June 2017 - Mixers & RTD Cocktails

Medium golden amber color. Oaky aromas and flavors of masa and caramel, violet, eucalyptus, and demerara with a glycerous, sweet medium-to-full body and a warming, involved, medium-length aromatic bitters, crystalized ginger, peppermint, and caraway seed finish. A dead ringer for a freshly-made Mint Julep.

Date Tasted: 5/19/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Aromas and flavors of char grilled tomatoes, bourbon barrel, steak seasoning, and smoke sea salt with a thick, vibrant, salty medium-to-full body and a complex, medium-length horseradish, red hot sauce, barbecue ribs, and dill bitters finish. A rich and satisfying bloody mix to to elevate your next brunch.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Dark amber color. Sweet aromas of caramel, fresh cigar, and grilled peach with a syrupy, very sweet medium-full body and a subtle, very long vanilla cola, ginger powder, dark caramel and butterscotch, and milk chocolate and clove finish. Barrel aged spirits lovers with be over the moon with this rich ready-to-drink cocktail.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Spicy aromas of tomate de arbol, barrel aged pepper sauce, vinegar, and jerky with a thick, lively, salty medium-full body and a peppery, delightful, medium-long chipotle pepper sauce, fresh horseradish, pickle juice, and celery salt and brown sugar finish. A tangy and slightly smoky Bloody mix with great vegetal notes.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a label-suggested whiskey cocktail. Dusty garnet color. Savory aromas and flavors of tomato paste and basil with a thick, crisp, fruity medium-full body and a captivating, breezy dried berry, rooibos tea, and lemonade finish. A strange savory brew that transforms into an excellent cocktail when combined with whiskey; endless possibilities.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Piña Colada Cocktail. Opaque cream color. Aromas and flavors of fresh coconut, rice pudding, and bubble gum with a thick, vibrant, sweet fat body and a delightful, medium-length crushed pineapple upside down cake, maraschino cherry, banana creme, and coconut cake finish. Serve this tropical treat on crushed ice.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Golden green color. Rustic, inviting aromas and flavors of vanilla caramel and roasted marshmallow, lime zest, salt water taffy, and roasted nuts and agave with a round, racy, sweet medium body and a complex, medium-length salted butterscotch with orange zest finish. True tequila flavors shine in this ready-to-drink margarita.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Opaque red color. Spicy aromas and flavors of celery seed, fennel, and Italian herbs with a thick, lively, salty medium-full body and a hot, elegant, medium-long dried dill weed, mixed vegetable juice, and barbecue sauce finish. A hot and zesty bloody to spice up brunch.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Silver clear color. Green aromas of cucumber and watermelon, biscuit, thyme, and lavender with a satiny, lively, bubbly, moderately sweet light body and an interesting, medium-length Italian lemonade, quinine, and grapefruit peel finish. A great cucumber number with a long, refreshing finish.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Clear color. Citrusy aromas of lemon-lime soda and mint with a round, vibrant, bubbly, sweet light-to-medium body and a short celery leaf, crystalized lemon and lime peel, ginger candy, and bitter almond finish. A citrusy-sweet refresher for the beach with very subtle juniper notes.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Gin and Tonic cocktail. Clear color. Herbal aromas and flavors of candied ginger, fresh lime peel, lemongrass, and white tea with a satiny, crisp, bittersweet light body and an appealing, medium-length quinine and rose water finish. A refreshing, exotic and balanced tonic water.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Mai Tai cocktail. Golden peach color. Tropical, confected aromas of pineapple candy, candied coconut, fruit stripes gum, apricot, and dried pickled mango with a syrupy, racy, sweet-and-sour medium body and an interesting, medium-length sour tangerine candy, Creamsicle, and orgeat finish. A tropical getaway of a mixer.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Mojito cocktail. Light pale golden green color. Minty, medicinal aromas of peppermint gum, lime jello, cedar, and fresh orange peel with a velvety, crisp, moderately sweet light body and a peppery, medium-length menthol mint tea, vanilla, and coconut water finish. A minty mixer to simplify your mojito game.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Complex, savory aromas of fresh summer tomato, orange zest, garden fresh herbs, and aged chile with a thick, lively, salty medium-full body and a hot, refreshing, medium-long chicken bouillon, fresh cracked pepper, and fresh horseradish finish. A very spicy bloody mix bursting with fresh flavors.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Smoky, herbal aromas of tomato sauce, Italian herbs, and foccacia with a thick, crisp, fruity sweet medium-full body and a medium-length fennel, black pepper, and horseradish finish. A nice bloody mix on the milder side.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Margarita cocktail. Cloudy golden green color. Citrusy aromas and flavors of limeade, lemon oil, orange jello, and sandalwood with a glycerous, vibrant, sweet-and-sour medium body and a swift coconut-lime and honey finish. A zippy and pleasant margarita mix with a natural sensibility.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Neon light ruby color. Sweet, confected aromas and flavors of cranberry juice cocktail, sweet lemonade, white grape and strawberry, and cotton candy with a satiny, racy, fruity sweet light body and an effortless, charming, snappy fresh celery and tangerine finish. A light and breezy wine spritzer that is super sessionable.

Date Tasted: 5/19/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Sweet aromas and flavors of ketchup, mustard, and smoked paprika with a thick, bright, moderately sweet medium-full body and a relaxed cracked pepper and dried horseradish finish. A tomato-forward bloody mix on the sweeter side.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Whiskey Sour cocktail. Hazy golden green color. Citrusy, candied aromas and flavors of lime popsicle, hush puppies, black pepper, and mesquite with a glycerous, tart, sweet-and-sour medium body and a short finish. A crowd-pleasing sour mix.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Cloudy emerald straw color. Confected aromas of sour lime candy, orange gummies, vanilla, and fresh oregano with a round, tart, very sweet medium body and a relaxed black pepper and vanilla and bitter lemon finish. A simple and convenient all-in-one margarita.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Moscow Mule cocktail. Golden straw color. Earthy aromas and flavors of fine leather shoes, dried ginger root, bread dough, and lemon zest with a satiny, vibrant, moderately sweet light-to-medium body and a medium-length lemongrass, hot ginger, and lemon-lime soda finish. An earthy and zesty ginger beer that plays nicely with vodka.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Bloody Mary cocktail. Red color. Umami aromas and flavors of sardines in tomato sauce, clove, Chinese 5 spice, and soy sauce with a thick, lively, salty medium-full body and an interesting, medium-length ground white pepper, pickled celery seed, whole grain mustard, and parsley finish. A hot bloody mix with plenty of umami character.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Margarita cocktail. Hazy golden green color. Citrusy, herbal aromas of pickled melon rind, pine and eucalyptus, lemon candy, and lavender with a round, tangy, sweet-and-sour medium body and an appealing, medium-length saline finish. A fun, herbal scented margarita mix that holds up well to tequila.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Minutely hazy silver-clear color. Rustic aromas of hay, dried ginger root, meringue, and pineapple with a supple, tangy, fizzy, sweet light-to-medium body and a peppery, compelling, medium-long spicy crystalized ginger, limeade, white dog, and black pepper finish. A funky ready-to-drink ginger cocktail.

Date Tasted: 5/16/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Margarita cocktail. Hazy golden green color. Citrusy, fruity aromas and flavors of citrus sno-cone with a round, bright, sweet light body and a sleek, buoyant orange pith finish. An easy-going mixer for emergency margaritas.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Dark brown color. Aromas of cola gummies, coconut water, and coffee caramel with a round, light body and a smooth, medium-long dark roast coffee, coconut cream, saline, and ginseng gum finish. An easy-drinking rum and cola with coffee nuances.

Date Tasted: 5/19/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Hazy slivery straw color. Tropical, creamy aromas and flavors of coconut cream candy, marshmallow, pistachio taffy, and fallen apple with a thick, tangy, sweet medium body and a tingling, medium-length finish. In your face coconut flavors will satisfy any tropical craving; serve on ice.

Date Tasted: 5/19/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Tasted as a Moscow Mule cocktail. Clear color. Rustic aromas and flavors of hay, saddle, dried ginger powder, and bay leaf with a velvety, lively, moderately sweet light body and a peppery, medium-length root beer and lemon finish. A spicy and rustic ginger beer.

Date Tasted: 5/31/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab

Hazy golden green color. Minty aromas of wintergreen disk candy and distant lime peel with an sweet watery body and a peppery, atypical, long mint breath freshener spray, concentrated lime juice, and nata de coco finish. Like liquid mint chewing gum.

Date Tasted: 5/19/2017 in our Chicago tasting lab