Review: Amazzoni Gin
Amazzoni hails from Brazil and lays claim to being Latin America’s “most awarded gin.” That may be tough to fact-check, so let’s focus on what we do know: The gin is made in the first distillery in Brazil that’s exclusive to gin, and Latin America’s largest craft gin distillery. While Amazzoni’s base spirit is (presumably…
Review: 2019 Saldo Red Wine California
The Prisoner Wine Co. has greatly expanded its offerings beyond its namesake wines in recent years, including Saldo, which has the most minimalist label around — in a good way. Complicating things — there are two Saldos. One is a zinfandel (red label), and then there’s this red blend (blue label), a mix of Petite…
Review: Hunt & Gather Lot #2 Canadian Whisky 15 Years Old
During our inaugural coverage of Hunt & Gather I had been unaware that the “lot #1” indication on the label was more than just fanciful marketing. Hunt & Gather is indeed part of a series — and if lot #2 is any guide, they’re going to vary quite a bit, driven entirely by sourcing unique barrels.…
Review: 2017 Patrimony Cabernet Franc Adelaida District Paso Robles
Patrimony is something of a super-label from the Daou family, one of the more widely known estates in the Paso Robles region. This cabernet franc — one of only three wines under the Patrimony label — hails from the Adelaida District, a mountainous region where grapes are grown between 1700 and 2200 feet in elevation,…
Review: Wheel Horse Rye Batch 3
In the past we’ve covered the first edition of bourbon and rye from Wheel Horse — sourced from O.Z. Tyler in Owensboro, Kentucky and bottled in Rhode Island. Now the brand is continuing apace with further batches, though there don’t appear to be any changes in the production process. Today we look at Wheel House…
Review: Broken Shed Vodka (2022)
It’s been 10 long years since our last (and initial) look at Broken Shed Vodka, a spirit made in New Zealand and distilled four times from whey. What’s changed since 2012? If my tasting notes are any judge, not a lot. The vodka has a distinct sweetness on the nose which evokes sweet cream, giving it…
Review: Severo Tequila, Complete Lineup
Severo is a new tequila brand from Tequilera Don Roberto, imported by San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co. It’s made from seven year old agave plants, growing region unstated. A little backstory on Don Roberto: Established in 1924, Tequilera Don Roberto is one of two remaining Mexican-owned heritage tequila businesses and is still owned and operated…
Review: Viss Vodka – Ballet Blue and Blush Blossom
Remember how we said that fresh, organic infused vodkas were the hottest trend in the category? Well, they say the exception makes the rule, and here it is in the form of Viss, a candy-colored, heavily artificially flavored vodka that’s imbued with a sparkly substance that makes it shimmer in the bottle and in the…
