Text size:

The Imbiber: a foreigner's Fourth

By Dan Dunn | Special to amNewYork

2:42 PM EDT, July 1, 2008

The Fourth of July is upon us, and while it's traditional in the field of spirits reportage to mark the occasion by extolling the virtues of American-made intoxicants such as bourbon and Budweiser, I'm hoping to mitigate some of the ill-will that's been engendered abroad in recent years by showcasing products made by our foreign friends.

Call me an American hero if you'd like, folks, but I'm really just a regular guy who loves his country and wants to show off my mad foreign language skillz. So, without further adieu, j'ai une grenouille dans mon bidet!

Domaine de Canton is the world's first premium ginger liqueur. A combination of VSOP Cognac and baby ginger, this aromatic elixir first became popular among the colonial French aristocracy... and presumably remained popular with the aristocrats until the peasants revolted and beheaded them all. But don't let that bum you out. It was, like, a really long time ago. Domaine de Canton retails for $32 a bottle and is available at Union Square Wine & Spirits (140 Fourth Ave.) and Morrell Wine (1 Rockefeller Plaza)

For a taste of Paris in the roaring twenties, try Café Bohême, a blend of coffee, fresh, velvety crème from Holland, and premium French vodka distilled five times for maximum smoothness and purity with just a hint of vanilla. Café Bohême retails for $25 a bottle and is available at Astor Wines & Spirits (399 Lafayette S.)

Granted, it's a U.S.-based company, but Starbucks is surely taking over the world one block at a time. Resistance is futile. So, relax and drink more Starbucks products. Starbucks Cream Liqueur is an ideal ingredient to cocktails, including White Russians, martinis and a Mudslide. Starbucks Cream Liqueur retails for $20 a bottle and is available at Sherry-Lehmann Wine and Spirits (505 Park Ave.)

Feeling fruity, or just sick of all the damn coffee drinks? Well, kick back this weekend and nurse your post-Independence Day hangover with a delicious new twist on the Bellini made with Champagne and some DeKuyper Pomegranate liqueur. DeKuyper Pomegranate liqueur retails for $13 a bottle and is available at Astor Wines & Spirits (399 Lafayette St.)

Dan Dunn is the author of the book "Nobody Likes a Quitter (and other reasons to avoid rehab)," available at Amazon.com He talks wine and spirits every Friday from noon to 1 pm on Channel 108 on Sirius Satellite Radio.