The first new spirit to discuss is JVR Spirits, Krupnik spiced honey liqueur, based out of Portland, OR. “JVR Spirits follows a traditional recipe for Krupnik that is centuries old and made by my family for three generations. We start with whole organic spices that we crush, crack, slice, or grind on the day that we make a batch. We use fresh organic citrus, cut and peeled by hand. And we use honey from the same family-owned business as my dad did forty years ago. Blended with fine neutral grain spirits, aged and settled, the result is our very best effort so that you can simply enjoy. With a nose of honey and cinnamon, Krupnik is unabashedly sweet, but not cloying or treacly. A spice for every palate—it has hints of clove, nutmeg, vanilla, and ginger, with an orange finish. A true liqueur, it has a mouth feel that is perfect to enjoy neat. Also refreshing on the rocks or as flavoring in a cocktail—it pairs especially well with coffee, rum, and even whiskey flavors.” For more information about this local distiller, check out their website: www.jvrspirits.com.
The next new spirit we have is High West Whiskey, Son of Bourye, a blend of straight whiskies bottled by High West Distillery, out of Park City, Utah. “The bourbon (mashbill: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley malt) is a minimum of 5 years old (check age with Parker, I think its 6). The rye (mashbill: 95% rye, 5% barley malt) is a minimum of 5 years old (again, check the age). Please see HighWest.com for specific details by batch # of the whiskeys in this bottle (we like adjusting things somewhat every now and then according to our mood). Nose: Sweet mint, vanilla, honey and golden fruits lifted by juniper, evergreen, fresh herbs, flint and wood/oak. Taste: Soft and honeyed right at front entry, but builds swiftly to a spicy mid palate of mint, chili, and cinnamon red hot candy. Very bright and very drinkable!”
Lastly, Buck 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Bottled by Frank-Lin Distiller Products, LTD. The whiskey was reviewed by the whiskeyjug.com and here is their opinion of the nose and the taste of the bourbon: “Nose: Caramel and vanilla are the first to arrive at this rodeo with some dark fruit coming up behind them. Slightly grainy with notes of red licorice, honey, creme brulee and a few spurs of rye coming through it’s a pleasant nose and not something I could easily get bored with. Taste: Caramel, cherries, and waffle cone. Now that’s a horse of a different color. There’s a very low bourbon spice riding beneath some slightly bigger notes of coca, orange, molasses and a bit of wood. Every now and then I get a note of charcoal which adds to the uniqueness of this dram.”
Make sure you stop by and check out all these new spirits! (All quotes in this blog have been taken directly from the bottles description/or website/or review websites, and do not necessarily reflect East Bend Liquors opinion of the products).