Review: Tequila Tapatio Reposado and Anejo
Late last year, so-called “cult tequila” Tapatio finally arrived in the U.S. after 75 years of Mexico-only availability. But only the blanco was being sold. Now, the rest of the lineup arrives on our shores, rounding out the Tapatio family with a reposado and an anejo. We sampled the two new expressions, imported courtesy of…
Review: Russell’s Reserve Small Batch Single Barrel Bourbon
This is one review we’ve been itching to get up for you for a long time, and finally we’ve got our mitts on this latest from Wild Turkey master distiller (and all around good guy) Jimmy Russell: Russell’s Reserve Small Batch Single Barrel Bourbon. The name has had many in this biz scratching their heads:…
Review: Wines of Mettler, 2010 Bottlings
We recently wrote about one of Mettler’s wines in our roundup of Lodi’s biggest names. The company recently sent a pair of additional bottlings to consider. Thoughts follow. 2010 Mettler Petite Sirah Estate Grown – Tons of fruit, jammy like a big Zinfandel. Light smoky notes and a huge body. This is a very sweet…
Review: Plymouth Gin and Navy Strength Gin
I’m no stranger to Plymouth Gin — it’s the very product that started me off in spirits reviewing, over a decade ago. Plymouth is a unique gin because the term describes both a style and a brand. “Plymouth Gin,” like “Scotch whisky,” is gin that is made in Plymouth, England. There’s only one company making…
Review: Jack From Brooklyn Sorel Liqueur
Jack From Brooklyn is a company based in, well, see if you can guess. And its sole product to date is Sorel, a unique, heavily-spiced liqueur based on hibiscus. The recipe includes Moroccan hibiscus, Brazilian cloves, Indonesian cassia (cinnamon) and nutmeg, and Nigerian ginger. Sweetened with sugar and swirled together into a base of organic…
Review: Tequila Cuestion, Complete Lineup
If tequila is the cuestion is mezcal the antser? Bad jokes aside, but when faced with a tequila that’s bottled in an upside-down question mark, the wordplay comes fast and furious. This Highlands tequila is, of course, 100% blue agave and all expressions are bottled at 80 proof. Tequila Cuestion Blanco – Old school silver,…
Book Review: The World’s Best Whiskies: 750 Essential Drams From Tennessee To Tokyo
Judging by the credentials listed in his author blurb on the back sleeve, Dominc Roskrow could certainly lay claim to being an “expert” in his field of study. A veteran writer and author with over two decades of published works, he’s received the Scotch industry’s highest order – Keeper of the Quaich – and was…
Review: Starr Hill Saison and Psycho Kilter
Starr Hill in Charlottesville, Virginia makes a collection of beers in a wild array of styles, mostly available on the central-eastern seaboard. The company sent us (out of the blue) two of its newer, seasonal releases for sampling and review. Thoughts follow. Starr Hill Starr Saison Belgian Style Ale – Mild nose. Fruity with orange…
