Review: The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Years Old
A few months ago I had the opportunity to try The Balvenie’s newest expression — a 17 year old single malt finished in Madeira casks — before its formal release. But that was a mere taste in the grand scheme of things. Lately I’ve been sampling it again to form a more fully fleshed-out opinion…
Review: Laphroaig 18 Years Old
This year, Laphroaig bids farewell to its 15 year old Scotch and replaces it with one of slightly higher maturity (and perhaps a bit more coin): Laphroaig 18 Years Old. It’s quite an interesting malt from the Islay-based distiller, more mature and refined than the younger Laphroaig, which is invariably so heavy on the peat…
Review: Van Gogh Wild Appel Vodka
There are a lot of ways to get apple character into a cocktail — Calvados, apple juice, even Apple Pucker, God help you — and now Van Gogh adds “wild” apple to its lineup of flavored vodkas. Truth be told this isn’t my favorite entry into the otherwise top-notch Van Gogh arsenal. The aroma and…
Review: 2008 Dr. Peter Poontinger Riesling
When launched, the ad for this new German import will read, “A Great White Win Named Poontinger? Believe It.” And there is a picture of a Jackalope. Apparently Poontinger is a play on the German version of the mythical creature. Serious wine? No, not really. It’s a $10 wine designed for restaurants to sell by…
Review: Bache-Gabrielsen XO Natur & Eleganse Cognac
From the maker of one of my most treasured spirits of the year comes Natur & Eleganse, a cognac aged at least 10 years in oak casks. What’s immediately surprising is how this spirit, deep amber in the bottle, is a pale gold when poured into a glass. The oddities don’t stop there, though. The…
Classic Recipe: Pegu Club Cocktail
Ted Haigh reminds us in Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails that there’s a reason why the Pegu Club in New York has its name. Pegu Club Cocktail 1 1/2 oz. gin 1/2 oz. Cointreau 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice 2 dashes Angostura bitters Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Goes down a…
Review: Fever Stimulation Beverages
Tonight you’ll be consuming vast quantities of alcohol (remember one for your homies at Drinkhacker, y’all), so what better way to prep for the festivities than by downing something to up the level of your game. That’s the theory, anyway, of Fever, which aims to “Make Healthy Sexy,” with its collection of herbal, non-carbonated beverages…
Review: Vermont Spirits Limited Release Vodka
Vermont Spirits already makes two vodkas with the strangest source material around — milk sugar and maple sap — and now it’s gone the “limited edition” route. Vermont’s Limited Release Vodka is also made of maple sap, but only the “early run sap,” the first flows of the “sugaring” season when sap is drawn from…
