Review: RumChata Coconut Cream
RumChata Coconut Cream was just released. RumChata was launched October 2009 by industry veteran and Master Blender Tom Maas. It is made with fresh Wisconsin dairy cream and ingredients from 6 countries including premium Caribbean rum, Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon, and several secret ingredients. By 2012 they were already producing 365,000 cases per year. E&J Gallo acquired Agave Loco the parent company of RumChata April 2021, along with Midwest Custom Bottling which produces the RumChata and Tippy Cow brands. Since launching E&J Gallo Brandy in 1975 E&J has created or acquired over a dozen spirits including New Amsterdam Vodka, RumHaven, Camarena, Komos, and Don Fulano Tequila, Stratusphere Gin, Dalmore and Jura Scotch, and the High Noon brand. They are now the 4th largest spirit supplier in the US. RumChata Coconut Cream joins the previously released RumChata Limon, and RumChata Peppermint Bark. I have enjoyed all three flavors, but Coconut Cream is the first new RumChata flavor since the acquisition, so I’m anxious to see if E&J has been able to continue the magic. Read more 
Review: Fennellys Raspberry Cheesecake Irish Cream Liqueur
Fennellys Raspberry Cheesecake Irish Cream Liqueur is produced by Robert A Merry & Co, in Tipperary County Clonmel Ireland. While Irish Cream liqueurs are primarily consumed from Halloween through New Years, they do enjoy a spike around March 17th, AKA St Patrick’s Day. Raspberry Cheesecake appears to have replaced Tropical Colada in the Fennellys family of Irish Cream liqueurs. Even without Tropical Colada, Fennellys is produced in 10 different flavor varieties. Only Baileys, with 13 flavors available in the US market produce more flavor options. Fennellys is sold primarily at Total Wine & More stores throughout the US. No ingredient list is available, but previous Fennellys Irish Cream liqueurs were made with Irish Cream, Irish Whiskey, Irish spirits, and natural flavors. Read more
Review: Carolans Peanut Butter
Carolans Peanut Butter was announced January 24, National Peanut Butter Day. It will only be available in the US market with a release date early in February. Carolans Peanut Butter is made with Original Carolans Irish Cream as a base. That base is made with farm fresh cream, Irish Whiskey, and naturally harvested honey. No additional ingredients are included on the Carolans Peanut Butter press release but the bottles label states it does not contain peanuts. Carolans is made by Heaven Hill Brands. Heaven Hill produces dozens of brands including Deep Eddy and Burnetts Vodka, Lunazul Tequila, Evan Williams, and Larceny Bourbon and Christian Brothers Brandy. While R.A. Merry Co. produces a Peanut Butter wine based Irish Country Cream under several labels including McGraths, O’Reillys, and Sheelin, Carolans is the first peanut butter flavored Irish Cream liqueur. Read more
Review: Baileys Vanilla Mint Shake
Baileys Vanilla Mint Shake will soon be landing on your favorite liquor store shelves. It is one of 13 Baileys Irish Cream varieties now available in the US market. The UK only offers six. With 12 flavors already on board I’m a little surprised mint isn’t one of them, but Baileys Vanilla Mint Shake is Bailey’s third different mint flavored Irish cream liqueur, following the previously made Baileys Mint Chocolate, and Bailey with Hint of Mint Chocolate. I have to admit when I think “vanilla mint shake” the first thing that comes to mind is McDonald’s seasonal Shamrock Shake. McDonalds makes this shake with vanilla soft serve ice cream and mint syrup. Baileys Vanilla Mint Shake is made with Irish Whiskey, fresh dairy cream, Irish spirits, and natural vanilla, mint and chocolate flavors. Read more
Review: Van Der Haute Eggnog Wine Based
Van Der Haute Eggnog Wine Based is the companion to the spirit based Van Der Haute Eggnog, our top rated adult eggnog. While it’s a little past the peak of Eggnog Season, Mid-January is a great time to pick up a bottle of eggnog at a reduced price. I picked up this bottle at a 75% discount. VDH Eggnog Wine Formula is made with an orange wine alcohol base with real dairy cream, eggs, and holiday spices. The Original Van Der Haute Eggnog is made with spiced rum, and brandy. Both are produce in Mira Loma California by La Vecke Corporation, one of the worlds largest spirit producers. Van Der Haute is sold at Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores. Read more
Review: Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream
Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream was released the fall of 2021. It is one of 20 spirits crafted by Hard Truth Distilling. It all began when Ed Ryan, Jeff McCabe, and Tim O’Bryan opened an 800 square foot brewpub in 2009. They have since expanded to restaurants, breweries, and an 18,000 square foot state of the art distillery surrounded by 325 acres of native forest. The distillery started in the upstairs of their pizza restaurant in 2015. Hard Truth is now the biggest craft distillery in the state of Indiana. Master Distiller Bryan Smith spent months focused on finding the perfect balance of Indiana Straight Bourbon, real maple syrup, and Wisconsin dairy cream before landing on this recipe. Read more
Review: Hard Truth Peanut Brittle Bourbon Cream
Hard Truth announced the release of Hard Truth Peanut Brittle Bourbon Cream October 21, 2022 on Facebook. Initially only sold at the Hard Truth Distillery in Brown County Indiana, it is now available in the 18 states Hard Truth is distributed. Hard Truth currently crafts 20 spirits including rye, vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, with three spirits made with fresh Wisconsin Dairy cream. The other two are Toasted Coconut Cream, and Maple Bourbon Cream. HT Peanut Brittle Bourbon Cream is made with Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Real Wisconsin Dairy Cream, and natural peanut flavor. It weighs in at 30 proof, slightly less than the 34 proof Baileys tips the scale at. Read more
Review: Old New England Pumpkin Spiced Nog
Old New England Pumpkin Spiced Nog joins Cinnamon Spiced Nog, and Classic Eggnog in the Old New England family of Holiday nogs. They are produced by M.S. Walker. M.S. Walker was founded in Boston Massachusetts in 1933. They are now a 5th generation family owned wine and spirits importer, distributor, and spirits bottler. Their connection with eggnog dates back to 1985 when they acquired Overbrook Eggnog Company. Old New England Pumpkin Spiced Nog is made with 100% dairy from local dairy farmers, rum from Puerto Rico, French Brandy, 4 years old Kentucky Bourbon, Canadian Blended Whiskey, natural and artificial flavors, caramel and certified colors. Read more
Review: Hard Chaw Strong Irish Cream Liqueur
Hard Chaw Strong Irish Cream Liqueur was launched in Colorado in 2019. Distribution first spread to Minnesota. Hard Chaw is know available in Wisconsin and online. Colm O’Neill a former All-Ireland winning Gaelic football player and the owner of several Irish pubs spent 7 years researching and developing Hard Claw, eventually partnering with Irelands premier family owned creamery and distillery to created the Hard Chaw brand. Hard Chaw was inspired by the Shillelagh Shot a 50-50 blend of Baileys and Jameson. Hard Chaw is made from the finest pot still Irish Whiskies, craft distilled Irish potcheen, and fresh Irish dairy cream. Potcheen is Irish Moonshine and most Irish cream liqueurs are made with a blended Irish whiskey as opposed to a pot still style. Hard Chaw weighs in at 50 proof, 50% higher than traditional Irish Cream liqueurs. Read more
2022 Top Ten Eggnog Liqueurs
The eggnog season traditionally runs from the end of October through the end of December. I must apologize for not posting this list sooner but this has been a very busy year at Best Tasting Spirits and when we publish our Top Ten lists they involve a complete do over for each spirit. We posted our review of Christian Brothers Holiday Nog over 9 years ago and we have posted over 2000 reviews since then so it would not be fair or accurate to post our top ten list based on memory. For those unfamiliar with eggnog it is typically made from milk, cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and it is seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg. Eggnog liqueurs are typically spiked with brandy, rum, and or bourbon, but we have also reviewed some spiked with wine, moonshine, and corn spirits. A Top Ten Eggnog List is only as good as the eggnog’s being considered. We have reviewed 17. We believe 2 are no longer produced so we are not considering the previously reviewed Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit, or Holly Nog but we have included our thoughts on both. To keep this Top Ten list relevant we will continue to post reviews of eggnog liqueur. We will not alter our 2022 Top Ten list but we will use this site to add our comments on the additional eggnog liqueurs we review in the future. Read more