Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is almost here, so let’s drink! This week we’re taking a look at two whiskeys and one rum. To be specific; Headlong White Dog Whiskey from Woodinville Distillery, The Original Moonshine from the guys at Stillhouse Distillery, and Flor de Cana Grand Reserve 7 Year Rum straight out of Nicaragua. Do yourself a favor and check out our full reviews and excellent mixed drinks below!
Prohibition is over! And the Original Moonshine from the Stillhouse Distillery is here to stay.
Original Moonshine is a clear corn whiskey that is hand-crafted from 100% estate-grown corn and is actually distilled four times in a prohibition-era copper pot still before finally being charcoal filtered and bottled in a old-world style glass jugs. This is the same authentic tradition that moonshine has been made for hundreds of years!
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: Unaged
Flavors: Corn/grain and sugary sweetness
Taste: B (Good)
Mix-ability: B+ (Very Good)
Buzz Factor: A- (Excellent)
Price: $40.00 USD (750ml)
Overall: We give The Original Moonshine a B+ (Recommended). You wouldn’t expect this from Moonshine, but it’s surprisingly smooth and very drinkable. It’s not the first liquor we choose to drink straight-up, but isn’t half bad on its own (even better with a splash of water). We like it best mixed. Check out the recipe below, it’s outstanding!
Mix it up with – “Shine Punch”
Ingredients: 2 oz Original Moonshine, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz fresh orange juice, 1/2 oz grenadine, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 3 blackberries, muddled.
Directions: Shake lightly. Build over ice in a collins glass. Top with soda and garnish with blackberries.
Headlong White Dog Whiskey
Produced from a true bourbon whiskey mash bill, Headlong White Dog Whiskey is an organic unaged “white” whiskey that begins its journey from 100% organic corn, wheat, and malted barley. Before being bottled Headlong White Dog Whiskey is slowly distilled with precise cuts at handcrafted quality.
So what the heck is white dog whiskey anyways? Very simply, it’s unaged whiskey. The aging process for whiskeys takes years to perfect and many distillers are embracing the idea of bottling white whiskeys for sale. Heck, if it’s good enough unaged, just think how delicious it could be down the road 4 years after sitting in some charred oak barrels!
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: Unaged
Flavors: Peppery spices and hints of coconut.
Taste: B (Good)
Mix-ability: B (Good)
Buzz Factor: B- (Okay)
Price: $29.99 USD (750ml)
Overall: We give Headlong White Dog Whiskey a B (Recommended). Not you’re grandpa’s whiskey, so don’t expect it to be. That being said, White Dog Whiskey a refreshing break from the norm and would make and exciting addition to anyones liquor stash. Try it straight, then try the mixed drink below…
Mix It Up With: “Red Dog”
Ingredients: 2 oz White Dog Whiskey, 1/2 oz Orange Vodka, 1 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice, 1 1/2 oz Orange Juice, 3 oz Ginger Ale
Directions: Pour vodka and whiskey into a cocktail shaker. Add orange and cranberry juice, and shake vigorously. Pour over ice in a frozen or chilled collins glass or tumbler. Slowly add the ginger ale, garnish with a maraschino cherry or orange wedge, and serve in a Collins Glass.
Flor de Caña Grand Reserve 7 Year
Touted as Flor de Caña’s most versatile rum, the 7 year Grand Reserve is proudly produced using the finest molasses from sugar cane harvested in fields adjacent to their distillery in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. Flor de Caña is distilled 5 times using a distillation column process. Every drop of Flor de Caña Rum is slow-aged for 7 years in small American white oak barrels.
Accolades: Too many to mention! Flor de Caña has won over 100 international awards since 2000.
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 7 years
Flavors: Molasses, cinnamon, vanilla, sugar cane.
Taste: B (Good)
Mix-ability: B+ (Very Good)
Buzz Factor: B (Very Good)
Price: $24.99 USD (750ml)
Overall: We give Flor de Caña Grand Reserve 7 year Rum a B+ (Recommended). Sweet and smooth are the two best ways to properly describe Flor de Caña. The 7 long years it took to mature this rum were not in vain. Fans of rum, treat yourself to this highly awarded rum, we think you’ll like it!
Mix It Up With: “Tribal Caña”
Ingredients: 1 ½ parts Flor De Caña 7 year rum, ¾ part fresh lime juice, ¾ part pineapple juice, ½ part simple syrup, 3 drops vanilla extract, 10 cilantro leaves, 8 mint leaves, Fresh Cilantro to taste.
Directions: Muddle mint, cilantro, lime and pineapple juice in a Collins glass. Add the Flor de Caña 7 year rum and vanilla. Fill the glass halfway with crushed ice and use a spoon to swizzle ingredients. Fill the glass the rest of the way with crushed ice and give another swizzle. Garnish with a mint and cilantro spring.
Next week:
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