Review: 2020 Sokol Blosser Evolution Chardonnay and Big Time Red (in Boxes)
Boxed wine is a fantastic concept, but it’s something that I very rarely buy. That’s a shame, because bag-in-box packaging does offer and advantage or two over glass outside of sheer value, including the fact that the wine will last for a month once opened. But boxed wine’s biggest problem remains significant: The juice inside…
Review: Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011
Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte brand recently dropped a new edition in its “cask exploration” series, and like many the cask in question involves red Bordeaux wine. Specifically, PAC:01 spends time in barrels from the Pauillac region. Some details: The heavily peated whisky was distilled on Islay in 2011 and it carries an 8 year old age…
Review: 2018 Pied a Terre Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve
Pied à Terre is the brainchild of Richard Luftig, a former New York City wine buyer who, frustrated with the rising prices of California cabernet, figured he’d launch his own label. Today, Pied a Terre is produced in Sonoma County. The company’s most recent launch is a new Reserve “Artist Series,” with 2018 the inaugural…
Review: Archenemy Space Whiskey
Celebrity whiskeys are old news. The new hotness: Whiskeys bottled to promote an individual movie, as is the case with Archenemy, which is billed as “Space Whiskey,” or more accurately “Space Straight Bourbon Whiskey.” Fist Is Fire, per the tagline. I don’t know what any of that means, because I haven’t seen the 2020 Joe…
Review: Q Mixers Light Tonic, Spectacular Tonic, Elderflower Tonic, and Hibiscus Ginger Beer
The artisan mixer-masters at Q Mixers have updated their lineup, several products of which were reviewed and well received by Drinkhacker here. They’ve recently added two new flavors, Hibiscus Ginger Beer and Elderflower Tonic, and two new variations on the standard tonic, Light Tonic and Spectacular Tonic. They’ve also added Joel McHale as their Chief…
Review: Foursquare Mark XV “Redoutable” Single Blended Rum
“Redoutable” is a new release from Barbados’ famed Foursquare Distillery, and it’s a blend of two distinct rums, both 14 years of age and produced on site (hence “single blended”). One is aged entirely in ex-bourbon Barrels, one entirely in ex-Madeira barrels. The finished blend is bottled at cask strength, 61% abv. That is a…
Review: 2017 Sosie Pinot Noir and Red Blend
Two wines from the increasingly reliable Sosie brand recently arrived for our consideration. So let’s consider: 2017 Sosie Pinot Noir Spring Hill Vineyard – This Sonoma Coast bottling is a dazzling example of the Sonoma Coast style — rich in body, boldly cherried, and layered with nuance that runs to dark chocolate, hazelnut, and a…
Review: 2021 Cocktail Courier Gift Sets
Nine months ago there was a more optimistic tone to reuniting in public spaces. In an article published at the time, I intonated a foolish sense of optimism that folks would be congregating in large spaces safely without having to worry about catching anything that could potentially land them on a ventilator. Thankfully we are…
