On those evenings you just feel like a drink, there's a few bottles you shouldn't reach
for if you're in the mood for a cocktail.
Why?
They're so good, you definitely don't want to ruin them in a mixed drink.
Let's talk about what you should drink straight.
If you're unfamiliar with the Italian liqueur Aperol, you're probably not alone.
It's not exactly a household staple, but you'll spy it on the shelf at most bars and liquor
stores around the other apéritifs— liqueurs designed to wake up the digestive system and
stimulate your appetite before a meal.
"Richmond?"
"Oh, do you have any absinthe?"
"No."
"I only drink absinthe."
"Absinthe, no, red wine, white wine, Carlsberg…"
"Oh, Carlsberg, perfect."
"Great."
Recently, bars serving up craft cocktails have turned to Aperol as a mixer, using it
in cocktails like the Paper Plane, which is made with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro
Nonino, and fresh lemon juice.
It's also popular as part of the refreshing Aperol spritz, which is Aperol and prosecco,
but we wondered if it would stand up as a solo sipper.
It turns out it's a fantastic option.
Aperol describes the flavor of their signature product as
"...zesty orange with complex herbal scents harmonized with a touch of vanilla."
and it finishes with a pleasant herbaceous bitterness.
It doesn't hurt that this liqueur boasts a surprisingly low alcohol content, clocking
in at only 11 percent.
That means the bitter-sweet flavor of the orange and herbs can come through without
being stifled by a harsh alcohol finish.
Sounds perfect for waking up your palate before a big meal or enjoying on a hot summer day.
Irish cream doesn't exactly have a reputation that would inspire you to drink it on the
rocks.
It's most commonly used to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, booze up your coffee, or turn a White
Russian into a mudslide and a martini into a chocolatini.
While most people think of Bailey's when it comes to Irish cream, there's a better option,
especially if you're drinking it on the rocks.
Five Farms Irish Cream is made in County Cork, Ireland, and the company describes it as a
"true farm-to-table product."
Each bottle is made from a single batch of fresh cream sourced from five local, family-run
farms.
The cream is then mixed with real Irish whiskey, creating a concoction that earned the highest
scoring Irish cream liqueur in history, 97 points at the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
The judges described it as having flavors of "coffee with fresh cream, dulce de leche,
coconut, maple, and Belgian waffles."
Drink it after dinner instead of dessert, and you might just find yourself an Irish
cream on the rocks convert.
Scotch isn't for everyone, but aficionados know it's best to drink it without any mixers.
Aging the strong liquor in casks or barrels for a minimum of three years, or as long as
50 years, deepens its flavor and mellows out any harsh alcohol tones, making it smooth
and sippable.
Some types of scotch, especially those from Islay, contain heavy smoked flavors because
of their use of peat, but Balvenie is in a different class of scotch.
So, what about those of us who are looking to break into the scotch world, and don't
want something that's super peaty?
This is where Balvenie's Caribbean Cask comes in.
It's not smoky at all, and their aging process makes it an excellent intro sipper, especially
for rum lovers.
Balvenie normally ages their single-malt whisky in oak casks for 14 years to give it a smooth
finish and a honeyed flavor.
For their Caribbean Cask, they take an extra step, finishing the aged scotch in rum barrels.
That infuses it with "notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish,"
creating an easy-drinking, super sippable scotch.
After a few sips, you may wonder why you've always preferred whisky and bourbon to scotch.
It may be a world where most people consider Guinness to be their Irish drink of choice,
but a recent resurgence in the popularity of true Irish whiskey is getting many to rethink
what Irish whiskey really means.
Distilleries are partnering the old ways with new technology and creating a whiskey revolution,
but still, there are some that stand out from the pack.
What sets Green Spot apart is that it's "single pot still whiskey," a process that only happens
in Ireland.
According to Richard Thomas of Paste magazine, what makes single pot still whiskey unique
is that,
"[The whiskey] comes from a single distillery, [and] is made in a pot still and with barley...[While]
single malts are made from 100 percent malted barley, single pot still whiskey is made with
both malted and unmalted (green) barley."
Yellow Spot is a higher-end whiskey that delivers an incredible drinking experience, but Green
Spot is definitely an affordable alternative packing a nice punch.
It results in a creamy mouthfeel after delighting drinkers with hints of cinnamon, vanilla,
and brown sugar sensations.
In this way, it's best left as-is and as far from the ginger ale bottle as possible.
Connoisseurs know their whiskey, after all, and great whiskey?
It's on the rocks.
Remember that oddly sensual Disaronno commercial where a woman ordered Disaronno on the rocks
and ended up sucking on the tasty ice cubes?
Well, the commercial might have been annoying, but the concept behind it is solid.
This almond-flavored amaretto liqueur is rich and sweet, and it goes down easy.
Most bartenders use it to make drinks like the amaretto sour, combine it with scotch
for the Godfather drink, or serve it over ice cream.
Our favorite way to enjoy it?
On the rocks as a sipper after dinner treat, either with dessert or as a dessert replacement.
What makes Disaronno's amaretto so much tastier than other brands?
Well, it's hard to say exactly.
They've closely guarded the secret family recipe since the 1500s, but we do know that
it doesn't actually contain almonds.
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology confirms that Disaronno Originale is nut-free,
made with apricot kernel oil and 17 herbs and fruits.
Something about that complex combination creates a smooth, unforgettable experience, so sip
away without the need for a mixer.
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