A Guided Tour of Shochu from Honkaku Spirits
Christopher Pellegrini is my go-to expert on shochu. He’s lived in Japan for 20 years, has written a book about the spirit, and recently started a company, Honkaku Spirits, to export the stuff to the U.S. As Pellegrini noted during a recent, lively Zoom tasting from Japan, where we tasted 8 of his company’s products,…
Review: Hallmark Christmas Wines, 2022 Releases
It is the most wonderful time of the year for some, and the least wonderful for others: Hallmark Christmas movie season. This Countdown to Christmas in the Hallmark Cinematic Universe (HCU) features many new faces due to major defections to other networks. However, Hallmark still wears the crown, delivering gentle films featuring weird holiday miracles…
Review: 2020 La Posta Tinto Red Blend
A few weeks ago, we reviewed a Pizzella Malbec from Laura Catena’s La Posta line, which showcases the versatility of growers and winemakers around Argentina and provides infrastructure for production and distribution on a large scale. This time, we’re pouring the line’s Uco Valley red blend, a composition of 60% Malbec, 25% Bonarda, and…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Kentucky Tea Batch” 2022-03
After “Ronnie’s Batch” and “The Lumberyard Batch” dropped earlier this year, Booker’s Bourbon is back with 2022’s third expression: Kentucky Tea. As with all contemporary Booker’s releases, this one is named for a person, place, or concept near and dear to the Noe family, eighth generation descendants of Jim Beam and Master Distillers at his…
Review: King Estate 2021 Sauvignon Blanc and 2021 Pinot Noir
Two recent offerings from Oregon radio pioneers-turned-wine-impresarios, the King Family. 2021 King Estate Sauvignon Blanc – Bright notes of melon and lemon are dominant throughout. Light lime and a touch of spice show up on the palate, along with some very light minerality. The acidity on the finish dominates the discussion and mutes the more…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Fusion Series #8 and #9
It is the end of an era for Bardstown Bourbon Co. With the release of Fusion Series #8 in September and #9 this fall, the state-of-the-art Kentucky distillery is sunsetting this long-running line. While BBCo. has numerous expressions in its stable, the Fusion Series alone has showcased its young, house-distilled bourbons (along with a healthy…
Review: Broken Barrel Americana Whiskey
Fast on the heels of Drinkhacker’s review of its “four core releases” along with other expressions earlier this year, Broken Barrel has recently released Americana, the latest addition to the core lineup. True to the experimental path they’ve carved for themselves, Americana showcases a particular novelty in their process, which is best shared in their…
Review: Sierra Nevada Cryo Fresh Torpedo and Celebration Fresh Hop IPA (2022)
Two new releases from California’s Sierra Nevada — a no-longer-experimental IPA, new to the market, and a seasonal essential. Let’s go! Sierra Nevada Cryo Fresh Torpedo Wet Hop IPA – This IPA is made by flash freezing wet hops at harvest, thus perfectly (presumably) preserving them for the time when they’re used to make beer.…
