Review: Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager
Black Star Lager existed from 1995 to 2003. Now, following a long hiatus, it is back on the market in Montana, San Francisco, and the Pacific Northwest (and, oddly, Virgin Airlines) for fans old and new to rediscover. As the name promises, two types of hops (Bavarian Mittelfrüh and Czech Saaz for you beer wonks)…
Review: Jack Daniel’s Ginger Splash
Jack Daniel’s has several pre-mixed, ready-to-drink cocktails on the market. This one, which promises the classic combination of JD and ginger ale, is its latest. Mind you, this is simply a (naturally) flavored malt beverage (at a mere 5 percent alcohol), but at least it looks the part, with a moderate caramel color on offer.…
Review: Crunk!!! Energy Drink and Energy Stix
We have Drank, why not have Crunk!!! too? While “crunk” is technically a combination of “crazy” and “drunk,” Crunk!!! (yes, three exclamation points) contains no alcohol. It is rather another energy drink loaded with caffeine, inositol, green tea leaf, damiana, licorice, guarana, l-tyrosine, horny goat weed, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, grape seed extract, skull cap, white…
More on Duty Free Shopping
My post “Is Duty Free Ever a Good Deal?” generated a bit of discussion, and quite by coincidence, I just found that this quarter’s Malt Advocate magazine has a lengthy look at duty free (aka “travel retail”) shopping, too. The story can be found here on page 52 (registration required if you view too many…
Review: 2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon
A perennial favorite “splurge” wine, BV’s epically-named Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Private Reserve remains a winner in its 2006 vintage. Amazingly soft for a Napa Cabernet this young, it’s a wine inflected with cocoa powder atop a deep blueberry and raspberry core. It is drinking just about perfectly right now, with a…
Recipe: Chocolate Chile Bohemia Ice Cream
I’m not one to spend hours making ice cream at home, but God this recipe from Mexican beer outfit Bohemia sounds good. Chocolate Chile Bohemia Ice Cream 1 large pasilla negro chile, stemmed, seeded, deveined 1 1/3 cups half-and-half 2 ounces Mexican chocolate, chopped into small pieces 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into ¼-inch pieces…
Review: 2008 Vionta Albarino Rias Baixas
Crisp and alive, this Spanish white (from the north of Spain on the Atlantic coast, directly above Portugal) offers a nice balance of fruit and minerals — not as light as Sauvignon Blanc but not as overpoweringly perfumy as, say, Viognier. Minerality is big to start, and then the berries kick in: apple, some fig,…
Review: Smirnoff Dark Roasted Espresso Vodka and Spiced Root Beer Vodka
A new flavored vodka is not normally cause for celebration or alarm, but kudos to Smirnoff for doing something a bit different. These flavors may have been done before but the alcohol level has not. With its new espresso and root beer renditions, Smirnoff is releasing overproof flavored vodkas that hit a full 100 proof.…
