Tasting Report: 2010 California Cabernet Sauvignon
One of my favorite wine events of the year is when California’s producers roll out their barrel samples from the prior harvest. The members of the California Cabernet Society offered their 2010 selections at a recent event, and the results were intriguing. In my estimation of dozens of barrel samples, 2010 is shaping up to…
Tasting Report: Spanish Wine Cellar & Pantry 2011
It isn’t often you go to a wine tasting where the most expensive wine costs $36… and most of the wines being poured cost about $5 or $6 a bottle. Well, wholesale, anyway. The Spanish Wine Cellar & Pantry event is always fun and loaded with delicious foodstuffs. Although there was no Serrano ham being…
Review: Big Bottom Bourbon – New White Oak and Port Cask Finish
It’s hard not to think of Big Bottom without immediately jumping to Spinal Tap, but after a few sips of this distillery’s products, my thinking is finally changing. The company produces two very young whiskeys largely in the Bourbon style (though they aren’t billed as Bourbon). The whiskey is actually made in Indiana, then it…
Review: NV JJ Vincent Cremant de Bourgogne Brut
France may be home to the king of sparkling wines, but that region isn’t the only one were French sparklers are made: JJ Vincent’s nonvintage Cremant de Bourgogne hails from southern Burgundy, many miles away from the hallowed vineyards of Champagne. This Cremant de Bourgogne is made from Chardonnay, a brut wine that offers somewhat…
Review: Pucker “Grape Gone Wild” Flavored Vodka
The Pucker brand of liqueurs has been with us for years — you can’t make the infamous appletini without its Sour Apple — and now Pucker is making its way into flavored vodkas, too: Higher proof level, clear spirit instead of day-glo, spiked with natural flavors. We tasted the “Grape Gone Wild” version — three…
Review: Wines of Mercer, 2011 Releases
This Washington winery produces a full line of affordable whites and reds. We tasted three of its newest releases. (The photo below isn’t one of the actual wines reviewed but will give you a sense of the label at least.) 2009 Mercer Pinot Gris Yakima Valley – Light and pleasant, and quite fruity for Pinot…
Review: Buffalo Trace Distillery Single Oak Project Bourbon Round One
Explaining exactly what is behind the 12 bottles reviewed below would take me all night. So I’m going to let Buffalo Trace explain its Single Oak Project for itself: On Friday, April 29th, Buffalo Trace Distillery unveiled its latest endeavor to a select group of spirits writers from around the world; a line up of…
Jack Daniel’s Changes Its Label and Bottle
Heresy? The changes are bigger than you’d think. Here’s the press release, and a before & after photo. I have to say, I think JD fans are going to hate this — mainly over the new bottle design. LYNCHBURG, Tenn., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Jack Daniel Distillery announced today that it is making…
