Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/844641
july 2017 / the tasting panel / 85 CATEGORY REPORT A Beautiful Song with BAUCHANT ORANGE LIQUEUR Produced by Maison Roullet- Fransac—which has manufactured Cognac since 1838—Bauchant Orange Liqueur (SRP $22.99) utilizes both sweet and bitter orange peels, which macerate in neutral alcohol before undergoing three distilla- tions. With additions of VS and VSOP Cognac and syrup, it rests in used wooden casks for a number of years. Bauchant, French for "beauti- ful song," has found a home in the craft cocktail scene, in drinks such as Margaritas and Mimosas and has also made a name for itself with pastry chefs, making its way into desserts such as flambéed crêpes and rich choco- late mousses. No matter how you serve it, Bauchant will have your custom- ers singing with delight. —Emily Coleman Tasting Notes Bauchant, a blend of fine Cognac and orange essence is an aromatic charmer. Piquant and opu- lent, the multilayered nose offers orange rind, mango and cinnamon apples. Bittersweet chocolate-covered oranges, white-grape raisins and English toffee wind around the taste buds. Striking. 96 —Meridith May PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL Bespoke Beverages with SALISH SEA It's not easy to be innovative in a spirits market that is oversaturated and mostly controlled by large-scale producers. But as a former bartender, Salish Sea's owner and Head Distiller, Sam Desner, saw an opening for high- quality liqueurs. "I used to make my own flavored simple syrups because I could never find what I wanted on the market, and this eventually led me to creating my own unique liqueurs," Desner remembers. Salish Sea's products are now distributed to more than 100 locations across Washington State, with plans to enter the international market later this year. Currently, Salish Sea produces 22 different small batch organic liqueurs (SRP $33.99) ranging in flavors from savory to sweet, with selections such as basil, chrysanthemum and honeybush. The liqueurs are made from only the highest quality herbs and fruits sourced from all over the world. The sheer number of flavors may seem excessive for a small company, but for Desner's model it makes perfect sense. "All of our liqueurs are made one gallon at a time, allowing us precise control over the process and yielding the highest-quality flavors," he explains. "This also allows us to create as many flavors as we want without having to produce large amounts of a low-selling product." Small-batching means that Salish Sea will be able to expand past its goal of 30 commercial flavors and produce a much wider range on a custom-order basis. With unique flavors and customization, Salish Sea is a creative bartender's dream. —Jesse Hom-Dawson Tasting Notes Salish Sea Organic Hibiscus Liqueur is a 43-proof spirit with a deep, inky carmine color. The perfumed, ripe scent of blackberry matches with the authentic hibiscus floral tones. It carries a natural acidity to add structure to its bones, while painting the tongue with refined femininity. 92 —Meridith May SALISH SEA LIQUEURS july 2017 / the ta ting panel / 85 PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL