Review: Hangar One Spiced Pear and Maine Wild Blueberry Vodkas
Hangar One recently launched two new flavors to its extremely well-regarded infused vodka line (Kaffir Lime is widely thought of — by myself included — as the best flavored vodka on the market), with pears and blueberries their respective inspirations. Both are naturally infused, colorless, and bottled at 80 proof, uncommon for flavored vodkas. Thoughts…
Review: Harviestoun Brewery Ola Dubh Ale Special 18 Reserve
While I defer most of our beer coverage to Greg, this new, limited edition release was too close to my heart to pass up. It’s an ultra-dark ale that is aged in barrels that used to house Highland Park 18 Year Old Scotch whisky — one of my perennial favorite Scotches. Gaelic for “Black Oil,”…
Review: Jim Beam Red Stag Honey Tea and Red Stag Spiced with Cinnamon
Red Stag — black cherry flavored Bourbon whiskey — was a bit pioneering on its own. And while it isn’t the only flavored whiskey we’ve encountered, now try this on: Two new versions of Red Stag (which is still based on a standard, four-year-old Bourbon), one with honey and tea flavors, one with cinnamon. I…
Review: Wines of DiamAndes de Uco, 2010 Vintage
Argentina’s Bodega DiamAndes is a project born of the Pessac-Leognan based Chateau Malartic Lagraviere. The winery is now releasing three new affordable varietals, which we looked at alongside its even less expensive Perlita bottling. 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Viognier Mendoza – Smells legit with peach and apricot notes, but there’s an overwhelming, vegetal bitterness in…
Review: Casa de Reynoso Reposado Tequila
The companion tequila of Rancho Nuevo, Casa de Reynoso has a fun story behind it, as related to me by it’s importer. “After being scorned by a beautiful women, Reynoso’s friend went to see him at this house (casa in Spanish) and took a bottle of tequila to enjoy and forget about what happened. Reynoso was taken by the elixir and…
Review: Hoosier Momma Bloody Mary Makers
As you prepare for New Year’s Eve festivities, forget not the aftermath: Tomorrow morning may hurt, and the solution may very well be found in a nice Bloody Mary. The curiously named Hoosier Momma Bloody Mary Maker, from the great state of Indiana, of course, is the latest ready-to-go Bloody to cross through our doors.…
Review: Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey and Single Malt 10 Year Old (2011)
Irish whiskey brand Michael Collins has been on a tear this year — taking advantage of the recent upsurge in popularity of Irish whiskey, no doubt — rebranding, repackaging its spirits (the old bottles were monstrosities), and replacing its old Single Malt whiskey with a new, age-statemented, Single Malt 10 Year Old whiskey. We re-sampled…
Today I Learned…
1 in 4 people never get hangovers. More anti-hangover tips to help prepare you for New Year’s Eve in this Washington Post piece. Related posts: How Climate Change Is Transforming Wine: An Interview with San Felice’s Carlo De Biasi The Top 10 Whiskeys of All Time (According to ChatGPT) “Fire, Water & Grain: The Story…
