What We’re Tasting Now: A Peek at the Imbibe Shelves

Products arrive at the Imbibe office on a daily basis for us to taste, test and review—sometimes more often than we have the space to write about. Since not all of these products make it into the pages of the magazine or website, we decided to start a regular feature on our blog that offers a peek at what we’ve been receiving lately. Here’s a sampling of some of the latest deliveries.

Bacardi OakHeart
The latest entry into the spiced rum category, Oakheart’s spice is subtle, but the flavor is smooth with buttery, vanilla notes, tea-like tannins and a hint of smoke on the finish. It’s set to be on shelves in September. $12/750 ml., bevmo.com

Sumarroca Temps de Flors 2010
An aromatic and expressive blend of Muscat, Xarello and Gewürztraminer from the Penedes region just outside of Barcelona, this white wine begs for a sunny front porch and the afternoon off. Floral aromas, bright acidity and an olive-y finish make it a perfect match for shrimp, scallops and calamari. $18/750 ml., winejunction.com

Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout
A collaborative brew between Stone, Tröegs and homebrewers Jason Fields and Kevin Shepphard, this decadent (but not heavy) stout combines notes of bittersweet cocoa with tangy sour cherries and roasted coffee. Recently released as a part of Stone’s Collaboration series, expect to see it on the shelves through the end of summer. stonebrew.com

Millars Wood-Roasted Coffee Sunset Espresso Blend
From a small, family-owned business near the base of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, the green beans for this coffee are first aged in a 25-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrel before being roasted with a variety of local hardwoods on an antique cast iron drum roaster. It’s dark, full-bodied and smoky, and certified-organic to boot. $19/lb., millarscoffee.com

Smugglers’ Notch Vodka
Distilled from corn, winter wheat and Vermont water, this small-batch vodka is light, smooth and creamy with a hint of sweetness and peppery spice. It’s currently only available on-site at the distillery and at retail locations throughout Vermont. smugglersnotchdistillery.com