Review: Wines of Donnafugata, 2024 Releases
On the tiny Mediterranean island of Pantelleria you’ll find Donnafugata, a winery whose coverage here dates back, believe it or not, to day one of Drinkhacker’s existence. We’ve kept up with Donnafugata in the 17 years since that post, and with this roundup we look at three new releases — which now feature lighter, recycled…
Shaken & Stirred: A Holiday Gift Guide for Cocktail Book Enthusiasts
Cocktail books are a fantastic gift for anyone who loves mixing drinks. They’re packed with fun recipes, from the classics to more adventurous creations, so there’s always something to try out. Plus, many of these books share interesting stories about the drinks and their origins, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment. As readers dive…
Review: Lallier NV Blanc de Blancs Brut and Reflexion R.019
Lallier makes a wide range of Champagnes in the Aÿ region of France, including vintage offering, non-vintage standards, and the Réflexion series, now in its 10th year, which “is a deep reflection of a specific annual harvest” — though the underlying wine is actually a blend of multiple vintages. NV Lallier Blanc de Blancs Brut…
Review: Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish
Woodford Reserve is now on its 20th edition of the Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection. (The series got started in 2007, but some recent years have seen double releases.) While Woodford is no stranger to wine casks, for this milestone, master distiller Elizabeth McCall has turned to something different: A finish in Madeira casks, which can…
Review: 2022 Charles Krug Merlot Napa Valley
Merlot is back, baby — thanks to Charles Krug (and others, I’m sure). Pro tip: Give this wine a solid half-hour of air time — or decant — before tucking in. Initially rather closed off and slightly green, the merlot’s less effusive elements blow off with a bit of time, and the wine finally comes…
Review: Jeptha Creed Red, White & Blue Bourbon
Jeptha Creed is a Kentucky craft distillery owned by mother-daughter team Joyce and Autumn Nethery. We previously tried their 6-year-old Wheated Bourbon, which was impressive: complex yet balanced. Today we take a crack at their newest offering: Red, White & Blue Straight Bourbon. There are two reasons for the bourbon’s patriotic name. The first is…
Review: Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond Spring 2020 Vintage
Tennessee’s Chattanooga Whiskey cranks out its bottled-in-bond releases twice each year, to the point where it’s getting hard for us to keep up with them (though this “Spring” release only hit the market in October). It’s the 7th bonded Chattanooga and, as with its prior releases, it’s a wholly different construction from those that have…
Review: Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbons – High Rye 7 Years Old and 13 Years Old (2024)
Here’s an unexpected arrival: A new version of the classic Baker’s Bourbon 7 Years Old, made with a high rye recipe. It’s distinguished from rack Baker’s 7 only by the inclusion of “High Rye Bourbon” on the label. It is, oddly, “a new expression that pays homage to Baker’s trucking business, where he delivered grains…
