Review: Argiano 2018 Brunello di Montalcino and 2021 Non Confunditur
Two wines from Argiano, a historic winery in Tuscany’s Montalcino area that dates back to 1580 (as an olive oil producer) and which is, more recently, the first company in the area to become plastic-free. 2018 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – “The soul of the Argiano portfolio” is this unusually lighthanded Brunello, showcasing the…
Review: Mammoth Northern Rye No. 2
Bourbon is the premier whiskey of America. Michigan’s Mammoth Distilling prefers advancing the cause of rye. While the lion’s share of American whiskey is distilled from bulk commodity grains, Mammoth invests in research regarding the distillation of heirloom varieties of rye grain. Each specific variety of rye grain produces different qualities in a whiskey. Pre-Prohibition…
Review: El Buho Mezcal Espadin (2024)
It’s been 12 years since we first reviewed El Buho Mezcal made with Espadin agave, and today we swing around again to see how it compares today. “El buho” is Spanish for “the owl,” an animal which (their website explains) is “revered in Mexican culture as a spiritual link between the living and the dead,…
Review: Crittenden’s Cut Above Mississippi Blues Berry Bourbon
The spread of the concept of finishing bourbon in various types of casks is largely a result of the work of Woodford Reserve and Angel’s Envy. Today, the American whiskey industry is in a perpetual arms race to see who can come up with the next unique finishing cask to grab consumer intrigue. Despite their…
Review: High Camp Firelight Flask 2.0
High Camp keeps cranking out the fancy flasks, and as long as they do, we’ll keep on covering them. The new Firelight Flask is similar to the last High Camp flask we reviewed, the Parkside Flask. Both hold 750ml of liquid and include two tumblers that adhere magnetically to the top and bottom of the…
Review: GlenDronach Allardice 18 Years Old
We commonly crank through GlenDronach’s special editions, but one of its permanent lineup has eluded us: Allardice, its 18 year old expression. The famed Highlands distillery’s 18 year old is named in honor of James Allardice, who founded the distillery in 1826. The whisky is completely aged in oloroso sherry casks. Densely sherried, the nose…
Review: 2020 Stags’ Leap Winery The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
At the top of Stags’ Leap Winery’s mountain of Cabernet Sauvignon releases sits The Leap, a heavy-duty wine that, in this incarnation, is composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Malbec, and 1% Merlot. The wine showcases Stags’ Leap at the top of its game: rich, seductive fruit touches on the expected blackcurrants…
Review: Chateau de Lacquy Armagnac 21 Years Old
There are a couple of theories regarding how bourbon came to be aged in charred oak barrels. Perhaps the most plausible theory lies in the fact that the French mature brandy in toasted wood barrels. In the era of bourbon infancy, Cognac was a known luxury French spirit. Did Americans begin using charred or toasted…
