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CATEGORY REPORT ITALIAN FRESCO: Tiramisú Liqueur ($24.99) T he dessert tiramisú may have originated in Italy, but its enormous popularity has made it a citizen of the world. Fortunately those of us in the drinks business, there is a bottled version of the famed dessert that's a dead ringer for what a pastry chef makes. Tiramisú Liqueur is crafted in northern Italy just outside of Verona in the small town of Sommacampagna. The liqueur has a velvety texture, medium-weight body and a generous bouquet of freshly brewed espresso, dark chocolate and a light offering of spice. The 48-proof liqueur bathes the palate with a blend of fl avors swirl together to recreate the taste like the famed dessert. It's a masterful accomplishment. This versatile liqueur can be enjoyed on the rocks or in hot or cold libations, but with new directions in mixology, the creative applications seem endless. TERLATO WINES INTERNATIONAL A TAPESTRY IN ORANGE: Gran Gala ($19.99) A mong the biggest benefi ciaries of the ongoing cocktail renaissance is Imported Gran Gala Triple Orange Liqueur, which has repeatedly proven itself to be a world-class player. The liqueur is made at Distillerie Stock in Trieste, Italy, a fi rm that has been producing brandy, vermouth and liqueurs for more than a century. An infusion of VSOP brandy and sweet orange peels from Sicily is redistilled and the heart of the run is used to make the liqueur. The spirit is then barrel-aged to ensure its constituent elements are allowed to fully integrate prior to being bottled at 80 proof. Gran Gala has a fetching orange/bronze color, a satiny medium-weight body and a generous bouquet saturated with the aromas of spice, brown sugar and sun-ripened oranges. Its wafting aromatics play a large role in its charm and creative range. The lush, complex palate delivers warm waves of fl avor, the likes of which include caramelized fruit and bitter- sweet oranges with brandy notes. GEMINI SPIRITS & WINE PORTRAIT OF AN IRISH LASS: Coole Swan Liqueur ($32.99) T he makers of super-premium Coole Swan admit that it took them 231 versions of the liqueur before they fi nally got it right. And get it right they most certainly did, proving once again that tenacity is a most laudable quality. Suffi ce it to say, there are Irish creams and then there's Coole Swan Liqueur, which is in a class of its own. The liqueur is crafted from dairy fresh Irish double cream (delivered from the dairy in the cool, early morn- ings), Madagascan vanilla, white and dark chocolate, organic dark cocoa and Irish single malt whiskey. The cream is. The liqueur is all natural—no synthetic fl avors, caramel coloring or industrial bulking sugars are used in production. With a lightweight, velvet-textured body and a bouquet of vanilla and dark chocolate with subtle notes of Irish whiskey, Coole Swan is a balanced affair without a trace of excess sweetness. GEMINI SPIRITS & WINE OLD MASTERS: Cherry Heering and Coffee Heering ($29.99) P roduced in Copenhagen, since 1818, Cherry Heering Liqueur is a genuine classic. Its longevity can be attributed to its luscious fl avor and depth of character, a persona that has never been equaled. Named for its creator, Peter Heering, the liqueur's principal ingredient is orchard fresh Stevens cherries, a small, dark variety native to Denmark. The handpicked fruit is carefully pressed to open the skin. They are then transferred to large wooden vats where they are steeped in spirits and a select blend of spices. The mash is allowed to steep for several months, after which it is put into oak barrels and aged for a mini- mum of fi ve years. Made with all natural ingredients, the ruby red liqueur has a silky medium-weight body, a glorious nose laced with fruit and cocoa aromas and a long, perfectly dry fi nish. The company recently launched Heering Coffee Liqueur, a dreamy sibling product made with pre- mium Caribbean rum, cocoa and rich roasted coffee. GEMINI SPIRITS & WINE march 2012 / the tasting panel / 105