Review: Ole Smoky Amaretto Whiskey
Ole Smoky Amaretto Whiskey is one of 16 flavored whiskies produced at the Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Ole Smoky is probably best known for the 32 flavors of Moonshine they produce, but they also produce flavored whiskey and canned cocktails. The other flavored whiskeys include Salty Caramel, Salty Watermelon, Mango Habanero, Tennessee Mud, Cookies & Cream, Cinnamon, Peach, Root Beer, Bourbon Ball, Pumpkin Spice Cream, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Lemonade, and Pear. Each of these start with a 100% corn whiskey base that is barrel aged for 2 years. Ole Smoky Amaretto Whiskey is made with a blend of toasted almond and sweet cherry flavor and their corn whiskey base. While their other flavored whiskeys are bottled at 60 proof, and the Ole Smoky whiskey creams 70 proof, Ole Smoky Amaretto weighs in at 56 proof. Read more 
Review: Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Irish Vodka
If the red bottle doesn’t get your attention sitting on the liquor store shelf next to the other brands clear vodka bottles, the name, Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Irish Vodka will. First of all the bottle is red. The vodka is colorless. The vodka is also unflavored. Irish vodka and gin have grown in popularity as more Irish Whiskey distilleries open and they need a source of income while their whiskey is barrel aged. The Shed Distillery was founded in 2014 by P.J. Rigney in Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim. In April 2015, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin was their first product released, but it was not their first product produced. The first was Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, but the whiskey needed to be barrel aged. They currently also craft Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin with Sardinian Citrus. From the curious mind of PJ Rigney Sausage Tree Vodka starts with Irish grain. The grain is distilled on a German built two column copper still handcrafted by Arnold Holstein. Sausage tree fruit, and Irish nettle are added before distilling again. Few production details are provided but it is bottled at 86 proof. Sausage Tree’s grow in Africa and are named such because of the sausage shaped fruit that grows on the tree. These fruit are poisonous to humans if consumed raw, but they are edible raw for some animals. Sausage fruit is a popular ingredient in African beer. Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Vodka was introduced March 2018 in Dusseldorf Germany. Where else would a vodka distilled in Ireland with African grown sausage tree fruit be launched. Read more
Review: Shmallow Toasted Marshmallow Bourbon
Shmallow Toasted Marshmallow Bourbon was introduced July 2022. It is produced by Hotel Tango Distillery in Indianapolis Indiana. The distillery was founded by Travis Barnes, his wife Hilary and several friends. Travis is a Marine veteran who served three tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom after enlisting in the military shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11. He received several combat medals and citations but after being hit by several IED’s resulting in traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. Travis was honorably discharged and met his wife Hilary at law school. To honor Travis’ military service the distillery name is based on the NATO phonetic alphabet. Hotel for Hilary and Tango for Travis. They founded the distillery in 2013 in the Fletcher Place neighborhood of Indianapolis. They currently also produce bourbon, rye, vodka, gin, liqueur, limoncello, and rum. Shmallow is made from bourbon with natural and artificial flavors and it is bottled at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Camus Cognac VSOP
Camus Cognac VSOP is made from a blend of eaux-de-vie, some coming from the cru of Borderies. The Borderies Cru is the smallest of the six winemaking regions of Cognac, and the Camus family is the regions largest land owner. Camus VSOP is aged for a minimum of 4 years in fine grain barrels low in tannins due to the “French light toasting” process which allows for a balance of oakiness and fresh flavors. For five generations the Camus family has been crafting cognac, starting with Jean Baptiste Camus who organized a consortium of cognac producers in 1863 under the name La Grande Marque. Camus VSOP is one of several cognacs in the Camus Intensely Aromatic line of cognac. Camus also produces a Borderies Signature, and Aromatic Gems line. Read more
Review: Apres Hours
Apres Hours is a line of ready to drink canned espresso martinis that come in three flavors, Classic, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel. Launched by Alexis Smith and Nicole Craven they worked with Levecke Corporation in Mira Loma California to turn their obsession with espresso martinis into a canned cocktail. Apres Hours translates to “after hours”. Alexis and Nicole have always preferred espresso martinis made with tequila instead of the vodka, so it was an easy decision for them to craft their gluten free and dairy free espressos from a agave wine base. Agave wine is produced from the fermentation of agave sap. Natural flavors, 40mg of caffeine from Columbian coffee and caramel color are blended with the agave wine base before canning at 10% alcohol. As a point of reference for those who have not tried an Espresso Martini a traditional one is made with 2 oz. vodka, 1 oz. coffee liqueur, 1 oz. espresso, and .5 oz. simple syrup. Apres Hours is sold in single flavor four packs and it is available to ship to 39 US states. Order yours at drinkapreshours.com Read more
The High Noon Challenge
The High Noon Challenge is not a drinking competition, nor is it as painful as the Paqui One Chip Challenge. The High Noon Challenge is a fun way to sample all 13 High Noon Hard Seltzers without feeling like you just drink 13 cans of hard seltzer. For those unfamiliar with High Noon it’s best described as a Real Vodka + Real Juice Hard Seltzer. The High Noon Challenge is an event to be shared with family and friends. This event is best enjoyed in groups of 4-12. To join the fun, pick up one four flavor 8 can variety pack of High Noon Tropical, one High Noon Tailgate variety pack, one High Noon Pool Variety Pack, and one pack of 3 ounce Solo cups. If you can’t find Solo cups, Dixie cups will work but it always seems more fun drinking from a Solo cup. High Noon does make a 13th flavor. High Noon Lemon is sold in an individual flavor 4 can pack. For extra credit pick up one 4 can pack of High Noon Lemon. Read more
Review: Canteen Vodka Soda Tropical Variety Pack
Canteen Vodka Soda was launched 2019, the same year High Noon Hard Seltzer was released. Both brands took a different approach to the market. While both are made from an vodka alcohol base. Canteen choose to go with the vodka soda designation while High Noon positioned themselves as a hard seltzer. Canteen Spirits was founded by Daniel Barnes founder of Treaty Oak Distillery and Brandon Cason who helped build Deep Eddy Vodka before the pair co-founded Waterloo Sparkling Water. The duo have since added Canteen Gin Spritz and Cantina Tequila Soda to their product line. Canteen currently produces seven flavor varieties all are sold in individual flavor 4 packs and Ruby Red and Cucumber Lime are only sold that way. The others are available in Canteen’s Classic or their Tropical Variety Packs. Their Lime flavor is sold in both variety packs. Read more
Review: Hard Chaw Strong Irish Cream Liqueur
Hard Chaw Strong Irish Cream Liqueur was launched in Colorado in 2019. Distribution first spread to Minnesota. Hard Chaw is know available in Wisconsin and online. Colm O’Neill a former All-Ireland winning Gaelic football player and the owner of several Irish pubs spent 7 years researching and developing Hard Claw, eventually partnering with Irelands premier family owned creamery and distillery to created the Hard Chaw brand. Hard Chaw was inspired by the Shillelagh Shot a 50-50 blend of Baileys and Jameson. Hard Chaw is made from the finest pot still Irish Whiskies, craft distilled Irish potcheen, and fresh Irish dairy cream. Potcheen is Irish Moonshine and most Irish cream liqueurs are made with a blended Irish whiskey as opposed to a pot still style. Hard Chaw weighs in at 50 proof, 50% higher than traditional Irish Cream liqueurs. Read more
2022 Top Ten Eggnog Liqueurs
The eggnog season traditionally runs from the end of October through the end of December. I must apologize for not posting this list sooner but this has been a very busy year at Best Tasting Spirits and when we publish our Top Ten lists they involve a complete do over for each spirit. We posted our review of Christian Brothers Holiday Nog over 9 years ago and we have posted over 2000 reviews since then so it would not be fair or accurate to post our top ten list based on memory. For those unfamiliar with eggnog it is typically made from milk, cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and it is seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg. Eggnog liqueurs are typically spiked with brandy, rum, and or bourbon, but we have also reviewed some spiked with wine, moonshine, and corn spirits. A Top Ten Eggnog List is only as good as the eggnog’s being considered. We have reviewed 17. We believe 2 are no longer produced so we are not considering the previously reviewed Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit, or Holly Nog but we have included our thoughts on both. To keep this Top Ten list relevant we will continue to post reviews of eggnog liqueur. We will not alter our 2022 Top Ten list but we will use this site to add our comments on the additional eggnog liqueurs we review in the future. Read more
Review: Peg Leg Colorado White Rum
Peg Leg Colorado White Rum is one of several spirits produced at Mile High Spirits in the Denver Ballpark neighborhood. Those spirits include Fireside Bourbon, Fireside Single Barrel Bourbon, Fireside Peach Whiskey, 2 gins, a vodka and the 80 proof Fireside Old Fashioned. After creating 50 private label brands for other clients Wyn Farrell and Joe Von Feldt recruited Chase Campbell and the trio opened Mile High Spirits in 2011. Peg Leg Colorado White Rum is distilled with Demerara sugar from raw sugarcane on a custom German built Arnold Holstein copper still, and proofed with filtered Rocky Mountain Water. Peg Leg Colorado White Rum and the rest of the Mile High Spirits are available in 11 state or online at www.drinkmhs.com/distillery Read more