Review: 2018 Utopia Vineyards Pinot Noir Blanc “Bliss” Ribbon Ridge AVA
There’s just barely a pinkish hue on this white pinot noir from Oregon’s Utopia Vineyards. It’s one of the driest white wines I’ve ever encountered, a deep dive into lemon peel, sesame seed, and white flowers — none of which evoke pinot noir to me (even as a white wine). While a bit green on…
Review: 6 O’Clock Brunel Gin
Robert recently reviewed 6 O’Clock Gin’s London Dry expression — and its canned G&T — but today we’re looking at the Bristol-based operation’s “export strength” expression, dubbed Brunel. The gin isn’t just a higher-strength version of the London Dry, it’s also got six added botanicals on top of those in the London Dry: green cardamom,…
Review: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 Years Old Spring 2021 Edition
The first bonded Old Fitzgerald release for 2021 is here, and it’s the youngest of the whiskeys released in the series to date (which spans up to nine releases, depending on how you count them). This bourbon uses Old Fitz’s traditional wheated mashbill and was distilled in the spring of 2013, then bottled in spring…
Review: 2018 Aperture Cellars Sonoma County Red Blend
This Alexander Valley wine is blended with Bordeaux firmly in mind, composed of 39% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 22% malbec, 3% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. Though still young, it’s already drinking with finesse. Fairly tart up front with notes of cranberry and raspberry, the wine settles into a slightly sweeter groove featuring currants,…
Tasting the Wines of Sella & Mosca, 2021 Releases
Did you know that Sardinia didn’t split off from Italy: It was once attached to France, and as such its soil and terroir are closer to that of Provence than nearer Sicily or Tuscany. Sella & Mosca is one of the most noteworthy wineries on this unique island, and today we make a return visit…
Review: Foundry Distilling Sinister Malt Whisky
Collaborations between beer and whiskey makers often yield mixed results. Far too often, the hops influence or some other variable will hijack the process, and the well-intended experiment loses the plot. Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing and its well-respected Milk Stout Nitro have been around for quite a bit, and the people behind Foundry may appear…
Review: Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
Allow me to start with the punchline. Guinness + Cold Brew Coffee = Tiramisu. Any one of those categories are divisive in their appeal. You either love them or leave them. So you are now free to pass on this review, or decide on a nice reading corner to be immersed in a scene of…
Review: Oban Distillers Edition 2018 – Distilled 2004
Yep, it’s a bit of a time warp today as we step back a bit to Oban’s 2018 Distillers Edition release, which we recently acquired, you know, 3 years too late. The good news for Oban fans — which, if you’re not, you should be — is that this expression still appears to be readily…
