Review: Lawson’s Finest Liquids Big Hoppy
Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids recently released its first black IPA, Big Poppy, which is made with five hop varieties and seven malts — all of them apparently well-roasted into dankness. Black IPAs can be a curious undertaking, and this beer is no exception. Heavily blackened with notes of coffee grounds and burnt toast, it at…
The Willy Wonka of Whisky: An Interview with Dr. Bill Lumsden (Part 1)
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, is one of the most recognized names in the wide world of single malt Scotch — and for very good reason. In a career spanning nearly 40 years in the industry, he is known as the Willy Wonka of whisky for his seemingly inexhaustible…
Review: Deschutes Brewery Farmstand Fresh Mango IPA
Bravo, Cashmere, and Mosaic hops… and fresh mango(!), all in a single IPA from Deschutes. The mango here isn’t overblown, adding a light tropicality to a straightforward burst of orange-fueled citrus, piney bitterness, and layers of modest sweetness. Increasingly bitter on the finish, the mango manages to eventually muscle its way into the picture, but…
Review: Keeper’s Heart Whiskeys – Irish + American Whiskey and Irish + Bourbon
What do you get when you combine a pioneer of the American craft distilling movement with a revered Irish whiskey Master Distiller? Apparently, the answer is Keeper’s Heart Whiskey. Inspired by the Irish-American heritage of the O’Shaughnessy family, Keeper’s Heart bills itself as a marriage of the best Irish and American whiskey-making traditions, and while…
Review: 2009 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro
2009 is the current vintage of this luxe Chianti Classico (aka “Gold”) from Italian giant Ruffino, which is made only during “outstanding” vintages largely from estate fruit — although 2009 was not considered a stellar year for Tuscany. Either way, this was clearly bottled and released at just the right point. Pretty notes of cherry…
Review: Old Parr Blended Scotch Whisky 18 Years Old
Grand Old Parr isn’t a brand that we’ve seen a lot of stateside and nothing, until recently, beyond the flagship 12 year old blend. Its substantial popularity in Latin America inspired Diageo to bring more of the stuff north to our fair shores earlier this year, including this bottle, the portfolio’s venerable 18-year-old offering. Per…
Review: 2019 Bryn Mawr Pinot Noir Estate Eola-Amity Hills
We’re back with a fresh look at Bryn Mawr’s Willamette Valley-based pinot noir, grown on the winery’s estate in the Eola-Amity Hills region. It’s something of a bruiser for the brand, a bit bigger than the 2018 release we reviewed in January in every way. Weighty notes of turned earth and some oxidized fruit give…
Drinkhacker 2022 Wine Cheat Sheet / Vintage Chart
October is here, and it’s time for the annual update to our wine-centric “Vintage Chart Cheat Sheet.” The concept is simple: Refer to this handy document to learn, in the broadest of strokes, whether a vintage of wine from a given region is worth a gamble on. The sheet is designed to be printed out…
