Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/271567
march 2014 / the tasting panel / 1 1 1 SMOKE Liqueur Where there's smoke there's fire. So says the tagline for recently introduced SMOKE, an American-made liqueur featuring a blend of super-premium vodka infused with coconut, pineapple and Moscato. Its character and depth of flavor has made it popular as a high- proof, pre-mixed cocktail. Whether mixed into a craft cocktail or served over ice, SMOKE is ready to drink when you are. "The spirits industry is driven by innovation and consumers are always on the lookout for new things to drink," says Smoke Ventures' Director of Marketing Zev Norotsky. "We spent a lot of time looking at different flavors, proofs, mixology and spirit preferences while developing and testing SMOKE. So we think we've created something special. The traditional notion of liqueurs is either as an ingredient in a cocktail or an after dinner drink. SMOKE stands on its own and is appropriate for any spirits occasion." Widely distributed by Southern Wine & Spirits, SMOKE Liqueur is 26% alcohol (52 proof) and is avail- able in 750-ml. and 50-ml. sizes. www.smokedrinks.com TY KU Coconut Nigori Saké TY KU is the fastest growing saké portfolio in the States, and one reason for the company's tremendous success here is its innovative use of flavor. The introduction of TY KU Coconut Nigori Saké will only serve to fuel the brand's surging popularity. The new release from TY KU is made with lightly filtered, junmai nigori saké, also known as "cloudy saké." It is brewed in the heartland of saké—Nara, Japan—with Akebono rice polished more than 30%, pure spring water from Mt. Katsuragi, proprietary yeast and handmade koji. After the brewing process, TY KU Coconut Nigori is infused with creamy coconut for a burst of delicious, low-calorie flavor. The all-natural saké is free of gluten, tannins and sulfites. "TY KU Coconut Nigori uses all natural flavoring, so it captures the true essence of the coconut fruit, but is subtle and doesn't overpower the taste of the junmai saké. The result is a light, creamy and refreshing saké that entices those both familiar and new to the cat- egory. It is also a great base for cocktails; add pineapple juice and you have an easy LoCal Colada," says Tara Fougner, TY KU Director of Marketing. www.trytyku.com Blue Chair Bay Rum Although he's internationally renowned as a country music megastar, Kenny Chesney is quickly gaining a reputation as the creator of world-class Caribbean rum. A lifelong devotee of the island lifestyle, Chesney set out to imbue the flavor of the Caribbean in a series of character-laden rums. The base brand— Blue Chair Bay White Rum—is crafted on the island of Barbados and barrel-aged in oak casks no less 200 feet from the shore of the Caribbean. One of Chesney's singular flavor innovations is Blue Chair Coconut Spiced Rum. Guaranteed there's nothing like it on your backbar. The bouquet is all coconut and tropical fruit, while on the palate the flavor of the white rum is at the forefront, followed closely by a wave of coconut. The infused spices—clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and pimento—make their presence known on the long, luxurious finish. According to CEO Mark Montgomery, Blue Chair Coconut Spiced is performing remarkably well. "As the category's first coconut spiced entry it was critical for us to get the flavor perfect, and we really did. People love its spice profile and smooth, relaxed personality." www.bluechairbayrum.com Benchmark No. 8 McAfee's Benchmark No.8 is a venerable bourbon brand that for the past 25 years has been made by Sazerac at the famed Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Its growing popularity will certainly get a boost from the release of two new flavor extensions. "We sought to create interesting and great tasting flavors that were distinctive compared to other brands in the whis- key category," says Sazerac Marketing Director Kevin Richards. " Benchmark Brown Sugar has a wonderfully unique, Southern-inspired flavor profile, while Benchmark Peach is a fresh, sweet and highly mixable flavor. We're finding that flavored whiskey can be an entry point into the whiskey category for some consumers who may be coming from vodka, rum or elsewhere." Both new flavor extensions, 70-proof, are highly approachable and enjoy scores of applications behind the bar. Benchmark Brown Sugar has a molasses, pecans and brown sugar nose and a long, spicy finish, while Benchmark Peach has a nectar-like quality and a peach-forward flavor. www.buffalotracedistillery.com