Review: General John Stark Vodka
Flag Hill, based in the great state of New Hampshire, makes a wide variety of fruit wines as well as various spirits. That includes John Stark Vodka, which is made from — wait for it — apples and is triple distilled before bottling. Who’s John Stark? A Revolutionary War general from New Hampshire and the…
Review: Knappogue Castle 14 Years Old (2013)
Knappogue Castle is one of the blue chips of the Irish whiskey world, producing well-aged spirits and a variety of rarities, including the ongoing “Twin Wood” series of limited edition whiskeys. Twin Wood is Knappogue’s terminology for Irish that’s been matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry barrels. The 14 years are spent…
Review: Dogfish Head Rhizing Bines Imperial IPA
This curious Imperial IPA is a collaborative project, the third in the “Life & Limb” series, between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, though the Dogfish DNA is more prevalent on the bottle and label. From the companies, you’re getting the best of both worlds: “Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual hopping from the…
Review: Soul Cachaca
Cachaca, the national spirit of Brazil, tends not to be the most nuanced of liquors, but Soul, made in Cruz do Espirito Santo, is one of the better renditions I’ve encountered of late. Cachaca’s iconic aroma is typically that of gasoline, and while Soul’s got it too, it’s milder here than you usually encounter. It’s…
Review: Casamigos Tequila – Blanco and Reposado
George Clooney seems to like his tequila like he likes his women: Sweet. This much talked-about celebrity project doesn’t hide its backer on the back label like some vanity spirits: The Cloon’s signature is right on the front. (It looks like “Geogo Cloy” but that’s close enough, I think.) Available in blanco and reposado expressions,…
Review: 2010 The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Wine North Coast
Every good musician needs his own wine. OK, every musician, good or not, needs a wine. The Dreaming Tree is a pet project of winemaker Steve Reeder and musicmaker Dave Matthews. A blend of North Coast California Zinfandel and Merlot, it’s a big and fruity wine with ample berry flavors — raspberry and a little…
Recipes: Jacob’s Ghost White Whiskey Cocktails
With the announcement that Jim Beam’s Jacob’s Ghost is now available nationwide, we decided to reach out to Beam’s master mixologist Bobby Gleason to celebrate its release. He took Jacob’s Ghost for a spin to see how it fares in some old classics. Ghost Cosmo 2 parts Jacob’s Ghost 1 part orange liqueur 1 part white…
Review: Auchentoshan Valinch 2012
2011’s Valinch — a cask-strength version of Auchentoshan Classic — was a real knockout, so the Lowlands-based distillery is back with a follow up for 2012. This edition (still no age statement) offers a substantially different sipping experience. On the nose, there’s a distinct and overwhelming green olive character, tempered by notes of pine needles…
