Review: Samuel Adams Little White Rye and Blueberry Hill Lager
Two new entries into Sam Adams’ “craft brew” lineup. No introduction needed, really. These beers speak pretty well for themselves. Samuel Adams Little White Rye – A white witbier. Spicy, with clear citrus and coriander notes. That burly, Asian-inflected character builds more and more until that hefty herbal character — namely the sage used in…
Review: Skyy Infusions Moscato Vodka
Driven by the club crowd, Moscato is the hottest wine grape on the planet, with sales of Moscato wine up 73% in 2012. Naturally, now it’s making its way into other products in the industry, and perhaps the splashiest arrival is in Skyy’s new Moscato-flavored vodka. As a flavoring agent goes, Moscato’s a pretty easy…
Review: Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum (2013)
Rum is undergoing a bit of a revival at present, and even mega-sized bottlers are doing their part to release higher-end, limited-release products. One of those is Mount Gay Black Barrel. Double-distilled and aged first in regular Bourbon barrels then finished in extra-charred “black” ex-Bourbon barrels, this new rum (no age statement) aims to provide…
Review: Uproot Sauvignon Blancs, 2011 Vintage
Uproot is a brand new wine label that is launching with just two varietals: Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc. Exceedingly unconventional, Uproot offers one of very few Sauvignon Blancs that is aged in oak barrels: 47 percent one year old French Barrels, 44 percent French Oak puncheons, and nine percent stainless steel. Here’s how the…
Review: Rough Rider Bourbon
When I first tasted Rough Rider, a straight Bourbon made by Long Island Spirits (which we’ve covered well in the past), I thought I was tasting one of Kentucky’s finest. It’s a common, well-accepted trick: Take a barrel of old Kentucky (or Indiana) whiskey, ship it to your home state, and bottle it there (maybe…
Review: Stagg Jr. Bourbon Batch #1 (2013)
Putting aside the Van Winkle phenomenon, the next-most-coveted name in the whiskey world is arguably George T. Stagg. Released in limited quantities as part of Buffalo Trace’s annual Antique Collection series, this Bourbon is old, ultra-high-proof, intense, and invariably beloved by both critics and consumers. It’s also pretty much impossible to find. In response to…
Review: Cruzan Key Lime Rum and Passion Fruit Rum
Cruzan actually makes some credible flavored rums, but things are starting to change. Most notably: With its new flavors, the sugar level is clearly going up and the alcohol level is demonstrably going down. What was once a low 55 proof has now fallen even further to just 42 proof. These two new expressions don’t…
Review: Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout 2013
I don’t want to delve into the deep and sordid story that led to this insane idea becoming a reality, but suffice it to say: Stone Brewing Company has partnered with, of all people, Fark.com founder Drew Curtis and geek legend/homebrewer Wil Wheaton to create their very own beer. The duo actually did time in…
