Review: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 4 (2022)
Ardbeg’s Traigh Bhan release is now in its fourth annual edition — always 19 years old but changing from year to year due to its small batch makeup and ever-evolving selection of casks to choose from. This year’s bottling is matured with a higher proportion of Oloroso Sherry casks, Batch Four is subtly different to…
Review: 2019 Dobbes Pinot Noir Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley
The “Grand Assemblage” in question is a selection of different Oregon vineyards, all prized for the pinot noir grapes that Dobbes Family Estate uses to make this delightful wine. It’s a gorgeous, balanced pinot — notes of graphite and slate lead to a palate that’s infused with brambly blackberry, cola, black tea, and just a…
Review: Citadelle Gin Juniper Decadence
Citadelle’s seasonal releases — like those from Hendrick’s and others — are now arriving at a regular clip. For 2022, Citadelle offers Citadelle Gin Juniper Décadence, which is an overt homage to, of course, the juniper tree. Not only is it made with “a large portion” of its juniper sourced from Coganc, where the distillery…
Review: 2021 Kerrville Hills Trebbiano Pepper Jack Vineyards
This Texas High Plains wine is made from trebbiano grapes, which is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world — but which is primarily associated with Italy. Let’s see what the middle of Texas can do with the increasingly global varietal. What initially starts out as a pleasant, almost innocuous wine soon…
Sonic Enhancement and Masters of Whiskey: An Interview with Blackened’s Rob Dietrich
Rob Dietrich is a busy guy. As Master Distiller & Blender of Blackened — the whiskey brand co-founded by rock supergroup Metallica — he’s involved in almost every aspect of the company’s sourcing, blending, marketing, and even distribution. And while Blackened sources their distillate from other sources, its “Black Noise” aging process adds an additional…
Review: 2018 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone
Maison Guigal makes a wide range of wines in the Rhone Valley. This Cotes du Rhone bottling is one of its most affordable and widely available. Let’s try the latest vintage, 2018. The wine is quite intense — and more so than I was expecting. Classic syrah-forward notes of turned earth and roast meats meld…
Review: Laphroaig Cairdeas Warehouse 1 Edition 2022
For 2022, Laphroaig’s special-edition Cairdeas release eschews fancy finishes and sticks with the tried and true. This release has been exclusively matured in ex-bourbon casks (from Maker’s Mark) and aged in Laphroaig’s Warehouse 1, a historic and iconic building that has stood on Laphroaig’s property for close to 200 years. And that’s the gist. This…
Review: Austin Cocktails Mojito, Ruby Red, and Margarita (2022)
If you can guess where Austin Cocktails is based, we’ll buy you a drink next time you’re in town. You can probably also guess how the brand works: Canned cocktails, slightly fizzy, sweetened with agave and made using real spirits; two servings to an 8 oz. can. All three cocktails in the brand’s lineup are…
