Whispering Angel

The best-selling rosé in the US, this celebrity favorite rosé boasts a sophisticated, yet uncomplicated style that’s credited with launching the “rosé Renaissance” 15+ years ago. Perfect for any celebration, the fruit-forward, creamy palate is balanced with a crisp acidity and notes of red berries, florals and discreet hint of spice. An apple tart, or dessert of your choice, complements Whispering Angel’s tasting notes perfectly.

Whispering Angel | $25 | Purchase via Drizly

Cloudy Bay

Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc has been the brand’s flagship wine since 1985 and put New Zealand on the wine map, forever changing the perception of ‘new world’ wines and Sauvignon Blanc as a variety. The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc has a zesty and vibrant nose. This Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with a charcuterie board, as it contains notes of juicy citrus and makrut lime underpinned by subtle white nectarine and passionfruit notes. The palate is mouthwatering, with ripe vibrant passionfruit and citrus at the fore.

Cloudy Bay | $35 | Purchase via Drizly 

Candela Mamajuana Rum

A rum that is locally sourced, created with renewable energy, in a place that practices energy saving techniques all WHILE finding ways to reuse and recycle rainwater – that’s a spirit for the eco-conscious! Plus it’s got an award winning taste, and was called “The Unofficial Drink of the Dominican Republic” by Fodor’s Travel.  The name is Candela Mamajuana Rum. From inception onwards towards the journey to getting placed on the shelf, the super premium Dominican spiced rum Candela Mamajuana embodies eco consciousness through and through. 

While April poses as the time most eco-friendly time of year with Earth Day on April 22, here’s why this eco-friendly bottle should take precedent on your bar cart no matter what time of year it is: 

Eco-Friendly Production

• Locally Sourced: During its production what goes into the bottle is locally-sourced in the Dominican Republic where these ingredients are then 
• Renewable Energy: Candela Mamajuana is distilled via a process that is exclusively powered by renewable energy. This energy is sourced from the sugarcane bagasse that’s transformed into biofuel at a waste-to-energy plant on the island. 
• Energy-Saving Aging Practices: Following the production of the spirit, the aging warehouse follows suit with natural sunlight lamps and intelligent building materials that naturally cool the building without A/C. 
• Reusing Rainwater: The epicenter of Candela Mamajuana also boasts a rainwater collection system which is purified in the water purification plant. 

Eco-Friendly Distribution

Reusable Packaging: Thanks to esoSPIRTIS, a zero-waste distributor, Candela boasts reusable packaging and the first rum of its kind in the US to partner with esoSpirits. Candela is proud to own the exclusively Licensed Operators for EsoSPIRTIS technology in the Dominican Republic. 

• Philanthropic: Every single case sold contributes a percentage of profits to an Ocean Conservation program in addition to every 1 ecoTOTE depleted, Candela will invest funds to remove 1kg. of plastic out of the oceans. 
• Carbon Emission Reduction Practices: With ecoSPIRITS as a partner we’ll be saving 550g of Carbon Emissions per bottle sold. Cheers to that. 

Candela Mamajuana has plugged the islands’ favorite booze back into the mainstream with a beautiful bottle and a delish spiced rum that can stand alone or be the best part of your drinking concoctions. Candela boosts all-natural ingredients and is distilled from fresh-pressed sugarcane and rum in its native country, granting the bottle top-shelf priority.

Contraluz

Contraluz is an award-winning spirits company Casa Lumbre launched their latest Cristalino in the U.S. market last year in partnership with global superstar, Maluma. Contraluz boasts a new-to-market filtration process using activated charcoal to produce a colorless, smooth flavor profile without compromising mezcal’s signature smokey taste.  

The Knockturnal was fortunate to interview Contraluz’s National Ambassador, Camila Ruiz.

THE KNOCKTURNAL: WHY A MEZCAL COMPANY:

Camila Ruiz: I like that mezcal seems to have a magical, spiritual quality. A spirit that needs an ingredient that’s so connected to the land. The complex flavor it produces. With every sip, you really do taste tradition and history.

THE KNOCKTURNAL: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WORK WITH CONTRALUZ CRISTALINO MEZCAL?

Camila Ruiz: There are subcategories in spirits that are just trends that come and go. But I had a feeling this subcategory “Cristalino category” was going to be an innovation that made sense as Agave’s next step and I think it’s interesting to drink something aged, but with a clear, light, silky texture.

THE KNOCKTURNAL: WHAT MAKES YOUR MEZCAL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BRANDS?

Camila Ruiz: The fact that we are the very first Cristalino mezcal with a balanced, approachable and layered complexity makes us extremely unique.

THE KNOCKTURNAL: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEZCAL COCKTAIL?

Camila Ruiz: That’s very hard for me to answer. It really depends on the night, the season, and also how much sugar I’ve had that day, lol. I like Contraluz Margaritas just as much as a simple Contraluz soda. 

THE KNOCKTURNAL: Are there any new exciting projects/news you can tell us about?

Camila Ruiz: As innovators and pioneers, we’re always working on something different, can’t share much, but something exciting is coming from our Casa Lumbre portfolio for 2023!

THE KNOCKTURNAL: ANY ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING THEIR OWN ALCOHOL BRAND?

Camila Ruiz: Be authentic. Be respectful of the history and people of the spirit you choose. Be sustainable.