy in texture with subtle hints of spice and very little burn on the palate. A portion of sales go towards supporting sanctuaries for the Amur Tiger, which is beautifully depicted on the label.
Templeton Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey
Recently released is the 2019 limited edition of Templeton’s Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey. First introduced in 2018, its inaugural edition received a 90-point rating from Whisky Advocate. This year’s special release is sourced from Indiana (Midwest Grain Processors) with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and bottled at the Templeton distillery in Iowa. The rye is influenced by flame-charred American oak barrels and at 57.9% ABV, is a smidge higher percentage than the 2018 edition. The result is a whiskey with rich, floral notes with the classic rye pepper that deepens into a long, spicy finish.
Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels
This expression from the Louisville, Kentucky-based Angel's Envy distillery is blended in small batches of 8-12 barrels at a time. Once it’s deemed ready it’s finished in 60-gallon ruby port barrels made from French oak and imported from Portugal, a process that lasts between three to six months. The finished product brings a nose of subtle vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts; and on the palate vanilla, ripe fruit, bitter chocolate and a hint of Madeira.