Book Review: Behind Bars
A good story always seems to make our favorite beverages seem more appealing, and true crime stories remain in the upper echelon of stories that capture the interest of the public. The two together with the a new book that is sure to steal the attention of lovers of libations: Behind Bars: True Crime Stories…
Review: Gran Centenario Plata, Reposado, and Gallardo Tequila (2024)
We’ve covered the gamut of Gran Centenario Tequila releases over the years — dating back to 2008 – and today we continue to fill out our coverage. That includes a fresh look at the distillery’s blanco/plata tequila (our third review of it), our first-ever review of Gran Centenario Reposado, and a special review of Gran…
Review: Wines of Merry Edwards, Fall 2024 Releases
The hits keep coming from Merry Edwards, including this collection of chardonnay and pinot noir wines that are perfect for fall sips. These are all from the 2022 vintage, with several selections from Anderson Valley. You know the drill. Let’s dig in. 2022 Merry Edwards Chardonnay Anderson Valley – A little thin, a little green.…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2024 and “The Beam House Batch” 2024-02
Beam’s Booker’s brand is getting its first new innovation since 2019 with the launch of The Reserves, the first of a new, annually released series that elevate the Booker’s experience even further. The twist? These aren’t the result of a single day’s production but rather a blend of barrels pulled from the “center cut” of…
Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin Distiller’s Strength
Love The Botanist Gin but want a little more punch? With the new Botanist Distiller’s Strength, you can get the same mix of 22 hand-foraged, wild Islay botanicals with more intensity, clocking 50% abv instead of the rack 46%. Distiller’s Strength now sits in the middle of the Botanist abv lineup, proofwise — The Botanist…
Review: Wines of Stoller Family Estate, 2024 Releases
We’ve been writing about the wines of Willamette-based Stoller for years, and today we’re diving into some whites and pinks from the operation — three from Stoller Family Estate, and one from its alternate (definitely not “second”) label, Chehalem. Don’t know about you, but it’s still hot around these parts, so no need to worry…
Review: O.H. Ingram Flagship Bourbon (2024)
In the whiskey industry, “flagship” bottlings tend to refer to entry level expressions offered by a distillery. Flagship offerings typically have much wider distribution and availability than other whiskeys in a distillery’s portfolio. In order to meet demand for wider distribution, flagship whiskeys may not necessarily utilize the best barrels in a brand’s inventory. Experienced…
Review: Traverse City Old Fashioned and Cherry Old Fashioned
Bottled cocktails are inundating the market, and outside of the Margarita, none seems quite as popular to premix as the Old Fashioned. It makes sense: It’s one of few popular cocktails with ingredients that don’t spoil, so it should functionally last forever in the bottle, even after opening. The next producer to try its hand…
