Review: Wines of Banfi Centine, 2011 Releases
Banfi’s Centine line (pronounced CHEN-tee-nay, or so the label says), are Italian blends designed to be sustainable, but more importantly, affordable. Retailing for all of 11 bucks, you should find them widely available everywhere. 2010 Banfi Centine Toscana Bianco White Wine – A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio. Surprisingly refreshing, it’s got…
Recipe: Drinkhacker Zombie Punch
The people have spoken! This year, my holiday punch is based on rum, the results of a vote of attending guests that found the Caribbean favorite chosen 2 to 1 over everything else. My last punch didn’t work out so well, so I’ve spent the afternoon experimenting and tweaking this recipe to get it just…
Review: Kahlua Cinnamon Spice Liqueur
The Kahluaverse continues to grow with this holiday-focused twist on the classic: Kahlua with the addition of brown sugar and cinnamon. If you’re the type of person that dusts his latte with the cinnamon shaker, you’ll find this to your liking. The cinnamon is muted, and while this definitely seems sweeter than regular Kahlua, the…
Was 361 a Good Year?
I’d be afraid to touch it, too. It looks possessed. Scientists want to study samples of the world’s oldest wine, currently on display at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in the western German city of Speyer. There’s just one problem: everyone’s afraid to open the bottle. The glass bottle, thought to be at least…
Review: Powell & Mahoney Bloody Mary and Bellini Mixes
Complex cocktails in ready-made form won’t ever lose their popularity, and bottled Bloody Mary and Margarita mixes will probably forever be at the top of that heap. Powell & Mahoney makes more than 10 such mixes, including a Bloody, Margarita, Mojito, and even a Hot Toddy. We sampled two of them — the Bloody Mary…
Review: Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch
Say what you will, but I am an unabashed fan of the Zaca Hangover Patch. Every time I’ve worn one, I’ve woken up the next day refreshed and feeling fine. Now there’s another hangover-slaying patch on the market: Bytox. How would it measure up? The idea is exactly the same: Put the patch on before…
Oddity of the Week: Benny’s Bloody Mary Beef Straw
You love beef. You love straws. Now you can get the two together, in the form of Benny’s Bloody Mary Beef Straw. As the name implies, this unique “straw” is designed to accompany Bloodies, but enterprising cocktail types will likely find myriad uses for it — not the least of which is simply consuming them…
Review: Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Rare Rye Selection – New Cask Rye and Aged Cask Rye
Every year Woodford Reserve releases a limited-release Bourbon, usually with a special finish or mashbill. This year it’s not releasing a Bourbon. It’s releasing a rye. Or rather, two of them. I caught a sneak peek of this being prepared for bottling when I visited Woodford this summer. Now here it is, on my kitchen…
