Dark Rum

Dark Rums have molasses as their main ingredient, the dark liquor has a full bodied flavour of spices and caramel and is a favourite drink with Cola and is part of so many cocktails.

The term Dark Rum is not a legal definition but it generally refers to any rum that is dark brown in appearance due to ageing or from additional molasses or caramel.

The colour of Dark Rum varies from Gold to Black, depending on the years of ageing in the vat.

Bourbon Whiskey

American's don't need to be lectured on Bourbon, but still, let's put it in record like all other spirits. A Bourbon in American spirit is a barrel-aged distilled liquor made primarily from corn. The name might have been derived from the French Bourbon dynasty, or from Bourbon County in Kentucky, or Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both named after the French Dynasty.

Technically, most whiskey made in America are legally classified as Bourbon, although Bourbon is in spirit a Southern Whiskey with special connection to Kentucky. Note than although Tennessee Whiskey is classified as Bourbon, Tennessee distilleries do not prefer their whiskey to be unique and referred to as Tennessee Whiskey only.

Distilling came to Kentucky in the late 18rth Century with the Scots, Scot-Irish and other settlers including English, Welsh, German and French, and they brought with them their distilling techniques and ageing processes in charred oak barrels. The charring is what gives the Bourbon the brownish colour and distinctive taste.

To be a legal Bourbon, a whiskey has to meet the following criteria

Produced in the United States and Territories (Puerto Rico) and the District of Columbia
Made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn
Aged in new, charred oak containers
Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
Entered into the container for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume)
Bottled (like other whiskeys) at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)

Galliano Herbal Liqueur

Galliano is a liqueur made from neutral alcohol steeped with a wide range of herbs and spices ranging from juniper, anise, vanilla, musk yarrow, lavender and many more herbs and has a distinctive vanilla sweetness. Caramel and tartrazine is used to create the bright yellow colour. It's distinctive vanilla top note and sweetness and flavour separates it from other anise flavoured herbal liqueurs like Anisette, Sambuca and Pernod, and you don't need any sweetner syrup while mixing Galliano. Galliano or Liquore Galliano L'Autentico, is the creation of Artur Vaccari of Livorno, Tuscany, who created this liqueur in 1896 and named it after Giuseppe Galliano, a Royal Italian Army Officer. Galliano is bottled at 30% and 42.3% ABV.

Orange Juice

Orange Juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C, one cup contains twice the daily recommended value. Vitamin C supports the immune system and helps fighting the common cold. The folate in Orange juice supports healthy fetal development. It is low calory and thus is already a qualified alternative to cola fizz in your cocktail if you want to keep your drinks acceptably healthy.

Orange Juice being citrus and naturally sweet and sour, it literally goes with almost any liquor, and of course Vodka being neutral, the best known pairing is with Vodka. But goes well with Dark Rum too, and you get the Planter's Punch, mix it with Champagne and you have made a mimosa, or with tequila to make a tequila sunrise.