Reviews of the Week

I'll start reviewing beverage products that I try. I pick up a lot of harder to find stuff on my trips, so you'll see a few things that you probably won't be able to get where you live. I'll always have a link to each product though. Enjoy and feel free to add your comments.

Sept. 14, Meet Me In St. Louie:

St. Louis has a long tradition of beer and food. I've noticed a recent change and following for new specialty choices in the area within the last few years and I like what I see. Here's a few of the local treats that I picked up and enjoyed while visiting.

Fitz's Ginger Ale

Fitz's Bottling Company | St. Louis, MO

Notes: Real nice ginger taste with a bit of sweetness (cane sugar). Smooth and floral.

Used in a cocktail and the outcome was good. Here's the recipe -

2 oz Gin (I used Plymouth)

1/2 oz squeezed lemon juice

Top (3oz) with ginger ale. Add ice, stir & sip away.

O'Fallon 5-Day IPA

O'Fallon Brewery | O'Fallon (Greater St. Louis), MO

Notes: ABV: 6.1%. Pleasant aromas, nice citrus flavor, malty sweetness with caramel & butterscotch strengths, and hops are piney.

Schlafly Grand Cru - Bottle conditioned

Schlafly Brewery | St. Louis, MO

Notes: ABV: 9%. Smoky orange, buttery hops, lingering hints of ginger (I like). Suggestion that it pairs well with mussels. I'd second that.

Kaldi's Organic Guatemala Santa Isabel Coffee

Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Company | St. Louis, MO

Notes: Dark chocolate front, fruit notes, a bit toasty for my taste.

Sept. 21, Feeling Chile (Chilean Wines):

This week I was part of an event where each attendee had to bring a Chilean wine. We had 17 bottles and we tasted each and every bottle. What a great learning experience. Here's some recommendations from that night. Each bottle is very reasonable in price.

Montes Alpha Syrah '07

Awesome nose and tight finish. Big and bold, some vanilla, hints of coffee and currant. From the Colchagua Valley. 90 points Jay Miller (Wine Advocate). I highly recommend.

Tabali 'Reserva Especial' Pinot Noir '07

Nice fruits of red berries and cherry. Really had a nice nose and taste of raspberries and nice on nose overall. Hints of spices and tannins on the end. From the Limari Valley

Root:1 Carmenere '07

A surprise for me. Soft and smooth. Nice vanilla and spice. I love the nose. Also, rich, juicy plum. From the Colchagua Valley.

Primus Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Merlot/Carmenere '06
36% cabernet sauvignon, 31% syrah, 17% merlot and 16% carmenere. Interesting mix and I like the carmenere break down. Lots of dark berries on the nose and unpredicted, but good finish. 89 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar)

Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon '06

A nice tobacco, leather and other toasty notes. Black currant, some berry and sweetened out with fresh vanilla. "Drink now through 2018. 20,000 cases made. Score: 94." (Wine Spectator)

Due to a busy fall schedule, the reviews are on hold for awhile.

Water Infusions

Starting my water infusions. Going "in" easy with mint from the yard and lemons. A slight break from my cocktails.

Some good and some bad outcomes. Something so odd with the cilantro infusion that it smelt great, but mentally was hard to think about drinking and enjoying it.

Best batch from practice rounds was the kiwi infusion. Next batch of kiwi will use the local Cooper's honey.

As of 8/15/09, I'll start including recipes and my grade for each batch.

LimeMint ~ batch001

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Lime slices

3 med. size Mint leaves

GRADE = 8

Lime HoneyMint ~ batch002

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Lime slices

3 med. size Mint leaves

1 Tsp Honey

GRADE = 7

LimeHoney ~ batch003

1 3/4 C Filtered water

2 Lime slices

2 Tsp Honey

GRADE = 6, honey isn't needed, hint aroma of honey flavored cereal

OrangeCinnamon ~ batch004

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Orange slices (med)

3 dashes of Cinnamon

GRADE = 8, like a calming orange tea, nice &delicate, might taste odd to the nonadventurous

PeachMint ~ batch005

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Peach slices (med)

6 Mint leaves

GRADE = 8, very floral, nice mint aftertaste, slight peach sweetness

LimeBasil ~ batch006

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Lime slices (med)

4 Mint leaves (med)

GRADE = 5, too tart and harsh at the end, still not enough basil

Mexican LimeBasil ~ batch007

1 1/2 C Filtered water

2 Lime slices (med)

3 Mint leaves (med)

1 Tsp Agave Nectar

GRADE = 5, too tart, no agave taste, only basil on nose

PeachLemon Basil ~ batch008

1 3/4 C Filtered water

2 Lemon slices (lrg)

5 Basil leaves (med)

3 Peach slices (sm quarter slices)

GRADE = 7.5, a bit weak but a nice light taste with peach on the back end, it has strong potential

SweetLemon Cilantro ~ batch009

1 3/4 C Filtered water

3 Cilantro sprigs

2 Tsp Honey

GRADE = 7, very different due to the cilantro but pretty good, refreshing, needs 1 more tsp of honey but is slightly sweet

LemonPeach Nutmeg ~ batch010

1 1/2 C Filtered water

3 Peach slices (sm quarter slices)

2 Lime slices

Sprinkle of Nutmeg

GRADE = 7.5, floral, slightly sweet, missing a bite but nice, calming

LemonBlueberry Mint ~ batch011

1 1/2 C Filtered water

1 Lemon slice

5 Blueberries (med size)

5 Mint leaves

GRADE = 7, hard to judge, seemed bland first taste then had more after a jog and it was great. Certainly isn't bad but I felt like it was missing something. Only one to color the water.

OrangeRaspberry ~ batch012

1 1/2 C Filtered water

1 Orange slice

4 Raspberries

GRADE = 6.5, orange floral taste w/ strong rind presence, taste a tad weak of raspberries. Need to use more. Had slight pink coloring.

OrangeMaple ~ batch013

1 1/2 C Filtered water

1 Orange slice

1 Tsp Maple Syrup (Grade A)

GRADE = 6.5, Maple is nice, orange doesn't seem right, it needs to be 3rd ingredient and more of an accent.

GingerMint, Honey ~ batch014

1 1/2 C Filtered water

1 Sliver of ginger

2 Tsp Honey

4 Mint leaves (med. size)

GRADE = 8.5, Better rested with ginger removed. Nice ginger taste - not too strong. Sweet like southern iced tea & good amount of mint.

RaspberryBasil, Honey ~ batch015

1 1/2 C Filtered water

5 Raspberries

2 Tsp Honey

2 Basil leaves (lrg. size)

GRADE = 8.5, Amazingly sweeter than expected, floral in a tea-like way. Tastes like a fresh raspberry iced tea.

BlueberryBasil ~ batch016

1 1/2 C Filtered water

4 Blueberries

3 Basil leaves (lrg. size)

GRADE = TBD