Review: Montelobos Mezcal Joven – Espadin
Crafted in Oaxaca from 100% agave espadin, this lightly overproof, unaged mezcal is a classic example of the spirit from head to toe. The nose of Montelobos is intensely smoky, with a barbecue-like sweetness underpinning the char. On the tongue, it follows through on this promise. A rush of fresh barbecue smoke, followed by intense…
Review: Emeril’s Wine Samplers from TastingRoom.com, 2012 Releases
Emeril Lagasse is now lending his name and palate to TastingRoom.com, which offers sets of six 1.7-ounce micro-bottles of mixed wines, selected by the chef. Two samplers, each mixed selections of mostly-California wines, are available. Thoughts on both of them follow. Emeril’s Everyday Sampler ($33) 2011 Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley – Musty,…
Review: South Sea Rum
Rum from Australia? Why not? It’s plenty hot and there’s even Aussie sugar. South Sea rum, lauched earlier this year, is made from first-press Queensland sugar cane which is twice-distilled, once in a pot still and once in a column. It’s finished in a mix of new and used American oak barrels for a minimum…
Review: PunZone Vodka, Lemoncino, and Originale Liqueur
PunZone (accent on the e) is a new Italian brand that produces vodka and a pair of spirits, all organically. The vodka is actually the newest part of the equation. The liqueurs are old family recipes — blends of vodka, sangria, and fruit essences. We tasted all three spirits. Thoughts follow. PunZone Organic Vodka –…
Review: Platinka Vodka
Belarus: It’s not Russia. Not any more, anyway. Platinka is a super-premium vodka made from 100% rye and five-times distilled. The twist comes from the filtration, which is done first through charcoal and then through a platinum filter — hence both the name and the giant “Pt” elemental table block on the label. The results…
Review: Dogfish Head Chicory Stout
When I drink beer, I rarely drink stout, and so it came as a real shock to me how much I’ve been enjoying Dogfish Head’s Chicory Stout, the utter antithesis of the lighter style beers I’m more likely to find in hand. Brewed with organic Mexican coffee, St. John’s Wort, licorice root, and roasted chicory,…
Review: 2010 Vineyard 29 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon
I’m an avowed fan of Vineyard 29, but the winery’s stuff is so hard to find that I rarely get a chance to experience its wines. How fun to get a bottle of the 2010 “Cru” release, a Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petite Verdot,…
Review: Hum Botanical Spirit Liqueur
A unique liqueur on the market today, Hum has been available for a few years, but I rarely see it on cocktail menus. It’s made from pot-distilled rum and infused with fair trade hibiscus, ginger root, green cardamom, and kaffir lime. Sounds simple. It is anything but. This is a complicated liqueur. The color and…
