Gin & Tonic Cocktail

Today we talk about the famous Gin & Tonic cocktail made by mixing Gin with tonic water, usually accompanied with ice and a slice of lime for garnish. However sometimes in the UK the lime is often replaced by a slice of lemon instead as seen in the image to the right. Ever since it originated from India, this cocktail has been big around Europe and especially in the United States. 

Many celebrities have also helped promote this drink around the world in TV shows such as Neil Patrick Harris in the American sitcom "How I Met Your Mother". Personally, I have never tried the Gin & Tonic before but it definitely looks like a fun drink to try out. With the addition of lime/lemon the cocktail will have a strong citrus taste reinforced by the flavour of tonic water and gin. Overall this drink is worth checking out especially if you enjoy fruity drinks that pack a punch. 

Posted by Tinny Wu (Tianyu)

Malibu Rum

"A Caribbean Breeze"

Malibu is an authentic Caribbean spirit made from a blend of white rum and coconut. Born on the island of Barbados, Malibu features natural flavours and low alcohol content. Malibu rum is no.1 worldwide in coconut flavoured rums.

Main Markets:

- US
- UK
- France
- Germany
- Spain
- Italy
- Netherlands

Range: 

- Malibu                           - Cranberry Cherry
- Mango                           - Black Citrus
- Passion Fruit                  - Winter Edition
- Tropical                         -  Cocktails
- Banana                          - Malibu Red
- Island Melon                  - Malibu Cans

Malibu rum is well known for its ability to make great cocktails. It's low alcohol content of 21% allows the drink to be enjoyed leisurely and also responsibly. Malibu rum is a great and refreshing drink to kickstart your night with. Malibu on the rocks, always makes for a refreshing drink on a hot summers night.

                   

American Honey Bourbon

Today, we talk about a world famous brand of bourbon know as Wild Turkey! However, we will focus on a specific drink from the franchise called American Honey Bourbon. 

Wild Turkey is a straight bourbon distilled and bottled in Kentucky USA. It is has been a well known brand of Bourbon for many years and has been a classic ingredient in many cocktails today. American Honey contains the additional ingredient of wild honey to give the drink an extra modified natural sweetness taste. Thus, from combining original Wild Turkey and natural honey, the American Honey Bourbon is born. 

American Honey is famous for cocktail mixes as its sweet flavor blends superbly with exotic juices. It is also an ideal choice for casual parties and bigger parties. However, for those who dislike sweet drinks, American Honey should be avoided since its sugar contents exceeds the usual alcohol drink. Otherwise, I highly recommend American Honey for its sweet soothing taste. Whether you drink it straight or mixed in a cocktail, the flavor will no doubt provide a unique experience. Like it or hate it? Give this drink a try and let me know in the comments below :)

Personal score: 9/10

Posted by Tinny Wu (Tianyu)

Hi guys. Last time I have done some information about types of grapes from Australia.  A few days ago, I poped open a bottle of wine at the vintage release of 2004, from Wynn Coonawarra Estate.

Types of grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Manufacturer: Wynn Connawarra Estate
Grade:Vintage Release
Vintage:2004
*For those who are new to wine, vintage means the year of which the grape was harvested.

Brief history about Wynn Coonawarra Estate.
The heritage begins at 1890s. It is based in Connawarra, South Australia. Their productions are classified as the New World. It was found by John Riddoch later bought by the Wynn's family, David and Samuel. Wynn gained their reputation in the release of a classic vintage Michael Shiraz in 1955.

After-taste of this wine, as the characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon, sweet and medium to full body. It doesn't have a sense of strong, raspy and raw as Shiraz yet not even as full body as it. Yet, it is a mild entry for beginner in red wine. I bought this years ago, so I forgot the price of it. However, it can be found in most Australian Wine Retail, I guess it should be around 50-70 AUD depends on the vintage.

As I mentioned earlier, drinking red wine is a passion yet demands quite a lot of understanding. This time, I gonna go through the process before taking the first zip.

After opening a bottle.....

The wine needs to breath like human. We should allow time for it to react with the air, under going certain chemical reaction with the oxygen forming............ we can leave those behind for our chemistry teacher in high school. 

In general, most wines will improve with as little as 15-20 minutes of air time. However, if the wine is young with high tannin levels, it needs more time. 

For example, the vintage release 2004 from Wynn Coonawarra Estate, Cabenet Sauvignon, I put it under air for over an hour and a half. It allows proper aeration and flavor softening to take place. 

When you are dealing with a classic or older vintage.....

For example this beauty, the best blend from Australia.. Penfolds Grange ( We will review that on the next post) 

When we are dealing with a more mature and delicate vintage, (8+)... we will be needed a decanter, it usually shaped like a cheap flower vase or a stomach made of glass. 

the lovely glass-made stomach.....

We will pour those liquid ruby (red wine) into the decanter, this action allow a greater surface area for our babe to breath. 

Wine Glass will also do the trick..but less effective. 

Next post we will be going through the current legends in Australia Wine Industry, Penfolds Grange, Hill of Grace and so on.. stay tune~ 

Absolut Elyx

Size: 700ml

Awards won: Double Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2013
Country: Sweden

Standard Drinks: 22.1

Alcohol by Volume: 40.0% 

Absolut Elyx is a new super-premium single-batch vodka from the makers of 

Absolut. In my opinion it is most likely the best vodka I have ever tasted, and in terms

of drinks, I am not one who is easily impressed. Absolut Elyx is one of the best, smoothest and most silkiest vodkas on the market out there. It is filtered though copper pipes in Sweden which further enhances its silky and smooth texture.

Comparing other vodkas such as "Grey Goose" or "Belvedere", Absolut Elyx is much  

nicer. As stated above, ELYX just won Double gold medal and title of 

"best vodka in the world" at the 2013 San Francisco International Spirits competition.

After trying ELYX, you will never want to drink any other vodka. I highly recommend Absolut Elyx due to the luxurious and exceptional taste it possesses.

Captain Morgan Rum Review

(The Captain Morgan Logo)

Captain Morgan is a brand of rum which is named after 17th century Welsh Privateer of the Carribbean Sir Henry Morgan. Some may or may not have heard of this rum brand before in comparison to other favourites such as Bundaberg, but i can assure you that it is not inferior to Bundaberg in any way. First of all, Captain Morgan has a variety of different flavours that Bundaberg lacks. However, in my point of view the original spiced rum is still the best because it provides the original "Captain Morgan" taste, particularly mixed with soft drinks. What is the "Captain Morgan" taste you might ask? Well, this drink is sweeter,lighter and has a unique taste from the secret ingredients used in the distillation process. That is the feeling i get when i have a sip of this brilliant drink,  definitely different to the usual rum tastes out there. Of course this is just my personal opinion, if you disagree then better try it out yourself and tell me what you think on the comments below!

Personal score: 7.5/10

Posted by Tinny Wu (Tianyu)

Rekorderlig Cider Review

First of all, Rekorderlig is a brand of cider which originated in 1999 Sweden. Rekorderlig is personally one of my all time favourite ciders because of a huge variety of flavours which include: 

• Apple & Blackcurrant
• Pear
• Passion fruit
• Apple
• Strawberry & Lime
• Wild Berry
• Mango & Raspberry
• Winter

As you can see, Rekorderlig offers many more flavours in comparison to other big cider names such as 5 Seeds. Every flavour incorporates a unique taste where the drink can be enjoyed without additional elements overpowering the main theme of the featuring ingredient. Some flavours such as apple & blackcurrant may be too sweet for some people, but trying a different flavour is always an option. Rekorderlig only has an alcohol percentage of 4%, making this drink is a perfect choice for moments of relaxation or casual parties. For more hardcore drinkers, though this drink may not be strong at first but if you enjoy enough of this delicious cider then it will surely get the job done! As i mentioned before, Rekorderlig is my favourite cider and i highly recommend it to people who are seeking a casual drink. Price wise it can almost always be found on sale in bundles of 3 so if you have to time, definitely go in and pick some up! :)

Personal score: 9/10

Posted by Tinny Wu (Tianyu)