Review: A Trio of 2020 Provence Roses
It’s wonderful that rosé has graduated from a seasonal wine to one that can be enjoyed any day. And while it can be enjoyed any time, it is most often appreciated in the heat or alongside outdoor activities. There was a point, back when I thought I knew something about wine, that if I was…
Review: George Dickel Bourbon 8 Years Old
This new bottling from Dickel flew a bit under the radar when it was released this summer, but it merits discussion, as it’s a new permanent member of the George Dickel lineup, carrying an age statement of 8 years old. At first it may seem there’s not a whole lot to the story — it’s…
Review: Distilleria Varnelli l’Anice Secco Speciale
You know those recipe blogs that always start off with some long-winded anecdote about family traditions or a trip the author took to someplace magical, and all you want to know about is the recipe or how the product rates? I hate those too. Which is why I’m absolutely not going to tell you the…
Review: Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum
Smith & Cross, named for two 18th century London rum traders, is very proud of its funk. The label touts it as a badge of honor, proclaiming that it contains only Wedderburn and Plummer pot still distillate, both high ester styles of Jamaican rum that went out of vogue generations ago (although some are starting to…
Recipe: Van Winkle Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned was certainly not the first cocktail, but its popularity and versatility over generations has made it perhaps the most classic of classic cocktails. Your devoted Drinkhacker cocktail sleuths have unearthed several variations over the years (Brown Butter and Oaxaca to name just a few). We’ve even shown you (at length) how to…
Review: Jean-Luc Pasquet L’Organic 07 Cognac
Jean-Luc Pasquet produces this Cognac expression from ugni blanc grapes, grown in Grande Champagne, taking two vintages of Cognac, each at least 7 years old, and blending them together. The idea is that Pasquet can find a better sense of balance by combining the styles of two vintages. All of it is organic. Let’s…
Review: 2020 Duck Pond Pinot Noir and Rose
Duck Pond Cellars, owned by Great Oregon Wine Company & Distillery and based in Willamette Valley, recently announced that its 2020 Pinot Noir and Rose were the first recipients of a new wine certification from a third party organization called the Clean Label Project, “which is helping to transform the wine industry by defining what…
Review: McFarlane’s Reserve Bourbon
When my brother was tasked with bringing some bourbon for a recent family gathering, the staff at a local franchise of a major retailer suggested McFarlane’s Reserve as an affordable Weller alternative. Just now your mind may have come to a screeching halt as mine did; perhaps due to its rather daring, and to…
