Review: Arran Barrel Reserve, 10 Years Old, and Robert Burns (2022)
It seems like everyone in Scotland is getting in on the brand refresh game these days, including Arran — no longer “The Arran” — which is one of just a few whiskies found on the Isle of Arran, a small island nestled between Campbeltown and Glasgow. Despite the refreshed and re-labeled range, Arran continues to…
Book Review: Booze & Vinyl 2 and Booze & Vinyl Matching Game
Sequels are rarely as good as the first installment. However, leading your latest book off with quotes from legendary DJs Cosmo Murphy and John Peel provides a promising sign of good things ahead. Thankfully this is indeed the case with Tenaya and Andre Darlington’s follow-up to their most enjoyable Booze & Vinyl inaugural edition from…
The Best Cherry Liqueur Roundup: 12 Bottles Tasted, 1 Winner
Aside from the orange, the cherry seems to be the fruit that ends up in spirits more than adnything else. Credit that not just with the popularity of cherry as a flavoring agent, but also, perhaps, with the fact that cherries seem to grow everywhere: The U.S., all across Europe, Russia, and even the middle…
Book Review: Lodi! The Definitive Guide and History of America’s Largest Winegrowing Region
This book is massive in both senses of the word. This large-format book is coffee-table thick and could easily provide the reader with a solid arm workout while holding it up to be read. It also covers every imaginable angle on Lodi and could very well serve as the definitive work on the region. Thanks…
Recipe: Twelve Mile Limit
Ah, Prohibition. Where would the modern cocktail be without you? Whether out of necessity or the devil-may-care creativity of many a speakeasy bartender (often probably both), the era gave us no shortage of interesting libations that still inspire today’s booming cocktail culture. Take this drink, the Twelve Mile Limit. The cocktail’s creator is believed to…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Founders KBS Stout Finish
In addition to its steady stream of Fusion and Discovery Series offerings, Bardstown Bourbon Co. has a robust portfolio of finished whiskeys. We’ve covered several of their impressive wine-finished installments done in collaboration with Phifer Pavvitt and The Prisoner Wine Company, but the finishing regimen also extends to cognac, sherry, and even beer. Recently, the distillery…
Review: Ardbeg Fermutation
Ardbeg’s Dr. Bill Lumsden is known for his experimental bent, and with Fermutation, the essential Islay distillery may have come up with its wildest release yet. Allow Ardbeg to explain: The result of a happy accident, this 13 year old dram is the delicious consequence of an unplanned experiment that resulted in the longest fermentation…
Book Review: Islay Whisky: From Ardbeg to Port Ellen
Distilando is an app that, according to their website, aims to thoroughly educate users about the spirits they love. Here, users may find all the bottles they’ve always wanted and track/display their collection. The site and app are currently in “invite only” mode, so I cannot speak to the validity of these claims. But they…
