Review: Tapatio Blanco 110 Tequila
Does tequila need to be 110 proof? No, but does it hurt? Such are the questions you might ponder while sipping Tapatio 110, aka Tapatio B110 (the B is for Blanco). It’s essentially the same as the 80-proof Tapatio Blanco, but bottled at a hot hot hot 110 proof. Highland tequila, 100% agave, spends 6 months…
Review: Bols Yogurt Liqueur
You say yogurt. I say yoghurt. Bols says let’s turn yogurt into booze. This idea is so nuts my sample of Bols Yogurt Liqueur has sat untouched on my kitchen counter for four months. I actually moved during that time, and still the Bols Yogurt has sat there, unmolested, on my new kitchen counter. Turns…
Review: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2013 Edition
Another year older, another year deeper into your whiskey collection. This 12th edition of Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon doesn’t offer much in the way of data, but it’s 12 years old and very limited in quantity. Lots of wood here; that’s evident from the get-go. The nose is classic, older Bourbon stock — wood-driven, but…
Review: Wines of MacMurray Ranch, Late 2013 Releases
We just covered MacMurray Ranch a few months ago, now three more bottlings are hitting the market. Thoughts follow. 2012 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris Russian River Valley – Lots of green beans on the initial nose, but this fades a bit as the wine warms up. It ultimately reveals lemon, some pineapple, and some mango…
Review: 2010 Cliff Lede Landslide Fire Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
Ultra-high-end California producer Cliff Lede produces this limited edition bottling, but don’t go looking for the name on the label. Landslide Fire takes center stage. Cliff Lede is relegated to the tiny type on the back label copy. A bland of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec from Napa’s Stags Leap District, this is…
Review: Macchu Pisco (Original)
We’re stepping back here. In 2011 we reviewed Macchu Pisco’s “La Diablata” bottling, which is made from a blend of grapes in the “acholado” style. This is the Peruvian company’s original pisco, a single-varietal bottling made from Quebranta grapes. It’s a solid pisco, mild but traditional with plenty of musky funk on the nose. Breathe…
Two for the Road: Mobile Drinking Gear from NiteIze and Hydro Flask
Camping, road-tripping, picnicking… there’s always an excuse to take your favorite tipple on the road. Here are a couple of gadgets designed to make that easier. Nite Ize makes a series of safety-oriented products, including this bunch of unique bottle openers. The S-Biner series is a carabiner and bottle opener in one. Designs vary, from…
Review: Hangar 24 Oktoberfest, Polycot, and Essence
The seasonals from Hangar 24 just do not stop coming. Here’s three more for summer and fall. Hangar 24 Oktoberfest Fall Lager – Can Oktoberfest be upon us already? This classic Oktoberfest-style brew is malty with plenty of chewy caramel to go around. Very light baking spice notes — think gingerbread — interact with the…
