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Continue reading →: First (Mini) Bottle Kill in A Long Time & Some Preliminary ‘Final’ Tasting Notes on VHW Cider Cask Finished WhiskyToday, I killed my first bottle (albeit a mini one) in longer than most of my undergraduate students have been alive. It was a mini 50 ml bottle of the Virginia Distillery Company’s (VDC) blended American Single Malt Whisky finished in Virginia apple cider casks. It is a mix of…
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Continue reading →: Doing Multiple Tastings Before Forming Final Tasting Notes & ReviewsAfter a good conversation with other tequila enthusiasts whose opinions I respect, I’ll probably give La Gritona reposado another shot sometime in the future. It is this type of spirits community interactions that are so valuable, mutual sharing & discussion, not the elitist snobbery & rudeness we all see too…
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Continue reading →: Spirits Bottle Photography Series – PART 1: ArteNOM 1414 Reposado TequilaProduced by the Vivanco & Associates distillery (NOM 1414) & overseen by master distiller Sergio Cruz, ArteNOM 1414 is produced in Arandas, Jalisco, using wild yeast. A light gold/straw color, this tequila is made from Weber Blue agaves roasted for 36 hours in stone/brick ovens before being fermented in stainless…
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Continue reading →: Experimenting with Spirits Glassware – Funneling AromasIf I can ever stop spending my new glassware earmarks on new spirits bottles, in the hopefully not-too-distant future I plan on ordering a few new glasses to try: the Chisholm Trail Crafts regular & high proof agave spirits glasses & the Denver & Liely agave glass, maybe a couple of…
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Continue reading →: Good, Bad, or Mixed? Undecided re: Tequila Mi Campo Blanco & ReposadoI bought this blanco & reposado tequila on a whim because they were both on sale in my area for, pre-tax, $25 & $28 respectively & I was curious about the French Oak wine cask aging of both. I knew going in that they had mixed reviews, but the price…
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Continue reading →: Building My Own Palate & Flavor PreferencesBuilding Your Own Palate – It’s important to me to form/evolve my own flavor profile preferences & palate as I delve into spirits after many years away. What I want to avoid is “bandwagon-ing,” even if subconsciously. Instead, I want to experiment & test to form my own opinions in…
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Continue reading →: REVIEW – Virginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction – Double Cask Reserve American Single Malt WhiskyA blend of at least 5-year-old aged American single malt whiskies from first fill bourbon and STR European red wine Cuvée casks and bottled at 96 proof (48% ABV), VDC’s Double Cask Reserve is a beautiful golden yellow in the glass. ON THE NOSE (WITHOUT WATER): There are aromas of…
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Continue reading →: REVIEW – Virginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction – American Single Malt WhiskyVirginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction line American Single Malt Whisky is a beautiful golden yellow color in the glass, reminiscent of an apple cider or apple juice. Bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV), this whisky has, without any water being added, aromas of caramel and butterscotch that were initially…
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Continue reading →: REVIEW – Mt. Defiance Distillery’s (Virginia)- Blue Agave Spirit “Blanco”Produced by double distilling, in a copper pot still, Weber Blue Agave nectar produced in Mexico from independent farms, Mt. Defiance’s Blue Agave Spirit has good viscosity in the glass, coating the sides fairly well and leaving some tears/legs running down the sides. Though it likely is meant to tap…
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Continue reading →: REVIEW – Patrón Reposado TequilaNOM 1492 – Patrón (Patron) reposado doesn’t coat the sides of the glass for very long after a swirl. It is a very light yellow. Before tasting after the initial pour, I let it aerate for 10-15 minutes. On the nose there are aromas of cooked agave, quite strong vanilla,…
Documenting my journey into agave spirits along with a smattering of other spirits after many, many years away – This blog is meant to take note of this journey including tasting notes, bottle photography, and other related topics.
Agave Spirits+ Journey 