TUBE 60 – PURE HAPPINESS

Taking the world one sip at a time –  Tubi 60?

This mysterious bottle filled with a cloudy, amber-colored liquid, complete with a plain label that pictured a dove flying off with some sort of fruit. The combination of the simple home made bottle and unfiltered-looking spirit reminds us of homemade lemonade or your neigbour’s homemade liquor  you’d receive as an after-dinner gift.

Tubi 60 is an export of Israel.  Developed in Israel in a joint effort between master distillers, botanists and Israeli scientists.  Huge  in Tel Aviv bars, nightclubs, and is often employed as a starting-the-night-out-right shot. Its recipe has also been subject to frenzied speculation, and unsubstantiated rumors suggest some type of hallucinogenic or euphoria-causing herb.

It’s a neutral grain spirit distilled from corn and blended with a maceration of lemons, herbs, spices, tree and flower extract. The impressive lineup of roots, herbs and spices, which includes ginger, turmeric, mint, anise, saffron, cumin and ginseng.

NO ADDED SUGAR

Tube 60 is best served chilled but can be mixed with soda or tonic water as they do in Tel Aviv.  Give it a good shake and pour yourself a shot.  It had a lemony semi-sweetness taste close to fresh squeezed lemonade &  limoncello. The buzzing undercurrent  spices: ginger and turmeric in particular makes it very pleasant and healthy. It’s 80 proof  and can be used for all kinds of cocktails.

This Tel Aviv Spritz  is a  fantastic dilution is not syrupy quality,  it as a fresh, alcoholic lemonade with a multi-layered herbal kick. The ginger &  the herbal effect of the other spices, particularly the turmeric, makes one think you are drinking   some delicious, natural juice that just happened to be 40% ABV.

Tubi 60 is not like most things ton the bar. It’s a wonderful thing to get your hands on if you’re looking for an entirely different sort of drinking experience.

Look what just arrived at our store. shipping Nationwide.

        T U B   60 – ORDER YOURS TODAY

Two masters vision – Patron Tequila and Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro

Very impressive and artistic Patrón x Guillermo del Toro is packaged in an upside down 750ml bottle with a small skull shaped bottle Patron’s aged orange liqueur  on top resembling a human body and skeleton. The expression is a blend of Patrón Tequilas aged for an average of more than five years in a combination of different new and used oak barrels.

It is described as having notes of “light honey, nuts and raisins, slight vanilla, and oak, with a long finish of agave and oak courtesy of the barrels”.

The packaging design was inspired by jimadores, the labourers who harvest and trim the blue agave that creates Tequila.

This partnership marks one of the first commercial collaborations del Toro has engaged outside of the entertainment industry.

“Tequila courses through the veins of my native land, Jalisco. It represents a communion between spirit and earth, steeped in time and tradition, and a source of pride that roots us and defines us both,” said del Toro. “Through the years, I have been offered many collaborations in designing and executing different products. I have never been tempted. This creation has been an adventure, and a privilege.”

ONLY 3000 BOTTLES MADE WORLD WIDE.

DRINK PINK & SUPPORT BREAST CANCER

Choosing pink & fighting Breast Cancer  is also  in the mind of the notable Spirits Companies.

Here are a few that will donate to fighting #BreastCancer

CLASE AZUL TEQUILA SPECIAL EDITION PINK BOTTLE SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER

Choose Pink and join the fight against breast cancer…1 Liter Special Edition Clase Azul Spirits joins the fight against breast cancer by making three thousand Special Edition PINK bottles, whose main purpose is giving life.

Proceeds from the limited edition run of 3000 bottles will support breast cancer awareness and research.

Clase Azul is an ultra premium, 100% Weber Blue Agave, Reposado Tequila. Clase Azul tequila is the perfect marriage between the finest Tequila and a beautiful handcrafted, hand-painted Talavera carafe.

ONLY 3000 PINK BOTTLES. A SPECIAL EDITION CONTAINING 1L OF CLASE AZUL REPOSADO WHOLE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO GIVE LIFE AND FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER. $10 DONATED FOR EVERY BOTTLE SOLD.

PURCHASE CLASE AZUL REPO PINK TEQUILA

Chopin Vodka’s Pink Ribbon Bottle Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

Think Pink this October and support breast cancer awareness with the gift of a bottle of Chopin Potato Vodka.  Chopin, the leading artisanal craft distiller from Poland, has released a special bottle dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Over the last three years, Chopin has donated over $44,000 to support breast cancer research with the proceeds from the Pink Ribbon bottle, with another $15,000 donation planned for 2014.  The limited-edition bottle is a stylish way to give back to a great cause, while enjoying a beautifully crafted spirit from Poland’s leading family distillery.

Chopin Potato, a Gold Medal winner at the 2014 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, has notes of vanilla with a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Chopin Vodka is distilled from natural ingredients grown locally in Podlasie, Poland northeast of Warsaw. Every part of the Chopin process is done by hand – from picking, cooking and mashing, to fermentation, distilling and bottling.  Water is also harvested locally from a 300-foot Artesian well on the Chopin property. Each bottle contains only three ingredients – the highest-quality, naturally grown potato, yeast, and purified artesian well water.

PURCHASE CHOPIN PINK

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELVEDERE VODKA ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF A NEW RED LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE TO RAISE MONEY TO FIGHT AIDS

We have had a huge frenzy  over Belvedere’s latest news.

Belvedere, the world’s original luxury vodka, revealed their new RED limited edition bottle a few days ago  with 50% of profits going to the Global Fund, the leading financier program to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

In support of Belvedere’s partnership with (RED),

#makethedifference

campaign ambassador, musician John Legend, has collaborated with one of our most celebrated artist Esther Mahlangu to design the colorful and bold bottle, inspired by the campaign’s four values: security, support, change and unity.

This limited edition updates Belvedere’s iconic bottle design with a uniquely (BELVEDERE)^RED touch. Replacing the Belvedere Palace on the bottle, Mahlangu’s artwork is a striking and vibrant addition to the bottle. Security, support, change and unity are written on the back of the limited edition in Mahlangu’s handwriting signifying the collective sentiment for all those joining the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the campaign ambassador, John Legend’s signature is featured on the front of the bottle. The bottle is available on sale at select retailers around the world.

Esther Mahlangu joins (BELVEDERE)^RED as a passionate supporter of the AIDS fight. As a famed South African artist, she was the first Ndebele artist to transfer her craft from the exterior of homes, as is tradition in their culture, to the canvas and eventually consumer products. She has been acknowledged with critically-acclaimed success for nearly thirty years, carrying on the traditional painting style of the Ndebele.

“You can be Sotho, Zulu, English, or French, blood is one color. (RED). We can overcome anything when we take it hand-by-hand. Together we can end this.” – Esther Mahlangu

WHAT? THERE IS A LOGO IN MY DRINK?

Branding and bars have long gone hand in hand. But the days when cocktail napkins, swizzle sticks, cardboard coasters and matchbooks were the last word in tactile advertising are over. In today’s distracted culture, cocktail bars need something a little flashier to chisel their names into the drinker’s consciousness. Bars are now  using stamped ice cubs  to remind drinkers where they are but I am sure after the 2nd drink you will not remember. 

 

 

 

 

How To Order Whiskey Like A Pro

There’s something intriguing about whiskey that makes us revere it with awe — its name, after all, comes from the Gaelic uisce beatha, which means “water of life.” If it’s in fact the “water of life,” then let’s drink up! But before you lift that glass, you need to either A) buy the right kind of whiskey for your home or B) know what to order at the bar! There are several different whiskeys around the world and all are slightly different — made of different ingredients, and even given different names, like Scotch or Bourbon. So sidle up and find out what you should be looking for …

The Many Types

SCOTCH WHISKYS can only be produced in Scotland and are generally made from malted barley, distilled at least twice and aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Scotch typically has a smoky taste because peat (basically dirt) is used in the malting process.

There are two main types: single malt Scotch (made from malted barley) and single grain Scotch (made at a single distillery of malted barley and other grains, malted or unmalted).

Furthermore there are three blends: blended malt Scotch (a blend of single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries), blended grain Scotch (a blend of single grain Scotch whiskies from different distilleries) and blended Scotch (a blend of single malt Scotch and single grain Scotch).

IRISH WHISKEYS can only be produced in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and are aged for at least three years. Unlike Scotch whiskies, Irish whiskeys have a cleaner taste since peat is not used in the malting process. Most Irish whiskeys are distilled three times from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley and other grains. This produces a whiskey that is much lighter and more neutral than most others.

AMERICAN WHISKEYS are generally aged in new charred oak barrels. Some of the most popular American whiskeys include Rye whiskey, Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.

• Rye whiskey, is, as the name suggests, made from rye (at least 51%). It has a spicy, fruity taste. Originally cocktails like the Manhattan, Old-Fashioned, and Whiskey Sour were created with rye.

• Bourbon is mostly made from corn (at least 51% by regulation) and has a sweet taste. Brands include Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey.

• Tennessee whiskey is straight Bourbon whiskey that is made in Tennessee. What differentiates it from regular Bourbon is that it’s filtered through maple charcoal before going into barrels for aging, which removes unpleasant aromas and flavors, giving the whiskey a cleaner taste. There are four brands: Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Collier and McKeel, and Benjamin Prichard’s (does not use the filtering process).

How To Serve And Taste Whiskey

Whiskey is really best served “neat“ in a snifter at room temperature with no ice. This type of glass with its particular tulip-like shape helps the drinker enjoy the aroma and flavor. The heat of your hands also helps bring out more flavors in the whiskey.

When you get your whiskey, smell it, but be careful not to inhale abruptly as the alcohol will deaden your senses — it’s best to leave your mouth open as you smell the whiskey. Watch the video below for exact tips on drinking whiskey.

If you order a whiskey “on the rocks,” which means with ice, it will be served to you in an old-fashioned glass. It’s also quite common to order whiskey with water, which some drinkers say helps bring out the flavor of the whiskey. It’s a good idea to taste the whiskey first before adding water to see if it’s even needed. Try to use spring water instead of tap water, which contains chlorine that may react with the whiskey.

Whiskey Terminology

Grain whiskey refers to whiskey made from grains other than malted barley that’s distilled in a continuous column still, which produces a light-tasting whiskey. Grain whiskey is usually mixed with malt whiskey to create a blended whiskey.

Blended whiskey contains both malt whiskey and grain whiskey. It’s the most common kind of whiskey available. Brands include Dewar’s, Johnnie Walker, Seagram’s Seven Crown, and Chivas Regal.

Single malt whiskey is made from a single malted grain, traditionally barley, that is made in one distillery. The term is most often applied to Scotch whisky.

Single barrel whiskey means the entire bottle came from one barrel of whiskey instead of a blend from many barrels. This term is most often applied to Bourbons.

Straight whiskey is a term used for an American whiskey that is aged for 2 years or more in new charred white oak barrels.

 

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Virginia Black Whiskey

Rap star Drake has officially launched his Virginia Black whiskey brand, made in collaboration with Brent Hocking, the creator of DeLéon Tequila.

 

With a shared passion for style, music, and the pursuit of taste; Brent Hocking, & Award-winning songwriter, rapper, and actor, Drake, have collaborated to bring you Virginia Black American Whiskey. Made from a personally selected collection of two, three, and four-year old bourbons, finished with a decadent profile. Aged for two years.

After attending the exclusive Trade tasting of Virginia Black pre release- I am happy to report it  is a rich, smooth bourbon available at a decidedly reasonable price (because its founders believe that “everyone should have access to glamour, swagger and soul”).

I wish they were both here but the bottle is!  Order your bottle online here to have it shipped.

 

SQUARE ONE ORGANIC SPIRITS COLLECTION

 

This holiday season is off to a very merry start here at Mel and Rose as we are once again featured in O, The Oprah Magazine as the place to find this year’s spirit choice for Oprah’s Favorite Things. This is the fourth year in a row that the magazine has directed their fans to Mel and Rose to find Oprah’s favorite spirits.

Oprah turned her attention to American made vodka this year and Square One Organic Sprits, a boutique organic spirits maker, known for its sophisticated, multi-botanical approach to vodka based spirits, is an Oprah favorite. Made from 100% organic American rye, Oprah says: “…this is the vodka I use when mixing cocktails at home.”

And she couldn’t pick just one from the Square One portfolio, she loved them all. That’s why she asked Square One to create this beautiful gift box with all five Square One Organic Spirits along with delicious culinary-inspired cocktail recipes. It’s a perfect gift for the foodie or aspiring mixologist in your life. This entire package, decorated with whimsical illustrations of the botanicals that infuse the spirits, has a personal touch for corporate gift-giving as well. We have the entire Square One Organic Spirits Collection gift pack, or you can pick a few of your favorites and purchase the bottles individually.

 

Hennessy 250 Collector’s Blend: A Worthwhile Celebration

When any business manages to reach its 250th anniversary, let alone one in the increasingly mercurial spirits industry, it is cause for celebration, and Hennessy is celebrating in rare form.  To commemorate their sestercentennial, Hennessy has released 250 Collector’s Blend.  Seventh-generation Master Distiller Yann Fillioux carefully selected 100 eaux-de-vie, aged for 15-35 years in specially commissioned 250-liter Limosin oak barrels.  Only 250 such barrels were filled, allowing for only a few thousand bottles of this amazing cognac.  And unlike many other collector’s edition bottles, which can cost thousands of dollars, primarily because of the costs of the crystal it is bottled in, Hennessy has decided to keep the focus on what is in the bottle, and it shows.  A rich amber color in the glass, the cognac has a spicy aroma, with herbal notes and bitter orange, with a palate consisting of fresh nutmeg, licorice, dried peppermint, and a touch of saffron.  It is a powerful, bold cognac, but it retains elegance, with a lasting finish and supreme balance.  This would be great bottle to put on a shelf and save, but even more so, it is a bottle for drinking, and sharing in Hennessy’s rich history as the world’s premier cognac distiller.

Corazon Expressions Tequila: Perfect for Cinco de Mayo

With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, plans for the perfect barbeque may be derailed by a simple question: what drinks should I serve?  Of course, beer is a must, but what else?  Bourbon is a perfect choice.  But what if you’re serving more Mexican fair to go along with the celebration?  Tequila would be more appropriate.  Now, there’s a way to do both.

Corozan’s Expressions Tequilas.  Three impressive tequilas barrel-aged in ex-bourbon barrels, from esteemed distillers Buffalo Trace, George T. Stagg, and Sazerac Rye, and a special Artisanal Blanco as their bases.  Each bourbon imparts complex flavors to the tequila, turning an already noteworthy drink into something truly remarkable.

Corazon Artisanal Edition Blanco Tequila is tequila in its purest form: un-aged and crystal clear.  Powerful agave scents lead the nose towards more subtle citrus and spice notes.  But on the tongue it is more subdued, with more agave and touches of vanilla and spice.  Not overly harsh, the mid-palate brings out some warmer spice and depth, without becoming harsh.  The finish is soft and smooth, ending with clean and refreshing agave flavor.

Corazon Buffalo Trace Reposado Tequila starts off life as Artisanal Blanco before aging in ex-Buffalo Trace barrels for ten and a half months.  This short ageing period is only enough to impart a pale-gold hue, but it more than makes up for this in flavor.  Buffalo Trace, a complex and powerful whiskey, is first apparent in the nose, where heavy oak and spice leads before giving way to the tequila’s natural agave.  But on the tongue, the oak is balanced well by the bourbon and tequila’s spice, which intermingle in delightful ways.  It expands during the mid-palate, without becoming overpowering, into bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla.  The tequilla ends superbly with the clean agave flavors balanced by the bourbon’s sweetness in a long and lingering finish.

Corazon George T. Stagg Anejo is aged for a longer 22 months, but is only marginally darker than the Buffalo Trace.  The tequila opens with a simple nose, primarily oak with hints of citrus and caramel.  But this is not a tequila for sniffing; it is for drinking.  The agave is balanced well by more caramel, expanding nicely into oak and bourbon sweetness.  It ends cleanly, but richly, far closer to a bourbon than a tequila.

Corazon Sazerac Rye Anejo is the darkest of the three (but still very pale), aged for 24 months.  It opens with oak again, but is tempered by curious fruit and butterscotch notes.  It’s higher alcohol content creates more classic tequila spice and heat, with agave holding its own against caramel and subtle citrus.  Though it burns noticeably initially, the finish cools substantially into lasting caramel sweetness.

Whether you enjoy tequila, bourbon, or both, there is something special in each of these fine tequilas.  Feliz Cinco de Mayo!