Review: Montelobos Mezcal Joven – Ensamble and Pechuga
Last time we checked in with Montelobos, the company’s offerings centered around two hallmark expressions, namely their tobala and espadin. In the past year, the Campari-owned brand has expanded with two more (and quite different) expressions: an ensamble and pechuga. The ensamble blend originates in Puebla and is primarily made using papalote agave and “complemented…
Review: Russell’s Reserve Bourbon Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson C (2022)
You’ve had single barrel whiskey, but what about single rickhouse? Whiskey that may not have been produced at the same time, but which has all been matured in the same building. It’s kind of a genius idea, and it’s the basis for a new series of whiskeys from Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve. The new Single Rickhouse…
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…
