Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/912565
december 2017 / the tasting panel / 79 december 2017 / the tasting panel / 79 With increasing demands on our schedules and a growing pressure to finish tasks at a rate that reflects our constant connectivity, the pace of the world around us seems to speed up expo- nentially as the years go by. On top of this, the advent of social media has ironically reduced the actual amount of socializing we engage in on a regular basis. In the place of conversa- tion at the table or bar, we instead see the glow of screens or the flash of a food picture destined for Instagram, and we all too often let our devices distract us from the moment at hand. Exactly when did posting that picture begin to matter more than the actual food on our plate or the drink in our glass? Have we completely forgotten how to relish in the simple delights of a fine meal and an outstanding cocktail? It's time to take a stand and encourage your guests to slow down and enjoy the company of those around them, and there's no better way to do this than with an après dinner drink. For centuries, dinner guests have used these libations to extend both the meal and conversation. To encourage your guests to follow this practice and stay awhile, we suggest some of our favorite Cognacs, brandies, and other liqueurs that pair beautifully with desserts, a cigar, or just a meandering discussion about how many episodes of Stranger Things you binge-watched before arriving at the bar. A Honey of a Spirit: DESTILLARÉ ORANGE CURAÇAO Called Destillaré, the Latin root of the English word "distillation," this curaçao modernizes the category with intensity, complexity, and balance, lending itself to work well within the world of mixology. "We wanted to take the classic liqueurs and re-interpret them upon our own sensibility," says Joe Heron, Founder of Copper & Kings American Brandy Company, while referencing the company's new line of non-chill-filtered, copper pot–distilled brandy base infusions. One of the expressions in the line, Destillaré Orange Curaçao, starts with apple brandy low wine in which orange peels and spice macerate for 12 hours. While it's double-distilled with honey, the spirit is also vapor distilled with lavender petals and more peels before being polished in Copper & Kings American Brandy barrels. Honey is then infused into the spirit before bottling; this combined with the non-chill filtration produces a dense and velvety finish, which will keep guests coming back like a bee to a flower. TASTING NOTES Desllaré Orange Curaçao ($35) Pale amber color; silky and tangy with lovely authentic orange flavors; sweet but not cloying, with a base of pot-stilled apple brandy; elegant and exquisite. 93 —Anthony Dias Blue COPPER & KINGS AMERICAN BRANDY CO. Standing Tall: FLOODWALL AMERICAN APPLE BRANDY Another masterpiece from Copper & Kings American Brandy Co., Floodwall American Apple Brandy (SRP $40) received its name from the physical floodwall surrounding the Butchertown neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky—the hometown of the distillery. Akin to the castle walls of medieval Europe, the walls stand tall and defend the city from any flooding on the Ohio River, and they've transformed into an icon the distillery seeks to honor with this apple brandy. Floodwall ages in Kentucky bourbon barrels and 250-liter Oloroso Sherry casks for a minimum of four years. After being non-chill fil- tered, the spirit—and only the spirit—is bottled; no boisé, colorings, or apple flavors or essences ever touch the liquid. Its earthy, honeyed aroma is unusually fresh, with honeysuckle and butterscotch joining hints of whiskey, oak, and vanilla. The taste, meanwhile, is quite crisp—both "scotchy" and nutty with a feisty spiciness and a racy back end finish. In addition to the Apple Brandy, the company also produces its Butchertown Brandy, American Craft Brandy, and Immature Brandy to fill out the brandy side of its portfolio. Like any solid wall, Copper & Kings protects its spirits from outside attacks to ensure the best product possible. COPPER & KINGS AMERICAN BRANDY CO.