Review: Nocheluna Sotol
Sotol — made from various species of the Dasylirion plant instead of agave — is on the rise in the U.S. — as well as in Mexico, where it originated in the state of Chihuahua. Nocheluna is the OG version of the stuff, hailing from Chihuahua and made by fourth generation Maestro Vinatero Don Eduardo…
Review: Ferrari-Carano 2019 Tre Terre and 2018 Tresor
It’s been a while since we’ve spent time with Sonoma County’s Ferrari-Carano, and today we take a fresh look at two of its most classic wine expressions, a bold chardonnay and F-C’s classic Bordeaux blend. 2019 Ferrari-Carano Tre Terre Chardonnay Russian River Valley – Creamy, vanilla-laced, and lemon-fueled, this tastes like it could be a…
Review: Diageo Orphan Barrel Project Muckety-Muck Single Grain Scotch 26 Years Old
It’s time for the third and final edition of Muckety-Muck, the well-aged single grain Scotch whisky in Diageo’s Orphan Barrel Project. What started at 24 years old and then hit 25 is now retiring at the ripe old age of 26. As with its forebears, this is old Port Dundas, bottled with a pig and tartan…
Review: 2021 Sandro de Bruno Lessini Durello 36 Mesi Dosaggio Zero
This Italian sparkling wine made with 100% durrella grapes is crafted in the “metodo classico,” which is the Italian term for Méthode Champenoise, in which secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle. It spent 36 months on the lees and has zero dosage, which means it has no residual sugar. Quite distinctive, let’s pour a…
Review: Bowmore Masters’ Selection 22 Years Old Aston Martin Edition
Bowmore’s latest limited edition release is a celebration of its partnership with automaker Aston Martin. This 22 year old bottling comes in two parts, distilled in 1997 and 2000, and aged in American oak hogsheads and sherry butts, respectively, which makes the oldest whiskey in this bottle a full quarter century in age. We received…
Review: Linden Leaf Organic Molecular Vodka and Gin
“Molecular” always scares me when I see it on a spirits product, as it usually implies “chemicals” instead of actual craftsmanship. With Linden Leaf, “molecular” appears to mean something a bit different, as the company was founded by three Cambridge, UK-based scientists who are creating “spirits on a molecular level, actually using their science background…
Review: Kuiper Belt Dry Gin
I can tell you precious little about Kuiper Belt Dry Gin; although it notes having 8 botanicals on the label, I don’t know anything about them. It’s made by a rapper named E-40, and it’s billed as “atmospheric” — though its celebration of the icy Kuiper Belt in the outer solar system is well outside…
Review: Three 2021 Dutton Estate Chardonnays
Our friends at Dutton Estate have delivered three new chardonnays for the spring 2023 season, all hailing from various sources near their Russian River Valley estate operation and harvested in 2021. Let’s dive in. 2021 Dutton Estate Chardonnay Kyndall’s Reserve – Tasted twice; first bottle was mildly corked. The second showcased classic Sonoma chardonnay elements,…
