Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/471637
march 2015 / the tasting panel / 93 Old Tom Gin When Ransom Spirits began working on sav- ing Old Tom Gin from the abyss of lost spirits, no brown or barrel aged gins existed on the American market. Looking to revive this popular style of gin from the mid-1800s, the brand focused on a traditional recipe, comprising of a base wort of malted barley, added to an infu- sion of botanicals in high-proof corn spirits. Aged in French oak wine barrels and pot distilled in a Prulho alembic copper still, this spirit will undoubtedly rescue many a pre-Prohibition style cocktail! The Emerald 1865 Straight American Whiskey Trying to bring the past to life sometimes takes creative mea- sures, such as using an old excise tax manual to recreate the Irish whiskey of the 19th century. Making small tweaks to the mash bill, the brand's interpretation of the 1865 spirit not only features usual suspects barley and rye, but also a historically accurate player: oats, a major ingredient for the Irish whiskies of the time. Maturing in French and American oak for three years, one sip will transport you 150 years back in time—now that's powerful! This modern American inter- pretation of an Irish whiskey combines malted and unmalted barley, malted rye and rolled oats into a bright, sassy and mouth- filling spirit. The nose has a lilt of heather and oatmeal, while the tongue tingles with a hot flash of cinnamon, old book leather and a touch of rancio. 87.6 proof. 95 —M. M. Alambic pot-distilled, 88-proof Old Tom was the result of a collaboration of efforts with cocktail historian David Wondrich. It is barrel-aged for six to eight months, and the oak gives it a hue the color of a new copper penny. The nose is winsome, with orange peel, new leather and dandelion. Unctuous and broad on the palate, singed orange peels bandy with spiced pears. A category stand- out. 96 —M. M. Ransom Spirits Although it may not be the first superpower that comes to mind, we all yearn for the ability to turn back the hands of the clock occasionally. Mastering this vortex of time, Ransom Spirits takes the ultimate quantum leap and gifts the contemporary era with a taste of the past through their portfolio of both spirits and wine. doctor time: Ransom Sweet Vermouth Turing its salvage efforts to the Belle Époque, Ransom Spirits spent five years perfecting their Sweet Vermouth—a bridge between the com- pany's wine and spirits operations. The consis- tency of base wine of aromatic white variet- ies—Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Riesling and Pinot Gris—is maintained through the solera system; after distillation, the brandy ages in mixed French oak, before being infused with more than 20 botanicals, including wormwood, sarsaparilla, sassafras, wild cherry bark and coffee beans. With a list of 24 "home-grown" and imported botanicals on its label, the dream sequence of flavors skips across the tongue. Some stand-out notes include sarsaparilla, cinnamon bark, black mission figs and cacao nibs. You won't want to wake up. 92 —M. M. GO-GO GADGET TASTING NOTES! GO-GO GADGET TASTING NOTES! GO-GO GADGET TASTING NOTES!