Spirits and Beers

Pages: 288, Hardcover, Dorling Kindersley - Book -

Hand-bottled in limited quantity for a superior taste and smoothness.Deep in Kentucky, tiny Knob Creek spills and riffles down through the hills. Like the bourbon bearing its name, there's not much of Knob Creek but what there is rewards your finding it. Named after Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home in Kentucky, Knob Creek is truly bourbon at its finest. Created to represent whiskey before it was mass produced, Knob Creek embodies the look, feel and taste of pre-prohibition bourbon. This full-bodied, flavourful bourbon takes classic cocktails to a new level. Knob Creek Bourbon, bottled at an honest 100 proof (50% abv) like all good bourbons were a century ago, is aged nine years in charred American white oak which lends this bourbon its maple sugar aroma, distinctive sweetness and rich, full-bodied flavour, giving it the distinction of being aged the longest of the small-batch bourbons.This extra aging allows it to absorb more of the sugar in the wood, giving it a slightly sweeter taste and nose.

Canadian Club whisky was first produced in a world where the spittoon was considered quite sophisticated.Life was harsh in the mid 1800's in North America and the whiskey was harsher. Hiram Walker (distiller), set out to create a different whiskey that offered a smoother, cleaner taste.Even in those days, Canadian Whiskey was beginning to create a new flavour, combining the richness and fruitiness of bourbon for a cleaner, crisper palate.Canadian Club, with it's unique distilling process was a cut above the rest. Lighter than Scotch and smoother than bourbon, this was no ordinary whiskey.Still made and bottled in Walkerville Canada, Canadian Club is the only Canadian whiskey that is 'barrel-blended' prior to aging in white oak barrels to allow the flavours to marry. Aged six years (twice the period of required by Canadian law), Canadian Club is a true, quality Canadian whisky that has not changed with time.A versatile drink, enjoy Canadian Club straight, on the rocks or in a variety of mixed drinks.Canadian Club has been the world's favourite Canadian whiskey for more than 140 years and has set the standard for great whiskey. It's a smooth satisfying taste that will never go out of style.

Oaky, smoky, and smooth.Bulleit Bourbon is russet in colour with a rich, oaky aroma. The dry, clean flavour is mellow and smooth, not hot in the throat. This 90 proof (40% ABV) Kentucky bourbon delivers a wonderfully complex taste with hints of vanilla and honey and a long smoky finish. All of these elements combine to form a unique, hand-crafted bourbon reminiscent of America's frontier heritage. One taste will release the frontier explorer in you.The award winning bottle design reflects elements of the Frontier Age, with a unique flask design and raised glass lettering.Bulleit Bourbon is distilled and aged in small batches and stored in a single-story warehouse which reduces inconsistencies in the maturation process. Bulleit Bourbon is aged in American White Oak barrels that are flame charred, giving the bourbon some of its colour and flavour. It is aged not a drop less than 6 years, creating maturity and smoothness. The final, 90 proof product is formulated by mingling, not blending, two and sometimes three of the distillates to ensure consistency in the nose and taste. Bulleit Bourbon uses only the highest quality ingredients and follows the 175-year-old recipe of Augustus. Bulleit Bourbon is produced with a high rye content and proprietary grains and yeasts. Rare among bourbon producers, Bulleit Bourbon has its own Grain Division, which acquires distiller's grade grains grown to Bulleit's specification. The high level of rye content creates the dry, clean flavour. In true bourbon fashion, only limestone-filtered water is used. In March, 2004 Bulleit Bourbon won the Gold Medal for being in the top of its class at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition - beating out more expensive and well known premium bourbons such as Knob Creek, Maker's Mark and Jim Beam Black. The competition included over 450 spirits rated by 16 renowned judges from the media, hotel, restaurant and spirits industries.This drink

Wild Turkey 8 Year-Old has an exceptionally soft, but rich aroma for a high proof bourbon, due to quality at all stages of making and aging for 8 years. It's taste is powerful and rich with caramel, vanilla and notes of honey and brown sugar. The finish is very long, rich and full-bodied, powerful, yet soothing.A brand that stands for American heritage and pride, Wild Turkey is the world's top-selling premium Bourbon. As it's advertising states: 'Not the latest thing, the genuine thing'. Available in seven varieties, all Wild Turkey products are created under exacting conditions watched over by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell in the historic distillery at Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.Russell oversees a process employing the highest quality corn, barley and rye, combined with pure limestone water to form a unique whiskey of full-bodied taste and distinctly Kentuckian character. Wild Turkey is distilled and put into new barrels at a much lower proof than most Bourbons. A costly method that results in less of the flavour being cooked out. The barrels used are made of the finest new oak with the heaviest char available, imparting a smoother flavour and a deep amber colour.

More than a spirit, more than a whiskey, this bourbon is a tribute to all that is unique. Buffalo Trace is the flagship bourbon from the multi award winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. Buffalo Trace is an 8-12 year old Kentucky straight bourbon whisky crafted from a "rye recipe" and bottled to "Kentucky proof" 45% ABV. Having aged for at least 8 years, a maximum of 50 barrels are selected from our premiere ageing slots for each production batch. To ensure the consistency and exceptional quality of Buffalo Trace each of these barrels is tasted by our Master Distiller and his team to ensure the taste profile and balance of Buffalo Trace. Only after unanimous approval will bottling commence. Buffalo Trace is rich, complex and smooth in taste.

Bushmills 10' is triple distilled from 100% malt barley and matured for at least 10 years in Bourbon-seasoned barrels. On the nose it is fresh and zesty with notes of honey, vanilla and chocolate. Boasting delicious flavours of vanilla, milk chocolate and toasted wood, the finish is clean and crisp.

oodford Reserve is a small batch bourbon whiskey from the bluegrass region of central Kentucky. Complex and full-bodied with a smooth finish, this bourbon has great delicacy.

One of the very successful Glenmorangie 'wood finishes'.A remarkable malt, antique gold in colour: golden but with a rosy hue. This whisky has been matured for at least 12 years in American white oak casks and racked for several years into Ruby Port pipes for 'finishing'.Malt that's matured as normal in traditional American white oak ex-bourbon casks is then transfered into casks that used to hold fine port for a final period of maturation.The end result is a malt whisky with the colour of antique copper and a unique taste.Add a drop of water and the aromas you get predominate with butterscotch and dark chocolate. But there are also fresh minty notes and a certain dryness a bit like lint.The mouth-feel is really smooth, like 'sipping velvet', now that might be taking it a bit far, but it is voluptuously smooth.Perfect after a good meal, but it's such a fine, if slightly different, Glenmorangie that why wait until after dinner?