A great example of a top-shelf whiskey that isn’t on the highest shelf of prices is Knob Creek. Produced by the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, about 100 miles west of Bourbon County, Knob Creek’s main varieties are bottled at 100 proof (50% abv), so they pack a bigger punch than most whiskeys bottled…
UV Blue is a flavored vodka produced by the Phillips Distilling Company. UV Blue vodka has a raspberry flavor and is mainly used in various fruity mixed drinks. Unlike many other vodka giants in the industry, UV vodka is a fairly new brand having been established in 2001. It was slow to gain popularity, but…
Kahlua is a coffee-flavored, sugar-based liqueur produced in Mexico. The liqueur is produced using several ingredients, such as rum, vanilla bean, and corn syrup. It’s mainly used as a cocktail mixer and an ingredient in desserts, like ice cream, cakes, and cheesecakes. Before 2004, the alcoholic content of Kahlua was 26.5%. After 2004, it was…
Angry Orchard is a bottled hard cider originally made in New York State from cider apples. Angry Orchard is currently owned by Boston Beer Company, who also own Sam Adams Beer, Truly Hard Seltzer, and Dogfishhead Beer. At its peak, Angry Orchard represented 50% of the sales in the American hard cider market. Angry Orchard…
Smirnoff Ice is a malt beverage produced by the same company that produces Smirnoff vodka, which is owned by the spirits giant, Diageo. Although their vodkas are the usual 40% alcohol by volume, Smirnoff ice is only around 4.5 to 7% alcohol by volume depending on the country and market. There are many varieties of…
Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge (Red Ribbon) is the Rolls Royce of orange liqueurs. Its rich, complex Cognac base sets it apart from most orange liqueurs, which use a neutral grain spirit as a base. At 40% ABV, it is also quite a bit more potent than competing orange liqueurs. You can use a little Grand…
Thanks to a successful marketing campaign, Disaronno is likely the amaretto most widely known by American drinkers. Amaretto is traditionally an Italian almond liqueur. However, many modern brands use peach or apricot pits in their production. It can be enjoyed on the rocks or as an ingredient in many classic cocktails. Amaretto is also called…
Baileys is the world’s first Irish Cream Liqueur, created in 1971 by Tom Jago for International Distillers and Vintners, a conglomerate distillery and brewery. The proprietary recipe includes a blend of homogenized Irish whiskies and cream, as well as a unique secret cocoa extract, sugar, and herbs. At only 17% ABV, it can be enjoyed…
Tanqueray is the highest-selling imported gin in the USA and one of the most popular gins worldwide. It was founded in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London, but is currently manufactured at Cameron Bridge distillery in Scotland by Diageo. It was primarily sold in the retail outlet of Edward & Charles…
Malibu is the most widely known coconut “rum” on the market and can be found behind most bars in the country. While technically it is a rum-based coconut liqueur, Pernod Ricard, the parent company, refers to it as “coconut rum” in any location where the legal threshold for defining rum is not strict. Easily identified…
