Review: Langlois NV Cremant De Loire Brut Reserve and Brut Rose
As the home of Sancerre, the Loire Valley is widely respected for its Sauvignon Blanc, but other grapes thrive there as well. Langlois winery is known for Chenin Blanc and has recently shifted its focus to making Crémant, which is French sparkling wine made outside the Champagne region. I am a huge fan of Crémants…
Review: WhistlePig CampStock Wheat Whiskey
With rye, bourbon, and malt whiskey under its belt, what’s left for WhistlePig to explore? Well, wheat whiskey of course. Enter CampStock, a limited edition offering that’s actually a blend of two whiskeys — 85% wheat whiskey and 15% rye — which still merits a “wheat whiskey” designation. The whiskey is a collaboration of sorts…
Book Review: The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion
When I decided to become a whiskey hobbyist, I chose to build my knowledge through books. I read blogs, listen to podcasts, and waste time on social media. There’s just something about holding a book in my hands that helps me soak it all up. As of this moment, I’ve entered 478 books into my…
Review: Rhum J.M Fumee Volcanique, Epices Creoles, and Jardin Fruite
Martinique’s Rhum J.M started exploring new styles with the release of its Terroir Volcanique expression in 2023. It’s now returning to that concept with a new series of rums called the Atelier Range (aka “L’Atelier des Rhums”), a trio of products designed by Master Blender Karine Lassalle “to identify three characteristics inherently present and specific…
Review: 2022 Hahn Founder’s Series Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir
Founders Nicky and Gaby Hahn settled in the Santa Lucia Highlands in the late 1970s. Now in its second generation of family ownership, Hahn Family Wines produces a wide assortment of wines at a variety of price points, including its excellent SLH series as well as the Appellation Series, concentrating exclusively on estate vineyards located…
Review: Shakara Rum 12 Years Old
Rum from Thailand is becoming increasingly commonplace, with brands like Phraya and especially Bumbu making significant waves. Shakara — not Shakira — is made from local molasses, column-distilled, and aged in bourbon barrels for 12 years. High temperature, high humidity. No additives, including sugar. Immediately reminiscent of the tropics, there’s plenty of Asian influence from the…
Review: Wines of Frescobaldi, 2024 Releases
We’re longtime fans and devotees of Frescobaldi, one of Tuscany’s premiere winemaking families. Today we are fortunate to cover a quintet of wines from the storied operation, including a white blend, three Chianti Classicos, and a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano — offering a broad look at the various styles coming out of the winery. Let’s…
Review: Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Italian Spritz and Amalfi Spritz
With non-alcoholic spirits on the rise, the aperitif space has of late taken center stage as one of the most promising sectors for exploration. We’ve encountered NA amari that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, so we had high hopes going into this two-fer review of Lyre’s spin on the category. Reviewed herein: One…
