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2019
As an avid whiskey drinker, when I first heard about Uncle Nearest I was really excited to try it out. I searched online to see where I could find a bottle and surprisingly it was widely available at various liquor stores. I will admit though that once I got to the store I had a bit of sticker shock. My friendly neighborhood ABC store was selling it for $50! The only size it's currently sold in is a fifth (750 ml). As a researcher, I just could not see myself writing a review for you guys without actually trying it myself; so i forked over the 50 bucks. I've paid more for other spirits and after all it is a "premium" whiskey.
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It is sold in a plain yet elegant, tall bottle. Both in the bottle and in the glass it has a bronze hue with a hint of red; which makes it slightly darker than the average whiskey. I taste tested it both on ice and straight up. It has a rich, smooth taste before that spicy kick hits you. I kind of expected that with it being 100 proof though. It will be a nice drink to compliment a cigar with. Overall I'm more than pleased with Uncle Nearest and will definitely purchase 1856 again in the future. However, at $50+ I hope my friends don't think they will be taking shots of this whenever they come over; because it's not happening lol. Enjoy Uncle Nearest and remember to Drink Responsibly!
~ R.L. Keitt
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a gin drinker; not since the 2000's in my early twenties. And I wasn't drinking Gin and Juice to pay homage to Snoop Dog and 90's Hip Hop; I was drinking it more so because of the sexual prowess it gave me. Some of you fellas know what I'm talking about lol. Bumpy face (Seagrams) and Tanqueray were my gins of choice back then and they are Extra Dry and London Dry gins respectively.
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It is sold in a tall, beautiful bottle that's reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era (1920's). Unlike the traditional London Drys this gin has less Juniper berries so it won't have as distinct of a bite; for those that don't like gin. Traditionalists may not like that but that just means more for us. I taste tested it on ice and straight up and found both to be pretty smooth. Since I've matured a bit over the years, instead of mixing my cocktail with orange juice I made a Gin and Tonic instead. Aviation Gin, Tonic Water and Sweetened Lime Juice makes for the perfect summer time drink. Overall I'm definitely pleased with Aviation and it will certainly stay in rotation in my liquor cabinet. Enjoy Aviation American Gin and remember to Drink Responsibly!
~ R.L. Keitt
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Editor's Notes
With the first part of May being that time frame,when a lot of Americans celebrate Mexican culture (even though Cinco de Mayo isn't celebrated on a such a large scale in Mexico); I wanted to choose a Tequila as the spirit of the month. Tres Generaciones surprised me as it is not a widely known brand of tequila. Since the purpose of the "Spirit of the Month" is to get you brothers to try quality products that aren't over hyped because of popularity, this brand was perfect. I went with the top of the line Anejo. It's a Premium Tequila and I purchased it from Total Wines for $39.
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It is sold in a midsize, brown bottle and the upper portion of it appears as if it's been dipped in copper. It's pale amber in color and the aroma is that of strong oak but also has a sweetness to it. The first thing you will definitely notice when sipping is the smoothness of this Tequila. I was certainly shocked, as I was expecting the viscous bite of most Tequilas. I got a little over zealous on my next sip and actually took a gulp. That time I definitely felt the burn lol.
I will never understand why people fall for the marketing adore Patron, at it's price point, for such a sub par Tequila. As for Tres Generaciones Anejo, not only is it smooth and a damn good Tequila but it's price point is reasonable as well. Considering it's a top shelf Tequila for people who love good Tequila. Drink the good stuff and not the over hyped, over priced, commercial stuff. Enjoy Tres Generaciones Anejo and remember to Drink Responsibly!
~ R.L. Keitt
Editor's Notes
I first stumbled across Bumbu when I heard that Lil Wayne owned a new liquor. Of course this ended up being just a rumor because the company is owned by Brett Berrish, the CEO of Sovereign Brands. However, Lil Wayne was one of the early investors and is a brand ambassador. He was also the first to appear on Bumbu's interview series called "The Bumbu Room".
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Now that we have that cleared up let's get to the liquor. I'm "keeping it 100" when I tell you that Bumbu is absolutely amazing!! Since my initial purchase I've kept it in stock. The glass bottle is heavy and a work of art on its own, adorned with a tarnished metal "X" in front and map of the Caribbean across the back. It's capped with an old-fashioned, oversized cork – you’ll hear a celebratory POP each time you crack open the bottle. It's golden chestnut in color and when you pour it the sweet caramel and vanilla tones hit your nose instantly. You taste the vanilla and cinnamon initially then the fruity undertones hit you. The rum is sweet but not too sweet like a liqueur.
After drinking Bumbu I said to myself, "damn if this tastes this good I can't wait to taste the XO!" Well, I was in for a rude awakening because the XO tastes like an entirely different rum altogether. It still has a sweet smell when pouring, toffee and vanilla notes this time. The taste however is drastically different from the original. It's spicier for sure and notes of oak, coffee, and citrus flavors hit you. Bumbu XO is perfect for the traditional, more refined rum drinker. Bumbu can be purchased for $35-$40 and the XO for around $5 more. Whether you choose Bumbu original or Bumbu XO you can't go wrong, just remember to Drink Responsibly!
~ R.L. Keitt
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