Review: Hakata Whiskey 10, 12, 16, and 18 Years Old
Hikari Distillery has been around in Fukuoka, Japan since 1912, but its Hakata Whiskey brand is new to U.S. shores, a 100% single malt which has been partially fermented with koji mold, adding umami flavors to the distillate. All four expressions of Hakata are aged in sherry casks in a combination of traditional warehouses and…
Review: Old Crow Bourbon
Get ten bucks to put toward a bottle of whiskey — or perhaps a whole liter of the stuff? Why, Old Crow’s been dominating the bottom shelf for nearly two centuries since Dr. James Crow introduced the world to his medicine, and it doesn’t look like the price has shifted more than a few nickels…
Review: 2021 Sebastiani Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast
Two affordable wine options from Sonoma’s Sebastiani recently dropped. Let’s give them a try. 2021 Sebastiani Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley – A surprisingly tropical expression of sauvignon blanc from Sebastiani, pineapple and coconut notes melding with a strong note of lime leaf. Acidic but backed up by plenty of fruit, this is a far cry…
Review: Blood Oath Bourbon Whiskey Pact 9 2023
The Blood Oaths keep coming, and nine years in, the operation from Lux Row Distillers returns to that old standby Oloroso sherry casks to add a little salt and pepper to the experience. As with other Blood Oath bottlings, this is a blend of bourbons, including a 16-year ryed bourbon, a 12-year ryed bourbon, and finally…
Review: The Balvenie French Oak 16 Years Old
When The Balvenie dropped its new French Oak release, I immediately assumed that the term implied new French oak was used in the aging process. Not so. What The Balvenie has done is finish a 16 year old whisky in wine casks that held the rarely seen Pineau des Charentes, which is a sort-of wine that…
Review: Firestone Walker 805
Chris already gave you his two cents on 805 Cerveza, a Mexican-style lager with a hint of lime from the cool dudes at Firestone Walker. Now, we’re finally getting around to the 805 flagship, simply dubbed 805. It’s a blonde ale made for the laid back California lifestyle or so the marketing goes. Marketing aside,…
Review: Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur with Cognac (2023)
We’ve written about Belle de Brillet twice before, first as a standard Poire Williams and more recently as a “Pear & Cognac Liqueur.” Now owner Rémy Cointreau has reformulated and relaunched the brand once again, billing it as a “Pear Liqueur with Cognac.” Reportedly revamped “from bottle to liquid,” it is currently a blend of…
Review: 2019 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Founded in 1983, this Saint Helena-based operation makes classic, Napa-style chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, and it’s the 2019 vintage of its cab to which we turn our attention presently. Built with ample legs upon which to stand, this cab leans on an iconically Napa-fueled backbone melding tar and currants, balancing this all out by notes…
