Kings County Grapefruit & Jalapeno Whiskey (75cl, 40%)

This is a flavoured whiskey from Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York, bottled at 40% in a 750ml bottle. It starts with the distillery's unaged corn whiskey, made from 80% New York organic corn and 20% malted barley. Dried grapefruit peel and jalapeno peppers are infused separately in cheesecloth bags, then married for balance. There are no artificial ingredients or added sugars. The distillery suggests it as a stand-in for tequila in cocktails such as a margarita. The nose is fresh, citrusy and vegetal, with grapefruit, jalapeno and spice. The palate is bittersweet, with jalapeno heat meeting grapefruit acidity, and the finish carries a lingering, tingling warmth.