What non Whiskey or Rum Spirit (Cognac, Mezcal, Calvados etc) are we drinking?

odyssey06 · 23-05-2021 4:13pm

Is marc unaged brandy effectively?

Pops up in Maigret stories along with the armagnac and calvados.

Effects · 26-05-2021 8:26pm

I see Con Trass is distilling his cider with Tipperary Boutique Distillery. Look forward to trying that.

Beersmith · 29-05-2021 9:33am

Cazale wrote: »

6 Mezcals in about 50 mins. I'm glad I've no work tomorrow! It was a really great tasting with some amazing samples. I'll have to get a full bottle for the collection.

Did you actually listen to the live tasting stream? The audio quality was atrocious. I couldn't stand it.

Cazale · 29-05-2021 1:50pm

Beersmith wrote:

Did you actually listen to the live tasting stream? The audio quality was atrocious. I couldn't stand it.

Yeah I do listen to most of them with headphones. Audio with the rep wasn't great but I suppose with the Mexican accent and different time zone that was expected. I was still able to enjoy it and take copious notes. I've done hundreds of video call meetings in work over the last year so maybe I'm just immune to them at this stage.

odyssey06 · 30-05-2021 7:29pm

Enjoying Mount Gay Eclipse golden rum from Barbados... both for sipping and in a dark n stormy.

If you like Havana Club Anejo Especial worth trying out as an upgrade.

interlocked · 01-06-2021 4:25pm

https://symphoniaspirits.com/introducing-symphonias-apple-rum-the-limited-edition-symphonia-no-4/

This stuff is going on sale in Aldi on June 20th @€;35 for 500ml. Made in Tyrone, I'd never heard of them until I saw it in the Aldi brochure.

Anyone sampled it already?

the beer revolu · 02-06-2021 7:51am

interlocked wrote: »

https://symphoniaspirits.com/introducing-symphonias-apple-rum-the-limited-edition-symphonia-no-4/

This stuff is going on sale in Aldi on June 20th @€;35 for 500ml. Made in Tyrone, I'd never heard of them until I saw it in the Aldi brochure.

Anyone sampled it already?

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that this is not a legally labelled product. You can't add spices and apple juice to a product and call it "rum". Just like you couldn't have "apple whiskey".
I looked at that link and couldn't find the abv of this product on the website.

irish_goat · 02-06-2021 9:57am

Rum liqueur basically, I think they're being downright dishonest with the labelling.

odyssey06 · 02-06-2021 10:03am

It seems not that far off 'Zaconey' ... I remember a few threads over the years for people trying to track down the last remaining bottles of that.

Buddy97mm · 02-06-2021 10:12am

From EU Regulation on definition of spirit drinks, Reg 2019/787

CATEGORIES OF SPIRIT DRINKS
1.Rum
(a)Rum is a spirit drink produced exclusively by the distillation of the product obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of molasses or syrup produced in the manufacture of cane sugar or of sugar-cane juice itself, distilled at less than 96 % vol., so that the distillate has the discernible specific organoleptic characteristics of rum.
(b)The minimum alcoholic strength by volume of rum shall be 37,5 %.
(c)No addition of alcohol, diluted or not, shall take place.
(d)Rum shall not be flavoured.
(e)Rum may only contain added caramel as a means of adjusting the colour.
(f)Rum may be sweetened in order to round off the final taste. However, the final product may not contain more than 20 grams of sweetening products per litre, expressed as invert sugar.

BonnieSituation · 02-06-2021 10:12am

interlocked wrote: »

https://symphoniaspirits.com/introducing-symphonias-apple-rum-the-limited-edition-symphonia-no-4/

This stuff is going on sale in Aldi on June 20th @€;35 for 500ml. Made in Tyrone, I'd never heard of them until I saw it in the Aldi brochure.

Anyone sampled it already?

Are they anything to do with Íon, who seemed to have gone all quiet last time I was checking them out?

BeerNut · 02-06-2021 11:42am

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Are they anything to do with Íon, who seemed to have gone all quiet last time I was checking them out?

Other than sharing a county, no, it doesn't look like it.

the beer revolu · 02-06-2021 2:22pm

irish_goat wrote: »

Rum liqueur basically, I think they're being downright dishonest with the labelling.

It's more than misleading, it's actually illegal as I understand it.

Problem is that, in Ireland, unless it's whiskey, no one really cares about label compliance. Anything labelled as "spiced rum" is not compliant, either. There's loads of gin liqueurs labelled as "gin" about the place, too.
There was a very big selling gin which up until fairly recently was labelled as Distilled and Bottled by........, when the reality was that it was a compounded gin and wasn't distilled at all!! I believe they have cleared up that issue, now.

Effects · 03-06-2021 9:21am

the beer revolu wrote: »

There was a very big selling gin which up until fairly recently was labelled as Distilled and Bottled by........, when the reality was that it was a compounded gin and wasn't distilled at all!! I believe they have cleared up that issue, now.

I had to look up what a compound gin is. Seems I've made a bunch of them myself down through the years.

I guess I'm a distiller now too.

Effects · 07-08-2021 10:56pm

Has anyone here visited anywhere in the Armagnac region? Looking for a nice distillery or two to visit.

Was hoping to head to Cognac from Bordeaux, but it's the opposite direction to my final destination. Armagnac is only a short detour of about an extra hours drive.

limnam · 22-08-2021 7:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/116937475#Comment_116937475

I haven't seen it for awhile now

Any news? Is it sold out? will it becoming out again or?

odyssey06 · 22-08-2021 7:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117721880#Comment_117721880

Fraid not, but let us know how you got on!

the beer revolu · 23-08-2021 7:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117789955#Comment_117789955

Should be more on the shelves in September.

Effects · 23-08-2021 9:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117789993#Comment_117789993

As I often find with French websites, they aren't very informative. Hoping to swing a visit to one place on a Sunday, via a contact I have here in Dublin.

I also want to visit a cooperage while there. My other half tried to suggest we find one closer to where we are going in the South. She's forgetting that we had this discussion the last time we drove, and that there aren't any cooperages in the south 😂

Hugo_Whoriskey · 23-08-2021 1:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117789955#Comment_117789955

Happened to be in aldi in Tyrrelstown last week and there was a last bottle there which I happily grabbed, you might be lucky somewhere

Black Sheep · 23-08-2021 3:53pm

I finally opened the bottle of Stillgarden O'Maro ("Ireland's first amaro") that we've had knocking around.

It is actually quite nice, and the native botanical element comes through very strongly. I enjoyed it on that level and could recommend it as a gift, for example.

But for me it's just far too sweet. In fairness, reviewing their copy, although they bill it as something you could use to make a negroni they also do extensively mention a "sweet finish", so there you go.

cloudatlas · 29-08-2021 12:45pm

Anybody try the Sake from Aldi?

03-09-2021 8:50pm

Gonna try out a recent purchase shortly - G&T. But the T is for tea!

Blackwater Gin with Barry's Tea.

Black Sheep · 05-09-2021 11:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117843896#Comment_117843896

Next up, gin flavoured with Tayto crisps?

the beer revolu · 05-09-2021 11:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848981#Comment_117848981

Having done Bsrry's Tea gin and Tanora gin, believe me, the Tayto c&o idea has been knocking around for a while now!

05-09-2021 1:31pm

Had it. Bleh, just tasted like usual gin, which I'm not a huge fan of.

Beanstalk · 22-09-2021 1:00pm

In Italy recently I was in a small café in a village in the mountains and they had some nice spirits. I'm not familiar with rum at all but i had some Zapaca Solera 23 and my god it was lovely. Picked up a bottle in the local shop to take home as well for €50.

adaminho · 08-10-2021 6:25am

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/alcohol/bacardi-to-cease-production-of-coffee-liqueur-patron-xo-cafe-/660506.article#.YV97yJYJnVQ.twitter

Cafe Patron to cease production.

limnam · 09-10-2021 10:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117849392#Comment_117849392

Drinker in I drank a drink I don't like and didn't enjoy it shocker.

09-10-2021 12:31pm

Thought the tea would make a difference though as I love tea flavoured things.

limnam · 16-10-2021 9:47am

Trying out the rest of the plantation range starting with this.

It's woody,coconut,vanilla with some nice spices

Surprisingly long finish on this for the price point.

the beer revolu · 16-10-2021 12:58pm

I'm a big fan of that range.

The 5 yo is the first I fried and a firm favourite.

L1011 · 24-10-2021 11:42pm

Had to buy some sherry for a sauce today, as there was no marsala in the supermarket. Tio Pepe.

Its really quite pleasant to drink.

I think I'm getting old!

the beer revolu · 25-10-2021 9:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118069242#Comment_118069242

It was a shock to me some years ago to find that not only did I care for the somewhat trendy dry sherries, I actually much rather sweet sherry!

Of course, this conversation should be in the wine thread!

L1011 · 25-10-2021 6:21pm

I dithered over whether this was for the wine thread, or here due to the fortification, for longer than I reasonably should have!

the beer revolu · 25-10-2021 7:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118071580#Comment_118071580

Lol, I've given it way too much thought, too!

Technically sherry is wine but a fortified wine rather than a light wine - which is what people generally mean when they say "wine".

XVII · 15-11-2021 4:22pm

is white port the same thing as Jerez-Xeres-Sherry? I've recently tried Tesco Finest one and it was absolutely atrocious :(

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=299817671

So I'm just wondering if it's just not my thing or it's still worth to try proper white port (e.g. Niepoort one Dry White)?

the beer revolu · 15-11-2021 5:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118170179#Comment_118170179

No, sherry and port come from different countries!

I really like white port. Sip on it's own, mix with tonic. It's really lovely with apple juice to - and maybe some fizz.

Effects · 15-11-2021 6:21pm

White port is lovely on it's own, or mixed with tonic.

I think some people open a port or sherry, drink a bit, and put it back in the press for ages. Then it just doesn't taste good whenever they go back to it. Which is understandable.

XVII · 06-12-2021 4:38pm

btw tried both Tawny Dee and Dry White by Niepoort and both are absolutely fabulous, my new favorites.

BonnieSituation · 09-01-2022 8:26pm

Herself just poured a glass of Hennessy XO. My my that was some purchase for 70 quid last February.

Black Sheep · 12-01-2022 7:53pm

Cachaca artesenal duXico.

A Brazilian friend brought it back to me.

No idea what this is like.

Cazale · 12-01-2022 9:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118445570#Comment_118445570

That's still on the shelf unopened. I got the last bottle of it in my local Tesco. To be opened soon I think.

Black Sheep · 10-02-2022 10:40am

I revisited my Killowen small batch dark rum, having recent finished my Appleton 12 year old.

I'm still picking up strong vegetal and tobacco notes off this, but I don't really mean that in a negative way, it's quite appealing... Like opening a fresh pouch of Sweet Afton tobacco, back when I smoked.

Previously I compared this unfavourably with the Diplomatico, Cacique and Appleton that I would normally drink, but I think as time has passed I feel more favourably disposed. It's a drier, earthier rum, and that in itself will appeal to many people (perhaps particularly whisky drinkers).

The higher 55% abv is also very welcome.

In conclusion, if I was the type to give stars I would boost it up a star or two on my second review, and it would make me consider a second bottle, perhaps of their peated variant.

The Nal · 10-02-2022 1:13pm

From Aldi

Quite nice, a little too sweet but that seems to be a thing with Aldi and Lidl

the beer revolu · 10-02-2022 3:06pm

This thread is getting all mixed up.

Firstly, Rum in a "Non whiskey or rum spirit" thread.

Then wine!😀

Black Sheep · 10-02-2022 11:48pm

My bad, I should have resurrected the rum thread I guess. I saw Limnams post above and wasn’t thinking.

the beer revolu · 11-02-2022 9:41am

Three hail marys and an our father.

the beer revolu · 11-02-2022 9:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118463566#Comment_118463566

I missed this post. Have you tried it, yet?

As I'm sure you know, Cachaca is rather similar to cane juice rum but they tend to use a much wider selection of woods for ageing. Could be very interesting.

Black Sheep · 11-02-2022 9:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118614381#Comment_118614381

No, haven't opened it yet, I'll throw up a review when I do.

There's very little information on the label about production / manufacturing, I guess the regulation must be a lot lighter in Brazil.

What non Whiskey or Rum Spirit (Cognac, Mezcal, Calvados etc) are we drinking?

Comments