Drinks by the Dram Christmas Crackers Review

Wooha! Just in time for Christmas! I got these fantastic Drinks Crackers from Maverick Drinks and I have been saving them for my after-dinner enjoyment when I realized about how selfish it would be not to share it with you all.

So here it is…

The drams are inside the crackers, and I have to say that it is the first time I see one. They are not so typical here in Spain, so I opened mine by breaking the paper on the middle of the roll and my kid just found out how it worked while pulling it from both sides :)

So these are the drams…

Prof. Cornelius Cherry Brandy 2014

“Pretty much like Cherry Coke on spices with a winey touch. Not my kind of dram”

81

This dram has a treacle-like color.

Nose (80): more than average. cherries, citrus, grapes, almonds.

Palate (81): . sweet, cherries, citrus, cinnamon, wine, spices.

Finish (82): longer than average. cherries, wine, almonds.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Prof. Cornelius Cherry Brandy 2014 with 81 points over 100.

Bathtub Gin

“Delicious for a gin. Velvet juniper honey for your throat”

84

An extraordinary gin, produced by the enigmatic Professor Cornelius Ampleforth. Made using the traditional method of Cold Compounding (or in layman’s terms – infusing). Very high quality copper pot-still spirit is infused with ingredients including Juniper, Orange Peel, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cloves and Cardamom.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (85): more than average. juniper, citrus, flowers, honey, herbs, orange zest.

Palate (84): light, smooth. citrus, juniper, herbs, honey, spices. Not bad at all for a gin. Quite smooth.

Finish (84): longer than average. citrus, juniper.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bathtub Gin with 84 points over 100.

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Sloe Gin – 2014

“This is my first sloe gin... and either I don't like them or this one is really strange”

81

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (83): more than average. cherries, juniper, citrus, orange zest. Like mixing cherry brandy and gin

Palate (79): light, powerful. cherries, juniper, citrus, honey, spices.

Finish (81): longer than average. cherries, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Sloe Gin - 2014 with 81 points over 100.

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Rumbullion

“Wanna a rum for Christmas? Definitively get thsi Rumbullion... so much of those lovely spices here”

89

A sure-fire hit from Professor Cornelius Ampleforth, Rumbullion! is a cockle-warming spiced concoction, based on the kind of rich, full-bodied rums the seafaring fraternity would have enjoyed centuries ago.

At the core of this fabulous winter warmer lies a blend of the very finest high proof Caribbean rum, to which was added creamy Madagascan vanilla and a generous helping of zesty orange rind. A secret recipe was followed, and the Professor finished his hearty tipple with a handful of cinnamon and cloves and just a hint of cardamom.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (88): more than average. honey, vanilla, spices, cloves, cinnamon, molasses, allspice. It isn't completely fantastic but it works quite well. I am really enjoying it.

Palate (89): powerful, oily. honey, spices, citrus, vanilla, toffee, molasses, cloves, cinnamon.

Finish (89): longer than average. molasses, spices, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Rumbullion with 89 points over 100.

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Arran – Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

“Ex-bourbon cask perfection. You can only get better than this after spending a many years on an oak cask”

90

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, vanilla, cinnamon, citrus, floral, toffee.

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, spices, wood, pepper, vanilla, cinnamon.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, citrus, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Arran - Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) with 90 points over 100.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old Bourbon

“It is different, rough and wild. It is worth trying if you want a different bourbon and you enjoy rye whiskies”

86

Smooth Ambler's 7 year old Old Scout Bourbon is a mixture of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malt. The distillery was only founded in 2009, so this whiskey is blended from casks distilled elsewhere and chosen by Smooth Ambler. It has sweet and spicy notes including apple, cherry and tobacco.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (85): more than average. corn, varnish, honey, dust, earth, vanilla, wood. It is quite strong and wild.

Palate (87): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, corn, wood, spices, pepper, vanilla, dust, liquorice.

Finish (87): longer than average. honey, liquorice, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old Bourbon with 86 points over 100.

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Miguel says…

It is a fun and fantastic idea for a party, a real lovely surprise for the discerning drinker and his/her friends. The only real big problem that I see ( and I am now sure if we, Spaniards, are heavy-drinkers… ) is that 3cl may be a bit short for anything else than tasting the stuff. You know, better play safe and order a big bottle of each of them too :)

You can get the whisky crackers from Master of Malt

Happy Christmas to you all! And a very Happy New Year 2015!

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