Review: Buffalo Trace Distillery Single Oak Project Bourbon Round Eleven

Round 11 of Buffalo Trace’s “Single Oak Project” experiment is here. In case you haven’t been with us for, oh, the last three years of this extravaganza, it’s designed to find the Holy Grail of just what is responsible for the perfect glass of whiskey. Previous rounds can be found here: Round One (including all the basics of the…

Read More about Review: Buffalo Trace Distillery Single Oak Project Bourbon Round Eleven

Review: Pernod Absinthe “Original Recipe” (2014)

It wasn’t long ago that Pernod re-entered the market with an authentic absinthe (i.e. one with wormwood in it). But purists complained: Why would Pernod, whose absinthe cred dates back to 1792 and which was the market leader for over a century, release an absinthe with a wholly new recipe? Does not compute. Following a minor…

Read More about Review: Pernod Absinthe “Original Recipe” (2014)

Review: 2010 Sartori Amarone della Valpolicella Estate Collection

A bright and fresh Amarone, this wine offers ripe strawberry and cherry notes, tempered by just the slightest touch of raisin — more evident on the nose than on the palate. The finish sticks with the sweeter side of things, offering a touch of sour cherry and some intriguing black tea notes, too. B+ /…

Read More about Review: 2010 Sartori Amarone della Valpolicella Estate Collection

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,…

Read More about Review: 2011 Vina Zaco Rioja and 2009 Vina Pomal Rioja Reserva

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…

Read More about Cocktail Recipes To Beat The Cold

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…

Read More about Review: Vermont Ice Maple Creme Liqueur

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:…

Read More about Review: Mezcal El Silencio

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…

Read More about Review: Cutty Sark Tam O’ Shanter 25 Years Old