Review: Glass Vodka
A somewhat strange new spirit hailing from Seattle, Glass Vodka is distilled from Washington wine grapes (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) in a German copper pot still. That’s two unusual approaches to vodka in a single product, and the result is also… unusual. Lately we’ve received a rush of semi-sweet, largely flavorless vodkas, and Glass fits…
Tailgate Cocktails for End of Summer
It’s a bounty of new recipes, fit for the tailgate, from our sports-obsessed friends at Campari America. Check these out and let us know what you think! Take Me Out To The Ballgame Cocktail (The Peanuts & Cracker Jack Cocktail) 2 oz. Wild Turkey 101 1 oz. Frangelico 1 oz. Amaretto .25 oz. squeezed lemon…
Review: Laurenz V. 2010 Charming and 2011 Singing Gruner Veltliner
Recently released: Two new Gruners from our friends at Laurenz V. Thoughts follow. 2011 Laurenz V. Singing Gruner Veltliner – Bigger body than I was expecting, but underneath that, lots of traditional/typical Gruner character: Big apples, pineapple, touches of melon, and plenty of acidity to leave your mouth clean and fresh after each sip. A-…
Review: Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Imperial IPA
Leinenkugel’s may be well-known for its popular Sunset Wheat (which some liken to Fruity Pebbles in ale form) and Berry Weiss beers, but its Big Eddy line is bringing extreme beers to serious craft lovers. The Big Eddy Imperial IPA is the third and newest release in the series, following a Russian Imperial Stout and…
Review: The Balvenie Tun 1401, Batch 3
This special release of Balvenie is exclusive to the U.S., a vatting of ten “treasures” from Balvenie’s Warehouse 24. There are no detailed notes on how old each of these casks is — the youngest is from 1989 and the oldest is from 1967 — but seven come from traditional whisky casks and three from…
Review: Old Sugar Distillery Cane & Abe Freshwater Rum
Is there saltwater rum? I guess, sort-of, all Caribbean rum is saltwater, isn’t it… even though it’s made from freshwater. This rum hails from Madison, Wisconsin, about as far from the sea as you can get. Made from American sugar cane (grown in Louisiana and Hawaii) and aged in both new and used American oak…
Review: TastingRoom.com’s Food-Friendly Wine Sampler, 2012
We’ve written about TastingRoom.com several times before. Recently the company sent us one of its mixed samplers, designed (as the name may imply) to be consumed with food. Which I did. Thoughts on each follow. (All bottles are sub-$20 retail.) 2011 Lake Chalice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – Extremely tropical. Lots of acid to back up that…
Cocktails for National Rum Day
National Rum Day — that’s today! And yes, we make rum in the U.S. Recipes and photos courtesy Flor de Cana. Chichigalpa Old Fashioned 2 oz Flor de Caña 18 year old rum 1 teaspoon maple syrup 2 dashes orange bitters 1 dash Fee’s barrel aged bitters Stir & strain into a rocks glass. Garnish…
