Flor de Caña Extra Dry Rum is just the like the little brother of the popular kid at school.  Meaning there isn’t much that Flor de Caña Extra Dry can do that the Flor de Caña Gold doesn’t do better.  And just like the wannabe little brother, it will never quite live up to the glory of the cooler sibling.  Well, not before taking five shots of it at least.  Then again, everything is good after the fifth one (excluding children).

     Flor de Caña Extra Dry comes with a strong 80-proof bit of charm.  And it is the only white rum on the market that is slow-aged four years.  It is dry, crystal clear, and light bodied, making it great for mixing.  And for $19, it’s a gift, but if you are already going to buy a Flor de Caña brand of rum, go ahead and get the Gold for the same price.  Let me tell you why.

     For sipping rum, Extra Dry isn’t the worst thing ever, but it’s far from the best.  It actually tastes a little cheap.  I know it’s 80-proof but it just seems like something is wrong with its stand-alone flavor.  Unlike the gold that gives a happy feeling after drinking, Extra Dry just makes you feel okay.  It’s not bad; it’s just very blah.  It goes down smooth without much burn, and that’s a good thing.  In most cases, burning is a bad thing (excluding children).  Extra Dry tastes like the folks at Flor de Caña did just enough to make it a basic, ” just good enough” rum.

     As for mixing, just like most clear liquors, it works great.  But yet again, it still did not bring anything special to the table.  On the same note though, it did not take anything away.  It only adds a hint of rum flavor to whatever you pair it with.  It wasn’t overwhelming, but it wasn’t so light that I couldn’t taste its rummy-goodness.  Extra Dry just seems to mix right into the party without anyone being the wiser.  Maybe the people at Flor de Caña just wanted a clear counterpart to their delicious dark rum.  And it looks like they figured even an all ‘C’ student is still passing the class.  Well, it’s not all ‘C’s.  Extra Dry earned some extra bonus points in the “get me drunk” class and pulled off a ‘B+’.  Making that sweet buzz is what this little guy must have turned in for his science project.  Flor de Caña Extra Dry does get you drunk and it does it well.  Besides, let’s be honest, that’s the part that matters more than anything else.

     If you want decent rum for mixing or a clear rum that doesn’t bring anything special, try Flor de Caña Extra Dry.  It won’t let you down, but also won’t necessarily make you smile.  Well, maybe after you have a few it will.  But if you’re out for a more flavorful taste, then try the far more talented golden brother.  Or hell, splurge a little and get both.  They are only $19 apiece.  Things that are cheap and tasty are always good (including children).

Also check out our review of Flor de Caña Gold.

Sipability - 5.0

Mixability - 6.0

Drunkability - 7.0

Hangover-ability - 5.5

Bang for the Buck - 9.0

Overall - 6.0

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     Way back in 1943, a man named Bill Samules, Sr. decided that his family had been making whisky all wrong.  This man had so much confidence in his ability to create a new distinguished product that he burned his family’s 170-year-old recipe.  It turns out he made the right choice because his new recipe, developed in 1951, is the same one used for every glass of Maker’s Mark that you enjoy today.  Odly enough, Bill’s new whisky has exactly zero percent rye.  It’s this difference in ingredient formula that makes Maker’s Mark so smooth and easy to drink.  Unfortunately, I think the lack of rye is also the reason I feel a little disappointed with each sip.

     As soon as you break through the classic red wax seal on a bottle of this whisky, you are greeted with a fantastic aroma.  Honestly, if there were some way I could fit myself through the neck of the bottle to swim around in this stuff, I would do it.  Sip it on the rocks, and the initial flavor is slightly sweet with a hint of oak charcoal.  Then, the flavor just sort of ends.  It almost tastes a little watered down.  Makers Mark is like a gorgeous woman sitting by herself at a bar.  You, being the ladies man that you are, strike up a conversation with her.  She tells you all about her most recent trip to Cancun with her sorority sisters.  Four and a half drinks later, she is still telling you all about her sorority sisters, and then you realize that there really is nothing more to her personality.  Don’t get me wrong, Maker’s Mark definitely goes down easier than most whiskies.  At 90 proof, it also packs a nice punch.  In fact, I found that Makers did a much better job of getting me drunk than the 108-proof Wild Turkey Rare Breed.

     At about $32 for a fifth, it’s really quite a bargain when you consider that it is one of the last true small batch (19 barrels) whiskies.  Add in the fact that these guys use an old-school roller-mill to ensure that you receive a beverage without a hint of bitterness even though it actually slows the production process.  Then just to add that extra little bit of love, the barrels are cycled through the different levels in the warehouse to take advantage of the differing temperatures.  Whew, talk about dedication to your trade…the guys at Maker’s Mark have it.

     For both first-time and well-versed Whisky/Bourbon drinkers alike, Maker’s Mark is a fine choice.  If you, like me, enjoy a drink with a little bolder flavor you might want to look elsewhere.  However, the aroma and the smooth flavor of Maker’s Mark Whisky definitely make it worth the price of admission.

Sipability - 7.0

Mixability - 7.5

Drunkability - 8.0

Hangover-ability - 8.0

Bang for the Buck - 8.0

Overall - 7.5 

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     Level Vodka is Absolut’s contribution to the super-premium vodka line.  Level is achieved by a proprietary combination of continuous and batch distillation to form a perfect balance of smoothness and character: a new level of vodka.  Mind you, all of this comes right off the outside of the bottle.  The bottle certainly is pleasant to observe. It is simple yet elegant; sure to impress.

     Vodkas can be tricky to smell. I find it difficult to pick out the subtle aromas of vodkas due the overwhelming rubbing alcohol smell.  I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  It makes me flash back to my childhood memories of bicycle crashes and mom administering “first aid.”  Believe me, this stuff does not treat you the same as mom did.  The first sniff hits you right up front with that distinct vodka aroma.  I had to back off a little to catch some of the more subtle aromas of citrus, but not sour or sweet.  I would describe it as more bitter like the way the peel smells.  I know bitter is for tastes and not smells, but it makes sense when you smell Level Vodka.

     On to the good stuff; sipping it was really very smooth.  Absolut advertises Level as ”Beyond Smooth,” and they’re not lying.  Well, maybe it’s not beyond smooth since I don’t know what that means, but it’s still smooth.  I’m not a huge vodka drinker, but I must admit that Level is some good stuff.  The taste has that slight citrus flavor and bitterness you catch when smelling it.  On the way down it does not burn.  I would say it’s warming.  The aftertaste lingers just long enough for you to enjoy it and then dissipates cleanly.

     Now I’ll get to the best part: the mixing and drinking.  We first tried mixing Level and Sprite, which turned out to be fairly good, but there was still something about the vodka that stood out unfavorably.  It needed something different.  I decided that tonic was just the key.  A half-and-half Level vodka-tonic with a little twist of lime turned out to be exactly what I wanted out of this vodka.  This improved on my initial impressions of the Level mixability.  This mixture made for a very tasty beverage that went down oh so easy.  After the four required drinks, I had quite a nice buzz.  I would describe it as soothing and smooth; again with the smooth I know, but it’s true.  No harsh buzz from this one and no pre-headache that accompanies some of the cheap stuff.  In fact, I can’t recall having any real repercussions the next morning besides a bit of dry mouth.  Level definitely burns well and burns clean.

     Clocking in at 80 proof with a bit of a hefty $37 price tag, this vodka might scare off some, but it really is worth the little bit extra.  Grab some friends and a bit of their money and enjoy!

Sipability - 6.0

Mixability - 7.0

Drunkability - 7.5

Hangover-ability - 8.0

Bang for the Buck - 5.0

Overall - 7.0 

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