Catalog Updates for weeks of 4/12, 4/19 and 4/26

PLCB spirits catalog changes for the weeks of April 12th, April 19th and April 26th:

Discontinued Products:

• Boissiere Sweet Vermouth 1.000 L (#011450, Luxury, $7.99)
• Boomerang Vodka 750 ML (#502104, SLO, $15.89)
• Brave Spirits Valor Vodka 750 ML (#005720, One Time, $19.99)
• Cafe Boheme Liqueur 750 ML (#009561, Closeout, $12.99)
• Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine 750 ML (#050082, SLO, $19.59)
• DeKuyper Kischwasser Brandy 90 Proof 750 ML (#010865, Regular, $12.49)
• DeKuyper Pucker Strawberry Passion 50 ML (#004179, One Time, $0.99)
• Dr McGillicuddys Black Licorice 750 ML (#040711, SLO, $16.99)
• Dulseda 750 ML (#057545, SLO, $21.99)
• Effen Black Cherry Vanilla Vodka 70 Proof 50 ML (#007831, One Time, $0.99)
• Glen Scotia 750 ML (#065541, SLO, $41.99)
• Gran Centenario Anejo Tequila 750 ML (#009595, Closeout, $39.99)
• Jose Cuervo Tequila Citrico 750 ML (#005665, Closeout, $19.99)
• Littlemill 12 Yr Lowlands Scotch 750 ML (#502119, SLO, $41.99)
• Macallan 12 Yr Single Malt Scotch 375 ML (#008218, Closeout, $16.19)
• Monte Alban Mezcal Tequila 375 ML (#006447, Closeout, $8.99)
• Myers Rum Platinum 750 ML (#006598, One Time, $9.99)
• Russian Standard Vodka Platinum 750 ML (#040049, SLO, $25.09)
• Thatchers Organic Cucumber Liqueur 750 ML (#041306, SLO, $20.79)
• The Famous Grouse Scotch Single Malt 12 Years Old 750 ML (#005961, Closeout, $21.99)
• Trago Tequila Silver 50 ML (#005652, One Time, $2.99)
• Weller Bourbon Antique 750 ML (#009524, Closeout, $12.79)
• Wild Turkey Rare Breed Brbn 750 ML (#005423, Closeout, $21.89)
• Wild Turkey Russell Reserve Rye 6 Year 90 Proof 750 ML (#007174, Closeout, $16.69)
• William Larue Weller Bourbon 750 ML (#005480, Limit Dist, $55.99)

Seeing the Catdaddy code get pulled is a little odd, since it's fulfilled directly by Piedmont Distillers. I'm not too fond of it anyway; the bottle states "Grain Neutral Spirits with Natural & Artificial Flavors", and it smells of nutmeg and cloves and tastes like syrupy vodka. This stuff doesn't resemble anything you would call "moonshine" in the slightest. It's not bad though—it could pass as a flavored vodka.

Moved to Closeout:

• Vincent Van Gogh Imported Acai Blueberry Vodka 70 Proof 750 ML (#006636, Closeout, $17.99)

Relisted:

• 10 Cane Rum 50 ML (#007768, One Time, $1.99)
• DeKuyper Luscious Mixed Berry Medley Schnapps 750 ML (#007384, Closeout, $5.59)
• Dom Benedictine Liqueur 750 ML (#005501, Closeout, $19.99)
• El Dorado Cask Aged 3 Yr Rum 750 ML (#069281, SLO, $20.19)
• El Dorado Rum 12 Yr 750 ML (#054330, SLO, $31.99)
• El Dorado Rum 15 Yr 750 ML (#056681, SLO, $42.69)
• El Dorado Rum 25 Yr 750 ML (#058137, SLO, $312.89)
• El Dorado Rum 5 Yr 750 ML (#053139, SLO, $21.29)
• El Dorado Rum Cream Liqueur 750 ML (#051148, SLO, $20.79)
• Gran Jubileo Anejo Tequila 750 ML (#066264, SLO, $105.19)
• Gran Jubileo Blanco Tequila 750 ML (#066235, SLO, $47.39)
• Gran Jubileo Reposado Tequila 750 ML (#066248, SLO, $58.39)
• Jean Danflou Pear Brandy 750 ML (#006450, Closeout, $28.99)
• Johnny Drum Private Stock 750 ML (#065844, SLO, $36.59)
• Rock Hill Farms Bourbon 750 ML (#009535, Closeout, $34.99)
• Siembra Azul Anejo Tequila 750 ML (#010839, Luxury, $39.99)

Palateur Imports graciously switched a number of their products from licensee-only to retail, which means PA cocktail enthusiasts now have access to the fantastic El Dorado Demerara rums. "Demerara" rums are produced exclusively in Guyana, where the sole remaining distiller is Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), although there are numerous blending houses such as Banks and Lemon Hart who blend and bottle rums purchased in bulk from DDL. El Dorado is DDL's in-house range that is blended and bottled at the distillery.

It is no exaggeration to say that DDL produces some of the best rums in the world. They are the only distillery to have three bottlings in the top 10 list of Kaiser Penguin's rum expert survey. El Dorado 15-year is the third-highest-ranked rum in the Ministry of Rum member favorites list and Paul Pacult calls it "Highly Recommended" and says it "deserves a place in every serious spirits collection." BTI gave El Dorado 21-year a 98 score—their highest-ever rating for rum. Need I go on?

At the other end of the range, the El Dorado White 3-year is a full-flavored white rum that BTI gave 93 points and called their "Overall Best Value Rum". (Tiare has more on El Dorado 3-year and DDL's operation.) El Dorado 5-year, the dark mixing rum in the line, has a bit different character than its older brothers. Although it is much drier, it still has a robust flavor that is unmistakably Demerara.

Finally, El Dorado 12-year is my personal favorite of the range. It has less depth than the 15-year, but its age and darker cane flavors make it a perfect rum to add spices, wood, and that wonderful up-front Caribbean kick to cocktails. It's a crucial part of my disturbingly delicious Daiquiri combo: 1 oz El Dorado 12-year rum, 1 oz Zaya rum, 3/4 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup. Women have fallen in love with me over that Daiquiri. I kid you not.

Also of note is the Johnny Drum Private Stock Bourbon from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, which Palateur carries as well. Although I have not tried it personally, my bourbon experts tell me it's an excellent whiskey.

New Products:

• Aberlour Single Malt Scotch 12 Year 750 ML (#502468, SLO, $83.49)
• Bacardi Classic Cocktails Pina Colada 1.750 L (#003162, Regular, $19.99)
• Bacardi Classic Cocktails Strawberry Daiquiri 1.750 L (#003161, Regular, $19.99)
• Bacardi Torched Cherry Rum 750 ML (#003160, Regular, $16.99)
• Bakon Vodka 750 ML (#502544, SLO, $31.29)
• Binyamina Chocolate Liqueur 750 ML (#502505, SLO, $23.09)
• Blue Angel Vodka 1.000 L (#502739, SLO, $29.79)
• Boomerang Vodka 750 ML (#502387, SLO, $14.29)
• Combier Roi Rene Rouge 750 ML (#502395, SLO, $28.39)
• Conjure Cognac 750 ML (#502396, SLO, $43.49)
• Crown Royal Black 750 ML (#003284, Regular, $29.99)
• Don Q Cristal Rum 50 ML (#502298, SLO, $1.99)
• El Dorado High Proof Rum 750 ML (#502308, SLO, $20.39)
• El Dorado Rum 21 Yr 750 ML (#057083, SLO, $110.99)
• Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka 1.000 L (#502567, SLO, $20.79)
• Gran Centarino Reposado 750 ML (#502517, SLO, $52.19)
• Hennessy Cognac Black 375 ML (#003264, Regular, $22.99)
• Jacquin's Very Cherry Vodka 1.000 L (#502432, SLO, $11.29)
• Juarez Triple Sec 1.750 L (#502598, SLO, $8.39)
• Ketel One Oranje Vodka 750 ML (#003250, Regular, $25.99)
• Lazzaroni Amaretto 1.000 L (#502279, SLO, $23.89)
• Lazzaroni Sambuca 750 ML (#502280, SLO, $20.99)
• Longmorn Single Malt Scotch 16year 750 ML (#502736, SLO, $130.89)
• Los Nahuales Mezcal Joven Blanco 750 ML (#502410, SLO, $57.99)
• Los Nahuales Reposado 750 ML (#502411, SLO, $72.99)
• Maraska Kruskovac Pear Brandy 750 ML (#502431, SLO, $26.99)
• Margaritaville Rum Silver 1.000 L (#502540, SLO, $25.79)
• Meukow XO Cognac with Glasses 375 ML (#502149, SLO, $199.99)
• Paddys Irish Whiskey 1.000 L (#502541, SLO, $33.39)
• Pinnacle Vodka 1.000 L (#003159, One Time, $12.99)
• Royal Combier 750 ML (#502394, SLO, $36.99)
• Schraml Edelster Aventinus 750 ML (#502380, SLO, $93.99)
• Sharkwater Liqueur 750 ML (#502542, SLO, $20.79)
• Southern Comfort and Lime 1.000 L (#502568, SLO, $20.79)
• Tequila Capaz Anejo 50 ML (#502628, SLO, $2.19)
• Thatchers Organic Tres Chiles Vodka 750 ML (#502735, SLO, $22.79)
• Tierras Tequila Anejo 750 ML (#502614, SLO, $57.59)
• Tierras Tequila Reposado 750 ML (#502613, SLO, $51.89)
• Wild Turkey Rye Russells Reserve 8 Year 750 ML (#502552, SLO, $36.99)

Bakon Vodka is exactly what it sounds like. (Say it out loud.) I like meat-flavored booze as much as anybody, but not at that price—it's too easy to make your own. [Edit 5/7 - Apparently Bakon is artificially flavored and tastes gross. Seriously, don't buy this stuff.]

Conjure is yet another celebrity-affiliated spirit. In this case, Ludacris is shilling some Cognac, and supposedly he helped select the blend himself. How did he do? DrinkHacker has a review blog post, not to mention an awesome flamewar in the comments.

Combier released two new spirits late last year, Royal Combier and Roi René Rouge, and they've finally made it to PA. Royal Combier is a Cognac-based orange liqueur, in the same vein as Grand Marnier but with a more herbal flavor, and Roi René Rouge is a cherry liqueur that sounds promising and I'm anxious to try.

Los Nahuales Mezcal seems to be what Los Danzantes Mezcal renamed itself to. Same spirit, new name. Nothing to see here...