Review: Sagamore Spirit Rye Bottled in Bond
We’ve been keeping tabs on Sagamore Spirit, the Baltimore-based rye whiskey producer, since they first hit the shelves in 2016 with an impressive portfolio of contract-distilled offerings. In recent years we were impressed by their ambitious, and sometimes unusual, finishing program that offered up surprisingly enjoyable oddities like a Calvados Finish and even a Tequila…
Review: Harpoon Imperial IPA: Big & Limited Edition and Green Mountain Ryed
Harpoon is set for winter with these two frosty-weather releases. Harpoon Imperial IPA: Big & Limited Edition – This may be a limited edition released only for the winter season — it’s made with Harpoon’s standard recipe, but with an upsized abv — but this monster IPA comes across largely as a classic imperial, sweet…
Review: Ruddell’s Mill Bourbon, Rye, and Cherries
“The Covered Bridges Whiskey Company” is a New Jersey-based operation making Kentucky whiskey, including a straight bourbon and a straight rye. In other words, while the company has a lush backstory about the value of covered bridges, gristmills, and the history of one Isaac Ruddell, dating back to 1788, this is still all sourced stock…
Review: Trentodoc Wines of Ferrari, 2021 Releases
It is an exciting time for fans of Italian sparkling wine with great new varieties finding their way to American shores. Today we are trying Trentodoc. This sparkling wine comes from the mountainous Trento region of northern Italy and is made in the traditional method, like Champagne, with secondary fermentation taking place in the bottle.…
Review: Citadelle Gin Jardin d’ete
Citadelle continues to crank out new gin variations, its most recent being the new Jardin d’ete, a permanent addition to the French company’s lineup. Per the company, “Inspired by a French garden cultivated by Debbie Gabriel, wife of Citadelle Founder Alexandre Gabriel, Jardin d’été is made with melon flesh, whole lemon, yuzu zest and more…
Review: Booker’s Bourbon “Bardstown Batch” 2021-03 and “Noe Strangers Batch” 2021-04
We wrap up 2021 with a look at the final two special edition expressions of Booker’s Bourbon for the year, 2021-03 and 2021-04. Let’s see how they compare. Booker’s Bourbon “Bardstown Batch” 2021-03 – Aged 6 years, 5 months, 0 days; named for obvious inspiration. The nose here is toasty but not overt with char,…
Review: Stone Hazy IPA and 25th Anniversary Triple IPA
Is every craft brewery having a 25th anniversary this year? Let’s catch up with California’s Stone, which recently dropped as new hazy that does not have tangerines and such in it — plus a monster triple IPA brewed special for the anniversary. We tried them both. Stone Hazy IPA – Yep, just Hazy IPA. It’s a…
Review: Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Ah, Hancock’s President’s Reserve, the redheaded stepchild of the Buffalo Trace single barrel bourbon lineup. It’s a bit of an off duck, not just because of the peculiar number of possessives in the name. Firstly, the proof is unusual and not quite the Buffalo Trace standard. The distribution is limited, even for a Buffalo Trace…
