Review: The Yamazaki 25 Years Old
For relaxing times, make it Suntory time… 25 years old. Yamazaki is the top-selling single malt in Japan and has made huge inroads Stateside in recent years, with no small thanks to Lost in Translation, which did for the whisky what Sideways did for Pinot Noir. Lately, Yamazaki (and pretty much all Japanese whisky) has been expanding…
Review: W.L. Weller Special Reserve, Old Weller Antique 107, and W.L. Weller 12 Years Old (2013)
With Pappymania 2013 reaching a fever pitch, we figured we would review some wheated bourbon alternatives to satisfy those not fortunate enough to get their hands on a bottle so they could re-sell it for simply ludicrous prices. W.L. Weller Special Reserve (2013) – Formerly carrying a 7 year old age statement (Buffalo Trace has…
Review: New Amsterdam Citron and Coconut Vodkas
I can’t explain why our review of New Amsterdam Gin is one of the most popular pages on the site, but the Modesto-based company has continued expanding its spirit lineup, first with a straight vodka, and now with a few flavors. New Amsterdam now has four flavors available, with Citron (citrus) and Coconut the most…
Review: WhistlePig “The Boss Hog” Rye Whiskey Single Barrel 12 Years Old 2013
WhistlePig is widely regarded (by myself included) as one of the best ryes on the market, a straight, 100% rye bottled at 100 proof and a full 10 years old. Last year’s TripleOne brought the age up to 11 years and proof to 111 proof. Now comes The Boss Hog, a 12 year old rye…
Review: Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel and Chardonnay, 2013 Releases
Napa-based Frank Family Vineyards has just released two new bottlings, a Zinfandel and a Chardonnay. We spent time with both. Thoughts follow. 2011 Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel Napa Valley – Earthy and smoky on the nose, at first blush this feels like it will be a bruiser. The body however reveals a far fruitier core, tempered…
Review: The Real McCoy Rum 5 Years Old
The Real McCoy is a new brand that’s just made its way into the U.S. “The Real McCoy” is sourced from Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, where column and pot still rum is aged for five years in oak ex-bourbon barrels. The name refers to Bill McCoy, a Prohibition-era bootlegger and, as bootleggers go, a real…
Recipes: Tabasco Cocktails (Anchorman 2 Edition)
Everything has to have some sort of “spin”, and our first reaction upon opening the press release promoting the release of Anchorman 2 was that it would be flooded with Scotchtails. While there’s not a single malt to be found in this list, we have to give the marketing folks and mixologists who supplied us…
Review: Magnum Exotics Coffee
Magnum Exotics recently debuted its new line of coffees in California, with a national expansion on the way. The company behind these products is a major private label coffee supplier, but this is its first original brand being marketed directly to the public. Thoughts on two of these offerings follow. Magnum Exotics Organic Fogcutter Dark…
