Reviews about Spirits

dmlichnerowicz says "Amp up your hot cocoa and coffee with a splash of Bailey's" about Baileys Irish Cream

dmlichnerowicz — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:48:32 GMT

I'm not normally into "foo foo drinks," preferring a simple beer or glass of wine. But when the cold months roll around, I love a little added kick to my hot chocolate and coffee, especially in the evening, sitting in front of the Christmas tree or watching snow fall outside. Bailey's Original Irish Cream is one of the most versatile drinks to keep on hand. A delicious combination of cream, whiskey and spirits, and chocolate, Bailey's Original Irish Cream can be consumed by itself or added into other beverages. Not only can you get the original flavor, but Bailey's also sells three other flavors: with a Hint of Mint Chocolate, with a hint of Coffee, and with a hint of Caramel.

I love the flavor of Bailey's Original Irish Cream all on its own, either on the rocks or hot and buttered (see their website for additional recipes.) If I want just a hint of the flavor and aroma, a dash in my hot cocoa or latte gives just a hint of sweetness and warmth to make it even cozier!

Bailey's...

...

LisaCarey says "Absolutely my favorite flavored vodka " about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:20:30 GMT

One of my favorite activities is to have some friends over, have a few drinks, enjoy a good meal and watch our children play. One of the alcoholic beverages that I like to have in my home bar is Absolut Mandarin Vodka for it's ability to make just about everyone happy.

What I like about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

tastes great on its own or mixed (if drinking alone be sure it is chilled)
great mixer
versatile
smooth
80 proof

What I don't like about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

a little bitter aroma
expensive

While I don't mind paying for quality, the expense of this bottle means that it better last a long time, but Absolut Mandarin Vodka doesn't stick around long, once it is opened many enjoy it.

My suggestion, drink chilled on the rocks, with tonic and a twist, or mixed with 7 up. And if you use diet guess what - no carbs! So it's almost good for you too!

Consider Absolut Apeach too as a nifty drink to add to your bar - it tastes great mixed with 7 up or orange juice. ...

...

LisaCarey says "The more gentlemanly of the Jack Daniel's Whiskey's " about Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:36:47 GMT

I enjoy a good Jack Daniel's, preferably with Coke. Recently I had a chance to spend some time with Jack's much older brother Gentleman Jack and guess what, some things do improve with age.

Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey 750 ml is approximately $24.00 and the distinctive bottle looks a little bit like Crown Royal. It is an 80 proof whiskey, oak barrel aged and then charcoal filtered twice.

The color of this whiskey is dark golden brown, almost caramel similar to Jack Daniel's that we all know. This whiskey is made with corn, rye, and barley malt and has a more earthy scent that the other Jack Daniel's as well as many other high end whiskey's.

It does burn a little bit more, it seems like the alcohol content is higher, even though it isn't. I have to say that while it is tasty to drink it doesn't mix as well with Coke, so be prepared to drink it on the rocks.

Overall, Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey is worth the extra money if you...

...

LisaCarey says "A peach of a vodka!" about Absolut Peach Vodka

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:22:21 GMT

Absolute APeach Vodka is made by Absolut of Sweden, which has been producing quality vodka's since 1879 - and it shows! They have added a line of flavored vodka's to their product line, many of which are "absolut-ely" delicious. Absolut Peach Vodka is one of them.

The Absolut Vodka APeach bottle is distinctive, the clear bottle at the top with a peach colored ring around the bottle. Go ahead and buy the big bottle - you will need it once you start drinking it. You probably won't want to share it.

Absolut APeach is made with all natural ingredients, no sugar.

It is 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof) and priced at around $30.00.

This flavored vodka can be paired with many other drinks or on the rocks. Some each "fixes" are Welch's White Grape Peach Juice, Schweppes Tonic Water, Giant Light Cranberry Juice, and Bols Triple Sec.

However, I like to add Diet 7 Up to it. It makes a cool refreshing drink with guess what no fat or carbs!

The aroma is definitely peach, just like the fruit....

...

cpease88 says "Patron is smooth as silk!" about Patron Silver Tequila

cpease88 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:15:53 GMT

I will admit I rarely get to have a drink any more since I had my daughter, but when I get the chance to have a good stiff drink I love Patron. It is a smooth tequilla that tastes good! I use to drink hard liqours and drink crazy so when a friend introduced me to Patron I fell in love! It doesnt have the burn that alot of other tequillas have and its perfect for shots. A lemon, some salt, and you are good to go. Although I admit that the price is kind of high for my tastes, I believe that it is well worth it. And since I dont get to drink it very much anymore every few months paying the required amount is well worth it. The only con about this product is I havent found anything that I like to mix it with. I love mixed drinks and this is kind of hard to mix with things. I would use it as a margarita mixer but I am not very big on drinking margaritas. But over all I would definately give this a thumbs up!!

...

flbeachchic says "Crystal Head Vodka is a nice smooth easy to drink Vodka." about Crystal Head Vodka by Dan Aykroyd. Crystal Head Vodka 750

flbeachchic — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:16:05 GMT

When I first seen Crystal Head Vodka I was impressed with the bottle, a skull and since it was around halloween it fit with the party I was having. It was a hit! Not only the cool looking skull everyone loved, but the Vodka itself was so smooth and no afterburn. I served it ice cold as shots and also some people used it in their favorite cocktails.

I began to read the box that it came in and there is a story that goes along with the Crystal Head..its goes like this: It follows the story of 13 Crystal Heads that had been unearthed at various times around the world, from the Yucatan to Tibet. The Crystals are belived the bring good will and positive energy

The Vodka is also triple filtered thru polished Crystals called Herkimer diamonds, making the Vodka totally free of additives and a pure spirit. Most Vodkas use additives, sugar and citrus to improve flavor and smoothness.

The cost is a little high I thought, 44.95 is what I paid..But I was happy with what I got so it was worth it for...

...

Bryan-Carey says "Absolut Mandarin Adds a New Dimension of Taste" about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:05:24 GMT

Flavored liquors continue to grow in popularity and nowhere is this more evident than with vodka. Given vodka's neutral profile, it makes sense that it would be the liquor most likely to be flavored and one of many examples is Absolut Mandarin Vodka, a orange- enhanced vodka from Sweden.

Vodka Commentary:

Absolut Mandarin Vodka is an 80- proof, flavored vodka made from winter wheat, grown in the native Sweden, and it is made using Absolut's patented continuous distillation process. This flavored vodka features the aroma and flavor of orange, with orange peel being the dominant characteristic, along with a small amount of tangerine. The flavor of alcohol is obvious and the aftertaste is very orange- like and pleasant.

I'm a purist by nature and because of this, I generally do not like flavorings added to liquor of any type. However, with vodka, I have made an exception more than once. I have found that many of these flavored varieties not only match up nicely with the taste and character...

...

trisha1030 says "don't even have to mix it!" about Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka

trisha1030 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:20:12 GMT

This has to be the best Vodka in the world. I loved the raspberry sweet tea one a little more though. A great way to relax after a hard day at work then coming home to a destroyed house to clean! I would pour it over ice and sip it while I worked on my school work after putting the baby to bed. It was also great when having people over. I mixed it with lemonade and we would all sit around talking about past times. A wonderful thing! I first bought it because it was on sale for $7 or somewhere around there and after that I was hooked. I like girly drinks I guess you would say. So this was perfect for me. I love being able to choose to just poor it over ice and drink it without have to look for something to mix it with. Another good thing was I had it all to myself!!! I was to sweat for my fiance so he stayed away. I would recommend this to all you women out there trying to keep your husbands out of your liquor!

...

awareness says "the best gin you'll ever try, hands down" about William Grant & Sons Ltd Hendrick's Gin

awareness — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:46:11 GMT

Hendrick's Gin is gin as it was always meant to be.

Hendrick's is distinctively smooth. It's flavor doesn't have to work to be noticed. It's not loud; it whispers and yet is heard in a crowd. This makes it perfect for folks who don't enjoy the overly rough, brash, medicinal flavor of cheaper gins. This also makes it a great introduction to newcomers to gin but maintains it as the keystone of gin aficionados.

Hand in hand with its flavor is its wonderful aroma. Pour some in a glass, hold it up to your nose, and enjoy the complex peppery, junipery fragrance—then take a sip and behold.

Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or shaken over ice with a small splash of extra dry vermouth. If you like olives, toss a couple in. If not, I recommend a twist of lime.

So far, everyone I know who enjoys gin and has tried Hendrick's has become a convert. The Hendrick's Gin web site proclaims it to be "ridiculously good" which fits as well as any description when words fall short.

The only downside to...

...

this2shallpass19 says "I can't believe Trader Joe's sells this stuff!" about Moskovskaya Russian Vodka

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:47:57 GMT

I shop at Trader Joe's pretty frequently and it's very rare that I am totally disappointed in something I bought there, however, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is a total disappointment!

The majority of the alcohol I drink is either wine, vodka or tequila. Trader Joe's has excellent prices on beer, liquor and wine, so I tend to buy the majority of my alcohol there. The last time I was at Trader Joe's, I decided to try a new bottle of vodka they had, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka. It was only $8.99 and has a label that looks like a knock-off of Stolichnaya, my favorite vodka, so I decided to give it a shot.

Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is 80 proof, 40% alcohol, made with 100% grain and imported into the USA from Russia. The label reads: "Moskovskaya is the most distinctive vodka in the world. Distilled from rich grain and finished with pure glacial waters, Moskovskaya is imported from Russia, the birthplace of great vodka."

I have made several drinks with this vodka, and each and every time...

...

awareness says "Clean, refreshing herbal taste, both subtle and accessible" about Polmos Bialystok Zubrowka (Bison Grass Vodka)

awareness — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:23:36 GMT

Bison Grass Vodka, or Zubrowka, defines a category of its own.

It is a Polish vodka distilled from rye and infused with bison grass which lends it its distinctive flavor.

It is easily enjoyed neat or on the rocks, depending on preference. It suggests a variety of unique cocktails which leverage its unique characteristics, if you're into that sort of thing. (One person describes one of the Zubrowka-based cocktails as tasting like apple pie—who doesn't like apple pie?) Personally, I prefer it straight. Each sip is just as magical as the first.

While technically it is a "flavored" vodka, unlike the large majority of other flavored vodkas, the herbal character created by the bison grass is quiet and complex in contrast to the blaring, sometimes cloying flavors of typical flavored vodka. It is a delightful piece of chamber music to the blaring symphonies of other flavored vodkas.

While one can detect the "alcoholy" flavor which is the signature characteristic of most vodkas, it is...

...

LisaCarey says "Put the lime in the coconut " about Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof 1.00l

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:13:55 GMT

Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em both up.

Imagine this, laying on the beach slathered in cocoa butter. That's pretty much the scent you get when you first pour Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof. It is a clear alcoholic spirit that tastes just as good on the rocks as it does mixed in a drink.

The price of the Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof is so very reasonable and the flavor of this spirit is clean and crisp without bitterness or an after taste. Here is the funny thing, I don't even really like coconut flavor or lotions. Neither the aroma or the flavor is one of my favorites, but for some reason this simply works on the rock or as a mixed drink. Consider serving a Key West Cooler, Absolut Stress, or Malibu Sunrise using Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof.

Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof is reasonably priced, versatile, easily found at most liquor stores, made in Barbados with natural coconut extract and is 21% alcohol content by volume....

...

LisaCarey says "Cranberry and Lemonade? Guess what it works! " about Mikes Hard Harder Cranberry Lemonade

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:30:56 GMT

I recently attended a birthday party where Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade was served to the adults. It was surprisingly fun and refreshing, so I decided to give it a try at home on my own to see if more than one held up to judgment.

Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade is a malt beverage, not a beer, but not a spirit. It's made with the same grains as beer. There is one significant difference, it is fruity flavored and carbonated, and honestly nothing like beer, even fruit flavored ones.

Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade comes in a four pack package, with large size cans with a price tag of approximately $6.99. Upon pouring, it is larger that most glasses and requires leaving some of it in the can while you drink down the glass. It is incredibly bubbly and the color is a light red, cranberry color. The aroma is fruity and easily drinkable.

Warning to those who don't drink often, this "harder" lemonade actually does pack a little punch on an empty stomach.

If you are looking...

...

njchicaa says "Why mess with fresh lime juice when you can use this stuff?" about Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix

njchicaa — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:39:16 GMT

When we throw parties and host holiday barbeques, our guests are all about the margaritas. We have the most wonderful frozen drink device ever, the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, and use this Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix to make our fabulous margaritas.

Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix contains everything that you need to make a margarita except for the tequila and salt to rim the edge of your glass. You don't have to mess around with juicing limes, adding triple sec or sweetened lime juice, or doing anything else.... You simply add ice, this mix, and tequila to the blender (or Frozen Concoction maker) and then blend it all together. You can even add frozen strawberries, mangoes, or other fruits to make fruit-flavored margaritas.

At about $4 per bottle, Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix is a great deal. You can buy it in grocery stores, liquor stores, and my mother has even found it in dollar stores! We used to spend a lot of time juicing fresh limes and mixing other ingredients, but it...

...

Motorpenguin says "Love this right before bed." about Starbucks Cream Liqueur

Motorpenguin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:19:02 GMT

We first tried Starbucks Coffee Liqueur and were pleased with the bite--both the taste and the buzz. When I saw that Starbucks Cream Liqueur was available, I thought it would be worth a shot.

I now LOVE this stuff. It's creamy and smooth, just right at 2 oz. before bedtime...a nice extra little dessert. I definitely think it tastes better than Bailey's Irish Cream. The Starbucks isn't overly sweet, but still very smooth. I drink it at room temperature without added ice. In Central USA, I was able to get this at $20 instead of the $25. I would still pay the $25 if I could only find it out East where I am.

...

ThirstyAdventures says "Charbay Vodka is my #1 favorite" about Charbay Green Tea Vodka

ThirstyAdventures — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:09:28 GMT

I tried Charbay Vodka at STREET in Socal, and then had the Green Tea Vodka at a benefit we attended earlier this year. At STREET, the Charbay Canton Ginger Kick was amazing, so I asked to try the vodka on it's own. Kicks Grey Goose right in the booty, super smooth and lush. Not long after that I enjoyed the Green Tea vodka at a benefit mixed with lemonade (and maybe some mint?)... It was AMAZING! Light and refreshing... Too bad the previous reviewer didn't enjoy it - as this was instantly my new favorite. I hear they make wine too... I'm off to do some research!

...

njchicaa says "There are no words to describe this Green Tea Vodka." about Charbay Green Tea Vodka

njchicaa — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:45:26 GMT

A friend of ours knows that, although we aren't regular vodka drinkers, we've tried and really liked a couple of them in the past year or so. When she joined us for a football Sunday, she brought along a bottle of Charbay Green Tea Vodka.

Supposedly, Charbay Green Tea Vodka is made from only rare, first-growth, whole leaf green tea leaves that are hand distilled into this stuff. They don't add any colors, flavors, or essences. In terms of alcohol content, this is a typical vodka at 70 proof or 35% alcohol. I couldn't tell you what the MSRP is on this stuff, but I've seen it online for between $30 and $35.

Doesn't this stuff sound great? Well, just wait until you taste it! We first had a few sips after chilling it for several minutes. It tasted exactly like the smell of wet paint. Seriously. We tried to mix it with club soda and sugar, but it still had the overwhelming taste of wet paint. GROSS. Because we are sneaky people, we've tricked several of our friends (who understood...

...

DeniseJS says "Captain Morgan Parrot Bay is a Tropical Delight" about Captain Morgan Parrot Bay

DeniseJS — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:31:13 GMT

I love rum, I love coconut and I love trying new things so picking up a bottle of Captain Morgan Parrot Bay seemed like the perfect way to spend a Friday evening.

The smooth, rich flavor of this coconut rum tastes pretty darn good! You can drink it straight, but I prefer to use it in mixed drinks. It's such a versatile rum that you can use practically anything to make a tasty tropical-inspired adult beverage. I like using pineapple juice and lots of ice, but I've used pineapple juice blends and orange juice too.

If you aren't into the taste of hard alcohol, you'll be happy to know that Captain Morgan Parrot Bay has a very slight alcohol taste but it isn't strong at all, even if you drink it straight!

As a rum drinker and a fan of almost anything in the Captain Morgan line, I have to say I had high hopes for this variety and I was not disappointed. The only downside is that not every establishment carrys Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Rum, so you may have to do some digging to find this tropical...

...

LisaCarey says "Twist my hot summer night with some fruity mango flavor" about Smirnoff Twisted Ice Mango

LisaCarey — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:13:56 GMT

Even though we are a household of beer snobs, and pretty picky about our spirits too, having something cold and ready made on a hot night or just to be able to sit back and relax with friends requires a little more creativity and for me that's where Smirnoff Twisted Ice Mango malt beverage comes in handy.

Smirnoff Twisted Ice Mango is:

freshly fruity
makes everyone at my house happy; guests and hosts alike
great on a hot summer day
easy to serve since it's ready made
it does at least have malt so my beer loving friends can't make too much fun of it at a "foo foo" drink
inexpensive

Smirnoff Twisted Ice Mango is not:

for snobs
not an outstanding beverage but is pretty good
too fruity
too carbonated
or too expensive

if you are looking for a fun little fruity drink without a lot of alcohol or aftertaste then Smirnoff Twisted Ice Mango is great to serve at any gathering. There is just the slightest hint of passion fruit, mango and melon to even the flavors out and...

...

redstarr says "Best Dollars to Quality Vodka Value. Best Bargain Mixing Vodka." about Pinnacle Vodka

redstarr — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:56:00 GMT

Pinnacle Vodka is the best dollars to quality vodka value out there. For an inexpensive mixing vodka, you can't beat it. It's smooth and light. It's very much modeled after the French super-premium vodkas in style. It's that Grey Goose, almost flavorless, super-soft style.

If you're a fan of Grey Goose looking for a cheaper alternative, Pinnacle is by far going to be the best choice. I tried the two head to head and could taste a slight difference between the Pinnacle and the Grey Goose when I sipped it straight, most of my guests couldn't tell them apart. When we tried both vodkas mixed with orange juice or with cranberry juice, even I couldn't tell them apart.

Around here, it usually costs around 12 dollars for a 750 ml bottle and 22 dollars for the half gallon bottle. That's a few bucks less than brands like Smirnoff or Skyy and only a couple of bucks more than sub-premium brands like Popov and almost a third of the price of super-premiums like Grey Goose or Ciroc....

...