Review: Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange and Ginger Cocktail Mixes
Powell & Mahoney makes high-end, non-alcoholic cocktail mixers, and recently it’s expanded its lineup to a full 10 different bottlings. Today we look at two of the latest expressions. All of the company’s mixers are made with natural juices, cane sugar, and a smattering of natural flavors, making them a convenient yet high-quality shortcut to…
Review: Wines of Fancy Pants, 2013 Releases
A new ultra-cheap wine label from Trinchero: Fancy Pants! The only thing that isn’t fancy is the price, amirite fellas!? Anyway, here’s what they’re like should you fancy a bottle. 2012 Fancy Pants Pinot Grigio California – Lemony nose, with very slight musty notes. The palate offers more citrus, plus distinct peaches and cream. No mustiness here;…
Review: Wines of McGah Family Cellars, 2013 Releases
Did you know: The founders of the Oakland Raiders now have a wine label? McGah Family Cellars is the winemaking arm of the McGahs, which owned the Raiders from the founding in 1960 to 2005. Now they make wine using fruit from their own 65-acre Rutherford vineyard in addition to selling it to other wineries.…
National Vodka Day Recipes
October 4th is National Vodka Day, a celebration of one of the world’s biggest selling spirits. Why October 4th? According to the official website: While October 4th seems well documented as National Vodka Day, we have not found the origins of why, but it works for us. No harm celebrating responsibly on other days as…
Blind Review: Purity Vodka vs. Grey Goose (2013)
Sweden’s Purity Vodka thinks it has something special going on, and it’s itching to prove it. Recently the company sent out “tasting kits” — well, two mini bottles — so media could compare its vodka with that titan of the industry, Grey Goose. Taste the two blind and see which you prefer. Purity promises it…
Review: J.W. Dant Bourbon
First, for your consideration, a bit of history: Joseph Washington Dant was a well-known Kentucky distiller who in 1836 gained a reputation for making his whisky using a log still. For those not versed in the distillation arts, that’s essentially a hollowed out tree trunk with copper piping running through the center. The logs would…
Review: 2012 Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha
Campo Viejo is well known for its Rioja wines, which are typically made from Tempranillo grapes. Now the Spanish winery is launching its first ever Garnacha (aka Grenache), the second largest varietal in Spain. With a continued focus on affordability, here’s how Campo Viejo’s latest pans out. Mild to a fault, the wine eventually reveals…
Review: Wines of Stickybeak, 2013 Releases
Stickybeak has an odd little boutique approach to winemaking, producing almost random wines (its first was a Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend) from both Sonoma and Italy, all under the same label — and for $20 and under. Thoughts on the two most recent releases from this odd duck with an even odder name follow. 2012 Stickybeak…
