Review: 2019 Jalits Diabas Eisenberg Reserve Blaufrankisch and 2021 Johannes Trapl Blaufrankisch
A DNA sibling to Gamay and Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch is largely produced in Hungary, Germany, and Austria. However, some strides have been made to increase domestic production in recent years, although stateside it is commonly referred to as Lemberger, a nod to the cities of Lemberg and Limberg where this grape’s origins are said to have…
Review: 2XO The Sneakerhead Blend
2XO has just released The Sneakerhead Blend, the fifth in its limited small batch Icon Series. As noted in previous coverage, the series’ monikers are very personal to the Master Distiller Dixon Dedman’s world. The Kiawah Blend is a reference to his childhood retreat in South Carolina, The Pheonix Blend refers to new beginnings, The…
Review: Compass Box Secrets of Smoke
Since 2000, Compass Box has pushed to define their own existence in the Scotch world. “Different than a distiller, more than a blender” is one brand-approved tagline, though “whiskymakers” is the ultimate self-coined term they go back to time and time again. To the company’s credit, their whiskies — sourced, finished, and blended in often-dizzying…
Review: Malbecs of Terrazas de los Andes, Fall 2024
The Lujan de Cuyo region of Argentina’s Mendoza province is scattered with quality finds, and Terrazas de los Andes (Spanish for “Terraces of the Andes”) is certainly on that list. Established in 1996 as a part of Moet-Hennessy’s wine division, the company acquired land originally established by the La Perla winery in 1895 and discovered…
Review: Loco Tequila Blanco and Puro Corazon
I’m the first to agree that a name like “Loco Tequila” does not exactly connote a handcrafted, luxury, sipping experience. But in a Zoom with the brand’s creador Beto Navarro, he explains that “Loco” was intended to refer to the mad geniuses of the world and not wild days taking shots with salt and lime.…
Review: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Mountain Angel 12 Years Old
Since it first released Mountain Angel 10 Years Old in 2020, Stranahan’s has laid claim to one of the highest continually released age statements in American single malt. Now, under the guidance of second-year Head Blender Justin Aden, the brand is tacking on a couple more years to a core offering. Starting in late 2024, Stranahan’s…
Book Review: Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2025
Previously, on Drinkhacker: Unless you, gentle reader, are wearing workman’s overalls or carrying a bag or purse, fitting Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book anywhere on your person is a mildly amusing notion. While the amusement in the above quote can still be found year in and year out when it comes to this venerable reference…
Review: High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram 12.1
The most famous typo in whiskeydom has finally been corrected. I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but A Midwinter Nights Dram is now formally A Midwinter Night’s Dram. High West had its reasons for leaving the apostrophe off — something about making the whole thing extra old-timey and Shakespearean — but now it’s changing…
