OH spirits Recommendations, we have a few
Here are a few brands we love, (in alphabetical order), and some suggestions on mixers with which to pair them.
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Remember, for each:
TSA FRIENDLY MIXER - add one 50ml bottle of spirits
MINI MIXER - add up to 4 oz of spirit (just over two 50ml airline bottles)
PARTY SIZED MIXER - add half a 750ml or half a liter of spirits, depending on
how strong you prefer your drinks.
Happy cocktailing!
VODKA
This luxury brand hails from Poland, and is four-times distilled from select rye according to strict Polish standards. Though charcoal-filtered for clarity and an elegant texture, hints of it’s savory source material remain, giving the spirit just a hint of the edge you’d expect.
Another luxury brand, this time from France, Ciroc Vodka has the distinction of being made from grapes, as opposed to the much more common grain or potatoes. But things are much more interesting than that… The master distiller comes from a pedigreed Bordeaux winemaking family, and previously worked for Hennessy, making cognac. The five distillations that go into making Ciroc involve three different types of stills, and a blending of two distillates which finally creates a vodka that rides high on the palate, with gentle citrus notes to perfectly enhance a wide range of classic cocktails.
A boutique brand from the Slovak Republic, Double Cross Vodka is made from winter wheat. Unlike other grains, winter wheat generally yields an ever-so-slightly sweet spirit, which means that it has that classic glassy texture when chilled. Distilled & filtered seven times, this is a vodka which pairs well with any spirit, and automatically elevates any cocktail.
Dutch in origin, Ketel One Vodka is a premium brand made from 100% wheat, featuring a crisp edge cottoned with gentle hints of sweetness. This balance makes Ketel One the perfect platform for any cocktail, especially those using fresh ingredients in the mix. Think of it as your blank canvas, and create anything you want.
Starlite
This American vodka comes from Austin, Texas’s Treaty Oak Distillery, and is made from a precise blend of wheat & corn, which lends a wonderfully smooth texture to any drink. At its price point, it’s an incredible value for the level of quality, and is a great introduction to this distillery’s portfolio.
GIN
Master distiller Allen Katz truly created a masterpiece with this one. Dorothy Parker Gin, which is made in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, showcases classic juniper notes, tempered by elderberries and hibiscus petals. Pleasantly dry by nature, Dorothy Parker makes for a wonderful gimlet, when you add it to our Daiquiri mixer.
Hendrick’s Gin was the first internationally available gin in to break the London Dry mold, with its now famous additions of cucumber & rose to its botanicals, which soften the effect of juniper. Smooth & cooling, the taste of this gin brings a new twist to drinks like the Southside, which you can create a version of, by adding Hendrick’s to our Mojito mixer.
Coming in on the luxury side, Monkey 47 Gin broke onto the world stage from the Black Forest region of southern Germany, and has become one of the most highly-regarded “New World” gins on the market. The flavor profile is carefully constructed with lingonberries & grapefruit peel, among many other botanicals, and created in very small batches to ensure quality. While purists might call it heresy, we love the way Monkey 47 pairs with our Cosmopolitan mixer.
Plymouth Gin is one of a kind. Soft on the palate, with floral aromatics, its addition to a cocktail takes the bite out of acidic elements. Combine Plymouth Gin with our Moscow Mule mixer for a Gin-Gin cocktail, and enjoy a smooth sipping experience.
What can we say? The Tanqueray brand is already regarded as a classic London Dry gin, and the Tanqueray Ten expression adds light citrus botanicals to the mix, for one of the most elegant flavor profiles in the category.
RUM
Bacardi Superior is a classic dry style, light rum. First produced in 1862, it was the first aged rum that was produced to be clear in color, and light in character. Its subtle vanilla and almond notes make it a versatile mixing rum, and ensure it mixes seamlessly with our Daiquiri and Mojito mixers.
If you’re a beginner with aged rums, Bacardi Reserva 8 Anos is a great place to start. While aged rums are frequently sipped neat, or with ice, younger expressions, such as this, can add new depth to drinks you only thought you knew. Adding Bacardi Reserva 8 Anos to our Mojito mixer, for example, and topping it with sparkling wine, instead of seltzer, for example, gives you everything you love about a mojito, but also brings a bit of the barrel to the palate. Add a dash of Angostura bitters to make the contemporary classic cocktail, the "Old Cuban."
Flor de Cana 4YR ‘Extra Seco’
What to say about Flor de Cana’s 4 year-old ‘Extra Seco’? Like its name suggests, you get a wonderfully dry finish, but although it has a light texture, it also has a surprisingly sturdy backbone, which holds up to any number of flavor additions in cocktails. For the enthusiasts out there, Flor de Cana 4YR ‘Extra Seco’ plus our Daiquiri mixer is a great place to start when going the extra mile with the addition of other flavors.
Mount Gay Eclipse
A legendary golden rum, Mount Gay Eclipse brings hints of vanilla, baking spices & oak to a cocktail, complementing the citrus notes found in so many of your favorites. For a surprisingly delicious combination, try Mount Gay Eclipse Rum with our Margarita mixer, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
The first rum produced in New York City since Prohibition, Owney’s Rum is clear in the bottle, but funky & complex on the palate. Adventurous types will love the way this rum adds depth to our Moscow Mule & Mojito mixers without altering their colors.
Plantation Original Dark Double Aged Rum
With just the right balance of spice & caramel notes, which add character, but don’t overpower the drink, Plantation Original Dark is perfect for our Daiquiri mixer. A fantastic quality value at its price point, this rum is the one you won’t want to be without.
TEQUILA
Casamigos Blanco
One of the most successful new brands in the category, Casamigos Blanco Tequila brings the inherent sweetness of agave with hints of vanilla to match any citrus juices. We love to make Paloma cocktails by using Casamigos with our Margarita mixer, then pouring with grapefruit juice and a splash of seltzer – Refreshing & crisp for any occasion!
Don Julio Blanco
An international standard of quality, Don Julio Blanco Tequila needs no introduction. The well-balanced flavor adds a lovely dry finish to our Margarita mixer. You’ll want another sip even before you put the glass down.
Espolon Blanco
An undeniable value in its category, Espolon Blanco Tequila is a smooth, 100% agave tequila with light citrus & pepper notes which pairs beautifully with the fresh ginger of our Moscow Mule mixer, and also with our Margarita mixer, when combined with a few slices of jalapeno pepper. If you like it hot, you’ll be hooked.
Siete Leguas Blanco
Not as widely known as some of the other names in the tequila category, Siete Leguas tequilas have a gorgeously complexity, which adds a new dimension of flavor to your drinks. Combine Siete Leguas Blanco to our Daiquiri mixer, then add water to the remaining headspace in the bottle, and finish with a little time in your freezer, and you’ll have an amazing icy cocktail in no time.
Tequila Ocho Reposado
Tequila Ocho’s range certainly falls into the premium category, with a quality & character which can only be achieved through single-estate harvesting of agave. And while the reposado bottling is wonderful for sipping on its own, we love added depth of flavor it brings to a cocktail.
MEZCAL
Illegal Joven
If you’re new to mezcal, you can think of it as tequila’s smokier cousin. Ilegal Joven Mezcal’s hints of leather take our Moscow Mule & Margarita mixers is a darker direction, which can be a nice counterpoint to the brightness of citrus & ginger.
WHISK(E)Y
BOURBON
Bulleit Bourbon
Bulleit Bourbon is distilled with a higher rye content than other bourbons, which creates a drier mid-palate, and pushes its sweetness to the finish. When combined with our Sour mixer, this yields a well-rounded flavor that keeps you coming back for more.
Maker’s Mark
With its characteristic flavor arc (hot up front, long subtle finish), Maker’s Mark pairs well with our Mojito mixer, as it allows the fresh mint flavors to shine through, without drowning them in sugary notes. For this combination, we recommend crushed or cracked ice, with no seltzer needed.
RYE
Whistlepig 10 Year
On the premium end of rye whiskies, Whistlepig 10 Year Rye is ingeniously finished in wine casks, which means you’ll get all the spiciness you love, with a smoothly finessed finish, welcome in any cocktail. Try adding Whistlepig 10 Year Rye to our Sour mixer, and float a dry red wine across the top of each drink for a lovely New York Sour cocktail.
TENNESSEE WHISKEY
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7
A truly American classic, Jack Daniel’s is known for its full flavor & rich banana scent. And while we love the value in the brand, we like to get classy by combining it with our Sour mixer, and serving it in a highball glass, topped with sparkling wine.
SCOTCH
Glenfiddich 12 Year Single Malt
If you’re a scotch purist, please avert your eyes, because we’re about to step outside the box here… Glenfiddich’s signature 12 Year bottling is delicious with our Moscow Mule mixer. Still with us? Great. Because while scotch whiskies are expected to have some degree of wood & peat smoke flavors, Glenfiddich goes beyond, and you’ll notice elegant notes of pear & tart apple in its profile, which are lovely with fresh ginger.