Review: Luretta NV Principessa and 2018 Gutturnio Superiore
Luretta hails from the Gutturnio region, a new DOC in northern Italy, south of Milan. Frizzante style wines are most common here, and while the winery produces sparkling wine — in the metodo classico style — it also produces a still red wine, also reviewed here. NV Luretta Principessa Blanc de Blancs – A brut…
Review: The Real McCoy Distiller’s Proof Rum 5 Years Old
We’re finally working our way through the Real McCoy Rum portfolio. Chris enjoyed the distillery’s 5-year-old flagship offering (nearly a decade ago), and next up is this bottle, the Distiller’s Proof version of that same rum. As a reminder, Real McCoy is sourced from the well-known and well-loved Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. Unlike the standard…
Review: Hop Wtr Lime
Water and hops — you’re halfway to beer there — and that’s where Hop Wtr (aka HOP WTR) would like to keep it. This non-alcoholic, zero-calorie concoction is made with sparkling water, a blend of various hops (Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca), and some nootropics, including ashwagandha and L-theanine. Four different flavors exist, but we…
Review: Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey 114 Proof
Jim Beam’s Old Overholt lineup saw a major refresh back in 2020, along with the introduction of two limited editions available, at the time, only in Ohio and Pennsylvania: an 11-year-old offering (that still eludes us) and this bottle, Old Overholt 114 Proof. The release was in celebration of the 210th anniversary of Abraham Overholt’s…
Review: Lucky Fly Vodka
Another Swiss vodka, we know only that Lucky Fly Vodka (though the bottle looks more like simply “Fly Vodka”) is “distilled from grain.” No other production information is available. Another clean if somewhat anonymous vodka, the nose is gently industrial with a modicum of earthiness to it. A light sweetness endures on a moderately creamy…
Review: Michter’s US-1 Barrel Strength Straight Rye 2022
The absence last fall of George T. Stagg, a perennial favorite in the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, left the world’s bourbon-obsessed with one less unicorn to chase. In March of this year, Michter’s added to the misfortune with its announcement that the distillery would be holding back its beloved 10-year-old bourbon until 2023 to…
Review: Grace O’Malley Irish Gin
Previously we brought you coverage of the (solid) Irish whiskey of Grace O’Malley. Now we turn to another category of booze named after Ireland’s pirate queen: gin. Botanicals (14 in total) are not entirely disclosed, but include “the defining flavors from the west coast of Ireland including wild thyme, red clover, blackthorn, wild bilberries, and…
Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 31 and Batch 32
Barrell Bourbon ended 2021 with Batch 31 of its flagship bourbon and kicked the new year off with Batch 32. Each release is a blend of sourced stocks from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, which has become a consistent theme in recent years (with the exception of Batch 30). Dig a little deeper, however, and you’ll…
