Revelations from a Recent Tasting

This time of year liquor stores and wine shops host tasting events to showcase their newest and most innovative stock. I always jump at this opportunity, especially when spirits are involved, as it is an excellent time to sample things I might pass up on the shelf. This year I found myself at one such event that, while small, answered a few of my lingering questions.

For months I’ve seen the minis sitting at the counter of one of my favorite stops and even though I was lured by the intrigue of what this tiny bottle might bring, I could not bring myself to check it out. The item in question is the new Starbucks liqueurs. My hesitation stems from a personal dislike for the corporate coffee house that has taken over, well, the world and the fact that I’m unimpressed with their coffee in general. Two of the spirits at the tasting happened to be Starbucks Cream Liqueur and Coffee Liqueur. Aha, my opportunity to give it a shot has arrived! The conclusion I came up with is that neither of the liqueurs were impressive. The cream liqueur was filled with a sweet, dark coffee flavor and hints of mocha that seemed to battle the thick creaminess. While the coffee liqueur was undistinguishable from most others I’ve had before. It seems my premonitions were right and the hype was too much for the results.

On the other hand, a spiced rum bearing the name of a legend of tattooing hit every expectation. It is Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum and it really is a trip back to the days when sailors were the only ones with tattoos. This is a light, airy spiced rum that almost has the feeling of carbonation and the caramel and cherry undertones make for a pleasant sipping experience or an amazing Cuba Libre.