Review: Wine Access Connoisseurs Club
Wine clubs are a dime a dozen — or, more to the point, $59.99 per month with a 12 month commitment. All too often these clubs feature tired, bulk wines that have been hastily repackaged and had a new label slapped on them. That’s not to say you can’t find value in some of these…
Review: Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye, Distiller’s Edition, and Cask Proof
While we’ve covered several special releases from Virginia’s Catoctin Creek, including the bizarre and bold Ragnarok Rye and a Bottled in Bond commemorating their first decade of distilling, we’ve never actually looked at the distillery’s core portfolio. Today, we correct that. Outside of a gin and several small production brandies, the standard lineup at Catoctin…
Review: Mascota Vineyards Unanime 2018 Merlot and 2017 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon
In Autumn of 2021, I was fortunate enough to review the 2017 Mascota Vineyards Malbec and noticed the front page was blessed with a charming adage reminding us “pleasure is a treasure.” (Unanime is one of Mascota’s sub-labels.) I am pleased to report that one pandemic spike, one unjustified invasion/occupation, and two downright unremarkable Kanye…
Review: Amrut Spectrum 004 Single Malt Whisky 2022
After a five-year hiatus, Amrut is bringing back its ultra-rare and ultra-unusual Spectrum bottling. As with the 2017 release, this is Amrut single malt aged for an unspecified amount of time in ex-bourbon casks and then finished, again for an unspecified amount of time, in special “Spectrum” casks constructed from four different types of oak…
Review: Trapiche 2017 Iscay Syrah-Viognier and 2020 Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon
We are back with another round from Mendoza’s Trapiche vineyards after being delighted by its Oak Cask Malbec and Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon earlier this year. With expectations high, let’s uncork. 2017 Trapiche Iscay Syrah-Viognier – A deep and heavy on blackberry nose deceptively brings malbec impressions to mind, but the palate corrects that assumption with…
Review: Col. E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage
We’ve been dragging our feet on Buffalo Trace’s recent installments to the E. H. Taylor, Jr. line, but it’s not entirely our fault. Every bottle in the standard Taylor lineup has become a hot commodity, which means limited releases like this one are now almost impossible to track down, let alone afford once you actually…
Book Review: Claridge’s – The Cocktail Book
When stepping into the bar at Claridge’s, the art deco design isn’t just a half-baked attempt or superfluous fly-by-night trendy imitation of the golden age, it’s the genuine article. The aesthetic and care to detail are something to be respected, the entire experience classy from start to finish. So, it makes sense that Director of…
Review: Sipsmith Strawberry Smash Gin
London-based Sipsmith is one of the most underrated, under-the-radar gins on the market. Recently it took things in a surprising direction by releasing this limited-edition expression, a strawberry-and-mint infused version of its classic gin. Part of the limited-edition Sipping Series, the first release was flavored chili & lime gin, while a coffee-infused gin is already…
