A Cup of Serendipity

My spirit-ual journey through nearly all the liquors available at Serendipity Martini Bar. Tasting all the liquors, from scotch, to vodka, to tequila, to rum, and on...

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Basil Smash (via Doug)

Tanqueray 10 Lemon juice Simple syrup Basil I'm mostly blogging this so I can remember it later. I love gin and lemonade, add basil, and I'm really in love! This is so refreshing!

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Spotted outside a local restaurant. [x]

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Alberti Cabernet Sauvignon

I’ve consumed half of my glass and keep forgetting that I need to write about it. That’s partially descriptive of the wine, and partially due to the good company.

It’s dry. As dry as a cabernet, go figure, which is admittedly drier than I usually prefer. It hits really strong on the back of my tongue, which gives it a syrupy aftertaste.

For a dry wine, I like it. It’s got a lot of flavor. But, this is exactly the type of wine people think of when they claim they don’t like wine.

[mzhartz]

Johnnie Walker Red Label

I hadn’t had a lot of experience with scotch before I started this drinking experiment. Now I’m finding it’s one of my favorites.

Johnnie Walker’s Red Label is pretty good. It’s not top of the line, but it’s definitely drinkable. I’ve been craving scotch lately, and it hit the spot. It’s a little harsh, but it’s warming on this cold night.

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[boujhetto]

Wine 101 

How-to Choose

How-to Pair w/Food

Using The Right Glass Shows You Have Class 

Basic Types of Wine

Expanded typing of Wines

What Temp For EachType of Wine

Knowing Your Wine Colors

Wine Type Descriptions

Caloric Comparison vs. Beer

Coffees  

A friend once told me (while discussing wines & spirits) to learn about coffees too… " Because you’ll eventually need them, if / when you enjoy too much good spirits."

Infographics: Wine Folleys, Primer Magazine, and Chicago Food Magazine.

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In case you're interested in the "proper" way to drink.

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Casino Azul Reposado Tequila

Honestly, this is one of those I'd buy just for the bottle. I thought it was gorgeous before I even saw the bird (which isn't as obvious in a dark bar). The taste of the tequila itself is all in the finish. It smells like cheap perfume. The first taste is a bit harsh. Even the following sips have a shallow quality to them, like it's not complex enough (and even cheap tequilas have a measure of complexity). But, if you can stand to drink this straight, maybe only chase it with a little water if necessary, the aftertaste is sweet. It makes me wonder what this tequila would be like if it were aged longer. Instead, I'm just holding it on my tongue a bit longer...

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Tonala Anejo

This tequila is very drinkable. I need to pay more attention to it, I keep just taking a casual sip. It's very smooth and creamy. It has the perfect burn, just a bit at the back of the throat. (Every tequila has a bit of burn, otherwise it doesn't feel like tequila.) It's not too sweet, but sweet enough that it doesn't have too much bite. I will definitely get this tequila again in the future.

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The Stump Jump Shiraz

Audrey was in the mood for wine tonight, and splitting a bottle sounded good. Even though I primarily review liquors, I don't mind sticking a wine in here and there. The Stump Jump Shiraz smells like grape juice. I know, that seems like an obvious statement, but this one really smells like old grape juice more than wine. Sometimes shiraz can be a bit more peppery than I would like. Although spicy, this is just the right amount. This is the type of shiraz I like. While I like any wine, I prefer whites and semi-sweet wines. The super dry reds aren't my favorite, but of course I'll still happily drink them! This is a characteristic shiraz, dry as it should be, but a little drier than I would normally choose. But if you like a shiraz, you'll probably like this.

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Tres Generaciones Añejo

This was a special birthday treat. The smell is light, doesn't even singe a nostril hair, which makes it a bit misleading. It's sweet at first, with a nice spicy finish. But it's a different type of burn than most tequilas, more of a tongue-burn than a throat-burn. I also like the aftertaste, it's more of a scotch-like carmelly aftertaste than the typical tangy tequila aftertaste.

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Caipirinha

Caipirinha, pronounced, um, I forget. Something like cap-ir-een-ha... Cachaça lime, sugar, ice It's kind of a sweet margarita on the rocks. It's good, refreshing. I almost want cucumber in it. This would be a great summer drink!

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The Old Waldorf

We're at Malibu this week for a little change. Which means I'm presented with a whole new cocktail menu. Oh decisions, decisions... So I went with The Old Waldorf (which reminds me of the Muppet...) Gin Orange Liquor Cream This is good! I like creamy drinks, and I love gin, and the slight hint of orange is nice. It's like someone dipped their creamsicle in my drink, so there's just a tiny bit of the taste. I'm glad it doesn't overpower the gin.

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Stroh 80

Ah! It burns, it burns! That was my first impression of this 160 proof rum. It tastes... I have no clue how it tastes. I'm not sure if I'm ever going to taste anything again. Really, I broke out in an instant sweat, and if this blog is any proof, I'm no lightweight. Apparently it's spiced. I'm not sure that matters. Hey college kids, are you looking for a drink to get you messed up? Drink this. I think I'm growing hair on my chest (and I'm female).

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Tres Generaciones Plata

This is the type of tequila that coats your whole mouth. Which is good, it leaves a pleasant aftertaste. It's a bit creamy and sweet. I'm loving this aftertaste. Man, I really like this tequila. Yum!

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Red Knot Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

The Red Knot is a sweeter, juicier cabernet, and for a dry red wine, not very dry at all. If I didn't know it was a cab, I would've never guessed. There's a hint of spice to it, but I wouldn't call it spicy. It smells fruity, which is a bit misleading since it's not a sweet wine. I'd recommend this one to people who don't like dry reds, but think they need to have a dry red for one reason or another.

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Tormenta Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Reserve

So, we're doing wine this week, because... because we want to.

The first one is the Tormenta Cabernet Sauvignon. For a cab, it's not as dry as I was expecting. It's very tangy without being overly spicy. The color is beautiful, a rich purple-ish red. When it comes to dry red wines, this is the type I like.

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Kah Blanco Tequila

It smells like musky citrus. I want to wear it on my wrists. I like the burn. It's there, but not too strong. The taste is a bit sweet. This would be great in a tequila sunrise or a margarita, but it's not so sweet that I can't sip it straight. All in all, it's an easy to drink tequila, but perhaps not a good fit for the hard hitters. Since there aren't a lot of hard hitters out there, this would be a good tequila to pick for shots with friends.