Review: 2019 Palombara Primitivo Di Manduria DOC
Over the last year or so, we have reviewed several primitivos from the Puglia region of Italy, and today we try one more, this one made with grapes drawn exclusively from Lizzano, in the Tarantine Ionian arch. The bottle is attractive, showcasing art by Dino Sambiasi. Let’s dive right in. This is a bold wine…
Review: Kastra Elion Vodka
Kastra Elion is a “premium sipping vodka” made from Greek olives (“and grains”). While produced in Greece, it’s bottled in El Segundo, California. (Update: The brand informs us that bottling has now moved to Greece as well.) The white ceramic bottle, accented with blue paint, makes for a great alternative to the usual etched/frosted glass you’ll…
Review: Bhakta Single Vintage 1982 Armagnac
Entrepreneur and media personality Raj Bhakta built a hallmark whiskey brand by founding WhistlePig, and he’s using his storytelling playbook to grow another — this time eponymous — spirits bottler with Bhakta Spirits. Known for launching with 50+ year old Armagnacs, Bhakta has more recently branched out into both younger brandy blends and single vintage…
Tasting the Wines of Uruguay, 2023 Releases
Uruguay isn’t the first nation that comes to mind when thinking of South American wines, but not too far off in the future, it very well may be. Hot take, I know. However, with the ever-changing climate, a commitment to sustainability, and multi-generational families experimenting and diversifying offerings and varietals, this small nation of 3.4…
Review: Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A123 (January 2023)
The Heaven Hill barrel proof parade doesn’t slow down. It’s a new year, so that means it’s time for a fresh batch of Larceny Barrel Proof, the high-test version of this now-classic wheated bourbon. Racy and brisk on the nose, Larceny A123 sees immediate elements of fresh black pepper, coffee, and a cinnamon note —…
Review: Pursuit United Oak Collection Bourbon and Rye
As the team behind the podcast Bourbon Pursuit releases new bottles under their Pursuit Spirits brand, they’re leaning into flavor territory beyond just blending. For the first bourbon and rye in “The Oak Collection,” founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil have imparted additional wood influence via a variety of oak finishes. As outlined in a…
Review: Tip Top Margarita
If your idea of a proper cocktail is one positively brimming with booze, Tip Top Proper Cocktails has one for you with its ready-to-drink margarita. Made with tequila, orange liqueur, and I can only assume the tiniest squeeze of lime, this stiff drink comes in at a heavy 26% abv, roughly three times the alcohol…
Review: Pokeno New Zealand Single Malt – Origin, Discovery, and Double Bourbon Cask
Whisky from New Zealand is such a rarity that we don’t have a category for it — yet, anyway. Pokeno was founded here only in 2017, with the specific vision of putting New Zealand on the map as a producer of single malt whisky. It is already the largest single malt distillery in the country,…
