Three Thieves - Bandit Wine!

Three Thieves!

It's been a while, but I'm back on board again, and, I have to say, what a great wine!

The story?
Via their website, it seems the Three Thieves are industry veterans "with lots of friends with too much wine."

The plot?
Take selections of great wine, which are in excess, and throw them into a box (which looks suspiciously like a soy milk container, btw) and sell it for cheap ($5.99 at QFC).

The score?
Surprisingly good! While the quality varies from time to time based on what wines are in excess, I've found that Bandit consistently puts many more expensive wines to shame! Also, the 1 liter box will get you where you wanna go, for those of you who find that a single bottle of wine doesn't quite do the trick anymore. Other sizes include the 250 ml "Bullet", which comes in a four pack, and a jug, which i've never seen before.

As for the the types of wine, my favorite so far is their Cabernet Sauvignon. Very smooth, with a clear fruit taste (cherry?). Easy to drink down quick, if that's your game, or sip throughout the night.

Also, the lightweight and portable container makes this bad boy very easy to smuggle into your event of choice (movie theaters are mine).

So go head and quaff away. If you don't like it, then you're out $5.

Pyrat XO Reserve

Pyrat XO Reserve

I went searching for a new rum the other day and got recommended this little beauty. While I should probably focus on taste first, check out this bad-assery:


Round, thick, jug-styled bottle, with fatty, long cork, yellow and gold ribbons, and a little icon of a fat guy (web research says it's Hoti, the god of bartenders). Make no mistake: this sets the bar well above Bacardi on looks alone.

Opened, Pyrat XO Reserve, like it's appearance, was all class. I enjoyed it on the rocks (well, one large rock thanks to these huge ice cube trays I got), and was immediately was struck by its sweet and spicy aroma. And, I have to say, i was completely won over by the first sip. Sweet, roasted sugar cane, with smoky oak, vanilla and spices (cinnamon?). Left me feeling like i could drink A LOT more.

I'll be honest, I haven't really tasted many high quality rums before, but Pyrat (the medieval word for Pirate, btw) made me feel like i wanna give up my love of whiskey for the summer and explore them, and why not? The taste is amazing and the price is a MUCH better! I'm not hating on whiskey, but when I can get a premium rum for 20 clams, compared to 35-50 for a good whiskey, what's not to like?

Further thoughts:

Pyrat XO Refresher

• 2 oz Pyrat XO Reserve
• Tonic
• Lime Wedge
  
  Pour over rocks into bucket glass. Garnish with a squeezed lime.
  

Spiced Pyrat XO

Add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Serve over rocks or with coke.

Dark and Stormy
(thanks Hazelwood - this is a personal favorite)

• 8 Oz Ginger Ale
• 2 Oz Pyrat XO
• Lime Wedge
  

Deschutes Brewery - Cascade Ale

Okay, so I am taking a sip right . . now . . and I can tell you next to nothing about how it tastes. There's a very brief sensation of, I don't know, maltiness? at first, which quickly vanishes on the tongue before I can swallow--a disappearing act not dissimilar to that of Pop Rocks. The ad copy claims a "light-hearted cirtus finish," but all I'm left with is a slight dryness, as if my mouth has been coated with a fine, absorbant powder.

Last night I drank four of these, and came away with no distinct impression other than that I was getting mildly drunk while watching King Kong. Overall, a thoroughly middling beer.

Rating: 5/10

Lagunitas GnarlyWine '06

Seeing as I'm madly love with this stuff, it's a shame Lagunitas only makes it available a few months out of the year. Snatch up some bottles while spring lasts!

I'm no barleywine expert, but GnarlyWine meets what few expectations I have: not quite beer (though it is carbonated), not quite wine (though its alcohol content is up around 10%), and quite tasty-delicious. I find it consistently impossible not to finish a (1 pint 6 oz) bottle, driving- and speech-impairment be damned.

Rating: 8.5/10