Review: 2011 Vina Zaco Rioja and 2009 Vina Pomal Rioja Reserva
Two new Spanish Riojas — both quite young, a twist over the typical Rioja you’ll encounter, which can often be six to eight years old — or more — by the time they hit the shelf. How do these young guns measure up? Here we go… 2011 Vina Zaco Rioja Tempranillo – Especially young for Rioja,…
Cocktail Recipes To Beat The Cold
Make no bones about it: it is very, very cold out for a good percentage of the nation. The high for today in my neck of the woods is 9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -7, and that was at 10am this morning. If you’re in the same situation, here’s a few quick…
Review: Vermont Ice Maple Creme Liqueur
If Vermont’s known for anything — besides the Trapp Family Lodge — it’s maple syrup. They make more of it here than in any other state in America — and literally no one lives in Vermont. (Did you know: It’s the 2nd least populous state in the nation?) But who can actually consume all that…
Review: Mezcal El Silencio
El Silencio is a new brand of premium mezcal, produced in small batches in Oaxaca from, per the distillery notes, a “blend of 100% wild agave using 10- to 12-year-old plants.” It’s then double distilled and bottled, sans aging. The name is indeed a reference to David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. The nose is bright and big:…
Review: Cutty Sark Tam O’ Shanter 25 Years Old
Venerable Cutty Sark has been making big moves of late (more on these in a few weeks), but the biggest is easily the launch of Tam O’ Shanter, the Scottish company’s ultra-premium blend of 25 year old malt and grain whiskys. Decidedly limited, it’s far from your grandpa’s old green bottle of Cutty’s classic blended…
Review: The Spirits of Sweden’s Spirit of Hven
The Spirit of Hven Backafallsbyn Distillery, or simply “Hven,” can be found on a small island wedged between Sweden and Denmark (it’s part of Sweden). Hven, pronounced “venn,” was established in 2008 as part of the new guard of Scandinavian distilleries, where it produces a variety of white and brown spirits, including some seasonal schnapps (for…
Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Gingerbread Beer Finished and Port Finished Bourbons
Two new expressions recently arrived from our friends at Virginia-based, Sazerac-owned A. Smith Bowman, both specially-finished Bourbons bottled under the Abraham Bowman line. Thoughts follow. Abraham Bowman Gingerbread Beer Finished Bourbon – This whiskey starts with 6-year old Bowman Brothers Bourbon. It is then transferred into old Bowman barrels which have, in the intervening years,…
Review: NV Blandy’s Madeira Malmsey 10 Years Old
A few months ago we took a deep dive into the world of Madeira, with a survey of four different grape varietals, all made by Blandy’s and all five years old. Today we look at an older version of one — Malmsey — at 10 years old. Malmsey was my favorite Madeira then and I…
