Pisco Portón

Pisco is an interesting spirit, both Peru and Chili claim that theirs is the authentic stuff. According to my half-assed attempt at research, they have been making it longer in Chili, but the town of Pisco is in Peru. The only brand available in Ohio is from Peru, so Peru wins.

The spirit is distilled from grapes.  Making it technically a brandy.  It reminds me of a fine grappa.  Nothing wrong with that.

I mixed up my take of the Pisco sour for the photo.  In spite of its jizz like appearance, it is not a foo-foo cocktail.

Jim's Pisco Sour

• 2 oz pisco
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz ginger syrup
• 1/4 oz pasteurized egg whites
• add ice, shake and strain
• Dash of Fee's Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters

How do you like them apples?

Applejack vs Apple Brandy vs Calvados

OK.  Apple Brandy is apple brandy.  Calvados is French apple brandy.  And Applejack is apple brandy that has been cut with a neutral spirit.

Laird's Applejack is 35% brandy, 65% neutral spirit.  It has an apple flavor, but the vodka-ness is kind of strong.  Leaving alcohol vapors on your palate, long after you've finished your drink.

Approximate price: $17

Grade: C

Laird's Apple Brandy is aged at least 7 1/2 years.  It has the same apple flavor, but obviously it's a stronger flavor.  It's a nice sipper, but not very complex

Approximate price: $25

Grade: B-

Boulard Grand Solage Calvados is a blend of 3-5 year old spirits.  It's interesting.  There is apple flavor, along with some leather and cinnamon.  I acknowledge that it's a superior product, but not one that I like.  Plus, it's pricey.  I have been eye-balling this for several years, and finally broke down and bought it late last year.  The scary thing is, this is their low end calvados.

Price: $41.70

Grade: B

Cost Adjusted Grade: C

The Drinkin With Lincoln Cocktail

I had this on vacation in in DC last spring.  It's an Old Fashioned (sugar, bitters, whiskey, water, lemon twist), made with Applejack instead of bourbon, and replacing the lemon with orange.  I'll be making it with the apple brandy instead.  It's a pleasant diversion, but no replacement for my evening Manhattan.

Tales from the top shelf: Gran Duque D' Alba

Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva

This was my duty free purchase from our Barcelona adventure.  It's the first non-cognac grape based brandy that I have liked.

Label stuff:  Gran Duque De Alba owes it's fine balance and unique character to long aging in the Oloroso seasoned oak casks of it's own solera.  Light mohogany in colour, with a mellow velvety texture and aromas of plum and prune.  Wow, plums and dried plums.  It's complex flavour with hints of nuts and ripe fruit lingers on the palate to give the smooth finish of a truly great brandy.

What in the hell is solera?  It's too complicated to explain while I'm drinking brandy.

What the hell is Oloroso season cask?  I think that it is a sherry cask

Fun Brandy fact:  Cognac, Armagnac, and Brandy de Jerez are the only place specific appellations for brandy. Thank you the passionate foodie for the fyi.

Even more Fun Brandy Fact: I have all three appellations on my top shelf.

What does it taste like?  In my opinion, it tastes like alcohol, oak, and raisins.  It's complex like cognac, but it feels heavier and sweeter on the tongue.  Doing research for this one, I find that that lot's of folks taste different things.

Wine esters with distinct balsamic notes.

oak, prune and sherry. Velvety texture with flavors of caramel, chocolate and orange, with a long finish

burnt sugar, dried fruits and salty butter roasted nuts flavors

old leather, old books, toasted marshmallow, pipe tobacco, prune Danish, dried fruit, salted butter and caramel cream

Which goes to show you while I try not to get to bullshitty with my adjectives.  "Old books"?  Yummm.

Cost: 19.60 ($30) euros on sale at the duty free.  Usually 24.50 ($37).  It's $50 plus on the web, so I got a deal.
Grade: B+
Cost adjusted Grade: At the price that I got it.  A.  For $50, B+

What in the world is... Vilmoskörte Pálinka?

Hungarian Pear Brandy

My friend Sue brought a small bottle back from a vacation and gave it to me as a birthday present. Very thoughtful.

What does it taste like? Like a cheap grappa, with a hint of pear.

Is that a good thing? No. But I know a grappa drinker who needs to try it.

Are you still friends? Of course. It's something different and is much appreciated. I spoke to her about it and she thinks that it's pretty rough too.

Anything else? It packs quite a punch at 100 proof.

Grade: C-
Birthday Present Grade: A

What in the world is... Maraska Sljivovica

The label tells the story, old plum brandy. Slivovitz is the English name.

Where is it from? Croatia. Also, Kosher for Passover. Mazel tov!

What does it taste like? Kind of medicinal. I wouldn't say that it makes me think of plums. A slight, and I do mean slight hint of spearmint in the finish.




The bottle is cool. Around the edge it says that "Federal Law Forbids Sale or Reuse of This Bottle". Once again, the man is keeping us down.




Remind me, why did you buy it? Fond memory of doing shots with an ex-girlfriends father on Christmas Eve. (just in case my wife stumbles across this, I have had this bottle for decades.) He made Tony Soprano look like Mother Teresa (No disrespect). He liked me though. Fellow paisan and Steeler fan. If I am blessed with a daughter, my standards will be higher. Though paisano and Steeler fan is a good start.

80 proof.
Cost: When I bought this in 1975, it was $2. Today it is $25.10
Grade: C