1 CHIVAS REGAL

Chivas Regal is a blended Scotch whisky produced by Chivas Brothers, owned by Pernod Ricard. According to the brand packaging, Chivas Brothers was first established in 1801 in Aberdeen,Scotland, however, the distillery was actually founded in 1968 following the economic expansion with North Sea oil. After some years of struggle, the brand gained popular appeal in the early 1990s. The Chivas brand's home is Strathisla Distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland.

It is the market-leading Scotch whisky aged 12 years and above in Europe and Asia Pacific. Chivas Regal sales have grown by 61% between 2002 and 2008.

Chivas Regal family

Chivas Regal whiskies are blended in a distinctive house style of a mellow, honeyed flavour.

• Chivas Regal 12 Year Old: Blended from whiskies matured for at least 12 years. Taste: Round and creamy on the palate, a taste of honey and ripe apples, with vanilla, hazelnut and butterscotch notes.
• Chivas Regal 18 Year Old: Blended from whiskies matured for at least 18 years. Taste: Chocolate and orange notes, some citrus and spice on the nose and a full, fruity, citrusy and spicy palate, with sherry notes to finish.
• Chivas Regal 25 Year Old: Created using whiskies aged at least 25 years; available only in limited quantities with a retail price of c$300. Taste: The blend has tasting notes of apricot and peach.

History

The House of Schivas, a large mansion, was built at Schivas in Aberdeenshire in 1640. The name is derived from the Gaelic 'seamhas', meaning narrow place.

0 ST IDES

ST IDES

ST IDES (8.2%): a malt liquor from the US. St Ides is mostly known for its brilliant Marketing in the 90's. Olde English had been the Malt liquor of choice in the Hip Hop community and some competitors wanted to change that. Enters the Saint Ides brewing company with a great idea: use superstar rappers to promote the brand. Ice Cube (whose "It will make your jimmy thicker, get your girl in the mood quicker, St Ides Malt liquor" line became infamous), Snoop, Dr Dre, Wu Tang all appeared in commercials for the brand. But what about the brew itself?

• oh my, carbonated gasoline, that's what it is lol.
• Nice logo/bottle.
• Might have given you street cred in the 90's , .... not so much now.

Unless you're a Hip Hop bum that's stuck in the early-mid 90's, stay away from this.

Grade:F

Check out this ST IDES girl:

2 KING COBRA

KING COBRA

KING COBRA (6.0%): a malt liquor from the US. In the Malt Liquor universe you always need strong symbols (guns, Indian rebels, tropical islands, etc ....) The King Cobra is one most dangerous snakes on the planet, the perfect macho reference. So ... is this brew lethal? or perhaps poisonous?

• Malty metallic taste, obviously not a good thing.
• Bum Beer aftertaste.
• Premium Malt liquor? Now that's a good oxymoron.

Hm, it might not be poisonous, just not worth it.

Grade:D

0 SMIRNOFF ICE

SMIRNOFF ICE

Smirnoff Ice (5%): a beer mixed drink from the UK. Smirnoff originated in Russia in the 1860's but it is now part of the UK-based Diageo group, the world's largest beer, wine and spirits company. Smirnoff Ice is often referred as an "alcopop", an informal term for a sweet beer mixed drink mostly consumed by teenagers. Those so-called alcopops became quite popular on the UK club scene and later on conquered the world. Smirnoff Ice contains fermented malt and a tiny bit of Smirnoff 21 vodka (except in the US, where the alcohol part is malt/adjuncts as the sale of distilled alcohol is highly regulated). There are many variants (fruit flavors mostly) but here I'm reviewing the original, 5% ABV. ABV varies from one country to another (in Canada a 7% version is also available).

• Pleasant lime flavor with a slight hint of iron.
• Not too sweet for a beer mixed drink.
• Moderate buzz.

One of the best beer mixed drink on the market. A good alternative to conventional beer.

Grade: B+