Puma Unity Beer
A lot of cross-promotional ideas can come off as gimmicky, especially when they are advocating unity in reference to the greatest tournament on the planet. We’re all for Puma Unity Beer, however, which represents a truly outstanding convergence of ideas. The renowned sports apparel and clothier has teamed up with artisanal brewers Collective Sao Gabriel to concoct a special World Cup brew meant to promote unity. While Puma may not be an official sponsor of the World Cup, it’s hard to argue their place in the annals of football history, and the current direction of their company reflects a desire to use their position to raise awareness about the need for good sportsmanship and a common goal. Collective Sao Gabriel is not as well known but certainly no less esteemed; in fact, they claim that their company was founded during “a search for truth and honesty in the world of beer,” and a “quest for more substance, more authenticity, and more meaning from our day-to-day experiences;” these are concepts we think just about anyone can relate to. What the beer actually tastes like is anyone’s guess, as both companies are keeping it under raps until the Cup draws closer; however it’s safe to say that with these two companies at the helm we’re sure it’s nothing short of spectacular. Oh, and the bottle looks awesome, too.
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Craft Distillers
Every up-and-coming distribution firm strives to create the next LVMH group, but frankly there are so many that fall between the cracks that entering the field is more likely to result in a cautionary tale than a success story. Craft Distillers has gone in the complete opposite direction, and in doing so has managed to represent some of the best small-batch booze on the planet during a time when high-quality handcrafted intoxicants are en vogue. In standing by their time-tested philosophy of making extraordinary spirits using “rigorous, old-fashioned, hands-on pot-distillation methods,” they have built a deep stable of liquors that has further enhanced their reputation. Among the spirits captured by Craft include Maison Surrenne cognac, Los Danzantes and Mezcalero mescals, Crispin Cain’s Rose Liqueur, and the esteemed Hangar One collection of vodkas. Contact Craft through their website for more information on any of their top products.
Visit: Craft Distillers
The Macallan Flight of the Decades
There are few names in the boozing world that command more respect than the Macallan label. In honor of some forthcoming products, the esteemed distillers from the Speyside region decided to host an event at the Soho House in New York City, and we are certainly hoping to get an invite next time an event like this rolls around. Tastings from the night included the pre-cask New Make Spirit, cask strength 18-year sherry oak, 50-year, and 52-year vintages. The Macallan ambassadors also appeared to make good use of their revolutionary ice-ball machine, which uses gravity (among other things) to make perfect spheres of ice. Soho House also managed to fuse some of the world’s oldest scotch with up-to-date technology, providing live Twitter updates on flat screens throughout the bar, which no doubt kept the bloggers in full effect that evening.
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The Highland Park Earl Magnus Whiskey
The genius Scots who, for centuries have made some of the world’s finest whiskey, have erected another suitable tribute to Magnus Erlendsson, the first Earl of Orkney. Situated in Orkney themselves, the distillers at the The Highland Park have made yet another masterful whiskey. This booze is bottled at cask strength, in this case a whopping 52.6 percent ABV (just as Magnus would have wanted it), but don’t fear that its potency will overtake the whiskey’s traditional notes of peat; also present are hints of lemon, ginger, and vanilla. Another unique aspect is a customized label depicting Earl Magnus in a stained glass window; the bottle is housed in a wooden gift box etched with Highland Park branding and the story of Earl Magnus. In this respect, the whiskey is a tribute not only to Magnus but to Orkney itself, and the Highland Park has done them both proud.
Vieux Carré Absinthe
Absinthe’s triumphant return continues, and Philadelphia Distilling Company has jumped on the bandwagon with their gorgeous specimen that seems to be a cut above the rest. Using a unique double maceration process to combine two different types of wormwood with anise and other flavors is only the beginning; the booze is created in a customer copper pot still imported from Scotland that was created by Forsythe, who also makes pot stills for Glenlivet and Woodford Reserve. In addition to having a master distiller at the helm, Vieux Carre also boasts the distinction of being the first legal absinthe to be distilled, bottled and sold on the east coast of the United States in nearly 100 years. That’s enough to sell us. Check out more information and tried-and-tested absinthe recipes on Vieux Carre’s website.
Exousia 24K Gold Luxury Water
The recession might be easing up a bit, but the prevalence of so many gilded objects on the market is a bit alarming. Case in point, Exousia Luxury Water. The water claims to be infused with anti-stress and anti-aging elements derived from pure gold, which, according to Exousia’s website, is achieved through an obviously unique distilling process. While we would definitely love to try a bottle, whether or not the allegations are true seems to be besides the point, as such a purchase would obviously be more for status or King Midas’ stocking stuffer than for any homeopathic abilities.
Smirnoff – Black Matriochka 70cl
It’s affordable and delicious. As if that weren’t enough, this year’s Smirnoff Black Label arrives just in time for the holidays in its third and final year of production, and in grand style. This premium variant of the well-known vodka maker is pot-distilled and filtered through seven tons of charcoal in a painstaking production process designed to produce a small-batch vodka of rare purity. Smirnoff also pays tribute to its Russian roots by cleverly disguising the bottle inside a Matryoshka doll; the brushed aluminum case is complimented by three onyx stones and is tastefully simple. Skip handing this out as a stocking stuffer and hang onto one yourself. Available now at Colette.
Four Roses Private Selection Holiday 2009
A long time resident of America’s whiskey row, Four Roses has announced that they will indeed get into the holiday spirit of giving this year. The Louisville, Kentucky-based distillery has decided to make available to retailers a group of eight bourbon selections that vary depending on the proprietary yeast strain and mashbill. With such variety, retailers have the ability to stock a bourbon that has not been made available to the general public before. As part of the process, Master Distiller Jim Rutledge invites the purchaser to visit the Four Roses compound and partake in a rigorous sampling exercise to identify the ideal taste of the buyer. Once this process is complete, Jim and his crew bottle the barrel at cask strength; each barrel will yield between 25 and 40 six-barrel cases, and the bottling process is customizable with the retailer’s name and logo.
Sapporo Space Barley Beer
Japanese brewmasters Sapporo have outdone everyone. Forget the highest alcoholic content, or the most expensive packaging; their latest creation, Space Barley, is a superlimited brew whose barley was cultivated during a five month space mission. Since the beer came to fruition as a joint research project with Okayama University, most of the 100 liters that were brewed will be used for experimental purposes (read into that what you will). Sapporo will be conducting a lottery for 60 lucky people to take part in tasting events at their six breweries; the winners will pay $115 for a six-pack, with the proceeds going to a charitable science program for Japanese children.
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Utopias 2009
It’s banned in 13 states and has an alcohol content of 27 percent. Yet, this year’s version of Boston Beer Company’s Utopias will once again be highly sought after and promises to be even more complex and unique than those that came before it. The Massachusetts based-geniuses (who also bring us Samuel Adams) achieve the beer’s extraordinary ABV and taste through a 15-year process; the beer is aged and finished in wooden containers like Scotch whisky barrels and sherry casks, and the drink’s yeast strains are regularly used in making malts and champagne. The beer (if you could really call it that) is obviously meant to be savored, not shotgunned; the first sip hits like a cognac then quickly reveals notes of vanilla, honey, and maple. The high alcoholic content exceeds the maximum allowable in many states, and the limited run of 10,000 bottles means that this year’s Utopias will be difficult to obtain. Bottles will sell for approximately $150, and the neat ceramic and copper-styled mini-kettles are sure to be collector’s pieces whether filled with the potent brew or not.
Read more on Utopias 2009 here.
