Review: 2015 Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Villa Gemma is one of the most iconic parts of the Masciarelli empire, a high-end wine made from 100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes “rigorously hand-picked in boxes from the second half of October in the Cave vineyard, in San Martino sulla Marrucina.” Inky purple in color, this is a monstrous wine that challenges expectations and easily…
Review: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Blue Peak
Blue Peak is the latest innovation from Colorado’s Stranahan’s, which has been dedicated to American single malt whiskey since the earliest days of the craft movement. This offering is a four year old toddler, spending its first four years in 53 gallon new oak barrels with a #3 char. From there, things get more interesting,…
Review: Beers of Bear Republic, Winter 2021 Releases
Four new brews (or newly available for home drinkers, anyway) from our friends at Bear Republic, just up the road here in Northern California. Bear Republic Baba Yaga – An Imperial stout brewed with cacao, caramel malts, roasted barley, black molasses, and licorice root. The chocolate is bold, pairing nicely with the toasty, almost woodsy…
Review: Espanita Tequila, Complete Lineup
Get ready for more new tequila, this one from a brand called Espanita, which produces its 100% blue agave in Jalisco’s Highlands. The standard trio of expressions are currently on tap, all impressively priced. Thoughts follow on the complete lineup. All are 80 proof. Espanita Tequila Blanco – Initially big and peppery, this blanco pulls…
Recipe: Ninth Ward
It’s getting warmer, people. Hell, some of us may even be able to finally take that beach vacation soon. And that means cocktails of the tropical variety are hopefully in our future. The Ninth Ward isn’t a full-blown tiki concoction, but it’s got just enough warm weather components to get you geared up for spring…
Review: Wines of Iris Vineyards, 2021 Releases
Iris Vineyards farms 43 acres of land in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the bulk of it planted to two varietals, three wines from which we review below. Both are extremely well priced for the quality they offer. Thoughts follow. 2019 Iris Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley – Very floral, very fragrant. This is a rather in-your-face expression…
Review: Trader Joe’s Secret Highland Single Malt 19 Years Old
Every holiday season, Trader Joe’s partners up with independent bottler Alexander Murray & Company, releasing a limited run single malt that is of higher quality than their usual offerings. Recent releases included a Glen Moray, a Glenallachie and an Ardmore, all at lower prices than their distillery-originating counterparts. This year’s offering was a “secret” malt…
Review: 9 di Dante Inferno Sweet Vermouth
From its circles-of-hell logo design to the dark black bottle to, well, the name of the product, 9 di Dante really wants to evoke Dante’s La Divina Comedia with this Italian, rosso vermouth. It certainly has an unusual construction, blended in equal parts from wines made from Dolcetto and Cortese grapes, the latter a white…
