A lot of things have been made great when mixed with other equally great things: cherries and coke, mini-skirts and women, ribs and bar-b-cue sauce, football games and big screen TVs, dollars and strippers.  Well, now we have something new to add, either on purpose or by accident, the extraordinary taste of what seems to be tequila and bourbon brought to the world by Jose Cuervo Black is a more than welcome addition.  I love innovation!

     The crew of Jose Cuervo gladly brings us a new signature blend Tequila.  It’s aged for over a year in charred oak barrels for a smoother, more mature taste that you are sure to love.  Cuervo Black is dark, rich, and perfect for sipping on the rocks or mixing with cola and a slice of lime.  This complex and flavorful, añejo tequila is sure to help in the on-going battle against the evils of the your liver.  Go team!

     The Jose Black taste stems from its 12-month aging process, not just from the taste of the tequila.  And it really is something special.  It gives the tequila an up-front bourbon taste followed by that great tequila burn that reminds you why you became an alcoholic in the first place.  The charred barrel taste is what makes this tequila great.  It fools the taste buds into believing that this isn’t the same stuff that got you so drunk at a party, no longer allowing you to even take a sniff of it without wanting to puke.  No, Jose Cuervo Black lures you in and then gives you an 80-proof pimp-slap for all the nights you spent crying over the toilet, swearing you wouldn’t drink anymore (**side note**  Wade has decided to stop drinking 9 times since May).

     Personally, I feel when Black is mixed, it loses some of that great flavor that was such a welcome innovation.  That doesn’t mean don’t do it.  Cutting its taste is what some people are going to need for this beast.  Remember it’s not weak, and it’s quick to remind you.  So if you have to mix it to drink it, please do.  Don’t cheat yourself out of this experience.  I mixed with Coke©, and it still tasted great.  I just prefer not to have any non-liquor sources in my liquor.

     One thing this new innovation of Jose’s won’t let you forget is that it is a tequila.  It will get you pleasantly drunk in no-time.  It’s fast like tequila but smooth like a good bourbon.  Just beware of the next morning…this is tequila, and you will have cotton-mouth and a hangover.  Don’t question it.  It’s just science.  As for girls, good luck trying to get them to drink this.  It seems strong like bourbon which most girls will shy away from in a second.  But if the girl is into trying new things and stronger liquors, she is a keeper, and so is this Jose.

     For the bargain price of $21, Jose Cuervo Black Medallion is a great sale.  If you aren’t a big tequila drinker, you can still find joy in this one.  And if you are weary of bourbon, this is one to help expand your drinking portfolio.  You don’t have to be a pro to like the taste, but you might be a pro by the time you’re done.  And coming in at 80-proof, this stuff is great for black days and good days alike.  So why are you still reading?  Go buy Jose Cuervo Black Medallion!  You won’t be let down, but your clothes might be after drinking it.

Also check out our reviews of Jose Cuervo Especial and 1800 Reposado.

Sipability - 7.5

Mixability - 8.0

Drunkability - 8.5

Hangover-ability - 6.0

Bang for the Buck - 7.0

Overall - 7.5   

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    Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled and aged in the bourbon country of Louisville, Kentucky.  It’s made with wheat instead of the traditional rye that most other bourbons contain which gives it a smoother, more pleasant taste.  In fact, the website claims that the distillery was the first one to ever use wheat instead of rye to make a bourbon.  The spirit was first created in the days of the California Gold Rush in 1849 by a fellow named W. L. Weller.  Weller’s distillery was a family business that has been handed down from generation to generation.

    I liken Rebel Yell to an eighteen year old girl: young, fresh, sweet, but immature.  When I took a whiff of the spirit, the aroma was very sweet, but I could tell that it just didn’t have that distinct odor that a well-matured bourbon possesses.  I did notice a slight honey smell, but I certainly did not sense the butter or raisin scents that the distiller claims are present.  At least the aroma isn’t god-awful like some of the other cheap bourbons out there.  I couldn’t find any information about how long the actual aging process is, but I know by default it’s at least two years.  Quite honestly, this stuff kind of tastes like it was matured the day before I bought it.  I would even bet the “aging” process occurred during the truck ride to the liquor store.  The spirit really lacked the true “mature” aroma one expects from a bourbon.

    The first sip of Rebel Yell wasn’t exactly a pleasant one.  I figured the taste wouldn’t be all that great coming from a cheap bourbon, but this stuff is pretty low-end.  The flavor definitely contains a sweet honey taste, but that’s about it.  I almost thought I could taste a little caramel flavor hiding in there somewhere.  There was a minor burn after sipping it, and the flavor lingered a bit longer than I wanted it to.  I tried mixing it with a little Coke©, but all that seemed to do was dilute the spirit and not add any extra flavor to it.  I actually thought that it tasted better on the rocks without any mixers.

    After the standard four drinks, I wasn’t buzzing too much.  I had the usual warm feeling from drinking alcohol, but I wasn’t “floating” or feeling extra happy like I usually am when I’m buzzing hardcore.  Sad to say, I didn’t get drunk off this bourbon.  I was a little disappointed.  I’m not saying that I wish four drinks would get me drunk off my rear, but after those four drinks, I felt like I had just sipped on a couple of wine coolers.  Also, the following morning seemed like any other morning; I was completely functional with no remnants of the night before.

    Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a bottom-shelf bourbon with low potential.  What do you expect … it’s cheap!  At a whopping $9 a bottle, this stuff is okay if you’re on a budget and need to get some cheap bourbon for the night.  Don’t expect it to get you hammered too quickly though.  I would recommend splurging and going for something much higher on the shelf than this stuff.  Cheers!

Sipability - 5.0

Mixability - 4.5

Drunkability - 4.5

Hangover-ability - 6.5

Bang for the Buck - 9.0

Overall - 5.0 

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     Clear Spring 190 is great for sterilizing medical equipment and sure makes an excellent cleaner for all types of heavy machinery.  I suppose that’s reason enough for most drinkers to avoid this stuff along with all other high-proof grain alcohols.  We here at BoozeBasher try not to turn our noses up at any kind of liquor, no matter how many “CAUTION - FLAMMABLE” warnings are plastered across the bottle.  It’s obvious to us that they use such warning tactics to keep away the weak-willed pseudo-drinkers.  We will have none of that.

     Clear Spring 190 is distilled and distributed by Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.  I couldn’t find any good information on Clear Spring 190 or the process they use in making it, but I do know that the distillation of all grain alcohols at such a high proof supposedly removes all flavor, color, and odor.  That’s both exciting to the alcoholic and frightening to others.  In fact, some states have outlawed the sale of pure grain alcohols that do not possess a certain degree of color or flavor.  I suppose they do this to help “protect” people from overdoing it with grain alcohol.  Damn teetotalers.

     I’m not sure I would go so far as to call this stuff odorless.  It just smells like pure ethyl alcohol to me.  Though supposedly dangerous to do over extended periods of time, we the reviewers, bravely took half-shots of this stuff to come up with a shootabilty rating for our loyal readers.  How were the results?  Let’s just say that the taste was very potent and the burning sensation that followed was nowhere in the realm of pleasant.  Don’t ever shoot this stuff unless you plan on spitting fireballs with the freaks in the circus (I apologize if I offended any circus freaks or filthy carnies out there).

      Most drinkers would use Clear Spring 190 in some fruity concoction or as a spiking agent in hunch punch, so we used several different juices to judge mixability.  I finally stuck with a simple 3:1 orange juice to Clear Spring 190 drink.  When taking the first sip of the potent mixed drink, you can tell there is something amiss.  You can taste your favorite juice, but it seems as though it may have gone bad.  There is also a mild rubbing alcohol-like aftertaste.  It’s definitely not the most delicious taste in the world.  However, when taking subsequent sips, the taste of the grain alcohol nearly vanishes.  It’s just like magic!  It must also be noted that Clear Spring 190 is very versatile and friendly to mix.  As I type this review, I am sipping a concoction I made using Clear Spring 190, cranberry juice, ginger ale, and a splash of strawberry soda.  It is really marvelously smooth and easy to consume.  It would be very easy to get carried away with this stuff, so I would strongly recommend keeping a close eye on anyone drinking it like a sports drink on a hot summer day.

    At 190-proof (that’s 95% alcohol), Clear Spring 190 brings a serious punch to the table.  The effects are actually more like a load of bricks than a punch.  After one full drink, I was heavily buzzed.  After two, I was drunk.  After three, I was slurring my speech and swaying to my own rhythm with every step I took.  I don’t believe I actually finished the fourth drink because I decided it was time to go out somewhere to share my drunken bliss with the world.  It normally takes a good deal of alcohol to get me drunk, but this stuff took care of me easily.  I would definitely describe the drunk it gave me as a blissful one, but I wasn’t extremely composed.  I was sloppy and slurring my words more than when inebrated from other alcohols.  I suggest waiting a little while between drinks made with Clear Spring 190, as it will hit you very hard.  Kevin finished a fourth Clear Spring 190 drink and was so intoxicated that he called it an early night.  In the past, I have unintentionally made myself sick from drinking too much of this stuff simply because it goes down so easily.

     A lesser drunk may have fallen many times or found himself/herself lying in a ditch the next morning.  Luckily, I awoke the next day with no noticable bruises and in my own bed.  I was even able to locate all of my clothing.  However, the hangover was about as bad as they come for me.  My head was pounding with extreme pressure for a couple hours, and my body was utterly drained for the entire day.  The only thing keeping this stuff from the absolute bottom of the barrel in the hangover rating category is the fact that I didn’t really feel too nauseated.  At around $19 at your local liquor store (depending on where you live), Clear Spring 190 is worth its weight in gold for parties that aim to provide ultimate drunkenness to all those present.  This is definitely not liquor you want to drink on a daily basis if you value your liver or kidneys, but it’s loads of fun for special occasions and sloppy fuzzy memories.  Enjoy.

Shootability - 1.5

Mixability - 7.0

Drunkability - 10.0

Hangover-ability - 3.5

Bang for the Buck - 6.5

Overall - 5.5

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