Review: The Dalmore 21 Years Old
Recently, The Dalmore quietly released a new expression with understandably little fanfare. This special edition is limited to just 1000 bottles in the U.S., a 21 year old single malt that has been finished in “hand-selected 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks, unique to The Dalmore” after an initial maturation in bourbon barrels. We…
Review: 2021 Justin Rose Central Coast
We’re back for another round with Justin Rose, a Paso Robles-adjacent wine that is again composed mostly from syrah but who knows what else. It’s a friendly, floral-forward wine — departing from the house style which tends to be heavier on red berries — with stronger acidity than I recall from the wine, giving it…
Review: Mijenta Tequila Anejo
The trilogy is finally complete as we look at the last expression in the Mijenta tequila lineup, following its blanco and reposado. It’s a complex spirit (from a newly minted B Corp), so let’s dig into the details: Mijenta Añejo Gran Reserva is an eighteen-month aged expression of the brand’s award-winning, sustainable, and artisanal Mijenta Blanco.…
Review: Buzzbox Tequila Paloma
We reviewed Buzzbox’s Perfect Margarita earlier this year, and today we are trying their Tequila Paloma. I was happy to see that they have changed the shape of the cocktail box so that it no longer resembles a children’s juice box, but it is still eco-friendly and recyclable (including the cap, which is plant-based). There…
Review: 10th Street Single Malt Peated Wine Cask Finished
San Jose, California’s 10th Street Single Malt is back with another peated expression — this one finished in French oak pinot noir casks from a northern California winery. (Initial aging is in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, not new oak.) Each year 10th Street releases a different wine cask release. This is our first encounter with those…
Review: Le Mone Meyer Lemon Aperitif Wine
An aperitif is technically any alcoholic beverage designed to stimulate the appetite before a meal. Which brings us to Le Moné, a new line of wine aperitifs with “no secrets” on their limited ingredients which comprise Meyer lemon (in the form of California lemon peel), dry New York farm white wine, California brandy, and 100%…
Review: Casa Del Sol Tequila – Blanco and Reposado
Celebrity owned tequilas have become pretty common in recent years with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson representing Teremana, George Clooney representing Casamigos (though he has since sold it), AC/DC representing Thunderstruck, and many more. Well, here come another: Casa Del Sol tequila is co-owned by actress Eva Longoria of daytime soap opera and Desperate Housewives fame.…
Review: 2019 DuMol Pinot Noir DuMol Estate Vineyard
This blue chip Russian River pinot noir offers all the hallmarks of the region: Dense, black cherry at the core, well-extracted, then cola and a pinch of pepper. The intensity can be daunting at times, bordering on jammy if you’re enjoying this on its own. A slight chill and pairing with a meal give this…
