Review: Lost Lantern Single Distillery Series Spring 2023 Releases
Lost Lantern has quickly built a reputation as an American independent bottler not afraid to take big swings and put bold flavors front and center. The Vermont-based founding team has thus far released an American vatted malt and dozens of single cask expressions. One of their new and ongoing initiatives is the single distillery series.…
Review: 2019 San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Carmenere
To think of Chilean red wine is to think of Carménère, one of the country’s most popular, if not the preeminent grape used in the nation’s winemaking enterprise. Originally indigenous to Bordeaux, the varietal has thrived internationally since the late 19th century and is used with little frequency in its country of origin. Thankfully, Chile…
Review: Tamdhu 12 and 15 Years Old
Following a brief closure from 2010 to 2013, Tamdhu has been working its way back into the Scotch scene, offering a variety of Speyside single malts often crafted with a heavy sherry influence. We covered Tamdhu 10 Years Old way back in 2014 (and various special editions since) and are now moving up the permanent…
Review: Santo Tequila Blanco, Reposado, and 110 Blanco
Santo was launched by rocker Sammy Hagar and foody Guy Fieri in 2019 as a blend of tequila and mezcal. While the celebrity backing may raise eyebrows, it’s been a success, and the brand has since extended into various straight tequila expressions. These tequilas hail from El Viejito Distillery and is made with no additives…
Book Review: Backcountry Cocktails: Civilized Drinks for Wild Places
I am generally not one for an adventurous life in the great outdoors. When discussing the splendid pursuits of natural environments with someone evangelical about its numerous benefits, I often reach for Frank Zappa’s quote: “Outdoors for me is walking from the car to the ticket desk at the airport.” Folks will either sail right…
Review: Smokehead Original and High Voltage
If you’re of the opinion that Scotch is a tipple for the refined and genteel, then you haven’t been introduced to Smokehead. The heavy metal-themed brand, which encourages its drinkers to “smoke tradition,” is produced by Ian Macleod Distillers, makers of more polite single malts like Glengoyne, Tamdhu, and Rosebank. But unlike those dignified brands…
Review: Remy Martin Club
I picked up this bottling during my recent trip to Cognac, as it’s normally an Asia-only exclusive that I’d never even heard of before. (You can track it down stateside if you try, though.) A blend of 70% Grande Champagne and 30% Petite Champagne eaux de vie, aging extends for to up to 20 years.…
Book Review: The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts
Switching from 2022’s remarkable volume on doctors and distillation, Camper English sets his sites on writing the ultimate book about one of his passions: ice. Readers of his long-running site Alcademics know this to be one of his biggest areas of study, and The Ice Book takes some of the ideas found in some of…
