Review: Wines of Mettler, 2010 Bottlings
We recently wrote about one of Mettler’s wines in our roundup of Lodi’s biggest names. The company recently sent a pair of additional bottlings to consider. Thoughts follow. 2010 Mettler Petite Sirah Estate Grown – Tons of fruit, jammy like a big Zinfandel. Light smoky notes and a huge body. This is a very sweet…
Review: Plymouth Gin and Navy Strength Gin
I’m no stranger to Plymouth Gin — it’s the very product that started me off in spirits reviewing, over a decade ago. Plymouth is a unique gin because the term describes both a style and a brand. “Plymouth Gin,” like “Scotch whisky,” is gin that is made in Plymouth, England. There’s only one company making…
Review: Jack From Brooklyn Sorel Liqueur
Jack From Brooklyn is a company based in, well, see if you can guess. And its sole product to date is Sorel, a unique, heavily-spiced liqueur based on hibiscus. The recipe includes Moroccan hibiscus, Brazilian cloves, Indonesian cassia (cinnamon) and nutmeg, and Nigerian ginger. Sweetened with sugar and swirled together into a base of organic…
Review: Tequila Cuestion, Complete Lineup
If tequila is the cuestion is mezcal the antser? Bad jokes aside, but when faced with a tequila that’s bottled in an upside-down question mark, the wordplay comes fast and furious. This Highlands tequila is, of course, 100% blue agave and all expressions are bottled at 80 proof. Tequila Cuestion Blanco – Old school silver,…
Book Review: The World’s Best Whiskies: 750 Essential Drams From Tennessee To Tokyo
Judging by the credentials listed in his author blurb on the back sleeve, Dominc Roskrow could certainly lay claim to being an “expert” in his field of study. A veteran writer and author with over two decades of published works, he’s received the Scotch industry’s highest order – Keeper of the Quaich – and was…
Review: Starr Hill Saison and Psycho Kilter
Starr Hill in Charlottesville, Virginia makes a collection of beers in a wild array of styles, mostly available on the central-eastern seaboard. The company sent us (out of the blue) two of its newer, seasonal releases for sampling and review. Thoughts follow. Starr Hill Starr Saison Belgian Style Ale – Mild nose. Fruity with orange…
Review: Drinking Hangar 24 Vinaceous and Chocolate Porter with Owner Ben Cook
We’ve covered the brews of Redlands, California-based Hangar 24 before, and recently owner Ben Cook (and his crew) descended on SF for San Francisco Beer Week to pour some beers and talk about what his growing brewery’s been up to. With 25 different beers made in 2012 (all available only in California; Las Vegas and…
Etch Your Own Flask… And Win One!
Hip flasks are a dime a dozen these days — but one you get to engrave yourself, with your favorite logo, initials, a picture of your kids, or whatnot, now that’s worth checking out. PersonalizedFlask.net may be a rather obvious name, but it’s a website that makes, well, personalized flasks. They are stainless steel items,…
