Review: 2021 Field Recordings Freddo Sangiovese Paso Robles
Paso Robles-based Field Recordings recently dropped this 100% sangiovese, fancifully named Freddo after, well, who knows. It’s a lively and immediately approachable wine, with just a touch of frizzante on the tip of the tongue. Bright cherry notes up front are tempered by elements of mint, ginger, and then a sprinkle of turned earth, that…
Review: Blood Oath Bourbon Whiskey Pact 8 2022
Blood Oath #8 is upon us, and as always the “pact” continues to evolve. This year’s version starts with a 14-year ryed bourbon and an 11-year ryed bourbon, then they blend in the twist: an 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks. I like this whiskey quite a bit. While apple brandy can have a…
Review: Dutcher Crossing 2019 Bacigalupi Chardonnay and 2018 Brothers’ Reserve Zinfandel
Another pair of wines from our friends at Dutcher Crossing, who’ve been on a tear lately. 2019 Dutcher Crossing Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard – Bold and aggressively oaked, this classic California chardonnay is long on vanilla and extracted oak notes, becoming slightly green as it develops in the glass. A healthy squeeze of lemon brightens up…
Review: Crown Royal Extra Rare 18 Years Old
Crown Royal takes a break from its Noble Collection with this new release, an 18 year old whisky dubbed Extra Rare. The whisky is billed as “an exquisite blend of three of the brand’s most exceptional whiskies” — but beyond that, details are scarce. The softness endemic to Canadian whisky is amply present here, a…
Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 33
Barrell is back with yet another bourbon batch. It’s number 33, for those counting the rings on this dependable old tree. Once again, this is a blend of bourbons sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, with the slight distinction that it’s a younger batch than previous releases. You have to go all the way back…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Discovery Series #8 and #9
Bardstown Bourbon Co. traditionally releases new editions of its Fusion and Discovery Series together. This summer, things have been switched up a bit. Instead of one of each, we’re getting two Discovery Series bottlings — editions #8 and #9. These blends are quite different, including a stave-finished offering and a whiskey whose biggest component hails…
Review: Barrell Gray Label Dovetail
For those thinking the launch of the Stellum whiskey line in 2021 would mark a more wallet-friendly turn for Barrell Craft Spirits, the company put that idea to bed with a coinciding move way up-market in the form of new Gold Label and Gray Label releases. While we’ve only yet seen a Gold Label Bourbon,…
Review: Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rye
The latest Chicken Cock release has arrived: Island Rooster, a Kentucky straight rye (95% rye, 5% barley) finished in Caribbean rum casks for six months. No age info on the base spirit, however. The results are decidedly strange — and they distinctly lean toward the rum side of the fence. The nose is very floral,…
