Review: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
Elmer T. Lee was one of Buffalo Trace’s longest serving Master Distillers, and perhaps more importantly, he’s credited with launching Blanton’s, the very first commercially available single barrel bourbon. In 1986, not long after his retirement, Lee was honored with this bottle, an eponymous single barrel of his own. In recent years, Elmer T. Lee…
Review: 2018 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Bianco
This Tuscan blend is composed of 50% Trebbiano Spoletino, 30% Grechetto, and 20% Chardonnay 20%. Immediately on the strange side, the wine kicks off with a blend of herbal notes and a strong melon character. Lightly vegetal for a moment, it takes some time to open up before the more fruit-forward elements of the wine…
Review: Thrasher’s Coconut Rum (2021)
Washington, DC-based Thrasher’s makes four different expressions at present, all from an equal blend of blackstrap molasses and raw turbinado sugar and distilled in a pot still. Today we look at the coconut rum, which is not directly flavored with syrups or other ingredients but rather infused with toasted coconut in a botanical basket, similar…
Review: Ardbeg Scorch
Ardbeg’s latest Committee Release is Scorch, a bottling made by aging the whiskey in ultra-charred “alligator” casks (all ex-bourbon barrels). No age statement, which is typical. Reviewed here is the cask strength Committee Edition of the release; the Standard Edition is bottled at the usual 92 proof. From the nose, the name seems fully apt.…
Review: Four Portuguese Wines from Quinta do Ameal and Quinta dos Murcas, 2021 Releases
José Luis Moreira da Silva — familiarly known as “Zé Luis” — is the colorful winemaker behind two Portuguese brands, one made in the northern Vinho Verde region, one hailing from the southern Alentejo. On a recent Zoom tasting, Ze Luis walked us through the vastly different terroir and winemaking processes involved with these four…
Review: Frankly Organic Vodka, Complete Lineup
Frankly is a new vodka brand from Texas, including a straight vodka and four flavors. It starts with a base of organic corn distillate, base, five-times distilled; organic fruits, roots, and botanicals are used for the flavored expressions. They’re primarily available as a five-pack of minis — link below if you want to purchase it…
Review: NB Gin – London Dry and Navy Strength
The NB stands for North Berwick, a town on the east coast of Scotland where this distillery is based, adding to the distinguished list of Scottish gin makers like Caorunn, Arbikie, and Crossbill. The company started off with distilling experiments in a home kitchen and now produces a range of gins, rums, and a vodka……
Review: 2020 Ponga Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
A classic budget-friendly NZ sauvignon blanc — iconically classic, really — this has every hallmark that Marlborough is known for. Overripe pineapple? Check. Edge of fresh-cut grass? Check. Modest ammonia note? Check. There’s a load of sweetness to go along with all of this, tempering any hints of herbaceousness and percolating a touch of coconut…
