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

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

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

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

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

Vodka review - Vodka Redbull

I have been drinking this alcohol since when I was 18. I had my friend’s 19^th 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

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

Spirit Review - Alizé Bleu

Alizé Bleu, a vodka based spirit. I remember the first time I tried this spirirt, I fell in love with it. So I thought I should go out to my local LiquorLand and purchase a bottle for this review. Alizé Bleu is a spirit that is a blend of premium French vodka, cognac, passion fruit, cherry and ginger. It comes in a nice frosty bottle and looks very classy and fun!

Appearance

Alizé Bleu is obviously blue in colour. It bears a nice, soft "baby" blue colour.

Smell

Alizé Bleu has a smell reminiscent of my childhood days; soft aromas of fruit and bubblegum. Honestly, the best spirit (and best alcoholic beverage) I have smelt in my life (thus far).

Taste

I drunk Alizé Bleu on the Rocks (which for me was three shots of Alizé in a small cup with a scoop of ice). When I druni, I immediately tasted the enormous burst of fruit flavours accompanied by a very subtle hint of ginger. The feel and texture of the spirit was very smooth and was a pleasure to the tastebuds, tongue and throat.

Drinkability

One of the best spirits I've had the pleasure to drink. The taste of it makes it brilliant on its own, and even better when mixed. My favourite mix would have to be a shot of Alizé and around half a small can of Red Bull. It's drinkable in almost every situation; a perfect party drink, a perfect solo drinker drink, a perfect drink all around!

Overall

The fruity flavour of this spirit makes it perfect to those new to drinking and perfect for those accustomed to drinking. I personally loved Alizé Bleu from the first time I drank it and I'm pretty sure you would love it as well. I give it 4.9 out of 5 "Thumbs Up"!

 - Steven


Image sourced from:  Personal Camera

Tooheys 5 Seeds Cider.

With England being the original home of Cider production, the arrival of Tooheys produced 5 Seeds Cider is an interesting addition to the once traditional field of cider production. With cider essentially being beer made out of fermented apple or more recently pear juice presenting a perfect balance of fruit and sugars to decant a delicious clean, crisp refreshing alternative to beer. Apart from being an alternative to beer, cider offers drinkers some health benefits, as it is high in antioxidants.

Appearance

With this 5 Seeds Cider the product uses real apple juice sourced from Braeburn apples is used which has been seen here to produce a very light in colour beverage that in appearance can be compared to white wine.

Smell
It’s a medium strength cider, which has slightly tangy apple characteristics coming through prominently in both the flavor and aroma.

Taste

The 5 Seeds cider I can say this is a genuine contender in the market of ciders. Through reviewing several ciders we have found some ciders to offer an acidity that is sharp. The 5 Seeds cider is lean, great flavored without being overwhelming and very refreshing without being overwhelmed by its flavor. It is smooth to the palate and delivers maximum refreshment without leaving you with that pub smell of beer.

Drinkability

5 Seeds Cider really is a truly fun and enjoyable alcoholic drink to enjoy. The smooth taste that arrives to the palate, delivers maximum refreshment without leaving you with that pub smell of typical beers that leave a heavier aftertaste.

Overall

It provides an enjoyable sensation each drop and one that is smooth enough to enjoy time after time. I give this product – 3 ‘Thumbs Up’.

-          Nicholas.

Image sourced from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH7AURHye0CgAMQcgLkrXu4jT3wLDCZTdLqW6NOfX2g7whfibNk0XYXexIemQylqORDGaztltiUsTN4FB7FvPGnw-hs8JaZBLVYK73U6s8ySQdZqjtRWqa0MPqW2jVmBtg37bszAyB1s/s320/5-Seeds.jpg

Ready To Drink (RTD) Review – Smirnoff ICE Double Black

Today I will be reviewing Smirnoff ICE Double Black. I purchased the RTD from my local Liquorland store. It is an RTD which means it is a mixture of spirits and soft drink that is ready to drink without having to prepare it. It is produced using Smirnoff vodka and a tangy citrus flavoured soda. Being an RTD they are meant for larger consumption compared to wine and spirits, so it has alcohol content similar to beer with an average of 5%, but Smirnoff ICE Double Black is aimed at a higher percentage of 6.5%, so you can drink less but be drinking more. The tasting was from an aluminium can.

The Appearance:

The idea of the RTD is to drink it straight from the can as there is no need for preparation, but I decided to pour it into a glass. When pouring the drink into the glass, it had a crisp clear lemonade style look to it. It has a constant bubble and has to sit down for a while before the fizz will slow down.

The Smell:

The RTD has a clean citrusy smell, which was not overpowered by a smell of vodka.

The Taste:

When first tasting the RTD I assumed with the higher alcohol content compared to the regular RTD’s that it would have a strong vodka taste to it, but I was pleasantly surprised. It had a strong sweet taste, which was almost too strong, but you could barely taste the vodka.

Drinkability:

This is definitely a drinkable RTD, even though it has a strong citrusy taste, but I would see this as being used to combat the stronger vodka content. It has a clean crisp taste and smell which helps to give you an easy drinking experience.

Overall I have tasted many RTD’s and this one is definitely one of the best I have had. To have such strong alcohol content and keep a sweet taste that you can keep drinking without noticing seems to achieve the goal of what they are looking to do with this drink. This would be excellent for people who don’t like the taste of alcohol, but what to drink with their friends and have a good night out. I give the Smirnoff ICE Double Black a 5 out of 5 “Thumbs Up”!

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and if you are looking for drinking alcohol but without having the strong taste of alcohol, I would defiantly recommend you try Smirnoff ICE Double Black next time you go out.

-Gabe



Image sourced from: http://danmurphys.com.au/media/DM/Product/140x375/329005_0_9999_med_v1_m56577569833250996.jpg

Wine Review - McGuigan Black Label

Wine is an acquired taste, some people hate it, some people love it. My personal taste? I love it! Today I decided to review McGuigain Black Label, an Australian made wine. I took a trip to the ‘little BOTTLER’ just down my road and bought myself a bottle, which set me back around $11. I poured myself a cup, here are my thoughts…

The Appearance:

McGuigan has a nice distinctive red-black colour. It has a very concentrated colour that can easily be seen through when being poured.

The Smell:

McGuigan smells delightful; it has a nice, soft, subtle scent of cinnamon and vanilla, accompanied by a distinctive red berry and raspberry scent.

The Taste:

When first taking a sip, I immediately notice the wine holds a soft velvety texture. It is immediately followed by an overwhelming taste of berry, partnered up with a subtle trace of cinnamon and vanilla. The taste is exquisite, perfectly balanced and a pleasure to the taste-buds.

Drinkability:

The wine makes a beautiful double combo when eaten with a steak (cooked medium rare, just the way I like it!). By itself, it still makes one hell of a wine. I look forward to finishing off the rest of this bottle.

Overall:

Lovers of wine would absolutely adore this fine bottle of McGuigan Black Label. The flavours, aroma and texture of the wine make it a pleasure to the tastebuds and nose. It is a must for wine
enthusiasts, as well as normal everyday wine drinkers. I give it 4 out of 5 “Thumbs Up”!

- Steven


Image sourced from: http://www.mcguiganwines.com.au/Portals/7/McGuigan%20Images/Bottle%20Images/Black%20Label%20Merlot.png

"Beer Review -Pepperjack"

Today, I would be reviewing Pepperjack. Pepperjack is unique hand crafted ale that comes from Barossa Valley and is brewed and bottled in South Australia. This ale is sold at most well-known alcohol stores around Australia and retails for around $18 for a six-pack or alternatively $60 for a carton. This beer is very unique since it uses the Barossa Valley’s own shiraz.

Appearance

Pepperjack pours a beautiful cloudy, teak colour with very little lacing and a non-existent head.  Visibly this beer has a decent amount of carbonation. 

Smell

It has a sweet, floral aroma that is dominated by the fruity, grape shiraz.

Taste

There is a definite fruity hops note to it which is nicely balanced by roasted malt flavours.  Now considering this beer is brewed by well-established winemakers, it is an exceptional product and Saltram Wine Estate should be commended.

Drinkability

I found that the floral aroma and fruity tastes and smells allow me to continuously drink this Pepperjack without any hesitations. One of my friends had 12bottles but he still liked it.

So if you’d like to experience the Barossa Valley, then why don’t you check out this Barossa shiraz infused brew.  I promise you would like it and wont forget it. 

- Ko 



Image sourced from:  https://www.fine-wine.com.au/image/cache/frame-product-large-915be7bdde95034319f97cc72fc5050b.png

Beer Review - James Squires Golden Ale

Today I will be reviewing James Squires Golden Ale. I had the privilege of tasting this fine micro brew beer at the James Squires Brew House located on King Street Wharf in Sydney. The beer is a microbrew which means that it is a beer that is produced by a small local brewery, or microbrewery. The beer is styled in an American Pale Ale fashion with 4.5% alcohol content. This tasting was from a tap.

The Appearance:

When poured the beer comes out a beautiful clear golden amber colour which when poured correctly will give you a half centimetre white head. Although the head does not persist long, it does leave some modest lacing.

The Smell:

The aroma of the beer contains a fine blend of light citrus, floral hops and some gentle bready malt.

The Taste:

The flavours can be a little bland, but have traces of fruity, honey style of sweetness which produces a balanced flavour without anything dominating. The hops help to give a light citrus character.

Drinkability:

While it was drinkable I found that the flavours and the aromas are a little lacklustre and mundane. It seems that to give a balanced taste, it has not given it a distinguishing character.

Overall it is a nice beer, but if it had a stronger more defined taste to it the beer could rank up highly on a list of microbrew beers. I give the Golden Ale a 3 out of 5 “Thumbs Up”!

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, and don’t be afraid to try James Squires Golden Ale down at the James Squires Brew House.

-Gabe



Image sourced from: http://www.jamessquire.net.au/images/beer/james-squire-golden-ale.jpg

DESIGN LAYOUT

YO!

So we finally decided on a layout for our blog. Here it is:

Breakdown:

The Banner will be a simple Banner that portrays what our topic will be about. So it will most likely be a collage of alcohol. The Banner is still in the works and we are not sure if we will be using it in our final layout. Gabriel will be trying to come out with a banner as soon as possible. Stay Tuned!!

The Heading will be the same principle, it will just simply say "BWSRR" or something alcohol related. With some images of alcohol, beer, wine, spirits and Ready To Drink mixers.

We have not yet decided on Gadgets, but we assume that they will be alcohol related (if possible).

The template of our blog will be something simple, just black and white. Nothing too extravagant. The background will be pinstriped diagonal to give a classy look to it.

Awesome, isn't it?

If you think this sounds cool and interesting please stay tuned in and we will have some exciting changes to the blog as well as the blog posts themselves :)