Review: Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt
Port Charlotte’s latest vintage Islay Barley release — made entirely from heavily peated barley grown on the island — has arrived. It’s our first look at the bottling since the delightful 2012 expression, and as is customary for the release, the aging regimen has taken a few twists and turns. Peated to 40 PPM, its…
Review: 2020 Chateau La Grande Roche Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
The name sounds decidedly French, but this is actually a 100% estate-grown bottling produced by Forman, whose blue chip cabernet we recently covered. A more effusive, fruit-forward wine than Forman’s flagship, yet ultimately more simplistic, Chateau La Grande Roche cabernet features initial, bright notes of plum and currants, tempered by some acidic, slightly bitter grapefruit…
Blending Whiskey Traditions: An Interview with Keeper’s Heart’s David Perkins
I probably don’t need to tell you who David Perkins is, but here goes. A true craft whiskey pioneer, he founded High West Distillery in Park City, Utah way back in 2006, practically an eternity ago in the craft distilling world. Over the course of ten years, he built High West into one of the…
The Top 10 Whiskeys of All Time (According to ChatGPT)
For better or worse, one thing folks agree upon is that the future of publishing will be influenced by the use of artificial intelligence and software such as ChatGPT. But just how good is it at developing a list of the greatest whiskeys of all time, and then reviewing them? We (Rob and Chris) took…
Review: Ramon Bilbao Riojas – 2016 Reserva and 2014 Gran Reserva
It’s hard to believe but the last time we spent time with Ramon Bilbao was 13 years ago, where winemaker Rodolfo Bastida hosted us in what is now a certainly defunct San Francisco restaurant where a good portion of the collection was on display. Today our aim is a bit more focused, looking at two…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series: Foursquare
Once upon a time – June 2022, to be specific – Bardstown Bourbon Company released a Plantation Rum finished bourbon to much fanfare. Now for the latest entry in its Collaborative Series the company is back with a new rum finished whiskey, this time blending 9 year old rye with 17 year old bourbon before…
Review: WhistlePig SummerStock Whiskey
There are boozy collaborations — beer company partners with cooler company, that kind of thing — and then there are boozy collaborations like this one. For its latest SummerStock release, WhistlePig is joining forces with Pit Viper, an outdoor sports and lifestyle eyewear brand best known for its ’80s-inspired sunglasses. This new release — a…
Review: 2021 Raeburn Cabernet Sauvignon
Raeburn Winery is nestled in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, where it’s making a habit of delivering affordable wines at a level of quality above suggested price points. The vineyard’s inaugural Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception to firmly established trends. Constructed from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petite Verdot, and 9.5% Syrah and aged 12 months in…
