Review: Epic Western La Paloma, Chispa Rita, and Ranch Water
Epic Western is situated just a few miles from my home in Austin, where it produces a trilogy of Texas-themed canned cocktails, all made with 100% agave tequila, sparkling water, and — as you’ll soon see — salt. Ready to give them a taste? Let’s crack open some cans and dive in. All are served…
Review: 2018 Knostman Malbec
Oregon’s Umpqua Valley isn’t exactly an immediate selection one thinks of when discussing West Coast wines, but a quick search on the Umpqua Valley Winegrowers site reveals nearly two dozen wineries in operation, with more on the way. This malbec comes from the Knostman Family Vineyard, an up-and-coming operation with plenty of varietals from which…
Review: Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon – Limited Edition (2022)
Every year, Angel’s Envy drops a barrel proof version of its iconic Port-finished bourbon, and while the proof changes slightly from one year to the next, the overall through-line doesn’t vary all that much. 2022’s release is no surprise, its burgundy-hued color a treat for the eyes, before you ever dip into it. Big and fiery…
Review: 2020 La Posta Pizzella Malbec
Laura Catena is busy enough racking up award after award for her family’s flagship Catena lines that one would think between co-authoring one of the best books on Malbec, running the day-to-day operations of the family business, running a medical clinic, and releasing new high-altitude variations on malbec that she would have enough on her…
Review: GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 11 28 Years Old
GlenDronach’s Grandeur releases keep hitting the market, with Batch 11 one of the oldest it’s ever dropped. The 28 year old bottling is, like Batch 10, drawn from a small number of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks in which the whisky has been fully matured, not finished. There’s quite a similarity between this release and…
Review: Michter’s US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Whiskey 2022
Michter’s devotees may have thought that the only limited release they had to look forward to in 2022 was the 10-year-old Single Barrel Rye, but this fall the distillery brought back their US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Whiskey giving fans one more unicorn to chase. I can almost hear the enthusiastic jingling of car…
Review: 2019 Comboio do Vesuvio Douro
Portugal’s Douro is know for being the home of Port wines, but a number of still wines are also produced here, including this bottling, made on the estates of Port producer Quinta do Vesuvio. It’s blended from four Portuguese grapes: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca. Rich with currants and plums, almost…
Review: Tequila Don Julio Ultima Reserva
Don Julio dropped two luxe expressions this year, culmination with a rerelease of Don Julio Ultima Reserva, its top-end bottling which was originally released in 2021. We missed round one but were excited to see a second small release of this 36-month old extra anejo hit the market in time for the 2022 holiday season.…
