Review: Old Line Spirits Single Malt Sherry Cask
Only a few months back we sampled Old Line Spirits’ American single malts in two finishes: Port cask and Madeira cask. Now it’s time for a third rendition, which is returning to production after a brief hiatus. This 100% malted barley whiskey is aged for five years in #4 charred new American white oak and…
Review: Armagnacs of Castarede, 2023 Releases
On a busy street in Paris’s 8th Arrondisement, you’ll find the official headquarters of Armagnac Castarede, the oldest Armagnac producer still operating. At the end of my recent Cognac-focused trip to France, I called up the office on a lark, only to find that proprietor Florence Castarede was actually on site and would readily welcome…
Review: Glen Scotia “Malts Festival 2022” 8 Years Old
The Campbeltown Malts Festival is happening this week, so I thought I should get my act together and finally review this festival bottling from last year that’s been staring at me on the shelf ever since I returned from my Scotland escapades late last summer. Once a booming center of whisky production, Campbeltown is now…
Review: Tiger Thiccc Blended Whiskey
Yes, the name of this whiskey is Tiger Thiccc. Yes, with three Cs. To call it unique would be an understatement: It’s a blended whiskey, made from 80% American bourbon (a 99% corn mash from Indiana’s MGP) and 20% Japanese whiskey (55% grain, 45% barley), all finished in a mizunara oak barrel. No age statements…
Tasting Report: Texas Whiskey Festival 2023
It was a warm but overcast day in the Texas Hill Country just a few weeks ago, but an altogether perfect setting for a stroll through Star Hill Ranch to sample the wares of some 35 Texas whiskies at the 6th annual Texas Whiskey Festival. A veritable who’s who of Texas whiskeydom, if there are…
Review: Leinenkugel’s Juicy Peach
You probably know Leinenkugel’s best from their Summer or Grapefruit Shandy, fruited wheat beers that seem to find their way onto every boat, beach, and backyard barbecue this time of year. For 2023, Leinie is adding to their portfolio with another fruit-inspired and highly sessionable brew, Juicy Peach. Despite its summery demeanor, this new beer…
Review: Gran Centenario Cristalino Tequila
The march of Cristalino tequila bottlings continues courtesy of Gran Centenario, which takes anejo and extra anejo tequila, finishes them in Calvados brandy casks, then filters out all the color. It’s a bold approach and it shows in the finished product. The nose is festive and fruity, bold apple cider notes layered with baking spice…
Review: Astral Tequila Reposado and Anejo
We reviewed Astral Tequila last year, but at the time they only had a Blanco expression. Today we try their newly released Reposado and Añejo. As with the earlier release, these tequilas are also distilled from 100% Blue Weber agave drawn from the Lowlands region of Jalisco, Mexico and are made using traditional methods. The…
