Review: 2022 Protea Pinot Grigio
This pinot grigio is a surprise, hailing from South Africa’s Western Cape region. (Protea is South Africa’s national flower.) Fresh and bright, this wine quickly fires out notes of sweet pineapple and florals, touched with coconut, cantaloupe, and just a touch of honeysuckle. More fruit-driven than you’d expect, it drinks closer to a New Zealand sauvignon…
Review: Cenote Green Orange Liqueur
If the name of this product alone doesn’t confuse you into oblivion, the description of it just might. Apologies in advance. While colloquially billed as a tequila, it’s officially a liqueur, but one made with 100% blue agave tequila. It’s green in color, but flavored with oranges. Or rather, green oranges (or rather, natural green…
Review: 2017 Appassionata Riesling GG Chehalem Mountains
Oregon riesling isn’t the most common wine in the world, but Appassionata, inspired by Dr. Loosen’s dry-style Grosses Gewächs (“Great Growth”) — hence the GG in the name — is one to check out. It’s quite a curious riesling to hail from the U.S.: Notes of petrol spar against brighter lemon and grapefruit notes, before…
Review: Hard Truth Harvest Sweet Mash Rye and High Road Sweet Mash Rye
Indiana-based rye whiskey producer Hard Truth Distillery has launched two new rye releases, following its limited series expressions earlier this year. The distillery’s focus has been highly specialized in sweet mash rye, featuring Indiana-sourced grains. High Road Sweet Mash Rye is a lower proof expression of their core sweet mash whiskey, and it also features…
Review: 2021 Three Sticks Chardonnay One Sky Sonoma Mountain
This latest wine from Three Sticks hails from One Sky Vineyard, an organic vineyard on the chilly Sonoma Mountain. It’s a classic representation of California chardonnay, albeit a bit hard-edged on the attack. Notes of fresh oak pair with a bold guava character to create a bold and buttery body that sees notes of lemon curd,…
Review: St. George Breaking & Entering American Whiskey (2023)
When we sampled the first iteration of St. George’s Breaking & Entering over a decade ago the whiskey was a straightforward, well-executed blend of Kentucky bourbons aged between 5 and 7 years. We got the opportunity to discuss that whiskey, among several other spirits, during a sit-down earlier this year with St. George owner and…
Review: Spirit Almonds
Nuts make for a near-perfect drinking snack, and Spirit Almonds are a step up from your jar of Planters. Crafted as a “Japanese style” snack, the nuts come in six different flavors, many of which have a distinct eastern vibe. While mustard and curry are fairly traditional, things get further afield when you delve into…
Review: Eda Rhyne Pinnix Gin and Amaro Oscura
We last checked in on Asheville’s Eda Rhyne Distilling Company back in 2020 when their young portfolio featured only a trio of impressive herbal liqueurs. Three years and one global pandemic later, these mountain medicine makers have added to their lineup with a handful of new offerings including an RTD and a long-awaited rye whiskey…
