Review: Seraphine Chai Tea Vodka
Chai tea is one of the “it” flavorings of the ’10s, and Yahara Bay, which produces the V Bourbon we reviewed a few days ago, takes a different tack than the various chai liqueurs on the market. Instead, the company flavors vodka with chai to create a unique (and more powerful) spirit. The color of…
Review: 2009 Michael David Sloth and Gluttony Zinfandels
We last covered Michael David’s top-end, big-dollar, sin-monikered Zins in late 2011. This time around (Lust is absent, sorry), the ratings are reversed. Thoughts follow. 2009 Michael David Sloth Zinfandel – Made from 30 year old vines located in Mendocino. Blended with a small amount of Petite Sirah. A really drinkable wine, the jamminess is…
Review: Yao Ming Family Wines, 2009 Vintage
It’s not every day we get to try a $625 wine made by a former pro basketball player. OK, it’s never when that happens. Chinese phenomenon Yao Ming recently got the celebrity winemaker bug and launched his own wine label, but with a twist: His primary market is his homeland of China, and the U.S.…
Review: Yahara Bay V Bourbon Whiskey
Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, this craft whiskey is a three-year-old Bourbon that is matured in small batches and small barrels. The mashbill (and other details) are not revealed by Yahara Bay Distillers, but the results speak for themselves. The whiskey is surprisingly dark, and the nose is heavy with wood, but otherwise typical of Bourbon.…
Experiment: Ice vs. Whiskey Stones vs. Tilt Chilling Sphere
The drinking industry’s war on ice is in full force. Fearful that ice will water down their precious booze, entrepreneurs are suggesting alternative chilling systems to bring the temperature of their hooch down. But do they work? Ice is effective at chilling a drink because it melts, releasing near-frozen water into your dram. Can alternative…
Review: New Albion Ale (2013 Reissue)
We didn’t always have Dogfish Head and Deschutes. Back in the day, you really only had the major beermakers to choose from. Founded in 1976 in Sonoma, California, New Albion Ale was a real anomaly of the era. The company made just a few barrels of beer ever day, using small, craft techniques instead of…
Review: Wines of Armagnac’s Domaine de Tariquet, 2013 Releases
Domaine de Tariquet, located in France’s Gascony, is best known for its Armanagacs. But did you know the producer also makes wine? And affordable ones at that. The wines from this unusual region use traditional grape varietals to create unique expressions. Thoughts follow. 2010 Domaine de Tariquet Cote – A 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and…
Review: Brewery Vivant Brewer’s Reserve Big Red Coq
It takes confidence to step up to the bar and order a delicious Big Red Coq, a surprisingly hoppy red ale. That’s right, a hoppy red ale. Brewery Vivant’s Brewer’s Reserve Limited Release series is always something to pick up if you see it. A hoppy Belgo-American red ale, Big Red Coq is one of…
