Tasting Report: ZAP Zinfandel Festival 2010
Zinfandel enthusiasts have a… how you say… an interesting reputation. I’m not sure if it’s the mystique of the wine or the generally heavy alcohol content, but Zin fans are unique among the wine enthusiasts of the world. Judging from some of the costumes at this year’s ZAP Zinfandel Festival (men in hula skirts, home-made…
Original Recipe: The Magnificent Bastard
Our friends at Magnificent Bastard announced a contest to create a namesake cocktail for them late last year. After giving it much thought, here’s what I came up with and submitted. I wanted to create something that’s very easy to make, uses relatively common ingredients, and, in keeping with the name of the website, is…
Review: Allday Energy Shot
All day I’ve felt barely awake… so an “energy shot” was probably in order to feel awake enough to make it through the evening. Allday Energy (their spelling) relies on L-Carnitine, L-Arginine, and D-Ribose — three things I’ve never heard of — to pump you up. Presumably lots of caffeine, too. Naturally, that comes at…
Review: Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum 15 (2010)
First produced in Cuba, Matusalem now hails from the Dominican Republic (after a stint in the U.S. — presumably Puerto Rico), but claims to hold fast to its original Cuban recipe dating back to 1872. This is the company’s top-end bottling, aged for 15 years using the solera style of barrel aging (though what exactly…
Recipe: The Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Cocktail
Our friends at BourbonBlog.com came up with this one, to be “unveiled” at la.venue in New York on Saturday, January 30. It is presented here without comment. The Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Cocktail Recipe from BourbonBlog.com’s Stephen Dennison & Tom Fischer Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whiskey Evan Williams Honey Reserve 1 Bottle of Hefeweizen beer Bottle…
Review: Sandeman Tawny Port 20 Years Old (2010)
Here’s a fresh look at this tawny, last reviewed in 2008. A good, old 20 year old tawny port with a ruddy brick-red color, Sandeman’s affordable porto is an easy and accessible entry to the style. Port’s traditional raisin and prune characteristics are present, but they are considerably muted beneath wood notes, smoke, and some…
Review: Don Q Coco Rum and Mojito Rum
Don Q is a huge rum brand from Puerto Rico. It’s now producing three flavored versions, two of which we were fortunate enough to review. Flavorings are natural and the proof level is rock bottom, so drink all you want. Don Q Coco Rum is (obviously) a coconut-flavored rum (aged at least one year). Quite…
Review: 1921 Tequila, Complete Lineup
From the Jalisco highlands, 1921 is a line of 100 percent agave tequilas… plus a tequila liqueur. I tasted them all while trying to figure out what the symbolism of “1921” was… and failed. The line is unusual in that the agave undergoes a double fermentation process, said to offer more smoothness and a wider…
