Review: Craft Distillers Low Gap Single Barrel No. 1 Whiskey
This very, very limited release is a continuation of the Low Gap wheat whiskey, a single barrel bottling of its 100% Bavarian wheat whiskey, which we reviewed a few months ago as a two year old expression. This barrel was bottled in January 2013 after spendnig “two-plus” years in a 200 liter new Kentucky oak…
Review: Suerte Reposado Tequila
Suerte is the tequila with the rabbit on the label. The name means fate or luck — as in rabbit’s foot — but inside the bottle you’ll find 100% agave tequila from the Jalisco Highlands. This reposado (the only expression we’re reviewing) is aged for 7 to 11 months in oak barrels before bottling at…
Review: Cyrus Noble Small Batch Bourbon
An old brand, Cyrus Noble Bourbon dates to 1871, when it was reportedly a San Francisco favorite during the Barbary Coast days. Now the brand is being revived — the current owner has had the trademark since 1871 — with a focus on bringing quality Bourbon back to S.F. The Bourbon is sourced from Kentucky…
Review: 2011 Bridlewood Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
Bridlewood Estate Winery can be found in California’s Central Coast, where it makes a wide variety of wines using fruit from all over the state. Thoughts on two recent releases from the 2011 vintage follow. 2011 Bridlewood Chardonnay Monterey County – Pleasant, apples and lemon on the nose. The body offers an immediate contrast in…
Review: Monday Night Brewing Eye Patch Ale, Fu Manbrew, Drafty Kilt
I may have found a new favorite craft brewery. Monday Night Brewing, based in Atlanta, has four beers in its arsenal, and more on the way. We got to sample three of them, with outstanding results. Thoughts follow. Monday Night Brewing Eye Patch Ale – This India Pale Ale is just about perfect for the…
Review: Dad’s Hat White Rye and Rye Whiskey (2013)
Based in Bristol, Pennsylvania, Dad’s Hat is one of the darling craft distillers of the modern mixology movement. Focused exclusively on young rye whiskeys, the basic Dad’s Hat mashbill involves 80% rye, 15% malted barley, and 5% malted rye. Grains are sourced locally, and aging is done in smaller barrels. These two whiskeys make up…
Review: Bond Street Gin
This artisanal gin hails from Bend, Oregon, where Jim Bendis, of Bendistillery, was recruited to help craft this brand new, small-batch spirit. A “proprietary blend” of local juniper berries are used, but little else is revealed about the ingredients of this modern gin. (The base spirit is distilled from 100% corn and lava rock filtered.)…
Review: The English Whisky Co. Classic and Peated Single Malts
Single malt whisky: It’s not just for Scotland any more. The English Whisky Company makes Scotch-style whisky in Norfolk County in good old England. And why not? Located further south, the company says it’s warmer and drier there, which means these single malts mature more quickly. The English Whisky Co. — aka St. George’s Distillery,…
