Whiskey Nut’s Most Read Blogs of 2022

2022 has been a bit of a momentus year for world events.

At Whiskey Nut blogging it’s been business as usual.

7 of the Top Ten Blogs have featured before – 3 make their third appearance – with 3 newcomers to the list. I draw conclusions from that & see patterns emerging.

These are my Top 10 Read Blogs for 2022 based on WordPress stats – Dec 30th 2022.

Feel free to press on the highlighted words to access the original posts.

1 – Kyasuku Whisky, Oct 21

This Aldi exclusive Mizunara finished World Whisky from Japan sure was a tasty drop!

2 – Ron Pelicano Jamaican Rum, Nov 22

An astonishing achievement in only 2 months -the rum is pretty decent too!

3 – Proper Twelve vs Jameson, Dec 18

After topping the list for 2 years in a row the ‘Champ’ is beginning to falter.

4 – Ron Rumbero, Dec 19

Featuring for a 3rd year does this rum selection mark a growing interest in another brown spirit?

5 – Irish Whiskey Distilleries, Dec 21

A page of development, growth & renewed interest in Irish Whiskey.

6 – Dundalgan IPA Cask, Nov 20

A West Cork exclusive for Lidl that has consistently pleased.

7 – Royal Envy, Apr 22

I don’t envy the Royals – but I’d like to have a taster of this smoky Indian Whisky!

8 – Black & Blue, Jan 19

Making it’s 3rd appearance this Indian Whisky is one I did manage to obtain.

9 – V For Vietnam, May 18

Let’s just say there’s a lot of love for Wall Street out there.

10 – Azteca Tequila, Apr 22

Is this the beginning of affection for agave based spirits in Ireland?

Thank You

I’d like to thank all my readers for continuing to follow my blog.

Join me in raising a glass to celebrate the beginning of 2023.

Sláinte

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VodQuila, WhisQuila, RumQuila – An Exploration of Blending.

Red Eye Louie’s brand of blended spirits caught my eye.

They do a line of Vodquila, Whisquila & Rumquila which had me tempted.

Unlikely to appear in Ireland – I decided to make my own.

Rather than blending from the same spirit category – Red Eye Louie’s mix up the spirits creating something new & exciting. Not knowing the percentages used nor the original spirit donors – I simply went with what I had & settled on a 1 third to 2 thirds mix weighted towards tequila.

My donor bottles were;

Tequila Azteca, 38%

Absolut Vodka, 40%

O’Neill’s Irish Whiskey, 40%

Ron Pelicano Jamaican Rum, 40%

Pressing on the coloured highlights will take you to my original blogs on the liquids.

VodQuila

Not sure what to expect here – or if the spirits will ‘marry’ together – but no venture no gain!

Well the pungent agave nose survives! Shouldn’t have been too surprised. Vodka after all is a neutral spirit suitable for mixing. An oily mouthfeel, more agave notes warming to a pleasant peppery finish.

Could have easily confused this for an actual tequila!

I had to re-check with Azteca to get a comparison. If anything the agave notes were more pronounced with the original – but the vodka had provided a boost to the body of the mix.

I’ll take the Azteca nose, VodQuila body & Azteca finish with this one!

WhisQuila

This might be more of a challenge!

Both whiskey & tequila have distinctive characteristics – will they gel together?

In a word – yes!

The agave still came through – but with added vanilla, caramel & a touch of oak. All contributions from barrel ageing. The peppery spice still provided a flourish on the finish.

This blend strayed into reposado style tequila.

I must say I found it very entertaining!

RumQuila

The final push!

How will a funky Jamaican get on with a tasty Mexican?

It’s the funk that plays the nose on this one!

The fruitiness is somewhat subdued by an almost savoury agaviness on the palate & then it all comes alive on the finish. The funk just got peppered!

That’s a new experience for me!

Thoughts

I must say I’ve been mightily impressed with the results!

All 3 blends gave additional body, flavours and/or joie de vivre to the individual components – making for an entertaining & highly enjoyable tasting extravaganza!

I think Red Eye Louise’s are onto something with their pre-mixed drinks – but there’s nothing to stop yourself from experimenting at home.

I’m certainly glad I did!

Sláinte

Red Eye Louie’s website here.

Tequila Jack’s, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Corralejo Silver, 38% & Zignum Reposado, 40%

Browsing through the music venues for the Guiness Cork Jazz Festival 2022 Tequila Jack’s caught my eye.

It’s not often you get a bar namechecking Mexico’s famed beverage!

We duly ended up at the establishment!

An impressive display of Tequila & Mezcal graced the entrance foyer leading into a large & spacious central bar area surrounded by dining tables. Not partaking of food we sat on the comfy bar stools & selected suitable drinks from the well-presented Day Of The Dead themed Cocktail Menu and an extensive Tequila & Mezcal Booklet – ‘Vol 2’ I noted!

While my fellows went for differing cocktails, I choose a distinctively tall tequila bottle of Corralejo.

Tequila Jack’s specialise in cocktails & their friendly bartenders were kept busy entertaining the customers with their creations.

Meanwhile – I appreciate my tequila neat!

Corralejo Silver is a 100% blue agave unaged tequila presented at 38%.

It has that classic rich agave nose followed by peppery spice, a smooth & oily palate with loads of dry pepperiness on the rear.

Nice!

While enjoying our drinks a very lively group of teenagers turned up with their brass instruments & proceeded to entertain us with their infectious interpretations of modern tunes!

Rebel Brass are certainly a group to catch live!

We decided to stay for another round.

Zignum Reposado Mezcal at 40% made my glass.

This was a richer, warmer caramelly kind of nose. Hints of woody sourness pulled me in. Mild & mellow palate opened up to soft woodiness with gentle wafts of smoke on the rear.

An unusual yet engaging mezcal which connected with me!

Loved my time at Tequila Jack’s – if only it was closer to home!

Sláinte

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival website here.

Tequila Jack’s website here.

Corralejo Tequila site here.

Zignum Mezcal here.

Rebel Brass Twitter site here.

Tequila, Terroir & Geographical Indicators

A recent post highlighting an Australian Agave Project caught my attention lately.

Courtesy Twitter Post

Being a fan of Tequila & Mezcal – both Geographical Indicator protected terms specific to Mexico – I was intrigued to hear of an Australian company growing agave with the intention of releasing an agave spirit.

Whilst researching for my Whisky In Africa blog I also happened to come across a distillery in South Africa already marketing a Karoo Agave drink.

Courtesy Twitter Post

Both of these companies immediately attracted my attention.

Neither of them can use the terms ‘Tequila’ or ‘Mezcal’ – but that is essentially what they are making.

Using agave plants – which can be grown outside of Mexico – to make the spirits using similar techniques the results would make for a very interesting tasting.

Would you be able to discern the difference between the 3 drinks?

I’d certainly love to try them!

What about you?

Sláinte

Explanation of what a Geographical Indicator is from World Intellectual Property Organisation website here.

Act Of Treason website here.

Leonista Agave website here.

Whisky In Africa blog here.

Header image courtesy Australian Agave Project.

Corazón Anejo Tequila, 40%

I have a decision to make when reaching for Tequila.

Do I choose the influence of the raw materials used in production or the influence of wood in the maturation of that product?

Blue Agave is the raw material – 100% in this Corazón Tequila – but there are a few different production methods that can effect the taste – earthen pits vs brick ovens vs autoclave to cook the agave being some.

I didn’t check which method Corazón used before drinking & have yet to do a back to back taste test of all 3 methods to discern any resultant differences.

However I have done a back to back tasting of Blanco Tequila – unaged – vs Reposado – aged between 2 & 11 months – vs Anejo – aged for more than 1 year – and it does make a noticeable taste variation.

With Blanco it’s all about the agave. The rich earthy notes I love complimented by a spicy pepperiness on the finish usually topped off by an oily mouthfeel.

With Anejo those agave notes are somewhat diminished by the influence of wood. Oaky tannins, vanillas & caramel all make an appearance resulting in a softer more rounded drinking experience.

I begin to encounter flavours associated with aged whiskey – where it’s all about the wood – & therefore generally prefer Blanco.

That’s not to say Corazón Anejo isn’t a fine Tequila – it is.

Smooth & silky, those agave notes are blended expertly with warm woodiness building engaging flavours – but for an alternative to my usual whiskey tipple – Blanco is the way to go.

What’s your preference in a Tequila?

Sláinte

For an article on Tequila production methods read here.

Corazón Tequila website here.

For Tequila ageing categories read here.

La Chica Tequila Gold, 38%

After a highly enjoyable day walking along the Barrow Way in Co Carlow a spot of liquid refreshment was in order.

Meaney’s Bar in Leighlinbridge proved a suitable resting spot & with the sun still shining a pint of cold lager fitted the bill.

Scanning the spirit shelves – as I do – revealed a La Chica Tequila Gold. Never having tried it before I thought it would make a sunshine style chaser to my cold lager.

Now ‘Gold’ usually denotes a mixto style of tequila whereby a minimum of 51% agave sugars must be used for distillation. This never puts me off exploring the category.

Slightly yellow in colour La Chica proffered a soft agave nose with a faint smokiness poking through. Fairly easy delivery – the earthy agave grassiness is evident along with that signature peppery spice on the rear. It’s a bit sharp on the finish – which fades quickly away – but it ticks all the right tequila flavour boxes.

An easy no nonsense tequila.

Over the next few days of my Barrow Way ambles further forays into local bars uncovered more La Chica. It got me thinking how availability of a brand is a boost to sales.

Turns out MCM Brands of Donegal handle La Chica in Ireland – as well as a few other brands you might be familiar with – & seem to have the South East well covered.

La Chica meanwhile appears to be a brand for Burlington Drinks in the UK who produce various other ‘house’ spirits for the market.

Whatever the source of La Chica – being tequila it must be made in Mexico & display distillery of origin – NOM1124 in this instance – as it was on the shelf I gladly partook of a few.

I’d gladly enjoy a few more when on the fabulous Barrow Way again!

Sláinte

Barrow Way information here.

Meaney’s Bar facebook here.

MCM Brands website here.

Burlington Drinks website here.

Tequila rules information here.

Azteca Tequila Blanco, 38%

Tequila is booming – at least according to a Spirits Business article here – and I’m enjoying the rise of this tasty distilled Mexican beverage.

Especially when it appears in my local Lidl.

Lidl keeps abreast of drinks trends & their own label spirits range is worth exploring – so much so they won Icons Of Whisky Own Brand Supermarket of the year at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards!

Impressive!

So how does their Azteca Tequila Blanco fare?

A welcome earthy agave nose.

Smooth & oily mouthfeel.

The rich agave notes return on the rear with a soft dry peppery spice livening up this very well balanced tequila.

Azteca satisfies my tequila tendencies!

Sláinte

All images authors own.

Casamigos Reposado Tequila, 40%

Bumping into George Clooney in Dungarvan was a bit of a novelty – well – his tequila at least.

Casamigos courtesy CelticWhiskeyShop

The tequila market in Ireland is dominated by a few global players with links to Irish Whiskey Distilleries.

Jose Cuervo is part of Proximo who do Bushmills & Olmeca is owned by Pernod-Ricard who do Jameson.

El Jimador – part of Brown-Forman who do Slane Whiskey – also get a look in & more rarely 1800 – also Proximo – & Don Julio – part of Diageo linked with Roe & Co – appear.

Casamigos is therefore a newcomer to the scene.

George Clooney courtesy BBC website

Originally founded in 2013 by George Clooney & friends, the brand benefitted hugely from his celebrity status attracting a lot of interest. Diageo bought the brand in 2017 and are capitalising on that celebrity link by promoting Casamigos worldwide.

The Old Bank courtesy Facebook

The Old Bank in Dungarvan have an extensive array of spirits on offer – Casamigos quickly stood out for me.

Reposado – rested in American Oak for 7 months – was my choice for this 100% Blue Agave Tequila.

Displaying a dark straw colour in the glass Casamigos Reposado enticed with rich, earthy agave notes & an additional heavy dark sweetness.

Silky smooth on the palate with more of that butterscotch like sweetness.

The signature peppery agave spice shone through on the finish with those butterscotch notes taking me back to childhood days making bowls of Instant Whip Butterscotch flavoured dessert.

Instant Whip courtesy Chronicle Live

Wasn’t expecting that in a tequila!

Good auld George – expanding the tequila scene in Ireland with some gorgeous memory inducing flavours!

Sláinte

Tattoos & Tequila, Vince Hill & Mike Sagar & the timing of celebrity spirits.

The attraction of hell raising rockers & torrid tabloid tales of their exploits appears to be undiminished.

A new mini-series ‘Pam & Tommy’ explores the infamous ‘sex tape’ of former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson & Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.

Vince Neal is Mötley Crüe’s singer & in this 2010 book his antics, controversies & scandals are laid bare from his personal perspective.

c/o Tequila Matchmaker

The book coincided with his tequila launch – Tres Rios – as well as a solo tour.

Fast forward to 2022 & despite the enduring gossip around all things Mötley – Vince dead? – and a boom in celebrity tequila brands with George Clooney, Dwayne The ‘Rock’ Hudson & Kendall Jenner all selling loads – I can’t help thinking Vince was a bit premature with the launch.

Tres Rios appears to be out of production!

Sláinte

Olmeca Reposado Tequila, 38%

Olmeca Tequila is found in pretty much every Irish supermarket & is often the only tequila offered at many bars & hotels.

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise given Pernod Ricard own the brand & possibly use the Jameson distribution network for Olmeca too.

I’ve enjoyed a few glasses of Olmeca in various bars.

The nose portrays that signature agave pungency with hints of peppery spice.

The smooth palate lacks a little flair with an accentuated black peppery spice on the finish.

Olmeca Reposado ticks all the tequila taste boxes – but not being 100% agave it does miss out a tad on the flavour front.

Often listed as Olmeca Gold – denoting a mixto tequila where only 51% has to be agave based & Gold possibly being coloured – Olmeca Reposado – also mixto but with barrel ageing – appears to be the bottle supermarkets stock.

In the absence of any alternatives – it does the trick.

Sláinte

All images authors own.