We just got our hands on a (sigh) small bottle of the new quadruple distilled super premium rum, Bambu. I also had the pleasure to speak with David Kanbar, the creator of Bambu. David’s resume includes running day to day operations at Uncle Maurice’s Skyy Vodka prior to it’s sale to Campari.
So why start a Rum Company, I asked Mr. Kanbar?
He had always been a fan of the Rum category, especially un-aged white rums as they are more interesting then Vodka. He also enjoys sharing Rum cocktails with his wife. However, many white Rums can also be harsh and medicinal, which come through in a cocktail. Kanbar also felt Rum was underrepresented in the premium market. It had missed the same boost in quality that both Vodka And Tequila have enjoyed over the past 20 years.
To address this issue Mr. Kanbar set out to create a premium white rum that kept the complexity of flavors, but not the harshness. What he created was a Rum that is quadruple distilled and triple filtered, has hints vanilla and none of the harsh medicinal tastes found in other white rums. Bambu was found to contain 3 times less impurities than Bacardi or 10Cane, as measured by Vinquiry, as Napa company that measures these sort of things.
The only problem was that the process didn’t replicate in mass production. Making Bambu in mass stripped out the flavor and the end result was basically Vodka. To keep flavor and complexity of the hand selected West Indian Sugarcane , Bambu is micro-distilled one gallon at a time. It may take a while, but well worth the wait. We drank it straight up, and loved it! We put in a Mojito and their signature cocktail below. Thumbs up all around. Bambu is currently available in the Northeast and retails for about $30.
Honeydew Bambu
1 1/2 oz. Bambu Rum
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
Splash of Pineapple Juice
Splash of Sour Mix
Shake until thoroughly mixed and chilled,
Serve in a rocks glass
We just got our hands on the first Green Vodka, 360 Vodka. Made by McCormick’s Distilling in Missouri, 360 is very Eco-friendly and very good.
360 Vodka is made from grains grown nearby in Kansas and Missouri, thus reducing emissions. It is also column distilled, which consumes 200% less energy than the traditional pot still method. All of the packaging comes from recycled material, the paper for labels, the bottles, the shipping boxes - everything. Even the packing peanuts, they used to send our sample, dissolve in water! All of the packaging materials are biodegradable, further reducing your drinking footprint.
Finally, McCormick’s will take back and recycle the bottle enclosures (a prepaid envelope comes with every bottle) and donate $1 to environmental groups.
This is truly feel good Vodka! So, how is it? 360 Vodka, at $25 - $30 for a 750 ml is well worth cost. Not only is it eco-friendly, 360 Vodka is quadruple distilled for ultimate smoothness. This results in a almost perfect vodka, which means it doesn’t taste like a whole lot of anything. Mission accomplished, this is the mark of a fine Vodka.
We tried 360’s “Greentini”, although I can’t vouch for the eco-friendliness of Midori, it was yummy!
Here’s the recipe:
Greentini
2 oz. 360 Vodka
1 1/2 oz. Midori or other Melon Liqueur
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
Two bottles of Dos Lunas (one Silver one Reposado) recently arrived in Sausalito for review. We gathered the troops (not really hard when there is Tequila and Beer on a Wednesday) and tasted, mixed a few margaritas and had a limbo breakout (yes, it is good Tequila!).
Dos Lunas is 100% Blue Agave, double distilled and uniquely cold filtered. It also comes in a way cool bottle, the whole gang commented on them.
Here’s what we thought:
Silver
Nose - smooth. Typically when I smell a tequila, it makes me throw my head back a bit, as they can be rather tough. I get none of that with this Tequila.
Taste - very mellow, none of the harshness that tequilas can have.
On the way down I tasted a slight, refreshing hint of agave. It went down with out the typical Tequila burn, so if you are into that then this isn’t for you.
Reposado
Nose - smooth with tangy hints of Oak
Taste - it hits the tongue with a bit spice and then smoothly wafts down the tongue with hints of the year this Tequila spent aging in Oak barrels. This is truly sipping Tequila.
Introduced last year and perfect for Cinco de Mayo is Jose Cuervo’s Golden Margarita, a premium ready to serve margarita. Made from Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, and Grand Marnier cognac-orange liqueur and lime juice, this 25 proof liqueur is surprisingly good for a ready to serve.
Playboy’s James Oliver Curry writes “The Grand Marnier’s sweet orange flavors overwhelm the lime, making this very drinkable indeed”.
The kind folks at Cuervo set us a few drinks to try using Golden Margarita, but no bottle? Hmmm… I guess for now we will take Playboy’s assessment. Here’s the drinks. (more…)
“12″! Something about that number makes me feel like I can take on the world!
Jameson 12 year old Irish whiskey leaves me feeling that my favorite whiskey distiller put that feeling in a bottle.
Rich, deep, amber, mellow…what more would anyone possibly need from a premium Irish whiskey? Thank goodness for such a treat from one of my favorite friends….hats off John!
Jameson Irish Whiskey
“Think when you drink”! Truth be told! And when first I saw the bottle holding this amber nectar thats precisely what I did.
The presentation made for interesting expectations when I first opened this delicious looking bottle. My first impression, as the scent of 80 Strong hit me, was of something both sweet and exotic. Inviting. Like a deep leather couch and a warm fire.
Its fully matured flavor is one of the most special I have come across. Rich. Smooth. A taste that reminds me of brown sugar and honey. It seems to dance in your mouth and leave you wanting more.
80 Strong, bold, yet surprisingly mellow, offers a truly unique experience for lovers of fine Kentucky Bourbon.
On a sunny San Francisco afternoon I first appreciated the smooth mellow flavor of this superior tequila.
I first savored the deep rich flavor of the amber Anejo. Delicious in its mellow tones, and yet sharp in its effect, this Anejo should be a must for any lover of fine tequila.
Next I enjoyed the enticing Blanco. Sipping a shot made me think of those days long ago lounging in Tahoe enjoying Spring! Light and fresh the taste was like the breeze off that pristine lake.
Last I sipped the intense Reposado! This top shelf winner made me dream of a Saturday night out in the clubs. Its flavor made me dream of a dark haired girl on a moonlit night. Thank you.
Both the presentation and flavor of these great Tequilas reminds me of something new and special. A quality for which we all know San Francisco is famous. Muchas Gracias Senor Shansby for bringing us these unique Tequilas.
We just got our hands on a (sigh) small bottle of the new quadruple distilled super premium rum, Bambu. I also had the pleasure to speak with David Kanbar, the creator of Bambu. David’s resume includes running day to day operations at Uncle Maurice’s Skyy Vodka prior to it’s sale to Campari. 
We just got our hands on the first Green Vodka, 360 Vodka. Made by McCormick’s Distilling in Missouri, 360 is very Eco-friendly and very good. 
We tried 360’s “Greentini”, although I can’t vouch for the eco-friendliness of Midori, it was yummy! 
Introduced last year and perfect for Cinco de Mayo is Jose Cuervo’s Golden Margarita, a premium ready to serve margarita. Made from Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, and Grand Marnier cognac-orange liqueur and lime juice, this 25 proof liqueur is surprisingly good for a ready to serve.
“Think when you drink”! Truth be told! And when first I saw the bottle holding this amber nectar thats precisely what I did. 
On a sunny San Francisco afternoon I first appreciated the smooth mellow flavor of this superior tequila. 