Review: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 10 Years Old Spring 2024 Edition
After an 8 year old expression in Fall 2023 (which didn’t arrive until well into 2024), Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond wheated bourbon is back with a new 10 year old offering, distilled in the Spring of 2014. Old Fitz is almost always a corn-heavy expression and this bottling doesn’t rock the boat. Notes…
Review: Wines of Compris, 2021 Vintage
Oregon’s Compris is a new operation that produces a wide range of wines that include the standard-bearers of the Willamette Valley… plus some surprises, too. Today we look at a five-pack of wines all from the 2021 vintage, all of which are in current release and which are all fairly reasonable in price. 2021 Compris…
Review: Lagavulin 11 Years Old Offerman Edition Caribbean Rum Oak Cask 2024
Nick Offerman — a rum guy? For his fourth collab with Lagavulin, Offerman turns to a different island for inspiration, the pop culture icon takes 11 year old standard-issue Lagavulin (aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks) and finishes it for 8 more months in Caribbean rum casks. It’s an old trick but not one that’s…
Review: Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico 2020 Riserva and 2018 Bellezza
Gabbiano is one of the biggest names in Chianti, widely available internationally, its various expressions ranging from under 10 dollars a bottle to upwards of $200. Today we look at a pair of wholly accessible but high-quality expressions from the Chianti Classico region, both of which should be readily available stateside. 2020 Castello di Gabbiano…
Review: Revivalist Garden Gin
The trend in additive-free, “good-for-you” spirits continues apace with a new addition to the ever-expanding catalogue of gin options, Revivalist Garden Gin. Produced by Botanery Barn Distillery in Elverson, Pennsylvania, this gin is the product of collaboration with purported gin connoisseur and New York City mixologist Brendan Bartley. We already encountered another Revivalist expression years…
Review: Stone Delicious Hazy IPA and Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA
New brews from our buddies at Stone Brewing, both in the IPAverse… Stone Delicious Hazy IPA – The newest addition to the Stone Delicious family is this spot-on hazy, a creamy and fruit-filled expression of tangerines, mangos, apricots, and lemon — all bright as could be but set against a backdrop of creamy, vanilla-scented malt.…
Review: Spirits of Griffo Distillery, 2024 Releases
Northern California’s Griffo Distillery enticed us with its recent release of whiskey distilled from Lagunitas’ The Waldos beer, so we’re diving back into the distillery’s offerings with a deeper dive into some of its more mainstream, permanent releases. Let’s not sit on ceremony as we delve into a collection that spans vodka, gin, whiskey, and…
Review: Wines of Borealis, 2024 Releases
Borealis Vintners draws its grapes from both Oregon and Washington, and with summer approaching, they sent us two whites and a rosé to review. They also make a Pinot Noir, not reviewed here. Let’s give them a try. 2022 Borealis Pinot Gris – 100% Pinot Gris from Oregon. This wine is sweeter than most Oregon…
