The LCBO's Best Value Vodka
Michael Vaughan's NEAT reviews are dedicated to the essence of the spirit.
Rated on how it actually tastes undisguised and unmanipulated
.


LUKSUSOWA VODKA - How does it rate?
*** out of 3 Stars (90-points) - A Recommended Best Buy

Clear and colourless. Bright, fresh, gently spicy nose with some faint honeyed notes. Dry, silky, well balanced and medium bodied with a creamy texture and a bright, lingering, Anjou pear tinged finish. This General List multiple Gold Medal award-winner is available in some 400 stores across Ontario. This Premium Polish Potato Vodka is also Kosher and is distributed by PMA Canada. A Best Buy at only $25.95 it's available on the General List (253302 - 750 mL bottle) and is available in over 400 stores. The best deal is the larger format 1140 ml bottle available at $39.15 cspc 212282.

Wódka Luksusowa (Polish for Luxury Vodka) is one of the oldest Polish vodkas in continuous production, being first sold in 1928. When Poland's boundaries were moved westwards after World War II, the production of Luksusowa was moved to its current site in Zielona Góra. According to the producer, Luksusowa has approximately 10% share in Poland's vodka market. It comes in different bottles, depending on the country. For more information go to www.facebook.com/luksusowaca and www.twitter.com/luksusowacs.

* * * * * * * *

The LCBO's Best Value Irish Whiskey
Michael Vaughan's NEAT reviews are dedicated to the essence of the spirit.
Rated on how it actually tastes undisguised and unmanipulated
.


Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey - How does it rate?
*** out of 3 Stars (90-points) A Recommended Best Buy

Bright medium yellow colour.
Gently spicy, honeyed, heathery, warm ripe melon-lemon nose with sweet buttery caramel notes.
Very smooth, medium bodied, honeyed, warm ripe melon flavours with a lingering, buttery, faintly spicy, caramel finish. The smooth gently complex character results from triple distilling and aging in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Available on the LCBO General List in some 330 stores.
A best buy at only $33.45 - click here to see availability

for great drinks click here

History of Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey
It was in 432 when Saint Patrick led a group of monks to Ireland where they brought Christianity and, even better, the art of distillation. To be sure, Ireland is the true home of whiskey with the “e”. Unfortunately, it was the Irish again who on Christmas Day in 1661 introduced the first tax on whiskey and governments around the world have never looked back.

Skipping ahead 168 years, 1829 saw the first modern factory distillery founded by Michael Molloy in Tullamore, County Offaly where it was originally a pot still whiskey. When Molloy died, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family, with Captain Bernard Daly in charge of the business. It was one of his colleagues, Daniel E. Williams, took over as general manager

.

It was from Daniel's initials (D. E. W.) that the whiskey's name was derived. Williams brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893. The distillery installed the town's first telephones and introduced motorised transport. Williams ran various commercial businesses throughout the Irish midlands – drinks businesses, tea importing, seed and grain retail, and a network of 26 general stores.

Prohibition in the United States, an economic war with Britain in the 1930s and World War II witnessed the collapse of Irish whiskey sales worldwide. After World War II Desmond Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams, used modern marketing techniques to re-establish Irish whiskey in world markets. In 1947 Desmond Williams also developed Irish Mist, an Irish liqueur made from a blend of whiskey, herbs and honey, using a recipe alleged to have disappeared in the late 17th century, and to have been rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later. Desmond also capitalised on the Irish coffee concept, and promoted blended whiskies.

In 1953 the brand was sold to Powers and the Tullamore distillery was closed. Its production moved, along with that of Jameson, Powers, Paddy and the rest of the Irish Distillers products, to the New Midleton Distillery in county Cork. The brand was purchased in 1994 by the C&C Group plc. In 2010 C&C sold Tullamore Dew to William Grant & Sons in a €300 million deal.

While most of the current product is made at the New Midleton Distillery. Grant & Sons Ltd. announced that it planned to invest in a new state-of-the-art pot-still whiskey and malt whiskey distillery in Tullamore, which would bring whiskey production back to the town for the first time since the original distillery closed some 60 years ago.

* * * * * * * *

The World's Best Cherry Liqueur?
Michael Vaughan's NEAT reviews are dedicated to the essence of the spirit.
Rated on how it actually tastes undisguised and unmanipulated
.

It's been around since 1821and is produced, owned and operated by the 6th generation founding Luxardo family. In fact, Luxardo is one of the oldest European firms producing liqueurs and is world-famous for this Maraschino Cherry Liqueur(VINTAGES 57448) which is produced from more than 20,000 Marasca cherry trees planted on its property. It comes in a distinctive,some might say old-fashioned, straw raffia-covered bottle. This wonderful elixir that hits the spot as an after-dinner sipper, say with some crunchy biscotti. It is also used in a wide variety of extremely tasty drinks.

Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur - How does it rate?
*** out of 3 Stars (92-points) A Recommended Best Buy

Clear and colourless.
Sweet, bright, seductive, ripe maraschino cherry nose.
Very sweet, rich, balanced, intense, zesty, sweet maraschino cherry flavours with lingering finish.
A taste treat at only $26.05 click here to see availability

* * * * * * * *

Amazing Value Hors d'Age Armagnac
Michael Vaughan's NEAT reviews are dedicated to the essence of the spirit.
Rated on how it actually tastes undisguised and unmanipulated
.

The recent January 25th Vintages Bin End Clearance had a real gem.
Great Armagnac is always a treat and this was a definitive Best Buy when released.
J. DUPEYRON HORS D'ÂGE ARMAGNAC DU COLLECTIONNEUR
(VINTAGES 331108) was incredible value at $69.95. Imagine my shock to see it reappear at only $52.25. "Light golden amber colour. Intense, slightly sweetish, caramel-plum nose. Lovely, harmonious, slightly spicy, caramel-vanilla flavours with a lingering, bright, spicy, vanilla stick finish with a faint hint of sweetness."
In essence, itt is the best value Armagnac I have tasted - so don't miss it.
Rated *** out of Three Stars
Now SOLD OUT


"Eaux-de-vie de 15 à 17 ans d'âge provenant à 80% du Bas-Armagnac et 20% de la Ténarèze.Couleur jaune paille profond. Un nez fruité, gourmand, avec des arômes de cire d'abeille, de crème brûlée et de cacao. Très bonne longueur en bouche. Un rancio superbe."

Copyright Michael Vaughan 2015
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
(electronic or other wise) and or quotation.
Contact Michael Vaughan at mbv@uniserve.com