Review: Four Gate Batch 11 and 12
Four Gate continues to crank out whiskeys, and today we’re looking at two new releases — a rye and a bourbon, both quite different — from the Louisville-based operation. Four Gate Rye Batch 11 Ruby Rye Springs – This is the third representation of the same MGP rye from Four Gate, still 7 years old…
Review: 2019 Vento di Mare Grillo Sicilia DOC
Once exclusively a blending grape for Madeira wine due to its high sugar content, grillo has since come into its own, and it’s common now as a Sicilian table wine. This offering from Vento di Mare is organic — and quite affordable. Kicking things off on the (perhaps unsurprisingly) sweet side, this wine starts with…
Review: Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey
The Proclamation in question is the 1916 order that formally established Ireland’s independence. Naturally a whiskey to celebrate that fact was all but inevitable. Proclamation, which arrived in the U.S. in late 2020, is owned by Inis Tine Uisce Teoranta (ITUT), a company based in County Mayo. Says the company, “Proclamation was a collaborative effort…
Recipe: Kingston Negroni
Here’s another good cocktail to remind you of that vacation you’ve been meaning to take. The Kingston Negroni was created by bartender Joaquín Simó while he worked at the infamous Death & Co. in New York. By Mr. Simó’s own admission, the cocktail immediately came to him in a bolt of peculiar inspiration the first…
Review: 2017 Sokol Blosser Blanc de Blanc
This Oregon sparkler is composed of 30% pinot blanc and 70% chardonnay, cutting a profile that any domestic sparkling fan should find familiar. Lightly doughy but expressive with notes of lemon curd, apple cider, and some tangerine, it’s heavy on the fizz, which tempers some of the creamier qualities of the otherwise rich body. The…
Review: Taylor Garrett Whiskey, Rye, and Canteen Imperial Malt
New Mexico whiskey distillery Taylor Garrett is part of that new breed of distilleries that has embraced accelerated aging techniques. The company’s “breakthrough, all-natural aging technique” ages spirits in anywhere from 24 hours to 12 days, depending on which piece of marketing collateral you read. Other than saying the process is “purely physical,” details are…
Review: 2020 Left Coast Cellars White Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Left Coast’s white wine expression of pinot noir doesn’t often leave a lasting impression with me, but the winery appears to have figured something out for 2020 and has turned in quite a delight. Fresh notes of lemon-lime, green apple, and clean mineral give the impression of a more traditional white wine, with ample acidity…
Review: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2021 Edition
One of the heaviest hitters of bourbon season has arrived: the always-anticipated Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. As is common with this release, it’s full of well-aged stock from the Four Roses rickhouses. The breakdown for 2021 includes 16-year-old OBSV – 13%; 14-year-old OBSQ – 6%; 12-year-old OESK – 23%; and 16-year-old OESV – the…
