Day 347 Drink: Benedictine Liqueur

Benedictine Liqueur was created in 1510 by the Venetian monk Dom Bernardo Vincelli in the Abbey of Fécamp in France. The liqueur is made from 27 plants and spices and only three people are allowed to know the recipe to the drink at any one time.

The liqueur is celebrating its 500th anniversary with special packaging, but the liquid inside is the classic. It is distilled in four batches, two of which have vanilla and lemon peel added for flavor. After aging separately, the batches are combined and then aged for another eight months. Then saffron, Cognac, honey and caramel are added before an additional four months of aging.

Benedictine Liqueur has a sweet, warming layered flavor. You can certainly taste the honey and there is a mild lingering herbal character. Benedictine can be used in several classic cocktails and it is also great for sipping after dinner.

Day 312 Drink: Harlem Kruiden Liqueur

Haarlem is a town outside of Amsterdam, Holland. Harlem Kruiden Liqueur is a Dutch spirit named for the town, even if the name is anglicized.

The ingredients in this liqueur are a secret combination of herbs and the makers urge you to serve it ice cold. So there is a shooter component to this drink, along with cocktail options.

Harlem Kruiden Liqueur is 80 proof and pours a cola-like color. The nose is a slightly sweet medicinal mixture of aromas. The flavor is sweeter than you would expect when compared to other herbal liqueurs. The dominant note is orange peel, with a sweet edge and a finish that has a balancing bitterness.

Day 248 Drink: Cointreau

In 1849, Adolphe Cointreau set up a distillery and started making a cherry liqueur. It was not until 1875 that the orange flavored Cointreau was first produced. The brand is now sold in 150 countries around the world.

Cointreau can be consumed neat, but it is one element of a top shelf Margarita that makes a true difference in my mind. When it is present, the taste comes through.

Cointreau is a clear 80 proof liqueur that delivers an extremely fresh orange experience. The nose is a slightly sweet orange zest. The flavor of Cointreau will remind you of a fresh tangerine. Plenty of sweet orange all around.

Day 83 Drink: Barenjager Honey Liqueur

Barenjager Honey Liqueur is said to have been originally created by hunters in medieval Europe who made a honey fortified moonshine before taking on bears. In the 15th Century Teucke & Koenig started producing a commercial "meschkinnes." The product is still made in Germany, now using honey from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Barenjager Honey Liqueur is 35 percent alcohol by volume that pours a golden honey color with an immediate sweet nose. The flavor is a direct honey blast with a warming alcohol finish. The bottle comes with several interesting sounding recipes, but sipping it straight is a very pleasant way to end an evening.

Day 75 Drink: Thanksgiving Dinner

OK, it's a long way to November, but this cocktail is worth getting in a turkey mood early.

Thanksgiving Dinner is two parts Travis Hasse's Original Apple Pie Liqueur, two parts cranberry juice and one part Wild Turkey Bourbon. The aroma will remind you of holiday kitchen and the flavor has the right sweet and spicy notes to pull off the theme. The distiller suggests doing this as a shot.

Day 70 Drink: Cherry Pie Martini

Travis Hasse's Original Pie Liqueurs hail from the Missouri Tavern in Madison, Wisc. The location is famous in Wisconsin for its original owner, Mae Mefford, who was the owner and bartender until she reached 101 years old. The Hasse family now runs the place.

Travis Hasse began making Apple Pie Liqueur at home from a recipe he received from his father. The drink was so popular that in 2008 he launched Travis Hasse's Original Apple Pie Liqueur. It is now distributed in 25 states and Canada. In 2009, Cherry Pie Liqueur was launched. The Cherry Pie Liqueur combines maraschino cherries, vanilla and neutral grain spirits in a 15 percent alcohol by volume liqueur.

The Cherry Pie Martini is three parts Travis Hasse's Original Cherry Pie Liqueur and one part vodka. The color is a translucent candy apple red. The flavor of the cocktail has a upfront tartness with the sweetness of maraschino cherries spilling through. If you would like a liquid dessert, this martini is a good place to start.

Day 43 Drink: AGWA de Bolivia Coca Herbal Liqueur

I've got to hand it to the folks at Babco International in Holland. In today's crowded spirits market it takes something truly different to stand out from the pack. How about making a spirit from the same raw material used to produce cocaine? That should get a little media coverage and consumer attention.

AGWA de Bolivia is made using wild Bolivian coca leaves picked in the Andes and shipped under armed guard in 2,000 kilo bales to Amsterdam. There they are macerated and de-cocainized. The maker suggests using AGWA in a variety of cocktails or you could just mix it with a little soda water.

The 60-proof spirit is a lime green color. The aroma is on the sweet side and is a mix of 36 ingredients, including green tea, ginseng and guarana. The flavor leans toward the tea with a touch of spicy heat in the finish that is hard to nail down.

Tuesday Tasting: Irish Cream

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample some Irish cream liqueurs.

The current issue of DRAFT magazine has a roundup article I did on different types of cream liqueurs. Doing the tasting notes for the story gave me a chance to taste several Irish cream brands side by side. There were more differences than I expected between the brands.

Baileys Irish Cream: This 34 proof liqueur the original and sets the standard for the category. Baileys is thick and rich. The cream base coats your glass. Nice cocoa notes.

Baileys Coffee: This drink takes the traditional Baileys Irish Cream to your local coffee shop. The coffee is subdued, but clearly present. A nice balance and slightly less sweet. A nice twist.

Brady’s Irish Cream Liqueur: This 34 proof is slightly lighter and has a more nutty flavor than the other Irish creams tasted. Hint of vanilla in the finish.

O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream: At 27.8 proof this Irish cream is smooth and flavorful. Clear vanilla and almond notes, on the light side.

Tuesday Tasting: Recent Arrivals from the Spirits World

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we taste six different unique spirits.

My magazine writing means that I get a steady stream of samples connected to the features and columns I'm working on. My editors want tasting notes, so I taste. I don't complain. I'm also lucky to receive the occasional odd sample of beer, wine and spirits that is not directly related to anything that I happen to be writing for deadline. I try whenever possible to share some background on these through the Tuesday Tastings section of my blog. It is research for down the road and some of these products end up in future stories.

Consider this Tuesday Tasting to be a bit of a catch up round. The following spirits have arrived in recent months and deserve a little attention.

Sobieski Vodka: This 80 proof vodka from Poland is named for King Jan Sobieski (1629-1696) and made using Dankowski rye. It has a slightly sweet nose and a crisp, clean flavor.

1800 Select Silver Tequila: From Jose Cuervo, this Tequila is 100 proof and 100 percent agave. The double distillation creates a Tequila with a rich agave notes of grass and earth. Long lasting flavor with pepper finish that might make you think you are tasting a reposado.

Ty Ku Liqueur: This 40 proof liqueur is made with sake. Light hazy green color and interesting aroma. A number of ingredients go into the liqueur, including ginseng and damiana. Overall this has citrus and sweet candy flavor notes. The bottle comes with a LED light in the base that you can activate so it gives off a glow on the back bar.

Mata Hari Absinthe Bohemian: At 120 proof this light green colored drink comes screaming out of the bottle. Rich herbal nose. The drink contains grand wormwood and salvia among its ingredients. Burning note at the start due to the alcohol, solid long herbal aftertaste and slight bitterness.

Hiram Walker Pumpkin Liqueur: This 60 proof liqueur is orange with a mellow, slightly sweet nose. Hints of pie filling and toffee in the flavor base.

Cruzan Coconut Rum: This clear 55 proof spirit has a direct coconut nose and flavor. It starts off sweet and stays that way. Would be perfect for mixing tropical drinks.

While some of these products might be good straight, chances are you'll want to enjoy them in cocktails. In doing these tastings, I made a couple of drinks for my wife, Sandy, and brother-in-law, Dan Pikarsky. There is quite a difference in the tastes, but both were refreshingly different.

Pumpkin Martini

1.5 ounces Vodka
0.75 ounce Pumpkin Liqueur
2 ounces Orange Juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Vigorously shake for 30 seconds. Pour into a martini glass rimmed with brown sugar.

Le Demon Vert

1.5 ounces Gin
0.5 ounce Absinthe
0.5 ounce Velvet Falernum
0.5 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

Add all ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a licorice stick.

Tuesday Tasting: Four Craft Spirits

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try four spirits sent to us by Craft Distillers.

The folks at Craft Distillers in Ukiah, Calif., were nice enough to send along four small sample bottles of recent releases. These folks handle products put out by Germain-Robin and St. George Spirits, among other producers. The samples covered quite a bit of ground, but were all unique and impressive.

Maison Surrenne Ancienne Distillerie: This Cognac is 100 percent petite Champagne and aged for 10 years. Nice whiskey color. Booming nose leading with oak and vanilla. Warming flavor, upfront toffee and vanilla, with a very smooth finish.

Los Danzantes Mezcal Reposado: Straw color. Starts with a grassy, slightly medicinal nose. Firm flavor of smoke and clear agave character. Faint spice in the finish.

Aqua Perfecta Pear Liqueur: Pinot gris color, with a fresh floral aroma. Nice ripe just-picked pear flavor. Extremely light and smooth.

Hangar One Fraser River Raspberry Vodka: Pink red hue, with a distinctive fruit nose. Tart raspberry flavor notes with just a slight balancing sweetness.

Tuesday Tasting: A Walk on the Odd Side of Spirits

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some liquor that you don't find in the average home bar.

The Drinking Buddies section that I wrote for the current issue of DRAFT magazine is titled "Free Spirits: Sipping on the Edge." As the title implies, the liquors covered in the piece were not your standard vodkas, whiskeys or rums.

The article asks a simple question: What was the strangest drink you have ever downed? Was it the tourist special mezcal in Tijuana complete with the worm? Did you encounter snake wine on a Far East trip and just could not resist the dare? Or did your adventurous side emerge on that Caribbean vacation at the exact moment that a bottle of overproof rum hit the table?

Here are six unique spirits that made the Drinking Buddies tasting notes:

Cynar Liqueur: Did someone say artichokes? That’s right, this 33 proof aperitif is distilled using artichoke leaves. It is a cola color, with a slightly sweet nose. There is a brightness to the flavor. Slightly bitter and tart, finishing with a yellow grapefruit tang. You can judge for yourself if this product has any of the rumored aphrodisiac qualities.

Etter Christmas Plum Liqueur: A real treat imported from Switzerland. Amber, pink color, you get a cinnamon and apple aroma, with hints of coriander backing up a direct plum flavor profile. The finish is sweet and tart at the same time. Quite unique.

La Mestiza Licor de Nance: Produced in the Yucatan region of Mexico from the nance fruit, this liqueur is 60 proof. A cloudy amber color, it has a sweet maple syrup nose, with berries, nuts, honey and fruit flavors throughout. Kind of a liquid baklava.

Senior Liqueur: A product of the Netherland Antilles, it is a combination of rumraisin and curacao liqueurs. Yellow and 50 proof, it has a Fruit Stripe gum aroma and a candy sweet coating flavor.

John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum: What do you say about a 22 proof liqueur from Barbados that consists of white rum cut with water, lime, sugar, almond and clove? For starters it is delicious and different. The color of straw, the aroma gives away the cloves and the flavor profile is sweet and coating. Could be the perfect secret ingredient for summer cocktails.

Tuaca Liqueur: From Tuscany, this 70 proof brandy-based liqueur is inviting and sweet. Amber color, there are hints of vanilla, cherry and almonds.

Tuesday Tasting: Vana Tallinn

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some liqueur direct from the Baltic Sea.

In a recent Tuesday Tasting I mentioned that occasionally friends will bring me a bottle of something that I've never previously experienced. This time Eric Mower brought me a bottle of "likoor" from Estonia where he had gone to speak to a marketing conference. It was a get well gift after my recent surgery and a nice one indeed.

Vana Tallinn is a traditional drink of Estonia and popular throughout the Baltic countries. It packs a stealth punch in a pleasant package. The Vana Tallinn I sampled was 80 proof. Liviko also distills 90 proof and 100 proof varieties, plus a 32 proof cream liqueur.

The most important thing I can say about Vana Tallinn is that I would have never guessed it was as strong as 80 proof because all of the flavors and spices mask the alcohol.This is a dangerous shooter. You could be forgiven for thinking you were drinking a liqueur that is half as strong.

That said, this is a very distinctive and satisfying drink. It has an attractive reddish brown color. The first aroma out of the bottle is citrus, but the overall flavor is dominated by cinnamon with hints of vanilla and a touch of orange peel. The vanilla starts to take control of the fragrance the longer you linger over the drink.

You can sip Vana Tallinn as a nightcap or serve it on the rocks with some cream. It also is used in a number of mixed drinks, but you should try it neat to start.

If your travel plans do not call for a trip to the Baltic nations, you now are in luck. Matrics Importing has justed started bringing Vana Tallinn into the U.S. It is in limited distribution at the moment in Illinois and Maryland.

Show Up Drunk on The View, Get Your Own Booze Brand: DeVito's Limoncello

Danny DeVito showed up last November of The View still under the influence of multiple limoncellos enjoyed during a night out with fellow actor George Clooney. It made for a funny clip on a number of the entertainment television shows. Pushing any embarrassment aside, it apparently also spawned a desire by DeVito to get into the drinks business.

Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello is being marketed by Harbrew Imports. The lemon liqueur is scheduled to be on store shelves by August.

The announcement of the new brand came as final preparation were being made for the opening of DeVito South Beach, a new Italian restaurant in Miami. DeVito is opening the place with restaurateur David Manero. Others could soon follow in New York, West Hollywood, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.

Tuesday Tasting: Lavish Liqueurs

Tuesday tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we are sampling six different liqueurs from around the world.

Liqueurs occupy an interesting place in the drinks world. They are some of the most important ingredients in some of our favorite drinks. They can also stand alone as an aperitif, digestif or a good old plain shooter. The origin of liqueur goes back hundreds of years when the art of bartending and the science of medicine were often fairly close to one another. Herbal, fruit and root concoctions were blended with alcohol and handed out as remedies for a host of ailments. Even today some people will tell you that liqueur can help problems go away.

For this tasting I gathered together liqueurs from the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Japan and Italy. They ranged in color from light golden straw to vibrant green. The flavors ranged even more dramatically.

Becherovka: If it were not for a beverage called beer this Czech liqueur might be the national drink. It is light straw in color and has a slightly medicinal nose. Once in your mouth this 76 proof drink is an herbal explosion that goes down very smoothly.

Unicum Zwack: The Shahs, friends from India who do not drink but know that I do, brought me this Hungarian liqueur that they had picked up in Europe as a gift when they attended my daughter's wedding recently. This 80-proof liqueur comes from a recipe that dates back to 1790. Unicum is an interestingly bitter liqueur that is a dark amber color. The liqueur is made using 40 different herbs and aged for six months in oak barrels.

Zen Green Tea Liqueur: This liqueur from Japan is relatively new to the market, reflecting the recent popularity of green tea. At 40 proof, it is very smooth, loaded with tea flavor and finishes slightly sweet. Made using Kyoto green tea leaves, the liqueur has a light lime green color.

Midori: This melon liqueur from Japan's Suntory is an intense green -- Midori is the Japanese word for green. The 42-proof liqueur has a sweet, candy like nose and is flavored like ripe cantelope.

Grand Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire: This liqueur from Moet Hennessy was first made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Grand Marnier, the French orange liqueur. It uses as its base Cognac from Grand Champagne, some of it aged up to 50 years. It is very smooth, with the essence of orange clearly present and hints of nuts and oakiness.

Villa Massa Limoncello: This 60-proof Italian liqueur is a slightly cloudy yellow color when chilled, but tastes like liquid sunshine. Made from lemons grown near Sorrento, it has a balanced sweet and sour lemon drop flavor profile with the clear essence of lemons present throughout.