Speakeasy Reviews

I'd been meaning to try Jasonian's coffee ever since he opened his AJ Coffee Co. roasting website, but never got around to it until he approached me to sample it and post a review. The timing couldn't have been better. My roasting machine had just broken down. While I don't like to review gifts, I was in need of good coffee, so I placed an order for 2 bags, and he sent along a third bag gratis. I left it to Jason to choose the coffees. The care that Jason takes in roasting his coffee is...

Let's get the obvious out of the way: yes, it's $250. If this is your first interaction with "the Breville tax" well, get used to it. They make nice looking stuff that generally works very well, but fetches more than a few shiny pennies. If the cost turns you away, there are cheaper options out there - but not quite so fancy or perhaps versatile. Let's dig in. The OTTM is a fully-loaded, fully-automated tea making machine. You put cold water in the pot, loose leaves (or bags) in the...

Spoiler: I love this thing. It's produced some of the best coffee I've had in a LONG, long time - in just a month of use. It's also presented some challenges, but none too big. The Chemex system is more than just a brewer - it's as much about the filters as it is the pot. However, what I'm finding is that the Chemex brewer is actually about more than just the Chemex system. This isn't a review about filters, but suffice it to say that with the Chemex filters, you'll get the cleanest cup...

A few quick design notes - there's 1/2lb hopper up top, which rotates to make coarseness adjustments. At the very coarsest setting, it can vibrate out of the "grinding" mode and into the "removing the hopper" mode, which makes for a fun mess to clean. However, this coarsest setting is too coarse to be useful anyway. There's a timer on the side that goes up to 30 seconds, which is very loose/easy to turn. It's very easy to lose that elusive "perfect" timer setting. I placed a sticker on...

I entered this in "consumables" because, technically, it can be used up. Don't look forward to that any time in your lifetime, though. Price - 3oz for right around $5. You may need to do a bit of digging at your local cobbler or, a foreign concept to most of you (/sarcasm), order it online. At that price point, it's no more expensive than mass-market Kiwi. Quality - Recommended to me by some older Army buddies of mine, this polish wax was standard military issue back when they wore...

For a tea drinker, loose tea significantly improves the experience over bagged tea: manufacturers ship lower quality, poorly processed tea leaves and stems in bags of measured quantity; whereas loose tea provides higher quality product and the ability to precisely measure how much tea versus how much water, allowing more flavor without forcing more astringent tannin extraction. The Japanese Tetsubin accepts hot water and itself heats up; by filling first with hot water and then...

I recently realized I hadn't bought new jeans in probably 8 years or so (and I'm 28)! I always by used jeans and have 1 pair at a time for the last couple years. Those days are gone since I went to Dave's in Manhattan. They have Levis for $30-$40 which is $15-$20 off normal price. I thought I'd be going for the 514's since I'm 6'1" and not "skinny" skinny. I tried them on and after a hot summer with my pant legs always rolled up because of the swampy weather in Brooklyn, the 514's just...

A new take on the corn chip! They added sweet potato and I think it makes for an awesome flavor. I have had sweet potato only chips and they are typically too sweet so for me this combination creates a great snack. I found them in my grocery store's natural food section. The brand is: Food should taste good.

NOTE: dont disregard this review if you only have a single baby...they make those too! All, As some of you know...I'm a Twins Parent. Which means if I can't find time to do the things I love juggling the twins...it doesn't get done! As such, when my wife brought home the In Step Twins jogging stroller...I was in heaven. My biggest fear was whether or not it would be too heavy to run with. Well...just took it for a 4+ mile run and here is the review! Price: At $200+ a...

Tullamore Dew was the first Irish whiskey I tried, at recommendations by a friend. It cost me $20 for a nicely made 750mL bottle that included 2 whiskey glasses. As I can't think of any other way to drink whiskey, I put those glasses to use filling them about a finger's width high and sipping slowly. I quickly found that too little would tease me with the flavor and alcohol, while too much would start to muffle the flavor; but taking in between half a teaspoon to half a tablespoon in...

What can I say? It's toothpaste... Not any toothpaste, Marvis!!! The product is good, it's not cheap, there are cheaper toothpastes out there but you can feel a difference in the quality. I feel refreshed after and yes, it does what toothpaste is supposed to! The Ginger isn't a major flavour in the toothpaste, if not at all. I focused a lot and couldn't point the ginger in there, if I would do a blind test, can't taste it. The mint is very strong. I like minty toothpaste so we...

I bought some TR because I had read a story on the company in the local newspaper and how they were running out because of it's popularity. If you'll go to their website you can find out more about the company and some interesting articles about prohibition, Al Capone, etc The stuff I drank was a 5 year old rye. I'm not a pro reviewer but I tasted a lot of spice, toffee, and a malt body. Very little burn.

All I can say is wow! This baby has such a smooth flavour yet such a great power behind that flavour that it's hard to describe it till you sink a few. Wonderfull full flavour with a touch of port behind an unmistakable scotch front. This has a thick, slightly oily texture with a hint of caramel/chocolate cake, almost like a caramel marmalade. No burn but great power, what a lovely velvety body! The finish isn't long but you remember the last one long after it's gone and you look...

I bought this watch off of an Ebay vendor about a month ago. It took about a week to get it and I have been wearing everyday since. I am thoroughly satisfied so far but read below for more info. Price: This was $54 dollars including shipping from Singapore. There are cheaper ones listed but you have to pay shipping. Make sure you do the math to get the best price. Quality: After 3 weeks it has performed very well. It does seem to gain about a minute a week but this is not a...

Good old Captain Morgan's. I'm not a huge alcohol drinker; I make beer and such things, but drink slowly, and don't find myself getting drunk. I tend to keep a drink for over an hour, and often make a rum and coke with just a shot of rum rather than 50-50; when I'm done drinking my BAC is around 0.01, right off the bar stool. My mainstays with rum are a lightly flavored rum and coke-- as stated, some 16 ounce drink with maybe an ounce and a half of rum in it for flavor-- or an...

I bought a bottle of Courvoisier XO a month ago (yes and it's almost empty). I have it occasionally and it's really one of the best drink I had! I always drink this one by itself (no ice, no water, no tonic, nothing!). Price: I gave it a lower grade as I think this is a more than average price that I would normally pay for a bottle. The price is the only factor that will stop me from buying it on a regular basis. Quality: It's there! The intense reddish-brown is just wonderful...

*I'm not sure what "Fit & Finish" means, so I left it blank. I decided to get myself a nicer pen, as I don't like disposables too much. My local stationer suggested to be this pen, which for the price ($13.29 to be exact), is a good deal. Price: $13.29. 'Nough said. Packaging: Just a small, simple box. No complaints here. Quality: The pen has a nice heft to it. The black finish is nice, and the gold-metal trim is a nice touch. There's a rubber grip, which I guess is nice. When I...

For me, Ardbeg 10 is the embodiment of an Islay and it is that Islay essence that sets Scotch whisky apart from other whiskies of the world. Smoky peat and the smells of the sea are what come to mind first when I think of single malt Scotch. It is because of this that Ardbeg 10 is my favorite Scotch, though not necessarily the one I most enjoy drinking. Here at B&B, we're all familiar with the word "reformulation" and just like shaving creams and soaps, spirits with the same...

I'm surprised that nobody reviewed this item... It's one fine drop! I keep a bottle in the bar as I love drinking this one neat. At 45%, you need to go easy on this but it's surprisingly smooth! I almost finished my 3rd bottle of Single Barrel and know this one will be a regular. A lot of caramel and vanilla, very smooth, not smoky at all. I would not say it's a very complex Whiskey but it has a nice range of flavours. I probably lack some experience in tasting my spirits. The...

The packaging is what caught my eye, but the aroma and the smoothness remind me of Macallan 18, just at a much lower price (well, at the time I bought this off the shelves anyway). Lightly sweet and spicy with a moderately long finish. Note: There were multiple bottlings of the Glenrothes 1989. I've tried the 11y.o. "bottled in 2001" and the 12 y.o. "bottled in 2003". The extra year in the sherry casks does a lot to smooth the edges. The 11 y.o. is still a somewhat raw whisky...