Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/97133
Best Cultural Exchange Least Likely to Act Its Age Real Russian Vodka, USA ($20) Caliche Rum, Puerto Rico ($25) When the long history of Russian vodka production meets the American Dream, the results are impressive. Meet Real Russian Vodka, an Americanproduced vodka with roots dating back to the Tsarist Russia of 1905, when the grandfather of the brand���s Master Distiller was given special permission from the Tsar to small-batch produce his own spirit. Today, Real Russian handcrafts family heirloom vodka in the U.S. from Midwestern winter wheat in a unique ���ltration system that combines the best of the Old World with modern production techniques. Mellow and smooth with sweet vanilla and lush texture; long and rich with a ripe, lengthy ���nish. Caliche has the best of both worlds: historic family tradition and a fresh, fun personality. Puerto Rico is infamous for its rum production, and the Serrall��s family is an important part of that. Six generations ago, in 1865, Don Juan Serrall��s produced his ���rst casks of rum. Today, Serrall��s Family Distillery uses artisanal aging and careful blending, perfected over generations, the product of which is a clear, lively rum. Yes, that's right, we said aging. While most rums are made from products very light in composition, Caliche Rum has several years of age, up to ���ve years. This decision to purposely slow blend and process gives Caliche Rum an extremely smooth, modern characteristic with a unique, clean balance of vanilla and citrus ���avor and a hint of oak. So in theory, Caliche should be the mature older brother, but if co-founder Rande Gerber has a say in the matter, it���ll be the brother with the legendary nightlife reputation. Lively and bright with clear color and nice rustic notes; smooth and rich with vanilla and a hint of sweetness; complex ���avors and lots of depth; crafted by nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber in conjunction with Serrall��s. PREMIERE DISTILLERY LLC SERRALL��S USA Most Inquisitive Most Spirited Balcones Brimstone Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whisky, USA ($55) Luna Nueva 2012 Silver Tequila, Mexico ($39) Begun by home beer brewers whose fascination with fermentation led to the birth of a handcrafted artisan spirit portfolio, Balcones is on a never-ending quest to explore and experiment with their unique distillations. Throwing some serious smoke into the corn whisky category is the Balcones Brimstone offering, infused with sun-baked Texas scrub oak, resulting in an all-American 106-proof spirit that celebrates this nation���s pioneering past. Wow! If you like smoke, this is for you! Head Distiller Chip Tate wanted to see if he could outsmoke the lads at Laphroaig and he succeeded. An amazing product; don���t look for subtlety here���it���s all about the smoke. 12.21.2012. The Mayans��� last recorded calendar ends on this date. Whether you believe that marks the end of the world, or simply the start of a new era, no one can deny the signi���cance of this day. Luna Nueva believes that, either way, you need tequila! Produced speci���cally to celebrate this special date, and the preparation year leading up to it, Luna Nueva is successful in not only making a niche tequila, but making it really delicious. Luna Nueva 2012 Silver is bottled fresh from being pressed and is great as either a shot or in a cocktail. Salty peanut brittle nose, with a side of sweet cooked agave. The ���rst sip is good, but every subsequent sip brings a greater passion of oatmeal, lime and toffee. The agave kicks in every nanosecond. BALCONES DISTILLING 144 / the tasting panel / december 2012 LCG INTERNATIONAL