Review: Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old Batch 1 and 10 Years Old Batch 2 (2023)
Two years ago Jack Jack Daniel’s released its first age-statemented whiskey in a century — Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old — and now it’s back with a second batch, plus a friend. Today we check out JD 10 Batch 2 as well as the first batch of an older sibling, Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old.…
Review: Wines of Opolo, 2023 Releases
Opolo is a long-time friend of Drinkhacker, turning out a tight range of zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon-focused wines from the Paso Robles area. Today we dig into three new releases from the winery, two zins and a cab. 2021 Opolo Zinfandel Summit Creek – The classic zinfandel recipe has been followed to a T here,…
Review: Buzzard’s Roost Smoked Barrel Straight Rye
Buzzard’s Roost continues to pump out new whiskeys, this latest one a sourced rye made from 95% rye and 5% malted barley, aged four years, then finished in new American oak barrels that were toasted and then lightly smoked. It’s not my favorite expression from the brand, the heavy spice and grassiness of the rye…
Review: Knob Creek Rye 7 Years Old (2023)
It’s been over a decade since we last reviewed Knob Creek’s flagship rye whiskey, and there’s ample reason to revisit it now. As of March 2023, the previously non-age stated rye now carries a seven year age statement, the first since its national launch in 2012. That’s a noticeable change for a widely available and…
Review: 2020 Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve
No surprises here from this iconic name in California wine: This is an expressive Napa chardonnay, with a bold emphasis on vanilla and brown butter. Notes of lemon curd quickly take hold and give the experience a citrus-fueled sweetness, though toasty oak and vanilla custard quickly come back into focus, taking over. It’s a bit…
Review: Lost Lantern Spring 2023 Single Cask Releases
Indie bottler Lost Lantern continues its focus on unique American craft whiskeys with its latest single cask collection. The four bottlings comprising the Spring 2023 cohort feature some of their oldest offerings yet from the likes of Westland, Watershed, and Corbin Cash, all bottled without filtration and at cask strength. A bit about this bunch…
Review: Le Portteus Red Wine Decanter
Every wine lover needs a decanter on hand for the occasional aeration task. Not every decanter needs to cost a fortune. A pint glass will even work in a pinch if you need to get some air into your wine and remove sediment. Understandably, many wine drinkers look for a little elegance when decanting wine:…
Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 34
There have been so many Barrell batches over the years of such reliable quality that bourbon lovers can be forgiven for becoming a bit bored by them. Don’t get me wrong. I mean that as a compliment. Few brands have achieved that kind of consistency with such a truly small batch product. So much so,…
