Tasting Ron Zacapa 23 Rum, Step by Step
Recently I received a delightful little kit put together by the folks who make one of the best rums on the market, Zacapa 23. The idea: To taste what this complicated spirit is like at each step of its long production. Zacapa is made using a solera process, a complex system where a spirit is…
Review: 2008 Hawk and Horse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills
This Lake County Cab aims high: You’d be hard-pressed to find another wine from this humble district with a $60-plus price tag, but God bless Hawk and Horse for giving it a go. This 2008 wine — 98% Cabernet, 2% Merlot — isn’t shy with its fruit. Concentrated with blackberry and blueberry character, it also…
Sangria Roundup: Senor Sangria and Eppa
Summer is in full swing, and that means sangria season is here. We’ve looked at Senor Sangria’s original red sangria in the past, now the company’s back with a white sangria. Also on tap: Red sangria from Eppa with a health-conscious spin. Here’s how these offerings from Senor Sangria (made in Washingtonville, New York) and…
Batman Cocktails for “The Dark Knight Rises”
I always figured Bruce Wayne would be a martini or single malt kinda guy. Numerous distillers, looking to get in on Batman fever, are hoping otherwise. If you make and drink the first of these, please send us a picture of the face you make afterwards! Drambuie Catnip 1 1/2 part Drambuie 1/2 part Egg…
Review: Zignum Reposado Mezcal
A new product from Casa Armando Guillermo Prieto, Zignum Mezcal is made from green Espadin agave. Silver and reposado expressions are currently hitting the market. An anejo will arrive later this year. We sampled the reposado, aged more than two months in oak barrels. Very lively and fresh, the medium gold color looks too good…
Review: Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old (2012)
Part of the Buffalo Trace empire, Eagle Rare is a 10 year old bourbon with plenty to recommend. This is the single barrel version of the whiskey, which is no longer regularly produced (as of 2019). A classically structured bourbon, it is sweet without being cloying, and there’s barely a trace of its corn heritage…
Absinthe Roundup: Jade CF Berger, Jade 1901, and Jade Esprit Edouard
Absinthe may have been the fastest rising and most rapidly falling fad in booze since Zima (when’s the last time you had a glass?), but let’s not forget our heritage: Absinthe is a spirit of critical import to the history of the (drinking) world, sullied alas by Americans jonesing for modern-day recreations of the stuff…
Review: Highland Reserve Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
This anonymous-looking blended whisky, a minimum of 12 years old, is sourced from Highland distilleries, hence the name. The bottle may be unassuming, but you could do a lot worse than Highland Reserve for $40 a pop: A delicious aroma fills the air when it’s popped open, all fresh grains, malt balls, and light nougat…
