Tuesday 24 May 2011

First BWSRR video blog

Thus is the first video blog for BWSRR. We have Gabe, Ko and Nick who will each review a drink at Macquarie University UBar. Everything behind the lens was done by Steven who edited and put the piece together

Reviews:
Ko - Jagerbomb
Nick -  Jim Bean  Bourbon
Gabriel - Pure Blonde


Friday 29 April 2011

Canadian Club Whisky and Cola Review.

Last night I sampled a Can (330mL) of Canadian Club Whisky and Cola. The ABV was 5%, and it was served chilled.

Appearance: 
Canadian Club have branched out into new territory here, combing their popular whisky with carbonated cola to produce a Ready to Drink. The sample I tasted was in a 330mL can. The appearance was quite bubbly after I had poured it into a tall glass. Serving suggestions recommended serving with ice to lighten the flavour and appearance, however I wasn’t fazed by the coulour. A colour which was a rich and deep brown and mahogany colour was observable and it looked neat.

Smell: 

The first impression if of the cola hitting your senses. However the inclusion of whisky is detectable, and it is moderately strong. Traits of whisky on the nose are to be expected and is not unexpected, hence the nature of the drink. The smell dosent have a thick aroma to it unlike other cola and spirits RTD’s.

Taste: 

As with the smell, the first trait to be recognised is that of the cola which hits your mouth first. However like the smell the inclusion of the whisky sees this drink really shine. I am not personally a whisky drinker, but here the combination of the two flavours is well done. Not majorly sweet and the whisky isn’t too strong. The mouth feel is on the light bodied side with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability: 

I found this one reasonably drinkable and I'd be willing to have a second one but I'd not seek it out if there were alternatives. But on the other hand I'd certainly could have a second and would if I'd bought two of them.
Overall: 
A well presented RTD. Nice and neat flavours, with sensible tastes. Clever marketing has seen this drink increase in popularity over recent months, and understandably so. 3.5 out of 5 Thumbs up!
Posted by NIcholas.





Image sourced from: http://danmurphys.com.au/media/DM/Product/140x375/902263_0_9999_med_v1_m56577569834162364.jpg

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Wine Review - Ocean Eight Aylward 2010

I just came home from my friend’s birthday party and I had an interesting wine so I would like to do a review on it. This wine is called Ocean Eight Aylward Pinot 2010 and was my first experience to taste such a wine like this one.



 Appearance
This wine has a cloudy red appearance that looks almost mystical, serious and murky.

Smell
From first whiff, from the first little waft to escape the glass this smells good. Very authentic, serious, and unmistakeably Pinoty. On the nose it's all black pepper, sappy deep red fruit. It's complex and moody, and what I like most is the way the aroma profile draws you in despite what are some challenging and offbeat aroma components.

Taste
The flavours balance a swell of sweet red berry fruit with a range of more savoury fruit notes and vegetal influences. It's a very textural wine. A big whack of slightly green tannins on the middle palate and a decent layer of puckery sweet fruit tannins on the finish. There's mineralogy here too, just one of the many flavour components this wine throws into the mix. Structured wine whose fruit shows an inherent complexity of flavour

Drinkability
This is definitely a continuously drinkable wine since it has a fruity smell and taste which I guess most of you guys like. This wine tastes even better when you are having a chat with you friend, it will cause a further excitement and intensity to the conversation.

Overall 
This wine would give you a fruity, deep and enjoyable taste and experience which I am pretty sure you guys would like this.

Ko 



Image sourced from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE24eyUqRdmvUCiXnwqJMS-T2PyxVAa0mUYl84h_YT3-cTAeSPwIoU9hntL6BwfXn8m94J3vPq7eYTFSbSYYT_oT2zRNY6S7BO6NogwGKm_gRg3ylAXqtsLGWwS1riNo9OxeW7g3V-Nw2X/s1600/aylwardpinot.jpg

Sunday 24 April 2011

Smirnoff Vodka and Oceanspray Cranberry Cask Review.

Smirnoff, the world’s most popular vodka brand, has recently released a unique line of premium vodka premixes. The handy and portable multi serve 2L pack makes it a simple choice for entertaining guests at home or to bring to a party.

 
APPEARANCE
The Cranberry flavored cask, which I purchased for $23 at a local Dan Murphys outlet, displayed a deep and rich red colour which looked clean, crisp and appetizing. The redness of the cranberries was noticeable, however other ingredients such as traces of blue and blackberries contributed to the deeper red that was apparent.

SMELL
The slight bitterness of the cranberry fruit was first to reach my nose, its sharp bite however was coupled with the sweetness of no doubt preservatives, lemonade nd the other berries incorporated into the drink.

TASTE
Cranberry is a unique flavor for a drink and one that I had tried before.  I was a slightly concerned how it would taste considering it had been mass produced for the cask and coupled with ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised, it is quite similar to raspberry with perhaps a little less sweet and a little more bite and personality.

DRINKABILITY
Smirnoff Vodka Cask - Cranberry is a non carbonated beverage so unlike he more popular Smirnoff Vodka Cruisers there isn’t any fizz to cause and as such also makes it quite a light liquid which makes it very easy to sample and drink.

OVERALL
I think on a hot day it would be quite a refreshing drink to enjoy sitting around the pool. Could be compared to a raspberry cordial, and you really can’t taste the vodka. Best served in a long glass over ice and sipped slowly to savor the flavors. Generally an enjoyable drink and I am eager to sample the other varieties on offer from Smirnoff, such as the Orange variety. I give it 3 out of 5 ‘Thumbs up’!

-          Nicholas


Image sourced from: http://www.beautyandlace.com.au/living/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Smirnoff-Range-Shot.jpg

Saturday 23 April 2011

Bubbly Review - Yellowglen Yellow

Yellowglen Yellow is also known as "Australia's Favourtie Bubbly", when the clerk (who just happens to be my friend) told me this at LiquorLand, I just HAD to try it out.



Appearance:
Yellowglen Yellow is a light yellow colour - imagine hay, but super light. When it is poured into a cup it is extremely bubbly, it was like a party in my cup and every bubble was invited!

Smell:
Yellowglen Yellow smells very fruity, it zings with fruity fragrances and it is light on the nose.

Taste:
I was hooked by my first sip, the citrusy flavours accompanied by melon and pineapple made this bubbly have a very exquisite taste - I understand why this was recommended to me.

Drinkability:
A very nice drink to have; perfect when accompanying seafood and/or chicken. The fresh, crip, sharp taste makes it easily enjoyable cup after cup.

Overall:
The fruity flavour of this bubbly makes it a perfect party drink to celebrate almost every event. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes to drink exquisite wines - expecially those who like to hold events that serve wines and like to move away from spirits. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 "Thumbs Up"!

 - Steven


Image sourced from: http://www.jackswine.com.au/upload_files/wines/Yellow-bottle-shot.jpg

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Vodka review - Vodka Redbull

I have been drinking this alcohol since when I was 18. I had my friend’s 19th birthday party last night and I had a chance to drink this alcohol with my friends since they brought bunch of Redbull energy drinks and vodka so we could mix them and drink them.

Appearance
It has a yellow-ish appearance mainly coming from the Redbull energy drink since it is a yellow colour drink. When I mixed it with vodka, it didn’t really change the colour since vodka does not really have a colour that changes the original redbull colour

Smell
Basically, first smell that came to my nose was a redbull energy drink which I do like.
When I mixed with vodka, the tone of the drink got lighter, and I couldn’t really smell redbull. This drink does not really smell like most alcohols.

Taste
I like the way Red Bull tastes, almost berry, not quite honey and the medicine undertone. All together is pretty subdued and maybe that is probably why it mixes with alcohol well. It’s not as syrupy sweet as I thought it would be. It goes down a bit smoother than soda. This taste gives me the illusion that I’m drinking vitamins, minerals, and hence, energy.

Drinkability
This is definitely a continuously drinkable alcohol since it has a sweet and light smell and taste which I guess most of you guys like.

Overall
I really liked drink since it gave me a excitement and also it has a good taste since I like both rebull energy drink and vodka. However this drink is not recommended for those who do not like energy drinks since it has a strong smell and taste of energy drinks. Since this drink contains ebery drinks, it does not allow you to go to sleep, and this is recommend for all those who want to dance all night at night clubs. 

Ko 


Image sourced from: http://www.mortaljourney.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/VodkaRedBull2.jpg

Monday 18 April 2011

Pilsner Urquell

Today I will once again be reviewing a beer. This time it is Pilsner Urquell, which I purchased from a local liquor store in a bottle. It is an imported beer from the Czech Republic, which is brewed as a Czech Pilsner with 4.4% alcohol.




The Appearance:
When poured the beer produces a clear dark golden colour with a one centimetre of white head that will soon reduce to a small island of foam in the middle of the glass. Sipping the beer leaves scattered leggy lacing and a ring of foam along the glass for each sip.


The Smell:
The aroma gives a pleasing mixture of biscuity or grainy malt as well as earthy and floral hops.


The Taste:
This has a malt backbone which provides a nice biscuity taste for the earthy and slightly floral hops that have a light touch of a salty taste to them. The balance is smooth and the hops are noticeably present.


Drinkability: The beer is actually quite nice and would defiantly say that I would order another. The finish is clean, crisp and has a dry lightly bittered ending which helps give it a great taste.

Overall it is a great beer, and I’m sure if it was on tap would be even better, or even if you were drinking it overseas. I give the Pilsner Urquell a 4 out of 5 “Thumbs Up”!


-Gabe


Image sourced from: http://kd59.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/pilsner_urquell2.jpg