Book Review: A Sense of Place: A Journey Around Scotland’s Whisky
On one of my first press jaunts as a doe-eyed, aspiring whisky scribe, I sat on a bus next to Chuck Cowdery, someone whom I regard and respect as a true statesman of the profession to this day. We were discussing Kentucky (I was fairly new to the Commonwealth at the time), and he leaned…
Review: Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky 7 Years Old
Bearface is a relatively new Canadian whisky brand with a somewhat complicated backstory. First, the name, Bearface, comes from the fact that the whisky is said to be aged in “Bear Country.” More specifically, it’s aged in shipping containers located in British Columbia where they do have their fair share of bears, but more importantly,…
Review: Wines of Raeburn, 2022 Releases
Raeburn can be found in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, where it’s turning out unique, interesting, and affordable wines. Let’s look at a pair from the new 2021 vintage and a 2020 chardonnay. 2021 Raeburn Rose Russian River Valley – Extremely pale in color, you could be easily forgiven for assuming this was a standard white…
Review: Buzzard’s Roost Bourbon – Char #1 and Toasted American Oak
We’re back with a fourth round with Buzzard’s Roost, a brand which has only been around for two years but which now has at least 10 expressions of sourced American whiskeys. This time out we look at two bourbons, both MGP stock. Buzzard’s Roost Straight Bourbon Char #1 – 4 years old, from a mash of…
Review: Oldknow Seltzers – Absinthe, Gin, and Vodka
One wouldn’t expect to find a ready-to-drink seltzer made with absinth in the mountains of Georgia, but that’s just what Oldknow Bev Co. has been doing, using its own interpretation of the green fairy — plus versions with gin and vodka — to make a canned, fizzy, ready-to-drink cocktail. Are the masses ready to sip…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Triple Blended Stave Finish and Steve’s Legacy
Bardstown Bourbon Co. continues to hum along with their Discovery and Fusion Series releases, as well as the occasional specialty finish limited editions that round out their standard portfolio (impressive considering how much whiskey they make for everyone else). Clearly adept at multi-tasking, the distillery has also released a handful of even rarer offerings over…
Review: 2019 Anaba Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Sonoma’s Anaba Wines recently opened a new brunch option in its Carneros tasting room, and while we’re now too far away to easily get there to experience it in person, we did sample two new releases from the 2019 vintage, both from the Sonoma Coast AVA. Thoughts follow. 2019 Anaba Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – Oak…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “The Lumberyard Batch” 2022-02
After waiting nearly half of 2022 for the first Booker’s Bourbon release of the year, we didn’t have to sit long for the second. Around a month after “Ronnie’s Batch” comes “The Lumberyard Batch,” the (relatively) rare edition of this whiskey with an age statement exceeding seven years. According to a Beam press release, this…
