Review: Wines of The Vice, 2021 Releases
The Vice is a new wine brand that focuses on Napa Valley — almost all of it, bottling wines representing (at least) 16 different varietals from 14 of Napa’s 16 AVAs, including some truly odd, even unique offerings. We received a smattering of current releases for review, five in total. Thoughts follow. 2020 The Vice…
Review: Future Gin
Future Gin hails from Southern California, where four women distilled a spirit that combines typical gin botanicals with a few particular to California, some of which are grown in their own backyards. In total, 14 botanicals flavor this gin: juniper, coriander, angelica, black pepper, cassia, fennel, orris, avocado leaves, elderflower, honeysuckle flowers, Meyer lemon peel,…
Review: Pratt Standard Agave Spice Old Fashioned Syrup
It was only just this summer that I was waxing poetic about the many merits of a tequila-based Old Fashioned cocktail, and here we have the latest and greatest from the syrup wizards at Washington, D.C.’s Pratt Standard: Agave Spice Old Fashioned. Per Pratt Standard’s founder, Tory Pratt: The flavor profile was driven first by…
Review: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich
The Jonnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare series continues with this fourth installment, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Pittyvaich. As with the prior Ghost and Rare releases, this limited edition is blended with “irreplaceable ‘ghost whiskies’ from Scotch whisky distilleries that have long since closed.” The centerpiece of this one is Speyside’s…
Review: Wines of Meyer Family Cellars, 2021 Releases
Meyer Family Cellars is operated by Karen and Matt Meyer, a husband-and-wife winemaking team that sources grapes from a range of California’s AVAs, including Yorkville Highlands, Anderson Valley, and Oakville. Its operations are in Yorkville and its tasting room is further down the road in Mendocino. Recently we received three new releases from the operation.…
Review: Hiatus Tequila Reposado
Hiatus Tequila is a new premium brand which launched in 2018, but we only recently received a sample to check out — and only the reposado. It’s founded by Kristopher DeSoto, a former helicopter salesman, and is produced in collaboration with third generation tequila makers La Cofradía near the town of Tequila from blue agave…
Review: Wines of Domaine Bousquet, 2021 Releases
Over the last several years Argentina’s Domaine Bousquet has quietly made headway into the U.S. market, offering everything from high-end table wines to sparkling offerings to box wines from its portfolio. We recently had the opportunity to sit via Zoom with Domaine Bousquet’s agronomist Franco Bastias and owner Anne Bousquet. The seminar tackled everything from…
Review: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Caribbean Rum Cask
Stranahan’s has long built a reputation for its 100% Colorado-born single malt whiskey, to the point where it has recently begun branching out into special edition releases. The latest is this “Distillery Exclusive,” a 5 year old malt finished in Caribbean rum casks for an undisclosed length of time. Ready to dive in? Here goes:…
