Review: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Fourteen Stout (2021)
There were a whopping seven different releases from Goose Island’s Barrel House line in 2021, including, of course, the fan favorite Bourbon County Stout. Among those options, one in particular may have been familiar to early Goose Island devotees. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Fourteen Stout originally debuted way back in 2014 as part of…
Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection Winter Wheat
Crown Royal managed to squeeze in yet another addition to its limited release Noble Collection before the end of 2021. For this, the sixth release in the series, Crown went a bit off script, bottling a wheat whiskey of unspecified age made with 51% winter wheat, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley — instead of…
Review: Wines of Jules Taylor, 2022 Releases
Jules Taylor is based in New Zealand’s Marlborough region, where the winemaker produces a series of eponymous, affordable bottlings. She was named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year for 2021. Let’s dig in to this trio of bottlings, all newly released. 2021 Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – Sauvignon blanc is Taylor’s specialty, and with…
Review: Bell’s Uberon
Oberon, the wheat beer that put well-known Michigan microbrewer Bell’s on the proverbial map, officially went barrel-aged last fall. Dubbed Uberon, this beer was already familiar to some devotees of the Comstock-based brewery from its infrequent appearances at special tap events and local beer festivals over the years. In August 2021, just as Oberon’s summer…
Review: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition No. 5
For those new to the lore, Nearest Green is credited about 160 years ago for helping to perfect the Lincoln County process that revolves around the hallmark charcoal-filtration method required in Tennessee whiskey production — as well as having mentored the Jack Daniel. We lightly touched upon some of the backstory in our reviews of…
Review: Wines of Salentein and Pyros, 2022 Releases
Salentein has just released new vintages of its wines grown in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. Today we get to try them alongside two wines from the Pyros label, which are also produced by Salentein but are made with Malbec grapes grown in the Pedernal Valley in San Juan. Let’s give them a try.…
Review: Cana Cachaca
Cãna is a new brand producing cachaca in Brazil from thrice-distilled sugarcane, distilled in large pot stills, then filtering it through coconut husk charcoal. No real surprises in how it’s made, so let’s dive right in to a tasting. This cachaca features a relatively mild nose, lacking the sharp petrol character you often find in…
Review: 2016 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port
Dow’s latest LBV Port offering offers nothing in the way of surprises, presenting a fully expected rendition of Port at its most easygoing and approachable. Jammy, with notes of fresh, plump raisins and a slurry of milk chocolate, it’s a blunt but exuberant offering that finishes with a lightly syrupy texture that hints at oxidation.…
