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BREWERY & KITCHEN

The West Winds Sabre Gin

March 29, 2021 by thebellmarker Leave a Comment

The West Winds Sabre was one of the first Australian gins I tried, and it was love at first bite. It’s not surprising it was my first Australian gin, it was one of the very earliest of the high quality gins to be made in Australian. But it used to be hard to find and I loved the stuff so much I’ve never quite managed to contain myself to my reviewing standards of sobriety (they are quite strict). Recently a local bottle shop started stocking it at a reasonable price so it’s becoming more of a staple in the gin cupboard.

The West Winds Sabre Gin

Back in 2009 four guys in WA set up The Tailor Made Spirits Company to distill contemporary Australian spirits at Margaret River. Their first project was The West Winds Gin. The regular range features the Sabre and the higher proof Cutlass. In 2012 they created a one off batch of 99 called Dirty Harry, which was the Sabre, but cut to 44% ABV and sold in a 1.5L magnum. This year they released a navy strength called Broadside. I managed a sneaky taste of it, but it’s not widely available at the moment. If you see it, snap it up!

The West Winds Sabre Gin Review

THE PROCESS

The Sabre is made in a German copper pot still. The neutral spirit is flavoured with juniper along with native and imported botanicals. The Sabre is made to be a nod to a traditional London dry gin with nothing added after distillation except triple filtered Margaret River rainwater to 40% ABV.

THE BOTANICALS

They don’t list all the botanicals, but this lot are in there:
Juniper
Coriander seeds
Wattleseeds
Lemon peel
Lemon myrtle

TASTING NOTES

The scent is rich with juniper; herbal notes & citrus. In the mouth there is a lot of alcohol heat, with a juniper flavour at the aftertaste.

IN DRINKS

In a dirty martini the saltiness and the ice neutralise the heat of the alcohol and bring back the delicacy of the botanicals and citrus. In a gin and tonic the flavour is full but light with a delicious creaminess from the wattleseed. With a good tonic water like Quina Fina or Fevertree and twist of lemon peel to garnish it is an absolutely excellent drink. The Sabre is such a good all-purpose gin, it’s terrific in cocktails (like a Negroni, right), makes a great martini and truly excellent in a gin and tonic. At a price point only slightly higher than Tanqueray and Beefeater I would strongly suggest you consider this as your ‘house pour’ gin.

See more about gin

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Time Out
The Gin Queen
Gentleman’s Cabinet
Darwin Foodies
Good Food

WHERE TO BUY

Dan Murphy’s
Nick’s Wine Merchant
And Broadway Cellars on Glebe Point Rd if you live in my neighbourhood!

Filed Under: Blog

Rogue Society Gin

March 29, 2021 by thebellmarker Leave a Comment

Though I’ve always been very mindful of supporting Australian gins, I’ll admit I have been a little remiss in not featuring our antipodean cousins when New Zealand make some many fine gins.

Rogue Society Gin

Distilling in Auckland since 2014, Rogue Society is noticeable in the market for its strong brand voice and aesthetic. From the moment it launched with it’s eye-catching tall black bottle and silver nameplate it was clear the team meant business. The brand voice continues through all their copy and marketing distinguishing itself in the antipodean market with a level of finesse.

Rogue Society Gin Reviews

PROCESS

Rogue Society is batch distilled in a hand beaten 19th century copper still. They don’t explicitly describe their distilling process, but reading between the lines the botanicals are distilled at once rather than blended post distillation. The heart cut is blended with glacial water from New Zealand’s Southern Alps to an ABV of 40%.

BOTANICALS

Juniper
Lemon peel
Orange peel
Coriander seeds
Orris root
Angelica root
Nutmeg
Cloves
Cardamom  pods
Liquorice root
Cassia bark
Cinnamon

TASTING NOTES

Rogue Society is an uncomplicated gin. It owes a fresh, bright flavour to its classic London Dry botanical profile and that bright glacial water. Despite the presence of many warm spices, it is citrus that dominates the flavour profile, with a welcome juniper kick. The spicy notes only linger briefly with citrus rounding out the finish.

IN DRINKS

I found Rogue Society rather lost in Fever-Tree Indian tonic water. While perfectly pleasant it didn’t offer distinction against the quinine punch. However I found it an enticing backdrop in citrus driven cocktails. It makes an outstanding classic French 75, which I topped up with Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Brut Champagne NV. At $20 a bottle, it is certainly not spectacular, and is rather bland on its own, but in a French 75 the all-important bubble texture is significantly smoother than an equivalent price Australian sparkling. The juniper and spice of the gin paired perfectly with the tang of lemon and fizz of champagne.

I also experimented with with a Gimlet, which again showed the strength of Rogue Society as a juniper backdrop. I made up a lime cordial with palm sugar (hence the colour) and basil stalks, which pair beautifully with gin’s citrus and spice profile.

More Infor about gin

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Gin Foundry

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon

Filed Under: Blog

Bummer and Lazarus Gin

March 29, 2021 by thebellmarker Leave a Comment

Bummer and Lazarus Gin
Bummer and Lazarus Gin

Liquor importation is a tricky and expensive thing. There are a great many wonderful gins that can’t be bought here. There are many, many reasons that I am enormously lucky to have my Gentleman Gin Drinker, one of them are his regular international work trips, and his great generosity in devoting his liquor allowance to gins from the world over. He recently returned from San Francisco with three beautiful American gins.

Bummer and Lazarus is distilled by Raff Distillerie on Treasure Island. Isn’t that delicious? Carter Raff has been distilling there since 2011. He started with absinthe and now distills bourbon, rhum (sic) and, of course, gin.

And the story of the name is even better. In the 1860s San Francisco  was overrun by stray dogs. Dogs outnumbered people two to one. Dogs were baited and trapped all over town. Bummer was a stray Newfoundland who would have been killed, but for his remarkable ability as a ratter. He rescued another dog from a fight, the dog was badly injured and not expected to survive, but Bummer tended to him, bringing him food, cuddling up to him at night to keep him warm. He soon made an unexpected recovery and earned the moniker Lazarus.

The two were inseparable. Their comradery became the stuff of legend. When they were impounded by new dog-catcher an angry mob demanded their release and they were petitioned as protected property of the city. They lived on the fat of the land for several years but then Lazarus died after being kicked by horse. Two years later Bummer died and his eulogy was written by Mark Twain. A plaque honouring their friendship was unveiled in San Francisco in the early 1990s.

Bummer and Lazarus Gin Review

Bummer and Lazarus Gin
THE PROCESS

Bummer and Lazarus is made from a grape spirit. It starts life as a California grape brandy which is then distilled with botanicals to make gin. It’s distilled in a copper still, a light and pure gin that qualifies as a London Dry.

THE BOTANICALS

Juniper
Orris root
Coriander seeds
Angelica root
Bitter orange peel
Lemon peel
Cinnamon bark
Liquorice root

TASTING NOTES

The aroma is light and floral and familiar. I hadn’t read the notes so I did realise it was a grape based spirit, but knew the scent as soon as I read that. So similar to G’Vine. The botanicals are very traditional but perfectly balanced. I have no problem with not being adventurous when you get the basics this right.

IN DRINKS

Makes a terrific gin and tonic with Fevertree tonic. I garnished with a twist of lemon and a touch of freshly ground black pepper. The heat in the pepper cuts the floral sweetness beautifully. Adding an edge without changing the flavour.

With its light floral tones, it’s lovely in a wet martini with a twist of fresh lemon peel. The woody tones from the vermouth with the sweetness of the gin and lightness of the citrus its refreshingly enjoyable martini.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

I can’t find any review, if you see one or write one, let me know!

WHERE TO BUY

Not readily available in Australia, The Wine Stop ships internationally by request so that’s probably your best bet.

Filed Under: Blog

What Is Gin? How Gin is Made

March 29, 2021 by thebellmarker Leave a Comment

So, what is gin? The simple version; gin is a white spirit flavoured with juniper and whatever else you like. Some people, not my people, but some people, say that gin is just flavoured vodka. Let’s get back to that once I’ve explained this whole gin thing.

Ethanol, neutral spirit or white spirit can be made from anything really, grain, potato, sugarcane, apples, grapes. Ethanol must be at least 96% alcohol by volume (ABV). Most gin distilleries buy in their neutral spirit in bulk. A very small number make their own neutral spirit.

At the gin distillery this neutral spirit is flavoured with juniper and other botanicals (botanicals is just a fancy word for plants, or herbs and spices, it makes us feel smarter). For a spirit to be gin, juniper must be one of the flavourings, otherwise any botanical can be used. The botanicals can be added as compounds, or macerated and distilled, or vapour distilled.This gives the gin its style which you can read more about here.

The juniper plant is a conifer mostly grown in the mediterranean, but found all over the northern hemisphere. That means it’s a pine. Yep, our favourite drink is made from a pine tree. Most people will tell you that the flavour comes from juniper berries, but they are in a tiny, tiny pinecone! Fun fact, male juniper trees create highly allergenic pollen, while female juniper tree are hypoallergenic. Just another example of the female of the species being more helpful than the male…

How Gin is Made

Flavour profiles of gin are similar to perfume, with top notes, middle notes and base notes which blend for a full flavour. Top notes are the most volatile flavours, meaning they evaporate very quickly and add lightness and freshness, in gin the top notes are citrus, floral botanicals and some herbs like lemongrass. Middle notes offer punchy flavour, juniper is a middle note along with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and cassia bark. Base notes are the earthy flavours that bind all the flavours together. They are often roots such as angelica root, coriander root and orris root.

The botanicals are distilled into the neutral spirit in the makers chosen way. The result is a very overproof gin which is mixed with water to the desired ABV. Most gin is 38-42% (must be over 38% to be legally sold as gin) and anything over 57% is Navy Strength.

The final important ingredient is water. If you’re following along, and not bad at maths, you’ll have figured out that close to half of a bottle of gin is water used to dilute the overproof as it comes off the still. So distillers as picky about the water they use as they are about the style and the botanicals.

Now you know a bit more about what goes into gin, you’ll understand why every gin is so different. Each distiller carefully selects and blends their botanicals to be an expression of their own vision of gin. This is just the briefest overview and there is so much more to learn about the science of gin , but what I’ve found is whether you know a little or a lot, gin is still just as delicious!

See more >> What’s the Best Small Wine Cooler to Buy?

Filed Under: Blog

What’s the Best Small Wine Cooler to Buy?

March 27, 2021 by thebellmarker Leave a Comment

Do you identify yourself as a wine lover? If the answer is “yes”, this article is meant for you. When it comes to wine, one of the things that often frustrate people is how susceptible it is to environmental factors – including light and heat. Even a minor change may completely ruin its taste. For this reason, a wine cooler is always recommended to preserve the wine’s flavor for long. 

Here, we have compiled a list of the best small wine coolers – each of which is analyzed in detail to make you better understand if they are a good fit for you. We hope that after reading through the article, you should be able to figure out at least one satisfactory option.

How do I choose a Small/ Mini Wine Cooler?

Now that we have known some of the best small wine coolers, it’s time for us to understand a few important criteria to consider – before making a purchase.

Wine Cooler Types

When it comes to type, there are a lot of options out there: countertop, freestanding, etc. For those who prefer some kind of versatility, the popular freestanding type is possibly worth the investment. However, if space saving is one of your concerns, an under-the-counter cooler is probably the better choice. And if you don’t need to store too many bottles (i.e: only 4-20), then a small countertop model is the way to go.

Cooling Zones

For those who only need to store some specific types of wine (white, red), you’d better stick to a single-zone model. That being said, if you identify yourself as a hardcore wine enthusiast, a dual-zone model that enable separate temperature settings is better recommended for you.

Cooling Technology

This is meant to be a consideration for those who care about quiet operation. Below is a breakdown of a few technologies available now:

– Compressor: As the most popular cooling technology now, compressor is generally the way to go – that is, if you don’t care about weight and noise.

-Thermoelectric: The selling points of this technology are its energy efficiency and vibration-free operation. However, keep in mind that thermoelectric coolers only work well if the ambient temperature is neither too low or high.

-Hybrid: As the name might have suggested, coolers using this technology boast the selling points of the two former options – at the cost of a generally high price.

Reviews Of Top Small/ Mini Wine Cooler on the market

1. Nutrichef PKCWC120 Refrigerator

Nutrichef PKCWC120 Refrigerator
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZQHF27C

As a high-quality mini wine chiller, Nutrichef PKCWC120 is the perfect “container” for both white and red wine – hence, if you are a wine enthusiast, good news for you! Not to mention, it is capable of storing up to 12 bottles of wine at the same time.

Nutrichef PKCWC120 is designed using advanced compressor cooling technologies. Thanks to the featured adjustable temperature setting, you are able to choose the exact heat range necessary to store your favorite beverages. Inside, there are numerous built-in LED lights, circulation fan, as well as ventilation grill – all of these help to make operation much simpler for users. 

The product’s sleek and modern design makes it a welcoming addition to any room in any house. And don’t forget, Nutrichef offers a full 1-year warranty, so don’t hesitate to give it a try!

Pros

Compact, contemporary design.

Can store up to 12 bottles.

Temperature control that allows users to switch between 41 – 64°.

Automatic lock feature to ensure child safety.

Quiet operation.

Cons

Some customers have supported that it may not work properly some time.

2. Ivation 12 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler

Ivation 12 Bottle Compressor Wine Cooler
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0864S2FPR

Ivation’s small wine fridge is designed using up-to-date compressor technologies, which help preserve the wine’s temperature against all environmental factors. It is capable of maintaining the temperature from 41-64° F – that should be enough for you to keep your favorite bottle of white wine for long.

Operation with this wine cooler is pretty simple – just pick the temperature you desire, and let it take care of everything else. Inside, there is a built-in fan that helps ensure unobstructed air circulation – this, in turn, should provide the perfect condition for wine storage. On top of that, the thermopane door is there to protect the wine from UV lights.

With numerous LED lights to light up all labels, Ivation’s wine cooler is the perfect choice even for newbies. Not to mention, an LCD display is featured for simpler operation, and the racks are detachable for easy cleanup.

Pros

Touch controls.

Unobstructed air circulation.

Thermopane glass door that completely repels UV lights.

Removable racks for easy cleanup and storage of differently sized bottles.

Energy-efficient LED lighting

Cons

The fridge may break down after a few years of constant usage.

3. 20L Compact Cooler/Warmer Mini Fridge/Wine Cooler

Compact Cooler/Warmer Mini Fridge/Wine Cooler
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0851C2Z8M

With a storage capacity of 20L, this wine cooler is spacious enough for you to store a bunch of stuffs in case you are about to set off for a long journey. Despite being spacious, it is still compact enough to fit into most car trunks/seats easily.

As you may have seen from the name, this is a dual-purpose cooler – which means it is suitable for both cooling and warming beverages. For the latter purpose, you can use it to keep things warm up to 65 degrees C. Thanks to the featured LCD display and easy-to-use control setting, adjusting the temperature to the proper range should be simple – and possible with just a few button touches.

The wine cooler can be placed in a variety of places – in your dorm room, in the office, or even in your car. Not to mention, its efficient energy consumption and 1-year warranty policy mean your investment should pay off eventually.

Pros

Perfect air circulation.

Quiet operation.

Simple, easy-to-use buttons.

Dual-purpose wine cooler that is capable of storing other types of drinks.

Cons

Some customers report that it is not cold enough.

4. Antarctic Star Wine Cooler

Antarctic Star Wine Cooler is the perfect companion for those who wish to protect their wine from the damaging effects of heat – with a temperature range from 40-60 degrees F, it will surely provide an “antarctic” environment for your beverages! What’s more, the wine cooler comes with an airtight seal glass door, which helps to maintain humidity at the perfect level.

Antarctic Star’s compact, modern design makes it a beautiful addition to your living room. Its 1.6 cubic feet storage space allows it to store a bunch of beverages. Not to mention, there are a few horizontal racks for you to store your drinks much more safely.

Pros

Soft LED lighting.

Dual-pane glass door.

Detachable stainless steel shelves for easy cleanup.

Energy efficient.

Intuitive controls

Quiet operation.

1-year warranty.

Cons

No thermometer.

Not good for storing standard-sized bottles of wine.

5. NutriChef PKCWC12 Wine Cooler

As one of the best small wine coolers available now, Nutrichef PKCWC12 is capable of storing up to 12 bottles of wine at the same time. Designed using advanced compressor cooling technologies, it is the perfect way to keep your favorite red/white wine chilled for long. What’s more, the product comes with a built-in fan and ventilation grill, which help ensure unobstructed air circulation. This, in turn, makes sure that the storage condition is always at its finest.

One thing that is super convenient about Nutrichef PKCWC12 is its touch-button display, which is available in both Celsius and Fahrenheit metrics. The product’s compact and stylish design makes it a perfect addition to one’s kitchen or living room. And don’t be worried about potential noise – for it operates pretty quietly!

Pros

12-bottle storage capacity.

Advanced compressor cooling technologies.

Adjustable temperature control from 41 – 64° F.

Soft-touch control.

Good circulation.

1-year warranty.

Cons

More suitable for small and medium-sized bottles.

Some customers report that the interior LED lights do not work properly.

6. Kalamera 15 Inch Wine Cooler

Kalamera 15 Inch Wine Cooler surely packs a punch in terms of storage capacity – it is capable of storing up to 30 bottles (wow, that’s a big deal!). Its spacious space allows you to store larger-sized bottles such as Pinot and Champagne quite effortlessly. For wine enthusiasts, this should be pure good news!

In terms of convenience, the wine cooler is designed with a temperature memory feature – unlike other models that require users to set the temperature again after a power loss, this one will automatically take care of that, thereby saving you lots of time and preventing wine from getting damaged! Thanks to the one-touch button control, operation is pretty simple.

Pros

Double-layered glass door.

Stainless steel frame.

Detachable wooden shelves.

Safety lock.

Cons

A little bit pricey.

There have been customer reports about faulty models.

7. Phiestina 46 Bottle Wine Cooler

This 46-bottle model from Phiestina is truly one of the best small wine coolers – it features a modern compressor cooling and air duct system, which ensures the perfect storage condition for your wine without producing too much noise. Thanks to the dual-zone design, users are capable of setting 2 separate temperature ranges for the lower and upper zones (50-60 F and 40-50 F, respectively).

One more feature that is worth mentioning is the front-vent-from-kick-plate design, which surely adds a nice, elegant touch to one’s room. With 5 detachable shelves, users are given a lot of freedom in terms of customizing the wine cooler’s structure. No matter what type of drink you want to preserve – water, red, white wine, cocktail, etc. – let Phiestina do the job for you!

Pros

Front-vent-from-kick-plate design

Dual-zone design.

Removable shelves.

Durable.

Energy efficient.

Quite operation.

Cons

Some customers report about faulty models that malfunction after 2 weeks.

8. Colzer Upgrade 15 Inch Wine Cooler

Colzer 15-inch wine cooler is designed to provide you with a perfect method to store your favorite wine – specifically, in terms of temperature and humidity control, it will surely not disappoint you! Unlike cheaper models, this one makes sure that all settings will remain stable always.

The wine cooler is spacious enough to store up to 30 standard-sized bottles, which should be more than enough for most wine enthusiasts. But don’t worry if your bottles are bigger-sized – there’s an approximate 3.5-inch space between each shelf for you to slot your bigger bottles in. The product’s removable shelves not only allow for easy cleanup, but also mean that you can customize its layout in whatever way you find appropriate.

Pros

International up-to-date cooling technologies.

Vibration absorption to better preserve wine for long.

Compact, stylish design.

Convenient temperature memory feature.

8 to 10-year service life.

Cons

Sometimes it does produce a little noise.

9. BODEGA 15 Inch Wine Cooler

Don’t let its size deceive you – in fact, BODEGA wine cooler is capable of storing up 31 bottles at the same time! Whether you need to store wine shortly or for long doesn’t matter – this one makes sure that your favorite beverage will always retain its flavor and taste. Just set the product’s temperature to be within the range of 41-68 degrees F, and it will take care of the job for you!

Designed using state-of-the-art compressor cooling technologies, BODEGA wine cooler provides an ideal storage condition that will remain stable always. Its vibration absorption gear means that users should not be worried too much about annoying noises while it is operating. Thanks to the featured LCD display and intuitive touch controls, you should be able to change its setting effortlessly.

Pros

Double-layered glass door.

Carbon filter system.

Smart sensor.

Adjustable feet.

Digital control.

Safety lock.

Compact design.

Can be placed under the counter or used as a freestanding fridge.

Cons

Durability is an issue that some customers have reported.

10. Whynter 20 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

Let’s move on to the last – but not least – pick in our best small wine cooler review. Whynter WC-201TD is spacious enough to hold up to 20 standard-sized bottles. Thanks to the thermoelectric cooling function, not only does the fridge consume energy efficiently, but it also operates pretty quietly.

In terms of aesthetics, Whynter WC-201TD will not disappoint you either – its sleek, stylish design makes it the perfect addition to one’s room. With this cooler, you are ensured that your favorite beverages will be preserved in the finest condition possible. In case you need to change the temperature setting, take advantage of the LCD display and soft-touch control panel for maximum convenience.

Pros

Modern thermoelectric cooling technologies.

Compact, stylish design.

20-bottle storage capacity.

Quiet operation

Precise temperature control.

Cons

There have been reports about potential water leakage.

FAQs about Wine Cooler

Why use a small wine cooler instead of a large one?

Obviously, a small wine cooler is recommended for those who are concerned about space saving. Not to mention, such coolers can be placed in a variety of places in your house. And remember, small wine coolers are capable of maintaining the temperature range and humidity level much more consistently than larger models.

That said, a smaller size means less space to store bottles. If you want to store a variety of wine, a larger-sized model is worth the consideration.

Are small wine coolers available in different sizes?

Yes. From 10-48 inches, and from 4-30 bottle storage capacity, you have a lot of options to choose from.

Conclusion

As long as you identify yourself as a wine enthusiast, there’s no reason not to have a wine cooler in your house/office. Not only does it help preserve your favorite beverage and protect it from environmental changes, but it also allows you to enjoy your drinks chilled (or warm in some cases). With the availability of several models nowadays, picking one that suits your needs (and budget) may prove to be troublesome for newbies – that’s why we have compiled this best small wine cooler review for you. Hopefully, among the 10 options listed above, at least one will definitely capture your attention.

Filed Under: Blog

Recent Posts

  • The West Winds Sabre Gin
  • Rogue Society Gin
  • Bummer and Lazarus Gin
  • What Is Gin? How Gin is Made
  • What’s the Best Small Wine Cooler to Buy?

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