Text 23536, 89 rader
Skriven 2015-01-31 17:43:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: more tastes 135
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Courtesy of various airlines and hotels.

The Black Grouse blended Scotch whisky: a marriage of fine,
peated malt Scotch whiskies and the Famous Grouse. This stuff
is not too bad - rather more character than the Famous, it
starts off with a peaty resiny quality and continues to wood
and citrus. Not too sweet. Any neutral spirit shows up later
on and is not too obtrusive. Long finish of old ashtray, but
in a good way.

Canadian Club Reserve (aged 9 years) - yes, smoother than
the regular stuff, which is actually fairly smooth. Like
its younger sibling, it offers vanilla, cherry, almond
flavors and not much else. Distinct grain neutral nose.
Better finish than the regular. Not worth the premium,
but it was free from the airline. Which means of course
that the premium must not have been that much.

Maker's 46 - distinctly Maker's, distinctly taking the top
of your head off alcohol, which defeats the purpose of
Maker's. There is a greater sweetness, I am told, but still
I wouldn't buy this.

Crown Royal Black - a sweetish, more alcoholic version of
the real thing. It was fruity and distinctly drinkable but
with no actual character. Something to be quaffed, but at
the price, no way.

Zaya 12 year-old blended Trinidad rum - vanilla nose, heavy
molasses taste, spicy with cinnamon and allspice. Quite
satisfying as a snifter drink.
==
Snack box from United Express:

Rondele parmesan peppercorn cheese spread (President) - I
used to kind of like Boursin, and this is rather like that,
only a little tangier (parmesan and peppercorns) and a little
crumblier (back then, who cared about full fatted cheeses,
but now, Calories are anathema, so I attribute this to that).
Did not spread well on crackers

Acacia crackers - I'd not heard of this brand and likely will
not again. Give me Carr's any day, or just about any other
kind. What was wrong? There was just something not right about
the way they broke (neither crisp nor crumbly) and gummed up
my teeth. Normally I don't mind small producers, finding their
products at least as good as the big boys', but in this
particular case, no.

Wild Garden hummus dip (made in Jordan) - wildly sour and
seemingly fat-free, this wasn't my ideal of hummus either. A
bit of olive or sesame oil beaten in, and this might have been
a winner. 

Stacy's pita chips - the usual, rather salty and a tad greasy,
but these traits made up for the shortcomings of the hummus.

Brookside pomegranate flavor dark chocolate (Hershey Canada) -
these are well known to me, and despite their artificiality,
I enjoy the heck out of them. Basically, they're fashionable-
flavored jellies with a wax-heavy couverture. They taste good.
==

Two popcorns, both made by ConAgra and virtually identical.
The notable difference is in the nutritional info: Calories
per 1 c popped - Orville's has 30 (20 from fat); Act II has
20 (10 from fat). Also Orville's has a better Na/K balance,
but that shouldn't make much of a difference for most people.

Act II microwave popcorn ingredients: popping corn, palm oil,
less than 2% of salt, butter, artificial and natural flavor,
color added, TBHQ and citric acid (for freshness)

Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet(r) popping corn - the
ingredients list has potassium chloride right after the
salt but is otherwise the same.

Both were reasonably acceptable microwave popcorns; I thought
that Act II coated my mouth a little less with grease, but
that might have been the suggestion of the ingredients lists.
Act II was riddled with old maids; Orville's, fattier as it is,
had only 5 to 8 per bag, pretty remarkable.

I certainly wouldn't pay for either, but free in the hotel,
bring 'em on.

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