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During the current health emergency, people have taken up new hobbies, including drinking. The numbers show a huge jump in alcohol sales. In the week ending on March 21, alcoholic beverages sales have spiked by 55 percent according to market research firm Nielsen. Sprits sales have increased by 75 percent compared to the same time in 2019. While beer purchases are up 66 percent, and wine is up 42 percent.
So if you are drinking at home, what spirits and beer can help make the quarantine not suck as much? I’ve sampled a few alcoholic beverages to find out what you should be drinking during the quarantine.
Coffee flavors are so hot right now. While this bourbon is not overwhelming in coffee flavors, it does have beautifully sweet notes of caramel, cocoa, molasses, and brown sugar. This super smooth bourbon goes down too easily. The bottle features a 5-inch long spiral cut piece of toasted, cold-brew coffee-soaked American Oak wood. This means that the spirit is seeping and absorbing the deep flavors way past it being taken out of the barrel.
Speaking of coffee, are you bored with the overly sweet Kahlua? Why not try Cafe Borghetti? This coffee liqueur is made straight from Italian espresso. Less sugar flavor and way more roasted coffee flavor.
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You desperately want to get away during the lockdown, but that’s not really an option. Instead, why not take your taste buds on an adventure. Cutwater Spirits offers a variety of ready-made cocktails in a can that provide mixed cocktails without the bartender. Included is the Rum & Ginger that instantly transports you to your favorite Caribbean island. Spicy ginger is balanced by the sweet sugar cane rum. There is also the Tiki Rum Mai Tai, a pleasantly sweet escape to the tropics.
Dano’s Dangerous Tequila Pineapple & Jalapeno
The bars are closed, so you are on your to make craft mixed cocktails. That’s why I like Dano’s Dangerous Tequila Pineapple and Jalapeno. A nice subtle heat with enough citrusy sweetness. I recommend adding it to Spindrift Pineapple seltzer and a dash of hot sauce to bring it up a notch.
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Hard seltzers are so hot right now! Leinenkugel has jumped into the bubbly fray with their own version, a beer and spiked seltzer hybrid that they call “Spritzen.” These are wonderfully light and only 93 calories. There are three flavors: Grapefruit, Pineapple Strawberry, and Raspberry Lemon — Pineapple Strawberry is the best flavor.
Koloa Reserve 12-Barrel Select Aged Hawaiian Rum
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When you think of rum, you think of all of the beautiful Caribbean islands. But Koloa rum comes from an equally tropical paradise — Hawaii. This wonderful aged rum comes to us from its Kalaheo distillery, and like its Caribbean rivals, it is made from sugar cane. The difference is that the three-year-old-aged Koloa rum comes from island water that was slowly filtered through volcanic strata before reaching vast underground aquifers. There are plenty of coconut flavors as well as sweet hints of vanilla.
What a delightful IPA coming out of Broussard, Louisiana. Ghost in the Machine is hoppy without being too bitter, and boasts happy bright fruity notes. Brewed from hand-selected Citra hops and infused with tropical flavors, this 8.5 ABV beer has secured a 99% rating on Beer Advocate because of its wonderful balance.
Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
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Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey is definitely one of those fun liquors that you want around to share with friends as a unique shot. The spirit definitely has palatable possibilities adding to banana ice cream splits. While you’re not drinking this all day long because it’s too sweet, there are definitely fun applications that you can use this whiskey for.
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Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 received a Double Gold award and was named the Best Bourbon and Best Small Batch Bourbon at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. That means it is quality. Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 is crafted from 10 to 14-year-old barrels, and the cast-strength spirit features flavors of butter and sweet fruit.