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| Raising the Bar - Zoomer Magazine |
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White Nights - When it comes to the perfect cocktail, Vodka`s a clear
winner Click here to read more
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| A Toast to Champagne - The Perfect Party Mix Click
here to read more |
| The Racy Cocktail - The Mint Julep and the Kentucky Derby
Click here to read more |
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| 10 Best Places in the World for High Spirits |
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1. Whisky: The craggy heather-covered highlands of Scotland...
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| Brandy Reviews |
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Technically a grape based spirit, the term brandy is used more generally
to include any fruit distillate. Still the best known come from grapes
and are made pretty much wherever vines grow.
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| Bourbon |
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Kentucky produces two things better
than anyone - thoroughbreds and bourbon. While some of their horses go
for millions, and even the stud fee for a single penetration can cost
tens of thousands, bourbon is much more affordable. Both are quite closely
tied however in many ways. Click here to read more
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| Cognac (Luxe Magazine December
2006) |
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They call it the angels' share. Every year about three per cent of the
liquid gold that slumbers in oak barrels in Cognac evaporates into the
air. It's the equivalent I've heard of 23 million bottles of cognac annually.
Evidence of the thirst of angels is seen by the black that licks upward
around the windowsills outside cognac warehouses. The buildings look like
the devil's set them on fire. The earthly reality is that a black fungus
lives off cognac vapours.
Click Here to read more Click
here for the HTML format
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| Cognac |
| The days started overcast and cold, opening up to torrents of rain by
afternoon, but spirits were high in Cognac this October. Once the harvest
is in, damp coolness is desirable to best keep slumbering spirits mellowing
in their oak casks. Less for the angels’ share, a euphemism for the
considerable amount of fine cognac that evaporates into thin air. Click
here to read more |
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| Gin Reviews |
| When it was first produced in Holland in the 1600's, Gin was flavoured
only with juniper berries, believed to be good for the bladder and kidneys.
Today gins are bolstered by additional botanicals: coriander, aniseed, caraway,
ginger, orris root and more. Click here to read
more |
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| Rum Reviews |
| Rum is a distillate of fermented sugarcane mash, or its byproducts (such
as molasses or cane sap). Its birthplace is the Caribbean; each island makes
its own distinct brands. The three major types of rum are white, golden
and dark. With a few exceptions, white rum is not aged in oak casks. It's
the most common used in cocktails. Golden rums have a more mellow taste
achieved by aging for six months to two years in oak barrels that often
were previously used to age brandy, whiskey, or wine. Click
here to read more |
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| Tequila Reviews |
| Mexico's famed spirit is made from the spiky cactus-like agave plant,
which can take up to a decade to mature. By law tequila must be made from
at least 51 per cent blue agave. To find the best, look for "100 per cent
blue agave" on the label. Aged tequila's are wood matured to mellow the
intense herb quality of the plant. Click here to
read more |
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| The Bitter Truth |
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A Danish colleague of mine, Jorgen, who jaunts about the world covering
the likely combo of wine and politics, never leaves home without it. “It”
contrary to what you may be thinking has nothing to do with monetary concerns
but rather digestive ones. In among his weeks’ worth of undies and
socks are an equal quantity of paper-wrapped 20mL bottles of Underberg.
This natural tonic with herbs gathered from 43 countries and seeped in
44% alcohol helps him digest the pontifications or libations - whichever
the case - of the day before and get ready for the next onslaught.
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| Vodka Reviews |
| Poland was the birthplace of vodka over 600 years ago. On this side of
the Atlantic, vodka was virtually unknown until 50 years ago. In crossing
the ocean, the distillate traditionally drunk straight up and prized for
its distinctive taste in northern Europe was transformed into a characterless
mixer. No more. The pendulum has swung back to interesting ultra premium,
ultra smooth vodkas distilled from rye, wheat, potatoes or even beets. Click
here to read more |
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| Whisky Reviews |
| Whiskey is distilled from grain and aged in wood. The most complex of
all is scotch whisky (spelt without an "e", as is the Canadian version while
Irish and bourbon versions are usually spelled "whiskey"). Single malt comes
from one distillery and is made only from malted barley and water. Click
here to read more |
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