Now That’s a Healthy Drink
Consumerist alerts us that paying attention to labels isn’t such a bad idea: Of all the ridiculous Acai schemes we’ve seen involving overpriced miracle elixirs, Snapple wins hands down — their Acai Blackberry drink is high fructose corn syrup, pear juice, and “natural flavors.” Water and corn syrup? Great! Basically, not much healthier than drinking…
Review: Sea Wynde Rum
Surprisingly light in color, Sea Wynde hails from both Jamaica and Guyana (it’s blended from five pot stills located in those two countries) and packs far more flavor than you’d think from such a The aroma is very sweet — and quite intoxicating — but it lacks focus on the palate. The sweetness is at…
Tasting Report: 2004 Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello — the crown prince of Tuscan wine — is coming off some rough times. Earlier this year the region, located right in the heart of Tuscany, found itself under attack. Why? Some producers were allegedly violating Italian law and bottling other wines than Brunello di Montalcino (which, by law, has to be 100% sangiovese),…
Esquire’s Best Cheap Booze
I expect to see lots of recession-minded lifestyle coverage in the upcoming months. Esquire magazine doesn’t disappoint with this roundup of the best cheap spirits — stuff that’s affordable but which you wouldn’t mind actually serving to guests. The winners: Paul Masson Grande Amber VSOP brandy, Brugal Anejo rum, White Horse Scotch, Gordon’s gin, and…
Review: Zwack Liqueur
Zwack is wack! Sorry, had to do it. It won’t happen again. Zwack is a Hungarian company that produces amaro-like digestif bitters, dark brown liqueurs flavored with dozens of herbs and aged in oak. For years, Zwack produced only a spirit called Unicum, which is said to be so insanely popular in Hungary that they…
Review: 2004 St. Supery Élu
St. Supery’s most prized wine, Élu, arrives this season in its 2004 incarnation. We got our hands on a bottle — marketed as a perfect Valentine’s Day bottle (trust us, she ain’t worth it!) — to put to the test. A classic Bordeaux blend, the 2004 Élu is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 8% Cabernet…
Review: Noah’s Mill Bourbon
Another entry from the Kentucky Bourbon Distillers consortium, Noah’s Mil is a standout from this bottling group. Produced in small batches, it arrives in the bottle at a downright sweltering 114.3 proof, and sipping without water makes one positively sweat. Add a touch of water to the amazingly dark, toffee-brown bourbon and you get something…
Review: Clontarf Classic Blend Irish Whiskey (2009)
Named after a famous battle in Ireland (the one in which King Boru, another bit of history that’s become a liquor brand, died), Clontarf produces two Irish whiskeys, a blend and a single malt. Here’s the blend, which is a perfectly acceptable Irish, a light honey and butterscotch spirit that goes down with minimal fuss.…
