The Tasting Panel magazine

December 2017

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70  /  the tasting panel  /  december 2017 San Lorenzo 2010 Escol Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva, Colline Teramane D.O.C.G., Abruzzo, Italy ($55) Classical nose of bold, dark fruit. The texture is silky with abundant acidity. Aged 24 months in French oak. 92 R.S. LIPMAN COMPANY Feudo Maccari 2016 Nero d'Avola, Terre Siciliane IGP, Italy ($16) A great value that's mouth-filling and structured with notes of cherry cedar and chocolate. Aromas range from red roses to mocha cranberry. 91 KOBRAND Monte Zovo 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Italy ($45) Bright and cheerful with youthful red cherry juice and fine acidity. The mid-palate brings in stewed cherries and ripe plums, followed by a combination of leather and lace with a coffee-licorice mocha finish. 92 SPIRITS Durham Distillery Cold Distilled Cucumber Vodka, USA ($28) Fresh, ripe cucum- bers are distilled in five-gallon batches to make this North Carolina 40-proof spirit. The aromas match that authentic promise with a clean, just- sliced aroma. The palate brings up some white pepper and anise, adding a touch of depth to the vegetal character. 90 Silent Pool Distillers Silent Pool Gin, England ($60) Produced with 24 botanicals, this juniper-based spirit intro- duces lavender and mint on the nose to soften and extend the pungency to a floral character. On the palate, the floral tones surge forth, bringing an exotic flair to notes of orange peel, spearmint, and summer peach. The spirit is beautifully balanced. 93 Parce Rum 8-Year- Old Reserva Especial de Colombia ($40) Walnuts and cocoa are apparent on the nose, and with each deep intake, it becomes a bit more resin- y. The palate is opulent and dry and engages notes of darker chocolate, coffee bean, and grains. A touch of sweet tobacco and charred oak comes in mid-to-finish, with a hint of Bing cherry. 93 TURQUOISE LIFE BEVERAGE BRANDS MIXERS Kelvin Slush Co. Organic Frosé Mix, USA ($35) This is one of the more ingenious frozen cocktail and slush mixes we've tasted. Just on its own, the mix's perky pink-red hued liquid is syrupy but not too sweet: just the right amount of organic cane sugar and organic fruit juices. We made our own drink with a favorite rose, Murrieta's Well 2016 Dry Rosé (see review above), and put Kelvin to the test. We blended 2 ounces of Kelvin Frosé mix, 3½ ounces of rosé wine, ½ ounce of vodka, and two cups of ice—the resulting drink tasted of passion fruit, peaches, and pink grapefruit. 94 Publisher's PICKS Tasting Panel Magazine's Managing Editor Jesse Hom-Dawson makes a guest appearance in Publisher's Picks to try out some new flavored spirits. Salish Sea Organic Ginger Liqueur, USA ($36) Made with natural flavors and using a cold maceration process, this organic liqueur's strong ginger notes lead to a full, funky, earthy flavor with clove and cinnamon mid-palate and a sharp spice that lingers. 91 Ole Smoky Mango Habanero Whiskey, USA ($20) Sweet and spicy meld together in this 70-proof whiskey from the creators of Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine. Tropical stone fruit leads to a strong peppery spice that brings the heat at the finish. Great mixed with lemonade or used in a Sour for a cocktail with some kick! 91

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