Siponey Royale Review
enjoyed and reviewed on May 12, 2023
While preparing our Women in the Liquor Store Podcast, I ran across a news article highlighting women pushing boundaries in the Whiskey World. Amanda Victoria, a twenty-year veteran in the industry with a CV which includes work in New York City cocktail bars and at Bacardi. In 2019, she and a partner launched Siponey Spritz Co. I reached out to Amanda via LinkedIn, and after a pleasant dialog exchange, she offered to send me a sample pack of Siponey Royale for us to review.
First off, I must say I am NOT a cocktail guy. I think one could count the total number of mixed drinks I’ve had in my 65 years on less than both hands. Secondly, this review will be a departure from my others as this drink comes from a can, and while whiskey is involved, it is packaged at 7.25% ABV.
I want to thank Ms. Victoria and Siponey Spritz, for providing me with samples of this Ready To Drink (RTD) cocktail in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. This review is not sponsored.
Let’s get started, shall we?
SIPONEY ROYALE VITAL STATS
Category: Ready to Drink (RTD) Cocktail
Region: New York City
Company: Siponey Spritz Co.
Canned and Packed: Metabrand, Edison, NJ
Ingredients: 4-year-old rye whiskey, Wildflower Honey, Fresh Lemon Juice, Sparkling Water
ABV: 7.25
UPC: 8 60003 96240 4 12 fl oz (355ml) container
Packaging: 8-Pack Premium Canned Whiskey Cocktail
Price: $40.00 (Website 2023)
Availability: Currently limited throughout the United States but soon to be distributed through Whole Foods Market.
Giving Back to Honeybees.
Siponey Spritz Co.™ identified saving honeybees as the “first step in recovering the environment”. We aim to do our part by supporting non-profit environmental organizations that spend 100% of their time saving the planet, with 2% or more of our annual revenue – while we also specialize in making you the best possible drink.
Learn more at Siponey Spritz Co.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
We were sent a sampler four-pack of 12 oz. cans. After looking over the website, I found links to recipes using Siponey Royale as one of the ingredients. I chose a one (recipe to follow) and after substituting chicken thighs for party wings, adapted it for the smoker. My daughters and I enjoyed the meal and drank the RTD cocktail from the can.
Click for Hannah’s review and Elora’s review.
SIPONEY ROYALE PALATE
As I was drinking from the can, the aroma was challenging to detect, and yet although faint, lemon and honey were present. The first sip was surprising and not at all what I was expecting. I detected little to no alcohol, but a great deal of freshness. After taking a bite of chicken thigh, I took another sip. I found the paring worked well. Again, the alcohol did not make its presence known, although I got more lemon from this and subsequent sips. The cocktail was easy to drink with the meal. I felt the flavors were well balanced, although I wish the whiskey was more dominant. Still, I could feel the cocktail was one I should not session.
SIPONEY ROYALE GRILL-SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS
Ingredients
- 8-9 deboned, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt
- ½ tbsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup Siponey (save the rest for the glaze)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp rye whiskey
- 3 tbsp honey
- Remaining Siponey (4 oz)
Steps
1. Set smoker grill to high heat and place a large Dutch oven of water on the grill (the water doesn’t have to be hot before adding the ingredients).
2. Add salt, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, and 1 cup Siponey. Add the thighs and stir.
3. Bring the water/thigh mixture to a boil (periodically checking for boiling point, stirring upon each check). Let the chicken thighs boil for an additional 10 mins. Once they begin to float, they are ready.
4. Shake off the thighs and place on the grill grate. Grill on medium-high, skin side up for 10 minutes or so, monitoring so they don’t burn.
5. While the thighs are grilling, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the honey and the rest of the Siponey can and stir to combine. Boil to reduce the sauce mixture for a few minutes then remove from heat. Just before step 6, stir in the rye whiskey.
6. Flip and brush on the glaze to the meat side of the thighs. Grill for an additional 10 minutes.
7. Flip again and brush the butter-Siponey glaze onto the skin. As the thighs are crisping, continue to brush with the remaining glaze.
SIPONEY ROYALE AND GRILL-SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE REVIEW
This was a good recipe. The thighs were tender, juicy and full of flavor and the skins were crisp. The family lamented we only had the samples and began to figure out how to duplicate the RTD cocktail.
Siponey pared well with the meal. In fact, I feel Siponey Royale would be a welcome addition for most any summer BBQ or gathering of friends and family. If you see an 8-pack in your favorite grocery or liquor store, give it a try.