Review: Absolut Berri Açai Vodka
Rest assured, açai mania is not yet over. Swedish vodka giant Absolut is just now getting into the game with this antioxidant-loaded flavored vodka, just in time, probably, for açai fever to finally run its course. (The future is yumberry, people!) Açai is not exactly known for being a delicious berry on its own, and…
Review: 2006 John Tyler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Bacigalupi Vineyard
A classically styled pinot, John Tyler comes not from the tenth president of our country but rather from a partnership between John Bacigalupi and Tyler Heck. Here they use Bacigalupi fruit to produce a wine with a big strawberry attack, which quickly gives way to earth, meat, and smoke flavors. A leathery finish belies the…
Review: Spiegelau Classics Tall Pilsner Glass
Spiegelau enhances is line of beer glassware with a fourth progeny: A tall pilsner intended for, you guessed it, light pilsner beers. This 12-ounce container is surprisingly thin — almost champagne-flute-like in design, with an indentation near the base and a slowly widening upper section. The look is quite striking, and it’s definitely a conversation…
Review: Gubna Imperial IPA
This seasonal IPA from Colorado-based Oskar Blues Brewery comes only in cans, the product of three malts and one type of hops. The boldly golden beer is full of citrus aroma and bitter hops are instantly hefty on the tongue. But there’s a curious Eastern spice character to the finish — bitter anise, cumin, and…
Review: The Original Honey Brown Lager
Credited as one of the first beers to use honey in its recipe, The Original Honey Brown launched in 1994 by Dundee Brewing Co. but, after the novelty faded, abruptly vanished from the market (the brewer blames an overly high price and packaging changes). Over a decade later, it’s back, with a big sales push,…
Review: Travis Hasse’s Apple Pie and Cherry Pie Liqueurs
Sweet tooths, rejoice. Someone has indeed taken a pie, liquefied it, added a little alcohol, and bottled it for sale. Behold Travis Hasse’s Apple Pie Liqueur and Cherry Pie Liqueur, both of which are absolutely crazy. Travis Hasse’s Apple Pie Liqueur is a hazy gold color. Flavored with apple and cinnamon and a few other…
Review: Four Roses 2010 Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon
Our third single barrel Four Roses review in as many years (see 2008, 2009 here), Four Roses is commemorating its 100th year of operation with this release. Congrats, but we’re the real winners here. With this heady, 110-proof (est.) bourbon, expect a deeper and more sultry Four Roses than you might be accustomed to. Crafted…
Review: Maker’s 46 Bourbon
When people drink bourbon (and they’re not drinking Jack Daniel’s), they turn to Maker’s Mark in droves. Millions of bottles of Maker’s are sold each year, each with the familiar red wax seal. Now Maker’s is finally realizing that there might be something to the idea of additional expressions of its whiskey, and soon it…
