Review: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Tequila Cristalino
Cuervo’s Tradicional tequila line has long been an affordable way to get 100% agave tequila from a familiar brand, and while it started with a blanco, Cuervo’s been moving up the agave chain, offering a reposado, anejo, and now a cristalino version. This expression is actually built around a reposado, “matured in American white oak…
Review: Wines of Ancient Peaks, 2023 Releases
Today we’re heading back into the wines of Paso Robles’ Ancient Peaks, including a look at three big reds, all made from estate fruit at Santa Margarita Ranch vineyards. A peek at Ancient Peaks’ second label is also in the mix. Read on for more. 2022 Ancient Peaks Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles – I would…
Review: Journeyman Corsets, Whips and Whiskey and Pit-Spitter Cherry Rye
It’s been a hot minute since we last checked in on Michigan’s Journeyman Distillery. Now we’re back with a look at two humorously named expressions, one a wheat whiskey and the other a flavored rye whiskey. Thoughts follow. Journeyman Corsets, Whips & Whiskey – A single distillation of 100% organic Michigan wheat bottled at cask…
Review: 2020 Etude Pinot Gris Carneros
While it’s somewhat surprising to see a 2020 pinot gris hitting the market in 2023, we won’t turn our noses up at the idea. Let’s try Etude’s latest. Fruity and floral in equal proportions, this is a classically built pinot gris, showcasing notes of honeysuckle, fresh linens, and lots of sweet-and-sour lemon curd. A porch…
Review: Sagamore Spirit Rye 8 Years Old (2023)
For their Spring 2023 Reserve Series release, Sagamore Spirit is bringing back a well-received and well-aged rye that originally debuted in 2021 with limited distribution. While some of the distillery’s core products, like the Bottled in Bond, have been made with entirely house-distilled spirit, this 8-year-old rye is a product of the Baltimore distillery’s earlier,…
Review: Black Irish Cream Liqueur
I was ready to dismiss the celebribranding of this new liqueur outright, but did you know Mariah Carey has both Irish and Black heritage, making her the epitome of modern Black Irishness? Let’s give the megastar a tip o’ the tam o’ shanter and see if this Irish cream will be all they want for…
The Top 10 Wines for Summer 2023
Ice storms and blizzards are so yesterday. Literally. Now we’re girding ourselves for the firestorms, floods, and mudslides that we are reasonably sure will be making headlines in the months to come. At least we’ll be well-lubricated along the way, thanks to these 10 dazzling wines that are sure to please palates come bbq season…
Review: NV French Blue Cremant de Bordeaux Brut and Brut Rose
Fairly new to the scene, French Blue was started by American winemaker Stephanie Rivin who set out to make Bordeaux wines that would appeal to American drinkers. She started with a rosé and then added a sauvignon blanc and a red blend. Today we are trying the newest additions to the French Blue portfolio: two…
